Only Rong Sui and Shi Ning'an were left under the corridor. Shi Ning'an felt rather ill at ease. She got up, wanting to leave, but seemed reluctant. With her head down, she fussed with the charcoal fire on the tea stove.
The spring cold wind was bitterly cold. Shi Ning'an's jade - like hands were exposed. Under the lamplight, one could almost see the blue veins under her thin skin.
Rong Sui hadn't drunk any wine, but he felt a bit tipsy today.
Steadying his mind, Rong Sui whispered, "Zhao Yiyi was an accident."
Shi Ning'an's thoughts went back to the main hall and the poor girl there. She used to dislike Zhao Yiyi very much, thinking she was a snob and everything about her was superficial. But when she calmed down and thought about it, she felt that Zhao Yiyi was very brave. At least she dared to confess her love to a man actively.
She... didn't have the courage.
Rong Sui took a deep breath. "I didn't expect that Zhao Yiyi would be involved in the plans of Concubine Zhao and the Crown Prince."
Shi Ning'an looked up and asked, "Isn't Zhao Yiyi Concubine Zhao's younger sister? From what I saw today, they seemed very affectionate as sisters."
Rong Sui shook his head. "Concubine Zhao's biological mother was Lord Zhao's first wife. Like many ordinary official families, the Zhao family was wealthy and powerful. There was quite a scramble among the family's nephews for the position of the head of the family. Lord Zhao was not outstanding at that time. It was his first wife who helped him get to the top. Unfortunately, once he had power, Lord Zhao forgot the kindness of his first wife and soon took another lover."
Shi Ning'an was dumbfounded. "So, is Zhao Feifei seeking revenge?"
Rong Sui still shook his head. "Not entirely. Lord Zhao's two sons were both born to his first wife, and Zhao Feifei was the eldest daughter. Zhao Yiyi was born when Lord Zhao's second wife was still a concubine. The inner - house affairs are hard to verify. We only know that after Lord Zhao's first wife died, this concubine was promoted to the main wife, and Zhao Yiyi became a legitimate daughter. Moreover, Lord Zhao doted on her so much that she could get whatever she wanted and was spoiled beyond measure. That jade pendant was also worn around Zhao Yiyi's neck."
Shi Ning'an quickly asked, "Is there something strange about that jade pendant?"
Rong Sui replied, "That jade pendant was a gift from the founding emperor. The Zhao family has passed it down from generation to generation, wearing it around the neck of their legitimate daughters. Each generation of aunts would pass it on to the next - generation nieces. But Zhao Feifei suffered a lot in her childhood and never had the chance to wear this jade pendant. Later, Lord Zhao personally gave it to Zhao Yiyi as a coming - of - age gift."
Shi Ning'an began to understand. No wonder Zhao Yiyi was attacked in her previous life. The jade pendant was a symbol of the Zhao family. The eldest prince wanted to get rid of the Zhao family to make way for the Liu family, so he started with Zhao Yiyi. As for the inner - house affairs of the Zhao family, it was likely that Lord Zhao's first wife didn't die a natural death. Zhao Feifei probably added fuel to the fire and also wanted to get rid of Zhao Yiyi.
Zhao Yiyi was doomed to die anyway. In this life, because of her, Zhao Yiyi had lived for a longer time.
She was really a pitiful person in the inner house.
Rong Sui added, "I heard that the second son of the Zhao family is very knowledgeable, but he can only engage in business. Now he finally has a chance. I think in three years, there will be one more student from the Zhao family in the capital."
Shi Ning'an asked, "What about... that Zhao Yiyi?"
Rong Sui sighed. "A woman's fate is generally like this. If it were in the past, Zhao Yiyi would probably have entered the Dong family's mansion..."
Shi Ning'an frowned and said seriously, "Enter the Dong family's mansion? Dong Ning just did such evil things. Why should Zhao Yiyi marry him?"
Rong Sui paused and argued, "I meant in the past."
Shi Ning'an asked, "So, cousin also thinks that once a girl loses her reputation, she must marry the man who ruined it?"
Her tone was a bit impatient, and her eyes unconsciously widened.
Rong Sui was stunned and subconsciously shook his head. "I don't think so, Ning'an. I don't care about such things among women, and I never thought..."
Shi Ning'an was still angry. "You never thought about how pitiful girls are? The man is the one who started all this. He should be castrated, not force the woman to marry him!"
Perhaps her words were too straightforward. Rong Sui squinted his eyes. When he came to his senses, he poured a cup of tea and handed it to Shi Ning'an. "Cousin..."
Shi Ning'an was sulking and didn't take the tea.
Rong Sui said gently, "Ning'an, I really didn't think about these things. Since our Rong family is not the Three Judicial Departments, all I can do is arrest, not judge. But if there is such a thing as a soldier in the Rong family's army teasing a woman, they will always be punished according to military law and beheaded in front of the soldiers."
Hearing this, Shi Ning'an's complexion improved a lot, but she was still listless and hung her head.
Rong Sui added, "Moreover, now that something has happened to the Dong family, Zhao Yiyi can't enter the Dong family either."
Shi Ning'an replied, "If she doesn't go to the Dong family, she will probably spend her whole life in a temple. How pitiful."
Rong Sui asked, "Why are you so concerned about her?"
Tears suddenly welled up in Shi Ning'an's eyes. She used to dislike Zhao Yiyi so much, but now that something had happened to Zhao Yiyi, she actually felt a sense of empathy. At least they both liked the same man, and this man in front of her was so cold - hearted and didn't know what tenderness was.
Rong Sui took out a handkerchief and offered it. Shi Ning'an still didn't take it. Rong Sui was at a loss and used the handkerchief to wipe the tears on Shi Ning'an's face. But the more he wiped, the more tears there seemed to be.
In a daze, Rong Sui actually reached out and pulled Shi Ning'an onto his shoulder, letting her bury her head in his arms and cry.
Shi Ning'an buried her head deeper and murmured, "Rong Sui, if something happened to me... would you send me to a temple?"
Rong Sui tightened his lips and held her shoulders. "I won't let such a thing happen to you."
Shi Ning'an looked up at him with tear - filled eyes. "What if?"
"There is no what - if."
Shi Ning'an was insistent. "But... there is that possibility. If you are not prepared and I am not on guard, and such a thing happens..."
Before she could finish her words, his lips came down on hers, cold and soft. She unconsciously widened her eyes - was he kissing her?
Rong Sui held her neck, and his mind went blank. She was his.
His tongue was like a dexterous snake, prying open her lips and taking over.
When Shi Ning'an was still in a daze, Rong Sui had already let her go.
"Ning'an, I won't let anything happen to you. Ning'an, there is no what - if."
Shi Ning'an was still dazed. When she woke up the next day, she felt that the kiss was like a dream.
She got up, stepped on the ground bare - footed, and ran in front of the bronze mirror. The mirror was shiny, reflecting her appearance and her lips.
She reached out and stroked her lips, still unable to figure out if the kiss yesterday was a dream. Why did it feel so real? The cold and warm touch seemed to be truly printed on her lips.
Why did she have such a dream?
Shi Ning'an sat on the ground, covering her blushing face.
When Lu'er came in, she was startled. "Miss, the ground is cold. Why are you sitting on the ground?"
When the young lady looked up, she was even more shocked. "Miss, why is your face so red? Are you running a fever?"
Lu'er reached out to feel Shi Ning'an's forehead and thought it wasn't hot. Still worried, she helped Shi Ning'an onto the bed, carefully tucked in the quilt, and then called a maid to go to the front yard to tell the eldest lady to find a doctor to check on the young lady.
At this moment in the front hall, Rong Feichi looked unhappy. His father had suddenly fallen seriously ill, and his mood was far from good. He also felt that the Duke Rong's Mansion was now besieged on all sides. Ning'an had said in front of all the civil and military officials yesterday that she would decide her own marriage.
But if the Prince of Northern Qi didn't give up, Ning'an might not be able to make her own decision and might have to go voluntarily.
Rong Feichi looked at Xia Anhai and Zeng Haomiao in front of him and simply told them the truth. "Now you all know Ning'an's situation. You two are Ning'an's cousins and are currently the most suitable candidates. I'm here today to ask who of you is willing to marry Ning'an as his wife?"
Zeng Haomiao was the first to bow. "Your Highness, I grew up with Ning'an. We are childhood sweethearts. I'm willing to marry Ning'an as my wife."
Rong Heng stood beside them and asked curiously, "Didn't Brother Zeng say before that he regarded Ning'an as his younger sister?"
Zeng Haomiao said, "We have to act according to the circumstances. In my heart, Ning'an is just like Ruoyun. She is my younger sister. But in this urgent situation, I have to think for Ning'an. The Zeng family has always been indifferent, and Ning'an has the same kind of personality. I think it would be most suitable for her to marry me."
Xia Anhai spoke later. "Brother Zeng's words are inappropriate. The Zeng family is a family of medicine, but they can't match the power of the Prince of Northern Qi. If Ning'an gets engaged to Brother Zeng, it's possible that the Prince of Northern Qi won't agree and will force Ning'an to break off the engagement. The Xia family is different. My father is..."
Rong Sui coughed and nodded. "What my cousin said is very true. If the Prince of Northern Qi insists on taking someone else's wife, I'm afraid neither the Zeng nor the Xia family will be able to do anything."
Xia Anhai paused and quickly argued, "Cousin, my Xia family is at least..."
Rong Sui didn't wait for him to finish and continued, "Uncle, in my opinion, we have to choose a most suitable young man who must be able to protect Ning'an and not be afraid of the royal family of Northern Qi."
Rong Heng finally realized and patted his head. "But now... except for the royal family, I'm afraid only our Rong family is not afraid of the royal family of Northern Qi. If necessary, I'll lead the troops to fight. I'll beat the Northern Qi to pieces! Thinking about it this way, isn't Ning'an going to have to choose one of us brothers?"
Rong Sui's face darkened, and he gave Rong Heng an unhappy look.
Rong Heng was confused and didn't understand why his elder brother was looking at him like that. "Am I... wrong?"
Rong Sui said irritably, tightening his lips. "You're absolutely right."
Princess Zhaoming said worriedly, "But your grandfather has already ruled you two brothers out."
"Why?"
The two brothers asked in unison.
Princess Zhaoming explained, "A Sui is too cold - hearted. Your grandfather is afraid that you won't treat Ning'an well. A Heng will guard the border in the future. Your grandfather is worried that if you get married, you will be separated for a long time."
Rong Heng pouted. "I'm a military general. It's only natural. As my wife, how can she not endure this bit of hardship? Brother, am I right?"
Rong Sui smiled and patted his younger brother's shoulder. "What Heng'er said is very true."
This smile dazzled Rong Heng's eyes. He felt that something was not right.
Hearing this, Princess Zhaoming sighed helplessly. "If it were an ordinary girl, your grandfather wouldn't care about you. But it's Ning'an. You're so heartless. Your grandfather will definitely not marry Ning'an to you."
Rong Heng scratched his head. "Isn't this just an expedient measure? Does Auntie think that Brother is more suitable than me?"