Chapter 16: The Heir is a Woman 16

“Everyone, please leave.” After dismissing everyone, Ning Yutong’s beautiful eyes swept over Ying Fang, who stood beside A-Zhen.

A-Zhen set down her teacup. “Ying Fang, you leave as well.”

This fourth sister of the client seemed to be a woman with many ideas.

Thinking of what the other woman had accomplished, she smiled inwardly; it was indeed quite extraordinary.

Only the two of them remained in the room, making it exceptionally quiet.

Ning Yutong’s gaze fell upon A-Zhen. Compared to her previous calm and gentle demeanor, there was suddenly a hint of sharpness and penetrative force, as if she were trying to see through her.

“A-Zhen, do you still remember the incident where you fell into the water that year?” Ning Yutong suddenly smiled, as if her previous intensity had been an illusion.

A-Zhen said, “Of course I remember. If Fourth Sister hadn't happened to pass by, I might not be here today. Because of that, Fourth Sister fell seriously ill, and it was also then that you learned my secret.”

Ning Yutong’s expression softened significantly. Yes, when she rescued A-Zhen that year, she discovered a secret: A-Zhen was not a younger brother, but a younger sister. A-Zhen’s mother naturally wouldn't dare do such a thing; the only one who could have made A-Zhen do this was their Father.

After all, in the Prince Ning Manor, who would dare deceive a father so crazily obsessed with having a son?

“It is because of that, even though we are several years apart in age, we remain close,” Ning Yutong reminisced. “Do you remember what you liked to play with in my room every time Father went out?”

A-Zhen’s eyes curved into crescents. “Playing with Sister’s dresses, powders, and jewelry, of course.”

Ning Yutong dazed for a moment. Back then, though A-Zhen was small, she looked exceptionally exquisite in women's clothing.

Compared to daughters like them—who were ignored by their father and later used completely—how much better could life be for A-Zhen, who dressed as a boy to follow behind their father every day?

She had thought that neither of them would have a good ending. Whether a married daughter fared well depended on her in-laws and her husband.

But A-Zhen, who had been raised as a boy since childhood, could never expose her true identity.

If Father succeeded and had a son in the future, A-Zhen would surely die; Father would never allow this shameful secret to be exposed.

If Father failed, A-Zhen would also die.

So, A-Zhen was even more miserable than they were; she only had one path: death.

But she had not expected that everything would change after the Pingshan Hunting Grounds incident.

Father had fallen into madness. The once cowardly and timid A-Zhen now controlled the entire Prince Ning Manor and acted as a backbone for her sisters. One event after another occurred, making her unable to believe that the person behind these actions was the A-Zhen she knew.

Therefore, it was only natural that she had suspected her.

After the test just now, A-Zhen remembered everything between them.

Ning Yutong took a deep breath and shook her head with a smile. If she could put on an act, why couldn't A-Zhen do the same, given the situation she was in back then?

“I’m sorry, A-Zhen.” Ning Yutong stood up, walked over, and gently embraced A-Zhen. “I shouldn't have doubted you.”

“I forgive you, Fourth Sister,” A-Zhen replied, returning the embrace.

Ning Yutong’s eyes reddened. The sharpness that had surfaced earlier vanished completely, leaving her looking calm and gentle, with a faint hint of loneliness.

“Fourth Sister, do you want to go home?”

“If you want to go back, I will take you back immediately. You can stay as long as you want. No one can stop me from doing what I want to do.”

“Even if you don't want to return here, that's fine too,” A-Zhen added.

Ning Yutong did not let go. She rested her head on A-Zhen’s shoulder, her eyes slightly closed, her brow filled with a sense of peace. She had not felt this relaxed for a long time.

There were many people in this manor, but none of them made her feel safe enough to close her eyes and sleep soundly.

Only with A-Zhen could she think of nothing, completely empty her mind, and experience a brief moment without being on edge.

Ning Yutong did not speak, and A-Zhen did not disturb her.

She looked very tired; she would let her rest a little longer.

After a long while, Ning Yutong opened her eyes, the fatigue wiped clean from her gaze. “A-Zhen, I am not going back.”

“The current Prince Ning Manor is fine, but I intend to stay here.”

A-Zhen said nothing, waiting for Ning Yutong’s next words.

“He gave me such a large gift, and I haven't even returned it yet,” Ning Yutong stood up and gave A-Zhen a playful smile. “I must reciprocate. Don't you agree, A-Zhen?”

A-Zhen took Ning Yutong’s hand and replied, “Yes.”

“You can do whatever you want. I have brought people for you; they are all trustworthy. You may command them as you see fit.”

“They are very capable; it is difficult for anyone to notice what they do,” A-Zhen continued. “At the very least, the Earl of Weian’s estate wouldn't be able to find out. They are highly skilled in martial arts, excellent at stealth at night, and their assassination skills are top-tier.”

“They are also skilled in medicine and poisons; making someone die in their sleep is effortless.” A sweet smile hung on the corners of A-Zhen’s lips. “If they want to do it, no one in this manor will escape.”

Ning Yutong laughed out loud and reached out to pinch A-Zhen’s cheek. “What are you thinking? I won't kill anyone.”

“Mm, they are also good at maiming people.”

Ning Yutong hugged A-Zhen. “Once I have finished my business, I will come back to visit you.”

“And visit Father as well.”

She glanced at the outwardly obedient and honest A-Zhen. Father’s madness was likely the work of this younger sister, wasn't it?

With A-Zhen’s personality, it was highly likely that Father’s madness wasn't self-inflicted; his constitution was quite strong.

Ning Yutong did not ask further. She readily accepted the people A-Zhen had brought, but she did not stay for a meal. The food here wasn't actually very good; perhaps they would eat together when the sisters met again in the future.

***

After A-Zhen left the Earl of Weian’s estate, there was no further movement for several days, which left those involved in the gambling match quite bewildered.

What exactly was Heir Ning’s attitude toward this fourth brother-in-law, Zhou Yuanjia?

The two of them never seemed to meet, and nothing happened afterward, as if everything were normal.

The onlookers were getting anxious, their curiosity piqued.

“Did your brother-in-law really not come to talk with you?” A person familiar with Zhou Yuanjia finally couldn't help but ask during a small gathering.

“No.”

Zhou Yuanjia knew a little about his brother-in-law and smiled dismissively.

At first, when he heard the man had come to the manor, he was surprised, thinking Ning Zhen was planning something. Later, he realized the man truly hadn't done anything other than visit Ning Yutong.

The outsiders had demonized Ning Zhen too much. The previous two incidents occurred because those people had committed crimes themselves and provoked the one in the Imperial Palace.

Weren't Jian Jikang and Fan Wenjue doing quite well?

Especially Jian Jikang, who had been in the spotlight recently by resolving such a massive issue in Qingzhou; it went without saying that his career would surely soar in the future.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuanjia took a sip of wine, feeling somewhat depressed.

Now that Northern Xia was stable and there were no wars, he had great ambitions but nowhere to exert them, with no opportunity to build a career.

If it weren't for this, how could his marriage be manipulated by others?

If it weren't for this, how would he be pressured by his family to marry Ning Yutong?

He didn't like Ning Yutong at all; it was all forced upon him by his parents.

Knowing full well that his heart belonged to someone else, they insisted on forcing him and even used the person he cared about to threaten him. What else could he do?

Lacking the ability to resist for now, he could only lie low and wait for the future to strike back.

Marrying Ning Yutong was a betrayal of his cousin, so he would absolutely never allow Ning Yutong to have his child!

Even his position as the legal wife was merely being held for him by her for the time being; sooner or later, he would have to give it up, because that position rightfully belonged to his cousin.

It was all because they forced him.

(End of Chapter)