“Did you hear? The young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence is returning to the capital!”
“What? The young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence? The one I’m thinking of?”
“What’s wrong with you? How many young lords of the Dingguo Duke’s residence could there be?”
“Hey! But didn’t I hear that he… passed away?”
“Stop spouting nonsense! The young lord is perfectly fine! He’s about to return to the capital! Keep talking like that and see if I don’t punch you!”
“Hey, hey, hey, stop it! A gentleman doesn’t resort to violence, let’s talk this out calmly! And I’m not making things up. Didn’t you say yourself before that the young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence had an accident and was already gone?”
“When did I say that? When?! I only said that the young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence had an accident and was severely injured! Severely injured! Not dead!”
“Well, your tone back then made it sound like he was already dead, so everyone thought—”
“Ahhhh, I’ll beat you to death!”
“……”
The news of the Dingguo Duke’s young lord being gravely injured during the battle with Northern Liang had spread a long time ago. At that time, the most common rumor was that he was severely wounded, in a coma, and hanging on by a thread.
However, even though his life was hanging by a thread, he was still alive, and no official confirmation of his death had been released.
Many people across the land secretly prayed for the young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence, hoping that heaven would protect this young man who had safeguarded the borders of the Great Yan Dynasty and Northern Liang for many years, helping him survive this great calamity.
Even at Jinyang Temple, it was said that many people had offered longevity tablets for the young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence.
Wen Ninghan was also aware of this. However, she wasn’t worried because she knew that while the young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence had indeed been severely injured, his life was not in danger, and he would soon be able to return to the capital safely.
The problem was that his body had suffered lasting damage, and the once-great hero who had charged across the battlefield could no longer lift a spear or ride a horse to kill enemies.
Instead, this young lord brought the battlefield to the capital, stirring up chaos and becoming the biggest obstacle for the male and female leads.
He could be considered the biggest antagonist in the entire story, but from a rational standpoint, Wen Ninghan thought that the young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence and the male and female leads were merely enemies due to conflicting positions. He wasn’t a bad person.
The Dingguo Duke’s residence, along with the Jinbei Army, had guarded the northern border of Youbei for decades, and their role was crucial to the safety and stability of the entire Great Yan Dynasty.
The people of the Great Yan Dynasty held a deep respect and admiration for the Jinbei Army and the Dingguo Duke’s residence, and Wen Ninghan was no exception.
She had great admiration for the soldiers who protected their homeland, which also led to her secret fondness for the Jinbei Army.
This is why, at the post station, she was able to immediately recognize the identity of the mysterious man and even took the initiative to help him treat his injuries.
As for the young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence, although Wen Ninghan couldn’t make a judgment about him just yet, and knew that for a long time to come, he would oppose the male and female leads, she felt that this person, along with the power behind him—his family, the Dingguo Duke’s residence, and his prince cousin—was the greatest variable in this world. As long as they were alive, they would be the biggest obstacle to the male and female leads.
Looking at it from another angle, he was basically the perfect candidate for the “golden thigh”!
However, Qin Rongxi, who had also heard about this, wasn’t very happy. The task Wen Ninghan had entrusted to him still hadn’t been completed, and the conversation he had just started with the young masters barely began to touch on the topic of the Wen family.
But before he could say much, everyone’s attention was completely diverted by the news of the young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence returning to the capital.
As for the small, under-the-table rumors about the Yong’an Marquis’s residence, they were completely insignificant and hardly worth mentioning.
Wen Ninghan couldn’t help but laugh at Qin Rongxi’s complaint. Honestly, she had forgotten that the timeline had aligned with the moment when the young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence was returning to the capital after his injury.
At the time, she had only wanted to find something for Qin Rongxi to do to divert his attention, and to put some pressure on Concubine Su. She hadn’t thought to consider this detail.
“However, the young lord of the Dingguo Duke’s residence returning to the capital is actually a good opportunity for me…”
Hearing Wen Ninghan’s murmured sigh, Qin Rongxi’s hair stood on end. “Xiao Jiu, with you acting like that, I have a feeling you’re scheming something dangerous again! This is the capital! Be honest! Otherwise, I’ll report you to Uncle Wu!”
“Seventh brother, what’s wrong with you? Aren’t you on my side? How can you go and report me to Uncle? How old are you, and you’re still going to tell on me to an elder!”
“Hmph, Xiao Jiu, you’re guilty! Don’t try to change the subject. If you’re going to do something dangerous, I’m definitely going to report you! If I can’t deal with you, do you think Uncle Wu won’t take care of you?”
“Uncle Wu needs to rest! You can’t disturb his recovery just because of some trouble!”
“Then you have to promise me first that you won’t do any dangerous things recklessly! You always remind me that this is the capital, and we need to be careful, so you can’t be an exception!”
Wen Ninghan looked at Qin Rongxi with a helpless expression. “What have I done that you need to be so wary of me? Seventh brother, have you forgotten? I’ve been staying quietly in this courtyard all these days since returning to the capital. I haven’t gone anywhere!”
“Hmph! Do you think I don’t know you? The moment your eyes shift, I know exactly what kind of mischief you’re plotting!”
Seeing Qin Rongxi looking so smug, Wen Ninghan couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. “I haven’t done anything yet, Seventh brother, you…” Having someone who knows you so well can sometimes be a bit inconvenient.
“Don’t worry, Seventh brother. Whatever I’m going to do, I won’t forget about you. Is that good enough?”
Although Qin Rongxi still felt like something wasn’t quite right, hearing Wen Ninghan’s promise, he was filled with joy and said, “Now that’s more like it.”
Qing Tuan, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the siblings, couldn’t help but feel a little helpless.
So, after all the arguing, the point wasn’t really about stopping the young miss from doing something—it was that whatever she did, she had to take him along, right?
Seeing the seventh young master, who appeared clever, acting so clueless in front of the young miss, Qing Tuan shook her head in resignation and handed the invitation in her hand to Wen Ninghan.
“Miss, this is an invitation that just arrived from the front courtyard. It was personally delivered by Mama Tang1The term “Mama” is similar to a Nanny but with a broader role in managing the household and assisting the mistress of the household., who serves Concubine Su. She said Concubine Su is too busy to come herself,”
Qing Tuan explained. She paused slightly before continuing, “But really, Concubine Su isn’t busy at all, she’s just too scared to come. She’s avoiding you, probably because she doesn’t want to be questioned about the late Madam’s dowry again. She’s hoping to dodge it for as long as possible. But she doesn’t seem to realize that this matter can’t be avoided forever.”
“Anyway, Mama Tang said that this is an invitation from the Princess Hui Ling’s residence, and Concubine Su suggested that the young miss should definitely go.”
Wen Ninghan had been back at the Yong’an Marquis’s residence for nearly half a month. After the incident at the main gate and the rumors Qin Rongxi had spread outside, almost everyone in the capital, both those who should and shouldn’t know, were aware that the Yong’an Marquis’s residence had gained a legitimate young lady. As a result, the number of invitations—whether out of curiosity or ulterior motives—had increased significantly.
This was an experience that Concubine Su had never encountered before. While it made her feel a great sense of disparity, it also made her more acutely aware of the threat Wen Ninghan posed to her, or more specifically, to her precious daughter.
This sense of crisis reached its peak when Concubine Su received the invitation from the Princess Hui Ling’s residence.
Her precious daughter, Wen Ning Shuang, had never received an invitation from the Princess’s residence before. In the past, in order to attend the Princess’s flower viewing banquet, Wen Ning Shuang had to lower herself and ingratiate herself with the Third Princess just to secure a chance to go. When she returned, her eyes were red, clearly having endured a great deal of humiliation.
When Mama Tang returned after delivering the invitation, she saw Concubine Su sitting by the window, her eyes red, lost in thought. Mama Tang had been Concubine Su’s wet nurse.
After the Su family fell from grace, only a young maid and Mama Tang remained by Su Ying’s2a more casual or affectionate way of referring Su Yiniang side.
Mama Tang had been with Su Ying all these years, truly treating her as a daughter. Seeing Su Ying in such a state, Mama Tang could only feel deep sorrow and heartache.
“Miss, I have already delivered the invitation…” Although Mama Tang felt it was unnecessary to pass the invitation to Wen Ninghan, who was just an outsider—a young girl who, despite holding the title of the legitimate young lady of the Marquis’s residence, had not grown up there and had no real connection with the Marquis. In Mama Tang’s view, this girl posed no real threat to Concubine Su.
Su Ying and the second young miss had the Marquis’s favor, and that was their greatest support. Mama Tang had previously advised Concubine Su that as long as she held the Marquis’s favor in this household, she could secure everything. Of course, having a son would be even better.
Unfortunately, over the years, the Marquis only had two daughters and a bedridden son, whose survival was uncertain.
Mama Tang had also suggested to Concubine Su that if they could bring the illegitimate son from the secondary courtyard closer to their side, it would provide them with another layer of support.
But unfortunately, Concubine Su looked down on the sickly child, who was unlikely to survive, and she also despised the woman from the secondary courtyard who had seduced the Marquis. Over the years, aside from fulfilling the necessary formalities, she had completely ignored the mother and son.
Hearing Mama Tang’s repeated words, Concubine Su’s patience wore thin. “Mama, stop talking about it!”
Mama Tang sighed deeply and handed a cup of hot tea to Concubine Su. “Miss, no matter what happens, you mustn’t lose your composure!”
The maids in the room had already been sent out by Mama Tang, and Concubine Su was not worried about these matters being overheard, as most of the household’s dealings were handled by Mama Tang.
“How can I not be upset? That girl, that damned girl, just returned to the Marquis’s residence and immediately demanded to know about the dowry and profits left by Qin Xi!”
Mama Tang was aware of the grievances Concubine Su had suffered at the hands of Wen Ninghan. However, when it came down to it, Wen Ninghan was in the right. There was no other way to resolve the matter.
When Concubine Su had taken control of the dowry left by Qin Xi, it was with Wen Congyan’s approval.
After all, maintaining the large estate of the Marquis required a significant amount of money, and it was precisely because of a lack of funds that the old Marquis had targeted the Qin family in the first place.
Neither Wen Congyan nor Concubine Su thought there was anything wrong with the situation, and they certainly never expected that Wen Ninghan’s first act upon returning would be to make a show of strength by bringing up Qin Xi’s dowry.
“If only we hadn’t let the Qin family take that damned girl!”
If Wen Ninghan had grown up in the Marquis’ household—well, it was uncertain whether she could have even survived that long. But at least, under her control, the girl wouldn’t have been allowed to do as she pleased.
However, it was out of her hands. No one knew exactly what the Qin family patriarch had said to the Marquis, but in the end, they took Wen Ninghan. Concubine Su had asked Wen Congyan about it, only to be scolded severely and told never to question it again.
Now, after ten years, the Qin family had given the Marquis’ household, and her, a huge hidden threat.
“Miss, this matter is not without a solution,” Mama Tang gently massaged Su Yiniang’s forehead to help relieve her stress.
“The young lady is of marriageable age now. When the Marquis returns, you can discuss it with him. It’s time to find a suitable match for her.”
Su Yiniang frowned deeply. Still, she had to find a suitor for that troublesome girl?
“But even so, her mother, Qin Xie’s dowry, still has to be handed over to her…”
“Don’t worry, Miss. As for the dowry left by Qin Xie, I’m sure the Marquis is more reluctant than anyone to hand it over.”
This matter shouldn’t be something Su Yiniang needs to worry about.
After all, the marquis is there to back her up!
