Ning Wei was about to salute Hu Rui when Zaohua came in and said, "Miss, sister Donghui is here to report. The old lady asked the lady to go to Wutong Garden and tell her something."
Ning Wei was stunned for a moment, then responded: "Okay, I'll be there right away."
After saying that, Ning Wei said to Hu Rui: "Sir, I will go to Wutong Garden first."
Hu Rui stood up and said, "I'll join you, Miss."
Ever since the previous incident happened, Hu Rui has been inseparable from Ning Wei. She follows Ning Wei wherever he goes.
Ning Wei knew that Hu Rui was worried, so she didn't say much and let her follow.
The group of people went to Wutong Garden, thinking that Mrs. Qian and Ning Wei had something to say, Hu Rui stopped and said, "I'll wait outside the door."
Ning Wei nodded and walked into the house.
Mrs. Qian saw Ning Wei coming over and waved: "Sister Wei, come and sit."
Ning Wei thanked her and gave Ning Yu a gift before walking to Mrs. Qian and sitting down.
After Ning Wei sat down, Mrs. Qian said: "Sister Wei, in two days, it will be the 60th birthday of Mrs. Qin of Yang Mansion.
Great Scholar Yang, please treat Brother Yu well. We should go and congratulate Mrs. Qin on her sixtieth birthday. I called you here because I wanted you to be prepared."
Ning Wei nodded, "Okay, Wei'er understands."
Mrs. Qian continued: "Sixty is a big birthday, and there will definitely be many guests from the Yang family coming to congratulate you.
In such an occasion, when there are many people talking, it is inevitable that you will encounter people with ulterior motives who will stir up trouble. When others ask about family affairs, you must know how to answer."
After saying that, Mrs. Qian looked at Ning Yu on the right and saw that Ning Yu had his head half lowered, not knowing what he was thinking.
Mrs. Qian turned to look at Ning Wei. Ning Wei also looked down at the tea cup on the table, and a feeling of powerlessness suddenly arose in her heart.
Mrs. Qian sighed heavily and said, "Grandma knows that you are feeling aggrieved, but you should know that a family scandal should not be exposed to the public.
It doesn't matter how we quarrel at home. If we quarrel outside, what good can we gain except making people laugh?
Brother Yu, Sister Wei, your grievances may at most win a little pity and sympathy from others, but more often they will make people laugh and despise you.
This is of no benefit to you at all! Brother Yu, are you right?"
Ning Yu nodded and said, "That's the reason. Grandma, don't worry. My grandson knows the importance and won't say anything outside."
Mrs. Qian turned to look at Ning Wei and asked, "Where is Sister Wei?"
Ning Wei nodded and said: "Grandma, don't worry, Wei'er also understands. However, Wei'er only promised not to talk nonsense.
But if Madam or Ning He comes to cause trouble for Wei'er, Wei'er will not let them bully her."
Ning Yu looked at Mrs. Qian, "Yes, we don't cause trouble, but if they don't care about their face and take the initiative to cause trouble, we won't endure the humiliation and bear the burden."
Mrs. Qian thought for a moment and said, "They don't dare!"
Ning Wei is not as optimistic as Mrs. Qian. With Zhao's temperament, she will not miss any opportunity to bully her!
Ning Yu wanted to ask back, what is there that Zhao didn't dare to do? But he was worried that the rhetorical question would hurt Mrs. Qian's heart. So he changed his mind and said, "I hope so! My grandson wants to warm up his books, so he will go back first."
After saying that, Ning Yu stood up and bowed to Mrs. Qian.
When Ning Wei saw her brother leaving, she stood up and said goodbye to Mrs. Qian.
Mrs. Qian looked at her grandchildren leaving and sighed again.
Yueniang poured a cup of warm tea and placed it in front of Mrs. Qian, then took away the cold tea from before.
Mrs. Qian said quietly: "Yue Niang, am I asking too much for Brother Yu and Sister Wei?"
Yueniang said with relief: "Old madam, you are thinking too much, you are always thinking about the second master and the eldest lady, and it is for their own good.
The second master and the eldest lady are both sensible and transparent people, and they will understand the old lady's painstaking efforts."
Mrs. Qian sighed heavily and said no more.
Ning Yu went out and stopped under the verandah, waiting for Ning Wei to come out.
"Brother, are you waiting for me?" Ning Wei went out and saw Ning Yu and asked.
Ning Yu nodded and said, "Awei, if you don't want to see those people, you don't have to go to Yang's birthday party."
Ning Yu is a disciple of Bachelor Yang, and the Yang family is very familiar to him.
On the day of the banquet, he knew how to avoid Ning Guangyan and Ning Yang.
But he was worried about Ning Wei and worried that Zhao and Ning He would cause harm to Ning Wei.
Ning Wei shook her head and said, "No, if I don't go, Mrs. Zhao will have more to say.
Don’t worry, brother, my husband is following me and Xing Yu is here, everything will be fine.”
Seeing Ning Wei's resolute attitude, Ning Yu knew that he could not persuade her, so he had to compromise: "Okay, I will talk to Le Ming later and ask him to arrange for more people to observe."
Ning Wei shook his head to stop and said: "No, there must be a lot of things going on at the Yang Mansion's banquet that day. Brother, please don't trouble others. I can take care of myself."
Ning Yu thought about it, so he said: "Okay, you should be more careful then. It's getting late, so go back and rest early."
Ning Wei said goodbye to Ning Yu Fushen.
In the study room in the outer courtyard of Prince Chen's Mansion, his attendant Lu Ming leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty, Ning Guangyan was a fellow Jinshi in the second year of Yongping.
Ning Guangyan's father, Ning Xudong, once worked as a minor official in Honglu Temple. Through unknown connections, he placed Ning Guangyan in the Ministry of Works.
This man has been in the Ministry of Industry for eighteen years, and has grown from a petty official to the current Yuanwailang.
Ning Xudong died of illness in the winter of the second year of Yongping. Ning Guangyan's first wife was Zhao Manhua, the daughter of Zhao Hetai, editor of the Hanlin Academy.
The Zhao family married into the Ning family in Yongping year, and gave birth to a son and a daughter to Ning Guangyan. Their son Ning Yu, the second master of the Ning family, became the name of Yang Yanqing, a bachelor of Yang University.
Zhao passed away in the fifth year of Yongping. In the same year, Ning Guangyan married Zhao Jinxiu, the daughter of merchant Zhao Yonghe.
Zhao Jinxiu and Zhao Jinhua are from the same clan. When the young Zhao married into the Ning family, he brought a four-year-old son with him, who is the current eldest son of the Ning family, Ning Yang.
The second month after Xiao Zhao married into the Ning family, she gave birth to the second daughter of the Ning family, Ning He, and later gave birth to the third daughter of the Ning family, Ning Moulei.
On that day, the woman that the prince rescued at the Chengguo Palace was none other than Ning He, the second daughter of the young Zhao family.
Furthermore, Ning Guangyan and his wife are very close to Wan Zhentian, the leader of the Chiyang Gang. Do they have a very good relationship? This is the general situation of the Ning family."
King Chen looked at his aide Zhou Jiawei and asked, "Sir, what do you think of this matter?"
Zhou Jiawei said: "The Ning family's family background is too low, Miss Ning's biological mother is still a merchant.
Such a woman will not be of much help to the prince. She will definitely not be able to become a princess, so she can consider being a concubine."
Queen Chen held her right arm and held her chin with her right hand. She thought for a moment, shook her head slightly and said: "The main concubine is not married yet, so she cannot welcome the concubine first, so let's let it go in advance."
Lu Ming stuttered and asked: "Then... how to deal with the rumors... outside?"
King Chen raised his head and looked at Lu Ming. His sharp gaze made Lu Ming shiver, and Lu Ming quickly lowered his head.
King Chen said slowly: "So what about the rumors? If I ignore them, who can do anything to me?"
Lu Ming hurriedly knelt down and said, "Yes, I know my mistake."
Zhou Jiawei looked at Lu Ming and said, "What the prince said was that what happened that day was a righteous act by the prince.
As far as the prince is concerned, he can advance or retreat. If he advances, he can control the Ning family's daughter, but if he retreats, he can ignore it.
Don’t even care what others say.”
After listening to Zhou Jiawei's words, King Chen's expression softened a lot.
He looked at Lu Ming and said, "Keep an eye on the eldest ladies of Chengguo Duke's Mansion and Weiyuan Marquis Mansion, and report their whereabouts in a timely manner."
Lu Ming accepted the order, kowtowed, stood up and retreated.
After Lu Ming retreated, King Chen looked at Zhou Jiawei and said, "Sir, please go and have a rest too."
Zhou Jiawei bowed and said goodbye.
In Manyuan on Changbao Road, Mrs. Zhao looked at Lingnan Shuangyang and asked dissatisfiedly: "Two people claim to be famous big shots in the world, but they can't even do anything to a little girl. It really insults their reputations."
Ran Wuyang had a bad temper and couldn't listen to Mrs. Zhao's endless chatter. He stood up and said, "Okay, I won't accept this deal. Chaoyang, let's go."
Seeing that he had annoyed the two of them, Wan Zhentian quickly apologized and said with a smile: "My lord, please stay. Madam, she is just impatient and has no other intentions."
After saying that, Wan Zhentian looked at Madam Xiao Zhao and said with a wink: "Madam, this matter cannot be rushed. The two heroes have a high reputation in the world, and they will never break their promise.
But now in the capital, the two heroes have many scruples in doing things.
Moreover, Mrs. Qian took Miss Ning and Mr. Ning to hide in the Xu Mansion, so the two heroes had no way of doing anything.
As long as you give me a little more time, madam, I think the two heroes will definitely be able to complete their mission."
After hearing Wan Zhentian's words, Ran Wuyang's expression softened and he sat back on the chair.
After receiving Wan Zhentian's look, Mrs. Zhao stopped chattering, but she still had a sullen face.
Xu Chaoyang looked at Mrs. Zhao, then looked at Wan Zhentian, and said: "This matter has not been completed for a long time, and we cannot be blamed only. You did not explain the situation in advance, which led to our misjudgment."
Mrs. Zhao could only blame Xu Chaoyang for shirking her responsibilities, and her hot temper flared up again.
"Why are you still blaming us for this matter? What was the situation that was not explained clearly beforehand?
That little bitch lives in Xu Mansion, have I explained it to you?
Xu Weiwu serves in the Wucheng Army and Horses Division. I have explained this matter before, right?
There may be guards around the little bitch, I have warned you before. It is obviously you who swear that you are invincible in the world.
Now that things are not done, Daxia Xu is complaining in turn, I don’t understand."
Before Xu Chaoyang spoke, Ran Wuyang took over the words first, "You only said that Miss Ning lives in the Xu Mansion, but you did not explain that Miss Ning has people from the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion around her."
Thinking of Shi Jingyang protecting the pair of bastards, Mrs. Zhao became irritated and asked angrily: "Aren't you the invincible fighter in the world? Are you afraid of a Weiyuan Marquis?"
Let me tell you something sweet, will you accept this deal or not?"
Xu Chaoyang said: "Yes, why not? However, I have two conditions. If the madam agrees, we will accept it. If the madam does not agree, we will not accept this transaction."
Mrs. Xiao Zhao only wanted Ning Wei to die. As long as Ning Wei died, she would agree to not just two conditions, but a hundred conditions.
"What are the conditions?"
Xu Chaoyang said: "First, the price will increase by another fifty thousand. This transaction costs one hundred thousand taels of silver."
Wan Zhentian quickly glanced at Mrs. Zhao, then turned his gaze to Xu Chaoyang and said, "One hundred thousand taels of silver, Master Xu, isn't it a bit much? Fifty thousand taels is already very high."
Xu Chaoyang ignored Wan Zhentian, looked at Mrs. Zhao and said, "Madam, you can refuse, and we can also not accept this business."
Mrs. Xiao Zhao wished that Ning Wei would die immediately. As long as Ning Wei could die, she would be willing to pay two hundred thousand taels of silver, not to mention one hundred thousand taels.
Mrs. Xiao Zhao nodded in agreement, "Okay, one hundred thousand is one hundred thousand. I gave you a deposit of ten thousand before, and I will give you another ten thousand as a deposit. After the matter is completed, I will give you the remaining eighty thousand. Is that possible?"
Xu Chaoyang nodded and said, "Madam is a cheerful person."
When Wan Zhentian saw Mrs. Zhao agreed, he asked: "This is one condition, what about the second condition?"
Xu Chaoyang said with a smile: "The second is simple, but it requires the wife to deal with it."
Mrs. Zhao pointed at her face and asked: "You want me to deal with it? How do you want me to deal with it?"
Xu Chaoyang said: "Miss Ning is hiding in the Xu Mansion and does not go out. In addition, people from Weiyuan Hou Mansion are hiding in the dark to protect her. I and Ran Wu cannot get close to Miss Ning, so this matter is difficult to accomplish.
Madam moves around a lot in the aristocratic family circle, and I know that there are many banquets in the aristocratic family. I would like to ask Madam to send a message to Miss Ning, asking Miss Ning to go out and attend the banquet.
As long as Miss Ning leaves Xu Mansion, I will have a chance to take action."
Wan Zhentian nodded, looked at Mrs. Zhao and said, "Well, that's a good idea. If she doesn't come out, we'll try to lure her out. As long as she comes out, we'll have a chance."
Mrs. Zhao thought that Mrs. Qin of the Yang family would have her 60th birthday in two days. That bastard was a disciple of Grand Master Yang, and he would not fail to attend Mrs. Qin's birthday party.
Said: "Okay, I will arrange this matter. I will tell you later."
Xu Chaoyang cupped his hands and bowed and said, "Okay, I have some good news for you, Madam."
Mrs. Zhao said: "I also have a request."
Xu Chaoyang and Ran Wuyang looked at Mrs. Xiao Zhao, and Ran Wuyang said: "What is the request? Madam, please tell me."
Mrs. Xiao Zhao said: "After the matter is completed, you two must serve that little bitch carefully and make the little bitch's death as miserable as possible.
If the miserable appearance of this bitch satisfies me, I will consider adding another twenty thousand taels of silver to you as reward for your hard work."
Ran Wuyang's eyes flashed with crystal light, and he immediately nodded in agreement: "This is not a problem, Madam, don't worry.
I like weak little ladies the most. As long as the weak little lady cries under me, the more I cry, the more excited I will be."
Wan Zhentian said with a smile: "Brother Ran is so lucky. Miss Ning is so beautiful that she could be the most beautiful girl in the country. She must be incredibly beautiful when she cries under Brother Ran."
Hearing that Miss Ning was a beauty, Ran Wuyang felt happy in his heart, but then he said angrily: "It's a pity that it was too dark that night and I couldn't catch a glimpse of Miss Ning's beauty."
Xu Chaoyang smiled and patted Ran Wuyang and said: "Don't be sad, we will get it soon."
After saying that, Xu Chaoyang stood up, clasped his fists at Wan Zhentian and Madam Xiao Zhao and said, "The matter has been agreed, let's leave now. Madam, if you have any news, please come over as soon as possible."
Wan Zhentian and Mrs. Xiao Zhao stood up to see each other off: "Okay, as soon as there is news, I will inform the two heroes as soon as possible."
