Chapter 3
Zhuang Xing thought he had misheard. Fu'er had made such a serious mistake, yet not a single word was mentioned about how to punish her.
He grew increasingly dissatisfied; if it were him and Mu Li, they would have been kicked out of the Ning residence long ago.
But thinking of his master's safety, Zhuang Xing still mustered up the courage to say a few more words, "Master, don't you often say that anyone who makes a mistake in this mansion will be severely punished?"
"Fu'er is all for you..."
Ning Shiyu interrupted in a deep voice, "Stop talking nonsense, she did not do anything inappropriate to me."
"I have already punished her; let's not mention this matter again."
Zhuang Xing: "..."
He was extremely dissatisfied, thinking to himself, "Who in this household doesn't know how much Fu'er feels for you?"
If this powder wasn't prepared for you, who else was it prepared for?
This isn't even considered outrageous.
*
By the time Fu'er had settled her sister and returned to the Ning residence, it was already dark.
She was cold and hungry.
At this moment, the kitchen had run out of food, so she took out two cakes from her bosom and started eating them.
The cakes were cold and hard, so Fu'er drank a couple of sips of hot tea to make do and fill her stomach.
Just as she lay down, Xiang'er, the maidservant beside Granny Yu, pushed open the door and came in.
Holding a bowl of hot ginseng soup in her hands, she said, "Grandma specifically asked me to bring this to you."
Fu'er accepted it with a smile, "Sister Xiang'er, you and Granny are still the best to me."
A meaningful glint flashed in Xiang'er's eyes as she asked, "Has your sister's matter been resolved?"
Feeling guilty, Fu'er didn't dare to look up, burying her face in the soup bowl and casually replying, "Mm."
Seeing that she drank the ginseng soup in the bowl clean, and even licked the rim of the bowl, Xiang'er couldn't help but laugh and said, "Just like always, you don't waste a single thing when you eat."
"You rest, I'm going back."
Fu'er tugged at her sleeve and asked, "Sister, is Miss Yunyou now considered a concubine in the household?"
Xiang'er sighed, "How can it not count? The mistress instructed the nanny today to find a maid to serve her."
The next day, Fu'er was doing the accounting in the accounting office.
Mu Li strode in: "Miss Fu'er, the master said that you need to go out of the manor with him."
Fu'er was puzzled. Ning Shiyu had already sent her to the head accountant's office, so he obviously didn't want to see her again.
Why did you still ask me to leave the manor with him?
With a heart full of trepidation, I followed Mu Li to the courtyard gate.
Ning Shiyu was already waiting in the carriage.
He lifted the curtain and saw that Fu'er was wearing a drab gray short jacket and an old cotton skirt of the same color.
His expression immediately turned cold. "You're going to come with me to visit a guest dressed like this. I'm only sending you to the accounting office, not to beg on the streets."
These past few days, Fu'er has been avoiding him.
Hearing him complain about her clothes, she felt a little aggrieved. "Uncle Hong said that dressing up in fancy clothes to go to the accounting office can easily lead to mistakes."
“I just picked out a dress that matches Uncle Hong’s color.”
Fu'er's eyes were clear, and she didn't understand Hong Shu's implied meaning at all.
There were about a dozen employees in the main accounting office, all of whom were young men about the same age as Fu'er.
The accountant's comment about the potential for errors wasn't directed at Fu'er, but at the other employees.
Suddenly, she blurted out a reason that was completely unexpected.
Mu Li and Uncle Qi, the groom, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Ning Shiyu pinched the bridge of his nose and said coldly, "You've only been in the accounting office for a day, and your brain has become quite dull."
"Go back and change into a dress."
Fu'er didn't dare to dawdle. She quickly went back to the backyard to change her clothes and nimbly climbed into the carriage.
Throughout the journey, Ning Shiyu leaned against the carriage wall, lost in thought, his brows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing.
I wonder what he's thinking?
Fu'er tried her best not to disturb him, sitting far away from him, her fingernails constantly scratching at the butterflies on her floral dress.
The corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.
She embroidered the butterfly herself; her embroidery was always rough.
She was already quite satisfied with the embroidery pattern, which only resembled a butterfly.
Just then, Ning Shiyu asked, "Did you embroider it yourself?"
Fu'er looked up and replied happily, "Yes, it's the best butterfly I've ever embroidered."
Ning Shiyu snorted coldly, "The best?"
"I don't recognize it as a butterfly. It looks more like the soup you spilled while you were dozing off and didn't wash it off."
It seemed like they were doing it on purpose, just couldn't bear to see Fu'er happy, and had to pour cold water on her.
Fu'er's face darkened, and she turned away, unwilling to speak to Ning Shiyu any further.
Ning Shiyu, of course, wouldn't take the initiative to start a conversation.
The journey was much quieter.
As they approached their destination, Ning Shiyu spoke up, saying, "Later, we will be meeting with Old Madam Ouyang."
"Don't stand still like a wooden stake; you need to be observant."
This wasn't the first time Fu'er had done this kind of job.
She can handle it.
She immediately understood Ning Shiyu's true purpose in bringing her here today.
Madam Ouyang was the mother of the governor of Yuzhou. The story of Fu'er's connection with her goes back many years.
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Fu'er went out with her sister and mother to release lanterns.
They happened to run into Old Lady Ouyang, who had returned home to visit her family.
The old woman thought she was pleasing to the eye, with a round little face and round eyes.
She is gentle and obedient, and judging from her appearance, she is a blessed person.
They wanted to buy Fu'er and keep her by their side, claiming they were willing to pay a high price.
Fu'er's mother was reluctant to part with her, as it would take half a month to travel from Yuzhou to Lingyang.
The old woman had no choice but to give up.
Later, the old woman returned to her hometown to recuperate, but she never forgot Fu'er.
She even paid Fu'er to stay with her for a month.
Over the years, whenever the old woman returned to Lingyang, she would send her servants to invite Fu'er.
Until two years ago, Fu'er got older and it was time to arrange a marriage for her.
Her mother never believed that because of their lowly status, the old lady simply liked Fu'er, so she forbade her to go to the Ouyang residence anymore.
Kefu had received many things from the old lady in the past.
Feeling somewhat guilty, I prepared a few of the fumigation herbs that the old lady liked and gave them to her.
Today, Ning Shiyu visited the Ouyang residence, and Fu'er knew, of course, that it wasn't for a casual chat.
It was for the important matter at hand.
Ning Shiyu has always claimed that he leaves the mansion every day for the family business.
In reality, it was for his official duties.
Ning Shiyu is a staff member in the Prince of Qin's mansion.
Fu'er accompanied him to the Prince of Qin's residence twice, and it was clear that he was highly regarded by the Prince of Qin.
As far as Fu'er knows, Lord Ouyang has now resigned from his official post and is now a powerless and idle man at home.
What did Ning Shiyu want to see him about at this time?
If we're talking about doing him a favor, it should have been done when he was in office.
Fu'er couldn't guess, and she was too lazy to guess.
After her eyes darted around, she began to have her own little scheme.
With a cheerful expression, he said, "Don't worry, young master, Fu'er will definitely do a good job."
Seeing how quickly her expression changed, Ning Shiyu immediately said, "Even if you finish your mission, don't even think about returning to Wenxuan Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Fu'er was not discouraged at all; instead, she said with a cheerful expression, "This servant understands."
Ning Shiyu was taken aback upon hearing this.
More than an hour later, the carriage finally stopped at a villa on the outskirts of the city.
To Fu'er's surprise, they didn't go to the Ouyang residence.
It was the old lady's villa.
After Fu'er revealed her identity, the old woman who served the old lady came to pick her up personally.
When she saw the handsome Ning Shiyu behind her, she was taken aback for a moment and hesitated, "Miss Fu'er, who is this? Our old lady does not receive male guests."
Before Fu'er could explain, Ning Shiyu introduced himself directly, "Please rest assured, Granny, I am Fu'er's rightful owner, and I have no ill intentions in coming today."
"I simply admire Lord Ouyang's integrity as an official, and it was inconvenient to bother him during his tenure."
"I have come to pay a special visit today, please inform the nanny of my arrival."
After saying this, Mu Li stuffed a silver ingot into the old woman's hand.
Seeing how generous the other party was.
The old woman happily accepted the purse and went inside to announce her arrival.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to take one last look at Ning Shiyu.
She had heard before that Fu'er's master was a merchant.
Meeting him today, I was surprised to find that he is so young, yet has such an outstanding appearance and demeanor.
He couldn't help but praise her.
Before long, the three of them were invited into the main hall of the mansion.
Lord Ouyang was middle-aged, dressed in a loose Taoist robe, with a lean figure and a dignified demeanor.
The old lady had a kind face, and her expression became somewhat excited when she saw Fu'er.
At first, Lord Ouyang was somewhat resistant, but after carefully examining Ning Shiyu's face, he was impressed.
His pupils contracted sharply, and he immediately stood up, his expression becoming much more respectful.
Just as he was about to shout out...
Ning Shiyu raised his hand in a salute and said, "I, Ning, greet Lord Ouyang."
Ouyang Yi paused, coughed twice before realizing what was happening, then resumed his nonchalant demeanor, "I have now retired from the military and returned to my rural home; I am no longer worthy of being addressed as 'Sir' by you."
He immediately said to the old lady in the main seat, "Mother, I feel an instant connection with this young man and would like to take him to the teahouse for a while."
The old lady was worried because she hadn't seen Fu'er for the past two years, but today she came to her door on her own.
He had no other mind to care about anything else and readily agreed.
After Ouyang Yi led Ning Shiyu to the teahouse, and when they were alone, he bowed and asked, "May I ask if this young man is the heir of the General of the State?"
Ning Shiyu hadn't heard this form of address for a long time, and his gaze was somewhat dazed. After regaining his senses, he replied, "That's right."
Ouyang Yi had already recognized him in the flower hall.
I'm just not sure; I'll wait for him to admit it himself.
Ouyang Yi raised his hand in a salute again, "Ouyang Yi greets Your Highness."
"Lord Ouyang, there's no need for such formalities. I've come today with a serious matter I need to trouble you with."
Ning Shiyu is the eldest son of Princess Zhaoyang and General Ning.
Many years ago, General Ning was framed and died tragically.
Princess Zhaoyang, unable to bear the blow, committed suicide to follow her husband.
Only ten-year-old Ning Shiyu was left behind.
He fell seriously ill, and Emperor Yuanhe felt sorry for his nephew.
They sent people to take good care of him, and after he recovered, fearing that seeing the objects would remind him of his loved ones, they sent him to live in Lingyang.
This stay lasted for ten years.
A lot has happened in the past decade.
His maternal uncle, due to the emperor's frail health, was sidelined by Empress Cui's family.
With his father dead, no one could stand up to the Cui family anymore.
Relatives of the empress dowager interfered in politics and monopolized the government.
Faced with family feuds and national hatred, Ning Shiyu would not sit idly by and await his doom.
He had already joined his uncle's ranks, following the instructions of his imperial uncle.
He assisted his uncle for many years, accompanying him from a carefree prince trapped in his fiefdom to a general stationed in the Northwest.
Many years ago, Ouyang Yi received a favor from General Ning.
I've been to the princess's residence a few times and recognize Ning Shiyu.
Although they hadn't seen each other for a long time, Ouyang Yi recognized Ning Shiyu at a glance because of his father's resemblance to him.
He was forced to resign from his post, and since he was so close to the Qin King's residence, he naturally had no shortage of spies from the Cui family around him.
It's understandable why Ning Shiyu is so cautious.
"I dare not trouble you. I will do my best to do anything that is within my power."
Meanwhile, the old lady, accompanied by Fu'er, went straight to her residence.
They were incredibly hospitable to Fu'er, serving her fruit cakes and tea.
These were all flavors that Fu'er particularly liked. She took a couple of bites and then thought of her older sister and mother.
She said embarrassedly, "Madam, may I take some pastries back for my sister to try?"
"She's still in the middle of the month."
If she were still working at Wenxuan Pavilion, she would never have said that.
Any pastries and other food placed on the coffee table.
Fu'er would take them back to her family to eat.
Ning Shiyu never cared about these things, and Granny Yu turned a blind eye to them as well.
Now that she's no longer around Ning Shiyu, she naturally doesn't receive these favors anymore.
Upon hearing that her sister was still in postpartum confinement, the old lady immediately instructed the maid to bring some ingredients that women use to nourish their bodies during this period.
He enthusiastically filled a bundle.
Fu'er was flattered and quickly declined.
The old lady insisted that Fu'er take it back.
On the carriage back, Ning Shiyu no longer had a cold face.
Fu'er thought to herself that her mission had gone smoothly.
He mustered his courage and asked, "Young master, I heard that Miss Yunyou is short of a maid."
"May I go instead?"
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