Chapter 031 She has become unscrupulous
When the Pingning County garrison arrived, Qingyuan Village was already counting the losses in property and personnel. The village head led people to greet County Magistrate Cao Manlou, who had come to suppress the bandits in person. Magistrate Cao, with a look of grief on his face, asked him, "How many people died?"
"Luckily no one died, but quite a few were injured..."
Cao Manlou's prepared words suddenly froze, and he was even a little confused: "No one died?"
He asked, "Didn't they say that over thirty bandits were coming, all armed with long swords?"
The head of the village walked quickly towards the village with County Magistrate Cao. On the other side, Shen Ning and Zhao Tong's family were resting in Shen Ning's yard.
Most of Zhao Tong's house was burned and he couldn't stay there anymore, but fortunately Shen Ning's house was still fine.
The person who went to the county to report to the officials stopped by the county school to tell Shen Qingbai. Shen Qingbai arrived a moment earlier than Cao Manlou, who also had to mobilize troops.
Looking at the chaos in the village and listening to the cries that sounded from time to time, Shen Qingbai's face turned pale. He didn't care about the difference between men and women and held Shen Ning's hand tightly: "Sister, I'm glad you're okay, I'm glad you're okay."
As he spoke, he grabbed Xiao Nanchen and said incoherently: "Thank you, Anan, it was you who protected my sister, all thanks to Anan."
Xiao Nanchen frowned slightly, resisting the urge to push the person away.
Seeing this, Shen Qingbai asked Shen Ning with a worried look on his face: "Sister, is Anan scared? Why is he getting more and more stunned?"
Xiao Nanchen:?
Shen Ning quickly said: "No, it's like this, it's a blessing in disguise, Anan has regained consciousness... He was a little confused before because of the injury on his head, but now he is well again."
Shen Qingbai, who was still in shock, was stunned when he heard this. After taking a closer look, he found that Xiao Nanchen was indeed different.
He breathed a sigh of relief: "That is indeed a blessing in disguise. It's great that Anan has recovered. Congratulations to Anan."
Xiao Nanchen was not good at chatting with others, so he just said "hmm" stiffly.
At this time, the village head arrived with County Magistrate Cao and called Chen Ning over from a distance.
Just as Shen Ning was about to take a step, Xiao Nanchen whispered, “You can’t keep this credit, you can exchange it for a favor with County Magistrate Cao.”
Shen Ning was startled for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."
A moment later, Shen Ning and the village head stood in front of County Magistrate Cao at the same time.
Magistrate Cao sat in the courtyard of the village head's house, surrounded by a large circle of people. He sighed, "This time, our Qingyuan Village has been attacked by bandits..."
First, he offered some words of comfort, putting himself in their shoes. Then, Magistrate Cao changed the subject: "However, our Qingyuan Village has also performed a great deed this time, killing twelve bandits and capturing thirteen alive. This county will definitely give Qingyuan Village a credit!"
Village head Zhao De glanced at Shen Ning, then bowed and said, "Your Excellency, the reason Qingyuan Village was able to turn danger into safety and successfully defeat the bandits was all because of Shen..."
Chen Ning quickly interrupted, "It's all thanks to you, sir, for reminding us last time when we went to the county government to report to the authorities and for telling us how to resist the bandits. This time, Qingyuan Village was able to defeat the bandits, all thanks to you, sir."
Cao Manlou was stunned at first, then his eyes were filled with deep admiration.
He stroked his beard and continued, following Shen Ning's words: "That being said, this time the villagers of Qingyuan Village worked together and lived up to my expectations..."
After everything was said and the villagers left, Cao Manlou first called the village head Zhao De into the house.
After a while, Zhao De came out, walked in front of Shen Ning, looked at her, nodded slowly and said: "I really misjudged you in the past, Madam Shen...you can go in, don't worry, the adults already know your contribution."
Shen Ning nodded: "Okay, Uncle De."
A moment later, Shen Ning stood in front of Cao Manlou.
The Pingning County Magistrate in front of him looked quite like a scholar, thin and fair, with a short beard and a pair of restrained eyes.
He looked at Shen Ning and said slowly: "What do you want?"
Very good, let’s be frank and not beat around the bush. This makes things much simpler.
Shen Ning then said directly: "Your Excellency should know that there are some misunderstandings between me and my wife. Your Excellency is very perceptive and will definitely be able to distinguish right from wrong."
Cao Manlou leaned back, with a half-smile on his face: "After all, she is my wife, and Pan Jinlian is my brother-in-law..."
Shen Ning's heart sank slightly, but she heard him change the subject: "However, I can promise you that no matter when, I will not use the power in my hands to help her deal with you. Of course, I will not ask too much about what she does privately."
Cao Manlou said calmly, "I won't help her. You all can do it based on your own abilities."
Shen Ning breathed a sigh of relief and bowed: "Thank you for your consideration, sir."
It is actually very good to have such a result. She is now just a widow in the countryside with little influence. Even if those credits are attributed to her and reported to the higher authorities, if Cao Manlou is not stopped, they will fall on others and will never bring her any substantial benefits.
It's good that Cao Manlou agreed not to take action now. Otherwise, if he wanted to deal with her, she would be just a commoner and it would be very easy for him to frame her with a crime.
Seeing Chen Ning's straightforward thanks, Cao Manlou's eyes were filled with admiration. His gaze fell on the young widow's bright face, which could not be concealed even by her thorny hairpin and cloth skirt. He suddenly softened his tone, "I won't help others, but if it's one of my own, then it's different."
Shen Ning looked up and met Cao Manlou's exceptionally gentle expression: "I heard that you are a widow..."
Shen Ning interrupted directly: "I have publicly vowed to mourn my deceased husband for three years."
Although Cao Manlou was an ordinary man and was also lustful, he was not a person who was obsessed with sex. He thought the widow in front of him was beautiful and smart, but he would not force himself on her.
After a pause, Cao Manlou said: "Mrs. Shen has such a broad mind and bearing. I believe that you can deal with the tricks of the women in the harem. Okay, go down."
Shen Ning breathed a sigh of relief, bowed and left...
After going out, Xiao Nanchen and Shen Qingbaihou were outside, and when they saw Shen Ning, they walked forward.
Xiao Nanchen asked, "What did he say?"
Shen Ning replied: "Promise not to help Madam Pan harm me."
Xiao Nanchen sneered, "These people who just sit there doing nothing are always cunning and greedy."
Shen Ning took the opportunity to test the situation and asked, “Anan seems to know these officials very well?”
Xiao Nanchen paused and was silent for a moment. He then said, "I know many officers in the army."
Shen Ning's heart instantly started pounding.
Here it comes, my overwhelming wealth and glory is finally coming... Later when my king reveals his identity, how can she appear shocked enough without being exaggerated? How can she act like a pure sister-in-law who does not covet power and wealth?
How many times should I pretend to refuse? Too little and it won't be real, but too much and I might overdo it.
Xiao Nanchen said, "Let's talk about it when we get back."
Shen Qingbai looked at Shen Ning, and Shen Ning nodded quickly: "Okay, okay, this is a big deal, let's go back and talk about it behind closed doors."
Along the way, Shen Ning felt as if she was walking on clouds... This is probably what it feels like to win a hundred first prizes in the lottery.
The three of them sat down at the table in the main hall. Under the two men's nervous gaze, Xiao Nanchen spoke slowly, "I'm now lucid and remember that I met Zhao Mu in the army, but I can't recall my previous memories."
Shen Ning's prepared words, "Oh my god, you are actually the famous Prince Ding," were suddenly choked back. She stared at Xiao Nanchen in a daze: "Huh?"
That’s not right. It shouldn’t be like this. He should have fully recovered!
What exactly went wrong?
Shen Ning was ready to face the truth and rise to prominence, but Jin Da Thigh now told her that he couldn't remember where he was from.
She almost couldn't help but want to say, "Why don't you go to the capital and take a look? I think you are from the capital, maybe you are Prince Ding..."
However, looking at Xiao Nanchen's calm expression and deep eyes, Shen Ning suddenly realized: Could this be a test?
Come to think of it, although my king must have seen her kind, gentle, and self-disciplined side as a good sister-in-law during this period, the initial impression was not very good after all.
It is normal for a king to be suspicious by nature, and it is understandable that he still has some reservations about her.
It doesn't matter, she is not afraid of tests... After all, not everyone can be the future sister-in-law of His Majesty. Neither wealth nor the merit of following the emperor can be easily obtained.
Because it is precious, it is difficult.
Shen Ning quickly adjusted her mentality. She said to Xiao Nanchen in a gentle voice, "It's okay. If you can't remember it, don't think about it. Don't force yourself."
Xiao Nanchen suddenly asked, "What if I'm not Zhao Nan?"
Shen Ning's heart was suddenly shocked. It was indeed a test!
Oh, luckily she is smart!
Knowing it was a test, she certainly wouldn't let him down. Facing the scrutinizing gaze of my king, Shen Ning looked at him and spoke word by word: "It doesn't matter, Anan, whether you can remember it or not, whether you are Zhao Nan or not, sister-in-law is always here, and there will always be a place for you in this family..."
Xiao Nanchen had originally planned to return to the capital, but he had just received news that some of the important officials in Xinzhou had ties with the anti-religious Tianxin Sect, and were plotting to rebel when he, the "Prince Ding", died.
And he, this "dead man", happens to be in Xinzhou now, making him the most suitable person for secret investigation.
Therefore, the fact that he is still alive cannot be known to others for the time being.
The sentence just now was just a test that he made on a whim. He wanted to see how this woman would react when she heard that he might not be Zhao Nan.
“…This is your home at all times!”
Shen Ning's eyes were full of sincerity when she spoke, but she was a little worried after she finished speaking.
Is that a bit exaggerated?
That shouldn't be the case. Her expression should be able to fully demonstrate that she has regarded Xiao Nanchen as a relative, and she is reluctant to let him go because he may not be her biological uncle.
Look, my king is moved!
Xiao Nanchen's expression was frozen.
It turns out that she wasn't nice to him just because he was Zhao Mu's brother... Look, no matter who he was, she was always there?
Will this always be his home?
If he wasn't Zhao Nan, how could this be his home? The implication was so obvious that it was undisguised.
This woman is really unscrupulous. She doesn't even care that her brother Shen Qingbai is right next to her!
Could it be that her original lust for him has turned into true love during these days of being together day and night?
Otherwise, why would she risk her own life to save him and rush into the sea of fire like that!
Xiao Nanchen couldn't deceive himself. He was actually touched, but that was all... Apart from those slight touches, there was nothing else.
After all, he has his own principles in life. No matter what she does, he will remain as hard as iron and remain unmoved!
I just hope she can calm down and realize her mistakes as soon as possible, so that she can put her mind right in the future and not do anything to let Zhao Mu down...
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