The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 66

Ning Fu’s mind began to race.

A man as cautious and calculating as Zong Si could not possibly be unaware of how inappropriate it was for a man outside the family to mention a lady’s Ji Li (Coming-of-Age ceremony). Therefore, his words were a deliberate provocation.

“Every word from the Heir Apparent carries a hidden test,” Ning Fu said, keeping her gaze lowered. No matter the outcome, he could advance or retreat with ease. This level of maneuverability was intimidating; it was clear that one could never gain the upper hand against him.

Anyone with a modicum of sense would know to stay far away from such a dangerous individual.

“I am not testing you; in fact, I have been quite direct,” Zong Si replied, his eyes fixed on her. “Does A-Fu truly believe I have the leisure to concern myself with the ceremonies of other noble ladies?”

“I am no different from any other lady. There is no need for the Heir Apparent to send a gift,” Ning Fu felt her heart sink further. She forced herself to add, “I am grateful for your kind thoughts, but a gift is unnecessary. It would only invite trouble.”

“Whether or not you are different from other ladies in my eyes—you know the answer to that in your heart,” Zong Si countered.

His words inevitably brought back memories of that day. They could have pretended it never happened, but now that he had brought it up, an undeniable sense of embarrassment flooded her. Had they been husband and wife as in her past life, it would be one thing. But to maintain composure after such intimacy, especially when both had been victims of a scheme, was no easy task.

As they spoke of that union, the atmosphere grew thick with a hazy, indistinct ambiguity. Even the Celestial flowers growing on the rockery seemed to conspire with the moment, drifting down to catch in her hair, entangling with her dark tresses.

Zong Si reached out to pluck the fallen petal from her hair. He was too swift for her to stop him.

“What is it you want, Heir Apparent?” Ning Fu asked, forced to break the tension.

“Have you been intentionally avoiding me lately?” Zong Si asked.

Ning Fu remained silent.

After a brief pause, his tone remained unchanged but carried a sharp edge. “So, you are willing to take the trouble to come to the Palace to see Meng Ze, but you refuse to see me at the Qingtian Pavilion?”

Ning Fu could not stand his attitude—as if she were a wife caught wandering. She snapped coldly, “Who said I came to the Palace to see the Sixth Prince? Do not go making baseless accusations.”

“It was Meng Ze who asked Jingwen to invite you for a visit. It was not Jingwen’s own idea,” Zong Si informed her.

“I am not like the Heir Apparent; I do not have my finger on the pulse of every secret,” she retorted.

Zong Si glanced at the jade hairpin he had just replaced in her hair. The white jade suited her, making her skin appear even more translucent. “While this jade is fine, its quality does not rival the suet jade of the North. For your ceremony, let me find you a new Magnolia pin. What do you say?”

A Magnolia hairpin—a symbol of deep affection between husband and wife, and a wish for many children.

Compared to her past life, this was bitingly ironic. He had never offered such a gift when it was appropriate; now, when they were nothing to each other, he had become quite attentive. He was likely just waiting for her to trip into the pit he had dug for her.

“Heir Apparent, what exactly are your intentions regarding me?” Ning Fu suddenly asked.

“Though it was your grandmother’s scheme, the fact remains that it happened. As a man, I cannot evade my responsibility. Naturally, I must prepare for our marriage,” Zong Si stated. Arranging the marriage within the Prince Xuan Manor would be difficult, but with enough effort, it would not be a problem.

Ning Fu replied, “I find it quite strange. Why do you feel such a sense of responsibility toward me?”

“Should I not?” His eyes flickered, but he did not mention that he, too, remembered their past life.

“You do not love me.”

He said nothing.

Love? Even he didn’t think it went that far.

While Zong Si was reluctant to discuss matters of the heart, he would not lie to her. If he felt a measure of “liking” for her, it was merely the instinctual desire between a man and a woman. Had it been any other beautiful lady and the atmosphere had reached that point, he might have felt the same instinct—except that he had always been a man of integrity and had never sought such experiences.

Thus, he did not deny her statement.

“To be honest,” Ning Fu said, meeting his eyes, “to me, sleeping with a man is no great tragedy. As long as the world remains ignorant and it does not affect the Duke’s Manor, it is of no importance. Therefore, you need not worry yourself.”

She saw Zong Si’s brow furrow. She knew that for a noble lady, such words were shocking, even scandalous. A more traditional man might have branded her a “wanton woman”—though in reality, those hypocrites played far more depraved games while reserving their cruelty only for women.

“Do you even know what you are saying?” Zong Si asked, his voice cold and tinged with shock.

“That night, to me, was a muddled affair. I hardly remember it,” Ning Fu lied. She remembered it perfectly, but she could never admit it. “I have no lingering attachment to that night at all.”

Her words were a subtle jab at his prowess, though she didn’t intend it that way; she simply needed to diminish the significance of their encounter. If marrying Zong Si brought no benefits, she would rather maintain a simple business relationship with him.

Zong Si’s expression soured. No man could remain magnanimous when faced with such a slight.

“If you refuse me, you should understand that my marriage cannot be delayed forever,” he said cryptically. “I am not one to give you a second chance once the opportunity for regret has passed.”

“I do not like you either, Heir Apparent,” Ning Fu said softly, meeting his gaze. “Not in the slightest.”

For some reason, she thought she saw the corner of Zong Si’s mouth twitch into a smile—a chilling, hollow laugh. His mood seemed to have reached its absolute nadir.

Rumors and Suitors

As Zong Ning left Jinghe Palace, she saw her brother walking away from Ning Fu with a face like stone. Though her brother was cold by nature, he was usually a paragon of courtly grace. She had never seen him snub a lady so bluntly.

She worried that the small spark of affection they once shared had been extinguished by the conflict surrounding Princess Kangyang.

“Sister Ning, did my brother scold you?” Zong Ning asked, stepping forward. “He is usually not so rude; perhaps he is just in a foul mood today.”

“I am fine,” Ning Fu smiled.

Back in the palace, Princess Jingwen praised Ning Fu’s beauty before pestering her for stories of Yongzhou. As an Imperial Princess, Jingwen was even less free than a typical noble girl and longed for the world outside.

“I wonder if I will ever get to travel,” Jingwen sighed.

“Why not marry into Northern Qi?” Zong Ning joked.

“If the Great Yan needs me, I would willingly go for an alliance. I cannot fight on the battlefield, but I would sacrifice myself for our country without complaint,” Jingwen said brightly. “But Father cannot bear to part with me.”

Ning Fu sighed inwardly. After what happened with her grandmother, she knew that in the face of immense political interest, even familial love could be tested.

“The marriages for the Second and Third Cousins are almost settled, aren’t they?” Jingwen asked.

“There will be news soon,” Zong Ning replied, glancing at Ning Fu. She had once thought Ning Fu would marry one of them. “Second Brother is seeing the Liu girl, and Third Brother is matched with the daughter of Marquis Mu’an.”

Even Xie Ruyi, who once favored Zong Si, had distanced herself and was now growing close to the Fourth Prince.

“What are your plans, Cousin Ning?” Jingwen asked. With her father relegated to Liangzhou, Ning Fu’s marriage prospects were surely looking grim.

“I have no plans for now,” Ning Fu replied.

New Faces at the Manor

Upon returning to the manor, Ning Fu encountered her brother, Ning Zheng, leaving with a stranger. She guessed the man’s identity: Ye Sheng, the son of General Ye, who had been stationed at the border with her brother.

Ye Sheng was tall and ruggedly handsome, with sharp features and bright eyes. Having spent his time at the border where women were scarce, he blushed scarlet the moment he saw Ning Fu.

“Brother, Master Ye, are you going out?” Ning Fu greeted them with a smile.

Ye Sheng stole a glance at her, only to be frightened back by Ning Zheng’s sharp look. His face grew even redder.

“Just finding a tavern to kill some time,” Ning Zheng said.

After they left, Ning Zheng turned to his friend. “What, do you want to be my brother-in-law?”

Ye Sheng stammered, “N-no, I wouldn’t dare.”

“It’s not entirely out of the question, depending on your behavior,” Ning Zheng mused. He knew Ye Sheng’s character well, and his family was in high favor with the Emperor. At least A-Fu would have a comfortable life with him.

Meanwhile, in a nearby private booth at a tavern, Zong Duo overheard the conversation. He thought of Ning Fu and mentioned, “Lu Xingzhi should be back in the capital soon, shouldn’t he?”

Zong Si pressed his lips together.

“Lu Xingzhi is a better match than Ye Sheng,” Zong Duo commented. Zong Si ignored him.

“I think that Miss Mu is quite nice,” Zong Duo continued, referring to Zong Si’s potential match. “The women my aunt picks are always excellent.”

“Very good,” Zong Si replied distractedly.

Zong Duo paused. Something was definitely wrong with his cousin. “Did the Emperor say something about the supply transport?”

“No,” Zong Si said flatly.

Zong Duo watched him. “I’ve never seen you like this. If I didn’t know better, I’d think your love life was in shambles.” To Zong Duo, the Heir Apparent looked exactly like a man whose wife had just run off with someone else—smelling strongly of jealousy.