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~"
Jiang Ning heard someone removing the door bar, then the heavy gate was pulled open from inside, revealing the face of a middle-aged man.
It was "Old Zhong," who had opened the door for Steward Ma last night.
Old Zhong slowly pulled the door open, thinking it was probably someone coming to ask the master for a favor. He was considering how to send them away when he saw the face of the person outside and his pupils suddenly contracted.
"Th-Third Young Miss!" Old Zhong was so surprised he couldn't close his mouth.
Old Zhong vaguely knew something had happened in the Prime Minister's Mansion last night, related to the Third Young Miss, but he didn't know the full story. In any case, the Prime Minister had been furious, and Steward Ma was now locked in the dungeon. Old Zhong had benefited from the misfortune and was now the mansion's steward.
Now, seeing the Third Young Miss who had disappeared for half a year standing perfectly fine at the door, Old Zhong held onto the door, only able to stare at her blankly.
"Are you going to keep me outside?" Jiang Ning asked, looking at Old Zhong who remained motionless.
"No, no!" Old Zhong hurriedly pulled the door open wider and respectfully made way: "Third Young Miss, please come in, please come in..."
Jiang Ning stepped over the high threshold into the mansion and asked, "Where's my father?"
"The master has gone to court. If there's nothing urgent, he should be back in about an hour," Old Zhong quickly answered.
"Where's Jin Yao?"
"Master Jin Yao left early in the morning. He's not in the mansion."
Jiang Ning nodded, indicating she understood. Jin Yao must have gone to follow Wei Fangxiong's lead to look for her.
Jiang Ning only knew the way to the study and had no idea about the layout of the entire Prime Minister's Mansion. After entering, she walked a few steps leisurely and then asked, pretending not to know: "Where's Dongmei?"
"Uh... well..." Old Zhong smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to respond. Only when Jiang Ning asked again did he hesitantly answer: "Third Young Miss, Dongmei made a mistake. She can't serve you anymore."
"Oh, I see. Then find me another maid," Jiang Ning said accommodatingly.
Old Zhong had been afraid she would ask further questions. Hearing her say this, he nodded repeatedly: "Of course, of course. Third Young Miss, please wait here. I'll go call a few maids for you to choose from."
Jiang Ning responded with an "Mm," and watched Old Zhong walk away. She then walked to the wall and looked up at the red plum blossoms in full bloom.
She didn't have Nangong Ling's memories, and that was a fact that couldn't be changed no matter what. But if handled properly, "amnesia" could also be a tactic, a means to explore people's hearts.
Jiang Ning waited for about a quarter of an hour before Old Zhong returned, followed by seven or eight maids with lowered heads and eyes.
"Third Young Miss, please choose one to serve you closely," Old Zhong said, having the maids line up in a row as he walked behind Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning casually raised her hand and pointed to the one at the very end: "Her, then."
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.
