After finishing a stick of candied hawberries, Su Rong wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and turned to Ning Ze, "If your parents agree, you can follow me to Nanchu. But let me clarify first, Nanchu is extremely perilous. Should you choose to follow me, you will be mine, and you must remain loyal to me. If I say go east, you go east. If I say go west, you go west. Even if a sword is held to your throat, you cannot refuse me. If you dare to be disloyal, I will fry you in oil like a candied hawberry. Can you do it?"
Ning Ze abruptly raised his head, staring wide-eyed at Su Rong.
Fen Ling was also surprised, "Sis, are you really taking him?"
This worthless guy, even if it were to tie his own shoelaces, he would begrudge his own clumsiness and slowness.
Su Rong glared at Fen Ling, "Every person has their strengths and weaknesses. If everyone under me was like you, the vast world wouldn’t be able to accommodate me walking sideways."
Fen Ling chuckled, "Sis, you’re praising me."
Su Rong: "..."
This one is really thick-skinned.
Ning Ze hesitated and asked shakily, "But, I am scared of death. Will you protect me?"
Su Rong nodded, "Since you’re choosing to follow me and remain loyal, I will naturally protect you. However, Nanchu is indeed perilous. If you’re not careful and end up in danger or lose your life, it’s also possible."
Ning Ze sighed in relief, "As long as you will protect me, that’s enough."
With a mix of fear and joy, he suddenly knelt before Su Rong, "I, I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t be scared when a knife is on my neck, but if your life was at risk, I, I would rather commit suicide. A quick knife, just like when Fen Ling cut off my fingers. I think, I, I should be able to do it. Throat cutting and finger cutting should be equally painful."
As he spoke, his face turned white. But he was well aware that if he missed this opportunity, there might not be another one.
Su Rong: "..."
Fen Ling: "..."
Su Rong nodded, "Alright, stand up. Don’t kneel so frequently; wait until I become the Queen of Nanchu, then kneel."
Ning Ze nodded repeatedly and stood up.
Fen Ling clapped him on the shoulder, "You are quite something! Despite your pathetic appearance, my sister isn’t rejecting you."
Ning Ze’s eyes teared up, "Thank you, Lady Su Qi."
Fen Ling shrugged him off disdainfully, "Alright, don’t start crying. From today on, think about what you can do and what position you could hold." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
Ning Ze sniffled and nodded.
Meanwhile, inside the Marquis Nanping Residence, Sun Shiying was having a discussion with Madam Marquis.
She asked Madam Marquis, "Aunt, were the visitors to the Residence Lady Su Qi and Young Master Fen Ling? I heard from my mother that it was they who escorted cousin and cousin brother back home? But on the road, my cousin brother didn’t introduce them to me."
Madam Marquis glanced at Sun Shiying, thinking that her maternal family was really quick to get news. They had already heard rumors from the Capital City that her children were escorted back to Nanping by Su Rong and Fen Ling.
She nodded, "That’s right. Did your encounter happen on the street? Your cousin brother probably didn’t want to reveal their identities, to avoid trouble."
Sun Shiying nodded, "I heard that Lady Su Qi is the Nanchu Princess. She escorted my cousin and cousin brother to Nanping, is she intending to leave for Nanchu from here?"
Madam Marquis shook her head, "I don’t know, she hasn’t mentioned it."
Sun Shiying looked at Madam Marquis and hesitated before asking, "Aunt, does cousin brother have any plans for the future?"
Madam Marquis shook her head and sighed deeply, "He has gone through a lot in the Capital City and lost three fingers. He barely escaped death and has become timid. For now, he does not have any plans. He doesn’t have the ability to vie for a noble title nor does he want to. As for the future, we’ll take one step at a time. After all, the Marquis’ Heir can tolerate him, because your cousin brother is his only younger brother."
Sun Shiying nodded, clutching her handkerchief, nipping her lips, "Aunt, the matter of my marriage with cousin brother..."
Madam Marquis immediately sat up straight.
Sun Shiying started speaking but seemed unable to continue.
Madam Marquis waited for her to speak. After seeing that she was not continuing, she felt a little disappointed. However, looking at the niece she had raised as a potential daughter-in-law, she realized she couldn’t forcefully make her marry her own son. After all, he was worthless and without prospects. She could understand. Everyone has their own selfish intentions. At first, she had refused her sister-in-law for her daughter, and now her sister-in-law declined her son. It’s payback. If it were her own daughter, she wouldn’t want to marry her to someone like that either.
She inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled, taking the initiative to say, "Shiying, your marriage agreement with your cousin was just a joke between me and your mother. Such an engagement can’t hold up."
Sun Shiying abruptly raised her head.
Madam Marquis smiled kindly at her, "Like minds attract. I know your mother places high hopes on you, and currently, your cousin brother does not deserve you. Despite being my own son, I cannot go against my conscience to say he’s worthy of you now."
Sun Shiying’s eyes grew moist, expressing guilt, "Aunt, I’m sorry, I..."
Madam Marquis patted her hand, "You don’t need to say anything. I understand. I wish for you to find a good husband from a reputable family."
Sun Shiying clutching her handkerchief, finally burst into tears, "Aunt, my mother wants me to participate in the selection."
Madam Marquis was stunned, "Selection?"
Sun Shiying nodded, "Apparently next spring, there will be a selection mainly to choose consorts for the Crown Prince."
Madam Marquis realized, "Your mother has her eyes on the position of the Crown Prince’s Consort?"
Sun Shiying shook her head and tearily said, "My mother is not so fanciful. The Sun family can’t aspire to be the Crown Prince’s Consort. To be a side consort of the Crown Prince would be fitting, as well as the fourth Prince’s Consort..."
Madam Marquis calmly said after a moment of silence, "The Marquis’ heir isn’t my son. The Marquis has already posted his resignation. From today on, his son will be the head of this Marquis Residence. It’s rumored that even the fourth Prince has chosen to side with the Crown Prince. Whether as the side consort of the Crown Prince or the fourth Prince’s Consort, I can’t help you anymore. If you want this to happen, you’ll have to ask the Marquis’ Heir. But you know, he doesn’t interfere."
Over the years, it was not just Ning Ze who had offended Ning Chi. Madam Marquis had also seriously offended him for the sake of her own son. Her maternal family, the Sun family, had secretly helped Ning Ze a lot, even if all their efforts ended in vain. They’ve offended Ning Chi.
Sun Shiying nodded and wiped her tears with her handkerchief, "That’s why Aunt, I guess I only have one path, which is to enter His Majesty’s Imperial Harem."
Madam Marquis’s expression changed, "His Majesty is of such an old age!"
Sun Shiying quietly shed tears and stopped speaking.
Looking at her, a maiden in the bloom of youth, entering the palace would mean ruining her life!
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