Chapter 162
Chapter 162: Luo Ning Strikes
Luo Ning sat alone.
She slowly sorted through everything that had happened lately.
Bai Ci Rong had made a fool of herself, so the dream of wealth and rank she shared with Qiu Shi Dong had to be put aside for now. Yu Zhuo had been killed, and Qiu Shi Dong’s shadow was behind that too.
In her past life, around this same time, the people who died, besides her cousin Luo Wan, also included one more person…
“Grandmother!”
Luo Ning did not know how Grandmother had really died. Her death had been strange. She suddenly fell gravely ill and passed away very quickly. Only Madam Bai and Bai Ci Rong had been by her side.
There was no doubt Grandmother had been murdered.
Luo Ning just did not know what method they used. Even when she had become a ghost, she had never heard Madam Bai mention it.
If Grandmother died, then according to the customs in Shengjing, Luo Ning would have to go into mourning seclusion for one full year.
But her wedding date was already set for next February. If there was a delay, the Astronomical Bureau would have to pick a new date. Auspicious days were not easy to find. It might drag on for quite some time.
She thought: [The Ministry of Rites did not only decide the date for Prince Yong’s grand wedding. They also picked lucky days for the secondary consorts to enter his residence. If my marriage is delayed, will the secondary consorts enter before me?]
By common reason, they should not.
But the Emperor had clearly made up his mind to make things difficult for Prince Yong, and every secondary consort came from some high noble house. No one could say how things would turn out.
Taking concubines first and marrying the main wife later was criticized, but there were plenty of precedents.
It did not break any law.
Women were only attachments anyway. Let alone taking concubines first, even having the eldest son born to a concubine before the main wife was nothing rare in noble households.
Luo Ning thought: [If Grandmother really has an accident and my wedding is postponed, the secondary consorts will enter the prince’s manor first. Whether I can still marry in afterward is another question. Even if I do, I will be beneath them.]
If she wanted to act high and mighty as the “principal consort,” it would become very hard.
In other people’s eyes, such a principal consort would be nothing but a decoration, completely useless. In Prince Yong’s eyes, this subordinate wife would have no ability and would be abandoned. She could forget about ever becoming a Commandery Princess.
Luo Ning’s position was very bad.
Delaying her marriage would be a heavy blow to her. Losing Grandmother would also mean losing her closest family, another painful strike.
Wasn’t this an excellent plan for the enemy? It killed the body and crushed the heart.
The one with power and cunning who was pulling strings behind these matters was Qiu Shi Dong.
How did Qiu Shi Dong see Luo Ning?
She was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s manor, who already knew about his affair with Madam Bai. She was the sheltered precious daughter who had managed to kill a third-rank military general’s young lady from the inner chambers. She was also Prince Yong and the Empress Dowager’s intended consort.
He had to get rid of Luo Ning.
Before, his goal had been to support Bai Ci Rong. Now Bai Ci Rong had to lie low, and Yu Zhuo was dead. He had to slow Luo Ning down first.
Holding her back was like a hunt. First he would force her into a trap, then slowly butcher her.
If Luo Ning were in his place, she would also strike hard and fast. Even a moment of hesitation would increase his risk.
He knew Luo Ning also had her own taboos, so she was cautious too.
Whoever broke free of their restraints first would be the winner. Whoever lost would be at the mercy of others.
In the past, to seize the marquis manor, they had slaughtered many people. Now that it was a true fight for their lives, their counterattack would be even more vicious and mad.
She thought: [It has already come to the point of life and death.]
Thinking of this, Luo Ning got up at once and went to Grandmother’s West Main Courtyard.
“What did my mother come here for?” Luo Ning asked Grandmother.
Grandmother said: “Nothing much, just to pay her respects. She went to the Little Buddha Hall to light a stick of incense and recite sutras for a while.”
It sounded very normal.
But Luo Ning had come with a purpose, and she knew Grandmother had been murdered in her past life. So she said: “I will go take a look at the Little Buddha Hall.”
A maidservant led her over.
Luo Ning asked: “When Madam came, where did she offer incense and where did she kneel to chant?”
The maidservant told her each place one by one.
Luo Ning walked back and forth, checking every spot carefully. Then she returned to Grandmother and questioned everyone in the courtyard one by one.
After the last few incidents, all the suspicious maidservants in Grandmother’s courtyard had already been driven out.
“A’Ning, is something wrong?” Grandmother asked.
Luo Ning said: “I am only worried. My mother is sometimes clear and sometimes not. She has turned me into a frightened bird. I feel I must stay on guard all the time.”
Grandmother said: “Being careful keeps one safe for a long time. A little more caution is not a bad thing.”
The grandmother and granddaughter closed the door and talked for a long while.
Everything in Grandmother’s West Main Courtyard stayed as usual.
A few days later, it was her younger brother Luo You’s court rest day.
“You pack up. Let us go visit Uncle,” Luo Ning said to her brother.
Luo You was truly shocked: “Visit who?”
“You just act according to my instructions,” Luo Ning said.
“Do you have some kind of plan, Big Sister?” Luo You asked.
“Last time, Uncle’s friend, that man surnamed Qiu. I want to meet him,” Luo Ning said.
Luo You frowned: “What do you want to see him for?”
He really disliked people who pretended to be noble, especially if they also looked handsome and elegant.
“A’You, you are still young. There are some things that are hard for us brother and sister to say out loud. You just stand to the side and watch. After you see it, you will understand,” Luo Ning said.
She believed Luo You had that kind of talent. He saw things clearly and could see the truth at a glance.
“All right,” he agreed.
Luo You sent a servant boy to deliver a visiting card to Bai Yu Lin’s separate courtyard estate, asking to see him.
Bai Yu Lin had first lived at an inn. After the chance to become an Imperial Merchant fell through, he seemed to decide to stay long-term in Shengjing and build connections, so he bought a residence in Tongchang Ward.
He had left his new address at the old inn: if anyone came to look for him, the shopboy should kindly point the way.
The shopboy was more than happy to do this errand. Guiding people to Bai Yu Lin’s new house meant he could earn a good tip.
Bai Yu Lin was generous with money.
So Luo You’s servant boy found where Bai Yu Lin lived now without any trouble at all.
The next morning, Luo Ning and her brother went to pay their visit.
Bai Yu Lin was at home, and Qiu Shi Dong was there too.
Luo You had not expected Qiu Shi Dong to still be there, and Bai Yu Lin had not expected Luo Ning to come along.
Uncle and nephew both showed the same surprised expression, with a hint of dislike hidden underneath.
But Luo Ning and Qiu Shi Dong were calm. They quietly sized each other up with a glance, then smiled as they bowed and greeted each other, polite and proper.
“A’Ning, why did you come too?” Bai Yu Lin asked.
Luo Ning said: “Uncle, I do not really understand what you mean. Are you planning to sweep your niece out the door? Is only A’You your nephew?”
“You are overthinking, A’Ning,” Bai Yu Lin said.
“Girls all overthink,” Luo Ning said with a smile. “If Uncle speaks nicely, I will naturally not imagine things, right?”
“…Right,” Bai Yu Lin said.
“Has Cousin not come back?” Luo Ning asked again.
Bai Yu Lin glanced at Qiu Shi Dong, then said: “She is at the Wang family.”
“Uncle is really cruel. You sent your own daughter to be someone else’s adopted daughter. If it were the Luo family, we would never bear to do that,” Luo Ning said.
“The Luo family holds a marquis household rank and stands high in status. Of course they cannot bear it. I sent A’Rong to be an adopted daughter to plan a better future for her,” Bai Yu Lin said.
He thought Luo Ning would argue more, but she only nodded and said: “Parents in this world are all pitiful for the sake of their children.”
Then she said: “These past days, has Cousin had sores in her mouth from heat, so painful she cannot eat or drink?”
Bai Yu Lin paused, then instinctively looked at Qiu Shi Dong: “I have not heard of that.”
“I have not heard of it either,” Qiu Shi Dong said with a smile.
Luo Ning smiled too: “Then maybe Uncle does not care about Cousin. Why not go and ask? Our Luo family has some good medicine. If Cousin needs it, you can tell me.”
Qiu Shi Dong lifted his cup and took a sip of tea.
He had faintly guessed Luo Ning’s purpose for coming.