Chapter 85

Seeing Yining retreat, Shen Yu smiled and said, "Sister Yining, don't panic. I... I just want to say a few words to you."

Why was she looking at him with such strange and cautious eyes, and there was no sign of relaxation?

Shen Yu's smile dimmed, and he took out a scented bag from his sleeve. The dark blue scented bag was embroidered with delicate orchids. He said, "Here are the Buddhist beads I asked for when I went to Guangji Temple last time. They were blessed by Master Hongfa. The things he blessed are the most effective." He kept this thing on him all the time, thinking that he could give it to her when he met her. He even held it in his hand with a faint body temperature.

How could Yi Ning possibly want his things? She declined, "Brother Shen Yu, I never wear Buddhist beads."

Shen Yu's fingers holding the sachet tightened slightly.

Yi Ning thought she was a good person, and generally wouldn't reject people outright. But in this kind of situation, you had to cut the Gordian knot quickly, there was no room for mercy.

She didn't talk to Shen Yu anymore, and turned around and walked along the corridor. Songzhi hurriedly followed Yining.

Only after passing the corridor did Yining breathe a sigh of relief. When she looked back, she found that Shen Yulan's figure was still standing there, separated by clusters of plum branches. She sighed slightly.

By the time Yining returned, the stage had already been set up, and the sound of gongs and drums was boisterous. Old Mrs. Wei, wearing a jacket with a swastika pattern, sat smiling among the other women, listening to the performance. When she realized Yining and Mingzhu were missing, she turned around and asked, "...Why are these two girls gone?"

The waiter said, "The young lady went to see the plum blossoms, but Miss Mingzhu didn't know."

Old Mrs. Wei smiled and said, "Mingzhu is the same. Fortunately, I chose her favorite play. It's about to get exciting. Let's go find out where she went."

Yining stood at the entrance of Fangshan and suddenly didn't want to go in. She had originally planned to accompany Old Lady Wei to watch a few plays, but she didn't like watching plays.

She whispered to Daimao beside her: "Go tell grandma that I have a headache because of drinking some wine. I need to go back and lie down for a while."

Daimao bowed and left, and Yining turned around and left Fangshan with the maids and women.

On the way, a light snow started to fall again. Zhenzhu held an umbrella for Yining and said softly, "Miss, it turns out that when Miss Mingzhu celebrates her birthday, the old lady always invites a troupe of opera singers to hold a banquet for Miss Mingzhu. Everyone is required to follow her to listen to whatever opera Miss Mingzhu likes. Please don't mind it too much."

Yining wondered what she should mind. She raised her head slightly and heard the sound of singing coming from afar. It seemed that the performance was really getting to the point where it was interesting, and the gongs were beating more and more lively.

Yining sighed and said, "...Let's go back."

Zhenzhu felt a little sad. Making someone sad was never a big deal. She tightened her grip on Yining's hand slightly. At first, when the Duke of England asked her to take care of Yining, she had only taken it as an order from him. But now, she felt a little more genuine about it.

She was supposed to be the one enjoying it all: Old Madam Wei's favor and the status of a young lady from the Duke of Ying's mansion. For over a decade, others had enjoyed it, while she was left as an insignificant adopted daughter in a small place like Baoding. Now that she had returned, Zhao Mingzhu still had it all. Even if Old Madam Wei hadn't done it intentionally, her favor towards Mingzhu had become a habit.

The group returned to the East Garden. Yining was walking slowly along the path in the mansion when she suddenly saw a small figure squatting under her veranda.

"Ting'er?" Yining walked towards him. Ting'er was wearing a cloak with a piping hem, his face sunken into the fur edge of the cloak. He looked furry all over, like a small animal.

Yi Ning half squatted down and said in surprise, "Why are you here? Weren't you watching a play in Fangshan? And your wet nurse didn't keep an eye on you?"

Ting'er raised his head and looked at her with a pair of deer-like eyes. His eyelashes were long and thick, which made her heart melt. He said, "They were watching a play. I ran out when they weren't paying attention."

"How can this be?" Yi Ning pulled him to his feet. How could this child behave like this? If people found out he was missing, wouldn't the whole mansion be in turmoil? Today is Old Lady Wei's birthday. "I'll take you there. Zhenzhu, get the prince another cloak."

Ting'er avoided her and said, "They told me... that my mother used to live here." He continued, "That's why I live here. I don't remember what my mother looked like, but they said if I miss her, I should come here and see her."

Yi Ning was startled by what he said and felt a little sorry for him. "Do you miss your mother?"

"I don't miss her." Ting'er pursed his lips. "I don't even remember what she looked like. I was very young when she died."

Yi Ning did not force him to go over, and sent a maid to Fangshan to pass on the message. She pulled Ting'er up and said, "You can't sit here either."

She led Ting'er into the inner room, where a warm floor heater burned and the air was filled with warm pine incense. Songzhi quickly filled the hot water bottle. Feeling Ting'er's cold body, Yining spread out the quilt next to him and covered him with it, tucking in the corners and wrapping his feet inside. When she looked up, she found Ting'er looking at her.

He hesitated for a moment and said, "If... I call you sister, can you hug me?"

Yi Ning felt a pang of sadness when she heard this, and she reached out and held the little child in her arms. Ting Ge'er was a little uncomfortable at first, but gradually he softened and leaned against her arms, closing his eyes. Yi Ning held him and asked, "Ting Ge'er, I'll take you there later in the evening, or else ask your wet nurse to come to my place?"

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