Chapter 128

After Liu Ming'an said something else, Jiang Ning wasn't listening carefully because she was thinking about another matter.

"Liu Ming'an," Jiang Ning raised her head from Liu Ming'an's embrace and said seriously, looking at him in the bright moonlight from the window, "I need to return to the Prime Minister's Mansion!"

Liu Ming'an's body suddenly stiffened. Before he could say anything, Jiang Ning continued: "I've figured it out. The person who harmed me was my second sister, Nangong Muyan. Her accomplices were the mansion's steward and my maid Dongmei. And the whole incident was caused by Prince of Rui Yuwen Xuan harassing me when he was drunk."

"Ah Ning..." Liu Ming'an called her name but didn't know what else to say.

"I will handle everything, and then marry you with pride as the Prime Minister's daughter. Trust me, okay?" Jiang Ning didn't want to say more. Her plan involved too much bloodshed, so she could only say this much.

Liu Ming'an remained silent for a long time. Just as Jiang Ning was about to say something more, his voice, mixed with a sigh, came from above her head: "Ah Ning, be very careful."

"I will," Jiang Ning solemnly promised.

A gentle kiss fell on her lips. Jiang Ning could feel Liu Ming'an's sadness. When the kiss ended, she said softly, "The high walls of the Prime Minister's Mansion can't keep me in. I can sneak out to see you."

"Be very careful," Liu Ming'an repeated.

"Mm-hmm."

The next day, after breakfast, Liu Ming'an asked, "Are you leaving now?"

Jiang Ning smiled and nodded.

She didn't know when Nangong Muyan would return, so it was best to get back before they did.

"Take care of yourself and eat properly. Don't just eat porridge like you did before I came," Jiang Ning instructed worriedly. She was truly afraid Liu Ming'an would go back to eating only porridge for every meal.

"Alright," Liu Ming'an agreed, his eyes filled with intense reluctance to part as he looked at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning opened the door and left. Liu Ming'an stood motionless in place. A moment later, he placed his hand over his beating heart, feeling only emptiness there.

At 9-11 AM, Jiang Ning arrived at the gates of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Seeing this mansion again in daylight, it seemed even more solemn and imposing. Eight steps of bluestone led up to a wide space before the dark red main gate, which had copper rings as thick as thumbs.

Without any hesitation, Jiang Ning climbed the steps, walked to the gate, and reached out to grab a copper ring to knock.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

The copper ring struck the wooden door, producing a muffled sound. After a while, a voice called from behind the door: "Coming~"

Old Zhong responded with an "Alright," walked over, and waved his hand: "The rest of you can go back to your duties!"

As the others dispersed, the maid from the end was brought before Jiang Ning.

Old Zhong introduced her: "Third Young Miss, her name is Xiaoru. She's been working in the kitchen until now."

Xiaoru raised her eyes and quickly glanced at Jiang Ning before lowering her head again, curtseying to her: "This servant greets the Third Young Miss."

Jiang Ning turned to look at Old Zhong and said, "I'll go back to my room to rest first. Come find me when my father returns."

Old Zhong nodded and said "Yes," then heard Jiang Ning instruct Xiaoru: "Lead the way."

As the mistress and servant walked away, one in front and one behind, Old Zhong watched the graceful figure of the Third Young Miss and belatedly felt something was odd.

Since when did masters walk behind servants?

Moreover, the Third Young Miss used to always hunch her shoulders and lower her head, speaking timidly with a small voice when talking to others. How come she now carried an indescribable air of authority that commanded respect? It was a very familiar feeling, but Old Zhong couldn't quite place it.

When Old Zhong saw Nangong Ya return from court at noon, he looked at the Prime Minister in his official robes with a stern expression, and a thought flashed through his mind: the Third Young Miss from earlier carried herself with an air very similar to the master!

Jiang Ning followed Xiaoru to a small courtyard in the Prime Minister's Mansion, which was also filled with plum blossoms.

After entering, Jiang Ning looked at the room that had been empty for several months yet was free of dust, understanding that someone had been regularly cleaning it.

Jiang Ning asked Xiaoru for confirmation: "After I left, was it my father who arranged for someone to clean the room?"

Xiaoru nodded and said, "Yes, the master also instructed not to move anything in here."

"Mm, you can go now. I'll rest for a while," Jiang Ning wanted to send Xiaoru away so she could look around Nangong Ling's living space alone.

After Xiaoru left, Jiang Ning got up and slowly walked around the room.

On the dressing table were several simple jade hairpins, along with earrings, flower hairpins, and bracelets, all in very simple, unobtrusive styles. The wardrobe contained various dresses, shoes, and socks for all four seasons, mostly in plain, light colors with simple, conservative designs.

From the dressing style, combined with Yuwen Yan's impression of Nangong Ling, Jiang Ning deduced that she was a person with a rather closed-off inner world. She didn't want to draw attention to herself in crowds and had always been trying to minimize her presence.

There was also a stack of books on the bookshelf. Jiang Ning went over to look and saw that the outermost row contained the Four Books and Five Classics, along with other classics of history and philosophy. In an inconspicuous place inside were a pile of miscellaneous books.

Jiang Ning picked up one of them and saw "The Tale of the Red-Robed Fox Spirit" written on the cover. She couldn't help but chuckle lightly: "You and I are worlds apart, but we share this one hobby. I suppose that makes us kindred spirits in a way."

With time to spare and not knowing when Nangong Ya would return from court, Jiang Ning, having nothing else to do, took the book and lay down on the small couch to pass the time.