Chapter 68: Joy Revealed First, Woes Briefly Concealed

The deep night in the study, husband and wife sat opposite each other, brooding. The fresh flowers placed on the nearby table swayed with the night breeze, emitting their fragrance.

These were specially arranged new blooms for today, not just in Thousand-Man Commander Lu's study, but also in the entire Ning Family estate, which was newly decorated with fresh flowers and hung with red silk, all in celebration of Ning Yunzhao's success in the government examination.

But now, although the fresh flowers and red silk were still there, there was not the slightest sense of celebration.

"Why didn't you stop him at that time?" Second Madam Ning said with a hint of complaint.

Ning Yan frowned.

"How would I know he would do such a thing," he said. "Everything was fine at the time."

There were truly no signs at all.

And at that time, what they talked about was the emperor's attitude and purpose regarding this matter.

Others might not understand the consequences of this matter, but could Ning Yunzhao be unaware of them?

No matter how you thought about it, he shouldn't have done that.

Everything had been fine, and then suddenly he stepped forward.

Each time Ning Yan recalled it, he felt as though it was all a dream.

"Ning Yunzhao isn't the kind of person who causes trouble for the family," Second Madam Ning also couldn't understand.

Her words, however, reminded Ning Yan.

"Because he doesn't think this is causing trouble for the family," Ning Yan said with a resigned smile.

Second Madam Ning naturally knew what Ning Yunzhao had said, and she too had a complicated expression.

"Was it really so serious if he didn't stand out at that time?" she said.

Who knew, that "if" no longer existed.

Ning Yan knocked on the table.

"That's no longer important," he exhaled and said, "what's most important now is that we can't deny it, otherwise the outcome would truly be severe."

The newly honored top scholar fighting over a woman would turn the Ning family into a laughingstock. The official's impeachment, the emperor's anger, all would leave the Ning family in total disarray.

"Are we really going to acknowledge it?" Second Madam Ning said.

"We'll acknowledge it," Ning Yan said, "and we must acknowledge it sincerely, keeping it a secret even in our own home."

What kind of situation was this, Second Madam Ning pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Eldest Madam Ning had been planning to arrange a marriage for Ning Yunzhao right after the success in the government examination, to have the wedding in the autumn, and by next year to be able to hold a grandchild," she said. "Now look at this..."

Saying this, she lifted her head again.

"How long do they plan to keep up this facade? Our Ning Yunzhao can't afford to wait."

Ning Yan stroked his beard.

"Actually, making it real could work too," he said.

Second Madam Ning slapped his arm.

"Master, what are you talking about!" she raised her voice.

Ning Yan gave a light cough.

"Actually, if you think about it, Miss Jun isn't bad either. Previously, from what you said about her behavior, it seemed reckless, probably due to her young age. Now it seems..." he said.

"It seems not okay now," Second Madam Ning immediately interrupted him. "This is an impossibility."

Looking at Ning Yan.

"I know you men, preferring to weigh pros and cons, not truly understanding nor considering matters of affection."

Ning Yan gave another light cough.

Second Madam Ning didn't give him a chance to speak.

"Even if Miss Jun is good now, Eldest Madam will not agree," she said. "Don't even think about it."

Ning Yan naturally knew about Eldest Madam Ning's temper; sometimes dealing with women was more headache-inducing than dealing with government affairs.

Ning Yan looked down at the paper spread on the table.

"Then let's report the good news first," he said. "We can't delay any longer."

If they delayed any further, the feudal authority's congratulatory dispatch would arrive while their family's own notice had not yet been sent.

"Do you mean to keep this matter secret from Eldest Madam and the others for now?" Second Madam Ning said, then shook her head, "This is such a big issue, how can it be kept a secret."

Miss Jun's fame for vaccination, Thousand-Man Commander Lu, Duke of Chengguo's heir, each one of them renowned, not to mention the newly honored top scholar. These four individuals mixed together, is hotter news than the top scholar himself, attracting much more attention.

Imagine what people would talk about when they see Ning Yunzhao during the Floral Parade five days later.

Ning Yan's headache intensified.

"Let's keep it a secret for as long as we can, and we'll explain it personally to our eldest brother and sister-in-law when we return," he said.

Second Madam Ning looked at Ning Yan as he began to write the letter, her expression complex.

This matter surely couldn't be kept secret for long.

What would Eldest Madam Ning do when she finds out?

The Ning Family's letter arrived a bit later than that from De Sheng Chang. When the Ning Family's letter was still en route, Fang Chengyu had already received his.

"This is really great news; you don't need to go to the capital to play the poor relative anymore," Fang Yuxiu said upon hearing Fang Chengyu's account, clapping her hands.

Apart from Fang Chengyu, the hall of the Fang Family was filled only with women.

Upon hearing the 'great news' from Fang Yuxiu, their faces did not show joy but displayed a long-absent look of surprise and unease.

"What's going on?" Fang Yunxiao asked, her hands clasped together, looking anxious.

"It's a good thing," Fang Yuxiu said. "With Tenth Noble Son Ning, the top scholar, stepping in, no one would dare to bully our cousin. It's far more effective than our younger brother going to the capital to lament his fate and risk having his wife stolen from him."

She then looked at Fang Chengyu sitting beside her.

"Isn't that right, Chengyu?"

Fang Chengyu, sitting askew in his chair, nodded with a smile.

"Yes, indeed," he said. "It's a good thing. I didn't expect Tenth Noble Son Ning to get involved; this solves all the problems."

Hearing him say that the problem was solved, Fang Yunxiao sighed in relief and muttered a prayer.

Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang's brows furrowed even more.

"What are they, the Ning Family, trying to do?" Old Lady Fang asked with a hint of wariness.

"What does Tenth Noble Son Ning mean by this?" Lady Fang also inquired.

Fang Chengyu laughed heartily and straightened up in his chair.

"Grandmother, Mother, you would make Tenth Noble Son Ning sad by saying this," he said. "He has no other intentions. He simply wants to help gongzhu. His identity, as well as his past with gongzhu, are the most appropriate. It won't arouse suspicion and can keep this matter under wraps."

"I of course know his identity is very fitting, and what he's doing is reasonable," Old Lady Fang said, still wary. "I'm asking why he would do this?"

"Yes, why is he doing this?" Lady Fang echoed, asking again.

Fang Chengyu seemed somewhat helpless.

"Of course, it's to help gongzhu," he said.

"Yes, of course," Old Lady Fang repeated. "But why is he helping gongzhu?"

"Has he gone mad?" Lady Fang interjected bluntly.

Fang Yuxiu snickered.

"Grandmother, Mother, you're really hurting Tenth Noble Son Ning's feelings like this," she said. "Since he says he's helping, then he must be doing it out of kindness. Don't be so suspicious of him."

Kind-hearted?

Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang still had odd expressions on their faces.

Why did that word sound so strange when applied to Tenth Noble Son Ning and Miss Jun?

What kind-heartedness? Because of what? Because of the broken engagement farce, or because of the dispute between the Misses from Jin Yun Hall and the Ning Lin over wedding issues and ruined reputations?

"Grandmother, Mother," Fang Yuxiu said with a smile, taking their hands. "If you don't trust Tenth Noble Son Ning, don't you at least trust our cousin?"

Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang looked at her.

"Since she said she's helping, then naturally she's just helping," Fang Yuxiu said. "With her being so cunning and astute, if Tenth Noble Son Ning did anything improper, why would she say it that way?"

That was true indeed; both Old Lady Ghost Fang and Lady Fang relaxed somewhat and nodded their heads.

"So, this must be something our cousin and Tenth Noble Son Ning agreed upon," Fang Jinxiu said. "Perhaps it was even our cousin's idea."

Perhaps it was even Jun Zhenzhen who coerced or schemed to make Tenth Noble Son Ning act this way.

Old Lady Fang added in her mind.

Just like the time she trapped a girl into buying a hairpin or made the Ning Lin Misses figuratively lift a rock only to drop it on their own feet in Jin Yun Hall, not allowing Clerk Lin to say another word.

"This child is always caught up in one thing after another," she said. Although her words seemed casual, the unease and tension on her face faded away. "It's out of my hands now."

Lady Fang also shook her head and helped Old Lady Fang to leave.

Now only the siblings were left; Fang Yuxiu walked over to Fang Chengyu.

"Chengyu, your sister has been good to you, hasn't she?" she said, raising her eyebrows with a smile.

Why say something so out of the blue? Fang Yunxiao was confused as she looked on.

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This is a timed message wishing everyone a good morning (*^__^*) hehe…