Part 4
Zong Hao beside him noticed his gaze and looked over as well.
In a corner not far away stood three figures: two adults and one child.
The two adults were unmistakably Mu Jiayi and Zong Ling.
The small one was a young boy, not very old. He exuded an air of sadness, looking down and listening quietly to whatever Mu Jiayi was saying.
Ning Yunyi looked at the child’s blonde hair, his expression becoming extremely strange. He even had a guess.
At this juncture, such a child suddenly appearing… Could he be the protagonist gong who survived the accident of the Lyman family head in his childhood?
But how was he suddenly saved by these two? He had asked Ichi to specifically follow Zong Ling, and there had been absolutely no news of Zong Ling saving anyone before tonight.
Zong Hao also frowned as he watched, but he was looking at Zong Ling and Mu Jiayi.
The Mu family head had been imprisoned and later took all the blame alone, so Mu Jiayi escaped punishment. But because the Mu family head had fallen, the family immediately changed leaders. Mu Jiayi’s current situation in the Mu family could be described as barely able to protect himself.
Logically, Mu Jiayi shouldn’t have been able to get an invitation.
Not to mention Zong Ling, who had been removed from the Zong family.
Yet these two had come, and they brought a very strange child.
Zong Hao knew Ning Yunyi had Ichi following Zong Ling. Not knowing why, seeing Zong Ling now, he looked at Ning Yunyi.
Ning Yunyi, however, looked down and tapped rapidly on his wristband.
Soon, Ichi replied immediately, and even came over personally under the pretext of finding Marshal Zong.
Ning Yunyi had asked if Zong Ling had shown any abnormalities these past days, or if he had saved any child.
Ichi replied “No” immediately. Afraid Ning Yunyi had more questions, he simply came over.
Since the Marshal himself was here, Ichi coming over wouldn’t arouse too much suspicion.
Ning Yunyi asked under cover, “Lord Ichi, Zong Ling didn’t, but what about Mu Jiayi? Have you seen that child?”
Ichi followed his gaze, frowned at the child, and said, “No. But I just received news that Zong Ling entered the palace in the latter half of the banquet. When he arrived at the palace gate, Mu Jiayi brought him in. This child was not following them.”
After all, such a big childâif seen, he would definitely have notified Ning Yunyi.
Ning Yunyi’s expression grew heavy. According to the book, the protagonist gong was saved inadvertently by Zong Ling in District F.
Later, Zong Ling used the Zong family’s power to help Little Lyman reclaim the Lyman family.
But Zong Ling hadn’t been to District F recently, yet this child suddenly popped up.
Either the child was fake from the startâmeaning the so-called protagonist gong identity in the book was fake (but such a lie is easily punctured; just need other Lyman family members to verify)âso this is ruled out. That leaves only that the child is real, but after the Lyman family accident… he was never in District F and had been saved by someone long ago.
So, who was the person who saved him?
To send him into the palace to appear at the banquet like this nowâwas this planning a show to let Little Lyman be successfully adopted by Zong Ling and Mu Jiayi?
If it developed as he predicted, only one person in the palace could currently achieve all this.
Zong Hao noticed his mood was off and leaned sideways to ask in a low voice, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Ning Yunyi didn’t hide it from him. “I previously asked Lord Ichi to follow Zong Ling. The latter hadn’t been in contact with this child before; he was brought here suddenly. I recognize this child… Guess who he is?”
Zong Hao paused. “Who?”
Ning Yunyi: “The only son of the Lyman family head.”
The pupils under Zong Hao’s mask contracted, clearly realizing something. Little Lyman was the Second Prince’s cousin. His sudden appearance in the palace, brought by Zong Ling and Mu Jiayi who had no prior contact with him, meant… someone in the palace planned to stage a play to let Little Lyman appear in the Capital Star successfully.
And the only one who could do all this was the Crown Prince.
After all, the Second Prince hadn’t appeared. The Crown Prince knew Little Lyman’s identity. If he knew in advance, he would definitely detain him. Unless the Prince, feigning ignorance to let Little Lyman appear, had a motive?
To use Mu Jiayi and Zong Ling’s hands to take the Lyman family?
Wouldn’t this contradict the Prince’s previous statement that the Second Prince’s disappearance was a danger? After all, with Little Lyman in hand, it would be easy to bait the Second Prince into appearing.
Yet the Prince concealed all this from them, letting Mu Jiayi and Zong Ling come forward instead.
While Ning Yunyi and the others fell silent, Mu Jiayi and Zong Ling led Little Lyman forward. Suddenly, Mu Jiayi spoke loudly: “Crown Prince! We have an important matter to report! It concerns the Lyman family!”
With the last four words, Zong Hao’s thin lips under the mask pressed tight. He looked toward the Crown Prince, who had been sitting in a wheelchair on the stage.
The Crown Prince was pushed to the center by his fiancĂŠe, seemingly quite surprised. He looked down with a gentle expression. “The Lyman family? Is it the one that had the accident earlier? What do you have to say?”
Mu Jiayi and Zong Ling pulled Little Lyman to kneel. “Your Highness, please seek justice for the Lyman family head’s family and help this poor child reclaim the Lyman family!”
All the guests present were stunned: Lyman? Is it the Lyman family head’s family from the Fifth Planet that went missing and whose fate was unknown on the Star Network earlier?
Seek justice? Is it a family struggle?
Little Lyman kept his head down and didn’t make a sound. But when Mu Jiayi mentioned his family, his eyes reddened, and tears began to fall pitter-patter.
Mu Jiayi then began to recount how he and his fiancĂŠ Zong Ling inadvertently saved Little Lyman, who had been bullied and just escaped, in District F.
The spaceship accident back then wasn’t an accident either, but a setup by someone in the Lyman family who wanted to be the head.
To save Little Lyman, the family head entrusted a servant to take him away on a small spaceship. In the end, only Little Lyman was left of the family.
Little Lyman was brought to the Capital Star by the servant, who eventually died of heavy injuries. Little Lyman almost died too, but luckily met them and survived.
Hearing how angry they were about this matter, they used this palace banquet to barge in, wanting the Crown Prince to uphold justice for Little Lyman.
The crowd listened with righteous indignation. Looking at the pitiful Little Lyman, they actually looked at Mu Jiayi and Zong Ling with new eyes.
They thought these two had been trampled down, but who knew they could have such an encounter?
Saving the Young Master of the Lyman family… in the future, they would definitely get a share of the pie.
The Crown Prince also appeared furious. “Such a thing exists? Someone, investigate immediately. If this is true, we will absolutely not tolerate it.”
Ning Yunyi and the others watched silently as the Crown Prince and Mu Jiayi sang their duet on stage.
If they hadn’t already known that Mu Jiayi and Zong Ling had basically never left District A…
They might have really believed this acting.
Zong Hao felt like he was meeting this close friend for the first time. He had known him for decades. Zong Hao had few friends and treated people with sincerity; he had never suspected him.
But at this moment, he felt he had never understood this friend.
He treated the other as a friend; did the other really think the same?
Ning Yunyi sensed Zong Hao’s subtle emotions from the side. He felt complicated. He hadn’t suspected the Crown Prince before either; after all, this person… could act too well.
When the Third Prince caused trouble, he righteously locked him up, not releasing him even now.
As it turned out, maybe it was all a show for them.
Beside them, Ichi finally realized what was happening, and a chill ran down his spine.
At first, they thought this was a palace banquet. Once here, they found it was a mixer.
Soon, they discovered it was a damn theater stage.
They were even the audience in the pit, and the play was performed specifically for them.
If the Second Prince was really Little Lyman’s cousin, how could the Prince let Little Lyman appear outside the palace so easily, not afraid the Second Prince would take him away directly?
Unless the Crown Prince was certain from start to finish that the Second Prince dared not appear, or… simply couldn’t appear.
Either possibility was bone-chilling.
The Crown Prince achieved his real goal for the night. Although he regretted not persuading Marshal Zong to choose a suitable Herman lady for marriage, there was plenty of time, so he wasn’t anxious.
The banquet ended. Those who really hit it off exchanged IDs.
Ning Yunyi found Big Brother Ning, who hadn’t participated, outside the banquet.
It was also because of what he said that the Crown Prince found Big Brother Ning, claimed he didn’t know about the matter, and allowed Big Brother Ning to leave the palace.
Big Brother Ning didn’t leave, worried his little brother would bring back a marriage partner. That would be too scary.
But watching his little brother dance with Marshal Zong, his mood was complicated. Looking at Marshal Zong now, he felt the man looked less and less pleasing to the eye.
Stared at by Big Brother Ning, Zong Hao felt uncomfortable. I shouldn’t have… shown any flaws, right?
After all, even Ning Yunyi didn’t notice anything wrong.
Big Brother Ning… surely couldn’t either?
Ning Yunyi and Big Brother Ning planned to return to the Ning home. Zong Hao also left the palace.
Once outside, he immediately boarded his spaceship and whoosh, it shot out in front of the Ning brothers.
Big Brother Ning was blasted by a forehead full of cold wind. “This Marshal Zong… why is he in such a hurry? Is his body failing? Rushing back for treatment?”
This was putting it politely. After all, that speed was too fast to be Marshal Zong’s style.
Ning Yunyi almost laughed out loud. Pursing his lips, he pretended to be deep. “Probably… really anxious to go home.”
If he’s later than us, wouldn’t his cover be blown?
Thinking of Marshal Zong needing to find a secluded place away from the palace to turn back into a cat, then rush back to the Ning house like crazy…
Thinking about that scene was quite amusing.
When Ning Yunyi and his brother returned home, he didn’t go back to the small building immediately. Instead, he found Professor Ning and told him about tonight’s events, along with what he asked Ichi to investigate and his suspicions.
After Ning Yunyi finished, Big Brother Ning and Professor Ning couldn’t say a word for a long time.
After all, in their impression, the Crown Prince was low-key but had a positive public image. Not to mention, Marshal Zong was his close friend.
Yet now, the Crown Prince might be suspicious, possibly even the mastermind behind framing Marshal Zong and Big Brother Ning?
Seeing them look struck by the blow, Ning Yunyi said, “This is still just a guess. But it’s never wrong to be cautious and guarded.”
The two nodded solemnly. “Yunyi, we understand what you mean. We will be careful.”
The previous incident had nearly wiped out their family. This time, they had to be careful no matter what.
Ning Yunyi then returned to the small building. At the door, hearing the ding of his wristband unlocking the door, he paused for a moment before entering.
Ning Yunyi walked very slowly upstairs, giving the big cat enough buffer time. After all, rushing back in such a hurry was truly pitiful.
And having just received a critical hit from friendship, would he be hiding silently in a corner, sad and licking his wounds?
Misery upon misery.
Ning Yunyi checked on the little kitten first. Sure enough, the little guy was sleeping soundly. That was the good thing about being young; no worries.
After seeing the little one, he walked toward the other room.
At the door, Ning Yunyi knocked lightly first, then pushed the door open and walked in softly.
When he entered, the big cat was lying in his nest with his back to him, panting ha-chi ha-chi with his tongue out. Hearing the door open, he quickly retracted it.
But Ning Yunyi still saw it with his sharp eyes and almost laughed out loud.
Ning Yunyi used the dim light to control his expression. walking to the nest. He looked at the small ball curled up there, tilting its head to look at him doubtfully, as if asking: Why aren’t you sleeping at this hour?
Ning Yunyi watched him act quietly, but his face and voice carried worry. “Why is Big Cat panting so hard? Are you sick?”
Come on, let’s see who can act better.
Zong Hao didn’t dare make a sound, afraid his still-pounding heart would expose something.
He could only shake his head and lie back down, trying to smooth his breathing.
Ning Yunyi then acted as if making small talk, voicing his suspicions about the Crown Prince. Finally, he sighed, “You don’t think the Prince could be that bad, right?”
Zong Hao lowered his eyes, his ears twitching. He wanted to know too.
Ning Yunyi sighed again. “Marshal Zong doesn’t know the situation yet. heard they are childhood friends. You say, receiving this blow, will Marshal Zong be unable to recover?”
Zong Hao looked up. Although I value feelings, I don’t value every feeling, and I’m not that fragile, am I?
Ning Yunyi continued immediately, “Marshal Zong helped so much. How about making some pastries tomorrow and sending them to him?”
Zong Hao’s beast eyes lit up.
Ning Yunyi changed the subject and shook his head. “No, that won’t do. We aren’t that close. Sending them rashly might make Marshal Zong misunderstand that I covet him after dancing with him tonight. Better not send them.”
Zong Hao: “……”
Ning Yunyi: “But Marshal Zong received such a big shock tonight. What if he falls ill? Should we send some soup?”
Zong Hao subconsciously forgot to hold his breath, and his breathing became heavy for a moment.
Ning Yunyi shook his head. “No. When I danced with Marshal Zong tonight, Lord Ichi looked at us strangely. He wouldn’t misunderstand that there’s something between me and Marshal Zong, right? Better not send it. What if the misunderstanding gets worse?”
Zong Hao: “??”
Ning Yunyi finally stood up. “It’s too late. I’m going to sleep. Sleepy to death.”
Zong Hao: “…” I’m just a cat, but you are a real dog.
At the same moment, just as Ichi was about to rest, he suddenly sneezed violently several times. “??” Who’s talking about me?
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thank you for the chapter!