Chapter 537: The Literary Scholar, Ning Yan [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Shen Tang admitted it.
Ning Yan's few words were enough to make her feel favorably toward and curious about her, and also made her realize another side of women in this world.
They are not sheltered young ladies from noble families, confined to their own little world, only able to plan their future with limited knowledge and means, like Shen Zhi; they are not innocent and carefree girls who, barring unforeseen circumstances, will follow the life arranged by their families and grow up step by step, like Lin Feng; they are not peasant girls struggling in the mire of the lower class, exhausting most of their strength for survival, like Bai Su; and they are not those who have witnessed all the darkness, crawled and rolled, and become familiar with human relationships too early, like Yu Zi.
Ning Yan is mature, steady, determined, and confident.
His eyes gleamed with a light called "ambition".
Shen Tang never considered "ambition" to be a derogatory term.
They also vaguely guessed Ning Yan's intentions.
but--
If Ning Yan were to seek refuge as the "widow of Yan An," Shen Tang would be willing to provide her with a place to stay out of consideration for their past relationship. However, if Ning Yan were to come as an individual... she would need to see her value. After all, capitalists who are supposed to be working the streets don't support idlers.
Hearing Shen Tang address her as "Madam," Ning Yan's heart stirred, and she said decisively, "I will repay him as a national hero."
Shen Tang was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Ning Yan's bluntness.
Question: "Just because I'm a woman?"
Ning Yan shook her head and then nodded: "It's not just because Shen Jun is a woman, but also because of my late husband Xing Ning's recognition of you. He once said that he regretted meeting you so late. On the way here, I also thought that if he had met Shen Jun earlier, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way."
Her eyes visibly dimmed, then she took another deep breath, revealing a gentle yet firm smile: "If that is Xingning's regret... then perhaps my standing before Shen Jun now is his guidance from the depths of the universe..."
If I hadn't met Xu Jie on the way...
If Xu Quan's letter hadn't arrived in time...
Perhaps many, many years later, when she is old and frail, she will belatedly realize that such a light truly exists in this world! Ning Yan could feel the suffocating regret just by imagining it.
"It's not too late to be thankful."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang remained silent for a long time.
"Yes, it's not too late."
Ning Yan and Yan An are similar in spirit yet quite different.
To be honest, these two are truly a perfect couple.
Jiang Sheng checked the grain and stored it all away. He returned with a beaming smile. If spring planting went smoothly, the pressure for the year would be much less. But before he could enjoy his happiness for long, he saw his lord sitting on the roof, gazing at the moon with his chin in his hand.
"My lord has a refined taste."
Jiang Sheng leaped onto the roof.
Only a few steps away from Shen Tang did the latter react.
"It's Xian Deng, is everything done?"
"Everything is settled." Jiang Sheng was surprised that Shen Tang was actually distracted. "With so many joyous events today, why is my lord not happy?"
Shen Tang patted the eaves beside her, gesturing for Jiang Sheng to sit down, and said, "It's not that I'm unhappy, it's just that something's stuck in my heart."
Jiang Sheng was surprised to hear this.
He's known Shen Tang for quite some time now.
What kind of personality does the latter have? She's incredibly serious when she needs to be, yet carefree and innocent in her free time, always brimming with energy, seemingly oblivious to the world's troubles. When does she ever have anything on her mind that she can't understand?
"Because of Madam Yan from earlier today?" Jiang Sheng only knew that Ning Yan stayed behind, but he didn't know that she stayed behind as his colleague.
Shen Tang nodded: "Mm."
Jiang Sheng asked, "Would you mind explaining in detail?"
Now it's time to mention Gu Chi again.
His absence is really causing some trouble.
Shen Tang: "Of course, it's convenient."
She recounted her conversation with Ning Yan during the day.
Jiang Sheng chuckled and said, "Just because of that?"
Shen Tang was slightly annoyed: "Isn't this the first time I've encountered this? Although she said it was because of Yan Xingning, it's mostly because of my gender. People came for my gender, not for any other qualities I have. I'm a little..."
Jiang Sheng listened quietly.
Then she heard the next sentence: "...I feel a little uncomfortable. Because gender is the easiest to replace, and also because of her recklessness. Perhaps there is another one in this world, or several others like me...Will she regret her hasty choice later?"
Jiang Sheng was unaware of the true meaning behind Shen Tang's words, and only analyzed them literally: "My lord must believe that he is unique. Even if this lady is attracted to your gender, she will eventually be won over by your other qualities."
Shen Tang countered, "What if it's not possible?"
She was confident, but not so confident that everyone would like her. She knew her weaknesses better than anyone.
Jiang Sheng laughed and said, "It is only natural that a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on."
The literati of Wenxin actually had little moral integrity.
If you don't like your lord, just switch sides.
It's not like I'm going to hang myself on one tree for the rest of my life.
Unexpectedly, Shen Tang let out another long sigh.
"She probably can't choose..."
Jiang Sheng was still unaware of the meaning of "cannot choose," nor did he know how ruthless Ning Yan could be once she made up her mind. He did not see Ning Yan the next day.
All that could be seen were the boy Ning Yan had brought and her daughter.
Kang Shi changed his ways. He held a spoon in his right hand and a bowl of porridge in his left, gently coaxing the girl to eat a few more bites.
That voice...
It's so sweet it's almost sickening.
"Come on, my sweet girl, have another bite."
"I can't eat anymore."
"How about just one last bite?"
As it turned out, Kang Shi was a treacherous fellow. He coaxed and tricked the girl into finishing the entire bowl of wine, and even took out a handkerchief to carefully wipe her mouth at the end. For some reason, Kang Shi seemed to particularly like having the girl call him "Uncle Kang."
The child called out to him.
His mouth stretched from ear to ear, like a tooth.
"Uncle Kang, where is Mother?"
How could Kang Shi know that?
"She's probably busy. You should stay close to Uncle Kang today, and he'll show you around and broaden your horizons..."
"Still watching the piglet?"
"Let's not watch the piglet today, let's watch something else."
For example, observe how he works.
This child is truly well-behaved and easy to take care of. His gentle, sweet, and adorable appearance is simply irresistible. Whenever Kang Shi sees this child, who bears a striking resemblance to a friend, so obedient, it always touches a secret, satisfying spot within him…
only--
I didn't see Ning Yan for more than ten days after that.
It's as if they've vanished into thin air.
When asked, the lord remained evasive, only offering the excuse that "she went to take care of important business." Kang Shi keenly sensed something was amiss. What important business could Ning Yan possibly have that required her to disappear for so long? Most importantly, the little princess was about to become unmanageable!
Having not seen her mother for more than ten days, the already sensitive and anxious girl finally couldn't hold back and secretly cried in the middle of the night. Kang Shi and the boy had been taking care of her during this time. The boy, being an ordinary person, slept soundly, but Kang Shi was awakened by the crying.
"What's wrong? Is it a nightmare?"
Kang Shi followed the sound of crying and found the child in a corner outside the house.
"Mother... Waaah, did Mother leave with Father... Does she not want me anymore...?" She remembered that Father had also disappeared one day. She missed him terribly, but her mother would always cry whenever Father was mentioned.
Although she didn't understand death, she knew that her father would never come back, and after that, she never dared to mention her father again.
Now--
Mother has also disappeared.
She buried her face in Kang Shi's arms and cried bitterly.
But they dared not make a sound, only whimpering in silence.
Kang Shi laughed and said, "How could that be? Your mother is really busy with important matters. Uncle Kang promises that she will come back to see her in a few days. If that's not the case, Uncle Kang will..."
Before he could finish speaking, a shadow fell over his head.
He was half-squatting.
Upon seeing this, he looked up.
The person who appeared was indeed Ning Yan herself. She seemed to have aged considerably in the time since they last met, but her face was deathly pale, even more bloodless than the moon in the sky. Her sudden appearance in the dead of night made one wonder if she was alive or a ghost.
"Ji Shou, give it to me."
Hearing the familiar voice, the daughter broke free from Kang Shi's embrace and rushed towards Ning Yan. Her strength wasn't great, but Ning Yan gasped in pain, her face turning even paler.
"Do you miss your mother?"
She lifted her daughter up steadily.
As Kang Shi stood up, he vaguely noticed something familiar hanging from Ning Yan's waist; he had something similar too.
Wenxin, monogram.
\(￣︶￣*\))
Growth takes time, but Ning Yan is ruthless and doesn't talk much; she gets straight to the point.
P.S.: I've added some words to this chapter.
P.S.: Double monthly votes have started! Double votes on the 29th and 30th. Hoping to take the top spot on both the monthly and seasonal vote rankings this month, so we can have more operating funds next month, sob sob...
The recent plot will definitely be slower; we need to accumulate resources before the conquest storyline begins. Tang Mei has completely established herself in Longwu County, and now it's time to sharpen her knives and attack her neighbors.
PPPS: Ya Zi: People who buy and sell people. Jiang Sheng complains that Kang Shi's smile is like that of a human trafficker.
(End of this chapter)
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