When Jiang Ning returned to the study, Zhou Yi was anxiously saying something to Liu Ming'an.
Seeing Jiang Ning push open the door, Zhou Yi immediately closed his mouth.
"Ning, where did you go?" Liu Ming'an walked over and asked Jiang Ning, his eyes filled with worry.
As soon as Zhou Yi told him that someone was asking around with Jiang Ning's portrait, Liu Ming'an immediately knew it was people from the Prime Minister's Mansion looking for her.
But Jiang Ning had told him before that she had no connection with the Prime Minister's Mansion anymore. The contradicting statements left Liu Ming'an confused about the situation.
Jiang Ning looked at the two brothers, guessing the situation fairly accurately. She smiled gently at Liu Ming'an and said reassuringly, "It's nothing. You can tell Brother Zhou the truth, so he doesn't worry about you."
Zhou Yi looked at Jiang Ning, then at Liu Ming'an, with a bewildered expression.
Liu Ming'an nodded slightly, and then heard Jiang Ning continue: "There are two people outside the courtyard, sent by my father. They probably followed Brother Zhou here secretly."
Zhou Yi's eyes widened instantly: "They followed me? How did they find out? I clearly said I didn't know you..."
Seeing Zhou Yi's somewhat guilty expression, Jiang Ning smiled and comforted him: "Brother Zhou, it's not your fault. The situation isn't as serious as you think."
Liu Ming'an looked at Jiang Ning and sighed almost imperceptibly: "Ning, are you going back again?"
"Yes, I left rather hastily last time. This time I'll go back to clarify things. I need to make a clean break with that place."
Jiang Ning saw Liu Ming'an frown and chuckled lightly: "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
"Alright, I'll wait for you." As Liu Ming'an spoke, he reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
After Jiang Ning left, Liu Ming'an pressed his hand on Zhou Yi's shoulder, pushing him to sit down in a chair, then brought a cup of water and placed it beside him: "Brother Zhou, don't worry, let me explain slowly..."
Jin Hui and Li Jiu were waiting right outside the door. As soon as Jiang Ning opened it, the two approached, calling out "Third Young Miss," their eyes unable to resist peeking inside, curious about what her "husband" looked like.
Jiang Ning closed the door behind her and smiled slightly: "Keep looking, and I'll gouge out your eyes!"
Jin Hui and Li Jiu simultaneously shrank their necks, instantly averting their gaze - one looking up at the sky, the other staring at the ground, pretending nothing had happened.
"Let's go, don't waste time." Jiang Ning glanced at them and started walking towards the Prime Minister's Mansion. The two hurriedly followed.
Old Zhong opened the door. Seeing Jiang Ning return again, he had just uttered a "Third-" when he heard her ask: "Is my father in the study?"
Old Zhong replied, "The master is in the main courtyard with the madam."
Jiang Ning nodded and headed towards the main courtyard.
Old Zhong watched her retreating figure, utterly confused. He turned back to ask Jin Hui and Li Jiu behind him: "What's going on?"
But Jin Hui stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and said mysteriously: "Uncle Zhong, don't ask. It's really... too complicated!"
Jiang Ning went straight to the main courtyard, where she ran into Aunt Ying, Luo Siyi's maid, who was holding an empty medicine bowl.
"Third Young Miss? Why are you here?" Aunt Ying looked at Jiang Ning in surprise.
In Aunt Ying's memory, the Third Young Miss and the madam had a delicate relationship, but they never interfered with each other. The madam didn't want to see her, and she never came to the main courtyard.
"Is my father inside? Could you please call him for me?" Jiang Ning stood by the wall with her arms folded, looking at Aunt Ying.
Aunt Ying looked at the indifferent Jiang Ning, feeling a strong sense of unease. She frowned and said, "Third Young Miss, the madam is ill, and the master is keeping her company. If you don't have anything important, it's best not to stay here."
"Heh heh heh..." Jiang Ning suddenly laughed, slowly circling around Aunt Ying, a faint killing intent in her eyes: "You, a mere servant, not only disobey my orders as your master but even try to teach me what to do..."
"Third Young Miss, that's not what I meant!" Aunt Ying's heart jolted, and she hurriedly explained, feeling somewhat uneasy at the sight of this version of Jiang Ning.
"Did you always speak to me like this before?" Jiang Ning stared into Aunt Ying's eyes and asked: "Did Luo Siyi teach you this?"
"Ling'er?"
A man's voice came from the courtyard. Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow and looked up to see Nangong Ya standing at the doorway, staring straight at her. He then strode towards her.
"Get lost," Jiang Ning said softly to Aunt Ying.
Aunt Ying looked at Nangong Ya, then at Jiang Ning, and left the courtyard with her head lowered.
Nangong Ya quickly walked up to Jiang Ning, first looking her up and down to ensure she was unharmed, which eased his mind.
But then, remembering how Jiang Ning had climbed over the wall and stayed out all night, anger rose in his heart again. He questioned her sternly: "Where did you go? What are you hiding from me? What exactly do you want—"
Jiang Ning looked at Nangong Ya standing before her. The concern in his eyes was genuine, as was his anger. She had long since understood that as a father, he had a sense of responsibility towards Nangong Ling, but there was little paternal love.
"Father, I've come back this time just to say a few words to you. Once I'm done, I'll leave."
Jiang Ning interrupted Nangong Ya, disregarding his expression, and continued on her own: "I don't like this place, I don't like any of you, and I don't want to be the Third Young Miss of the Nangong Family!"
Nangong Ya's face suddenly changed, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"I've already changed my name and become someone else. From now on, just pretend I don't exist in this world, or pretend that I'm dead. Don't come and disturb my life again."
Nangong Ya's body swayed, and he took two steps back before steadying himself. Clinging to a glimmer of hope, he spoke: "Ling'er, what are you saying? Are you joking with Father?"
Jiang Ning looked at Nangong Ya, whose face had turned a bit pale, tugged at the corner of her lips, and shook her head firmly: "I'm not joking. Every word is from the bottom of my heart!"
"Don't send people to look for me anymore. I'm doing very well."
Jiang Ning, seeing that she had said everything she needed to, turned to leave. After taking a few steps, she remembered something and stopped, but didn't turn back: "Oh, by the way, I'm already married. No need for you to worry about that anymore."
Nangong Ya watched Jiang Ning's gradually retreating figure, as if something had frozen him in place, unable to make any movement or utter any sound.
It wasn't until much later that he returned to the room like a marionette.
Luo Siyi was leaning on the bed, her face sickly and her expression haggard. But when Nangong Ya walked in, dispirited, his complexion looked even worse than hers.
"My lord, what's wrong? What happened?"
After years of marriage, Luo Siyi could tell at a glance that something was amiss with Nangong Ya. She asked, full of concern.
Nangong Ya looked at his wife on the bed, his eyes suddenly growing hot. He stepped forward and held her tightly in his arms.
"Siyi, I'm not a good father. I didn't raise Yan'er well, and I didn't take good care of Ling'er. They both hate me, they all hate me..."