Ning Wanwan stood up and smiled apologetically, “Your Highness, I’m sorry. I was too forward. Please don’t take offense.”
Sihan curled his fingers where Ning Wanwan had touched him, feeling as if he was holding a ball of fire.
“It’s nothing. Thank you for your concern,” he paused, composed himself, and added, “It’s getting late, and I have matters to attend to.”
“I’ll take my leave.”
“Then I’ll see Your Highness off,” she replied.
Sihan looked at Ning Wanwan, as if he had much to say, but ultimately said, “It’s cold outside. Please stay, my lady.”
Ning Wanwan hesitated, watching Sihan’s retreating back. An image crossed her mind, making her heart tremble. She called out, “Your Highness, please wait.”
Sihan stopped and turned to her, looking questioningly.
Ning Wanwan quickly approached and asked urgently, “Have you lost something?”
Sihan thought for a moment and asked, “What?”
Ning Wanwan took out a white jade cicada pendant.
Sihan glanced at it and laughed in surprise, “You still have it.”
Ning Wanwan stared at him in shock. It was actually him! The person who had saved her was Sihan!
“What does Mother want?” Ning Wanwan asked flatly.
As she approached, He Shi’s hands, ready to embrace her, suddenly froze, her expression stunned.
Ning Wanwan had always regarded He Shi as her mother, usually calling her “Mother” affectionately. Changing her form of address created an immediate sense of distance.
He Shi quickly recovered, pulling Ning Wanwan’s hands with a sorrowful expression, saying, “Waner, please go and save your sister.”
It’s so cold, and she has been kneeling in front of Suyutang for several hours. She just rescued you from the cold cave, and now with this punishment from the old madam, her body won’t be able to withstand it!
Punished to kneel by the old madam? What a distortion of the truth.
Chang Nanny, about to scold He Shi for stirring up trouble, suddenly heard Ning Wanwan coldly ask He Shi, “But I heard that Yuetong sister voluntarily went to the grandmother’s courtyard to apologize. How did it become the grandmother punishing Yuetong in your telling?”
He Shi, choked by Ning Wanwan’s words, finally responded, “…That was because Yuetong was afraid the old madam would blame her for not taking good care of you.”
Ning Wanwan, with a half-smile, raised an eyebrow, “So you mean the grandmother is unreasonable?”
He Shi’s face changed dramatically, and she hastily clarified, “No, no, that’s not what I meant.”
She looked suspiciously at Ning Wanwan, whose beautiful face seemed to be coated in moonlight—hazy, cool, and hard to fathom. With Chang Nanny, the old madam’s confidante, watching closely, she pleaded, “Waner, please spare her for the sake of the sisterly affection Yuetong has shown you all these years.”
Ning Wanwan’s expression darkened as she spoke sternly, “What are you talking about, Mother? Yuetong voluntarily went to apologize to grandmother, not to me. How could I dare to pardon her on grandmother’s behalf? If others heard this, wouldn’t they say that Yunxiang Junzhu is disrespectful and arrogant?”
He Shi was speechless, unable to refute Ning Wanwan’s words. She was bewildered by her sudden transformation, becoming articulate and cold.
Chang Nanny interjected, “Junzhu, it’s getting late. The old madam is still waiting for you in Suyutang.”
Ning Wanwan nodded slightly, addressing He Shi coldly, “If Mother has nothing else, then I’ll take my leave.”
He Shi reached out to stop Ning Wanwan, but Chang Nanny glared fiercely at her, causing He Shi to retract her hand.
After Ning Wanwan left, a servant whispered to He Shi, “Madam, why has the Junzhu suddenly become so articulate?”
He Shi glared at the servant, saying angrily, “You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?”
The servant muttered awkwardly, “Previously, the Junzhu would listen to everything you said. Now she’s like a different person, cold and unfeeling. If this had happened before, the Junzhu would have rushed to protect the Second Miss.”
He Shi frowned with worry, “I find it strange too. This girl seems completely different, as if she’s been replaced.”
“Madam, what should we do? The Second Miss is still kneeling in Suyutang.”
He Shi gazed towards Suyutang, murmuring, “It seems we can only ask the master to intervene.”
Seeing Ning Wanwan, she smiled brightly and took her hand, leading her to the East Warm Pavilion. “You haven’t eaten anything all day; you must be hungry. Come, Grandmother has prepared your favorite dishes.”
Ning Wanwan followed Grandmother Ning to the nanmu eight immortals table and was surprised to see her favorite dishes. “Zhang’s wife’s cheese, Changqing Lou’s golden thread stomach soup, purple perilla fish, and lotus duck skewers? Grandmother, it’s late, and our mansion is far from Changqing Lou. Where did you get these?”
Grandmother Ning smiled and pulled her to sit down. “Today was supposed to be your coming-of-age ceremony, but after you fell into the water, it was canceled. However, the first-class chef from Changqing Lou was already here, so I had someone prepare these for you while you were seeing the King of Yi.”
Ning Wanwan was deeply touched, saying, “Grandmother is too good to me.”
“As long as you know. Quickly try this golden thread stomach soup. It was just cooked and hasn’t been out long,” Grandmother Ning said, handing her a bowl. “But the weather won’t keep it hot, so don’t let it cool down.”
Ning Wanwan took the bowl, and the steam warmed her cold heart. She hadn’t tasted this comforting food for a long time.
Carefully, she took small sips, savoring it as though nothing else could compare. When she finished, she sighed, “Delicious, it’s still the taste I missed most.”
Grandmother Ning responded, “How can you be nostalgic? Didn’t you just go to Changqing Lou and eat a big bowl of golden thread stomach soup? Have you forgotten?” She then ladled another half bowl for Ning Wanwan.
Ning Wanwan’s expression dimmed, a pain flashing in her eyes, and she smiled bitterly, “Yes, I’ve forgotten.”
The past was like smoke, hard to remember.
At this moment, Mama Chang walked in and reported, “Old Madam, the Old Master has arrived and is waiting with Madam He outside the second gate.”
Grandmother Ning smiled, watching Ning Wanwan eat the golden thread stomach soup, and replied, “Let him wait first.” Mama Chang then retreated.
Ning Wanwan finished her soup, rubbing her satisfied belly. Grandmother Ning asked, “Are you full?”
Ning Wanwan nodded, “Full.”
“That’s good. Let’s go and hear what your father wants.”
Ning Wanwan lowered her eyelashes, a dark light passing through her eyes. She stood up to support Grandmother Ning as they walked outside.
Lin Zhengyang turned to Old Lady Ning, smiling apologetically, “Mother, since Tong’er already knows her mistake…”
Old Lady Ning interrupted, anger evident in her eyes, and sternly questioned, “Lin Laoyeh, who is your legitimate daughter in your heart?”
“…Of course it’s Wan’er,” Lin Zhengyang responded awkwardly.
Old Lady Ning sneered, “Is that so? In my view, you’ve never truly cared for Wan’er, nor have you regarded me with any respect.”
Lin Zhengyang’s expression changed, and he quickly cupped his hands, speaking submissively, “Mother, how can you say such things? Your son-in-law would never dare.”
“Then I ask you, since Wan’wan fell into the water, have you personally come to inquire about her?”
Lin Zhengyang explained, “Today was Wan’er’s coming-of-age ceremony, and many guests had been invited. Due to her accident, the ceremony was canceled, but since the guests had already arrived, I felt it necessary to entertain them, which delayed me.”
“I’ll temporarily accept your explanation. But since you entered this Suyu Hall, have you shown even half a bit of concern for Wan’wan?”
