Chapter 19
Wen Congyan was naturally waiting for Wen Ninghan. The incident at the Princess’s residence today had caused quite a stir.
Wen Congyan, however, was just a low-ranking official in the Ministry of War, a mere assistant secretary.
He didn’t have much work to do on a daily basis, and his position was more of a nominal one, given to him due to his noble title.
It allowed him to receive a small and insignificant salary, but in reality, it held no practical value. He was essentially just biding his time.
So, when Wen Congyan heard that something had happened at the Princess’s residence and that both of his daughters had attended the flower-viewing banquet, he immediately took leave from his superior and headed straight back to the Duke’s residence.
At that time, Wen Ning Shuang had just been sent back to the Duke’s residence by Sheng Xiaoze.
After hearing Wen Ning Shuang’s incomplete explanation, Wen Congyan more or less understood that the chaos at the flower-viewing banquet was indeed related to Wen Ninghan.
Fortunately, however, Wen Ninghan hadn’t caused trouble; instead, she had stepped in to save someone, and it was none other than the young master of the Rongguo Duke’s residence.
The Rongguo Duke’s family! Even if Wen Congyan had ambitions, he was fully aware of the vast difference in status between the Yong’an Duke’s family and the Rongguo Duke’s family.
That gap was so wide that even if he risked his life, he could never catch up. It was a distance that was both desirable and unattainable.
This time, Wen Ninghan had managed to forge a connection with the Rongguo Duke’s residence—oh, and also the Princess’s residence.
That was a life-saving favor! Wen Congyan felt as if a smooth, sunlit path had appeared before him, filled with hope and possibility.
Wen Congyan hadn’t intentionally waited at the door.
Though his influence in the court had waned, as the Marquis of Yong’an, he was still Wen Ninghan’s father.
So, after sending Sheng Xiaoze off, he had simply stayed in his study. Who would have known that Wen Ninghan would be delayed so long at the Princess’s residence?
Wen Congyan began to suspect that something might have gone wrong again.
Restless in the study, he wandered about until he ended up at the door, where he unexpectedly saw the carriage from the Princess’s residence.
He wanted desperately to pretend not to recognize it, but the insignia of the Princess residence was so distinct that he couldn’t miss it.
When he looked closer, he realized that the person stepping down from the carriage was his eldest daughter, whom he had long neglected. A complex array of emotions washed over him.
This was his daughter, the one he had never truly cared for. Yet, without his knowledge, she had grown into such a remarkable young woman.
To be honest, since Wen Ninghan had returned to the Marquis of Yong’an’s Mansion, Wen Congyan had only seen his eldest daughter once.
He was occupied with numerous affairs, and matters such as caring for his daughters or managing the household were not his concern.
Meanwhile, Concubine Su had been so preoccupied with preparing a dowry for Qin Xi that she had been too overwhelmed to even consider informing Wen Congyan.
She was hesitant about seeking his help until she had rectified her own mistakes. After all, based on her understanding of Wen Congyan, she knew he would not let her off easily.
As a result of this delay, half a month had passed, and Wen Ninghan had not sought her out. The entire Marquis’s Mansion had been in a state of false tranquility.
And now—
“You’re back?” Wen Congyan put on an air of indifference, passing by the door with his hands behind his back. “Nothing happened today, right?”
Wen Ninghan suppressed a smile and, with Qingtuan’s assistance, greeted Wen Congyan. “Greetings, Father.”
She didn’t believe for a moment that Wen Congyan was unaware of the incident at the Princess Manor.
Even if he hadn’t heard any rumors at the government office, Wen Ninghuang would have told him something after returning.
With him standing right in front of her, pretending to be clueless and beating around the bush, did he really expect her to cooperate?
“Nothing major happened,” Wen Ninghan replied calmly.
For her, there really hadn’t been any major incident. After all, she had only provided the opportunity and the clue; it was Qingtuan who had actually stepped in to save the person!
Wen Ninghan refused to follow Wen Congyan’s lead, leaving him both frustrated and realizing that this daughter, who had not grown up in the Marquis’s Mansion, was not only a stranger to him but also lacked any filial affection.
She seemed so docile and obedient, but in reality, she was quite slippery and defiant.
Wen Congyan was a good judge of character. He could see through Wen Ninghan’s seemingly compliant demeanor and detect the underlying insolence and defiance.
His eyes narrowed. Despite his fairly upright appearance, when he squinted, a cold and harsh aura radiated from him.
He was well aware that this look alone was enough to intimidate Su Concubine, Wen Ninghuang, or anyone else in the family.
But how could Wen Ninghan still be smiling?
Wen Congyan couldn’t help but frown. “I heard there was quite a commotion at the Princess’s flower viewing banquet today.”
Wen Ninghan seemed to suddenly realize something and replied, “Yes, that’s true. Didn’t my younger sister tell you, Father?”
“Then why did you say nothing major happened?”
Wen Ninghan smiled and said, “It might have been a big deal for the Princess’s residence, but to me, as long as no one got hurt, it’s not a big deal. As for the details, my younger sister was also there, so she knows what happened.”
“Shuang’er has already told me everything she knows, but there are some things she doesn’t know. For example, how did you know that the young master of the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion would fall into the water there? And what happened to the young master afterwards?”
What Wen Congyan wanted to know most was the safety of the young master of the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion.
When they were rescuing the young master, everyone else had been sent away, and except for the people from the Princess residence, no one else was left in the Autumn Chrysanthemum Courtyard. So, no one knew what happened afterward.
Judging from the Princess residence’s reaction, the young master probably wasn’t in serious trouble.
At least, he should still be alive. Otherwise, if the young master had really drowned in the Princess residence, the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion would have made a huge fuss.
And what role did Wen Ninghan play in all this? Why did it take her so long to come back?
No matter how you looked at it, Wen Ninghan had at least saved the young master’s life. Shouldn’t the Princess Manor have shown some gratitude?
The carriage that had just sent Wen Ninghan back was from the Princess Manor.
If she hadn’t made a good impression on Princess Huiling, how could she have been given the privilege of riding in the Princess Manor’s carriage?
Wen Ninghan was well aware of what Wen Congyan wanted to know.
He wanted to know how she had managed to stay at the Princess Manor for so long after everyone else had left, and what she had done during that time.
Most importantly, he wanted to know if she had managed to establish connections with Princess Huiling or even the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion.
After all, saving the young master’s life was a clear favor that she had done.
She could play along with Wen Congyan for now, but it wasn’t time to have a confrontation with him yet.
With a sweet smile, Wen Ninghan replied, “The young master of the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion received timely treatment and should be fine now. When I left, the manor’s physician was taking care of him, and the imperial physician was on their way.”
Wen Ninghan paused, then, seeing the expectant look in Wen Congyan’s eyes, she suppressed her smile and continued,
“It was just a coincidence. While watching the commotion by the lake, I noticed some disheveled footprints, those of a child. Just in case, I asked someone to inform the Princess. I’m glad I was able to help, and I didn’t expect it to be the young master of the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion.”
Wen Congyan thought the same. He couldn’t help but marvel at Wen Ninghan’s luck.
She had simply been strolling around when she happened to discover those footprints.
And not only had she managed to save someone, but it turned out to be the young master of the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion.
“The young master is still receiving treatment, and everyone in the Princess residence is very busy. There was nothing more I could do there, so I came back.”
The unspoken implication was clear: whether the Princess’s residence would express their gratitude or whether the Rongguo Duke’s residence would acknowledge this life-saving favor would depend on their reactions later.
