If it weren't for Wei Ling, no one would have dared to say anything about Yi Ning being included in the Wei family genealogy, and I'm afraid Yi Ning would have had a hard time returning to the Duke of Ying's mansion. Wei Ling had already paved the way for his daughter when he brought her back. Now that Wei Ling is gone, the voices criticizing Yi Ning's background are unstoppable.
Mrs. Xu frowned upon hearing her son's words. "What Wei Ling? He's your cousin! Your father received a lot of favors from him back then. It was your cousin who helped him get transferred to Shandong as a commander. You should respect him."
Wei Yi said nonchalantly, "If my grandfather had been born a few years earlier, who knows who would have held the title of Duke of Ying. Now, to entrust such a vast inheritance to a fourteen-year-old girl is absurd. Among all the nobles in the capital, which family would be like this?"
Although Xu felt that her son was being blunt, this did make some sense. How old was Luo Yining? What did she know about being a housekeeper? The Wei family didn't have a mistress, but the old lady was still the one who should be in charge.
Yi Ning knew that Wei Yi didn't like her, but she was calm now. She just called him "cousin Wei Yi" and went into Mrs. Wei's room.
Old Madam Wei had summoned Yining today to share some joyful news: "...I heard the Emperor mentioned your father's case in the Southern Study today. He had originally intended to punish him, but the Empress persuaded him otherwise, saying, 'We can't let this discourage the soldiers.' At least your father's title was preserved." A rare hint of joy crossed the old lady's face. "The Empress has been very kind to us. When I feel better, I'll bring you to the palace to pay my respects and express my gratitude to her."
Yi Ning bowed her head and agreed. She thought to herself, "I'm afraid it's not as simple as the old lady thinks." The Empress didn't have much contact with the Duke of Yingguo's residence, so why would she rashly ask for mercy? Lu Jiaxue and the Empress were friends, so he must have told the Empress.
Lu Jiaxue is smart. The Queen's plea is more effective than his, and it will not arouse the Emperor's suspicion.
She picked up her tea and saw Wei Jia come in with a brightly colored shuttlecock, her face flushed. She invited Yining to play with her and asked expectantly, "Sister Yining, can you play shuttlecock?"
Yining doesn't know how to play shuttlecock. She thinks it's a bit boring for little girls.
Wei Jia had been serving in Shandong with her father and wet nurse and had recently returned to the capital. Because of her accent, she hadn't even found a playmate. Unable to resist her suggestion, Yi Ning accompanied her outside to play shuttlecock. She couldn't kick many, but Wei Jia was quite good, flawless in every position.
But Wei Jia didn't play shuttlecock, so she gave the shuttlecock to Yining and looked forward to Yining asking her to kick it. Whenever Yining managed to kick a ball, she would applaud and praise her for being amazing.
Yining weighed the shuttlecock in his hand helplessly, and Ting'er clapped and cheered beside him.
Looking at the two children, Yi Ning felt even more helpless. She rolled up her skirt and started playing shuttlecock. One, two, three... fell!
"Godfather!" someone suddenly shouted happily.
When Yining turned around and found Lu Jiaxue standing quietly at the gate of the courtyard with a group of people following him, she was shocked.
He just stood there and watched her play shuttlecock?
Lu Jiaxue paid little attention to Yining, nodding to Zhao Mingzhu, who had called him. Zhao Mingzhu bowed respectfully. Yining finally realized what was happening and bowed as well. Lu Jiaxue's mouth twitched as he glanced at the colorful shuttlecock in her hand. He then entered the house, ushered in by Mother Song.
He came to visit Old Mrs. Wei and brought some supplements such as ginseng and deer antlers.
...He actually saw this. It was just like that in her past life. Whenever she did something slightly out of the ordinary, he would always catch her and then laugh at her. The bastard might have been laughing at her just now.
Yining patted the shuttlecock in his hand and returned it to Wei Jia.
She held her shuttlecock in her arms like a treasure and said, "Sister Yining, you kick it really well! I'll come and play with you again in the future."
Yi Ning's mouth twitched slightly. What else could she say? She could only follow him into the house.
Lu Jiaxue was leaning back in his chair, explaining that Wei Ling's body had not been found, and trying to reassure the old lady. The old lady was deeply shaken by the news about her son, and she choked up for a moment.
Xu led Wei Yi to pay respects to Lu Jiaxue. Wei Yi was very respectful to Lu Jiaxue. After all, the person in front of him was Lu Jiaxue.
Lu Jiaxue heard that he was working as a clerk in the Zhongcheng Military Commission and gave him some casual advice. "...As long as you don't make any mistakes in your work at the Wucheng Military Commission, you'll be fine. Your father also made great contributions in suppressing bandits in Shandong. You should have no problem getting promoted within a few years."
His free time was limited, and he would be leaving soon. Wei Yi offered to see him off, but he shook his head and said no need.
Old Madam Wei said, "I can't get up now, so let Yining escort you out of the Chuihua Gate... You're a guest, so this is what you have to do!"
Lu Jiaxue did not refuse this time.
Yi Ning escorted him out of the Chuihua Gate, and they didn't speak a word along the way. Thinking that he had helped her after all, Yi Ning bowed to thank him again.
Lu Jiaxue said after a while, "As long as Wei Ling doesn't come back, this matter will not be over. You don't have to thank me too much." He paused, "You kick the shuttlecock horribly, so you should play less in the future."
Yi Ning thought to herself, "Why are you meddling in other people's business?" and nodded.
He walked out of the hanging flower gate and his followers followed him.
In the sedan chair on the road, Lu Jiaxue closed his eyes and rested. He didn't have to go there in person. He saw Luo Yining kicking the shuttlecock, and his mind was filled with the image of her kneeling and begging him that night, and the sudden loss of control of his emotions when he heard her words... He was really going crazy. More than ten years of patience and waiting would drive a person crazy.
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