Eldest Master Ning was in the study sharing a pleasant conversation with his son when a trembling maidservant peeked in through the door.
"Master, the madam is not feeling well..." she said softly.
Eldest Master Ning's face immediately darkened.
"Father, this matter is indeed hard for mother to accept," said Ning Yunzhao. "Ultimately, the fault lies with me. If I had made my feelings known to mother earlier, it wouldn't have come to this."
While he was dissatisfied with his wife's actions, it didn't mean he would be pleased if his son simply complied with her, too.
Even with his own clear stance, Ning Yunzhao continued to safeguard Eldest Madam Ning as usual, which pleased Eldest Master Ning very much.
"This isn't just about personal feelings; marriage is a matter concerning both you and the family's future," he said. "Not everything in this world can go according to one's wishes; we must speak with reason."
Ning Yunzhao agreed.
"Father is right," he said. "I will discuss this properly with mother. Reason must be articulated to be accepted. It's unacceptable to remain silent and ask no questions."
Eldest Master Ning nodded, looking even more satisfied as Ning Yunzhao hurried off with the maidservant to check on Eldest Madam Ning. His son was just so perfect, not like those people say, gaining a wife and forgetting his mother; he knew when to advance or retreat and understood propriety, embodying both loyalty and filial piety.
As he was reflecting, a woman's crying approached.
"Father!" Ning Yunyan burst in, knelt down, and clutched at Eldest Master Ning's sleeve, her face streaming with tears, "Brother is trying to send me back to my husband's family."
Eldest Master Ning was startled and frowned at the two maidservants who had followed her in.
"Master, the son-in-law has come to fetch the miss," the two maidservants hurriedly said. "They say that the Shi Family's madam is also unwell and the household can't manage. They want the miss to return to arrange things there, and then come back to attend to our own madam."
"That's not it!" Ning Yunyan shouted sharply, tugging on Eldest Master Ning's sleeve. "Brother summoned him; brother wants to drive me away."
Is that so?
Eldest Master Ning pondered.
Now, the biggest opposers to the marital affair with Miss Jun, besides Eldest Madam Ning, were Ning Yunyan, who in these days had stayed by Eldest Madam Ning's side, helping to cry, cause a scene, and fan the flames.
What she said was true; the son-in-law must have been summoned, or he wouldn't have come by himself.
All that talk of the Shi Family's madam being sick and the household struggling to take care of her, needing Yunyan to go back and oversee the meal arrangements, was improbable. Not to mention it was not yet Ning Yunyan's turn to oversee the Shi Family's meal arrangements, even if Ning Yunyan were in charge, with Eldest Madam Ning ill, whether it was for a month or half a year, the Shi Family wouldn't dare to demand her return.
Unless it was the Ning Family driving her out.
Within this household, the only ones who could send Ning Yunyan away were her own parents and Ning Yunzhao. He hadn't done so, Eldest Madam Ning would not do so; thus, it could only be Ning Yunzhao.
Ning Yunzhao, oh Ning Yunzhao.
"I will discuss things properly with mother; reason must be discussed to be accepted, and if we don't speak up and ask, that won't do."
Discuss reason one must, but before discussing reason, one needs to deal with potential obstacles to reason, so that the discussion can be unimpeded.
This is just like political debates at court, where one removes the opponent's supporters first, leave them isolated, then debate the right and wrong.
Cultivating oneself, ordering the family, governing the country, pacifying the world—all are governed by the same principle.
Even though he had studied for more than a decade, his son was not an impractical scholar, unversed in worldly affairs.
Eldest Master Ning smiled, stroking his beard. He had no more apprehensions or doubts about his son entering the officialdom.
"What do you mean by this?" he looked at Ning Yunyan. "You're returning to your home, how could that be called being driven away?"
What?
Ning Yunyan stopped her feigned crying, looking at her father in disbelief.
"Yanyan, that's your marital home, your home as well. Stop being a child," Eldest Master Ning said. "Hurry and go back with your husband, live your life properly."
So, this place is no longer my home?
Ning Yunyan burst into tears once more.
"Father, mother is still sick, and you're driving me away. You don't want me anymore," she cried. "You don't want me anymore."
Eldest Master Ning's face grew stern.
"Yanyan, stop your willful tantrum," he said. "You're well aware whether your mother is sick or not, and you surely understand why I'm sending you away."
Ning Yunyan choked up, recalling Eldest Master Ning's earlier anger towards Eldest Madam Ning, and she stopped crying.
"Father, I didn't..." She bit her lip anxiously, clasping her hands, and with a trembling voice, she spoke.
Eldest Master Ning interrupted her again.
"You're no child, stop playing the fool, and no one will coddle you anymore," he said. "You know what's in your heart, and so do others. It's understandable that you're obstructive because you dislike [the situation], but Yanyan, you can throw tantrums, make a fuss about food, drink, and fun, but you can't disturb the family's peace and future prospects."
Future prospects.
So Jun Zhenzhen has become the future of the Ning Family?
Ning Yunyan looked at her father, her expression one of despair and confusion.
And she had become an outsider, kicked out of the house, not allowed to interfere with Jun Zhenzhen.
How did it come to this? She was clearly the treasure of the Ning Family, held in the palm of their hand, and Jun Zhenzhen was the mud everyone loathed. How had it suddenly reversed?
In the dim light of dawn, Eldest Madam Ning woke up.
Actually, she hadn't really slept well, because she was hungry.
She hadn't seen Ning Yunyan all day yesterday; the maidservant said that people from the Shi Family took her away, mentioning that Madam Shi was not well.
The Shi Family really had some nerve, collecting her at this time. Was Madam Shi about to die?
Propping herself up irritably, Eldest Madam Ning felt like she was starving to death. With Ning Yunyan gone, there was no one to bring her food, and Ning Yunzhao was always here, although thankfully he had retreated to the outer room at night. She didn't know where Ning Yunyan had hidden the food and didn't want to get up and rummage around, so she had to endure it.
Eldest Madam Ning looked towards the outer room; the door was closed. There was silence outside, presumably Ning Yunzhao was still asleep. She got out of bed and pulled open the multilayered cabinet beside it.
One compartment after another, and still nothing?
Eldest Madam Ning then went to the table, opened several boxes, feeling weak and unstable from walking over from the bed. She stumbled and, supporting herself on the table, pushed too hard and made a loud clang.
The noise startled Eldest Madam Ning, and footsteps sounded from the outer room.
"Mother?" Ning Yunzhao hurried in. "Are you alright?"
Eldest Madam Ning took the opportunity to sit in a chair, her face set in a stern expression.
"I'm fine, not dead yet, to your disappointment," she said hoarsely.
As her words fell, more chaotic footsteps approached outside.
"Eldest sister-in-law."
Accompanied by the voices of Third Madam Ning and Fourth Madam Ning, they also walked in, followed by maidservants.
Previously, Ning Yunyan had said that Eldest Madam needed to rest quietly and had prevented these family members from visiting.
The sudden appearance of so many people made Eldest Madam Ning dizzy for a moment, her vision blurring, but a fragrance reached her nose.
Buckwheat jelly, fried cakes, flaky pastries, crispy chicken, fish and mutton buns...
Her vision blurred, but her mind conjured up a sequence of foods. These dishes seemed to dance before her eyes, drawing closer and closer.
"Eldest sister-in-law, look at how thin you've become," said Third Madam Ning with a pained voice.
"Yes, what medicine have you been taking? Why isn't it working?" Fourth Madam Ning also cried out. "Do the medicines require a special diet?"
"It doesn't, Aunt," Ning Yunzhao also spoke.
"Don't worry about diets, eat first. You need food to take medicines."
"Eldest sister-in-law, if something's bothering you or you feel unwell, just tell me."
Third Madam Ning and Fourth Madam Ning crowded around Eldest Madam Ning on either side, while the maidservants laid out the fine foods on the table.
Eldest Madam Ning felt bombarded by the noisy clamor, unable to hear clearly what they were saying, her gaze fixated on the table as if entranced.
So hungry.
Maybe she should eat something first?
No, this must be Ning Yunzhao's trickery...
But maybe she should eat first, she could feel hungry again later...
The room was crowded with the ladies, maidservants, and young girls. Ning Yunzhao slowly stepped to the side, watching as Third Madam Ning personally handed a piece of fried cake to Eldest Madam Ning, whose expression was somewhat vacant. He watched as she bit into it, a gentle smile appeared on his face.
There was time for discussions later, but food was a necessity. Only with a full belly could one have the strength to reason properly.