Chapter Fifty-Nine: Fleeing with My Husband

Although she was eager to witness the impending battle in the skies, reason prevailed, and she followed the arrangement, returning with the others. Jiangning Prefecture lay beside the Cloudwild Mountains; the pressure unleashed by the demon dragon and forbidden land experts pacified all the beasts along the range. The cultivators retreating from the mountain’s depths swept low across the terrain, encountering no attacks from the beasts, and thus returned to Jiangning Prefecture without incident.

No sooner had they entered the city than Xiang Bingfeng called out to Yu Youwei, “I will not let you off so easily.”

Grandpa Ning snorted coldly, “Threatening the daughter-in-law of the Ning family? You’d best check if your neck is sturdy enough.”

Xiang Bingfeng’s face turned green; she was about to explode when Gui Qi and others forcibly dragged her away.

Surprised at Grandpa Ning’s unwavering stance, Yu Youwei found her impression of him improving yet again. He winked at her and smiled, “Mo Fei’s wife, Uncle Nine is ashamed. If Bai Xia were here, he’d never let you suffer such grievances.”

Ahem, that remark could easily be misunderstood! Even Yu Youwei, who wasn’t thin-skinned, felt a bit embarrassed. “That’s true. Third Brother dotes on Mo Fei the most. Xiang Bingfeng still owes her for the last time she bullied Mo Fei. When Third Brother is free, I expect Miss Xiang will have a headache.”

“Yes, indeed.” Realizing his slip of the tongue, Grandpa Ning strode off at the head of the group.

Upon returning to the Ning residence, she saw the entire mansion draped in mourning white, with a spirit hall being erected. News had it that the Ning family’s patriarch’s body had been brought home, even Yu Youwei was stunned, “How could this be?”

The Ning family patriarch, returning from visiting a friend, had encountered high-ranking black shamans. Outnumbered, he self-destructed, killing all the black shamans that surrounded him. His name tablet, kept in the family ancestral hall, shattered. The Ning disciples searched and recovered his remains.

Yu Youwei quickly pulled her mother-in-law, Lady Yu, out from the group of women in the spirit hall. “Mother, how is Father now? Would you take me to see him?”

Lady Yu glared at her, “Such pulling and tugging—what kind of manners are these!”

“Mother, I’m just worried about Father. Please, take me to see him!” Yu Youwei gripped Lady Yu’s wrist so tightly it hurt, yet Lady Yu couldn’t break free, practically being dragged from the spirit hall.

Unable to vent her anger in front of everyone, Lady Yu’s face turned green as she led Yu Youwei to the Qiwuyi Courtyard. There, she and Ning Guodong lived as husband and wife; Ning Guodong was still unconscious, and the courtyard was eerily quiet.

As soon as they entered, Yu Youwei took it upon herself to dismiss all the attendants in the room. As a new daughter-in-law, to send away those serving her mother-in-law’s quarters was hardly appropriate, and Lady Yu was displeased. However, her “Listening Tide Pavilion” was the best informed, and she was no fool—she sensed something important was afoot, so she held her tongue.

Once everyone had left, Yu Youwei, wary of eavesdroppers, dipped her finger in tea and wrote on the table, “Mother, we must send Mo Fei to the Celestial Chen Sect at once. Conceal it from the family as much as possible.”

Lady Yu exclaimed in shock, “Why?”

Yu Youwei pressed a finger to her lips, signaling silence, then wrote again with tea on the smooth red lacquered table: “The black shamans are after Mo Fei. Remember, aside from those absolutely trustworthy—like Father and the three brothers—tell no one else.”

Concerned for her son’s safety, Lady Yu’s mind suddenly cleared. She too dipped her finger in tea and wrote, “We don’t even know where Mo Fei is.” Yet her mouth purposely scolded, “You are simply too outrageous!”

“I’m sorry, Mother, I admit my fault.” Yu Youwei pretended to repent, but wrote on the table, “He’s in the ancestral pool; Third Brother sent him in. You pretend to drive me away, have Eldest Brother secretly go to the blood pool, bring Mo Fei out, meet me outside the eastern gate, and together we’ll send him to the Celestial Chen Sect.”

“What about Third Brother?”

“Third Brother draws too much attention; if he accompanies us, it’s hard to stay hidden. Besides, he’s still in the forbidden land of Cloudwild. By the time he returns, a high-ranking black shaman may come to abduct Mo Fei.”

Lady Yu’s body began to tremble, yet she slammed the table with full energy and shouted, “Too outrageous! Yu Youwei, leave now! The Yu family has no daughter-in-law like you! Someone, drag her out!”

Two stewards came in, each grabbing a dejected Yu Youwei and taking her away.

Lady Yu added, “There’s trouble at home; send her out through the side gate, lest we become a joke. Yu Youwei, mark my words—leave the Ning family, I never want to see you in Jiangning Prefecture again, or your Yu family will pay the price!” Her words were forceful, her eyes red and body trembling—she truly seemed enraged by Yu Youwei.

No one suspected this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were putting on an act. The eldest son and his wife, along with the second young mistress, rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Lady Yu scolded both daughters-in-law, sent them away, and kept her eldest son, Ning Bowen, before revealing the truth— the key parts still written in tea on the table.

“I can enter the ancestral pool with Father’s token. I’ll go now and bring Fourth Brother out. But with Father unconscious, I must attend the patriarch’s vigil. Is it appropriate for only Sister-in-law to send Fourth Brother?”

Lady Yu, shrewd as ever, frowned and said, “Let them disguise themselves as family and take a roundabout route to Zhongwu. Then have Zhongwu escort them; that shouldn’t draw attention.”

“Mother’s wisdom is unmatched; the older, the wiser.” Ning Bowen offered timely flattery.

Lady Yu wanted to laugh, yet her lips only twitched before she started to cry. “Your father lies unconscious, Mo Fei faces deadly trouble—what has our family done to deserve this?”

Ning Bowen held his mother’s cold hand and comforted her, “Don’t worry, Sister-in-law is resourceful. She’ll surely keep Fourth Brother safe through this disaster.”

“If Mo Fei survives this,” Lady Yu wiped away her tears, “though she may be a low-born concubine’s daughter, I’ll never hold it against her.” She urged her eldest son to hurry.

By now, Yu Youwei had left Jiangning Prefecture. Not far from the eastern gate, she spotted the banner of “Spring Forest Tavern.” Entering, she unexpectedly met an old acquaintance.

“Boss, a bowl of cold tea, please.” She called out, and when the horse-faced woman brought a pot, Yu Youwei took a sip and sighed, “Would you mind cleaning that perennial sleep crust from your eye? Can you get any more disgusting?”

The horse-faced woman was, of course, the Nine-Tailed Fox, trusted subordinate of Baili Feiyan. She’d probably moved here after the Spring Forest Tavern was demolished by the Yu family last time.

It was a turbulent season for Jiangning Prefecture; business in the city had plummeted, and the taverns outside the walls were deserted, with Yu Youwei as the only customer. The Nine-Tailed Fox said bluntly, “Poisonous Lady, did you show your true colors upon entering the Ning household and get kicked out?”

“Not exactly, but not far off,” Yu Youwei replied with a mysterious air. The Nine-Tailed Fox rolled her eyes, prompting Yu Youwei to laugh, “If you’re rude again, next time I see your mistress, I’ll ask for you to be made into smoked fox.”

The Nine-Tailed Fox preened, “With my loyalty and exceptional abilities, making smoked fox out of me would be a terrible waste. How could my lady bear it!”