Chapter 1392: Detained! [Happy New Year's Eve]
Ning Yan then understood why the regent wasn't one of Qi Shan or Chu Yao; it was indeed more suitable for her to handle this matter. Despite Ning Yan's relatively low profile in court and her infrequent participation in court assemblies, her potential prestige and influence were actually stronger than Qi Shan's group. If Qi Shan and his group were severely specialized, Ning Yan was well-rounded.
One of them was the public academy under the Kangguo Imperial Academy.
Although its predecessor was founded by Shen Tang, she has always been a hands-off manager since its establishment, only responsible for allocating funds and steering the overall direction. Ning Yan took care of most of the affairs and implemented them one by one.
Over the years, the number of female scholars and martial artists that have sprung up like mushrooms after rain in Kang Kingdom, apart from a few who relied on family resources, is mostly from here. In a sense, these people are not only Shen Tang's disciples, but also nominally Ning Yan's half-disciples, and should pay homage to her as disciples when they meet.
Secondly, there is the Ning family behind Ning Yan.
Over the years, the Ning family had tried to mend their relationship with Ning Yan, and her father and brothers had been trying to win her over for years. When this didn't work out, they would often invite Ning Yan's daughter to their residence under the guise of Ning Yan's mother. To outsiders, the two sides might not seem close, but they were still blood relatives, and Ning Yan bore the Ning surname. Could they really be at odds with each other? Ning Yan was also considered part of the aristocratic family camp.
Having this identity makes some negotiations easier.
Thirdly, there is the hidden network of Ning Yan's deceased husband Yan An and her father-in-law Yan Shi. This part may seem insignificant, but a closer look reveals that Yan An's classmates and Yan Shi's students are basically all of age to take over the baton from the previous generation.
Over the years, Ning Yan has maintained the personal relationships between the two parties.
In conclusion, if Ning Yan takes the lead, she will encounter far less resistance and opposition than Chu Yao and his group, and the great undertaking can be accomplished!
Ning Yan's mind raced, and soon she had a clue where to begin. She bowed and accepted the order: "Your subject understands, and will certainly not fail in my mission. However—Miao Ximin and the other two—"
She hopes to find two less troublesome options.
Shen Tang deliberately read the message and replied randomly, enthusiastically promoting, "Tu Nan also thinks they're good, right? I think so too. Both of them are outstanding graduates of the academy... uh, Miao Ne didn't graduate, so she's considered an outstanding dropout? These details aren't important. What's important is that both of them were top performers in the academy! They're both in their early twenties, in the prime of their lives, not only capable of working but also able to boost morale. They're also incredibly fit, able to stay up seven or eight nights in a row without blinking or complaining. Isn't that much better than those seasoned veterans who are masters of slacking off in the workplace?"
Energetic, physically strong, and full of enthusiasm.
They had just suffered a major setback in the enclave and were seething with anger; they couldn't stand even the dogs that passed by. This was the perfect time to assign them work. Anyone who dared to cross them would be dragged down and beaten to a pulp by the same people they had known for generations.
Ning Yan opened her mouth, trying to explain again.
Shen Tang lightly touched her lips with his finger: "Shh, Tu Nan, don't say it. I understand. You definitely won't have the heart to disappoint me!"
Ning Yan: "..."
Having said all that, she had no choice but to accept her fate, no matter how unwilling she was, and take on the two most troublesome individuals in the academy's history as her assistants. She could only hope that the two of them had cultivated their character over the years…
Bar?
That stroke of luck was shattered by the real person the very next day.
Ning Yan, speechless, ordered Miao Ne, who had been detained for fighting in the street, to be brought back. She had just been about to take a sip of warm water to calm herself when she received news that someone had accused Li Wan of negligence in the killing of a person. She rushed over to find out what was going on. The good news was that no one had died; the bad news was that the victim might have lost the ability to cause death.
She endured her headache and asked Miao Ne.
Why did they fight in the street?
Although Miao Ne was a dropout, she was still Luan Xin's student. Unless there were special circumstances, who would be so bored as to cause trouble for her?
"Why has the Chamberlain come?"
Miao Ne noticed that Ning Yan seemed rather uncomfortable.
He abandoned his slouching posture and sat up straight, becoming incredibly well-behaved.
This sight caused Cui Xiong's pupils to dilate slightly.
Little did they know that for students, the elusive homeroom teacher and the enigmatic dean of their school days were indelible psychological shadows, memories that sent chills down their spines in the middle of the night. Even the most troublesome among them would shudder at the thought.
Ning Yan pressed the mark left by her slight frown.
Why fight in the street?
Miao Ne awkwardly downplayed the issue, saying, "It's a trivial matter."
Before taking action, she weighed the pros and cons. The worst that could happen was three days of detention and a reprimand, neither of which would result in a criminal record. But the price of not acting was holding her anger in until the end of the year. Taking everything into consideration, she decided to act when the time was right! Their situation constituted mutual assault.
Miao Ne's detention didn't please the other side either.
Ning Yan: "...To tell you the truth."
Cui Xiong rushed to explain, believing that Xi Min was not to blame at all, and that Miao Ne's actions were partly due to him. Xi Min cared deeply for him: "Xi Min went to the capital the day before yesterday, and I don't know where that person got the news from, but deliberately came to ridicule Xi Min, ruin her reputation, maliciously slander a junior, and used such foul language that it was unbearable to hear, which is why she couldn't stand it anymore and started a fight."
Miao Ne smiled obediently: "Yes, that's right."
Ning Yan: "..."
Ning Yan had inquired about the details of the incident before she arrived.
In short, this is an old debt that can be traced back to their student days. Unlike the conflict between Miao Ne and Li Wan's clique, the other man's relationship with Miao Ne was one of "love turned to hate." He admired Miao Ne, but Miao Ne liked an older, married man who only knew how to sweet-talk, and even chose to drop out of school for the older man, rejecting his confession.
When they meet again after many years, their resentment erupts.
[You used to like older women, but now you like younger ones? Miao Ximin, you're so blind!]
Is it possible that I just don't like you?
How could you not like me? I am—
【Yes, yes, your ancestors were high-ranking officials, your father had outstanding local achievements, and your mother came from a prestigious family, but you are utterly useless. I'm not here to discuss love with your ancestors or delve into the true meaning of men and women with your parents; it's just that you're inadequate!】
Miao Ne didn't even remember having such an unworthy suitor, but the confidence he exuded when he spoke brought back a flood of memories from her student days. Her rejection, as always, was hurtful, hitting him where it hurt most.
The other party became angry.
The conversation drifted to a past relationship Miao Ne had during her student days—the one where Miao Ne went to Gao Guo to borrow the other person's identity. Initially, she was attracted to his refined and scholarly appearance, and since Miao Ne needed a plausible excuse to drop out of school, she dated him for a while. Later, she discovered that he was engaged and still wanted to play the Casanova, so they broke up.
They used this dark history to criticize Miao Ne for being promiscuous, and then used the loss of Yuanfu County to say that she was incompetent and just a pretty face.
Miao Ne could tolerate only the first part.
She simply couldn't stand the mention of Yuan Fujun's matter.
And so, a fight broke out.
Miao Ne is a powder keg; she can knock a dog's head off if it's passing by, let alone someone with a sharp tongue? She'll knock their head off too!
"The student is in the right. Even if his father came, he'd still beat him up." If it were really his father, a fight probably wouldn't have broken out. He's a commoner, his father isn't. In Kang State, official transfers require approval from the Ministry of Personnel; why would anyone offend Luan Xin for no reason?
Ning Yan: "..."
She then asked Li Wan.
Li Wan's injuries were more severe than Miao Ne's.
Miao Ne had just learned that Li Wan had been detained around the same time as her, and looked at Li Wan with amazement: "Junior Li, even if you admire me and like to imitate me, you don't have to imitate everything, do you?"
Although the situation is not serious and will not leave a criminal record, the Ministry of Personnel will still record it in the personnel file during the assessment, which will greatly affect future promotions.
Li Wan rolled her eyes elegantly: "What kind of dream are you having!"
Who will learn from Miao Ne?
You're just being delusional!
Ning Yan also understood the background of Li Wan's matter.
In terms of severity, Li Wan's matter is far more serious than Miao Ne's.
If nothing unexpected happens, there will definitely be censors and the victim's father impeaching Li Wan at the next court assembly. The person who fought with Miao Ne only suffered superficial injuries, his face swollen from being hit on both sides, while the person who clashed with Li Wan also had his head knocked to the side by Li Wan, but not the top of his head.
Miao Ne: "You really aren't copying me, trying to share my burdens?"
Li Wan leaned back slightly.
Miao Ne's confidence rivals that of her suitors.
"no!"
Li Wan didn't want to talk about that matter; the thought of it made him feel nauseous.
Before Yuanfu County fell, Li Wan's side had already been lost. The token was used by the enemy to lure Miao Ne away. From the time the county fell until she was ransomed, she stayed in the enemy camp for more than a month.
Li Wan wasn't a low-ranking soldier, so her situation in the enemy camp wasn't too dire. She wasn't forced into hard labor; at most, the food was poor, and she was interrogated frequently. The mental exhaustion far outweighed the physical fatigue. After being ransomed, she recuperated for a while, and her slightly sunken cheeks regained their color. Back in the capital with the army, she wanted to rest, but her elders were already eager to arrange a marriage for her.
Li Wan was not opposed to the idea of just looking at each other.
But she soon realized something was wrong.
The man's family wasn't exactly poor, but they weren't qualified to be presented to her for selection. Looking at her parents and the relatives who had tried to matchmake her, they were surprisingly humble, and the man's side even spoke with a hint of harshness and disdain. Their words implied that it was an honor for Li Wan to accept them, leaving Li Wan completely bewildered. However, she patiently refrained from turning hostile and finally politely declined, saying it wasn't a good match.
To put it another way, she didn't like it.
The parents, relatives, and the groom's side all changed their attitudes at the same time.
In their haste, the other party let something slip.
This means that Li Wan's military defeat and the end of his official career meant he had been imprisoned in the enemy camp for over a month, and it was unknown what kind of torture he was suffering. It was common for female prisoners of war to be forced into prostitution during times of chaos, with an average lifespan ranging from two years to dying from gynecological diseases to as little as two months dying in the boiler as meat.
For more than a month, he served countless enemy soldiers and generals every day.
It's hard to say whether she'll be able to have children in the future. Even if she can, this will bring shame to the clan, and her parents will be gossiped about behind their backs.
In small towns, people are most afraid of relatives gossiping. Before many people know, they'll arrange a marriage for Li Wan; then he'll belong to another family, so it won't be theirs to feel ashamed. The fact that the groom's family still came to visit, knowing this, shows they were prepared.
The most important thing right now is for Lee Wan to get married!
Miao Ne: "...Really, you didn't make this up to make me happy?"
I recognize each character individually, but I don't understand them when they're put together.
Li Wan said irritably, "Who wants to coax you?"
This is an embarrassing thing that could be laughed at by friends and family for three years. She wished Miao Ne didn't know about this shameful incident!
Li Wan's parents were short-sighted, and her relatives were not used to such things. Li Wan didn't blame them, she just found it ridiculous. But the family that came to propose marriage—ah, this wasn't a proposal, they were just showing off—she couldn't stand this attitude.
Are you hallucinating from eating swill?
Li Wan put down her teacup and looked at the man's family in surprise.
Ignoring the other man's sudden pale face, Li Wan continued his sarcastic remarks: "I have value alive, and my corpse has value dead—it's a bargaining chip. Let's say your son and I both fall into enemy hands; even if his intestines are ripped out, no one will touch my waistband. Even if, hypothetically, the enemy is truly short-sighted and uses such despicable means to humiliate me, so what? To me, it's just a form of torture to force me into submission. Who loses their original value simply because they're being tortured?"
If the news gets out, it will only incite indignation in the imperial court.
Aside from inspiring Kangguo's determination to fight to the death, it has no political value whatsoever. At the same time, it may also arouse the dissatisfaction of their own officials, especially the scholars who pursue lofty ideals at heart. Those who are loyal can be as stupid as pigs, as cunning as foxes, as ruthless as snakes, and even blindly arrogant and fond of grand achievements, but they cannot lack style.
Following such a ruler is a dark chapter in one's history.
Those who could understand what Li Wan was saying would most likely not do something so stupid, so—they didn't understand!
They even thought Li Wan had something wrong with his head.
"You worthless wretch, we only let you in to see what you're capable of, that you might bear one or two talented children for my son—" The groom's mother was so angry her chest ached, slamming her fist on the table and yelling in a shrill voice. Their family had a clever plan; they thought that although Li Wan's official career was over, she still knew useful colleagues and classmates, and marrying into the family could help her son's future.
Judging from the man's expression, she seemed to realize that something was wrong.
But intuition did not overcome the greed in his heart.
She had just lifted her butt up a little when she sat back down.
With so many people in front of him, Li Wan didn't dare to be too presumptuous, and even if the marriage between the two families fell through, they couldn't afford to make things too ugly.
This move is risky, but the chances of success are high.
Others joined in the commotion, adding fuel to the fire.
They attempted to use their numerical advantage to suppress Li Wan.
Li Wan's expression remained unchanged, and he refused to nod.
Finally, it was the groom's father who made the final decision, his voice strong and authoritative: "The marriage is settled then. The bride can stay home to recuperate and prepare for the wedding. The betrothal gifts will be delivered to your esteemed household as scheduled, and will be five more loads than originally agreed!"
After saying that, he prepared to get up and leave.
It seems that the matter has been decided.
Li Wan tilted his head: "I have something else."
"Marriage is a major event, traditionally decided by parents. How can a younger generation interfere? That's utterly disrespectful." The groom's father was dissatisfied with her, but considering that Li Wan had also served as an official and possessed a level of experience far beyond that of ordinary young ladies, he softened his tone slightly, "If Lady Li feels that fifteen loads of betrothal gifts are insufficient, to show sincerity, we can add five more. Twenty loads of betrothal gifts are already something many women from prominent families don't even receive."
A wedding with twenty bearers is considered a grand and prestigious affair.
Li Wan sneered: "Have you woken up from your daydream?"
_(:3」∠)_
There's one more chapter, about 1,500 words, that I haven't finished yet. I'll try to finish it before 2:30.
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