Chapter 47: Sleeping Together part 1
Ning Yunyi gazed at Marshal Zong standing on the steps ahead, his emotions indescribably complex.
Since finding Big Brother Ning, he had been trying to figure out a solution, but he hadn’t been on the Capital Star for long, and without clearance, he couldn’t access the military’s higher-ups at all.
Elder Xun had retired years ago, and Xun Xun was currently still “dead” to the outside world. He didn’t want to drag them into this mess, so he hadn’t revealed his identity.
Big Brother Ning had been leaving early and returning late these past few days. Ning Yunyi guessed he was also trying hard to uncover some inside information about that battle years ago.
Clearly, the results weren’t good.
For one, too much time had passed. For another, from Big Brother Ning’s perspective, he was framed only because he discovered the secret of the beastmen. Saying this without evidence, and with no one willing to listen, would still fail to clear his name.
Once he stepped forward, the mastermind, remaining in the shadows, would subject him to investigation, and he might even die in custody.
So Big Brother Ning couldn’t gamble, and Ning Yunyi didn’t want him to take the risk.
Yet, just when they thought the most difficult problem couldn’t be solved anytime soon, it was resolved by a single sentence from Marshal Zong.
Marshal Zong enjoyed the highest authority. Moreover, he was a victim of that battle, which resulted in his severe injuries and a near-fatal spiritual rampage.
In other words, Marshal Zong was the only pure victim of that battle who couldn’t possibly be the mastermind.
Marshal Zong’s words left not just Ning Yunyi, but everyone present stunned.
Did their ears deceive them?
Marshal Zong actually… cleared Ning Zhanfeng’s name, directly canceled the wanted order, and restored his position?
The Crown Prince also looked up abruptly, surprised and incredulous. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but remained silent for a long while, clearly full of doubts.
Others present, fearing Marshal Zong’s status, dared not speak either.
At this moment, a voice slowly rang out: “Marshal Zong says Ning Zhanfeng disappeared to execute a secret mission for you, but why haven’t you mentioned it for so long? And why haven’t you cleared his name until now?”
Everyone’s hearts shook. Who had such audacity to question Marshal Zong to his face? Did they have a death wish?
Seeing clearly who it wasâthe black-haired, black-eyed man in dazzling vermilion robes, looking as if he were the protagonist of this banquetâthe crowd felt numb. Fine, if it was this crazy Young Master Yousi, he really was capable of anything.
They would even believe it if one day news spread that Yousi had offed himself.
When this man went crazy, he really wished he could kill even himself.
Zong Hao looked over expressionlessly but didn’t speak.
Yousi showed no fear, meeting his gaze: “Or could it be that Marshal Zong simply wants to shield this Ning Zhanfeng and absolve him of his crimes?”
Zong Hao just gave him a deep look, then raised his hand. Ichi stepped forward, and using Marshal Zong’s highest-level account login, canceled the wanted order on the spot and restored Ning Zhanfeng’s position as Admiral, effective immediately.
Only after doing all this did Ichi lift his chin slightly to look at Yousi: “Since it is classified, outsiders have no right to know what the Marshal intends to do. Or does Young Master Yousi wish to learn from the Mu family head and overstep his authority, or perhaps the Herman family wants to interfere in politics?”
The Herman family had produced several Empresses, but the prerequisite was that the Herman family could only be a noble family and not interfere in politics.
This sentence from Ichi directly blocked Yousi, causing his expression to change slightly. His black eyes stared quietly at Ichi, and suddenly, he raised his lips in a smile.
Red lips, excessively pale skin, and chilling black eyes made him look like a venomous snake flicking its tongue; one glance made one’s scalp tingle.
Yousi cupped his hands in apology: “I stand corrected.” He paused, then added, “Lord… Ichi.”
The crowd didn’t dare breathe loudly. Good heavens, if not for those last two sarcastic words, they might have really thought he accepted the correction.
Plus, no matter how you heard it, it sounded like “I’ll remember you.”
Having finished what he needed to do tonight, Zong Hao left for the rear hall first, citing that his body hadn’t fully recovered.
The Crown Prince and Ichi followed closely behind. Not long after, the Crown Prince’s attendant appeared to reiterate: “Because Marshal Zong has not fully recovered, he previously only appeared once at the Zong family ceremony and did not announce it publicly. Therefore, guests at this banquet must not casually leak the news that Marshal Zong has returned to the Capital Star, to avoid unnecessary trouble. If anyone is found ignoring this warning, they will be charged with contempt of imperial power.”
The attendant represented the Crown Prince, so naturally, no one dared to refuse, and everyone agreed one after another.
But no one had the heart to continue attending the banquet. They whispered among themselves, discussing the events of the night.
Good heavens, although they couldn’t say it out loud, the landscape of the noble families on the Capital Star was about to change.
Leaving aside the Zong family first, previously the Zong family had four masters including Marshal Zong. Marshal Zong hadn’t married or had children for so many years, and didn’t seem to plan to.
That was why rumors had spread that Zong Ling was the future family head.
Marshal Zong hadn’t come forward to deny it, so everyone had tacitly accepted it. The result? First, Zong the Second failed in his attempt to seize the family head position while Marshal Zong was in trouble.
Then it was directly exposed that these three masters were merely retainers and were all expelled.
So those noble families who had previously latched onto the Zong family’s second, third, and fourth branches hoping for marriage alliances would likely change their minds immediately.
The target was now only one: Marshal Zong.
The immense wealth of the Zong family was now all under Marshal Zong’s name alone.
Even if he couldn’t produce an heir, he was a solid inheritance provider.
Which noble family wouldn’t be tempted?
The Mu family head had also got himself locked up, so the Mu family would need a new head too.
Ning Zhanfeng was restored to his position, and presumably, Professor Ning would be released soon. The Ning family, which seemed destined for ruin, had just turned the tables against the wind?
Although the people present couldn’t spread the news, they could start taking action privately, seeing who could connect with Marshal Zong and catch his eye.
Capturing Marshal Zong meant capturing the entire Zong family.
Ning Yunyi came back to his senses. He had also considered Yousi’s suspicion just now. When Marshal Zong had a video call with him last time and heard his request, he hadn’t mentioned Big Brother Ning.
Clearly, Marshal Zong’s reaction at the time didn’t seem like there was any classified mission involving Big Brother Ning.
Besides, if the disappearance was truly because of this, Big Brother Ning wouldn’t have kept it from him.
Unless that relationship really didn’t exist.
Marshal Zong clearing Big Brother Ning’s name was a sudden decision.
One reason was that the mastermind wanted to frame Big Brother Ning, and Marshal Zong didn’t want the mastermind to succeed; the second reason… Could it be that the energy stone mixed with spiritual power he gave earlier really helped Marshal Zong suppress the spiritual rampage, so Marshal Zong intended to cooperate long-term?
While Ning Yunyi was making various guesses, Clay covered his face with his folding fan, finally recovering: “I’m afraid many people won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
Ning Yunyi pretended not to be affected and asked casually: “How so?”
Clay exaggerated: “Did you know that before the Ning family incident, Ning Zhanfeng was the most popular candidate for son-in-law on the Capital Star?”
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thanks for the chapter!