Free Web NovelChapter 193: Chapter 193: Ningning Pays Respects at the Xie Family’s Ancestral Hall
Xie Suzhi didn’t answer. He only instructed, "Go and tell the Divine Doctor, Sima Han, to prepare medicine for me."
Xie Mingxu erupted in anger, slamming his fists on the table. He stared at Xie Suzhi, his eyes bloodshot.
"Father!" he cried out, desperately awaiting an answer.
Xie Suzhi gazed back at him, his eyes as inscrutable as the deep sea.
Even though Xie Mingxu had been seasoned on the battlefield for three years, before Chancellor Xie, he was still just a boy whose thoughts were easy to read.
"You only need to know this: for your sister’s sake, I am willing to give my life. But the prerequisite is ensuring her safety."
Xie Mingxu’s brow furrowed as he listened.
’Safety? What does he mean by that?’
But Chancellor Xie clearly had no intention of saying more. In fact, his coughing grew more severe.
Xie Mingxu hesitated no longer and rushed out to find Sima Han.
「Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study Room of the palace.」
The Emperor and the State Preceptor were the only two present.
"Your Majesty, today, when Princess Funing was offering incense to the Rain Godess, she was burned by the incense stick."
"I saw. Did you not say that if one is burned by incense while paying respect to a god, it means they are not a blessed girl?"
"I did say that, Your Majesty. But those words are merely rumors passed down from my master. Their authenticity has yet to be verified. After all, Princess Funing did indeed summon the rain and end the drought."
After the State Preceptor finished, the Emperor rubbed his temples, a headache setting in.
"I had thought Shen Ningning was the child of the Xie Family. But it seems old Xie has hidden his real daughter away."
"Your Majesty suspects Chancellor Xie is not telling the truth? I, on the other hand, believe Shen Ningning is the true young lady of the Xie family."
The Emperor narrowed his eyes. After a moment of thought, he shook his head. "If she were truly his daughter, he wouldn’t adopt her with such fanfare. It is likely a diversion."
The State Preceptor found this reasonable and added, "After all, the destiny of a blessed girl is precious. It’s not a fate just anyone can possess."
"To save Cangyun Country, we must find the child born during the great storm that night. Chancellor Xie’s daughter should be the most likely candidate."
The Emperor added, "I have already dispatched men to investigate. They are searching all over Cangyun Country. Perhaps we will find someone even more suitable than the Xie girl."
...
The fifteenth of October, an exceptionally auspicious day.
The Xie family chose this day to add Shen Ningning’s name to the ancestral scroll.
Early in the morning, all the servants in the mansion bustled about, preparing offerings for the ceremony.
Xie Suzhi had even invited the three most senior elders of the Xie clan.
Xie Yuanjiu was in her room, trying to figure out how to get into the National Academy.
Second Madam Xie came in. "Jiu Jiu, how can you just sit there? Your uncle is about to adopt a daughter!"
Xie Yuanjiu’s expression was calm. "I know."
"You know?!" Second Madam Xie sighed again and again. "Then don’t you realize that once she’s officially adopted into the main branch of the family, she’ll be competing with you for a husband in the future?"
"You’re a child of the second branch. When you’re older, if there are any good suitors, the main branch will certainly get the first pick. I’m worried sick for you, so how can you be so calm?"
Xie Yuanjiu had no time for her. She had just remembered that the father of one of her close friends happened to have connections to the National Academy.
She quickly wrote a letter, planning to pay him a visit with gifts in the coming days.
Seeing that she was being completely ignored, Second Madam Xie became insistent and snatched the brush from her hand.
Xie Yuanjiu was stunned, then grew angry. "Mother! What are you doing?"
"What am I doing? Aren’t you going to go persuade your uncle? Tell him not to adopt that girl! Tell him you’ll be filial to him in the future. If you say a few nice things, how could he not listen?"
Xie Yuanjiu was about to die from the frustration of her mother’s foolish reasoning.
She took a deep breath. "Mother, do you not know Uncle at all? Is he the kind of person who would reverse a decision just because I said a few words?"
Second Madam Xie froze. On second thought, she had a point.
"Then... then..." she stammered. "Then go and show him what you can do! Let him know that you’re leagues better than that Shen Ningning."
Xie Yuanjiu’s expression darkened. "But, Mother, are you aware that Shen Ningning took first place in the highest division of the National Academy’s entrance exam?"
"What?!" Second Madam Xie was dumbfounded.
’That Little Blessing Girl actually has that kind of talent?’
Xie Yuanjiu continued, "You say I’m better than her at everything, but I didn’t even place in the top three. The most important thing now isn’t to curry favor with Uncle, but to find a way into the National Academy."
"Otherwise, if I fall behind her on this, I’ll lose everything. When it’s time to compete with her later, what will I have to compete with? Stop getting hung up on such trivial matters. Shen Ningning isn’t Uncle’s real daughter, so what are you afraid of?"
After being scolded by her daughter, Second Madam Xie finally came to her senses.
She patted her chest. "Yes, you’re right. You must seize this opportunity. As for the National Academy, I’ll have someone ask around in your father’s name. How does that sound?"
"There’s no need. Father has been paralyzed for so long. People might claim they’re doing it out of respect for him, but it’s really out of respect for Uncle. Uncle cannot find out about this. I have my own plan, so just stop asking." Xie Yuanjiu pushed Second Madam Xie out of the room.
As the auspicious hour approached, Shen Ningning followed behind Xie Suzhi and Xie Mingxu into the courtyard of the Xie Mansion’s ancestral hall.
The courtyard was filled with members of the Xie clan, all of whom looked at the little girl with kind eyes.
Xie Suzhi brought Shen Ningning before the three clan elders.
"Ningning, this is the First Great Elder, the Second Great Elder, and the Third Great Elder."
The little girl bowed obediently. "Greetings, Great Grandfathers."
All three elders smiled kindly. "Excellent, excellent. We have prepared introductory gifts for you over there. From now on, Ningning, you are a member of our Xie Family."
"This is your eldest brother, Xie Mingxu," Xie Suzhi said, pointing to the young man. "Your second brother is away and hasn’t returned yet, but I’ve already written to him. I expect he’ll be back to see you soon."
Just as he finished speaking, a figure appeared at the entrance to the courtyard.
Shen Ningning turned to look and saw a middle-aged man with a refined but pale face being pushed toward them in a wooden wheelchair by Second Madam Xie.
Xie Suzhi then told her, "This is your Second Uncle and Second Aunt."
This was Xie Suzhi’s own younger brother, Xie Dizhi, also known as Second Master Xie.
Shen Ningning called out in her sweet, soft voice, "Greetings, Second Uncle and Second Aunt. I’m Ningning."
Tears of emotion welled in Second Master Xie’s eyes. In a slightly slurred voice, he said repeatedly, "Good, good..."
He turned his head and gestured for Second Madam Xie to present their introductory gift.
Second Madam Xie reluctantly took out a long brocade box, clutching it tightly. She clearly did not want to hand it over.
But Second Master Xie frowned, snatched it from her with all his might, and then, smiling, pushed it into Shen Ningning’s arms.
The box opened, revealing a pair of Dragon and Phoenix Pendants.
"Second Brother, how could you give Ningning the gift bestowed upon you by the late Emperor?" Xie Suzhi asked in surprise.
Second Master Xie said, his words slightly slurred, "She’s a good child. She’s worthy of it. Eldest Brother, I... I’m happy for you, too."
Xie Suzhi smiled faintly.
He then led Shen Ningning into the ancestral hall and had the little girl offer incense to their ancestors.
The Xie Mansion was of high standing; it would be no exaggeration to say they had been nobles for three generations.
Xie Suzhi glanced at an attendant. Everyone watched as the attendant brought over a memorial tablet upon which was written: Nameless.
In front of everyone, Xie Suzhi told Shen Ningning, "Ningning, your parents were benefactors to the Xie Mansion, but to this day, I do not know their names."
"Therefore, I had a nameless tablet carved. A soul-summoning ceremony has already been performed at the National Temple. From now on, it will be enshrined here in our ancestral hall so that they need not be wandering souls without a home. They will be honored and remembered, year after year."
Shen Ningning was deeply moved. "Thank you, Uncle."
A clan elder standing nearby smiled and said, "Child, you may kowtow now. After you kowtow and finish offering the incense, it will be time to change your address and call him ’Godfather’."
Second Madam Xie stood outside the ancestral hall, staring in astonishment at the people inside.
First, her husband, Second Master Xie, had given the Dragon and Phoenix Pendants bestowed by the late Emperor to Shen Ningning. And now, Xie Suzhi was welcoming the memorial tablet of a nameless soul into the Xie family’s ancestral hall.
’They’re insane, all of them!’ Her eyes widened with jealousy.
After Shen Ningning finished kowtowing and offering incense, she accepted a teacup from a young attendant and presented it to Xie Suzhi.
The little girl knelt on the cattail cushion and called out in her sweet voice, "Godfather."
Xie Suzhi’s eyes instantly reddened. He quickly helped the little girl to her feet.
"Ningning, from now on, I will make it up to you."
He guided the little girl to kneel before the tablet of the Nameless. "Ningning, say a few words to your mother as well."
Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes and spoke to the tablet. "Father, Mother, please don’t worry about me. So many people care for me now. I won’t have to suffer anymore. I’ll do my best to be a good and obedient child."
With that, she kowtowed earnestly three times.
Once the adoption ceremony was complete, everyone proceeded to the front courtyard for a banquet. Grandma Qin and the Black Wolf King were already waiting there.
Xie Suzhi told them to go on ahead, saying he would stay behind to tidy up.
After everyone had departed, he took down the tablet for the wandering soul.
Then, he pressed his long, slender fingers against the center panel of the tablet and pushed upward. It moved!
Behind the "Nameless" facade, another inscription was carved—
"The Spirit Tablet of my beloved wife, Shen Siyi."
