Chapter 376 - Chapter 376: Cicada Shedding Its Shell
Chapter 376: Cicada Shedding Its Shell
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qin Zhenzhen was determined to discover if Chen Shanshan held any romantic interest in her fourth brother, and she had decided to enlist Su Ning’s assistance.
Su Ning and Chen Shanshan had a bond akin to that of biological sisters, making Su Ning the ideal confidante for probing into Chen Shanshan’s feelings.
However, before Qin Zhenzhen could seek out Su Ning, Su Ning herself approached her with a pressing matter.
“Third Sister-in-law, I need to ask you something,” Su Ning stated.
Qin Zhenzhen nodded, replying, “Feel free to ask. If I’m privy to the information, I’ll certainly share it with you.”
The question had been gnawing at Su Ning for quite some time, and she had been eager to broach the subject with her third sister-in-law.
“I overheard someone mention that the young man who was pursued in the provincial capital recently was the Third Prince. Is that true?” Su Ning inquired, her curiosity getting the better of her.
The revelation of the Third Prince being hunted in the provincial capital was no longer a well-kept secret. Even on the streets of Meijiang Prefecture City, it was a topic of widespread discussion.
Qin Zhenzhen responded truthfully, “Yes, it’s true. It’s no longer a hidden fact. The Third Prince sustained severe injuries, but thanks to your timely intervention in staunching the bleeding and providing first aid, his life was saved. He is currently recuperating at the Flying Cloud Tribe.”
She continued, “His master has visited once already, expressing gratitude by sending two gold bars and silver taels as a token of appreciation for saving his life. Your third brother and I were planning to inform you about this.”
Su Ning was elated to learn that she hadn’t come to the aid of a wrongdoer.
In response, Qin Zhenzhen produced a small box and unveiled its contents for Su Ning’s inspection. “These are the gold bars and silver taels sent by the Third
Prince’s master, and they belong to you.”
Su Ning shook her head briskly. “I have no use for them! I have my meals and shelter at home. What need do I have for gold?”
With a warm smile, Qin Zhenzhen countered, “You deserve it. Consider it a nest egg, perhaps for your dowry.”
At the mere mention of the word “dowry,” Su Ning’s face turned crimson, revealing her shyness. “Third Sister-in-law, please don’t bring up the topic of dowry. I’m still so young…”
Qin Zhenzhen chuckled in response. “You’re not as young as you think. Time passes quickly. You might find yourself engaged before you know it, and in the blink of an eye, you’ll be of marriageable age.”
At the mention of engagement, Su Ning’s expression shifted as thoughts of the governor’s youngest son crossed her mind. Thankfully, her third brother was not easily fooled; otherwise, she might have ended up as the governor’s daughter-in-law. The mere thought of it made her uneasy.
“What if the governor insists and comes to propose marriage in a few years?” she pondered aloud.
Su Ning had met the governor’s youngest son before and was less than impressed with his overly obedient and rigid demeanor. To make matters worse, his appearance was strikingly ordinary.
She continued with another query, “Third Sister-in-law, I’ve also heard rumors that the governor of the provincial capital is a nefarious character. They say he conspired with remnants of the previous dynasty, the ones who sent assassins after the Third Prince. Is there any truth to this?”
Qin Zhenzhen nodded affirmatively. “From what I’ve heard, it’s true. In fact, Su Bin has received the latest updates. The emissaries from the emperor’s court have already discerned the governor of the Guang Mansion’s involvement with the remnants of the previous dynasty.”
They also uncovered that the governor’s forebear had served as a minister in the previous dynasty.
All the blame for these grave offenses would be squarely placed upon the governor.
His Highness the Crown Prince had managed to escape without incident, and thus, no harm had befallen him.
The act of assassinating a prince constituted a capital crime, and the governor and his brother’s actions had jeopardized their entire family.
Due to the remarkable military accomplishments of General Manor, the Emperor opted not to pursue any repercussions against it.
Similarly, he refrained from punishing the Master of the Flying Cloud Tribe,
Chen Yufei.
Nonetheless, once the imperial soldiers entered the Flying Cloud Tribe, they diligently conducted a three-day, three-night examination, ultimately confirming that all was in order. There were no indications of any illegal recruitment within the Flying Cloud Tribe, and the guards adhered to the regulations set forth by the Imperial Court.
Concurrently, the Emperor dispatched an imperial physician to the Flying Cloud Tribe to provide medical care for the Third Prince’s injuries..