Now that she knew the Governor of Heyun County was in league with the second prince, Yan Lin, and had secretly mustered his troops, preparing to annihilate her at the valley entrance, Su Rong naturally wouldn’t let the governor of Heyun County off the hook.
So, she instructed Fen Ling to arrange for contacts with the Governor of Linyang County, Sun Chun, and then lay in ambush, waiting for the two thousand five hundred soldiers of Heyun County to cross the border into their trap.
Governor Sun Chun of Linyang County was a supporter of the Eastern Palace, which conveniently aligned with her.
When she decided to take a detour at the valley entrance, she whispered her instructions to Fen Ling. As such, after Fen Ling’s arrangements, Deputy Zhang Yu was captured. Even though the Governor of Heyun County he had instructed, Cao Zhang, was in the governor’s residence, he naturally couldn’t escape either.
When the secret guards delivered the news to Su Rong, they were still a hundred miles from Nanping.
Su Rong hadn’t expected things to be resolved so quickly. She had thought it would take at least half a month, so this smooth progress made her feel both extremely fast and satisfied. She said in approval, "Sun Chun has done well and chosen the right timing. He is a useful man. That Cao Zhang is a fool and Deputy Zhang Yu is even more so."
Did they think they could move troops across borders just because it was winter and snowing? This was simply stupidity in the extreme.
Fen Ling also felt the two men were fools. He didn’t understand how they became the governor and deputy of Heyun County, or how they were entrusted by the second prince. In such a short time, their stupidity led them straight into their trap. Now, he wondered if they would reveal Yan Lin’s involvement.
The Ning siblings never expected that they would truly be escorted all the way to Nanping by Su Rong and Fen Ling. Ning Yao, having been married off, had not returned to Nanping since her wedding. Ning Ze, having entered the capital in golden autumn, felt like a piece of his skin had been peeled off in just a few months. He seemed utterly exhausted.
They hoped to return safely to Nanping, but as they were getting closer, a feeling of defiance welled up from within. Among them, Ning Ze felt the most overwhelmed. He was afraid of death, scared that Ning Chi wouldn’t care and would just kill him. After all, they didn’t have much brotherly love from a young age.
At fifty miles from the city gate, Ning Ze finally grabbed Fen Ling’s arm and said to him, "Can I stick with you from now on? Is that alright?"
"No," Fen Ling decisively shook him off, "What do I need such a waste like you for? I’m not an idiot, only someone too full would want you."
Ning Ze, being thick-skinned, immediately said, "Then if my elder brother really wants to kill me, could you plead for me? Please, for the sake... for the sake..." He couldn’t think of any bond he shared with Fen Ling on the spot, but then quickly said, "For the sake of the time when I had to help you make the Buddha Jump over the Wall dish and didn’t even get a taste?"
Fen Ling: "..."
He looked at Ning Ze speechlessly, "Did you regret not getting a taste at that time?"
"Yes, it was my first time cooking," Ning Ze spoke honestly, "I later tasted the Buddha Jump over the Wall dish made by my sister’s cook several times, but it never tasted quite right or fragrant."
He never thought he would be so fixated with that first time when he was forced to be an assistant in cooking the dish with Fen Ling.
Fen Ling patted his shoulder, "Alright, I’ll see how things go and try to plead for you. After all, there aren’t many fools in this world. If you’re really killed by him, there’ll be one less source of amusement."
Ning Ze didn’t care whether he was being belittled or scolded. Hearing him agree, he felt a great relief, as if a heavy load was lifted from his heart.
At ten miles from the city gate, a team came forward to greet them, led by none other than Ning Chi.
Having had dealings with him and shared drinks in Jiangning County, Su Rong naturally recognized him clearly. Ning Chi was wrapped in a large cloak, his handsome face bearing a touch of sternness from the cold wind. He reined his horse to a stop as he came near, saluting with a smile, "Lady Su Qi, Master Feng!"
Su Rong also reined in her horse, meeting him with a smile and nodding, "Prince Ning."
Ning Chi said, "I received word that Lady Su Qi personally escorted my younger sister and brother back to Nanping. I thought there was an error in the message and found it hard to believe. I didn’t expect it to be true."
Su Rong smiled and said, "Considering how much the Marquis and Lady of Nanping treasure their children, I felt that even the hardship of a journey wouldn’t matter much. Is the Marquis and his wife well?"
Ning Chi replied, "My father is well, but my mother fell ill upon hearing the news about my sister and brother."
At this point, the carriage arrived a step later and stopped. Ning Yao and Ning Ze disembarked from the carriage and respectfully greeted Ning Chi, "Elder brother!"
Ning Chi glanced at them both and gave a faint smile, nodding, "Our parents have been waiting, it’s a cause for celebration that my sister and brother are fortunate to have returned safely."
Ning Ze dropped to his knees with a ’thud’, "Elder brother, I was wrong. Please forgive me. I promise, kill me if I dare to struggle for a title with you again. From now on, I will repent and be at your command. Please, spare my life!"
Ning Chi stopped in his tracks.
Ning Ze wept bitterly, "Elder brother, I really know I was wrong. I was just thoughtless when I was young. Elder brother, let bygones be bygones. I’ll be obedient from now on, and I won’t defy you. Please, spare me."
Ning Chi remained silent for a moment, "What are you doing? When did I say I was going to take your life?"
Ning Ze sobbed, "Elder brother, you don’t want my life, but do you intend to torture me alive?" He extended his hand and showed his severed finger to Ning Chi, "Elder brother, look, I have been punished. My three fingers were... they were cut off during the investigation."
Ning Chi glanced at the severed finger and then at Ning Ze, who was sobbing inconsolably, and his feelings grew complicated.
Seeing that he did not agree to spare him, Ning Ze instantly burst into shattering sobs, "Elder brother, I really know I am wrong. But, but I almost died. If a man dies, no amount of gold is of any use."
Ning Chi: "..."
This fool had wrongfully suspected him for all these years.
He stopped paying attention to Ning Ze and turned to look at Ning Yao.
Ning Yao met Ning Ze’s eyes and called out, "Elder brother."
Ning Chi nodded slightly and didn’t say much. He turned to Su Rong and Fen Ling and said, "Please, come."
Su Rong nodded.
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