Part 3
He had previously opened the way for skewers and braised meat to contact the higher-ups to save Mother Ning and find a way to clear Big Brother Ning’s name.
Now that the goal was achieved, it wasn’t necessary for the higher-ups to notice.
Especially thinking of that guess, he was even less willing to get involved with these people in the palace. Low profile could sometimes mean self-preservation, which was why he chose to walk under a fake identity in the Capital Star.
As long as the mastermind wasn’t found, everything now could still be an illusion.
So even if the Ning family might be restored, he planned to keep a backup.
Since the outside world believed the Second Young Master Ning was dead, he didn’t plan to return to the Ning family. If anything happened to the Ning family, he would be the retreat.
Ning Yunyi bade farewell to City Lord White and the frowning City Lord Xi. When getting on the spaceship, City Lord White grinned instantly, winked at Ning Yunyi, and immediately bounded over to Big Brother Ning, who was keeping a low profile piloting the ship.
Big Brother Ning only came to protect Ning Yunyi, so he hadn’t contacted people in the palace.
Plus, the Crown Prince had asked everyone at the banquet to conceal the matter, so Big Brother Ning didn’t know yet that his name had been cleared.
City Lord White sat next to him, staring at Big Brother Ning and smiling. Big Brother Ning glanced at him when he had a moment: “Something up?”
City Lord White nodded immediately: “Great news!”
Big Brother Ning voiced his guess: “The skewers and braised meat were very popular tonight, naturally.” It was food made by Little Brother, how could it not be popular?
Big Brother Ning, blindly confident in his Little Brother, wasn’t worried at all.
City Lord White shook his head: “Naturally not that. It’s about you.”
Big Brother Ning was surprised: “Me? Did the wanted order escalate?”
City Lord White didn’t keep him in suspense and clapped his hands immediately: “It’s canceled! Not only did Marshal Zong clear your name, but he also restored your rank as Admiral!”
Big Brother Ning stared straight ahead without speaking initially. It wasn’t until a few seconds later when the spaceship bumped and stabilized that Big Brother Ning turned his head to look at Ning Yunyi after a long time: “Is he… telling the truth?”
Ning Yunyi’s eyes also held a smile: “It’s true, Big Brother. Congratulations. From this moment on, your position is restored, and you are no longer wanted.”
He recounted what happened in the palace, including Marshal Zong’s words.
Big Brother Ning frowned upon hearing this. He knew very well that Marshal Zong hadn’t given him any mission.
The position of Admiral seemed high, but it was nothing in front of Marshal Zong. He hadn’t even met Marshal Zong.
But these words were obviously not suitable to mention in front of City Lord White. It wasn’t distrust of City Lord White, but there were some things he preferred to discuss with his Little Brother.
After separating from City Lord White at the underground city, Ning Yunyi and Big Brother Ning walked into the castle. Big Brother Ning finally couldn’t help asking: “What’s going on? I’ve never met Marshal Zong. At most, I’ve had contact with Lord Ichi, but I never received any mission.”
Ning Yunyi shared his guess.
Big Brother Ning relaxed: “It seems that’s indeed the case. The energy stone was effective after Marshal Zong used it, plus determining I was wrongly accused, so he simply fabricated this reason to lift the wanted order for me.”
He was still in a daze. I… am no longer a wanted criminal?
“Doesn’t that mean… I can go pick up Father tomorrow? What about Mother? Did you see Mother tonight?”
Ning Yunyi shook his head: “Mother didn’t attend, not even His Majesty came. As for Father, go to the military base to apply early tomorrow morning. It will probably take a day or two for approval.”
Big Brother Ning: “His Majesty didn’t attend the Crown Prince’s engagement banquet?”
Ning Yunyi’s expression turned serious: “That’s right. It’s very strange, but since it was only an engagement banquet, it’s plausible. But I have a bigger worry, concerning the previous battle.”
He mentioned the Zong family’s immense wealth. If the Zong family had no other heirs, and His Majesty knew Zong the Second and the others were just retainers, once something happened to Marshal Zong, wouldn’t the Zong family directly become royal assets?
But that didn’t make sense; in the book, Zong Ling did inherit the position of Zong family head.
However, that wasn’t certain either. Maybe Zong Ling did inherit it, but perhaps he was just a puppet, and most of the assets went to His Majesty.
The book wouldn’t be so blunt as to depict the protagonist’s parents as puppets; it would beautify things. So this matter… was indeed possible.
Big Brother Ning’s face turned solemn: “Once my position is restored, I will continue to investigate secretly.”
Ning Yunyi nodded: “Safety first.”
Big Brother Ning suddenly thought of what Ning Yunyi said just now: “Aren’t you going with me to pick up Father?”
Ning Yunyi shook his head and explained his plan. Because the higher-ups might target the Zong family and had already implicated the Ning family once, Big Brother Ning easily accepted Ning Yunyi’s plan.
Big Brother Ning thought for a moment and replied: “You considered this more thoroughly. Since they could use me as a scapegoat this time, there might be a second time. Mu Jiayi and Zong Ling think you’re dead. Given Mu Jiayi’s character, many people probably know. You stay here temporarily as Bai Yanyu. I will explain to Father and Mother. If there really is a mishap, if the Ning family can’t be saved… Ah Yi, promise me, don’t take risks. Leave the Capital Star immediately with the cub!”
“Big Brother…” Ning Yunyi felt a bit sour in his heart. Besides the worry he told Big Brother Ning, another point was fear of returning to the Ning family, in case Father and Mother Ning recognized he wasn’t the original host.
Spending these days together, he didn’t know if he was influenced by the original host’s feelings for Big Brother Ning, but he already treated him as a big brother.
Because Big Brother Ning had to go to the military base the next day, Ning Yunyi urged him to rest early.
Only then did he head upstairs.
Before leaving the castle, Ning Yunyi guessed he would return late from the banquet, so he instructed Ning Xiaomiao to rest obediently at the designated time.
He moved quietly upstairs. When he reached Ning Xiaomiao’s room, he opened the door softly to check.
The little guy was sleeping soundly, limbs spread out, a thin blanket covering his belly. He didn’t know if he covered himself before sleeping or if the Big Cat pulled it over later.
After checking on the little guy, Ning Yunyi went to the Big Cat’s room but found it empty.
The Big Cat’s room was empty, the bed cold, with no signs of rest.
Ning Yunyi wondered where he was if not in bed at this hour. He walked out of the Big Cat’s room and listened, hearing some movement from the bathroom at the end of the corridor.
Ning Yunyi walked towards it, getting closer. Arriving at the bathroom door, sure enough, faint sounds came from inside.
As he reached the door, the movement inside stopped instantly.
Ning Yunyi raised an eyebrow: “I’m coming in?”
No sound from inside. He turned the handle and pushed the door open. Steam immediately billowed out, hot and obscuring the view inside.
He waved away the mist and laughed in exasperation: “I say, what are you doing not sleeping at night? Messing up my bathtub, aren’t you?” Good heavens, is this Big Cat a beast spirit? He even knows how to take a bath himself?
He walked quickly into the inner room, pulled aside the shower curtain, and sure enough, saw a big cat soaking in the large bathtub.
Floating on the water surface with limbs spread, paddling. Clearly not his first time; he was very practiced.
Ning Yunyi crossed his arms, staring at the Big Cat’s obviously guilty little eyes amidst the rising steam. He rubbed the big head vigorously. The two perked ears fluttered, splashing a few drops of water that left marks on the hem of Ning Yunyi’s clothes.
Recommended Reads
thanks for the update!