The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 69

While Old Madam Ning prioritized a young gentleman’s talent and capability, she was not immune to favoring those with handsome looks; after all, this concerned the appearance of future generations.

“Wishing the Old Lady of the House eternal peace,” Lu Xingzhi said. Representing the Lu Manor for Ning Fu’s Ji Ji (Coming-of-Age) ceremony, he first paid his respects to the elders of the Ning State Duke’s Manor.

This was precisely what Old Madam Ning admired most about him: he was neither arrogant nor discouraged, and he adhered strictly to etiquette. She said warmly, “I heard that while you were in Liangzhou, you assisted Ah Fu’s father greatly. The Duke’s Manor is most grateful for this.”

“Master Ning acts for the sake of the people of Liangzhou. Helping him was only right,” Lu Xingzhi replied. “Furthermore, Master Ning has helped this junior just as much.” His demeanor toward the elder was respectful without being sycophantically fawning.

“Should you encounter difficulties in the future, you may come to the Duke’s Manor for aid. As long as it is within our power, we shall not refuse,” Old Madam Ning promised.

“This junior thanks the Old Lady.”

Standing to the side, Ning He stole glances at Lu Xingzhi while listening intently to his conversation. Once he departed, she headed over to Ning Fu’s quarters.

Today, Ning Fu wore a specially commissioned wide-sleeved dress of light gauze embroidered with white butterflies over a layered skirt of emerald-patterned cloud satin. Her hair was styled in an “Ethereal Jade” high bun. To find the scarlet jade for her hairpin, Madam Ning had exerted significant effort to locate the raw stone and had searched the capital for the most skilled craftsman to carve it.

When Ning Fu smiled, her eyes were enchanting. Her skin was radiant—a delicate white tinged with a healthy rosy hue—making her entire being appear vivid and spirited.

“Fourth Sister, that Master Lu is truly handsome,” Ning He praised in front of her. It wasn’t just that his features were refined, but rather that his bearing possessed a distinct masculine charm.

For a man, that unique aura of strength is often more important than the face itself.

Ning Fu teased her with a beaming smile, “In the future, how about I find such a handsome husband for you?”

Ning He replied shyly, “I don’t need one that handsome. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep him.”

“True, one needn’t be too good-looking,” Ning Fu agreed, thinking back to her previous life with a sense of conviction.

Madam Ning placed immense importance on this ceremony; she had personally delivered the invitations to the various manors across the capital.

Even though there was some friction between the Prince Xuan Manor and Princess Kangyang’s Manor, they still sent representatives: Zong Ning and the Second Consort Zong. Originally, the third brother had been asked to come a few days prior. Since the Prince Xuan and Ning Duke manors had to maintain public appearances, his presence as the Heir Apparent would have signaled great respect.

However, the third brother had declined at the last minute, citing urgent business.

When the Second Consort Zong saw Ning Fu, she couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. Every time she saw the Fourth Miss Ning, she found her more beautiful than the last.

“What a pity,” the Second Consort sighed. Her impression of the Fourth Miss was quite good, but in the end, they simply lacked the “fated connection” (affinity).

Halfway through the ceremony, Zong Ning spotted her third brother.

Zong Si was keeping a very low profile, dressed in travel clothes as a disguise. Standing in the corner of the long corridor, he could easily be mistaken for a servant of some young master from a distance.

“Third Brother,” Zong Ning walked over.

Zong Si glanced at her.

“Why are you here?” Zong Ning followed him, whispering in confusion. “And why didn’t you come through the main entrance?”

Zong Si originally had no intention of coming today.

If, in her previous life, she had not been his wife but Lu Xingzhi’s, then there would be no old sentiment between them, and he would owe her no responsibility.

However, Fu Jiahui had told him today that the Magnolia Jade Hairpin had been delivered. Even to a man’s eyes, it was exquisite. He thought he would take one look; after all, the two of them weren’t exactly “innocent” with one another. Attending her ceremony could be considered a gesture of well-wishing.

According to superstition, if a woman loses her virginity before marriage and the man involved does not appear on her coming-of-age day to fulfill the duties of a husband and witness the completion of the rite, the woman will be cursed for the rest of her life. Since he was the one who had committed the act, he did not want to stand by and watch Ning Fu’s life in this world be filled with misfortune.

Even if they were to maintain their distance, it would have to be after today.

Not far away, Ning Fu was holding Madam Ning’s hand, appearing to be in high spirits.

“Go back to your seat,” Zong Si turned away, his destination unclear.

Afraid of alerting others, Zong Ning didn’t dare call out and could only fret inwardly.

She watched as her brother walked to the opposite corridor just as Ning Fu was approaching from the other side.

Ning Fu did not recognize him. Assuming he was a servant of the manor, she didn’t give him a second glance, continuing her smiling conversation with Ning He. The beauty was radiant, every frown and smile captivating.

Then, Zong Ning saw her third brother—as he passed by Ning Fu—casually tuck a Magnolia Hairpin into her hair.

During a Ji Ji ceremony, a woman cannot wear a hairpin gifted by an unrelated man. The ceremonial pins are traditionally selected by family or a husband.

Alternatively, a gentleman and a lady who have already shared the intimacy of husband and wife—violating traditional decorum—may do this to act in the capacity of a husband, thereby warding off the woman’s “greatest ill fortune.”

Zong Ning’s face turned pale.

By doing this, the implications of her third brother’s actions were profound indeed.