After Tang Ning returned, she went to visit Princess Cheng, but Gu Helian was no longer in her courtyard.
She originally wanted to meet Princess Cheng, fearing that her uncle from the Gu family was too sharp-tongued and that a quarrel with her aunt might hurt others. But who knew that Nanny Jiang said that Princess Cheng had already rested.
Tang Ning asked in a low voice: "Auntie, did you go to bed so early?"
Nanny Jiang looked back at the room where the lights were already turned off and said, "The princess was tired at night and went to bed early."
Tang Ning knew that she was not telling the truth, and after hesitating for a moment, she asked directly: "Has Uncle Gu told Auntie about what happened in Prince Cheng's Mansion..."
"Does the girl know that too?"
Tang Ning nodded.
When Nanny Jiang saw that she also knew about the incident in Prince Cheng's Mansion, the smile she had been forcing on her face finally drooped.
Her eyes were red as she lowered her voice, "Gu Langjun came to see the princess at night and told her about the prince's affairs. The princess refused to believe it at first, and the two started arguing. Gu Langjun and the princess had a grudge in the past, and they said some irresponsible things during the argument. The two quarreled fiercely, and Gu Langjun slammed the door and left."
"What about my aunt?"
"The princess had a miscarriage. Fortunately, Madam Qin left some pills for her to keep the baby safe. After taking them, she recovered. But after Mr. Gu left, the princess kept crying and refused to let me in or look for you."
Princess Cheng locked herself in her room and refused to see anyone.
Tang Ning's eyes were filled with worry when she heard that. She knew that Princess Chen was an extremely strong-willed person with a hot temper. She sincerely thought that the husband she loved was her ideal husband, but he had deliberately woven a scam from the very beginning to trick her into falling in love with him, trick her into entering the mansion, and even trick her into giving her her all for nearly twenty years.
How could she bear this?
But Princess Cheng's pregnancy was not going smoothly and her body has always been weak. Can she really bear such a commotion?
Tang Ning asked in a low voice: "Then will my aunt go back to the palace tomorrow?"
"Yes." Nanny Jiang said with her mouth drooping, "The princess said that no matter whether what Mr. Gu said is true or false, she will go and find out."
If it was false, she would never allow Gu Helian to slander the prince, but if it was true, she would never forgive Prince Cheng.
Tang Ning actually guessed that even if she knew about her past, she would still go back. Just like what her brother said, they couldn't stop her.
Tang Ning held Nanny Jiang's hand and whispered, "My aunt is stubborn. I'm afraid she won't be able to endure it for long after she returns. She won't let me go to the palace with her. But if Prince Cheng really lied to her, there's no guarantee that someone won't take action against my aunt during this trip."
"I borrowed Ayane from my brother and asked her to accompany you back tomorrow morning. There will also be two secret guards as maids. Madam must make sure they follow Auntie closely. Madam must pay more attention to her food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and meetings with others..."
She paused before saying:
"As for the others, you can avoid them if you are careful, but you must be extremely careful about the ones related to Uncle Gu."
Nanny Jiang's heart skipped a beat and she raised her eyes suddenly: "The girl is saying..."
Tang Ning said with a gloomy face: "I also heard about what happened between Uncle Gu and Aunt. Although I don't know whether it is true that Prince Cheng deliberately approached her, Uncle Gu is definitely not the kind of person who would flirt with Aunt and drug her."
"If there is really something wrong with Prince Cheng, then he must have had a hand in framing Uncle Gu. I'm afraid they will use the same old tricks again."
"How could that be? The princess is the prince's wife..."
"If he had deliberately sought this wife, and if damaging her reputation could help the Prince Cheng's Mansion escape from trouble, make Uncle Gu surrender, and even force my brother and I to give in?"
"He dares?!"
Nanny Jiang's face suddenly turned ugly: "The princess and Mr. Gu are innocent, how can we allow others to insult us? I will stay with the princess every step of the way. If they dare to harm the princess, I will fight them to death!"
Tang Ning comforted the furious Nanny Jiang, said a few words to her, and lingered in Princess Cheng's courtyard for a while before leaving.
She returned to her residence and went to see Song Ru first. Song Ru was still in a coma, but her face was paler than before, and her lips were a little redder.
According to Xichun, who was taking care of Song Ru, she woke up once before, ate some rice porridge in a daze, and then fell asleep again.
"When the young lady woke up, she called her sister in a daze, and cried for a while because her stomach hurt. I massaged her acupuncture points according to Madam Qin's method, and used a hot water bottle to apply hot compresses. The young lady felt better."
Tang Ning took Song Ru's cold little hand and put it back into the quilt, then tucked the corner of the quilt carefully: "She just had her period, she is not feeling well, and she is frightened and injured, so she can't be left alone. You should pay more attention to her and take turns to watch over her at night."
"Don't worry, girl. I know."
Tang Ning touched Song Ru's forehead, told Xichun and the others to take good care of Song Ru, and then went back with peace of mind.
Hot water was already prepared in the room. After Tang Ning finished washing up, Hua Wu came forward to help her remove the hairpins on her head. After her long hair fell down, she whispered, "Has Uncle Gu gone home yet?"
Hua Wu shook her head: "No, Patriarch Gu stayed overnight in the west courtyard."
Tang Ning felt a little relieved, knowing that even though Gu Helian quarreled with her aunt, she still couldn't let her go, and would probably keep an eye on her aunt from time to time. So she said, "Go see Uncle Gu later and tell him that after your aunt returns to the palace, no matter if he sends someone to protect her or what, you should keep an eye on Nanny Jiang."
"Girl?"
In the bronze mirror, Hua Wu, who was originally combing her hair behind her, widened her eyes in shock.
Tang Ning whispered, "I'm not doubting her. Nanny Jiang is my aunt's wet nurse and has served her for many years. She normally wouldn't betray me, but my aunt can't make any mistakes."
She learned a lesson from her brother.
The human heart is unpredictable.
You must always be on guard against others.
Fathers and sons, and brothers can turn against each other and use any means necessary to frame each other. Is there anything in this world that is impossible?
She would not hurt anyone easily, but she still had to be on guard. It would be best if Nanny Jiang was loyal, but if...
She had to protect her aunt.
Hua Wu said softly: "But I think Nanny Jiang is very loyal..."
"I also hope she is loyal." Tang Ning said, "That's why I asked you to tell Uncle Gu, not anyone else."
Gu Helian was cautious in his actions and understood the relationship between Nanny Jiang and Princess Cheng. Even though he was on guard, he would not act rashly.
Hua Wu rolled her eyes and said, "Then I will avoid other people and quietly go to see Patriarch Gu."
If Nanny Jiang has no problem with it, this matter can only be kept secret between the girl and the head of the Gu family. No one else can know about it, so as to avoid Nanny Jiang's resentment in the future, and it will be difficult for the girl.
If it is true, the news must not be leaked, so as not to hurt the princess...
"You are so smart." Tang Ning looked at her with a smile.
Hua Wu smiled with her eyes curved, "I learned this from the girl."
Hua Wu combed her long hair neatly. When she put down the comb, she saw that Tang Ning's shoulders were a little blue. She touched them and said, "There are some blue spots here, girl. When Madam Fu left, she took other things with her, but the medicine that Mr. Fu gave me is still here. Do you want to try it?"
Tang Ning refused: "I won't try."
Brother gave her medicine for her wounds and helped her to bleed. However, Fu Laiqing was not a military commander, so his medicine might not be as good as that of brother's.
She glanced at the box on the table, and thinking of what Madam Fu had said today, she said to Hua Wu:
"Tomorrow, take two ginsengs and have someone deliver them to Madam Fu. When you go, give them directly to Madam Fu and tell her that I am grateful for her help over the past few times and for the medicine she gave me today. If the Fu family sends anything else in the future, I will politely refuse it."
Hua Wu was a little surprised when she heard this, and couldn't help asking, "Doesn't the girl like Mr. Fu?"
"Why should I like him?"
"But I think the Fu family is pretty good."
"That's the Fu family's business. What does it have to do with me?"
"But..."
Seeing that the little girl still wanted to talk, Tang Ning turned around and looked at her seriously: "I know what you want to say. The Fu family is a good family, and Mr. Fu is a good person, but I don't plan to be with him, so I can't delay him by being vague."
"Mrs. Fu wants to bring me and Mr. Fu together, but she doesn't need me. If I don't make my feelings clear early on, she will mistakenly think that I am interested in the Fu family as well. If I say no at the end of the day, it will only hurt the friendship between the two families, and I will also be sorry for all the protection that Mrs. Fu has shown me before."
The old man was sensible and protected her a lot. She couldn't be vague and hurt the old man's feelings.
Hua Wu thought about it and said hesitantly: "Does the girl really not want to get married?"
Tang Ning shook her head: "No, I want to build a college and build a girls' school in the future. I want to read more books and find some like-minded people to teach some girls. I also want to accompany my brother and stay in Jiyun Lane..."
If she gets married, my brother will be alone again.
Tang Ning raised his head and said seriously: "My heart is very big, and what I want is not something that can be accommodated by the ordinary harem. But if one day you find someone you like, just tell me openly, and I will marry you off in a grand manner."
Hua Wu immediately grumbled: "I won't marry, I will stay with the girl."
Tang Ning laughed: "I'm afraid that girls will grow up and become useless. If one day she sees a handsome man, she might cry and ask to get married, and even I won't want her anymore."
Hua Wu glared: "I won't do that."
"Really? But why did I see your eyes wide open when you were watching those black-armored guards practicing martial arts in the courtyard next door a few days ago?"
Tang Ning imitated her that day when she hid behind the pillar with her hands on her face and sneaked around, pinching her throat: "Sister Nianxia, that one is pretty, the one dancing with a stick..."
"Girl!!"
The little girl was still young and couldn't resist the teasing. Her face turned red with embarrassment after just a few words. Seeing Tang Ning looking at her with a teasing look, Hua Wu stomped her feet with a red face.
"I won't talk to you anymore. I'll go find Patriarch Gu!"
Hua Wu ran away quickly, and the way he almost kicked the door frame made Tang Ning laugh so hard that he leaned over the desk.
The candlelight in the room flickered. Tang Ning laughed so hard that his stomach hurt. He rubbed his stomach with his hand and when he looked up, he saw a little girl in the bronze mirror with curved eyebrows, a bright face like a lotus, and pink cheeks and red lips.
The scars on her face had faded a lot, and her skin had returned to its former fair color. The loose nightgown she wore revealed her slender neck, her almond-shaped eyes were stretched out with the corners of her eyes raised, her cheeks had deep dimples, and there was not a trace of the gloom of rebirth on her face.
But only she herself knows that her mood is no longer the same as before, and she can never go back to the simple love she had for one person in the past.
In fact, Tang Ning is not opposed to getting married, nor is she unable to let go of the past because of Lu Zhinian. She just always feels that after experiencing so much, it may be difficult for there to be another person in this world who can amaze her for the rest of her life.
After all, she has seen the best man in the world. In order to make her fall in love with him, he has to be better than her brother.
She must be more beautiful than him, more gentle than him, more noble and calm than him, and more intelligent and resourceful than him.
As bright as the moon, with sparkling eyes, that face is unmatched, and the figure is like a pine tree reflecting the moon on a cliff. She looks thin when she is dressed, but when she takes off her coat, the lines around her waist are like a taut bowstring...
"Pooh!"
As soon as this thought came to his mind, Song Tangning suddenly spat and patted his hot face.
Xiao Haitang, what are you thinking about!
That's your brother!
He reached out his hand to the cup not far away and drank it all in one gulp. The somewhat cold water flowed down his throat into his stomach. Tang Ning shook off the water that had been drunk by the beauty in his head, and muttered while holding the cup.
"It's all Sister Yue's fault..."
The lustful man led her astray.
She is not the kind of person who would be blinded by beauty!
Qian Qiyue, who was far away at the Qian family and was being "talked to" by Mrs. Qian, sneezed heavily, and the snack she had just swallowed sprayed all over Mrs. Qian's face. She rubbed her nose and covered her mouth and muttered, "Who is talking about me?"
Madam Qian slapped her on the forehead: "Isn't it dirty that a ghost is talking about you?!"
Qian Qiyue felt wronged.
…
Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Ayane brought two unfamiliar young women over.
After Tang Ning sent the person over, he saw Gu Helian also leading someone in Princess Cheng's room. There was dark circles under his eyes, and he looked extremely haggard, but he had not forgotten his dazzling and revealing wealth at all.
Apart from slightly swollen eyes, there was nothing unusual about Princess Chen. She did not reject Tang Ning and Gu Helian, and took all the people they sent with her. Then she took Nanny Jiang and got on the carriage back to Prince Chen's Palace.
"Uncle Gu, you're not going?"
"Why should I go? She's annoying me just by looking at me."
Gu Helian snorted coldly and glanced at Tang Ning: "I heard that you are going to the Song family to move the grave. Let someone tell me when the time comes, and I will go with you."
Tang Ning nodded: "Thank you, uncle."
Gu Helian nodded: "Okay, you go back, I'm leaving."
The Gu family's carriage was parked outside. After Gu Helian got on the carriage with a cold face, Mu Feng drove towards where they were staying in the capital. But after they got out of Jiyun Lane, Gu Helian lifted the curtain.
"Follow Rong Yue."
Mu Feng was stunned for a moment: "Master, I'm afraid the Prince Cheng's Mansion doesn't welcome us..."
It's not that we are not welcome, but we are afraid that we will be beaten if we go there.
Gu Helian said expressionlessly, "Nonsense, I'm not going to the Prince Cheng's Palace. I'm going to find a house nearby that can see the palace. I'll move all the people I brought into the capital there."
Mu Feng said: "But I'm afraid there isn't such a large vacant house nearby..."
"You won't buy one if you don't have one? If there's no vacant house, you can pay someone to move it. If a thousand taels are not enough, you can buy ten thousand taels. If ten thousand taels are not enough, you can buy one hundred thousand. Isn't the Gu family's treasury enough for you to buy a house?"
Mu Feng: "…"
Gu Helian said in a deep voice: "Call everyone over here, and bring your weapons. If that bastard Xie Tianyu dares to do anything, use your weapons to deal with him."
Get Rong Yue back again!
Mu Feng looked at Gu Helian, who was full of bandit spirit, in silence for a moment, wondering whether he should ask Zuo Zhou for more people. He was afraid that the head of the family would go crazy and cause a big trouble.
Then I'll kidnap the princess and run away...
Will he be hunted down?