Chapter 435 Grandma likes well-behaved children, Tang Ning must understand the rules
The night is like thick ink, and the bright moon is hidden among the clouds.
Young Tang Ning was curled up in a corner with his hands and feet tied, looking pale and weak like a wounded cub.
"She can't stay. If she lives, Rong Zhen's affairs will be known to Rong Qian'an, and he won't let it go."
"But if she died suddenly, the Rong family would blame her even more."
"A child this young, they'll find any excuse, whether it's drowning, falling to death, or catching a cold and having a high fever overnight..."
"no!"
Madam Song flatly refused: "The Rong and Song families are all connected by marriage. That's why the Rong family has always been so supportive of the Song family. Your success in the court is also entirely due to their support. Rong Qian'an holds a special position in the court, and Rong Yue is the Princess of Cheng. Don't you know how much they love Tang Ning?"
"Rong Zhen is already dead. If Tang Ning also dies in the Song family, they will definitely hate you. Without the support of the Rong family, what will happen to your and Jin Xiu's future?"
Song Hong felt sympathetic, and when he thought of his brother and sister-in-law who were suffocated to death, his face was filled with fear: "But mother, Tang Ning saw Rong Zhen's incident with her own eyes. If even a little bit of it gets out, the Rong family will definitely fight to the death..."
Old Madam Song said in a cold tone, "All the servants who knew about this have been beaten to death, and Rong Zhen's body has been faked. Now she and your second brother have been buried. Rong Qian'an is seriously ill and Rong Yue has to take care of the medicine. I will use the excuse that Tang Ning lost her mother and is sick to bring her here for a while."
She glanced at the little girl who was tied up and struggling behind the green gauze cabinet, and remembered how she had cried and shouted that she wanted to see her mother and go to the Rong family, and her tone was like that of an evil ghost.
"She's just a child. I can always make her behave. If one month doesn't work, I'll try two months. If two months doesn't work, I'll try six months. I can always make her sensible."
Song Hong felt an inexplicable chill down his spine: "Mother, you..."
Old Madam Song said, "Don't worry about Tang Ning's affairs. Go do what you should do. The Queen will be unhappy if she doesn't find what she wants. You should carefully look through Rong Zhen and the others' belongings and don't let anyone know about this to the Rong family."
"As a last resort, let Prince Cheng help you. It would be best if Rong Qian'an could stay ill for a while so that he would have no time to take care of Tang Ning."
The sound from outside came in, and the young but smart Tang Ning heard it clearly.
Seeing her uncle turn and leave, and her usually loving grandmother walking towards her, she was so scared that she shrank back, tears falling as she leaned her back against the wall, and she looked at Old Madam Song with hatred in her eyes.
"Grandma doesn't like the look in your eyes."
Madam Song touched her face and said in a gentle voice, "Grandmother likes well-behaved children. Tang Ning must understand the rules."
Then, little Tang Ning was dragged into the small and cramped "little dark room".
The room was empty and bare, sealed shut so that not a ray of light could be seen. There was no sound around, and the only sound that could be heard was the little girl's own frightened cries.
She cried until her voice became hoarse and she fainted. When she woke up, she was still inside.
That small dark room became Tang Ning's place to eat, drink, defecate and urinate. Every few days someone would throw some food in. At first Tang Ning refused to eat a single bite and would make a noise and cry when he saw people. Every time this happened he would be punished.
The finger-long cow hair needle landed on her skin, leaving all the invisible soft flesh with pinch marks. She screamed and wailed in pain, but the woman holding her down never stopped until she fainted from the pain.
After waking her up with cold water, they would pry open her mouth and stuff something into it. When she cried and vomited it out, they would force her to swallow the filth mixed with the food again...
The door of the small dark room opened and closed again. It was filthy and no one cleaned it. The young Tang Ning exuded a strong stench.
The spirit in her eyes gradually faded, she became speechless, and became like a frightened bird.
Every time there was light from outside and someone came in, the torment and pain would appear. She began to fear those people, afraid of seeing the light, and afraid of seeing everything outside.
It seemed like a long, long time had passed before the door was opened again and someone came in from outside.
Tang Ning subconsciously hid in the corner, but this time she was not beaten. The man walked up to her, looked down at her, and had a loving smile on his face for a long time.
"Tang Ning."
Tang Ning stared at her blankly for a long while: "Grandmother..."
She hadn't spoken for a long time and it was difficult for her to speak.
Madam Song said softly, "My dear child, do you miss your grandmother?"
Tang Ning shuddered subconsciously: "I want to..."
Old Madam Song smiled. She was not beaten that day.
Things gradually got better in the small dark room, and the maid who had done the work would still appear to teach her the "rules". When she was "disobedient", the finger-long needle would prick her and make her faint.
But as long as Old Madam Song came over, they would not beat her. Occasionally, when Old Madam Song praised her, she would get clean clothes and a warm meal.
Later, her brother came to see her, and Lu's brother also came. When they saw her, she was allowed to leave the room for two days and did not have to learn the "rules". She did not dare to cry or speak, and listened to the nanny who was guarding her talking to her brother and others with pity.
"The girl lost her parents and cried day and night until she became sick and weak. She often refused to talk to anyone all day. The old lady was heartbroken..."
Tang Ning stared blankly out the window, her face pale as she clutched the object hanging around her neck, "I'm sick." She trembled, not daring to say a word, and only numbly called out "Brother," "Brother Lu"...
Then, she really fell seriously ill, her face flushed with fever, and she whispered "Mother" in her sleep.
The doctor said that she was young and weak and might not be able to be saved.
For some reason, Rong Yue suddenly came to the manor, ignoring the fact that Old Lady Song had called in the imperial physician. After staying by the doctor's side for a whole day and night, the high fever finally subsided and the little girl on the bed woke up faintly.
Rong Yue was filled with tears of surprise, while Old Madam Song looked at her with fear and shock.
Tang Ning's voice was sweet and sweet: "Aunt, Grandma~"
Tang Ning forgot, she forgot everything about Rong Zhen’s death.
…
The sound of insects could be heard from time to time outside Zhuangzi, and the little girl on the bed was crying non-stop.
She called out "Mother" softly, stretching her hands as if trying to grab something. Her eyelashes trembled as she closed her eyes, and her little face was flushed red.
Xiao Yan reached out and held her hand, patting her gently again and again. He looked up at Madam Qin and said, "What happened to Tang Ning? Why did she suddenly have a high fever?"
Madam Qin twisted the silver needle in her hand and said, "She's frightened."
Xiao Yan suddenly remembered the "ghost pulse" that Madam Qin mentioned when Tang Ning fainted at the Qian family last time. She also said that Tang Ning was frightened by a nightmare and had convulsions, and... the Song family!
He held Tang Ning's hand, which was as hot as charcoal, and murderous intent rose in his eyes as they darkened.
"Master, someone is coming from the palace."
Xiao Yan's eyes turned cold and he looked up at Madam Qin.
Madam Qin said, "The Empress Dowager took medicine and rested tonight. Lingyin is with her. I will stay here to watch over Tang Ning."
Xiao Yan said "hmm", lowered his head and tucked the corner of the quilt for Tang Ning, and stood up with a solemn look on his face.
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