The room fell silent for a moment.
“Indeed, it was at your residence,” Wei Ling sighed. “More than ten years ago, I made a grave mistake in a moment of confusion, leading to today’s consequences. I’ve been thinking about it constantly over the years. Upon learning of her whereabouts, I immediately came to your manor. Whether Lord Luo resents or hates me, I will certainly take Yining away. The child is innocent and can no longer stay in Lord Luo’s household.”
Luo Chengzhang’s smile froze as he struggled to comprehend the situation.
The Duke of Ying, however, calmly set down his teacup and knelt on one knee, adjusting his robes.
“Please, Lord Luo, bring out my daughter. I’ll take her away today. I’ve heard you’ve banished her to the side courtyard, so you probably don’t want to see her anymore,” Wei Ling said, looking up with bright eyes. “If Lord Luo has any requests, feel free to make them. As long as they don’t violate moral principles, I won’t refuse.”
The Duke of Ying, Wei Ling, only knelt before those in the Forbidden City. How could a fourth-rank civil official like Luo Chengzhang deserve such treatment?
But Luo Chengzhang completely forgot to help him up, mumbling, “It was you… with Gu Minglan… it was you?”
“At the time, I didn’t know who she was,” Wei Ling said slowly. “She wasn’t willing either. Lord Luo needn’t blame her…”
“I don’t blame her?” Luo Chengzhang laughed coldly without thinking. “She betrayed her wifely duties and had an affair. What’s there to argue about? And you… with your noble status, how could you act in such a way?”
Wei Ling had anticipated this reaction when coming to the Luo household. Seeing Luo Chengzhang trembling with anger, he remained silent.
After all, he was in the wrong. He had been in a daze after drinking deer blood… what happened was a fact. He’d let Luo Chengzhang say a few words.
When the Duke of Ying’s carriage entered the Luo residence, someone rushed to inform Luo Shen Yuan.
Luo Shen Yuan closed his book, somewhat startled. He had sent a letter to Wei Ling but didn’t expect him to come the next day. At least it proved that he truly cared about Yining and wouldn’t let her suffer in the future.
He turned to ask his guard, “Has Nanny Zheng arrived?”
“Nanny Zheng was extremely anxious when she heard the news and immediately boarded a carriage overnight. She arrived in Baoding without delay… I’ve arranged for her to stay in a house in the nearby alley. Would you like me to invite her over now?”
“Yes, please do,” Luo Shen Yuan tossed the book on the table and stood up.
The rights and wrongs of the matter were unclear. Let Nanny Zheng tell his father about what happened back then, and let his father judge for himself. With the Duke of Ying here, there was nothing to worry about. The Duke wouldn’t let Yining suffer anymore. Even if Luo Chengzhang disagreed, he would likely take her away forcefully. Why else would he bring five hundred elite soldiers?
He was simply trying diplomacy before resorting to force.
Yining leaned against the bed frame, writing. It was her habit to practice calligraphy for three pages every morning.
The young maid serving her watched her write seriously and couldn’t help but grumble, “Miss, why are you still practicing calligraphy at a time like this…”
“What else should I do?” Yining said calmly, sitting upright as she wrote another stroke.
Xuezhi stepped forward and said to the maid, “Go outside and help tidy up the courtyard.” After sending the maid away, she walked to Yining’s side and lowered her head, saying, “The Second Madam wanted to come see you, but the guards at the door stopped her. She cried for a long time…”
Yining looked up and sighed. Lin Hairu had been so good to her; she must be heartbroken about what happened. She said softly, “Mother is still pregnant with my brother and is due to give birth in less than a month. Help me pass on a message to her, telling her to take care of herself and not worry about me.”
Now that she had fallen from grace, even Madam Chen had forbidden Luo Yixiu from visiting her. There used to be so many maids and servants coming and going from her courtyard, but now it was deserted. Yining looked up at the latticework outside. The large locust tree in the courtyard of Luming Hall had lost all its leaves, and the weather was getting colder. The bedding they had brought wasn’t warm enough; she wondered how they would get through the winter.
From a legitimate young lady to an illegitimate child, it was already a courtesy that Luo Chengzhang allowed her to stay in the household. But in truth, Yining didn’t want to stay. In her previous life, even without anyone’s love, she had lived properly and uprightly. How could she bear such severe punishment in the Luo family now? Stepping out, even the maids and servants would look down on her. Leaving was unrealistic, so no matter how humiliating it was, she had to act as if nothing had happened. She had to belittle herself first; others’ trampling would be even more merciless.
Yining let out a soft sigh and continued her calligraphy practice.
At that moment, the cotton curtain in the room was lifted, and Songzhi entered like a pale ghost. Xuezhi saw her return and walked over to ask, “Did you bring back the stove and charcoal?”
Songzhi shook her head, hesitating to speak. She pointed to the side, indicating that Xuezhi should go to the side room to talk.
Yining looked up at her, putting down her brush. “Just say it here. There’s nothing I can’t hear now.”
Songzhi took a deep breath before saying, “When I returned to the main house, I found that the master had sealed off Miss’s storeroom. I tried to argue… but the guards said that the things there no longer belonged to us. I wanted to bring back more bedding. But when I looked, the room was empty, even the wooden shelves were gone!”
Xuezhi heard this and became anxious. They had moved in a hurry last night and hadn’t brought many things over. “What does the master mean by this? Does he want us to freeze to death?”
Songzhi pulled at Xuezhi, who instinctively turned to look at Yining. She sat straight-backed by the window on the large kang bed, her young, soft face illuminated by the light coming through the window lattice. She seemed to be listening to them, yet also not. After a while, she said, “Then sell the jewelry from my dressing-case and use the money to buy some cotton wadding to make our own.”
Xuezhi felt heartbroken. The granddaughter was raised in the old madam’s palm, the biological daughter of the former second madam. Even without the Luo family’s status, she shouldn’t be treated like this… If it’s going to be like this, it would be better… better for Yining to return with the Gu family. It would be better than staying with the Luo family!
Xuezhi walked over and held Yining’s small hand, half-squatting to look at her. “Miss, there’s no need for that. We can write a letter to Madam Gu, write to the grand master, and have them take you back… it would be better than staying here.”
Yining shook her head and said softly, “The Gu family may not have a place for me. And without an explanation from my aunt, it wouldn’t be right for them to take me back. Even if I went to the Gu family, I would still be dependent on others… Xuezhi, you understand all this.”
Xuezhi looked up at Yining’s face, tears streaming uncontrollably. Yes, she understood, but there was still a glimmer of hope in her heart. Yining reached out to wipe her tears, smiling, “Don’t worry. The Luo family won’t want to spread this news. Things will get better after some time. When mother’s child is born, we might even be able to see the little young master.”
The more Yining spoke, the more Xuezhi cried uncontrollably.
Outside, a gust of wind rose, scattering the withered leaves of the locust tree beyond the lattice. Thick layers of leaves accumulated on the veranda with no one to sweep them away.
Beyond the screen wall, Luo Shen Yuan personally helped Nanny Zheng down from the carriage. Nanny Zheng seemed to have aged considerably; in just a few years, her back had become hunched. She didn’t appear flustered, but gripped Luo Shen Yuan’s hand tightly, saying, “Take me to see the master. I’ll explain this matter clearly myself. We can’t let that scoundrel succeed…”
“There’s no need to rush,” Luo Shen Yuan said. “Yining’s birth father has already come. He’s talking with my father now. You just need to explain what happened back then completely.”
Nanny Zheng was somewhat shocked, then laughed bitterly. “Third Young Master, it’s up to you whether you believe me or not. For over ten years, it’s been like having a sword hanging over my head, causing constant anxiety. Now that the sword has fallen, it hurts, but I’m no longer in a hurry. There can’t be a worse situation than this.” She then asked, “You say… Yining’s birth father has come?”
Luo Shen Yuan paused before saying, “It’s the Duke of Ying, Wei Ling. His guards took the Second Madam away back then. But Yining… is his child.”
Nanny Zheng’s hands trembled, whether from excitement or grief was unclear. Her eyes flickered, and for a long while, she couldn’t speak.
Luo Shen Yuan immediately escorted Nanny Zheng to the front hall.
The lattice doors of the front hall were tightly closed, with the Duke of Ying’s guards standing vigilantly outside. Not a sound could be heard from within.
After the servant announced their arrival, the lattice doors opened. The room was very quiet. Nanny Zheng was helped inside and saw a tall, handsome man with an extraordinary bearing standing in the hall. Hearing the movement, he turned around. Nanny Zheng stared at him intently. This was Yining’s real father, this was… the man Minglan had been pining for back then!
Seated, Luo Chengzhang’s face looked quite unpleasant. He barely suppressed his surging anger and said stiffly, “Nanny Zheng, you’ve come from afar… but it wasn’t necessary. I understand everything about what happened back then. You helped her conceal such a scandalous affair. I don’t want to say more. If you’ve come to plead for Gu Minglan and Luo Yining, there’s no need!”
The Duke of Ying’s mouth twitched slightly as he said, “I’ve already said she was forced. Why does Lord Luo insist on speaking of her this way?”
Luo Chengzhang’s body stiffened slightly. Though he dared not offend the Duke of Ying, his hands at his sides clenched tightly.
“This servant isn’t here to plead for anyone. I will tell things as they are. I already have one foot in the grave and have no reason to lie,” Nanny Zheng said. Though she had appeared weak earlier, she now straightened her back, as if a life force was emanating from her entire being, with a glimmer of light in her eyes. Her thin body was like burning charcoal, burning and burning until it was about to die out. She glanced at the Duke of Ying. Even if her initial impression of him wasn’t good, hearing his words made her more lenient towards him. At least… he had never intended for Gu Minglan to bear the responsibility.
Nanny Zheng slowly walked between the two men. Luo Shen Yuan, knowing her poor health, personally came forward to help her sit down.
“Back then… when you and Concubine Qiao had Miss Lian,” Nanny Zheng took a breath, looking at Luo Chengzhang in front of her. She couldn’t help but think of all the humiliation the madam had endured, of the madam’s forbearance. Thinking of these things, her disgust for Luo Chengzhang was uncontrollable.
“You took in that courtesan as if she were from an official family, and she was already pregnant when she entered the household. The madam was merciful and endured it all for the sake of the child,” Nanny Zheng gripped the armrest, the blue veins on the back of her hand protruding. She continued, “The madam was a pampered young lady from the Gu family, of upright character. But you? You repeatedly suspected the madam because of that child. Why would the madam trouble a child? It was only when she couldn’t bear it anymore that she retreated to the temple.”
“She went to the temple to meet with someone else…” Luo Chengzhang coldly interrupted Nanny Zheng’s words.
Hearing this, Nanny Zheng almost trembled with anger. She stood up, unable to contain herself, “Your words are simply vicious! How did the madam treat Concubine Qiao? Don’t you know in your heart? That Zhang woman had long been bought by Concubine Qiao, her husband was Concubine Qiao’s assistant. Do you believe her words but not mine? Think about it, what kind of person was the madam? Would she do something like having an affair… You treating her like this is one thing, but why must you still slander her? She’s already dead! Have some respect for the dead. Aren’t you afraid her ghost will come for you in the night?”
Luo Chengzhang had never seen Nanny Zheng look at him with such hatred and anger as if she wanted to pounce on him and tear him apart right then and there.
For a moment, he was intimidated by Nanny Zheng’s intensity.
“Do you know why the old madam fell ill?” Nanny Zheng continued, barely containing her fury. “You and the old madam thought the madam had harmed the sixth miss and wanted the madam to banish her maid. The madam was truly desperate with the Luo family, and that’s why she retreated to live in the temple. When thieves came to the temple, the household guards were busy protecting the main house and Concubine Qiao.
We servants had no way to prevent it… Who do you think is to blame for this? It’s all because of you, Luo Chengzhang, favoring a concubine over your wife! When the old madam heard me speak of this, she was both heartbroken and full of remorse. Back then, she had asked for the madam’s hand in marriage for you, and you all promised… to treat the madam well. But which of you treated her well? The old madam blamed herself for marrying the madam to you! For marrying her to a heartless beast, she blamed herself for the madam’s death.”
“Before the old madam passed, I said I wanted to take the young miss away, but the old madam wouldn’t allow it. She said the Luo family owed the madam, and the young miss was her granddaughter who couldn’t go anywhere. Only then did I feel at ease leaving! The old madam felt such remorse, how dare you blame Minglan!”
Luo Chengzhang was surprised. His anger finally subsided. He managed to say, “Mother… wasn’t she taken ill because Yining wasn’t her biological granddaughter?”
Nanny Zheng heard this and laughed coldly, “She did fall ill from anger, but it wasn’t because of the young miss. It was because of you, Luo Chengzhang! If you want to blame someone, you can only blame yourself.”
Luo Chengzhang was left speechless. He thought of the old madam’s death, of Gu Minglan’s death, of the way they looked at him in their final moments… Suddenly, he realized they were all the same – cold, even disgusted.
“How… how was I not good to Minglan,” Luo Chengzhang said hoarsely. “When she was pregnant with Hui’er, I took care of her every day. When she was ill, I never went to Concubine Qiao. What man doesn’t have three wives and four concubines? She was too stubborn. I was good to Qiao Yuechan because I pitied her…”
Nanny Zheng approached Luo Chengzhang step by step, unable to suppress her cold laughter. “Was my mistress not pitiful? Did she deserve such treatment from you? Minglan was a pampered young lady in the Gu family. She married into your Luo family to manage your household, attend to your daily needs, and even had to endure you taking concubines. You even favored that concubine over her! Can you live up to your initial promises? You dare accuse the madam but aren’t you just as despicable, blinded by lust, bringing back a Yangzhou courtesan as a concubine, who was already pregnant before marriage? Luo Chengzhang, aren’t you ashamed!”
Nanny Zheng’s words were like sharp, rapid slaps to Luo Chengzhang’s face, leaving him alternating between hot and cold.
Luo Chengzhang recalled the shame and embarrassment he felt when he discovered Qiao Yuechan was pregnant. It was indeed a scandalous affair. But Gu Minglan had agreed to help him cover it up. She had gently told him, “Husband and wife are like birds of the same forest. If I don’t help you, others will laugh at me too. You don’t need to thank me.”
Indeed… indeed, he had been shameless, and yet he tried to push his shamelessness onto others, making them take responsibility for him!
“The madam truly despaired of you later. This servant thought she was carrying the child of a thief and urged her to abort it. But the madam refused, saying how could an innocent child be blamed! At the time, I didn’t understand why…” Nanny Zheng looked towards the Duke of Ying.
Wei Ling had never heard Gu Minglan speak of this matter. Only now did he learn of the hardships she had endured. He said softly, “What happened back then was my fault. Minglan is not to blame.”
Nanny Zheng remembered what Gu Minglan had told her.
“…He’s not a thief, he’s a good person. Nanny Zheng, you don’t need to say more. Even if it costs me my life, I will protect this child.” Gu Minglan’s eyes were filled with tears, but her expression was stubborn yet gentle. “I only regret marrying the wrong person… I don’t want to interfere with him, but I won’t kill this child. Please don’t try to persuade me anymore.”
Nanny Zheng said coldly, “The madam later came to utterly despise you. She damaged her health to protect the child, and later to protect the young miss… She had this servant give her a dose of medicine.”
If Gu Minglan were still alive, the possibility of this matter being exposed would be even greater.
Gu Minglan no longer wanted to live, but for this child, she was willing to struggle with her weak body. It was better to leave this way, leaving a good life for the child.
Nanny Zheng couldn’t dissuade her. She had never told anyone about this, but now she wanted to tell Luo Chengzhang everything, word by word, how bloody and painful it was: “You drove her to this state, and now you dare to treat the young miss like this! What right do you have to banish the young miss to Luming Hall? To be frank, when your Luo family was in trouble, it was the old master who pulled strings to help you. Have you forgotten that? Even if the madam did something wrong, she gave her life for the young miss. What more do you want!”
Luo Chengzhang’s body tensed, trembling involuntarily. Then he slowly closed his eyes.
He had thought he was the one who should be angry, but now, seeing Nanny Zheng’s gaze, it was as if he was the most evil person in the world, a treacherous scoundrel who deserved to be sent to the eighteenth level of hell! Even he began to have this absurd feeling of guilt. Gu Minglan’s death was his fault, and even Old Madam Luo’s death was partly due to him!
Indeed, he had no right to treat Luo Yining this way. His debt to Gu Minglan could never be repaid.
Nanny Zheng was so agitated that she could barely stand. Luo Shen Yuan, who had been silent all this time, came forward to support her. Nanny Zheng looked at Luo Chengzhang, her gaze filled with sorrow and determination: “Luo Chengzhang, give the young miss to the Duke of Ying. She should have been the Duke’s child all along… Everyone made mistakes in this matter, but the young miss is innocent! She knows nothing about all this.”
Wei Ling looked up when Yining was mentioned. This was his child, whom he had never had the chance to love. He couldn’t allow her to suffer in the Luo family. He said calmly, “Lord Luo, my Duke of Ying’s household has no young ladies. I’ve come to take Yining back, and I will certainly raise her in luxury. Lord Luo has raised my daughter for so many years, so I have prepared fifty thousand taels of silver for you.” Wei Ling made a gesture, and immediately one of his guards entered, holding a purple-gold paulownia wood box.
Wei Ling sat down and glanced at Luo Shen Yuan, who had been silent all this time.
He was determined to take the child back today, no matter what it took, even if it meant coercion… Although this wasn’t ideal, that’s why he had initially been conciliatory towards Luo Chengzhang. Now it seemed unnecessary. A person like Luo Chengzhang probably didn’t deserve such consideration.
“Please accept the silver, Lord Luo. Bring out my daughter. I will take her away from the Luo family today, to save Lord Luo the trouble. In the future, I ask that Lord Luo tell others that your seventh young miss died suddenly and that my daughter was a foster child raised in your household. Since she was raised in the madam’s quarters and rarely seen, outsiders wouldn’t know about this. What does Lord Luo think?”
Luo Chengzhang’s lips were dry, barely moving: “I… I’ll call Yining. You can ask her yourself.”
He still couldn’t ignore Nanny Zheng’s hateful gaze as he stood rigidly. He seemed to see Gu Minglan again in her final moments, her gaze cold and distant, with a hint of resentment…
Luo Chengzhang called someone in: “The household is hosting the Duke of Ying. Go tell Concubine Qiao to prepare a feast in the flower hall.”
With the Duke of Ying’s arrival, the kitchen was bustling. Concubine Qiao finished giving instructions and was drinking tea in a side room, watching. Her maid hurried over and said, “Concubine, Nanny Zheng has been invited back…”
Concubine Qiao skimmed some tea leaves from her cup, lazily saying, “She must be anxious about Luo Yining’s misfortune. Don’t mind her.”
Now she didn’t care about Luo Yining at all and even felt sorry for her. After all, she couldn’t cause any trouble now.
The personal maid hesitated, then leaned in to whisper, “Concubine, do you know why the Duke of Ying has come?”
“Such noble families don’t usually associate with ordinary official families…” Concubine Qiao said, “It must be for important court matters. We can’t even see him, so why bother thinking about it?”
But the maid said softly, “I heard from the maids serving outside the master’s study that the Duke of Ying has a long-lost daughter who was somehow found to be in our household. It seems they’ve found this child and want to take her to meet the Duke. I don’t know who it is.”
Concubine Qiao, who had been lounging, suddenly opened her eyes wide. She sat up and gripped the maid’s hand: “You’re saying — there’s a young lady from the Duke of Ying’s household in our manor?”
“This servant only heard it from the serving staff, I don’t know who it is. But the Duke of Ying has come to claim his kin. He wants to take this long-lost young lady back.”
Concubine Qiao suddenly thought of Zhao Mingzhu. Even as a distant niece adopted into the Duke of Ying’s household, she had such a grand status. If this was truly the Duke of Ying’s daughter, it would be even more significant. This precious daughter had been lost all this time, and now the Duke himself came to claim her, showing how much he valued her!
No wonder the Duke of Ying had come to the Luo family.
Concubine Qiao was eager to know who had such good fortune. She quickly asked the maid, “Do you know which branch of the family she’s from?”
The maid just shook her head. How could she know? She had only heard rumors.
But Concubine Qiao couldn’t sit still. Such a big event, and she was only learning about it now! She quickly called for her maid to help her up and change into a new outfit. Perhaps she could even exchange a few words with the young lady from the Duke of Ying’s household later.
The flower hall gradually became lively.
Luo Yining heard the commotion outside but didn’t know what was happening. From the sound of it, people seemed to be coming towards Luming Hall.
The curtain was lifted, and two maids from her father’s side entered, followed by two unfamiliar ones who knelt respectfully upon seeing her.
“Seventh Young Miss, the master requests your presence in the flower hall. An esteemed guest has arrived,” the lead maid smiled and bowed to Yining, then said to Xuezhi, “Please help the Seventh Young Miss change into a new outfit, Sister Xuezhi.”
Yining had no idea what was happening. She lowered her eyes to look at her clothes.
They were fine — a blue silk jacket and a snow-white Xiangqun. Why should she dress up now? As long as she wasn’t in rags, it was good enough.
“There’s no need to change. These clothes are suitable. Did the master say why he wanted to see me?” Yining asked calmly.
The two maids exchanged glances, looking somewhat troubled. Seeing they wouldn’t answer, Yining walked straight ahead without looking at them. Luo Chengzhang had just sealed her private storeroom; she didn’t know why he was calling for her now. If he wanted her to go, she would go. She wasn’t afraid of anything anymore. Her heart had already frozen to the core; nothing could be worse than this.
The two kneeling maids quickly stood up and followed behind her, saying, “Young Miss, please be careful of the steps.”
Yining found it somewhat strange. These two maids were wearing silk jackets; they weren’t from the household.
As she walked out of the room, she saw a familiar figure standing at the bottom of the steps, though the back was somewhat hunched now. It was Nanny Zheng. Nanny Zheng looked at her with both sorrow and pity, reaching out to take her hand: “Mei’er, come to Nanny Zheng.”
Yining gently held her hand. Nanny Zheng must have come especially after hearing about what happened to her. She took a deep breath and looked up at Nanny Zheng. “You’ve come too?”
Nanny Zheng stroked her temple and said softly, “Mei’er, your birth father has come to find you.”
Yining didn’t immediately understand what she meant. Her birth father? Wasn’t her birth father unknown?
Nanny Zheng repeated softly, “Your father has come to find you. I’ll take you to meet him.”
The path to the flower hall was lined with many guards standing with swords. Yining stood outside the flower hall for a long time, the wind gently stirring her clothes. After a moment of silence, Nanny Zheng turned to look at her and smiled: “Mei’er, why aren’t you coming up?”
Yining shook her head and smiled slightly. She was just wondering what kind of person her birth father might be.
Outside the flower hall, many servants were attending. Seeing the disgraced Seventh Young Miss arrive, all the maids and servants lowered their eyes. She had indeed fallen from grace; look at the clothes she was wearing, not even as good as those of the concubine-born young ladies. Yining acted as if she saw nothing, quietly climbing the steps. She saw a man sitting in the center of the flower hall, with guards standing behind him. He was drinking tea.
He was tall and handsome, with deep-set features that made him look stern, except for a mole at the corner of his eyebrow that softened his appearance slightly. He wore a right-lapelled robe with deerskin wrapped around his hands and a jade belt with qilin patterns at his waist. He must be at least a marquis… Yining felt his face looked somewhat familiar, but couldn’t remember where she had seen it before.
Wei Ling heard the movement and turned his head to look at the entrance of the flower hall, putting down his teacup. He saw a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl standing behind Nanny Zheng. She had a small, round, fair face with clear, beautiful almond eyes and a small red mole at the corner of her eyebrow. She looked very delicate but already had the charm of a young lady. She was dressed simply and seemed to have noticed him too, her clear eyes filled with unfamiliar scrutiny.
Wei Ling found himself at a loss for words. An indescribable feeling washed over him. Perhaps it was the bond of blood, but as soon as he saw this girl, he felt a desire to be close to her, to protect her delicate frame. Noticing her simple clothes, he felt a lump in his throat. At home, even the fabric used for Zhao Mingzhu was kesi silk woven with peacock feathers, worth five or six hundred taels of silver per bolt. Yet here she was, wearing ordinary plain silk.
His child had been living in the Luo family, treated like this.
Luo Shen Yuan saw Yining arrive and beckoned her over.
Yining walked over, and Luo Shen Yuan drew her close, whispering in her ear: “Yining, this is the Duke of Ying.”
Luo Yining noticed that the Duke of Ying kept looking at her, his gaze never wavering.
The Duke of Ying? Of course, she knew who the Duke of Ying was. In her previous life, she even had some connection to the Duke of Ying’s household. Lu Jiaxue’s good friend was the Duke of Ying, and Zhao Mingzhu was also adopted by the Duke of Ying’s household. But what was the Duke of Ying doing here?
Nanny Zheng had said she was bringing her to meet her birth father.
Suddenly, an absurd thought occurred to Yining. Could it be… could her birth father be the Duke of Ying?
She looked at the tall, handsome man before her, almost in disbelief.
The Duke of Ying half-knelt in front of her. Because of his height, he had to bend down to be at eye level with Yining. Knowing his appearance might be intimidating, he tried to put on a kind smile: “Your name is Yining, right?”
As soon as he asked, he realized it was a silly question. Hadn’t her third brother just said her name?
Yining nodded lightly and curtsied, saying, “This little one is Yining. I hope the Duke of Ying is well.”
How could she call him Duke of Ying? She should be calling him father. Wei Ling felt excited but knew this couldn’t be rushed. To get the little girl to accept him would take time.
“The Duke of Ying is your birth father. He’s come to take you away,” Luo Shen Yuan put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Yining, go with the Duke of Ying. You are a young lady of the Duke of Ying’s household. You should return with him.”
But Yining frowned slightly.
Hadn’t they always said her birth father was just a guard? How had he suddenly become the Duke of Ying?
How could it be the Duke of Ying?
“You are my child,” Wei Ling sighed, wanting to stroke the child’s hair but afraid of frightening her. He could only put his hands behind his back and say, “I’ll explain what happened back then later. Now, Father wants to take you away from the Luo family, to the Duke of Ying’s household. I’ve already written to your grandmother, and she’s very eager for you to return. From now on, you’ll be a young lady of the Duke of Ying’s household. Will you… come back with me?”
Yining knew nothing about Wei Ling.
At the same time, she felt everything was happening too fast, and she had no idea how to respond. She never imagined she would become a child of the Duke of Ying’s residence, a status far superior to the Luo family’s.
“You…” Yining looked at him, hesitating, “Are you here to take me away?”
She couldn’t stay with the Luo family anymore, but the thought of returning with the Duke of Ying meant she would likely encounter Lu Jiaxue and even Cheng Lang, all those people from her past life. Luo Yining felt a strong aversion to this; she didn’t want to be involved with these people again. She just wanted to live a simple life. However, staying with the Luo family wasn’t an option either…
“I’m here to take you away,” Wei Ling said gently, smiling at her, as if afraid of scaring her. His tone was tentative, “Yining, the capital is a fun place. During festivals, there are lantern fairs that stretch for several streets. It’s lively every day, like a constant celebration. Have you ever been to the Duke of Ying’s residence? Our mansion takes up half a street. If you come, I’ll prepare a large courtyard just for you.”