Chapter 47: Negative People Gather
Chapter 47: Negative People Gather
The news spread by Ning Fei cannot be said to be a rumor, but it gives people a lot of room for imagination.
It is true that Chonglin and Dong Lingyan were in private contact, but who would have thought that he was actually in favor of the war? Not to mention that Chonglin couldn't say it, even if he said it, no one would believe it. The prime minister's son is a proponent of war, so the prime minister will first want to break his legs.
Therefore, in the eyes of others, Chong Lin would only come to win over Dong Lingyan and turn him into a moderate faction. When Duan Yunhong disappears from this story, Chonglin may even become someone who is willing to sacrifice his own sister. After this news spreads, not only will the Second Prince treat Chonglin differently, but I'm afraid there will also be some movement in the Prime Minister's family.
Of course, the person most affected by this news is Dong Lingyan, followed by Chong Lin. But Ning Fei didn't care. He had already given up the mission, so who would care what would happen to the time traveler? As long as Chonglin is unhappy because of this, Ning Fei feels it is good.
In addition to spreading the news to other retainers and advisers, Ning Fei also wrote a letter describing this doubt. However, the Second Prince was not in the mansion at that time, so Ning Fei passed the letter to the mansion's steward, so he was unable to see the Second Prince's first reaction when he saw the letter.
However, Ning Fei didn't have to see it. These were just excuses. The real punishment would have to be discussed after returning to the Administration.
Unexpectedly, Chonglin's reaction came faster than Ning Fei expected.
It was the fourth day that Ning Fei arrived in this world. Duan Yunhong came back on time for dinner in the evening and brought a piece of news.
"Chonglin wants to see me?" Ning Fei swallowed the wine in his mouth, "How did he come to you for help?"
"You're asking me? When he sent someone to look for you this morning, did you ask the housekeeper to reply to him that it was me who forbade you to leave the house or see anyone else?" Duan Yunhong glanced at him. "You don't like to move, but you spread rumors about me. Did I restrict your freedom?"
Ning Fei raised her foot and placed it on his knee: "Am I not active enough?"
"I'm serious." Duan Yunhong opened and closed his legs, clamping his feet tightly with familiarity, "Do you want to see it or not?"
Ning Fei did not answer but asked: "Did you reveal the truth to him?"
Duan Yunhong: "Why should I tell him that nonsense?"
"No wonder he still had the nerve to look for me. Did he think I couldn't guess that you two were working together?" Ning Fei replied, "You're really bad. He left right before you kidnapped him. Even a fool could guess that your people followed him to arrest me."
Duan Yunhong said: "Why should I care about the quality of your relationship?"
"Ha, that's right, you're ready to default on your debt. I don't want to talk about the actual situation either, I'd rather think that you're torturing me and taking revenge on me. I just stayed here reluctantly for the mission." Ning Fei clicked his tongue twice, "Otherwise, when I complain in the future, he might bite me back. I'm not afraid, but it's annoying."
Ning Fei paused, and then continued: "However, since he even begged you, he probably really has something important to ask me. I'll go and see what fun there is. Lend me two people and pretend to be watching me. Once I give the signal, I'll use the excuse that the time you allowed me to go out has come and I must go back."
Duan Yunhong: "...You just want to portray me as a brutal person, don't you?"
Ning Fei: "Kidnapped in the street, blindfolded and raped, then turned around and refused to pay, how kind can you be? Let go."
Duan Yunhong stopped talking and just let go of Ning Fei's feet. Although he did not regret bringing this man back, he had a feeling that Ning Fei would mock him for a long time.
Ning Fei thought of another question: "But I haven't seen him for only three days, and I went to the Second Prince's Mansion and said those nonsense for only two days. Given my status and the influence of my words, he shouldn't be so anxious to meet with me so soon, right?"
Duan Yunhong didn't reply and just ate his own food, as if Ning Fei was talking to himself.
Ning Fei saw that he looked like he had nothing to do with it, and suddenly an idea came to her: "Could it be that General Duan is fanning the flames?"
Duan Yunhong: “…”
Ning Fei knew what was going on: "What did you do to make him so anxious?"
Duan Yunhong: "Tell the eldest prince that Chonglin secretly made friends with Dong Lingyan so early on, and he can be considered a great contributor."
"That's all?" Ning Fei saw that he was calm and composed, and knew that he was being arrogant again. He speculated, "Then I guess the eldest prince 'passed' this matter on to the second prince? His tone should be particularly sarcastic, right?"
Duan Yunhong: "I was not at the scene, so I don't know the tone."
"Then you are sure that the first prince has told the second prince about this!" Ning Fei said firmly, "If I tell the second prince about it, he may not be able to bear it any longer. But if the first prince attacks him closely, the second prince will definitely be nauseated, and then he will openly or covertly find trouble for Dong Lingyan and Chong Lin - ah, has he already taken action? Is the second prince so quick?"
“I don’t know.”
"real?"
"real."
"Well... okay, it doesn't matter whether it's true or not." Ning Fei poured wine for Duan Yunhong and clinked glasses with him. "I thought it would take some time for this rumor to take effect. It's good to be able to see some effect before I leave. Thank you, General."
Duan Yunhong paused while picking up his wine glass: "Have you decided when to leave?"
"The housekeeper said that the last set of clothes among the four ordered ones will be ready in three days." Ning Fei replied, "Wear it once before leaving. This way you won't force me to waste it anymore, right?"
Duan Yunhong wanted to refute that he didn't care whether the clothes were wasted or not, but for some reason, when he opened his mouth, the words he said became: "... Got it."
After saying that, he raised his head and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.
***
Ning Fei went to see Chong Lin the next day.
The restaurant where they met was recommended by Duan Yunhong, but Chonglin was told that this was Duan Yunhong's rigid rule, so Chonglin had no way of changing to a place he was familiar with. Chong Lin actually didn't want to be controlled in this way, but Ning Fei's "Three-Day Guide" had been closed, and he was eager to know what happened, so he had no choice but to agree to this arrangement.
However, Chonglin also brought an "unexpected little show" - he actually brought the time traveler Dong Lingyan.
As soon as Dong Lingyan entered the room, he angrily asked, "Did you tell the Second Prince that I betrayed him long ago?!"
Ning Fei is well versed in the saying “If you don’t ask, you won’t know; if you are asked, you will be surprised” and said “Ah?” in confusion.
"Don't play dumb!" Dong Lingyan approached him, "What on earth do you want to do?"
"Ling Yan, calm down. There are still people guarding the general outside." Chong Lin pretended to stop him from behind, but he didn't touch Dong Lingyan at all. "He just wants to get you back on track for the mission, so his methods are a bit drastic."
Dong Lingyan turned around and glared at him: "You know very well that I have made peace between the Hamming people and the Hui Dynasty, and there is no way I will kill Lan Li's family again, so why did you ask your lousy management bureau to interfere?"
Chong Lin didn't say "I just wanted to see him suffer", he just sighed and said: "We have a rule, we can't give up easily, I have to use up the opportunity to ask for help so as not to be considered as deliberately letting him go..."
Ning Fei was enjoying watching them singing in unison. It was not a show, but a joke, and Ning Fei almost laughed out loud. When they couldn't continue their "joke show", they started to stare at each other, and then they stared at Ning Fei again and asked: "Why don't you say anything? Are you feeling guilty?"
"Why should I feel guilty?" Ning Fei leaned back in his chair, speaking in a leisurely tone, "If I really want to say something, I should say that you are still on the side of the Second Prince. The Second Prince is the one who advocates war, why would I try to sow discord between you?"
Dong Lingyan: "But I asked the other followers of the Second Prince, and they said it was you who said it!"
Ning Fei: Oh no.
"That may be something I let slip. I just wanted to say that you and Chonglin have always had a good relationship." Ning Fei remained calm. "They should have deduced that you and Chonglin have been secretly hooking up for a long time."
"Can you please use the right words? What do you mean by 'hooking up'?" Dong Lingyan frowned and said, "No matter what your purpose is, I am officially informing you now that I will not do this mission, and I will not cooperate with you. I have already made both sides reconcile, and I will never provoke a war again! Isn't peace much better than war? If there is a war, how many people will die!"
Ning Fei really laughed this time when he heard his speech which took the moral high ground.
Dong Lingyan: "What are you laughing at?"
Ning Fei: “Nothing.” I laughed at you for marrying a woman after being a rapist and saying that you led the reconciliation between the two races. You really know how to flatter yourself.
And to put it bluntly, that foreign woman, Lan Li, was sent to Dong Lingyan's bed by Duan Yunhong for nothing. This time traveler had no ability to deal with her on his own.
Dong Lingyan didn't think much about Ning Fei's words, and said: "Anyway, the matter is a foregone conclusion. Chonglin has given up, so you should give up too."
"Tsk, you came to me because the Second Prince accused you of betrayal? Then I think you came to the wrong person." Ning Fei replied, "I am now under strict supervision by Duan Yunhong. Even if I want to do something, I can't leave. And I have only been to the Second Prince's Mansion once and mentioned your relationship once. What influence do I have on the Second Prince with my current status? Your status is rising now. Will the Second Prince have a conflict with you because of a word from me? Don't come to the wrong person. Go find whoever betrayed you."
His logic progressed layer by layer, and Dong Lingyan was led into it. The more he listened, the more he felt it was right. Finally, he asked: "...It's really not you?"
Ning Fei's tone was very natural: "I can only say that I did say it, but my influence is not that great. If I had that influence, why didn't I ask the Second Prince to rescue me from the General's Mansion first?"
Dong Lingyan felt that he was more right, but he still asked worriedly: "Then why don't you ask the Second Prince for help?"
Ning Fei replied: "I didn't see him when I went there that day. Who can I ask for help? Even if I write a letter, will he offend the general for me?"
"...That's right." Dong Lingyan completely fell into his logic and unconsciously followed his thoughts, "Who is causing trouble in front of the Second Prince..."
"You are very important to Hui Dynasty now. The one who tries to sow discord between you and the Second Prince will definitely benefit the most from it." Ning Fei seemed to be speaking normally, but also seemed to be coaxing Dong Lingyan. "I don't have that ability. You can guess who it is."
This reasoning was 99% complete, Dong Lingyan knew the answer, and said directly: "It's the eldest prince!"
"It could also be Duan Yunhong." Chong Lin also started to think stupidly, "He just wants you and the Second Prince to break up completely!"
Ning Fei remained silent, for he was afraid that he would not be able to hold back and would be amused by these two stupid guys.
Seeing him like this, Chong Lin asked tentatively: "Then...are you still going to do this mission?"
This was asked deliberately. If Ning Fei said he would not give up, Dong Lingyan would definitely not give him face and would never cooperate with Ning Fei. If Ning Fei said he gave up, Chong Lin would have something to gossip about. For example, Ning Fei is nothing special. There is nothing to be proud of. He was unable to defeat the lucky bandits and was retaliated against by others, and so on.
But Ning Fei didn't answer this question directly, but said: "Before answering this question, I am a little curious - how did Dong Lingyan convince you to give up this mission?"
Dong Lingyan sneered at the side: "Do I need to be persuaded? If I don't listen to him, what can he do to me?"
There was a smug tone in his voice. Ning Fei looked at him and said, "Then he didn't threaten you by forcing your luck to decline?"
Dong Lingyan didn't understand: "What do you mean?"
"It is people like us who can use the contract between the traverser and the original owner to influence the traverser's luck. For example, if you are with Lan Li from the Haminke tribe, this is considered a 'highly likely to lead to serious breach of contract' in the contract. Chonglin can enforce this contract, causing your luck to plummet, and use this to threaten you to obey. Unless the possibility of achieving the goal is very low, resulting in a complete bad debt, or the original owner has given up the original wish, the control of the contract over the luck will be completely ineffective."
Ning Fei finished his explanation slowly, took a sip of tea, and then said, "Let me ask you this - have you ever been particularly unlucky in the past?"
Dong Lingyan almost immediately thought of something, and turned his head to glare at Chong Lin: "I was wondering why I was so unlucky that I almost died for a while...!"
Ning Fei's teacup blocked his smile: Oh no.
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Ning Fei: Even if I don't do the mission, you can't expect to live comfortably :)
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