The main hall was utterly silent. Sitting there, Ning Yuanchen felt as if he had aged several more years.
“We have already sent people to the northwest to investigate the situation. Miss Xiao has also returned to Huaiyang City with them, but we don’t know the outcome yet.”
“Wan’er, we are somewhat aware of your current situation, but only His Majesty can help us with this matter. After you return this time, you must mend your relationship with His Majesty and help find your brother.”
Ning Yuanchen had never deigned to have his children curry favor with the powerful, but with the Ning Family now beset by crisis from all sides, he feared someone was deliberately trying to bring them down.
Ning Wanwan held a high position. She only needed to whisper a few words into Pei Jinxu’s ear, and more than half of their problems would be solved.
“Daughter understands.” Ning Wanwan looked at her family. The residence was still as grand and luxurious as ever, but she wondered how much longer such a scene could be maintained.
Returning to the courtyard where the original owner had lived, she found nothing but a long spear and no extra jewelry. It seemed the former occupant was not one for dressing up.
Ning Wanwan walked closer for a look. The spear was nine chi long, with a Silver Serpent Spearhead at its tip that looked as if it were forged from a spirit serpent.
The original owner had a fine figure, a little over 1.7 meters tall, but could she really lift a spear like this?
Ning Wanwan couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. She had only heard that the original owner was arrogant and domineering, but no one had ever specified how. She was probably just a strong-willed and unyielding character whose bluntness had offended people, leading to such rumors.
A woman who could wield a long spear should be more like a heroic woman who was every bit the equal of a man.
As if feeling a pang of pity, Ning Wanwan reached out her hand. Just as she was about to touch it, a childish voice came from outside the door.
“I heard you have amnesia. Do you still remember this Youlong Spear?”
Ning Wanwan followed the voice and saw a little girl of about ten years old curiously sizing her up. It was Ning Wanxin, the little girl who had been beside Madam Hua at the last banquet.
“So its name is the Youlong Spear. I’ve forgotten,” Ning Wanwan said with an indifferent shrug.
“You really aren’t my sister.” The little girl’s voice was muffled and sullen, her eyes full of vigilance as she looked at Ning Wanwan.
“I am your sister, but I truly don’t remember anything.”
“You’re not! My sister isn’t like you.” Ning Wanxin’s delicate, doll-like face was flushed, her brow tightly furrowed. She seemed to strongly reject Ning Wanwan.
“I can’t be bothered to argue with you, you little brat.” Ning Wanwan didn’t want to say more, because her soul was indeed not the real Ning Wanwan’s; she had occupied someone else’s body.
Out of curiosity, Ning Wanwan couldn’t resist touching the golden spear shaft. But this touch was no small matter. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and her vision blurred.
“Don’t touch my sister’s things, you coward!” Seeing Ning Wanwan touch the original owner’s belongings, Ning Wanxin rushed over in a fit of anger.
Ning Wanwan was already dizzy, and with Ning Wanxin’s push, her body lost control and fell backward.
The teacups on the table shattered into pieces, and Ning Wanwan fell to the ground, unconscious.
After pushing her, Ning Wanxin felt a little regretful. Seeing Ning Wanwan lying on the ground, seemingly passed out, she couldn’t help but panic, covering her mouth to stifle any sound.
She glanced left and right, and seeing no one, she hastily ran out.
“Brother, I want to play with you guys too.” A young girl of about thirteen or fourteen, dressed in a small crimson skirt, was pretty and enchanting, her features so exquisite she hardly looked real. At this moment, she was trotting after a young man.
The young man’s handsome face was full of impatience. “What’s a girl like you doing playing with spears? Go back to your studies and painting.”
“I won’t. Why is it that only you can play with a long spear? A girl can’t? I insist on joining you.”
Ning Wanwan watched the young girl chase after the young man, finding it somewhat amusing.
The young man seemed unable to win against her and, with a cold face, handed her the spear in his hand.
The young girl’s face lit up with joy, but the moment she touched the long spear, she was nearly crushed by its weight.
“Hahaha! Aren’t you just completely useless? You can’t even lift the spear, so what are you playing at? Be a good girl and go back to practicing your zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting,” Ning Yuanzhou mocked her mercilessly.
The little Ning Wanwan was unconvinced, but she still couldn’t hold the spear steady. Finally, in a fit of pique, she threw the spear to the ground and tried to kick it.
She seemed to use a great deal of force, kicking out fiercely. Luckily, she missed, but she lost her balance and fell flat on her face.
Ning Yuanzhou’s loud laughter erupted from behind her.
Ning Wanwan grimaced from the fall. Suddenly, a pair of fair, slender hands appeared before her.
Ning Wanwan looked up and saw a young Pei Jinxu.
At this time, Pei Jinxu wasn’t like his present self, who always favored black robes with python embroidery. He was wearing an exquisite, crescent-white robe, his face incomparably handsome, with a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.
The young girl’s face flushed slightly as she extended her hand to let him help her up.
“Spears are not for girls to play with. They are for killing enemies on the battlefield,” Pei Jinxu said.
“I can do that too.”
“But you can’t even lift the spear,” Ning Yuanzhou said, walking over from behind.
“I can practice.”
“Then go practice. Nyeh, nyeh, nyeh.” Ning Yuanzhou made a face at her.
“You—” Ning Wanwan was furious and chased after Ning Yuanzhou to hit him. Ning Yuanzhou ran while taunting her, looking extremely punchable.