The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 53

Grand Princess Kanyang was wary of Zong Si’s motives, but given his status as the Imperial Envoy, she was obligated to receive him.

“You may withdraw,” Kanyang told Ning Fu, patting her hand. She had no desire for her granddaughter to cross paths with him again.

However, Ning Fu wanted to know exactly what Zong Si was planning. She held Kanyang’s hand and said, “Grandmother, I wish to stay here with you.”

Kanyang’s heart softened at the gesture, assuming Ning Fu feared Zong Si’s coldness. “Very well, stay then. Having my Ah Fu by my side makes me happy.”

When Zong Si entered the main hall, his eyes fell first upon Ning Fu. She sat demurely beside the Grand Princess, stealing a quick glance at him before lowering her gaze to dutifully massage Kanyang’s shoulders.

“If there is anything the Princess’s Residence has overlooked in your hospitality, pray tell,” Kanyang said with a smile, though she remained seated, making no effort to stand. “You must treat this place as your own home.”

Ning Fu sighed inwardly. To survive in politics, one truly needed a thick skin; despite the Prince of Xuan and the Grand Princess being sworn enemies, her grandmother could still utter such pleasantries.

Zong Si withdrew his gaze. “I have a matter I must discuss with the Grand Princess.”

“Speak freely, Prince.”

“I heard that Master Li Fang has a concubine, Lady Yu, who remains in Yongzhou. I hope the Grand Princess might facilitate an introduction,” Zong Si said calmly.

Kanyang’s smile thinned. “Lady Yu is indeed here. When do you wish to see her?”

“Tonight,” Zong Si replied.

Ning Fu felt her grandmother stiffen slightly, clearly unsettled, though Kanyang merely maintained her smile and ordered, “Go and invite Lady Yu.”

Zong Si did not stay long. Before leaving, his gaze lingered on Ning Fu for a heartbeat. She wondered if that look carried a hidden meaning. A man as calculating as Zong Si surely knew that a mere concubine would hold few secrets; why was he so urgent to see her?

The Secret Investigation

That night, Ning Fu traveled to her villa in the suburbs. She had lived there for over a month, so her departure raised no eyebrows. The villa sat at the foot of a mountain by a river—a peaceful location.

Nearby stood a small, abandoned residence: the former country home of the deceased official, Li Fang. Ning Fu had spent her time in the suburbs scouting this location. She was certain that while Li Fang’s official documents might have been seized, a secondary “Record of Crimes” remained hidden in Yongzhou.

As Ning Fu was changing her clothes in the villa, she heard a sound. She stilled her movements and said with forced composure, “Come out.”

Zong Si dropped down from the rafters. Ning Fu had just removed her outer layers, leaving her shoulders partially bare. As they had once been husband and wife in her past life, and she was in a hurry to investigate the Li residence, she didn’t waste time on modesty.

Zong Si was dressed in black night-traveler’s gear.

“The Prince used the interrogation of Lady Yu as a distraction to draw the eyes of the city officials, allowing him to slip out of the city unnoticed,” she remarked, turning to face him.

“The Fourth Lady is equally prepared,” Zong Si replied cryptically. “Everyone assumes you are merely enjoying the mountain air.”

He knew that Ning Fu was aware of the stakes. By following her, he could save himself a great deal of effort.

“Master Li’s residence is simple; Xie Heng took me inside once, so I am familiar with the layout,” she said. She didn’t want him to know she was looking for the record specifically for her grandmother’s sake, so she used Xie Heng as an excuse for her knowledge.

“It seems Master Xie follows the Fourth Lady everywhere,” Zong Si noted dryly.

A Breathless Encounter

The two reached Li Fang’s residence under the cover of a pitch-black night. As they scaled the wall, Zong Si wrapped an arm around her waist to lift her over. Ning Fu gripped his sleeve for balance, letting go the moment they touched the ground.

As they searched the interior, the sound of footsteps approached from outside. They exchanged a look and extinguished their light. Zong Si hoisted her up onto a ceiling beam. As she lost her balance, she pitched forward, landing directly on top of him.

“Don’t move,” Zong Si whispered against her ear. His hot breath made her skin tingle, and she dared not breathe.

Below, two men entered the room. “The Master had us search this place months ago. Why again in the middle of the night?”

“The Envoy from the capital is here, and he’s questioning Lady Yu. The Master is worried. We just need to make sure nothing was missed—we can’t let that man from the capital find anything.”

Ning Fu’s heart sank. She didn’t know which “Master” they served, but it was likely the person planning to frame her grandmother.

The men moved to the side rooms. Ning Fu leaned closer to Zong Si’s ear. “Who do you think sent them?”

“Is it not your grandmother’s people?” Zong Si countered.

“Never,” Ning Fu frowned, shifting indignantly. Zong Si pressed her down, and she realized she was sitting directly on his lap. Her body went stiff.

Zong Si pulled her wandering hand back. This time, his voice was lower, raspier. “I said, don’t move.”

The air between them grew heavy. Sensing a change in the man’s demeanor, Ning Fu felt a surge of heat. To stop him from speaking further, she bit her lip and whispered, “It… it tickles.”

Zong Si’s brow twitched. His hand moved to her waist, his fingers brushing the fabric of her dress in a slow, contemplative motion.

“If the Prince were a man of integrity, he wouldn’t let his mind wander,” Ning Fu whispered sharply, a shiver running through her.

“And what exactly am I thinking?” Zong Si asked, his voice returning to its usual cold, detached tone, as if he were entirely without desire.

“You may deny it, but you know your own heart,” Ning Fu replied coldly. No woman was blind to such things, no matter how much a man played the part of the dignified, stoic gentleman.