Chapter 4: Visiting to Thank You
In the following days, Ningfu seldom went out, and spent most of her time in the study room catching up on missed lessons.
She also did not attend several gatherings of female monarchs.
She will meet many young men at these gatherings, and Ning Fu doesn't want to meet Zong Si.
Moreover, the archery and imperial martial arts examinations were only a month away, so she had to leave time to review her riding and archery skills.
The queen of Dayan had to take the Six Arts exams. Not to mention pursuing the best, at least she had to get a passing score. Anyone who failed the Six Arts would be considered an unlearned scoundrel, a disgrace to the family. Those who were good at the Six Arts would be selected as the first place "female talent" every two years to bring honor to the family.
Ningfu inherited her father's knowledge of reading and was a hard worker. However, at this moment in her previous life, she was weak from falling into the water, and her archery and imperial arts lagged behind, so she lost the qualification to be selected as the "female talent".
However, in the first few months after marriage, she learned horse riding and archery from Zong Si and became very proficient. This "female talent" could strive for something in her life.
Ning Fu thought that the only benefit she could get from marrying Zong Si was that she would be able to practice riding and archery. Now it seems that this marriage is not completely useless.
If I could marry a "female genius", all the emotional suffering I suffered in my previous life would be worth it.
A few days before going to Prince Xuan's Mansion to express her gratitude, she followed Madam Ning to Qin Garden to pay her respects to the old lady.
Qin Garden is the bedroom of Old Madam Ning, with sweet osmanthus trees planted on both sides. Although the osmanthus flowers have withered, they still emit a faint fragrance that is refreshing and worthy of the name of Qin Garden.
"Grandma." The nymph called out before she even entered.
"Afu, come and have some cakes." Old Mrs. Ning said happily.
As soon as Nymph sat down, the maid serving the old lady handed her a hand warmer.
The old lady looked at her for a few times and also said: "You look rosy today. You can start learning archery now."
After all, it concerns the reputation of the Duke's Mansion. Not only did Old Lady Ning give some advice, but my mother, father, and brother also urged me to do so.
"Don't worry, grandma, I will definitely get good grades in the exam." Ningfu promised with a smile.
The old lady nodded with satisfaction and asked Ruyi to take her to the side room for some snacks.
Then he looked at Madam Ning and said, "I heard that you will visit Prince Xuan's Mansion tomorrow, and I have prepared a thank-you gift."
"Thank you for your hard work, ancestors." Mrs. Ning said.
Old Madam Ning said, "Your husband has not inherited the title of Duke, so he can only rely on a career in government if he wants to have a future. Prince Xuan is enjoying the grace of the emperor, and if Zhenyuan and the third son want to have smooth sailing, they can't avoid Prince Xuan. How can we neglect Prince Xuan's mansion? I will prepare it myself to show my sincerity."
The third child the old lady mentioned was Ning Zheng, Madam Ning’s son and Ning Fu’s brother.
"Thank you for your concern, old lady." Madam Ning knew that the old lady was not only planning for the second wife, but the first wife might also want to get close to King Xuan.
It is an indisputable fact that the Ningguo Mansion is on the decline.
The first wife originally wanted to marry Ning Ran into the Prince Xuan's Mansion, and she put a lot of thought into it, but she was rejected by the Prince Xuan's Mansion, which was too arrogant. Naturally, the Crown Prince also looked down on A Ran.
Ning Ran is the legitimate daughter of Ning Zhenxiu, the Duke of Ningguo. She is extremely beautiful, almost as beautiful as Afu. She is originally a proud and arrogant person, but she humbly wrote a letter begging Zong Si to meet her, but the other party did not even bother to reply.
Ning Ran was depressed for a long time because of this, and later married into the Wei family.
For Ning Ran's sake, the first wife kept the matter a secret, but Madam Ning still heard some rumors.
"Afu will be 15 years old next year. Do you have any ideas about her marriage?" the old lady suddenly asked her.
Madam Ning evaded the question by saying, "Grandfather, Ah Fu's archery skills are enough to annoy me right now, so how can I think about anything else? It won't be too late to consider it after I reach the age of 15."
Old Madam Ning said meaningfully, "Afu's marriage is extremely important to the entire Duke's Mansion. You should consider it carefully."
Madam Ning agreed, but she would never let Afu become a stepping stone for the Duke's Mansion.
If the son or husband is a loser, then they are useless. Madam Ning would feel ashamed to exchange her daughter's happiness for his.
The morning was chilly, and Nymph only felt a little warmth when she got on the carriage.
Madam Lu has gone to visit her parents, so today she only needs to visit Prince Xuan's mansion.
"My little girl looks so beautiful in this simple and plain way." Madam Ning became more and more satisfied. The most fortunate thing in her life was that she gave birth to a daughter.
"My mother is beautiful and pretty, and my father likes to see her too." Ning Fu hoped that her mother and father would have a better relationship so that no one could take advantage of them.
Madam Ning snorted coldly: "Your father's mind is not on me, he is just afraid of the princess's mansion behind me."
Nymph said, "Mother, father is handsome and dashing. If he likes Yu, how could Yu have a lover? Father was forced by grandmother to marry Yu. If your relationship with father is not good, grandmother will definitely force father to take a concubine in the future."
She knew that her father had never entered Yu's bedroom, but if she said this, her mother would be scared.
Nymph: "Mother, if you are willing to give father a look, he will definitely be happy."
"Don't think about these nonsense in the future." Mrs. Ning listened to it. If nothing else, she would only make better plans for her children's future if her husband stood on her side.
Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the palace.
Prince Xuan's Palace was a residence granted by the emperor himself. It is located in the most prosperous area of the capital, at the end of Chang'an Street. The eaves are intricately carved and the glazed tiles sparkle in the sunlight. It is both solemn and elegant.
The servants welcomed Madam Ning and Ning Fu into Prince Xuan's mansion, and then walked through the small garden. There were clusters of flowers on both sides, and the fresh fragrance of flowers was refreshing, making people feel relaxed and happy.
Walking further in, when they arrived at Yilan Pavilion, Ning Fu saw Princess Xuan. The woman next to her was Madam Zong Er, the wife of Prince Xuan's younger brother and the mother of the second son Zongduo.
Princess Xuan was forty years old at this time. She was dressed very simply, but her facial features were extremely beautiful. Zong Si inherited her beauty.
Princess Xuan also looked at Nyingfu. She hadn't seen her for half a year. The young girl looked like a peony suddenly blooming in the morning. Her graceful posture was already faintly visible. Her figure also revealed a sense of slender willows swaying in the wind. In another two years, she wondered how stunningly beautiful she would be.
But it is not a good thing for a woman to be too eye-catching. Men are lustful. Princess Xuan is an experienced person. She knows very well how many things King Xuan has missed because of her. It is sweet for her, but she does not want her son to fall into such a situation.
"Afu has become more and more beautiful now." Princess Xuan said with a smile.
"Your Highness, you are too kind." Madam Ning said this, but she still felt a little proud in her heart.
In the previous life, Ning Fu's mother-in-law might have made up for Zong Si's neglect, but she was still pretty good to her, so Ning Fu was sincere to her and asked with concern: "I heard that the princess had a rash not long ago. Has she recovered?"
Princess Xuan did not resist Ning Fu's enthusiasm. In her opinion, this was just a scheming flattery. She said calmly, "It's almost healed. How did Afu know that I had a rash?"
Ning Fu had already thought of how to respond, and said, "When the royal doctor examined my pulse earlier, he inadvertently mentioned that I had come from the palace, so I asked about it, and that's how I found out about it."
Princess Xuan stopped asking questions and started chatting with Madam Ning about family matters.
Madam Zong Er smiled kindly and said, "If the fourth young lady is bored, she can follow the maids in the mansion."
"Chun Ying, take the fourth girl away." Princess Xuan ordered.
Ningfu thanked her and followed Chunying to the backyard.
King Xuan especially loved the diverse varieties of flowers, plants and trees in the palace. Even in the palace, there was no comparison. Even in autumn, the palace was still full of vitality. However, she had lived in the palace for three years, so she did not find it new.
Ning Fu only took a few more glances at Jinghuaju, the villa where she lived in her previous life, when she passed by it, and her mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts.
"That's the prince's bedroom." Chun Ying said with a smile, "The prince doesn't like quietness, but he personally chose this quiet courtyard, which made the princess often tease him, saying that this was chosen for the future prince's consort."
Ning Fu didn't like Jinghuaju, and the one who liked this courtyard style might be the girl from the Xie family. Obviously, the princess and Zong Si didn't expect that the person who entered the palace in the end would not be that person.
"Fourth Miss Ning, do you want to go up to the rockery and take a look?"
Ning Fu was stunned for a moment, and looked up at the familiar rockery in front of her. She didn't expect to have come here.
She was the one who had the accident here, so she couldn't help feeling sad.
"Fourth Miss Ning?" Chun Ying saw that she was distracted and called out to her with concern.
"I won't go up." Nymph put away her sadness and bent her eyebrows in a friendly manner. "I fell from a high place before, and I have a trauma."
Not everyone has the chance to live again, so she has to cherish her life.
…
On the rockery, the brothers Zong Si and Zong Duo were playing chess.
The position of the stone table is just right to see the back of Miss Ning Si as she leaves.
"Miss Ning Si was sad just now?" Zongduo asked doubtfully. What was there in the palace that was worth her not visiting since everything had changed and she hadn't been there many times.
Zong Si placed a white piece and said calmly, "I am curious why she is so familiar with the paths in the palace."
Zongduo also remembered that when the fourth Miss Ning entered the garden, she walked in front of the maid who led the way and did not take the wrong path, so he couldn't help but frowned.
When Zong Si was still a young man, a woman bribed a servant to obtain a map of the palace courtyards. Taking advantage of a banquet held in the palace, she went to Zong Si's bedroom, hoping to accuse him of "molestation" and force him to take responsibility. Fortunately, it was discovered early and no harm was done.
"It seems that the Ningguo Mansion is determined to send a girl to you. One Second Miss Ning is not enough, and now there is a Fourth Miss Ning." Zongduo said.
Zong Si looked at him and said coldly, "I am not the only young master in the palace."
Zongduo couldn't help but look serious: Who does he think he is? How could he be so easily tempted!
He had never been seduced by a woman since he was born! Women were not as pretty as weapons!
He said seriously: "I have never been interested in women. You should also be careful and don't fall into her trap." Ning Zhenyuan was disliked by the emperor and was also the aide to the Fourth Prince. He was just waiting for an opportunity to deal with him. The royal palace could not have anything to do with him in any way.
"But what does the Ningguo Mansion think? Miss Ning Er is the legitimate daughter of Duke Ning after all, and Ning Si is only the daughter of the second wife, and his talent and learning are not as good as Ning Er. You don't even agree with Ning Er, so how can you agree with Ning Si?" Zong Duo said again.
Zong Si thought of the bohemian picture album.
Perhaps Fourth Miss Ning has some tricks in the art of controlling men, and that's why she wanted to tease him in such a bold way, to deliberately say that he is not capable of it by provoking him, but it is puzzling that the lady of the Duke's Mansion would do this.
But whether he can do it or not is not something she can try, and it cannot be proven to her.
Zong Duo pondered for a moment and suggested, "I think it's better to settle your marriage with Miss Xie first, so as to avoid any more trouble."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
