The scorching summer sunlight made the large trees flanking the official road appear somewhat listless, and the number of travelers on the road dwindled even further.
Ning Yunzhao looked at the ice bucket in the carriage that had already melted and then at Eldest Master Ning, who was wiping sweat away.
"Father, it's so hot; you really should have stayed at home to rest," he said with a hint of helplessness.
Eldest Master Ning fanned himself, dispersing some of the stifling heat.
"I should still come along," he said. "Otherwise, I won't be at ease."
"I will definitely clarify everything this time," Ning Yunzhao said with a smile.
Eldest Master Ning harrumphed.
"It's not that I don't trust you; I don't trust that old hag from the Fang Family," he said with a sense of gravity. "That old woman is ruthless and unprincipled in the pursuit of profit, even capable of turning against her own parents."
Ning Yunzhao chuckled.
"I suppose such matters can't entirely be one person's fault," he remarked.
Eldest Master Ning harrumphed again.
"You're already defending that old woman before you're even married," he said.
Ning Yunzhao laughed heartily.
"I'm just defending the principle," he replied, and then winked playfully, "Of course, I'm not a saint; even principles have their proximity and distance."
Despite the sweltering summer heat and the stuffiness inside the carriage, the father and son enjoyed their lively conversation, and soon the city walls of Yangcheng came into view.
Eldest Master Ning looked outside through the bamboo curtain, furrowing his brow.
"Why are there so many people?" he asked. "It's such a hot day, and it's not even the day of the temple fair."
Upon hearing this, Ning Yunzhao turned to look and indeed saw a densely crowded group near the city gate, chatting and laughing while looking this way, as if waiting for someone.
As the carriage drew closer, the chatter and laughter from the crowd at the city gate gradually reached their ears.
"...I find it hard to believe, that's Tenth Noble Son Ning..."
"But that's Miss Jun we're talking about. How could it not be true? The second day Miss Jun arrived, Tenth Noble Son Ning visited her home."
"I didn't see that.."
"It wasn't just a visit; Tenth Noble Son Ning also invited Miss Jun to drink at Luomei Pavilion, a lot of people saw them."
"It's been less than two days, and Tenth Noble Son Ning has come to see Miss Jun again. It's truly as if a single day apart feels like an eternity."
Could they possibly be... waiting for him?
Eldest Master Ning and Ning Yunzhao exchanged a glance.
"Has sending a letter caused everyone to find out again?" Eldest Master Ning asked.
Ning Yunzhao shook his head.
This time, they specifically sent an unfamiliar servant boy to deliver the message, and the servant boy came back reporting that the Fang Family received the letter calmly, without causing the commotion of last time.
"Speaking of which, why wouldn't people believe it? Mainly because they remember the past."
"Yes, when Miss Jun first came to Yangcheng from Funing, she clamored that she had a marriage agreement with Tenth Noble Son Ning, shocking all of Yangcheng blind—back then, there wasn't this feeling of being apart for a day feeling like three autumns with Tenth Noble Son Ning and Miss Jun."
"Not only was there no sighting, but Tenth Noble Son Ning even avoided her by leaving for the capital."
"Back then, the Ning Family didn't acknowledge the marriage at all. Otherwise, why would Miss Jun make such a scene? She even went to Beiliu to attempt suicide. Fortunately, she didn't succeed, or there would be no present-day."
"Back then, when Miss Jun was unknown and nameless, the Ning Family avoided her like a poisonous scorpion. Now that Miss Jun has become famous throughout the land, Noble Son Ning acts as if a day without seeing her feels like an eternity? Isn't that shameless?"
Not only did these words startle Eldest Master Ning inside the carriage, but the lively crowd outside also suddenly fell silent.
From a young age to now, Tenth Noble Son Ning has been regarded as a prized treasure by the people of Yangcheng, his every word and deed never disappointing anyone. Whenever Tenth Noble Son Ning was mentioned, only the most beautiful words were used.
It had never occurred to anyone to describe Tenth Noble Son Ning with the words "shameless."
The listeners were stunned, and the speaker was also taken aback.
"But indeed, the truth is as such."
After a moment of silence, someone sighed.
"It is truly regrettable that Noble Son Ning couldn't stay true to one from the start—holding firm to one's original aspirations, it seems, is something only a saint can accomplish. Noble Son Ning is after all just a common man."
Ordinary people.
The peerless Noble Son Ning, with the grace of an immortal descended to earth, received such an assessment today.
Like fine white porcelain, suddenly cracked open to reveal the rough clay beneath.
This left the public feeling somewhat wronged and somewhat angry.
"People like him are unworthy of Miss Jun," someone couldn't help but shout. "He, with his arrogance at first and subservience later, Miss Jun should not bother with him."
The quiet crowd became noisy once again, only this time, compared to the earlier anticipation, there was an added sense of rage.
"Wasn't it said to be all fake? Tenth Noble Son Ning and Miss Jun had agreed on this, and the initial aversion was just an act."
"They have always been mutually affectionate, and Tenth Noble Son Ning has never given up."
Of course, amidst the noise, there were such voices attempting to salvage the image of Tenth Noble Son Ning, but, alas, they were weak and soon drowned out.
The carriage passed through the crowd quietly and even with a touch of caution until after exiting the city gate, Eldest Master Ning finally let out a sigh of relief, wiping his sweaty face with a handkerchief while fanning himself.
"It's fortunate I decided to come with you," he said, with a mix of fear and relief.
If it weren't for his impromptu decision, Ning Yunzhao would not have accompanied him in the carriage but would have ridden a horse into the city.
Moreover, to prevent Old Lady Fang from noticing, he had switched to a plain carriage accompanied only by a single coachman and servant boy.
Only then were they overlooked by those people and remained unnoticed. Otherwise, just imagine the scene of Ning Yunzhao riding a horse into the city.
Such a scene would be filled with mockery, laughter, and questioning, utterly terrifying.
"It's not a big deal," Ning Yunzhao smiled, his expression calm. "It's all true, after all."
Eldest Master Ning snorted disdainfully.
"What truth? Nonsense," he said, waving his fan irritably. "I'm certain that it's that old hag from the Fang Family who's spreading the story far and wide, just to humiliate us."
Ning Yunzhao was silent for a moment.
"Shaming my father is my fault," he said.
Eldest Master Ning coughed lightly.
"How can we blame you for this?" he said, flapping his fan again. "Don't listen to those nonsensical talks about arrogance now and subservience later, who cares about them. It's just envy and jealousy. Once Miss Jun arrives at our home, they will be the ones treating us with arrogance first and subservience later. Although you're a disciple of the Saint, you're still living in this mundane world. You can't truly live untouched by worldly affairs. If you turn around and leave, abandoning Miss Jun due to concern for your image, that would be falling right into the Fang Family's trap—a poignant delight for friends and a sheer delight for foes."
Ning Yunzhao burst into laughter.
"Father, I've always been true to my heart; what others say does not concern me," he said.
The servant boy outside lifted the bamboo screen.
"Master, Noble Son, we've arrived at Shunde Building," he said timidly. "Shall we go there?"
What do you mean shall we go there?
Eldest Master Ning frowned, ready to scold the servant boy, but he caught sight of the outside through the lifted bamboo screen.
Desheng Building was close at hand, but that short distance was filled with many people standing around, similar to the scene at the city gate.
How is it the same here...
"Tenth Noble Son Ning has booked Shunde Building to meet Miss Jun."
"That's big spending indeed."
"Such a deep love, sparing no expense."
So that's how it is. The Fang Family really has no shame—clearly, it was a private meeting between young people, yet they've managed to make it known throughout the city.
Eldest Master Ning cursed inwardly, what a mess this was.
Meanwhile, Ning Yunzhao had already lifted the curtain with a smile.
"Let the carriage stop here, I'll walk over," he said.
Eldest Master Ning reached out to stop him.
"Hold on," he said.
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Thank you to The Final Shot, Ice from the South for the generous gift of He's Bi (*^__^*)
Thank you all, have a happy Monday, and keep it up!