Lu Yin didn’t offer much explanation; he just silently kept the kindness Tang Ning showed him in his heart. “It’s nothing, I just feel I didn’t treat you well in the past. Thank you for being willing to forgive me.”
Seeing the young girl looking up at him, with the same dependent and close expression she had when they were in the Wang residence, Lu Yin couldn’t help but soften his expression. He reached out and ruffled her forehead.
“I should go back to the Lu family. You should go inside, too. It’s going to rain soon.”
“Cousin…”
“Go inside. I’m leaving now.”
Lu Yin was eager to return to the Lu family to search for the “truth,” to find out who his real parents were. He wanted to apologize properly to Tang Ning and his mother after he had freed himself from the Lu family. When his mother knew that he was innocent, she would surely forgive him.
He waved his hand at Tang Ning and quickly turned, walking briskly towards the exit of Ji Yun Alley. Despite his injury causing him to stagger, his eyes shone with light and hope. His back no longer carried the same weariness as before.
It seemed like he could already see himself starting a new life after leaving the Lu family.
Tang Ning watched as he disappeared into the night, her gentle expression immediately fading. She threw the handkerchief she had just used to wipe Lu Yin's tears to Yue Jian, who was standing nearby.
“Throw it away.”
Yue Jian quickly caught it.
Tang Ning looked at the broken pastry in her hand, then at the bloodstains on her sleeves and skirt. Even her hair, which Lu Yin had touched, felt disgusting.
She handed the pastry to Hang Li and, lifting her skirt, quickly walked towards the house.
“Yue Jian, have someone prepare water. I need a bath.”
“Hang Li, tell the doormen to wash down the inside and outside of the house, so there’s no bad luck!”
Hang Li, holding the pastry, glanced at where Lu Yin had stood earlier. He silently wiped his hand on his clothes, relieved that he hadn’t had to touch Lu Yin.
Yue Jian, filled with disdain, crumpled up the handkerchief and wrapped it up. She followed Tang Ning and whispered, “Mistress, you hate Lu Yin so much, why were you still polite with him just now? Should I have him break his legs?”
Tang Ning walked towards the back garden. “Why break his legs?”
Breaking his legs would only cause him physical pain. Wouldn’t it be better to send Lu Yin back to the Lu family to let them fight amongst themselves?
The Fourth Prince had suddenly taken an interest in her recently, and Empress Lu had unexpectedly approached Princess Le Yang, seemingly planning something. Though she currently couldn’t act against them to avoid causing turmoil in the imperial court and alarming the Emperor, that didn’t mean she would just sit back and do nothing.
Tang Ning stepped over the steps, her expression indifferent. “Lu Yin is selfish, cowardly, and ungrateful. He’s unfilial and cold-hearted, yet he still thinks of himself as innocent, believing that everyone else owes him something.”
He had been pampered since he was a child and had never known hardship. Even after the downfall of the Cheng Wang residence, he still thought it was her and her aunt’s fault. He never once considered what he might have done wrong.
If he hadn’t experienced the coldness of human nature, if he hadn’t been unable to stay in the Lu family, he would never have remembered his aunt and her kindness. His so-called repentance and tears were simply methods to gain sympathy after weighing the pros and cons.
Had he still been living comfortably, he wouldn’t have thought he’d done anything wrong.
Tang Ning continued walking towards the back garden, her voice cold. “He’s been humiliated by the Lu family for so long that he harbors deep resentment. As long as you give him a bit of hope, make him believe that he can control the Lu family, he’ll do everything in his power to uncover the truth about Guo shi.”
Guo shi’s death had already been concluded by the Lu family.
Empress Lu had fallen out with the Lu family, but the Lu family would rather forget the matter than use it to control the Empress.
If the Empress were exposed for her infidelity, it would be the end for her, and the Lu family would also face treason charges.
So even though Empress Lu had manipulated the Lu family and forced Guoshi to her death, the Lu family knew who had an affair with Cheng Wang. They hated Empress Lu for using the Lu family, yet they silently accepted it.
But that didn’t mean this matter could just pass.
Lu Yin was foolish yet clever enough to stir up trouble between the Lu family and the Empress.
If he were too clever, he might uncover the truth and hesitate to act against the Empress and the Lu family. If he were too foolish, he wouldn’t understand her intentions.
Someone like Lu Yin, who was full of youthful arrogance, thinking that everyone owed him something, was just right for this task. He would latch onto any small mistake and never let go.
He might not uncover the truth about Guoshi right away, but once he did, the Lu family and the Empress wouldn’t be able to hide it.
Either the Lu family would silence him, and the matter would blow up, or Lu Yin would do it himself.
Tang Ning turned to Yue Jian. “Lu Yin is trying to uncover the truth about Guoshi and his biological parents, and he’ll need a helper. The Fourth Prince, having been wronged by the Lu family, must also hate them deeply.”
“Let’s find a chance for the two of them to meet. I’m sure the Fourth Prince would be very interested in anything that could bring trouble to the Lu family.”
If things remained stable with Empress Lu, she’d wait until her brother returned and no longer needed to be a shield before taking action against Empress Lu to avenge her father and mother.
But if Empress Lu really intended to do something or had some malicious intent, she could use her son, Lu Yin, to destroy her reputation.
Yue Jian understood Tang Ning’s meaning and blinked as she watched her enter the room.
Mother and son turning against each other, so thrilling.
In the past, she had thought the Governor was ruthless, but it seemed like the Mistress wasn’t any softer.
Tang Ning entered the room, and as Hua Wu helped her change, she turned to the door and said, “Yue Jian, after the hot water is brought in, go tell Cang Lang that I’ll visit He Li Hall later.”
“Understood, Mistress!”
Yue Jian responded.
Inside the room, Hua Wu, holding the dress Tang Ning had just taken off, saw the bloodstains on it. “Mistress, where did this blood come from?”
Tang Ning, wearing only an undergarment, leaned on the noblewoman's couch. “I ran into some unfortunate trouble.”
Hua Wu blinked.
Tang Ning didn’t want to mention Lu Yin. She felt it was unlucky to speak of him, so she simply rubbed her neck and asked, “Did anything happen in the residence today?”
Hua Wu quickly placed the dress aside and came to press on her shoulders. “The Madam went out today. She went with Master Gu to take care of the Rong family’s courtyard. In the evening, she sent word back saying she wouldn’t be coming home tonight.”
Tang Ning nodded.
Hua Wu’s massage was just the right strength, making Tang Ning feel drowsy. “By the way, Mistress, Miss Qian came by around noon. She said that in two days, it’ll be the Qixi Festival. The night market by Yinghe Lake in the West City will be especially lively. She invited you to join her.”
Tang Ning opened her eyes. “The Qixi Festival?”
“Yes, today is the fifth of the month.”
Tang Ning tilted her head, lost in thought as she gazed at the lamp in front of her. Hua Wu softly asked, “Mistress, do you want to go with Miss Qian?”
“I won’t go.”
Tang Ning leaned on the couch. She wanted to stay in the residence and read. She was also curious about the matters at the Privy Council and wanted to ask Cang Lang about them.
There were many things to deal with, and with her brother not in the capital, she didn’t feel like going out. “Tell Miss Qian I won’t join her. She should enjoy herself, and I won’t go to make a fuss.”
“Oh, and let A Ru know. If she wants to go, she can go with her.”
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T/N: I miss Xiao Yan but i’m excited for Tang Ning to have a chance to show her strength
CWTGD Chapter 322 - Qixi Festival
After Xiao Yan left the capital, time seemed to slow down, and Tang Ning felt that the mansion had become quieter.
Even though they hadn't met every day when Xiao Yan was in the capital, after he left, she felt uneasy in every way, as if everything was out of place. Only when Cang Lang came to talk about matters concerning the Privy Council did she manage to suppress the discomfort in her heart.
The affairs of the Privy Council were far more complicated than those of the academy. Although Xiao Yan had made arrangements before leaving and had let Cang Lang and others handle things temporarily, when Tang Ning actually got involved, she realized it was far more complicated than she had imagined.
At first, she thought it was simply a matter of carrying out orders for the Emperor. But later, she discovered that the Privy Council was responsible for receiving petitions from the court officials and envoys, issuing imperial edicts, handling secret government affairs in the capital, and drafting imperial documents. Most of the memorials from the court did not go directly to the Emperor but had to first pass through the Privy Council before reaching the Ministry of Personnel.
Moreover, Emperor An was suspicious by nature and had a volatile temper, often acting on whims. On top of that, there were various factions within the court, and the Privy Council also had the responsibility of "supervising" and "clearing up" matters. This meant that almost no one in the council had a moment of peace. Even though Cang Lang and the others had already handled most of the work, Tang Ning was still overwhelmed, feeling dizzy and exhausted.
Thankfully, when Xiao Yan was in the capital, he did not shield Tang Ning from these matters. Sometimes, she would assist him, and Xiao Yan had also taught her a few things. This made it so that she wasn't completely clueless about what to do.
"Miss, drink some water..." Hua Wu saw that Tang Ning had just closed a memorial and quickly brought over a cup of tea.
Tang Ning took a sip, quenching the dryness in her throat, then put the cup down and lightly massaged her brow. "What tea is this? It's so bitter."
"Miss, you've been a bit overheated these past few days, and your eyes have been slightly red. I added a bit of lotus seed heart to help clear the eyes and reduce heat," Hua Wu replied, placing the teacup aside. She glanced at the pile of work on the table. "The master has so many things to take care of. You've been busy all day."
Tang Ning looked at the pile of papers and sighed, "Yes, there really is a lot of work..."
These were the matters that Cang Lang and the others had mostly dealt with, leaving only those that her brother had to personally review. From what Cang Lang said, when her brother was in the capital, he had to handle even more.
Not only did he have to manage the numerous tasks within the Privy Council, but he also had to attend court every day, dealing with the political maneuverings of the officials, and even those of the royal family. He still found time to care for her, despite everything.
But back then, her brother had been able to handle everything with ease. Tang Ning could hardly imagine how she would manage if she were in his position.
Tang Ning straightened up and said to Yue Jian, "Take all of this and send it to Helitang. The memorials from the southern border should be given to Cang Lang, and he needs to get them to the Ministry of Justice as soon as possible. Once they are processed and await the Emperor's approval, they will be distributed to the six ministries."
Yue Jian nodded and began to tidy the table.
"Miss, Madam Ru and Madam Qian are here."
"Tang Ning!"
Before Xichun’s voice had finished, Qian Qi Yue’s cheerful and clear call came from outside.
Yue Jian moved faster, quickly cleaning up the table, moving the memorials to the inner room, and Hua Wu also arranged the pens and ink before Tang Ning stood up to greet them. As she stepped toward the curtain, she saw Qian Qi Yue, dressed in a bright red gown, walking in, followed by Xue Ru, who was in a pale yellow skirt. Upon seeing Tang Ning, Xue Ru smiled, showing her dimples, "Sister."
"Greetings, Madam Qian, Madam Ru." Hua Wu and the others quickly bowed.
Qian Qi Yue waved her hand, gesturing for them to rise. She then quickly stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Tang Ning in a warm hug. "Little Haitang, have you missed me?"
Tang Ning stumbled a bit, but a smile appeared on her face. "I was thinking about you. What brings you here?"
"Of course, I'm here to find you!" Qian Qi Yue’s beautiful phoenix eyes rose as she pulled Tang Ning along and said, "Today is the Qixi Festival. Don't tell me you're going to stay at home reading? The west side of the city is bustling today. A'Ru and I came to take you out for fun."
Tang Ning, held by the waist, tilted her head back and noticed that Qian Qi Yue had put on makeup, and even Xue Ru, usually simple, had some makeup and a flower decoration on her hair, with pretty ribbons and bells in her two-bun hairstyle.
Tang Ning couldn't help but laugh, "Didn't I tell you the other day that I wasn't going? You and A'Ru go and have fun..."
"Go where? It’s the best day of the year, it only happens once, and there’s even a competition. Besides, tonight in the west, there will be acrobats, singing, and fireworks. All the girls in the city will be out, and you're going to stay at home like a mushroom?" Qian Qi Yue said excitedly.
"I don't like crowds..."
"That's a lie, you used to love crowds the most."
Qian Qi Yue said it without thinking, and when she saw Tang Ning turn to look at her, she immediately realized she had misspoken.
Little Haitang didn’t remember those things, and Xiao Yan had specifically told her not to mention such things for the time being to avoid upsetting her.
Qian Qi Yue quickly changed the subject, pretending not to notice the doubt in Tang Ning’s eyes. "Anyway, I love the hustle and bustle. Just treat it as accompanying me."
"I’m telling you, this year, the prizes for the Qixi Festival competition are plentiful. Last year, I lost a game of chess and got nothing, and a few annoying people mocked me for a whole year. This year, you and A'Ru have to help me win it back..."
Tang Ning was about to speak when Qian Qi Yue already grabbed her arm. "Good Tang Ning, just go with me. Go play with me."
Tang Ning was being gently swayed by her.
"Tang Ning, go, go, just go with me~~"
"Okay, okay, okay, just let go first, my head is spinning."
"Really? Tang Ning is the best!" Qian Qi Yue let go of her and gave her a bear hug before pushing her toward the inner room. "Hurry up, change into your best clothes. Hua Wu, go bring the prettiest dress for your lady, and do her hair nicely."
"Is it really necessary to go all out like this?"
"Of course!" Qian Qi Yue glared at her. "The west side of the city is full of beauties tonight. We can't fall behind!"
Tang Ning was practically being pushed forward. When she turned and saw Hua Wu looking at her, she could only helplessly sigh.
"Go on, listen to Madam Qian."
If she didn’t listen to Qian Qi Yue, she feared her ears wouldn't have any peace.
Hua Wu suppressed a laugh. "Yes, I'll go right now."
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You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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