Chapter 624: You Should Flee
Chapter 624: Chapter 624: You Should Flee
That night, Ren Si waited anxiously until Shen Ningning returned. She rushed to Shen Ningning’s room and told her everything she had overheard outside Mrs. Ren’s door earlier that day.
"You have to leave now, before the people they’re looking for arrive." As she spoke, Ren Si placed a travel pack on the table.
She said, "There’s some of my saved allowance in here. I was originally going to use it to escape an arranged marriage, but you need it more urgently now. Please, take it. It’s not much, only about 200 taels of silver, but it should be enough for you to flee south. Once you’re there, my father won’t be able to catch you."
After Ren Si finished her hurried speech, she looked at Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei. One was sitting calmly at the table sipping water, a tranquil expression on his face, while the other simply blinked her bright, beautiful eyes at her.
Neither of them said a word. It was a classic case of the eunuchs panicking while the Emperor remained calm!
Ren Si shook Shen Ningning’s shoulders. "Stop spacing out! Did you hear what I said? If you don’t leave now, my mother will completely ruin your reputation."
Shen Ningning finally spoke, her red lips parting slightly. "Why are you helping us? Aren’t you afraid that we might have other motives or intentions, now that you’ve heard the husband by my side isn’t Fang Huan?"
Mo Lingwei gave a faint nod, adding, "She is your mother, after all. Why should we trust you?"
Ren Si bit her lower lip. She looked at Shen Ningning for a long moment before saying, "I thought we were friends."
"Of course we are," Shen Ningning nodded.
Ren Si’s expression eased a little. "That’s why. I don’t want to be in your debt."
This puzzled Shen Ningning. "When were you ever in my debt? Are you talking about the meal I sent you when you were kneeling in the ancestral hall?"
"It’s more than that," Ren Si said, shaking her head. She seemed to be holding something back. "There are other things... I only just found out myself. My mother did something terrible. She wronged your mother, and I feel she owes you a debt as well. But she would never be willing to make amends. I’m not close to her, so I’m not afraid to tell you this."
Hearing this, Shen Ningning’s face broke into a beautiful smile. "Thank you. After hearing you speak so honestly, I suppose not everyone in the Ren Mansion is a bad person."
"How can you still smile? If Fang Huan’s uncles arrive tomorrow, it’s over for both of you! Hurry up and go!" Ren Si shoved the bundle into Shen Ningning’s arms and tugged at her, trying to make her leave.
Unexpectedly, Shen Ningning just smiled, serene and unbothered. She took Ren Si’s hand to calm her. "We don’t need to leave, and we’re not afraid. Let them come and make trouble."
Ren Si was astonished. "You... don’t you know how ruthless my father is? If the truth about you is exposed, he won’t show you any mercy."
"I know. And I’ve never considered him my father. To me, he’s less of a relative than you are," Shen Ningning replied coolly.
She lifted her long, elegant lashes. "In any case, you should go back. Don’t worry about me. Tomorrow, I’ll even invite you to watch a good show."
Completely bewildered, Ren Si let Shen Ningning walk her to the door. The young woman didn’t forget to hand the bundle back to her.
"Keep your silver. And don’t worry. After this is over, unless I give the word, Mrs. Ren and Governor Ren won’t dare marry you off to just anyone."
With that, Shen Ningning wished her a good night and closed the door.
Ren Si stood there for a moment, dazed, clutching the bundle. As she walked back down the long corridor, she muttered in confusion, "Is something big going to happen tomorrow?"
The door closed. Mo Lingwei glanced sideways at Shen Ningning, his indifferent tone laced with a hint of gentleness.
"She seems to treat you well. After this is all over, I’ll spare her life."
Shen Ningning let out a laugh. "Don’t forget what I told you. Have your men investigate whether Ren Si is really Ren Pengyi’s child. I have a feeling something isn’t right. She doesn’t look like anyone in the Ren Family. You can tell at a glance that she’s..."
"She’s what?"
"She’s someone who, like me, doesn’t fit in with the Ren Family," Shen Ningning said honestly.
Mo Lingwei stood up. "It’s late. You should rest. Master Gu will be here tomorrow."
Shen Ningning had sent a letter to the Capital City, expecting to wait for Master Gu’s reply. To her surprise, he had set off to meet them the very day he received it.
Master Gu had left only a short sentence in his letter. He said the matter was extremely important and that he needed to explain it to Shen Ningning in person.
To that end, he was traveling by both land and water to speed up his journey. According to the letter sent from a post station yesterday, he was expected to arrive in Ling Mountain City by tomorrow evening.
Shen Ningning was waiting for him.
The young woman stood up, ready to sleep, only to see Mo Lingwei confidently walking toward the bed.
"Stop right there!" Shen Ningning chided playfully, pointing to the bamboo couch nearby. "Your bed is over there."
Mo Lingwei turned back, his cool, dark eyes suddenly looking a little pitiful.
"It’s uncomfortable over there. My back aches."
"Fine, then. You can have the bed, and I’ll take the bamboo couch," Shen Ningning said, moving to grab her bedding.
How could Mo Lingwei possibly let her sleep on the bamboo couch? Seeing that his pitiful act wasn’t working, his face fell. "I’ll take it."
’He was just helpless when it came to her.’
Shen Ningning stifled a laugh.
The lamps were extinguished, and the faint blue moonlight spilled across the floor.
Shen Ningning lay on her side, her slender hand tucked under her head, gazing at Mo Lingwei, who lay on the bamboo couch.
In the darkness, her beautiful eyes shone with a bright clarity.
"Brother? You’re not asleep, are you?"
"Not yet." Mo Lingwei opened his eyes.
Shen Ningning lowered her lashes, looking shy and reserved, but she still mustered the courage to speak.
"These past few days... thank you for being by my side and taking care of me. I know things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly without your help. I just wanted to say... I’m so glad you came."
’He gave her someone to rely on, so she didn’t have to fight all her battles alone.’
Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow, a soft laugh escaping his lips. "So you finally realize how important I am?"
Shen Ningning didn’t confirm or deny it.
She rolled over to face away from him. "So... let’s get engaged when we go back. Once Mother returns, I can focus on just being your wife."
Mo Lingwei shot up, thrilled. "Really?"
Shen Ningning’s cheeks were burning. She mumbled an "mhm." Mo Lingwei wanted to press for more details, but the young woman covered her ears and whined playfully, "Go to sleep! It’s late, and I’m sleepy!"
Only then did Mo Lingwei lie back down, his heart filled with a quiet joy.
’So this is what it feels like to have your wish granted?’
’No... he hadn’t actually married Shen Ningning yet.’
Mo Lingwei’s light, happy smile instantly froze on his lips.
He remembered the day before their horoscopes were to be matched. He had been too excited to sleep then, too. But the next day, all he got was the news that Shen Ningning had run away from the Capital City.
Even though he had Shen Ningning’s promise, he knew he had to marry her and bring her home as soon as possible. Delays could breed trouble.
The night grew deep, and a thick fog began to rise.
A clap of thunder sounded as if it had torn a hole in the sky. A torrential downpour hammered the ground, pounding down as if the heavens were emptying themselves entirely onto Ling Mountain City.