Old Madam Ning gradually stopped laughing, looking at her seriously. “Have you thought it through?”
Ning Wan Wan turned her head, puzzled. “Thought through what?”
“Deciding to be with the Yi Wang?”
Ning Wan Wan thought for a moment and nodded firmly. “Yes.”
Old Madam Ning looked worried. “Have you considered that his illness might not let him live long?”
“I’ve thought about it, but Wan Wan doesn’t care.”
“No matter if Si Zhan’s poison could be cured, or how long he could live, she hoped to accompany him, to spare him loneliness and sorrow, giving him a place for his heart to rest.
“Do you know what path you’ll face if he leaves?”
“When we reach the mountain, there will be a way. I believe my uncle will survive that tribulation. Even if he goes first, I won’t regret it.” Ning Wan Wan’s gaze held an unbreakable determination. “The path I choose, I will walk to the end.”
Ning Laotai asked, “Has the master mentioned anything about official affairs?”
Xu shi replied, “The master rarely speaks to me, and when he does, he never mentions official matters.”
“Has he been acting unusual recently?”
Xu shi pondered, “He hasn’t seemed particularly unusual… just somewhat happier than before…”
Happier? Ning Wanwan’s heart stirred, and she asked, “Has father given you money?”
Xu shi’s eyes flickered, and she stammered, “…Gi-given…”
“How much?”
“Between two thousand and five thousand taels, but the master always replenishes the money after a few days, so I never recorded these amounts.”
Ning Laotai stared at Ning Wanwan, “Does Wanwan know something?”
Ning Wanwan frowned. “I recently met Wu Deng and learned that Father seems to have made some small business deals and earned some money.”
Ning Laotai scoffed. “He has ambitions to restore the Lin family’s reputation, so he would explore other avenues. I’m not surprised.”
However, Ning Wanwan was concerned about the nature of her father’s business.
“Let’s not rush. We’ll wait for Chang Nanny to return,” Ning Laotai consoled.
Ning Wanwan set aside her thoughts and waited for Chang Nanny’s news.
After a while, Chang Nanny returned.
“Old Madam.”
“How is it? Did you find out?” Ning Laotai leaned forward.
“I found out,” Chang Nanny said gravely. “Wu Deng, close to the master, was instructed by him to use the mansion’s money to smuggle copper coins.”
“What?!” Ning Laotai was shocked.
Ning Wanwan’s heart sank.
Chang Nanny continued, “Wu Deng has confessed that the master provided the money to purchase copper coins in large quantities from households, smuggling them to Jiaozhi and Java, exchanging them for foreign goods to resell and earn enormous profits.”
“How many copper coins were smuggled?” Ning Wanwan asked, trembling.
“Tens of thousands of guan.”
Upon hearing this, Ning Wanwan’s heart sank, her face turned pale.
The two officials realized he was indeed a noble person, reportedly the biological father of Lin Zhengyang. They quickly bowed, saying, “Greetings, Princess.”
“No need for formalities,” Ning Wanwan said, “I’ve come to see my father. I hope you can accommodate me.”
The guards exchanged glances, and one hesitated before saying, “…Very well, Princess, please follow me.” He led the way.
Ning Wanwan and Fuyi followed the guards inside, while Xu Niang and the servant were stopped. She anxiously called out, “Young Mistress!”
Ning Wanwan turned and told the leading guard, “They are my people.”
The guard then waved to let them in, and Xu Niang and the servant hurriedly followed with their belongings.
As they entered the dungeon, a damp, bloody smell assaulted them.
Fuyi and Xu Niang’s servant quickly covered their noses, cowering in fear. Only Ning Wanwan remained calm, as if she had been to this dungeon countless times, having been confined in a lightless Cold Palace for nearly three years.
The prison guard led them down a row of cells for serious criminals.
In the gloomy corridor, thin hands stretched out from the bars, weakly crying, “Save me, save me…”
Fuyi and Xu Niang huddled behind Ning Wanwan, frightened, until they reached the last cell.
Lin Zhengyang rushed over, peering through the bars. Seeing Ning Wanwan, he exclaimed, “Waner?!”
Ning Wanwan, standing quietly outside the cell, looked at him with a distant gaze.
The guard reminded them, “Lin Zhengyang is a serious criminal who hasn’t been tried yet, so the conversation cannot be too long.”
Fuyi slipped a gold ingot into the guard’s hand, saying, “Thank you, sir.”
The guard happily accepted it and turned to leave.
Lin Zhengyang and Ning Wanwan exchanged glances; his joy gradually turned to shame and dejection.
Xu Niang called out, “My lord.”
Lin Zhengyang forced a weak smile upon noticing her, “You’re here too.”
Xu Niang quickly approached him, pushing a bundle through the cell bars, “It’s cold inside. I’ve brought some thick clothes for you.”
Lin Zhengyang took the bundle, surprised that this usually neglected concubine would think of him in his time of trouble. “…You’re thoughtful.”
After a long silence, Ning Wanwan asked, “Do you know what crime you’ve committed?”
Lin Zhengyang lowered his head, “…I know. A capital offense.” He looked up resolutely, “But this is my doing alone and will not implicate the Ning family.”
Ning Wanwan stared at Lin Zhengyang, creating an oppressive atmosphere. He couldn’t meet her gaze, knowing their father-daughter relationship had reached its end.
“Have you ever cared about me as a daughter?” Ning Wanwan shouted, tears in her eyes.
Lin Zhengyang looked up in shock, “Waner…”
Xu Niang and her servant stared in surprise at Ning Wanwan, who they had always thought was emotionally distant from her father.
The prison guard returned, urging them to leave.
“Take care of yourself in there,” Xu Niang said, squeezing Lin Zhengyang’s hand before being forced to leave.
Ning Wanwan stood motionless until the guard prompted her to leave. She wiped away her tears, returning to her usual detached expression.
Now, this copper coin smuggling case has implicated many officials from the Maritime Trade Bureau, the Goods Bureau, the Convenience Money Bureau, the Exchange Bureau, and the Exchange Certificate Library.
Several officials had direct transactions with Wu Deng, who insisted that all dealings were instigated by Lin Zhengyang. Consequently, Lin Zhengyang became the main suspect in this significant smuggling case in Qi Song history.
Due to the case’s sensational nature, the emperor issued an order for personal oversight by the Crown Prince’s envoy Si Yi. The Three Departments would conduct a joint trial, with the emperor reviewing the final verdict.
Despite Ning Guo Mansion’s wealth and influence, no one was willing to risk their position to defend a son-in-law during this incident. Ning Wanwan could only resign herself to fate and await the outcome.
A gust of wind blew, causing withered plum blossoms to fall from the old wintersweet tree in the courtyard.
Fuwyi said, “Miss, the wind is rising. It looks like it’s going to rain. Let’s go inside.”
Ning Wanwan nodded, about to turn when she suddenly heard Xu’s anxious voice calling from the courtyard gate.
Ning Wanwan paused, turning as Xu rushed in unsteadily.
“What’s wrong, Little Mother?”
Xu stammered, “I heard there’s a plague in the prison. Wu Deng died from it, and they just burned his body. They also said the Old Master seems to be sick. What should we do?”
“Calm down.” Ning Wanwan’s heart sank, but she was anxious. She instructed Fuwyi, “Quickly invite a doctor and bring medicine for the plague. Come with me to the prison.”
“Yes, I’ll go right away.”
“I’ll go too,” Xu said hastily.
“Little Mother, don’t come. Too many people might cause issues with the guards.”
“I’ll wait for news from the Young Mistress.”
“Mm.”
*
