The front hall was full of family members, and Yunxiang City was not a secret to the world. Moreover, there were no restrictions on Yunxiang City now, so there was nothing to hide.
After learning the identity of her biological mother, Shen Cile's long-standing inner conflict was finally resolved, but she was also filled with surprise.
From a young age, she knew that although her mother was not by her side, there was a lot of talk about her.
Most of the comments were unpleasant, and it wasn't until her father dealt with a servant who had been gossiping in front of her that she stopped hearing them.
In fact, she didn't believe those rumors. After all, her father had taken meticulous care of her and her brother for so many years, and there were no other masters in the mansion besides the three of them.
All of this shows that Father only has Mother in his heart.
It's a great thing that Mother can now freely enter and leave Yunxiang City. It's just a pity that Father and An'er aren't here, otherwise their family would truly be reunited!
"Madam, the banquet is ready. Please proceed to the dining room."
Madam Ning stood up: "You all came so suddenly today. We have nothing much to offer, just some simple food to fill your stomachs. I hope you won't find it offensive."
Yun Xiangnan said, "Not at all, we're all family."
"Then let's go."
Zhi Mei personally cooked the welcome feast, preparing a huge table of dishes.
After dinner, it was already quite late, so Ning Yao arranged for them to rest in the guest courtyard.
Because they were going to stay there permanently, they chose a larger courtyard house in the guest house, which could accommodate their whole family.
After everyone said goodbye, Ning Wenyi took Ning Zhiheng to Shian Garden.
Who is this?
Ning Wenyi said, "There were too many people just now, so I didn't tell you. I'll turn around and tell you now."
"Aheng, this is your second aunt."
Ning Zhiheng cupped his hands in greeting: "Aheng greets Second Aunt!"
"This is your older cousin."
"Aheng greets her older cousin!"
"This is your second cousin and his wife!"
"Aheng greets her second cousin and his wife!"
Looking at the handsome young man before her, Madam Ning was astonished: "Is this someone from your family?"
Ning Wenyi nodded: "Yes, I only found out that the old man sent him out to find me when I went to Yunxiang City this time."
Madam Ning was momentarily flustered and stood there dumbfounded.
Ning Qiong held Ning Yiyi and coaxed her to sleep: "Dad, what's going on? I've never heard you mention Grandpa's house before. How come someone suddenly appeared... um... what should we call them?"
Ning Zhiheng quickly replied, "My name is Ning Zhiheng. My father is Ning Wenyu. I am the third son in my family and my second uncle is my brother."
"Cousin Heng? Father, what exactly happened?"
With a grandfather, a cousin, and a father's brothers, it sounds like there are quite a few people in the family.
But they had never heard their father mention it.
Madam Ning sighed heavily: "Please sit down, Zhihe will carry them downstairs one by one."
After everyone took their seats, Zhihe took Ning from each of them.
"Is Lele tired? If not, why don't you listen too? You're part of the family, and there are some things you should know."
Shen Cile nodded: "Mother, I'm not tired."
"Okay, just let me know if you get tired."
"Yes, Mother."
Madam Ning rubbed her temples; so much had happened in just one or two hours.
Princess Duan was the renowned holy maiden of the Yunxiang tribe, something she hadn't expected.
Madam Ning sorted out her thoughts and began from the beginning: "Ever since Yao Yao woke up after falling into the water, our family has started to change."
"Perhaps it was different from the beginning. You became famous at a young age, but you only married me and had three children, including Qiong'er. You never mentioned your family. We were happy to have a simple and peaceful life, but I always thought that it couldn't be like this forever. Now I've finally waited for this."
Madam Ning gave a bitter smile: "Perhaps Qiong'er and Jin'er don't know, but as your bedmate and Yao Yao's mother, how could I not know about your changes? But no matter how you change, you are still my closest family."
"I've been waiting for the day you'd be honest with me. Does it seem like that day has come?"
Ning Wenyi lowered his head and sighed after a long while.
Seeing this, Ning Yao said, "Father, shall you say it, or shall I?"
“I’ll do it. After keeping this a secret for so many years, it’s time to let you know.”
"Have you ever heard of the reclusive Ning family?"
Ning Wenyi's words were like a bolt from the blue.
The same shock and disbelief flashed in the eyes of the unsuspecting group.
"Father? Could it be that we are?" Ning Qiong asked in surprise.
Ning Wenyi nodded, which was considered as acknowledging her idea.
"The reclusive Ning family, I thought they only existed in stories, but I never imagined I was one myself..."
Ning Jin read many unofficial histories and folk tales when she was in school, and she knew quite a bit about the legends of the reclusive Ning family.
But he ultimately believed that it was just something made up by storytellers and shouldn't be taken seriously.
Perhaps because she had some prior suspicions, Madam Ning was much calmer than the two children: "I see, that's indeed something I didn't expect."
The astonished reactions of the crowd left Ning Zhiheng completely bewildered.
"No, everyone... Ning family..." Ning Zhiheng found it hard to describe this feeling.
"Um... Is it surprising that you're from the Ning family?"
Ning Yao chuckled, amused by Ning Zhiheng's reaction.
“Cousin Heng, let me put it this way: your Ning family is different from the ordinary Ning families in this world. There are quite a few people with the surname Ning in this world, but your Ning family is an existence that the world looks up to.”
Ning Zhiheng scratched his head, still not quite understanding: "Is that so? Maybe it's because I've always been at home and haven't been exposed to worldly affairs, so I'm not quite clear about it."
Everyone was speechless at his Versailles.
Ning Qiong leaned back in her chair, sighed, and murmured as if slowly processing the news: "The reclusive Ning family... I never imagined in my life that I would be involved with them."
"Tsk, Dad, you kept it a secret for too long!"
Ning Wenyi said, "We have to keep it a secret. When I went down the mountain, your grandfather said that I was not allowed to reveal my identity, otherwise I wouldn't be allowed to go home even after completing the mission!"
"How old was I back then? Less than ten years old. He sent me down the mountain with just a few tattered pancakes and a bundle of luggage."
Hearing him say that, Madam Ning and her children immediately felt sorry for him.
"Tsk, is Grandfather a bit strict?"
"Your father was so young at the time, wasn't he afraid something might happen to him?"
Ning Zhiheng weakly interjected, "Although I am not ten years old, I was also driven down the mountain by my grandfather, just like my second uncle, with a bundle of luggage and a few flatbreads."
Shen Cile's eyes widened: "Didn't they give you any money? You've been down the mountain for ages, haven't you? How did you survive?"
Ning Zhiheng replied with a serious expression: "In response to my second cousin-in-law, my grandfather said that money is useless and can be robbed. He said that having bread to eat is enough."
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