Chapter 96

Before Yi Ning could say anything, Cheng Lang had already smiled and placed another chess piece. "Why am I telling you this?"

Yi Ning had heard from Wei Ling that Lu Jiaxue had been a bit cold towards Cheng Lang recently. There had been an opportunity for a promotion within the Ministry of Personnel, but Cheng Lang hadn't gotten it. Seeing the faint trace of fatigue between his delicate features, she felt a pang of regret. This child appeared to be smiling, but he wasn't happy at all. It was as if he was hiding a deep sadness, though no one else knew what he was thinking.

So what is he thinking?

Yi Ning's mind wandered off, and when she came back to her senses, she realized she was losing ground in the game. Cheng Lang pressed her piece, forcing it into a corner.

She grabbed a handful of chess pieces and thought to herself, it’s really amazing!

Seeing that she was about to lose, Cheng Lang smiled faintly: "Sister Yining, why bother resisting so stubbornly?"

Just as they were talking, a maid came in through the curtain and bowed to tell Yi Ning that the steward wanted to see her. Yi Ning breathed a sigh of relief and stood up. She looked up and saw Cheng Lang looking at her. She couldn't help but say, "There's an urgent matter in the mansion..."

Cheng Lang smiled and said, "Just go and see him!" He threw the chess pieces in his hand into the chess cup.

After Yining came out, she discussed with the steward that Wei Ling was not at home, so she could not make decisions on many things. After a long discussion, she finally reached an agreement. When she returned to the back room, she found out that Ting'er had gone out to play with the little girl. Cheng Lang was probably a little bored waiting, so he leaned against the armrest with his eyes closed.

Yi Ning tiptoed to his side and heard Zhenzhu whisper, "My cousin must be too tired. He didn't even drink the tea I served him."

Yi Ning realized he was asleep, his eyes slightly blue, and he was still sound asleep. She waved the maid away, waiting for him to get some sleep. She took the chess pieces and studied the game. Suddenly, it struck her that this was very similar to when he was little. She was looking at the account book, and little Cheng Lang was sleeping beside her.

She put down the chess piece in her hand and suddenly heard a very low murmur: "Aunt..."

What is he yelling for? Yi Ning looked up at Cheng Lang. His handsome face seemed to be filled with a deep sorrow, his brows furrowed tightly. He still hadn't woken up, and he looked as helpless and frightened as a child.

When he was a child, he always slept restlessly, always needing to pull at her sleeves to fall asleep. Yi Ning watched his tall body curled up. She suddenly remembered Lu Jiaxue's use of him, and that Zhao Mingzhu liked Lu Jiaxue, while Xie Yun liked Luo Shenyuan. It seemed that no one truly loved him... He was clearly the illustrious third place winner in the imperial examination, the future Minister of War. He was clearly a child of destiny, the same child who had leaned on her shoulder and said the dragonfly had flown away.

Yining felt a little sad. She walked over to him, stroked his forehead, hesitated for a moment, and then said softly: "...Alang. Sleep well... I'm here."

He seemed deeply uneasy, but then he heard a voice calling him "A Lang." The tone was so familiar; she was the one who usually called him that. Cheng Lang gradually calmed down, feeling only the warmth of the sunlight outside the window. The woman was still by his side. As long as she was still by his side, he was completely content; no one else mattered.

A quarter of an hour later, he woke up. Yi Ning was talking to the parrot when she suddenly saw him stand up and look around. Yi Ning asked him, "Cousin Cheng Lang, what's wrong?"

Still at the place where they had just played chess, Cheng Lang gradually regained his composure, but when he saw Yi Ning again, his eyes became cold.

He shook his head and said, "Nothing." He added, "I have to go pay my respects to my grandmother. I'm leaving now."

He was about to go out, but he paused for a moment at the threshold, suddenly turned around and asked calmly: "Did no one come in just now?"

Yi Ning smiled and said, "Cousin, did you dream about something?"

Cheng Lang left without a word this time, and the smile on Yi Ning's face vanished after he left. No matter what Lu Jiaxue did, Cheng Lang... had never held any ill will towards her. However, since she had decided not to get involved, she naturally wouldn't tell Cheng Lang that she was still alive.

The cockatoo tilted its head to look at Yining again and suddenly said, "Alang, Alang!"

Yi Ning was stunned to see Cheng Lang had already walked out of her yard. She had just fed it a few grains of corn to make it shut up, but this stupid thing couldn't talk, so why was it yelling nonsense? The cockatoo seemed to have been rewarded for this, and said even more arrogantly: "Alang, Alang!"

Yi Ning took it down from the parrot stand and whispered, "Shut up and stop shouting."

When Pearl came in from outside, she saw her young lady staring at the parrot, not knowing what they were doing.

She smiled and bowed, saying, "Miss, Mr. Luo San and the wife of the Duke of Dingbei are here to see you! They are now at the old lady's place."

*

Yi Ning hadn't seen Luo Yihui in a long time. He had only seen her during the Chinese New Year, but he hadn't exchanged many words with her then. Hearing that his third brother and eldest sister had arrived, Yi Ning hurriedly washed his hands and headed to Jing'an Residence. When he arrived, he saw his eldest sister sitting in the hall, talking to Old Lady Wei, who was asking about Old Lady Fu's recent situation.

Yining saw that her elder sister was wearing a jacket with full sleeves and gold all over it, her hair was tied up high in a bun, and she looked noble and elegant.

She was delighted and walked in to pay her respects to Old Lady Wei. She immediately took her eldest sister's arm and asked her, "Didn't Yu'er come with you?"

"He went to burn incense with his grandmother, so I had time to come and see you." Luo Yihui saw Yining smile and let her sister pull her.

She has no blood relationship with the Luo family, but they are sisters. Yining was raised by her, and this cannot be changed!

Yining was always worried when she was in the Duke of England's mansion. Fortunately, the Duke of England's mansion had a simple staff. If it were any other noble family, she would have such worries.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!