- Lin Zhengyang did not separate the family after Ning Jing’s death because Ning Wan Wan is also his flesh and blood. Old Lady Ning wanted to ensure Ning Wan Wan did not lose both her mother and father.
2: Lin Zhengyang, who remarried He within a year after his wife’s death, has sparked controversy. Traditionally, there is a one-year mourning period for husbands and three months for wives. Lin Zhengyang married He more than a year later, which was not against etiquette, but emotionally, he may have appeared callous. Old Lady Ning held strong grievances against him.
3: Old Lady Ning had already divided the Ning family’s property, retaining control over the most important matters.
4: Ning Wanwan was motherless from birth. After He joined the Ning household, she realized that being “good” to Ning Wanwan would stabilize her position. In her previous life, Little Wan grew up under He’s false kindness, which blurred her ability to discern right from wrong. It’s important to view characters as emotional beings rather than from a detached perspective.
Chapter 3: Probing
Old Lady Ning frowned upon hearing “Yi Wang.” “What is he coming for?”
Liu Nanny replied, “He says he’s been ordered to see the young miss.”
Ordered? As a royal prince, his orders could only come from the Emperor. Why would the Emperor summon him to see Wanwan, especially before her coming-of-age ceremony? He must have ulterior motives.
Yi Wang Si Zhan, courtesy name Huai Jin, was the son of the late Shu Guifei and the Emperor’s youngest son, merely one year older than the current Crown Prince and still unmarried.
At that time, Shu Guifei was favored by the Emperor, who deeply loved Si Zhan. There were rumors that had Shu Guifei not died early and Si Zhan not been diagnosed by palace doctors with a short life span—expected to live no longer than 24—he might have ascended the throne. Unfortunately, his condition caused many to keep their distance.
Old Lady Ning asked, “Have the Empress and Crown Prince set out?”
“The master just informed us that the scouts haven’t found the Empress’s phoenix carriage leaving the palace,” someone replied.
Since they hadn’t left by this hour, it meant the Empress and Crown Prince wouldn’t come today, so there was no need to meet Yi Wang. Old Lady Ning instructed Liu Nanny to ensure Yi Wang was properly entertained, explaining that Wanwan was in a coma and unable to receive guests, asking Yi Wang to understand.
Just as Liu Nanny was about to leave, Ning Wanwan suddenly called, “Wait.”
Everyone was stunned. Old Lady Ning turned back, asking, “What’s wrong, Wanwan?”
“I want to see Yi Wang,” Ning Wanwan said solemnly.
In her previous life, he treated her memorial tablet poorly and even avenged her. Consequently, in this life, she must find a way to save him from repeating his tragic fate, which led to his reputation being destroyed and his suicide.
However, Old Lady Ning opposed Ning Wanwan’s plan, saying, “No, this Si Zhan seems to have ill intentions. You’d better avoid him.”
Ning Wanwan grasped Old Lady Ning’s hand, her bright almond eyes clear, and smiled softly, “Grandmother, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Yi Wang has been ordered by the palace to see me. If we make excuses to avoid him, it will reflect poorly on the Ning Guogong Mansion and make me seem arrogant as the Yunxiang Princess.”
Old Lady Ning observed Ning Wanwan and noticed her newfound clarity, which surprised and gratified her. She felt it was time to let Ning Wanwan attempt to handle things independently.
She nodded, patting the young girl’s hand, “You make sense. I’m tired and won’t accompany you to meet Yi Wang. If you can’t handle it, send someone to inform me.”
Ning Wanwan understood that her grandmother’s negative view of Yi Wang was influenced by her preconceptions.
However, she didn’t force her grandmother to change her attitude.
“If today my sister refuses to forgive me, then I will kneel and not rise!”
Ning Wanwan smiled at Lin Yutong, saying: “If that’s the case, then continue kneeling. Since you came to Suyu Hall to apologize, you shall kneel until Grandmother’s anger subsides.” She left without hesitation.
Ning Lao Tai held deep grievances against Lin Yutong; persuading her to forgive would likely result in dire consequences for Lin Yutong.
Zhan Xiang, Fu Yi, and Chang Mama were stunned, staring in disbelief at Ning Wanwan’s decisiveness in not protecting the Second Miss.
Lin Yutong stood frozen, tears glistening on her face, bewildered by Ning Wanwan’s sudden coldness. This shouldn’t be happening.
Chang Mama, following behind, gave Lin Yutong a fierce glare before cheerfully following after Ning Wanwan.
Ge Shou Hall was the side hall of the Ning Guogong residence.
Ning Wanwan stood at the door, seeing the man seated in the eastern guest position, Yi Wang, Si Zhan, dressed in a jade-colored brocade robe.
Si Zhan’s face resembled fine jade, with his eyebrows lowered and a hint of melancholy evident. His sickly pale complexion, likely due to lifelong frailty, did not diminish his aloof and extraordinary temperament.
At nineteen, Si Zhan appeared naive and pure, almost adorable. She wondered if he remembered the past as she did and considered probing him about it.
Si Zhan turned his gaze, unexpectedly colliding with hers, and he felt his heartstrings tremble.
She had said to never be polite with her again. Did she already remember who he was?
Suddenly, Si Zhan began to cough, raising his fist to his lips.
Ning Wanwan rushed to his side, supporting his arm with one hand and gently patting his back with the other. “Uncle, what’s wrong? Why are you suddenly coughing?” she asked anxiously.
Everyone knew that Prince Yi, Si Zhan, had been weak and sickly since childhood. In his previous life, imperial physicians predicted he wouldn’t live past twenty-four, and he died that year by suicide.
Only she knew that Si Zhan’s poor health stemmed from poisoning, not childhood weakness.
Si Zhan felt the warmth of her hand on his back, almost scorching him.
The coughing grew worse, his jade-like face turning bright red. He lowered his head and turned to the side, “Cough cough… It’s nothing… Just an old problem…”
After the coughing subsided, he turned to her, “Thank you for your concern, Princess.”
Ning Wanwan’s hand slid down from Si Zhan’s arm to grasp his hand. Si Zhan trembled slightly, looking at her warm little hand enveloping the back of his hand, his heart beating nervously.
Concerned, Ning Wanwan said, “Your hand is cold. Zhan Xiang, quickly bring my hand warmer.”
She released his hand and walked towards Zhan Xiang, who was approaching.
Si Zhan looked at the hand she had held, his slender fingers slightly curling.
Soon, an exquisitely crafted hand warmer was placed in his palm by Ning Wanwan.
“Hold this first,” she said, pushing his fingers together onto the hand warmer. Then, she pressed his other hand onto it.
“Are you warmer now?” Ning Wanwan’s voice was crisp and soothing.
Si Zhan gently nodded, feeling an unprecedented warmth.
Looking at Ning Wanwan’s hands covering his, Si Zhan couldn’t tell if the hand warmer or her warmth was what he felt.
He raised his head to see Ning Wanwan’s radiant smile illuminating the darkness in his heart. For a moment, everything felt like a dream.
Fu Yi beside him gasped in shock.
Sihan, struck by lightning, withdrew his hand and jumped up from the stool, at a loss for what to do.
Ning Wanwan realized she had been too forward in showing concern. In her previous life, Sihan had loved her deeply, and after accompanying his remnant soul for two years, she had begun to treat him like family. However, seeing his awkwardness confirmed that he did not remember their past life; it seemed she was the only one reborn.
