Chapter 273 Too Tired
Xu Mingqian's heart was moved, but he didn't express his feelings, only raised his eyebrows.
"Lord Ning, you are wrong. I have a good wife at home."
Ning Fengzhe smiled without revealing any emotion.
"Excuse me for being blunt, but without a marriage certificate, without sleeping together, and just living under the same roof, what kind of wife am I?"
"Outsiders don't know, but you and I know that the emperor made this arrangement to stabilize the general. He asked him to personally train his son-in-law and give up the position of copper minister, and then hand it over to you without worry. This is a court matter, not a family matter."
"Now that it's done, Madam Xu will make other arrangements in the future. It's not wrong for Master Xu to consider his lifelong affairs at an appropriate time, right?"
Xu Mingqian suppressed his emotions and refused stubbornly.
"I have been grateful for your help, but I will wait until Madam leaves before I consider other things."
Ning Fengzhe expressed his admiration.
"Lord Xu has acted uprightly, and this is as it should be."
His eyes flickered with some concern.
"But my little sister, I miss her so much, she's getting weaker day by day... I don't know if she can hold on."
Xu Mingqian could not hide the worry in his brows, and bowed with his hands clasped.
"Please give me more advice, Master Ning. I will be very grateful."
Ning Fengzhe pretended to smile in surprise.
"Lord Xu's words, if you are concerned about him, it seems that after Madam Xu leaves, you will marry Wei'er?"
Recalling the lingering lips, there was still a hint of sweetness, and Xu Mingqian pursed his lips and smiled.
"Ms. Ning Si is infatuated, I dare not let her down."
Ning Fengzhe was secretly planning a rebellion and openly expressing his fear, seemingly testing the emperor.
"But she is concerned about her determination. What is Lord Xu planning to do?"
Xu Mingqian immediately became serious.
"Master Ning, be careful with your words."
He faced the direction of the imperial palace solemnly, respectfully and cautiously, not daring to be vague in the slightest.
"Your Majesty's grace is great, and I will never betray you!"
Ning Fengzhe continued to instigate rebellion with clever words.
"Wouldn't that put her in a dilemma?"
Xu Mingqian's heart was moved, he lowered his eyes and kept a polite smile.
"There is nothing to be said yet, we will talk about it when the time comes."
Ning Fengzhe saw through his thoughts at a glance and nodded with a smile.
"Okay, as you say, let's stop here for now. I won't ask any more questions."
Fearing that this might arouse suspicion, Xu Mingqian changed the subject, hinting at the intention of sending the guest away.
"Master Ning, are you here just to tell Fourth Miss Ning about her feelings?"
Ning Fengzhe's expression changed, and he looked genuinely worried.
"There is one more important matter. I need your help, Lord Xu."
Xu Mingqian behaved modestly and nodded slightly.
"Lord Ning is too polite. I have no choice but to do my duty."
Ning Fengzhe narrated the story as if it were true.
"Weier was so bold as to obstruct the Emperor's affairs. When Lord Su received the news, he wanted to use the epidemic to trap Weier in Prince Chen's mansion. Lord Xu knew that the epidemic was no joke. Weier was weak to begin with. Even if she was in a quiet place and stayed in the guest room all day, she would still be at risk of contracting the disease."
"I am really worried, but I am powerless and cannot persuade Lord Su. I have no choice but to shamelessly ask Lord Xu to intercede and ask him to let my little sister go."
Xu Mingqian agreed readily.
"no problem."
Ning Fengzhe remained calm and smiled to himself.
"Wei'er will be here soon. Please protect her, Lord Xu. I will come to pick her up after the matter is completed."
Xu Mingqian was slightly stunned.
"She's coming over?"
Ning Fengzhe explained patiently.
"Lord Su brought his men with him and came to Ning Mansion to arrest people. I escaped from the back door with Wei'er. I wanted to bring her here directly, but I thought about etiquette and couldn't act rashly. Therefore, I put her in a nearby inn. I came here first to ask Lord Xu's opinion."
When Xu Mingqian heard this, he became worried.
"I'm afraid Lord Su will find out where I'm hiding. Go and call her."
Ning Fengzhe stood up and saluted.
"Well, thank you, Lord Xu, for your help."
Xu Mingqian then stood up and respectfully saw him out.
Ning Jiewei came as soon as Ning Fengzhe left.
"Master Xu, I have something to ask for your help."
Xu Mingqian couldn't help but feel tender and waved to her with a smile.
"I know everything. Come here and I will protect you."
Ning Jiewei's eyes were blank.
"Protect me..."
Before she finished asking the question, she felt dizzy, as if it was caused by the drugs. Ning Jiewei gently held her forehead, her body limp, and she fainted.
Xu Mingqian was startled, and he walked quickly, stretched out his arms, and caught her in time.
"Fourth Miss Ning!"
Perhaps because he was too sleepy, he did not suspect anything and stared at her thick black eyebrows. He smiled with love in his heart.
When An Pengyi came back from the palace, he opened the door and saw Wen Yu in his arms. He was stunned and shocked.
"Master Xu, you..."
"She fainted?"
Xu Mingqian behaved awkwardly and did not move.
"Maybe it's because I'm too tired, maybe I'm faint or asleep, I don't know."
An Pengyi understood immediately and responded deeply with a long tail syllable.
"Tired—too tired?"
"It didn't take me long to go to the palace and back, but you're already... too tired?"
Xu Mingqian's cheeks felt hot and his eyes were at a loss as to where to put them.
"No, no, Lord An really misunderstood."
As he spoke, he had already chosen a bench, gently put her down, and covered her with a piece of clothing.
"Lord Ning asked me to help take care of my virtuous sister."
An Pengyi understood again, stroked his beard and smiled.
"Is this a request from Lord Ning? I think the Emperor has other intentions."
"Master Xu, please continue. I will go to the next room and wait."
Xu Mingqian's scalp tensed up, and he rubbed his hands hurriedly with his fingertips. He took two steps back and wanted to explain.
"Master An has misunderstood. I didn't mean that..."
Before he could finish his words, An Pengyi had already left and closed the door for him.
Xu Mingqian stopped, faced the door, and was stunned for a long while.
As he thought about it, he gradually misunderstood the meaning and felt dazed.
Is this the emperor's deep meaning?
Are you going to resort to assassination again, just like the last time we met?
Then I will treat her like I did last time...
Xu Mingqian looked back at her infatuatedly, staring at her, and couldn't help but walk to the side of the bench.
Thinking of the words "protect me" that she whispered before she fell asleep, his lips were light and his eyes were deep, full of smiles.
I haven't heard the oral instructions, but I can only guess that he won't take advantage of others' misfortune.
Seeing her long hair falling to the ground, he leaned over, carefully tidied it, brushed off the dust, and gently lay beside her.
When the long arms approached, she tilted her head and rested it on the soft pillow, with a slight frown on her brows, as if she disliked the hardness and discomfort of the bench.
He looked around, trying to find something to replace the pillow, but he couldn't find anything satisfactory.
"Fourth Miss Ning, I am being rude."
With a few soft words, he sat on the bench, carefully helped her to lie down, using her legs as a pillow.
Sure enough, after she lay down, the discomfort between her eyebrows gradually eased.
He looked at her and smiled, conveying a little warmth.
"Sleep peacefully. No one can bully you with me here."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the secret guard come to report that Lord Su, the Secret Secretary, had arrived.
Xu Mingqian asked in a deep voice.
"Master Su, are you here alone?"
The hidden guard replied.
"No, Lord Su brought a team of secret agents with him."
Xu Mingqian's eyes suddenly turned cold.
"Gather the secret guards and wait outside the door, ready to respond to my orders at any time. After that, I will invite Lord Su to come here to see me."
The hidden guard left in response.
"Yes."
After a while, Su Ding led his men and came in a mighty manner.
Xu Mingqian glanced at him indifferently.
"What does Lord Su mean?"
The smile that Su Ding had just shown was completely wiped out by his indifference.
"I have been ordered to ask Miss Ning Si to cooperate with the arrangements of the Secret Office and go to Prince Chen's Mansion to stay temporarily."
Xu Mingqian chuckled.
"If I don't allow it, what will you do?"