Chapter 590: So Fragile
Ning Yunxi raised her eyes upon hearing this and looked at him with resentment.
"Second brother, how dare you lie to mother?"
Ning Xuanfeng rebuked harshly.
"It was you who deceived your mother."
He is of great integrity and upright character.
"You embezzled money and wanted to share the spoils with me to shut me up, but I refused."
"At that time, I taught you that you, a gentleman and a lady, must not do such an unfilial and unrighteous thing. You promised me that I would correct it, but I didn't expect that you would do it so blatantly."
Ning Yunxi immediately sensed something unusual and asked a question.
"This is not the tone of my second brother."
"Who taught you this?"
Ning Xuanfeng felt guilty subconsciously and glanced at his mother.
"How do you listen to..."
Seeing that the situation was not good, Mu Rong pretended to cough to remind him.
"Cough cough."
After receiving the hint from his mother, Ning Xuanfeng immediately regained his stern expression and became easily angry.
"My words are righteous, so they are what she taught me? Could it be that in your eyes, I am an unkind and unjust person?"
Seeing that there was great hope, Ning Yunxi seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw. He was deeply moved and spoke passionately, trying his best to persuade his brother.
"Second brother, you know I didn't do it, how can you bear to watch me suffer?"
"Are you and I really siblings, as outsiders say, without any affection at all?"
"Second brother, you are doing things against your will. Don't you know that God is watching you and evil deeds will eventually bring evil consequences?"
Ning Xuanfeng's brows trembled, showing a bit of reluctance.
"My... third sister..."
His eyes were restless and uneasy, just like his disturbed mind.
"I'm strict, but it's all for your own good. I..."
Mu Rong interrupted him with a gentle and soothing voice.
"Feng'er, don't panic."
She opened her eyes wide and glared at Ning Yunxi fiercely, suddenly filled with rage.
"Ning Yunxi, how dare you threaten my brother?"
"The way of filial piety and brotherly love has been completely forgotten!"
"Do you behave like a child or a younger sister? Do you have the proper manners that a daughter of an aristocratic family should have?"
"People like you have no conscience and are not worthy of being human!"
The words his mother used were so harsh that Ning Xuanfeng could hardly bear to hear them and couldn't help but stand up for her.
"It's not that serious."
"If you do something wrong, you should be punished; if you don't do anything wrong, you shouldn't..."
Mu Rong slammed the table lightly, then interrupted him again with a slightly stern tone.
"Feng'er."
"What are you talking about? Mother can't understand."
"What did I teach you? She is very thoughtful. Even if she takes the banknotes secretly, she can make sure that you won't see it."
"Because you didn't see it, she's even more suspicious."
"How many times does my mother need to teach me this simple truth?"
"Shan Zhi is a pure and kind person. You don't even know that you are being used as a tool, but you are actually disciplining your mother. Are you willing to be used by her?"
"Could it be that, in your mind, your mother is someone who loves to misunderstand and arbitrarily punish her children?"
Ning Xuanfeng was unable to react in time and was completely panicked.
"No, no, why would I do that?"
"Mother is the most sensible mother in the world."
Mu Rong threw the silk handkerchief from her arms and burst into tears, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
"Mother is wrong, you can report it to Yin Sitai."
"I risked my life to give birth to my beloved son after ten months of pregnancy, but now he is being unreasonable. I want the officials to judge who is right and who is wrong in this matter?"
It was rare for his mother to cry so heartbreakingly. Ning Xuanfeng felt panicked and distressed. He hurriedly snatched the handkerchief and wiped his mother's tears in a clumsy manner.
"No, no, I won't tell Yin Sitai. Mother's words are too serious. I know I am wrong."
"Mother is right. My third sister is full of tricks, and everyone knows it. This matter is indeed suspicious."
Ning Yunxi felt helpless.
"Second brother..."
Ning Xuanfeng stomped his feet in anger and accidentally stepped on the back of his sister's hand.
"Don't be so naughty anymore. I don't want to hear you talk nonsense!"
Ning Yunxi felt pain and retracted her hands.
"what……"
Ning Xuanfeng looked over when he heard the voice, confirmed it with a glance, and lowered his eyes guiltily.
Mu Rong was unmoved, but instead felt complacent.
"Xi'er, be patient."
"I have sent someone to ask my fourth brother to put aside his work and take an hour off to deal with your matter."
"Mother, I will never wrong you."
Ning Yunxi was unhappy and looked expressionless.
"Thank you, mother."
Mu Rong didn't want to look at him any more, so she turned to her beloved son and explained patiently.
"When your uncle comes and explains everything, you will know how ugly your third sister's true face is."
"Feng'er knows very well that your uncle is the most honest person and would never lie to anyone."
Ning Xuanfeng nodded.
"Yes, the child knows it very well."
Not long after, Mur Chen, wearing an official robe, walked quickly into Xiangzhu Garden.
"Second sister, are you looking for me?"
Ning Xuanfeng and Ning Yunxi saluted together.
"I wish you all the best, little uncle."
Mur Chen personally helped Feng'er up, and sat on the side with him on either side.
"Second sister, tell me, what do you want me to do?"
Ning Yunxi was still kneeling, and Mu Erchen turned a blind eye.
Mu Rong asked directly and straightforwardly.
"How much is the blessing you gave to Xi'er?"
Murchen showed a slight embarrassment.
"Why are you asking this all of a sudden? This is so embarrassing."
Mu Rong was decisive.
"We are a family, what's embarrassing? Just answer it."
Mur Chen pretended to admit his mistake and cooperated in answering.
"Yes, I made a mistake."
"Reply to Second Sister, Xi'er's lucky bag contains three fifty-liang silver notes, totaling one hundred and fifty liang of silver."
Ning Xuanfeng was shocked.
"Have I really been deceived?"
Mu Rong put on airs.
"You are naturally deceived."
"What kind of person is your mother? What kind of person is she? Who deceived you? Who protected you? Don't you know?"
Ning Xuanfeng buried his head in shame.
"Mother, I'm sorry, I almost blamed you wrongly."
Mu Rong gave a lecture.
"Feng'er, remember to learn to distinguish right from wrong in the future."
Ning Xuanfeng agreed obediently.
"My child obeys."
Mur Chen pretended to be ignorant and asked in a hypocritical manner.
"What happened? Who lied to Feng'er?"
Mu Rong replied simply.
"Telling you about the trivial matters at home will only cause you trouble, so it's better not to tell you."
Ning Xuanfeng was domineering and returned to his usual self.
"Mother, you must ask her to hand over the silver. She is still young and has not learned her lesson. You cannot let her go easily."
Mu Rong gave some advice.
"She's a girl, and she's thin-skinned. Your mother is disciplining her, and you shouldn't be there."
Ning Xuanfeng was furious.
"I knew at a glance that my mother wanted to protect me."
Mur Chen followed closely and tried to persuade him.
"Feng'er, be good and don't be late for school. Your uncle will watch over you and will not let her be partial to you, okay?"
Ning Xuanfeng believed it without a doubt and smiled happily.
"Thank you, uncle."
He said goodbye and left in a hurry.
After confirming that her beloved son had gone far away, Mu Rong gave the order in a deep voice.
"Come in and treat the third lady's knee injury."
Doctor Yang Chongmu followed the order and walked into the bedroom.
Seeing that it was a man, Ning Yunxi was shocked and stepped back repeatedly.
"Mother...Mother, you can't..."
Mu Rong was leisurely and calm, playing with her folding fan.
"I have a back injury, so I can't help Doctor Yang. Please ask my fourth brother to do it for me."
Mur Chen looked Ning Yunxi up and down and smiled with interest.
"As you command."
Ning Yunxi knelt down in front of her mother and kowtowed repeatedly.
"I beg you, mother, to let my child go..."
Mu Rong glanced at her.
"It's just to check and treat your knee injury. It's not a random trip. You're refusing like this, as if we're bullying you."
"In front of a doctor, patients are not divided into male and female. This is the profound theory of Emperor Jin. Haven't you heard of it?"
"How squeamish."