klisemfg Chapter 158 Heart-to-Heart Talk with Family
Chapter 158 Heart-to-Heart Talk with Family
“Brother!” Ning Xiaoxi turned around and saw Ning Ziqing, choked up for a moment, she had been thinking too much.
"What are you thinking about? I called you several times but you didn't respond." Ning Ziqing looked at her younger sister with some concern. "Xiao Xi, did something happen at the base?"
Ning Xiaoxi realized what was happening and quickly pulled her brother's arm toward the carriage. "Brother, something has happened with Lord Di Kui. Let's keep a low profile for the next few days. Tell Second Cousin that the shop will not open for business yet."
Ning Ziqing nodded, helped her sister into the carriage, and said through the curtain, "Zhou Xin has been by my side recently, and he's quite clever. I'd like to teach him that set of fist techniques, sister. What do you think?"
Ning Xiaoxi thought for a moment, "Brother, just do what you think is best. Originally, I wanted to investigate the Zhou and Zhao families myself, but the Celestial Master lineage still depends on talent. Regardless of rank, they were all originally officials, and their goal has always been to enter the court as officials, so it's not very suitable for them."
“Well, for now, our family will have to stay here. This is the front line of the battlefield, so we need to ensure our safety. The Zhou family is made up of military officers, and Zhou Xin has some foundation and will learn quickly.” Ning Ziqing urged the horse to move forward slowly. “On this journey, I originally wanted to improve my strength as soon as possible to help my sister, but unfortunately, I’m useless. I’m stuck in this limbo.”
“What are you saying, brother? How long have you been cultivating? All the other Celestial Masters are supported by their families or have been guided by masters at the Lingyuan Dao Academy since childhood. We have achieved our current strength through our own efforts, and everyone praises us!” Ning Xiaoxi’s little face showed. “The Celestial Master Pavilion’s system is a bit complicated. I haven’t figured out who I can trust yet. Brother, don’t worry. Once I find someone I can trust, I’ll let you leave here first so you can continue your cultivation.”
Ning Ziqing hesitated for a moment, but still asked, "Lord Tianji?"
"Brother, don't trust that guy," Ning Xiaoxi quickly interrupted her brother.
Ning Ziqing was taken aback. Her younger sister was an official under Tianji, so why was she so wary of her superior?
“Brother, I’m nominally working under Tianji, but I don’t necessarily have to do his job.” Ning Xiaoxi carefully considered how to tell her brother. “Tianji is very cunning. I used to trust him, but I ran into him on this trip. Sometimes he can be very ruthless. We have families to support, so we shouldn’t associate with someone so heartless.”
Ning Ziqing was surprised that his sister would describe Tianji in this way, and his voice was tinged with sadness, "My sister has been pampered since she was a child, but now... it's because your brother didn't take good care of you."
Ning Xiaoxi pulled Ning Ziqing's hand, which was holding the horse's reins, and touched the calluses on his palms. "Brother, holding a pen and wielding a knife are two different paths. Let's take it slow and not rush."
Ning Ziqing withdrew his fingers and grasped his sister's hand. "Mother always says that although you are a girl, you have a strong mind. From the helplessness when you were suddenly bound and taken to the execution ground to your later self-reliance, Mother is very pleased that you were able to adapt to the change in your status. But your brother can also see her heartache, heartache for your sister's transformation. Although Father doesn't say it, he always wants to do something. Now that you have been pardoned, with our family working together, no difficulty can stop us."
As the carriage turned the corner, it saw Ning Shi standing at the gate of his own courtyard, looking in this direction.
Ning Xiaoxi stretched out her hand and shouted loudly, "Daddy!"
Ning Shi smiled as the carriage approached, then helped his daughter down from it. "Your second cousin asked Zhou Xin to bring over some rabbits that he just hunted, saying they're good for you to eat. Your mother has already started cooking them."
"How did Father know I didn't eat enough at the luncheon?" Ning Xiaoxi followed Ning Shi into the courtyard.
Ning Ziqing secured the carriage and followed in, saying, "Whether it's the royal court or the borderlands, who goes to a luncheon in officialdom just to eat?"
Recalling what happened at the garrison, Ning Xiaoxi couldn't help but sigh again. "Father, tell me, why did Lord Di Kui invite Lord Di Wen, the county magistrate, and the garrison commander to entertain Lord Di Wen and the garrison commander? What did they want me to do?"
Ning Shi didn't say anything, walked into the east room, sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), and gestured to the table opposite, inviting the brother and sister to sit down.
The aroma of rabbit stewing in the large pot in the kitchen wafted enticingly, and Ning Xiaoxi, peering through the door, felt her stomach grow even hungrier.
Ming Luoying brought over a tray and placed a bowl of hot soup in front of each person. "Have some soup to tide you over first, then we can eat soon."
Ning Xiaoxi picked up the soup bowl, took a sip, and smiled sweetly at Ming Luoying, saying, "Mother is the best!"
Ming Luoying sat to the side, picked up her sewing basket, and began sewing a purse.
Ning Shi took a sip of hot soup and said softly, “Fufang County is one of the ten border cities, a key city. The county magistrate is personally appointed by the king; the appointment by the King of Youzhou is merely a formality. The garrison commander comes from the King of Youzhou’s army, having followed the King of Youzhou through thick and thin, earning his position through military merit. To put it bluntly, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the garrison commander only has the King of Youzhou in his eyes.”
Ning Xiaoxi and Ning Ziqing exchanged a glance. Was it a rift between the royal court and the feudal lords?
"The Celestial Master Pavilion keeps to itself and never participates in the affairs of the Royal Court. However, the Celestial Master Pavilion eliminates demons and monsters, does not engage in production, and relies on the Royal Court for its salary. It does not have close relationships with local officials, but it still has to maintain appearances."
"I can understand that, but why call me? I'm just a subordinate official of the Heavenly Gang, am I not qualified to sit at the same table as you gentlemen?"
"Our family was pardoned as soon as we arrived in Fufang. Do you think it was a coincidence that Bai Qingting came to personally read out the pardon that day?"
"Isn't that right?"
“The pardon was already in his hands before we even arrived in Fufang. However, he was ordered to wait until you arrived before reading it, and he was the one who read it.” Ning Shi finished his soup and placed the bowl on the kang table. “This morning, the magistrate of Bai County sent someone to deliver the appointment letter for the county clerk.”
Ning Xiaoxi's eyes widened. What? Her father had become an official again? But she was already a Celestial Master!
"Originally, the county magistrate arranged for my father to teach at the county school. It was not a public office and he would not receive a salary. This position of chief clerk was not a public office either. It was a sinecure that the chief clerk had to take on because he had too much official business. The chief clerk would pay him a monthly allowance. It was only because my father had just been exonerated that the county magistrate personally issued the appointment letter."
“The royal court intends to remove the Tianshi Pavilion's headquarters from the ten border cities,” Ning Ziqing said softly. “I’ve learned in the city these past two days that the people here now believe that Banhuo is a criminal who has been driven out by the royal court.”
Ning Shi nodded. "No mention of demons is allowed in the city. The children know that those who attacked the city are criminals who rebelled. They were convicted of violating the laws of the dynasty, but they are unwilling to accept their punishment and have gathered here to seek revenge on the royal court."
Once the Celestial Master Pavilion withdraws from the ten border cities, it won't be long before all the people believe that those who attacked the cities were criminals, not half-demons or half-monsters, and that there are no demons or monsters in this world.