The door curtain was lifted, and Master Ning walked in first, followed closely by Ning Yunzhao.

When they saw Ning Yunzhao, Madam Ning and Ning Yunyan's eyes lit up.

They had seen it just now, but they were surrounded by a crowd, and Ning Yunzhao was even held close to Madam Ning, so the mother, son, and siblings didn't say a word.

At this moment, they were the only ones there, and the feeling was very different, exciting, nervous, and happy...

"Mother." Ning Yunzhao bowed with a smile, "Yanyan."

Her brother still calls her Yanyan, and there is no awkwardness at all.

After not seeing each other for a year, Ning Yunyan's tears fell and she shouted "brother" and was about to rush over.

Madam Ning stretched out her hand to hold her.

"Yun Zhao, I have something to ask you." she said.

"Mother hasn't eaten yet, let's talk while we eat." Ning Yunzhao said, coming forward to help her.

Still as attentive as before, he knew she hadn't eaten.

Madam Ning's expression softened as she looked at him.

"No rush, just one sentence, and then go eat," she said.

Before she could ask any more questions, Master Ning had already started laughing.

"Don't ask, I tell you, this marriage is fake." He smiled, "Don't worry."

Fake!

Ningyun Yanque jumped and almost shouted.

I knew it was fake, I knew my brother couldn't possibly fall for that bitch.

Madam Ning also let out a long breath and relaxed completely.

"This was also his second uncle's idea." Mr. Ning continued, "The situation was critical at the time, and this was the most appropriate thing to do."

"Okay, mother, you can go eat now, right?" Ning Yunzhao said with a smile, and offered his hand to support her again.

Madam Ning put her hand on his arm but did not stand up. Instead, she looked at him.

"Then when will it be announced that it is fake?" she suddenly asked again.

Ning Yunyan nodded.

"Yes, yes, this is the most important thing, brother. Don't you know that this news has spread all over Yangcheng in recent days? If you don't tell others, everyone will take it seriously." She said hurriedly.

Mr. Ning twisted his beard and coughed lightly.

"Well, it's like this..." he began.

Ning Yunzhao took over his words.

"Father, let me tell Mother." He said with a smile, holding Madam Ning's hand on his arm, and said frankly, "I can't tell you for now. I have to wait for a while."

Ning Yunyan was stunned and looked at him anxiously.

Madam Ning also looked at him with a smile, but the smile seemed a little stiff.

"How long do we have to wait?" she said. "One month? Two months? Three months?"

Ning Yunzhao looked at her.

"We can only decide this after discussing it with Miss Jun," he said.

As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Ning grabbed his arm tightly.

"Talk to her?" Her voice became sharp. "What if she refuses to tell you for the rest of her life? Is this what you want to live like for the rest of your life?"

The atmosphere in the room was somewhat stagnant.

Mr. Ning was startled by Mrs. Ning's sudden temper.

"What are you shouting about? If you have something to say, just talk nicely." He said with a light cough.

"I'm talking nicely, how can he talk nicely?" Madam Ning shouted, looking at Ning Yunzhao, taking a deep breath, and softening her expression. "Yunzhao, you don't have to only report good news and not worries. Tell me the truth, did she threaten you?"

"There's really no threat..." Mr. Ning interrupted.

"I want Yunzhao to tell me." Madam Ning interrupted him and looked at Ning Yunzhao again.

Ning Yunzhao smiled and patted Madam Ning's hand.

"No, mother," he said, "let's go to dinner, and I'll tell you the whole story from beginning to end."

"No, I'm a woman, you don't need to tell me anything complicated, just tell me what's going on in a few words." Madam Ning sat down and said, while pushing a plate of snacks on the table over, "Yun Zhao, if you're hungry, just eat a bite first."

"Brother, just tell me now. If you are hungry, just bear with it. Do you know how long it has been since mother had a good meal?" Ning Yunyan said.

Ning Yunzhao smiled and answered yes, then sat down next to Madam Ning as instructed.

"Then let's do as mother said. I'll put it simply." He said, "This matter is very simple, and there is nothing we can do about it."

There really is no other way, right?

Madam Ning looked at him.

"I guess mother already knows about Miss Jun and Lu Qianhu." Ning Yunzhao said.

"I know." Ning Yunyan nodded hurriedly, "She seduced Lu Qianhu and the prince of Chengguogong."

Madam Ning also nodded.

Ning Yunzhao glanced at Ning Yunyan.

"Rumors spread far and wide, and things can change." He said with a smile, looking at Madam Ning, "In fact, it's because Jiulingtang has a grudge against Lu Qianhu, and Lu Qianhu is determined to drive Miss Jun away. As you know, Miss Jun is famous in the capital, saving people and being admired by the people. Lu Qianhu can't do anything else, so he resorted to sexual intercourse."

Ning Yunyan looked at him with a complicated expression.

He said so much, but in fact he was defending Jun Zhenzhen.

Madam Ning obviously didn't want to hear this.

"I don't care about their affairs. I just want to know how their affairs have been linked to you?" she said. "Is she trying to get out of this predicament by bringing up the original engagement? Intending to get the protection of our family?"

Ning Yunzhao smiled and shook his head.

"No." He said, and before Madam Ning could say anything else, he continued, "I just said that Miss Jun is well-known in the capital and is supported by the people. So after this incident became a big deal, Lu Qianhu was reprimanded and despised by the people."

As he said this, he looked at Ning Yunyan.

"That's why the Prince of Chengguo came forward. He was speaking out for Miss Jun."

Ning Yunyan couldn't help but roll her eyes.

I don't believe that the Prince of Chengguo, who has no reason to be dissatisfied, would just stand up for justice after getting full. Only men would believe such words.

Madam Ning frowned again.

"These things are nothing." She said, "but I don't know how it got to you again?"

"Miss Jun's case has become a big deal, and it involves matters between men and women. People will inevitably ask about her private affairs. In this way, the past of my engagement with her will inevitably be brought up." Ning Yunzhao said straightforwardly, "She is famous, and I have just won the top spot in the imperial examination. The past of the engagement will definitely be discussed, and I will inevitably be involved in it, so..."

"So we turned from passive to active, took the matter over directly, shut up the world and gain a good reputation." Master Ning could no longer hold back and took over the conversation, "So it's that simple."

How can it be so simple?

Madam Ning and Ning Yunyan looked stunned. They looked at Master Ning and then at Ning Yunzhao.

"This is not right. How can this turn passivity into initiative?" asked Madam Ning.

"Miss Jun is now famous, and her marriage is being discussed. Yun Zhao has also won the first place in the imperial examination, so they will definitely mention the past. If someone takes advantage of it and labels Yun Zhao as a traitor, then his career will be in trouble." Ning Da Lao Ye said, shaking his head, "You women don't understand the dangers of the officialdom."

"So mother, you asked if she threatened me to get protection. Actually, that's not the case. In fact, I did this to get protection for myself." Ning Yunzhao said.

Madam Ning looked at him, her expression still blank.

"I don't quite understand," she said. "Has anyone questioned it yet?"

"Not yet, so take the initiative first." Mr. Ning said, "Do you have to wait until you are questioned and discussed?"

Madam Ning looked at him and nodded.

"Yes, what will happen then? If someone questions us, can't we just answer?" She said, "We don't care about this matter. She came to ask for five thousand taels of silver to break off the engagement. The whole Yangcheng knows about it. Why can't we just answer it?"

"Is that a glorious thing?" said Master Ning, frowning. "Why are you talking about it? Yun Zhao is the top scholar and has been awarded an official position. But when he hasn't achieved any results yet, he will be laughed at for being worth five thousand taels of silver? Do you women understand?"

"Mother, this matter is beneficial to both of us. I can gain a good reputation, and Miss Jun can also solve the dilemma. It can be said that we kill two birds with one stone." Ning Yunzhao said with a smile.

Is that so?

Is it a good thing to kill two birds with one stone?

Madam Ning looked confused for a moment. It sounded like that.

"No." Ning Yunyan's voice suddenly sounded from behind, a little sharp, and she stood in front of Ning Yunzhao, "Brother, do you like Jun Zhenzhen?"

These words stunned everyone in the room.

"Why bother about liking or not liking it? Let's talk business." Mr. Ning said, "This has nothing to do with liking or not."

"I think it is related." Ning Yunyan said, biting her lower lip and looking at Ning Yunzhao, "I don't understand the big principles you said, father, but I have a woman's intuition."

What is a woman's intuition?

Master Ning frowned.

"Brother, you are so smart and capable, are you afraid that others will make a fuss about your marriage?" Ning Yunyan continued, looking at Ning Yunzhao, "My brother is not that kind of person, unless you want to make a fuss about your marriage."

Madam Ning looked at Ning Yunzhao, her confused expression disappeared, replaced by a solemn look.

Yes, that's right, she doesn't understand these principles of taking precautions in order to help her career, nor does she care about them, but as a woman she does understand one thing.

If a man doesn't want to be involved with a woman, he has many options.

Similarly, if a man wants to be involved with a woman, he has many ways to do so.

"Yun Zhao, do you like Jun Zhenzhen?" she asked.

"Oh, you guys really think too much," said Mr. Ning, patting his thigh.

"I want Yunzhao to tell me." Madam Ning interrupted him again with a sharp voice, stood up and looked at Ning Yunzhao, "Tell me, do you like her?"

Ning Yunzhao's expression was still gentle, without any anxiety or fear, and his eyes were clear and calm.

Do you like her?

Do you want to get engaged to her?

Even if it is fake, are you still looking forward to the day when it comes true?

"Yes," he said, looking at Madam Ning, "Yes, mother, I like her."