‘Let’s go have some tea.’ The two constables went to a nearby tent and ordered two bowls of hot tea.
Fuyi quickly turned back and lifted the curtain from the outside.
Ning Wanwan emerged, bending low.
Lin Zhengyang, upon seeing Ning Wanwan, looked haggard and was on the verge of tears. ‘Waner…’
Ning Wanwan spoke calmly, “I’ve come to see you off.”
Though spared the death penalty, Lin Zhengyang was ultimately sentenced to exile. He knelt before Ning Wanwan, startling her. “What are you doing?” she asked.
Lin Zhengyang choked, “Father has heard everything. He was wrong; he harmed you.”
Ning Wanwan hurried to help him up. “Get up first and speak.”
Lin Zhengyang grabbed her hand, tears streaming. “No, this kneel is to apologize. Though it’s useless, I was wrong, Waner… Your mother was a good person. I should have stayed away when I accidentally saved her. I wronged her and was cold towards you for my pride. I should not have been blinded by desire, landing in prison and forcing you to marry the Prince of Yi to save my life.”
Agitated, he tried to slap himself but banged his head against the wooden board instead, crying, “I deserve to die! You should not have saved me…”
Ning Wanwan’s throat tightened, tears welling up. “Father.”
Lin Zhengyang was stunned. “Waner!”
Ning Wanwan had always thought that her father, Lin Zhengyang, looked down on her and would never consider her as a daughter.
“I resented you for your favoritism, coldness, and selfishness. I even wondered why, if you didn’t love mother, you had to have me. But when I learned you might die… I was afraid,” she admitted.
Ning Wanwan looked steadily at Lin Zhengyang and said, “I lost my mother long ago and don’t want to lose you too. I believe mother had her reasons for marrying you. Saving you this time is perhaps for her sake.”
“Waner…” Lin Zhengyang wept, feeling ashamed.
“Get up,” Ning Wanwan helped him to his feet.
“I also want to tell you that marrying the Prince of Yi was my own choice, unrelated to you. I…” she paused, “I truly love the Prince of Yi.”
Lin Zhengyang asked tremulously, “You’re not just saying this to comfort me?”
“It’s true. The Prince of Yi treats me very well.”
