The sudden news kept Tang Ning awake for half the night. When she finally fell asleep, it was as if she was transported back to those dark, hopeless days.
The Song family was hosting a banquet in the front courtyard, full of honored guests, laughter, and noise. The usually guarded abandoned courtyard had been unexpectedly empty. Only the old maid entered, cursing as she came in. As always, she ate Tang Ning's food, grumbling that she couldn’t attend the banquet because of a "useless" person like her.
The maid complained about not getting any money from the celebration, cursing Tang Ning and wishing for her death. In her frustration, she kicked Tang Ning a couple of times. However, that day, the food had upset the maid's stomach. After a bout of nausea, the maid rushed out, not even locking the door properly.
Tang Ning seized the opportunity to escape.
But unfortunately, her broken leg made it impossible for her to leave the Song residence.
She was dragged back and thrown into the abandoned courtyard. Her already crippled leg was crushed again, and her other leg suffered fractured bones.
As the night wind howled, someone pinned her to the ground and tightened a white silk cloth around her neck, suffocating her. Desperation overwhelmed her, and in the background, she could hear cold voices, saying she shouldn’t have tried to leave.
"Hurry and clean it up. Don’t ruin the joyous occasion for the bride and Lu Langjun."
"But this is the lady of the household..."
"Lady? She’s just a pitiful, disfigured cripple. She could’ve lived a few more days, but she meddled where she shouldn’t have."
The cold words echoed in her ears as if her neck was about to break.
Tang Ning's mind grew dizzy, her vision blurred, and she knew she was dying. As the pain in her body began to fade, the sounds around her also grew distant.
Just as she was taking her last breath, she seemed to hear a commotion outside, as if someone had burst through the door. A figure strode in, bathed in the moonlight.
"Little Begonia..."
Whoosh—
Song Tang Ning suddenly woke up from her nightmare, sitting upright in bed, drenched in cold sweat.
"Lady?"
Hearing the commotion, Hua Wu, who had been sleeping on a small couch outside, quickly rushed in.
Lifting the bed curtains, Hua Wu's candlelight illuminated the dark room. "Lady, what’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
Tang Ning’s breathing was still labored, her face pale as she sat on the bed clutching the blanket. In her mind, that voice—like shattering jade, laced with anger—still echoed: "Little Begonia."
She couldn’t tell if it was just a dream or if that scene had really happened before she died.
She had dreamed of her brother...
"Lady?" Hua Wu was worried. "What did you dream about? Your face looks so pale."
Tang Ning murmured softly, "I dreamt I died, and my brother killed someone..."
"Spit! Spit! Spit!" Hua Wu’s face turned pale as she quickly tried to dispel the bad luck. "Dreams are the opposite of reality. You will live a long life, my lady."
Using a handkerchief, Hua Wu wiped the cold sweat from Tang Ning’s forehead. She wasn’t sure if she was comforting Tang Ning or herself. "You’ll be fine, my lady. It was just a dream, don’t be afraid."
Tang Ning sat in a daze, clutching the blanket.
Hua Wu, sensing her unease, put down the oil lamp and fetched some hot water from the nearby brazier. She brought it to Tang Ning, and after Tang Ning drank it, Hua Wu softly suggested, "It’s still early, just before dawn. Would you like to rest a little longer? I’ll stay with you."
Tang Ning shook her head. The nightmare had rattled her, and now that she was awake, she couldn’t fall back asleep. The dim light of the room made her feel even more suffocated.
"Bring me my clothes. I want to go out for a walk."
Outside, the sky was still dark, and the surroundings were pitch black.
Tang Ning strolled around the courtyard with Hua Wu, before asking to be led past the corridors and through the back courtyard, all the way to the high wall that separated their house from the governor’s mansion.
Tang Mansion and Xiao Mansion were neighbors, each with its own gate, but sharing a common wall.
The high wall thoroughly divided the two estates. Though no part of the opposite house could be seen, standing at the foot of the wall seemed to calm the lingering fear and anxiety from Tang Ning’s dream. Her heart, which had been racing, gradually steadied.
"My lady, why did we come here? There’s nothing here."
Tang Ning looked up. "I just wanted to see…"
See what?
Hua Wu glanced around in confusion. What was there to look at?
Following Tang Ning’s gaze up the high wall, Hua Wu’s expression suddenly dawned with understanding. "My lady, do you want to see the governor?"
Tang Ning softly murmured, "Mm," but then quickly shook her head.
She felt a bit foolish. Her dream had confused her. The future that belonged to her past life had not yet come to pass. She had returned safe and sound from the mountain, and her ties with the Song family were nearly severed. She would not fall into the same dire situation as before. Everything was different now from what she had once known.
Even if she met Xiao Yan, what could she say? Could she ask him if that scene from her dream was real, or if the cold, angry voice calling her "Little Begonia" as she lay dying had really been him?
"Forget it. I was just muddled from sleep..."
Tang Ning sighed softly and was about to ask Hua Wu to help her back when a voice suddenly came from above.
"If you wanted to see me, why didn’t you come to the main gate?"
Tang Ning’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up in shock to see a figure standing on the high wall.
The clouds parted to reveal the moon, casting a pale light over the figure dressed in white. His slim waist was accentuated by the belt he wore, and his silhouette stretched long against the wall.
"Br-brother?" Tang Ning stammered in surprise, unsure of what to do. "Why are you here?"
"Training."
"So early?"
Tang Ning couldn’t help but glance at the sky. It was still pitch dark, and he was already practicing martial arts?
Xiao Yan stood atop the wall, looking down at her. "Martial arts require diligent practice. Otherwise, one cannot improve. But you, if you wanted to see me, why didn’t you use the main gate?"
Tang Ning immediately felt embarrassed upon hearing the words. She hadn't expected that what she casually mentioned to Hua Wu would be overheard by Xiao Yan. Moreover, it felt rather strange to be lingering near the walls of the Duke's Manor so early in the morning.
"I..."
She opened her mouth, awkwardly trying to explain that she hadn’t intended to see him. But the more she tried to explain, the stranger it felt, and her face gradually tightened, turning increasingly red with embarrassment.
Before she could think of a proper explanation for Xiao Yan, she heard him say, "Since you're awake, come inside and have breakfast."
"Ah?"
Tang Ning, still in a daze, watched as Xiao Yan leapt down. Before she could react, he lightly held her as they both jumped over the wall, and in one swift motion, he grabbed Hua Wu and brought her over as well.
After landing, Xiao Yan quickly released his hold and stepped back, as if avoiding something.
"Let's go."
...
When Tang Ning followed Xiao Yan into the dining hall, her expression remained somewhat dazed.
The people at the Duke's Manor, upon seeing their master return from the backyard with a young woman, were not particularly surprised. Instead, Cang Lang approached with a familiar tone.
"The kitchen has prepared breakfast. Miss Song, what would you like to eat?"
"I'll just have whatever my brother is having."
"You can't do that," Cang Lang chuckled.
Tang Ning looked at him in confusion.
Xiao Yan glanced at Cang Lang. "Go ask the kitchen to make some meat porridge, along with a few side dishes and oil cakes."
After Cang Lang left, Tang Ning remained puzzled by his earlier comment. It wasn't until she saw the bright red breakfast dishes being brought out that she understood what Cang Lang had meant.
"You eat such spicy food for breakfast, Brother?"
She knew Xiao Yan liked spicy food. That day, when they had hotpot, he had made a bright red dipping sauce just for himself. But she hadn’t expected him to eat such spicy food even for breakfast.
Cang Lang, seeing her shocked expression, smiled and explained, "This isn't just ordinary spicy soup. The Duke suffered from cold-induced blocked meridians in his early years. Although his condition has improved, eating spicy food regularly benefits his body. However, Lady Qin mentioned that too much spice could harm the stomach, so this four-flavored soup was created for him. It looks spicy, but it's actually medicinal."
Seeing Tang Ning blink, Xiao Yan added, "I have to attend court during the day, and there aren’t many opportunities to eat there. This medicinal soup has to be consumed every two days, but it's not something I eat daily. You just happened to catch me on the right day."
It wasn’t until Xiao Yan brought the bowl closer that Tang Ning smelled the strong medicinal scent.
Seeing Xiao Yan drink the soup without a change in expression, Tang Ning furrowed her brows slightly. "Brother, how did your body suffer from cold? Was it serious?"
"It happened a long time ago. It's nothing to worry about."
"Oh."
Realizing he didn't want to discuss it further, Tang Ning sensibly refrained from asking more questions. She absentmindedly began eating the oil cake in her hands.
After waking from her dream earlier, many thoughts had weighed on her mind. Walking around the backyard had helped ease them, but seeing Xiao Yan again brought everything back.
Tang Ning absentmindedly chewed on the oil cake, lost in thought.
"Something on your mind?"
When she looked up in confusion, Xiao Yan placed some food into her bowl with a pair of serving chopsticks.
"The kitchen staff here takes great pride in their culinary skills. If they see you eating their oil cake so half-heartedly, they might take their own lives in shame."
Tang Ning quickly swallowed the oil cake in her mouth.
"Don't let your mind wander while eating. You might choke."
Xiao Yan's expression remained cold, his gaze elsewhere as he spoke. However, with calm precision, he ladled a bowl of porridge and placed it in front of her, gently setting a spoon inside. His understated, protective demeanor had a calming effect.
Tang Ning held her oil cake and couldn't help herself. "Brother, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"If, back on the mountain, you hadn't met me, and someone else had used the dragon-patterned jade to impersonate me, would you have noticed?"
"Why are you asking this?"
Xiao Yan looked momentarily surprised, but still answered, "Although that jade is an heirloom of Aunt Xue, not just anyone can use it to impersonate one of her old friends. Even if I were to be deceived at first, I would eventually recognize a fake. There's no way I wouldn't notice."
Though Xiao Yan had told Song Tang Ning that he recognized her as his sworn sister because of the dragon-patterned jade, the truth was that it had more to do with the fact that she was the same child from years ago.
They had long shared a connection. If the jade had ended up in someone else's hands, Xiao Yan might have been misled for a time, but he would never have been fooled for long.
Seeing the young woman across from him with her long lashes lowered in thought, Xiao Yan asked, "Is it the situation with the Song family that has unsettled you?"
Tang Ning bit her lip. "Last night, Song Qin's illegitimate daughter came to see me."
Xiao Yan was aware of this.
The Song family manor was separated from the Duke's Manor by only a single wall, with their gates located on the same alley. Additionally, most of the people in that household had originally come from the Duke's Manor, so nothing could happen next door without Xiao Yan knowing.
When the Song family's illegitimate daughter came over last night, Xiao Yan had been fully aware. However, he hadn't intervened, nor had he intended to take charge of everything for Song Tang Ning. After all, he also knew about Hang Ling crippling Song Qin. Since Tang Ning had been given authority over the matter, any rewards or punishments should be decided by her.
Tang Ning hesitated when she saw Xiao Yan quietly looking at her, before finally saying, "My third sister is different from the rest of the Song family. If the Song family falls, she..."
She had no intention of sparing Song Qin, but if her suspicions were correct, Song Ru was someone who had helped her.
Song Ru was a member of the Song family, and if they went down, she would not be spared either.
"I know my third sister is innocent, and she came to me last night out of sisterly concern. She's not like the others in the Song family, but even so, I can't bring myself to spare the Song family just for her sake."
After finishing her sentence in a low voice, Tang Ning looked up at Xiao Yan. "Brother, am I being too ruthless?"
"If you were truly ruthless, you wouldn't be concerned about her fate at all."
"However..." Tang Ning hesitated.
Xiao Yan understood the knot in her heart. His gaze softened as he slowly spoke.
"Song Ru is a concubine's daughter in the Song family and has no real status. Not only does her birth father completely ignore her, but even your elder brother, who always preaches righteousness and virtue, treats her worse than an illegitimate daughter who’s been in the household for less than six months."
"To the Song family, Song Ru is a disgrace, and to Song Qin, she's a stain he'd erase if he could. Her position in the Song family is even worse than yours."
"If the Song family remains well, she may not benefit from it. But if the Song family falls, it’s possible she may actually fare better."
When Xiao Yan wanted to investigate, nothing in the capital could be hidden from him. When he had people check into the Song family while looking into Tang Ning’s affairs, they had dug up everything, including the life of the nearly invisible concubine's daughter, Song Ru.
Xiao Yan looked at Tang Ning, "You should know why Hang Ling injured Song Qin last night. That concubine's daughter of yours may seem timid and weak, but she might not be as helpless as she appears."
"Her timidity is a shield she’s developed over years of hardship to protect herself. It’s the only way she can survive. But if given the chance, she might be bolder than anyone."
Tang Ning was momentarily stunned by Xiao Yan's words, recalling how in her past life, Song Ru had secretly pointed out a path for Hua Wu to escape, had quietly helped her for quite some time, and even on the day of Song Shulan's wedding, when the old maid suddenly got sick from something she ate, it had created an almost miraculous opportunity for her to flee. Such actions would be impossible for a cautious concubine's daughter.
Tang Ning, who had been anxious and uncertain, suddenly felt at peace. "I understand now. Thank you, Brother."
Xiao Yan said to her, "The people sent by Prince Cheng to Anzhou are almost on their way back. They should reach the capital in no more than half a month."
Tang Ning was taken aback. "Then Auntie..."
"The person Princess Cheng sent has also arrived at Su Yun Town. With their abilities and pace, they should return to the capital around the same time as the people from Prince Cheng’s estate."
As Xiao Yan spoke, he looked at her. "The Song family’s situation is very precarious right now. Song Jinxiu wants to regain favor with the emperor, and the Song family is trying to restore its reputation, so they will likely target you. Moreover, the Lu family, having suffered a major setback at my hands, might use the Song family’s troubles to manipulate you as part of their schemes against me."
The aristocratic families were shameless, using despicable tactics without hesitation. Xiao Yan wasn’t worried about himself, but he was concerned that Tang Ning would get caught up in their plots.
Tang Ning's expression tightened. "I'll be careful."
I definitely won’t drag Brother down!
Seeing the little girl across from him no longer anxious but instead filled with determination, her eyes shining brightly, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile. He tapped his finger lightly on the table.
"Can we eat now?"
"Yes!" Tang Ning hurriedly stuffed the fried cake into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out, her dark eyes wide.
Xiao Yan chuckled softly. "Eat slowly."
====
T/N: Why do they make me so happy?
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