Part 4
The guard watched him with an eerie expression. Did he think the gates would open just because he asked? Did he think this was still his home? The guard simply looked away, standing tall and turning a deaf ear to Zong Lingās breakdown.
Inside the starship, Little Lyman threw himself into the Second Princeās arms, giving the Prince a start. The Prince couldn’t see; he had merely been following the Money Turtleās instructions and his Master’s orders to “act.” Now he sat huddled in a corner of his seat, frowning. “Why are you grabbing me? Little Mr. Ning, help!”
Little Lyman heard the strange tone and stopped crying, his eyes wide and watery. “Cousin?” He wanted to ask why the Prince seemed so foolish, but he didn’t dare.
The Money Turtle explained kindly, “Your cousinās mind was damaged by the trauma from the former Crown Prince. Not only does he not recognize you, he doesn’t even recognize His Majesty. Just stay with him for now. You’ll return to the palace with him later; there will be people there to look after you.”
Little Lyman was stunned by the news. After a long while, he realized his cousin wasn’t going to abandon himāor rather, Admiral Ning intended to let him enter the palace. He wiped his tears and stood up, bowing to the Ning family in gratitude. Fearing he would cause trouble, he huddled quietly in the corner beside the Money Turtle, not daring to speak again. He couldn’t stop looking at the Second Prince, however. His cousin was… simple now. Could he really stay in the palace? Would they be kicked out again?
By the time the starship reached the manor behind the Zong house, the Emperor hadn’t arrived yet. However, his attendants had already delivered the wedding gifts and rewards. Seeing the starship stop, the attendant looked over. Not many people had come this time, but they were all of high status; he wanted to make a good impression.
As the starship opened and he saw Professor Ningās family, his eyes lit up. He was about to step forward when he froze. “??” Wait. Was he seeing things, or was he seeing a ghost in broad daylight?
How was Madame Ning standing there perfectly fine beside Professor Ning? And it wasn’t just themāthe handsome young man beside Admiral Ning… why did he look so much like the Second Young Master Ning who had supposedly been murdered?
The Second Young Master Ning rarely appeared in public, but as attendants, they were required to be familiar with every member of the noble families. He had seen photos of the boy before and had remarked at the time that the Second Young Master was even more handsome than Marshal Zong, though they had completely different styles.
And now… the murdered Second Young Master was alive?
As the attendant approached in a daze, Dean Gu, Old Tang, Old An, Old Xun, Godefroi, and the two Aias brothersāwho had already arrivedāalso looked over. Seeing it was the Ning family, they prepared to welcome them, only to freeze when they saw Ning Yunyi. Good grief, he had hidden it well! The Second Young Master was perfectly fine?
Old An and Old Xun exchanged a look and immediately realized Mr. Zong must have saved him. After all, Xun Xun and An Dong had both been saved by Mr. Zong.
Mr. White and Mr. Zong had a close relationship, and Mr. White was currently living with the Nings. It wasn’t hard to connect the dots.
The attendant was utterly bewildered. “This… is the Second Young Master Ning, right? Didn’t Madame Ning…?”
Big Brother Ning repeated the pre-arranged story. “Is there a problem? We were worried he wouldn’t survive, so we kept it quiet. Now that he’s recovered, we’ve come to celebrate.”
The attendant waved his hands frantically. He didn’t dare say a word. After all, the Emperor had been in a coma for so long and had been saved by those energy stones. Clearly… the expert behind the scenes was truly formidable.
Fortunately, this Second Young Master Ning appeared to have just woken up. He had no mental power around him and his face was pale. Even so, it didn’t diminish his striking looks. It was a pity he already had a child; otherwise, he would likely have been the most sought-after bachelor among the aristocratic families.
Big Brother Ning continued, “Since youāre here, when we arrived, we saw the little family head left behind by the Lyman Patriarch was still with Zong Ling. We brought him along with the Second Prince. They’ll be taken back to the palace later. After all, the little master is the Second Princeās cousin. Although there is no blood relation, the nominal tie cannot be severed.”
The attendant broke out in a cold sweat at the underlying meaning. This was bad. With so much happening in the palace lately, who had even thought of the little family head? After all, the Crown Prince had been deposed.
The attendant respectfully summoned palace staff to look after Little Lyman first. He also sent two people along with the Money Turtle to look after the Second Prince. Unfortunately, the Prince wouldn’t let them near him, insisting that the Money Turtle follow the Ning family instead.
The attendant didn’t dare ask questions and let them be.
Old Tang and the others were confused when they didn’t see Mr. White. “Professor Ning, where is Mr. White? Why didn’t he come with you today?”
Professor Ning used the pre-arranged excuse. “Mr. White is currently in seclusion, researching new species as instructed by Mr. Zong. He is unaware of Lady Zongās wedding today.” There were too many people around to reveal that Ning Yunyi was Mr. White; that would have to wait for another time.
Old Tang and the others didn’t think much of it, though they couldn’t help but steal several glances at Ning Yunyi. They felt the Second Young Master looked somewhat familiar, as if they had met beforeāperhaps a brief glimpse at a banquet they hadn’t paid much attention to.
When Zong Hao approached, he saw Ning Yunyi standing quietly at the edge of the crowd. He had shed his usual personality. To play the part of someone newly recovered from illness and without mental power, he looked truly fragile and helpless. Holding the hand of the equally well-behaved cub, he left Zong Hao momentarily dazed.
Ning Yunyi sensed the gaze and looked back.
Zong Hao felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of Ning Yunyiās face. He had known what Ning Yunyi looked like from the startāafter all, that was the face he had first seen when Ning Yunyi picked him up. He hadn’t thought much of it when Ning Yunyi was disguised as Mr. White, but seeing his true face again now, he was struck by his beauty.
He had always known Ning Yunyi was good-looking, but dressed up like this, Ning Yunyi seemed… exceptionally different. Zong Haoās heart began to thud loudly against his ribs, and he found he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Ichi walked over and felt his world turning upside down at the sight. He looked at his Marshal, then at the beautiful young man the Marshal was staring at… It was over. He never expected his Marshal to be this kind of person. A new love for every new face?
Marshal, do you still remember Mr. Zong? Do you remember Mr. White? Mr. White just rejected you, and now youāve set your sights on this one?
Look at that gazeāyou could practically weave silk with it. I didn’t know you were like this, Marshal!
“Ahem!” Ichi signaled frantically, terrified the Marshal wouldn’t be able to control himself. If Mr. White found out about this, wouldn’t he run straight into the arms of the Herman Young Head?
Zong Hao finally retracted his gaze. He frowned at Ichi and moved two steps away. “If youāre sick, take a leave of absence. Don’t spread it to the children.”
Ichi looked at him with profound melancholy. “Marshal, I’m not sick. But I think you are.”
Zong Hao: “What?”
Ichi hinted at his “grievance” over the Marshal’s fickleness. “The ‘love-at-first-sight’ disease.”
Zong Hao was so angry he laughed. “How am I falling in love at first sight?”
Ichi: “I could hear your heart practically leaping out of your chest the moment you saw that beautiful young man. Is that not falling for him? I know he’s handsome, but do you even remember Mr. White?”
Zong Haoās expression turned strange. He looked at Ichi and decided to forgive his insolence. “Go check on the preparations. Don’t let anything go wrong during the ceremony.”
Ichi clutched his chest. Itās over. The Marshal didn’t even deny it. Heās admitting his heart is moved!
Ning Yunyi looked away as Zong Hao approached. After all, officially, their current identities had never met.
Zong Hao stepped forward to play the host. Finally, he looked at Ning Yunyi. “Your clothes today… look very nice.”
Ning Yunyi: “…”
Zong Hao then looked at the little cub. “Of course, the cub looks good too.”
The others looked between the two. “The Marshal knows the Second Young Master Ning?”
Zong Hao nodded. “…You could say that.” Was he supposed to say they knew each other or they didn’t?
Ichi, arriving at that moment, let out a silent “what the hell” in his mind. Second Young Master Ning? This is the Second Young Master? Well… he supposed there was nothing an expert couldn’t achieve. Wait. “Second Young Master, then didn’t you run into Zong Ling at the gates? He didn’t bother you, did he?”
The name Zong Ling made Zong Haoās brow furrow. “You encountered him? Did he say or do anything?” His former nephewās feelings for Ning Yunyi were common knowledge. Now that he knew Ning Yunyi was alive, wouldn’t the man be even more persistent?
Ning Yunyi: “No. Iām going to give Lady Zong her wedding gift.”
Zong Hao: “Iāll go with you.”
Ning Yunyi shook his head. “No need. Attend to your guests. Iāll just take the cub with me.” He had brought a pair of rings to give to Lady Zong and her husband as a pre-wedding gift.
Zong Hao had no choice but to agree. Once he had settled everyone, he stood to the side and looked at Ichi, who was still giving him odd looks. “What is it you want to ask?”
Ichi had a stomach full of questions. “Youāre the one who told me to ask, Marshal. I don’t mean to pry, but Iām just… curious. Marshal, how do you know the Second Young Master Ning?”
Zong Hao: “Mm.”
Ichi scratched his head in frustration. “Zong Ling likes the Second Young Master. When did you meet him, Marshal?” Good grief, could it be a case of former uncle and nephew liking the same person? Was it really that dramatic? Did Zong Ling know his Young Uncle was eyeing the person he loved?
Zong Hao frowned. How was he supposed to answer that? “Why are you asking?”
Ichi looked like he wanted to cry. “Marshal, do you still remember Mr. White?” What place did Mr. White hold in the Marshalās heart?
Zong Hao watched as Ichi clearly began to spiral into another round of mental drama. Thinking that Ning Yunyi hadn’t intended to hide the fact that he was Mr. White from him, Zong Hao said, “Don’t you think the Second Young Master looks like someone?”
Ichi was dazed for a moment. Then it hit him like a lightning bolt. “The eyes! The Second Young Masterās eyes look a bit like Mr. Whiteās!” He let out a sharp gasp. Holy crap, the Marshal isn’t using Mr. White as a substitute for the Second Young Master, is he?
Zong Hao felt Ichiās gaze growing weirder by the second. “What exactly are you imagining now?”
Ichi hesitated. “Is it… safe to say such dramatic things?”
Zong Hao: “Dramatic? How is it dramatic?”
Ichi said excitedly, “Itās a ‘substitute’ plot! How is that not dramatic?” Which one was the substitute for the other?
Zong Hao was so angry he laughed. “Did it ever occur to you that they might be the same person?”
Ichi: “??” Wh-what? What did the Marshal just say?
Zong Hao: “You shouldn’t be a Commander. You should be in the Intelligence Bureau. With your imagination, you could probably dig up someoneās entire family history back eighteen generations.”
Ichi shivered. “Don’t, Marshal! I was wrong!” But who could have guessed two people with such completely different styles were the same person?
Ning Yunyi, representing the Ning family, delivered the pair of rings and several bottles of wine as wedding gifts.
Because they were so busy, Ning Yunyi didn’t disturb Lady Zongās group and withdrew. The wedding proceeded smoothly. The little kitten, clutching a massive bouquet and the rings, performed his role as the ring bearer perfectly, earning himself a wave of praise.
By the time the ceremony ended and the evening banquet began, the atmosphere reached its peak with the opening of the wine Ning Yunyi had brought. After all, the flavor was superior even to the wine served at palace banquets.
Since there weren’t many guests, there was plenty for everyone to have a glassāexcept for the children and the Second Prince, whose vision hadn’t recovered yet.
Fortunately, the Second Prince had his salted plum candies and sat there obediently. However, when the Money Turtle returned to his side with an excited expression and a glass of wine, sniffing it and reluctant to drink, the Second Prince heard the movement. He popped his candy and began sniffing toward the source of the aroma.
The Money Turtle took a deep breath, mesmerized by the color. He felt that coming here today was truly the right choice. He closed his eyes in bliss and leaned in to take a sip, only for someone to beat him to it. A head poked forward and cautiously took a small taste.
In the next instant, a wave of heat surged through the personās entire body. His face turned a bright red, and his silver pupils transformed into a deep, grayish-blue.
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