Chapter 12

Ning Ziming saw that Ning Chen was silent and thought his words had moved Ning Chen.

After all, he was just a child; a little coaxing would do.

"Ning'er, have you seen anyone recently?"

Ning Chen was slightly taken aback, not understanding why.

"Ning Shangshu, since I came to the Ning family, I haven't left the house many times... I've been sick or seriously injured recently, so I've only seen a few people. I don't know who Ning Shangshu is asking about."

Ning Ziming became even more puzzled. This was also what he couldn't understand.

Ning Chen hasn't left the house many times, how could he know the emperor?

Ning Ziming didn't dare to ask directly and could only say vaguely, "I'm not talking about family members, but strangers?"

Ning Chen sneered, "I haven't even recognized all the family members, where would I go to meet other people?"

Ning Ziming felt even more strange inside.

But he couldn't ask directly.

Ning Chen looked at him and said, "Ning Shangshu, since you don't allow me to leave the Ning residence... but there's another matter I must pursue."

"What matter?"

"Ning Gan took one hundred taels of silver from me."

Ning Ziming frowned, "Where did you get one hundred taels of silver?"

"That's none of your business. Ning Gan did take my silver, and I hope Ning Shangshu can make him return it."

Ning Ziming's face turned ashen, "Ning'er, your father promises to compensate you... but you must change these bad habits. Slandering your elder brother and behaving improperly, I won't let you off easily."

Ning Chen looked at Ning Ziming with cold eyes.

Then, he laughed bitterly and said, "I knew it would be like this. Ning Shangshu, just pretend I didn't say anything. I'm tired, please leave, Ning Shangshu!"

Ning Chen knew very well that he wouldn't get back that one hundred taels of silver.

But he still held a bit of hope.

He had overestimated his place in Ning Ziming's heart. He was still that cold and unfeeling Ning Ziming... If he had a bit of familial affection, he would have investigated instead of accusing him without any basis.

Ning Ziming snorted coldly!

He still thought that Ning Chen's drastic change in personality was just a strategy to get his attention.

Little did he know, such a rebellious act only made him more disgusted.

If it weren't for the emperor, he wouldn't even bother to look at Ning Chen.

Ning Ziming's face turned ashen as he swept out.

At the door, the steward Wu bowed and greeted him.

"Master, breakfast is ready for you!"

Because they couldn't eat breakfast before court, they would eat after court.

Ning Ziming said coldly, "Wu steward, how long have you been with me?"

Wu steward thought for a moment and hurriedly bowed, "This old servant has been with Master for over a decade."

"Having been with me for so long, you should understand my thoughts... Wu steward, Ning Chen is still a Ning. I don't want anyone to play tricks."

"Remember, even if the master is not favored, he is still the master, and the servant is still the servant... subordinates who defy their superiors are not tolerated in the Ning residence."

"Wu steward, from now on, the food given to Ning Chen must be nutritious and clean!"

Ning Ziming finished speaking and left with his hands behind his back.

Wu steward stood there, his old face pale and cold sweat pouring down.

He understood very well that Ning Ziming was warning him.

How did Master know I added something to Ning Chen's breakfast?

Little did he know, Ning Ziming had been in the bureaucracy for a long time. To reach his current position, besides the support of the Left Chancellor, he also had strong personal abilities.

When Ning Chen forced Wu steward to eat, how could he not see the signs?

Of course, he was warning Wu steward not for Ning Chen, but to maintain his own authority... a servant who bullied a Ning was slapping his face.

At this moment, Ning Chen also noticed some unusual signs in Ning Ziming's behavior.

Because Ning Ziming asked him if he had seen any outsiders recently.

In the past few days, apart from the people in the residence, he had only seen Tianxuan.

Tianxuan was accompanied by eunuchs, so he must be a royal relative.

Tianxuan had an extraordinary demeanor, and Ning Chen suspected he was the Prince of Fuguo.

The Prince of Fuguo was the only brother of the current emperor living in the capital.

Ning Ziming's sudden change in attitude towards him, could it be related to the Prince of Fuguo?

But that didn't make sense, he used a fake name, and Tianxuan didn't know his real identity.

Perhaps he could send someone to investigate him.

But even so, he didn't need to warn Ning Ziming for his sake.

Moreover, the Prince of Fuguo was just a leisurely prince with no real power. Although he was a royal relative, Ning Ziming had the powerful Left Chancellor behind him, so he had no reason to fear the Prince of Fuguo.

Ning Chen rubbed his temples... perhaps there was another reason for Ning Ziming's sudden change in attitude towards him.

Forget it, he wouldn't worry about it for now. He needed to focus on recovering and then find a way to leave the Ning residence.

Ning Ziming was just ignoring him; the real threat came from Chang Ruyue and her son.

Chang Ruyue and her son had the powerful Left Chancellor behind them, a person second only to the emperor and above all others.

If he didn't leave the Ning residence, he would be at a disadvantage and would eventually be killed.

...

A month passed, and Ning Chen's injuries were almost fully healed.

During this period, the food was good, and he gained some weight, looking healthier.

Actually, he could get out of bed after seven or eight days and even went to see Uncle Chai... fortunately, Uncle Chai was fine, or he would have had a problem with Ning Mao.

Ning Chen decided to continue selling poems to make money.

The one hundred taels were taken by Ning Gan, and he wouldn't get them back.

But his resolve to leave the Ning family hadn't changed. For his own safety, he had to leave.

To leave the Ning family, he needed money.

Ning Chen climbed over the wall again, left the Ning residence, and headed straight for the Zhuangyuan Tower.

He hoped his luck would be good, and he would meet Tianxuan today.

Tianxuan was generous.

The weather was getting colder, and Ning Chen tightened his thin clothes.

He didn't know if Ning Ziming had forgotten or if Chang Ruyue was behind it... during this period, he ate well and drank well, but he wasn't given any thick clothes.

The new clothes he bought were taken by Ning Gan and his gang, so he could only wear his old thin clothes.

He ran to the Zhuangyuan Tower.

The Zhuangyuan Tower was still bustling with people coming and going.

Ning Chen looked around, searching for Tianxuan.

If he couldn't find Tianxuan, he would have to sell the poems to others... but he wouldn't get a good price.

Just as Ning Chen was searching for Tianxuan, a fair-faced, beardless man came up to him with small steps.

"Mr. Lan, I finally see you."

Ning Chen turned around, his face full of joy. It was the effeminate man.

Now he didn't find the effeminate man annoying at all; he even found him a bit cute.

Because the effeminate man's presence meant Tianxuan was also there... he could make some money today.

Seeing Ning Chen's thin clothes and shivering, Eunuch Quan couldn't help but say sarcastically, "You are really a miser, not even willing to buy yourself a thick coat. You've earned so much silver, and you don't even spend it on yourself?"

Ning Chen didn't have the heart to deal with his sarcasm and said helplessly, "Don't mention it! I did buy a thick coat, but both the coat and the silver were taken by someone."

Eunuch Quan's face changed drastically.

That silver was an imperial gift. Stealing an imperial gift was a capital offense. Who was so desperate?

"Someone took it? Who did it?"

"A vicious dog from the family, forget it... what's the point of telling you? Is Uncle here? Do you want to buy a poem?"

Eunuch Quan nodded, "Follow me!"