Chapter 71: Unbelievable Matters

Eldest Madam Ning felt as if she was dreaming.

She actually dreamed that she fainted in front of everyone.

How could she faint in front of people, with so many women, relatives, and friends from her family, as well as officials and gentry, all dazzling with jewels.

Why were there so many people in her house? Many of whom she rarely interacted with, looking at her with respect and envy.

Envy.

Eldest Madam Ning remembered, her son, Ning Yunzhao, had become the top scholar.

The glory of the Ning Family would continue for another two generations.

Could it be that she fainted out of happiness? That would be quite unseemly.

Eldest Madam Ning hurriedly touched her cheeks with her hand.

The women around hurried over, and maidservants came forward to support her.

"Don't just stand there, please take your seats," she instructed.

Everyone seemed to forget about her fainting as they noisily sat down in the room. Outside, there was incessant noise of firecrackers and gongs, and she couldn't clearly hear what the women in front of her were saying; it seemed noisy yet distant.

Suddenly, a maidservant ran in shouting that the young master was back.

Ning Yunzhao was back.

Eldest Madam Ning stood up excitedly, disregarding her demeanor and hurried out to welcome him.

Outside the Ning Family's house was a sea of people and flying banners, it seemed like the entire Yangcheng and many officials were present, from Yangcheng, Ze Prefecture, Taiyuan prefecture, all had come.

Such a spectacle was only for the top scholar.

Eldest Madam Ning looked ahead and saw Ning Yunzhao on horseback, wearing the top scholar robe and decorated with flowers, galloping towards them; the crowd in front of the door was surging as shouts filled the air.

Her son, that was her son.

Eldest Madam Ning wanted to shout excitedly as she watched her son dismount and walk towards her, kneeling in front of her to bow.

"Get up, get up," Eldest Madam Ning said joyfully, reaching out to help him up.

Just as Ning Yunzhao raised his head to stand up, a woman suddenly appeared beside him.

This woman was not unfamiliar to Eldest Madam Ning, she remembered her very clearly because this woman was indeed very detestable.

Jun Zhenzhen.

That girl who suddenly appeared, like mud splashed onto the elegant shoes of her son.

What was she doing here?

The scene seemed to change. The crowd was still large, firecrackers blaring, banners flying. Ning Yunzhao appeared to wear the top scholar robe, but on closer look, it was a groom's robe, and Jun Zhenzhen was dressed as a bride.

What's going on?

Eldest Madam Ning's complexion changed drastically as she looked around, everyone had joyful expressions, and the emcee in red raised his hand and shouted loudly.

"First bow to heaven and earth..."

Bow to heaven and earth?

Eldest Madam Ning watched Ning Yunzhao and Jun Zhenzhen in front of her, both with smiles as they bowed down.

What are they doing? What is happening?

"Second bow to the high hall..."

Eldest Madam Ning watched Ning Yunzhao and Jun Zhenzhen standing in front of her, he smiling tenderly, she beaming beautifully, looking deeply into each other's eyes and then bowing together.

No!

"No!"

Eldest Madam Ning screamed loudly, suddenly sitting up.

The maidservants by the bed immediately rushed over.

"Madam."

"Madam is awake."

Awake?

Eldest Madam Ning gasped for air as she looked around, the night was heavy, the light dim, shadows loomed in the room, and hearing the commotion, people came pouring in.

It was a dream.

It had just been a dream.

Eldest Madam Ning felt her body soaked in cold sweat.

"Quick, call the doctor," the maidservants shouted.

Eldest Madam Ning watched as Eldest Master Ning approached with a hand stretched out, his expression somewhat uneasy.

"Master, I just had a nightmare," she said hurriedly, not caring about the many people present, "I dreamed that Yunzhao was getting married, it was coerced, forced, with that Jun Zhenzhen..."

Before she finished speaking, she saw the surrounding maidservants bow their heads and step back, Eldest Master Ning's expression was complex.

The women who were about to enter also stopped and stepped back.

The atmosphere in the room became eerie.

Eldest Madam Ning felt her heart slowly sinking, holding up her hand weakly, but still stubbornly.

"Mother, it wasn't a dream," Ning Yunyan rushed over and shouted, grabbing Eldest Madam Ning's hand, "It's real, everyone in the capital knows, the whole world knows now."

Though her hand was held, Eldest Madam Ning's hand dropped weakly, and she leaned backward.

"Madam!"

"Mother!"

"How can you speak like this?" Third Madam Ning and a few others urgently rebuked Ning Yunyan, "Don't you know to speak gently?"

"What use is speaking gently? The incident has already happened, can we resolve it by speaking gently?" Ning Yunyan also stomped her foot and shouted.

"The doctor is here, the doctor is here."

The room was in chaos.

Fortunately, Eldest Madam Ning did not faint this time.

She remembered.

She remembered what had happened.

It wasn't a nightmare, it was real.

"Everyone, please leave," she said, "I want to speak with the master alone."

The doctor nodded to Eldest Master Ning signaling all was well. Eldest Master Ning nodded, and everyone in the room hurriedly left as told, although Ning Yunyan was reluctant to leave and had to be forcibly pulled out by Third Madam Ning and Fourth Madam Ning.

The room quieted down, and Eldest Madam Ning took a long breath, but her chest was already stifled, and she propped herself up.

"You should lie down," said Eldest Master Ning.

Eldest Madam Ning still tried to sit up.

"What exactly happened?" she asked Eldest Master Ning in a hoarse voice.

Eldest Master Ning's expression was complex.

"It's still unclear, I've already sent someone to inquire in the capital," he said.

"How can it be unclear? What's there to be unclear about? Don't try to deceive me, just tell me, is what Madam Ma said true?" Eldest Madam Ning said, clenching her teeth, "Ning Yunzhao publicly declared the day after he ranked second on the list that he still has a marriage arrangement with Miss Jun, with plans to marry after the examination."

She repeated the words spoken by Madam Ma, feeling her teeth might shatter.

"They say that, but it's their words, we need to listen to what Yunzhao has to say," Eldest Master Ning said.

Hearing this, Eldest Madam Ning's heart sunk.

This meant that what Madam Ma said was indeed true.

"What really happened, how is it being discussed outside?" she asked blankly, "Don't hide it from me anymore, what's the point in hiding it? Everyone outside knows; do you want me to remain ignorant and be made a fool?"

Eldest Master Ning sighed and pulled a chair to sit by the bed.

"I asked Madam Ma, she said she's not clear on the details," he said, "She only heard a rough account from Lord Ma. You know about the incident with Miss Jun and Thousand-Man Commander Lu some time ago?"

Eldest Madam Ning grunted.

Yes, that Miss Jun was nearly ruined because of Thousand-Man Commander Lu.

"Thousand-Man Commander Lu repeatedly sent betrothal gifts to Miss Jun, which annoyed the Duke of Chengguo's heir, and the two of them fought at the Northern Administrative Court," continued Eldest Master Ning.

Right, and the Duke of Chengguo's heir. That Miss Jun had even got involved with him, having already fought over it with Thousand-Man Commander Lu before.

This shameless vixen, truly attracting bees and butterflies.

"When they were fighting, Yunzhao happened to pass by," Eldest Master Ning said, pausing with difficulty as if hard to continue.

Eldest Madam Ning clenched her hand.

"And then?" she asked.

"Then he declared that Miss Jun is his fiancée," Eldest Master Ning gritted his teeth as he spoke.

Eldest Madam Ning's expression turned blank.

How could she feel this matter was so nonsensical? Clearly it was the disgraceful affair of those three people, Thousand-Man Commander Lu, the Duke of Chengguo's heir, and that cheap slut, and now Yunzhao was involved?

"Why would Yunzhao do such a thing, say such words?" she muttered shaking her head, "Impossible, it must be their fabrication."

Eldest Master Ning gave a light cough.

"At that time, your second brother was also there," he said.

Second Old Master Ning was also there?

"He didn't refute it, basically acquiescing," Eldest Master Ning continued.

Eldest Madam Ning felt devastated and leaned back.

How could this be possible!

How could this possibly be true, Yunzhao was worlds apart from those three, she complained and laughed daily about their shameful acts, how could her son suddenly become one of them?

"It must have been forced by that cheap slut," Eldest Madam Ning suddenly sat up again and said, "She has an imperial decree, she surely must have blackmailed Second Old Master and Yunzhao with it."

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Scheduled Good Morning (*^__^*) Hehe…