Seeing this, Jiang Yuwei couldn't stop her tears from flowing. She simply couldn't bear to think about what Ning Wan had gone through. Right now, she could only wait for Ning Wan to wake up and ask her the truth.
Jiang Yuwei first applied medicine to Ning Wan, then bandaged up all of Ning Wan's wounds before gently covering her with a thin blanket.
"Huaizhi, come in."
Upon hearing this, Ning Huaizhi hurriedly pushed open the door and came in, followed by Ning Zhao and Ning Zixuan.
"How is Wan'er doing now?"
Jiang Yuwei could see the anxiety on Ning Huaizhi's face. Wiping away her tears, she looked at Ning Wan, who was lying unconscious on the bed, and said:
"I don't know who injured Wan'er like this. Just now I was in the Princess's room and asked her to go out and look for you. I didn't expect that in such a short time, our Wan'er would suffer such a disaster."
Ning Huaizhi walked up to Ning Wan and his eyes reddened at just one glance at her battered and bruised appearance. Ning Zhao, standing beside him, cried softly and said:
"Mother, who hurt Wan'er like this? I'm going to kill them!"
Jiang Yuwei lowered her head and cried without saying a word, only gently tucking the blanket around Ning Wan.
Ning Huaizhi placed his hand on Jiang Yuwei's shoulder and choked back tears as he comforted her:
"Yuwei, don't be sad. It's all my fault for being useless. Others don't take me seriously, so they can easily harm Wan'er. Once I find out who harmed Wan'er, I will definitely not let them off easily."
Jiang Yuwei shook her head, crying.
“Huaizhi, you don’t understand. This is a matter for the inner quarters. You, a man, have no right to interfere.”
Jiang Yuwei looked up at Ning Huaizhi again and said:
“I just spoke with the Princess Consort. Right now, the Princess Consort needs someone by her side. The Princess Consort also said that our whole family should move into this Prince’s Mansion. Now that Ning Wan is in this condition, I can’t leave here either. You and Ning Zhao should go back and pack some clothes for yourselves and move in today.”
As Jiang Yuwei spoke, she wiped away her tears and then instructed Ning Huaizhi:
"By the way, tell Aunt Zhou and the others that they can keep the stall as usual. If they are too busy, they can make less food. After closing up shop each afternoon, send someone to the Prince Jing's residence with the day's silver and account book to reconcile accounts."
Ning Huaizhi nodded, and Jiang Yuwei continued:
"Tiezhu has been staying with us at Prince Jing's residence for the past few days, so that someone will be there to drive you when you go out. This afternoon, have him pack a few personal items to bring with him, and have Tiezhu also give instructions to Daya."
Ning Huaizhi remembered everything Jiang Yuwei said. He didn't want to live in the Jingwang Mansion, since he had no family ties with it. It was inappropriate for an outsider to be constantly entering and leaving the inner courtyard of the mansion.
However, given the current situation with the Princess Consort, it's not suitable to move Ning Wan. Furthermore, the culprit who harmed Ning Wan hasn't been found yet, so it's more convenient for the whole family to stay at the Prince Jing's residence.
Ning Huaizhi didn't want to hold Jiang Yuwei back, so he said to her:
"Madam, please stay at the Prince's residence to take care of the Princess and Wan'er. Zhao'er and I will be right back."
After saying that, Ning Huaizhi turned to Ning Zixuan standing beside him and said:
"Our family will be staying at the Prince's residence for the next few days. Please forgive us if we are not attentive enough in any way."
Ning Zixuan waved his hand and said directly:
"There's no need for such formalities between us. Just go and come back quickly. I'll go out now and arrange a courtyard for you near Mother's Diancui Courtyard. I'll have the servants tidy it up so you can stay there for now."
Then, Ning Zixuan spoke to Jiang Yuwei:
"Madam Jiang, go out and select a few maids that you find pleasing to the eye, and I will send them to your courtyard to take care of you."
Jiang Yuwei waved her hand and said:
"No need. We can't use anyone from the Prince's mansion until the truth about Wan'er's matter is fully investigated. I'll take care of her myself for the next few days. Once Wan'er's injuries are a bit better, I'll go out and buy a few maids to serve her in the courtyard."
In fact, Jiang Yuwei had been planning to buy a few maids and servants to carefully train them. After all, Aunt Zhou's family were all from the same hometown and friends, and Jiang Yuwei was too embarrassed to ask them to do many things. In the future, when the food court really took off, it would naturally be inseparable from this group of people.
Therefore, Jiang Yuwei had already planned that after the courtyard approved by the emperor was tidied up, she would buy a few more servants to help her. This way, she could take care of both the courtyard and the stall, and she wouldn't have to worry about being embarrassed to ask the people around her to do things in the future.
Ning Zixuan nodded after hearing Jiang Yuwei's words:
“Since you don’t trust others, I’ll have Yun Qing guard your courtyard for the next few days to protect you. Once Ning Wan’s injuries have healed a bit, I’ll take you to the servants to buy a few maids.”
Jiang Yuwei stared intently at Ning Wan, then nodded woodenly and said:
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Your Highness."
Seeing her like this, Ning Zixuan could only shake his head helplessly and walk out.
Ning Zixuan was both angry and annoyed at the current incident involving Ning Wan at the Prince Jing's residence. Ning Wan had always been a well-behaved and sensible child, and Ning Zixuan liked her very much. Now that such a young child had to suffer such physical pain, Ning Zixuan wished he could dig three feet into the ground and find that person to tear to pieces!
"Yunqing, don't go anywhere these next few days. Just protect the people inside. If anything happens to them, I will hold you responsible!"
Yun Qingchong and Ning Zixuan bowed respectfully and nodded in agreement.
Ning Zixuan then went to the head maid and gave her instructions:
"Find a few quick-witted people to clean up Jinglan Pavilion next to Diancui Courtyard, put in a few new sets of bedding, and make sure all daily necessities are prepared. I'll personally check on it after it's done, and if it's not cleaned thoroughly..."
The head maid had never seen her young master arrange trivial matters like this before, so she dared not be negligent and quickly bowed, saying:
"Your Highness, please rest assured, I will handle this matter perfectly for you. If there are no other instructions, I will take my leave now."
Ning Zixuan waved his hand.
"Hurry up and pack!"
The head maid received the order, bowed respectfully, and withdrew.
Ning Zixuan snapped his fingers again, and two black-clad guards instantly flew down from the rooftop.
"Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"Go and investigate! Thoroughly search this entire manor, inside and out. Don't overlook any clues, and don't alert anyone else. Investigate quietly. If I find out who hurt Wan'er, I will make them pay the price!"
The two black-clad guards exchanged a glance, bowed to Ning Zixuan, and then split up to pursue the murderer.
Just then, Madam Sun walked in from outside with Xu Qianqian, followed by maids carrying large and small bags.
Upon seeing Ning Zixuan, he looked at him nervously and said:
"Your Highness, we came to see how your mother-in-law is doing."
Ning Zixuan looked at the two of them with a scrutinizing gaze. It's no wonder Ning Zixuan was suspicious; in the entire Prince's mansion, only these few people knew Ning Wan and had a grudge against Jiang Yuwei. So, Ning Zixuan coldly questioned them:
Where did you go just now?
Seeing Ning Zixuan's unfriendly expression, Madam Sun spoke up:
"Just now, we were sent back to our own courtyard. We were worried about my mother-in-law's condition and didn't go anywhere. We just waited in the courtyard for someone from Diancui Courtyard to come and call us, but no one came. My mother-in-law is sick, and we daughters-in-law can't sit still. So we thought we'd bring some tonics to visit my mother in her courtyard first."
Ning Zixuan sneered upon hearing this and spoke:
"You really didn't go anywhere?"
Sun and Xu Qianqian exchanged a glance and nodded frantically, saying:
“It’s true, we have no reason to lie about this. If you don’t believe me, Your Highness can ask the people in our courtyard.”
What Madam Sun said was true. When they entered the manor, Ning Zixuan had taken precautions against them and had arranged for his own spies in their courtyard. If the two of them were lying, Ning Zixuan would have known as soon as he asked them.
Ning Zixuan was completely at a loss and didn't want to waste any more time chatting with the two of them, so he said coldly:
"Mother is not feeling well right now and needs to rest in bed. You can go back now. You don't need to come to pay your respects for the next few days. Once Mother has recovered, I will send someone to your courtyard to let you know."
After hearing this, Madam Sun pondered for a moment and said with concern:
"Is Mother-in-law alright? I just heard from people outside that she's no longer using the family physician, but instead has Jiang Yuwei treating her. This is really inappropriate. We all know Jiang Yuwei very well. She's just a peasant woman; how could she possibly know anything about medicine..."
Hearing this, Xu Qianqian quickly chimed in:
“Yes, my mother-in-law’s health is not something to be taken lightly. How can we let Jiang Yuwei treat her? If the family physician is no good, then we should invite a royal physician from the palace to treat my mother-in-law. It’s better than letting Jiang Yuwei do something reckless.”
Ning Zixuan frowned upon hearing this. Why did these two come to inquire about his mother's condition at this time? And why were they so insistent on persuading him to have the family physician treat his mother? Could it be that they were also involved in this matter?
As Ning Zixuan thought this, his gaze toward the two became increasingly cold.
Looking at Ning Zixuan's gloomy, almost dripping-water face, Sun Shi and Xu Qianqian felt a chill run down their spines. They quickly exchanged a glance and hurriedly said:
"Well, we were just thinking of our mother-in-law's sake. I think you should think it over carefully, Your Highness. If there's nothing else, we won't disturb her rest any longer. We'll be leaving now!"
As they spoke, the two hurriedly turned around and gave a wink to the maidservant beside them, and the group quickly left Diancui Courtyard.
Ning Zixuan watched the two figures walk away, pondered for a while, and then turned and left.
Jiang Yuwei was feeding Ning Wan spiritual spring water and giving her acupuncture in the room, but despite her efforts, Ning Wan's condition did not improve.
Jiang Yuwei knew she had been too hasty. All she could do now was wait. She believed that once Ning Wan woke up, the truth would come out. Right now, all she could do was protect her and prevent her from being targeted by malicious people who might harm her again.
Ning Huaizhi and Ning Zhao returned to No. 8, Fish and Bird Lane. After hurriedly going inside to pack a few clothes, Ning Huaizhi came out and said to Aunt Zhou:
“Aunt Zhou, our family will be staying at the Prince Jing’s residence for a while. You’re the oldest person here, so we’ll leave the stall management to you. Yuwei said that you can set up the stall as usual every day, and if you don’t have enough manpower, you don’t need to prepare so many things.”
As Ning Huaizhi spoke, everyone came into the courtyard, looking at him with concern. Tie Zhu had told everyone about Ning Wan's situation as soon as he entered the courtyard, and everyone was very worried about Ning Wan's safety. So they all chimed in with their own opinions:
"Wan'er, how is it now? Which heartless bastard treated Wan'er like this!"
"How can Madam take care of Wan'er by herself? Why don't I go and help take care of her?"
"Oh dear, why did she have to stay in Prince Jing's mansion to be taken care of? That place is a den of wolves and tigers. Otherwise, they wouldn't have beaten our Wan'er up like that!"
"Yes, I'm so anxious!"
Ning Huaizhi quickly reached out to stop the noise.
"Don't worry, everyone. The Princess and the Prince are protecting us in the Prince's mansion, so nothing will happen. You don't need to take care of Wan'er either. Just focus on doing a good job with the stall, and that will put Yuwei's mind at ease. Once Wan'er recovers and the courtyard that the Emperor granted me is repaired, we can move in together."
Seeing that the general and his wife had already made up their minds, Aunt Zhou didn't press further and quickly nodded, saying:
"Alright, General, you don't need to worry about this at the Prince Jing's residence. This stall already has many regular customers. If I don't set up the stall for a day, I'm afraid those customers won't agree. You can tell your wife to leave it to us."
Ning Huaizhi nodded and said:
"Alright, we'll be going now. As for the accounts and money from the stall, you can send one person to Prince Jing's residence every day to reconcile the accounts with the lady."
Aunt Zhou nodded in agreement upon hearing this:
"Alright, let Ningwu go."
Ning Huaizhi took two bundles and boarded the carriage with Ning Zhao. The others saw them off reluctantly at the courtyard gate before sighing and returning to their own work.
Ning Huai and his entourage quickly arrived at the Jingwang Mansion. Ning Zixuan sent someone to greet the gatekeepers. Since these people recognized Tie Zhu, they hurriedly opened the small gate to let them in.
A maid was already waiting at the door.
"General, please come with me. The young master has arranged for your family to stay temporarily at Jinglan Pavilion next to Diancui Courtyard."
Upon hearing this, Ning Huaizhi nodded to the maid and let her lead the way. When the group arrived at the gate of Ning Chunlin's courtyard, they happened to bump into him as he was about to go out for a night of drinking and carousing.
When Ning Chunlin saw that it was Ning Huaizhi, he looked at him with a shocked expression and said:
"Ning Huaizhi, the flower-adorned banquet has long ended. What are you trying to do by staying in our Prince's residence?"
Upon seeing this, the maid leading the way quickly bowed to Ning Chunlin and respectfully said:
"In response to your question, young master, the general's family will be staying temporarily in our manor. The young master has already allocated Jinglan Pavilion to them."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com