122: Persuading Mu Wanqing and Qin Hongmian

"Wan'er, come back to the Secluded Valley with me this time!"

Qin Hongmian pulled Mu Wanqing's hand and said solemnly.

She had already completed two transactions with Ning Yuan.

Even out of revenge against Duan Zhengchun, she had sent two more, and now it was time to make a clean break.

"Master, why won't you let me be with Brother Murong? We have long since pledged our lives to each other; I cannot leave him."

Mu Wanqing's expression was resolute.

"Wan'er, I am doing this for your own good. You cannot handle a man like Murong Fu; he is not suitable for you."

Qin Hongmian stepped forward excitedly, speaking earnestly: "Come back to the Secluded Valley with me; time will cover everything."

"Master, I am not a child anymore. I know my own choices. And can time really cover everything?"

Mu Wanqing looked up at Qin Hongmian. "If it truly could, why have you and Duan Zhengchun remained entangled for so many years, unable to forget each other?"

"This..."

Qin Hongmian's expression changed. She then gritted her teeth and said: "I have no relationship with Duan Zhengchun now; we have completely severed ties. He is actually at Yanz 塢 right now, but he has been severely injured, and his limbs have been crippled. Regardless of everything, he is your biological father, and you should know this."

"What?"

Hearing this news, Mu Wanqing's expression changed.

Although she had no feelings for Duan Zhengchun—having never met him before and never knowing she had such a father—hearing the bad news still made her heart ache.

"Give me your answer after you have seen him."

Qin Hongmian sighed and did not continue to pressure Mu Wanqing.

After all, Murong Fu had promised her last night that he would help her persuade Mu Wanqing.

Meanwhile, Gan Baobao was also trying to persuade Zhong Ling to leave.

But Zhong Ling said that she had already given her body to Ning Yuan and would not marry anyone else, which left Gan Baobao stunned.

"Mother, you can pursue your own happiness, marrying Father while having an affair with Prince Duan, so why can't I find a man I love?"

Zhong Ling retorted loudly.

"But that Murong Fu has countless women by his side. If you are by his side, you have no status at all; you will not find happiness."

Gan Baobao gritted her teeth and said.

"Mother, you are wrong. It is you who has no status. Prince Duan has a family, and you don't even have the chance to appear openly by his side; you don't even dare to see the light of day. But I am different; I can stand openly by Brother Murong's side."

Zhong Ling said earnestly.

Gan Baobao was stunned. She hadn't expected her daughter to be so clever now, capable of saying such things, leaving her speechless.

Gan Baobao was at a loss for words; she couldn't tell Zhong Ling that she herself had also... with Murong Fu.

"Enough, we will talk about this later."

Gan Baobao took a deep breath and temporarily gave up the persuasion.

That night, Mu Wanqing found Ning Yuan and told him about Qin Hongmian wanting her to leave.

"Husband, what should I do now?"

"I really don't want to turn against Master, especially since she is my biological mother."

Mu Wanqing asked, huddled in Ning Yuan's embrace.

"There is only one way to handle this now."

Ning Yuan said with a serious expression.

"What way?"

Mu Wanqing asked curiously.

"Aunt Qin has been separated from Duan Zhengchun for over a decade, raising you alone in isolation without a man by her side. Her body and mind must have long been lonely. Now that she has fallen out with Duan Zhengchun and been hurt by him, she is emotionally vulnerable and lonely. If a man were to come into her life at this moment and enter her heart, perhaps she would be too distracted to worry about you."

Hearing Ning Yuan's suggestion, Mu Wanqing's eyes lit up, but then she hesitated: "But where would we find such a man? And Master's standards have always been very high. Ordinary men wouldn't even catch her eye. To win Mother's favor, one must not only be handsome but also witty and humorous, and even more prestigious than Prince Duan. But where would such a man exist?"

"Furthermore, I am still reluctant to separate from her; I hope she stays by my side often."

Mu Wanqing looked worried.

Seeing this, Ning Yuan smiled slightly: "Actually, I have a candidate, but I'm afraid you, Wan Mei, might not agree."

"Who is it?"

Mu Wanqing immediately looked up and asked.

"That person is right in front of us."

Ning Yuan said with a serious expression.

Mu Wanqing was stunned for a moment before she realized, her eyes widening: "Husband, what do you mean? Are you talking about yourself?"

"How can this be? You are my husband, and she is my Master, my mother. How can you two..."

"Do you think I am inferior to Duan Zhengchun?"

Ning Yuan retorted.

Mu Wanqing immediately shook her head: "Of course not. But you are my husband. If you two were to do that, what would I call you..."

"If this gets out, what would become of us?"

Mu Wanqing was emotional.

"But this is the best way. And you don't need to do anything, Wan Mei. You just need to catch us in the act. Aunt Qin will naturally be in the wrong and will no longer oppose us. Then we can use this to make her stay. We can be together, and you and Aunt Qin won't have to separate."

Ning Yuan whispered in Mu Wanqing's ear.

Mu Wanqing initially insisted on refusing, but as Ning Yuan spoke, she began to waver.

"Is this really okay?"

"Is this against ethics?"

Mu Wanqing was unsure.

She had grown up by Qin Hongmian's side, and Qin Hongmian had never taught her these social norms, so she was actually quite indifferent to them.

She only felt it was inappropriate and hard to accept, but she hadn't thought too deeply about the specifics.

"Don't worry."

Ning Yuan's eyes flickered. "It will definitely succeed."

After thinking for a long time, Mu Wanqing was ultimately unwilling to leave Ning Yuan. She nodded in agreement, though she still asked hesitantly: "Will she blame me?"

"Don't worry. If you do this, Aunt Qin will definitely be grateful to you. She has been lonely for so many years and needs someone to care for her. It was only out of concern for Face that she couldn't do it before. Perhaps she already had the thought in her heart. Now that you help her make this decision and let her no longer be lonely, how could she blame you?"

"She might even call you filial in her heart."

"Since you say there is no problem, Husband, then we will act tomorrow."

Mu Wanqing was not a hesitant person; once she made a decision, she immediately agreed.

The next day, Mu Wanqing went to see Qin Hongmian, saying she wanted to discuss things again.

Qin Hongmian also called Ning Yuan over to persuade her.

After a long, earnest talk from Ning Yuan, Mu Wanqing 'cried' and ran away.

"I didn't expect you to really help me persuade Wan'er."

After Mu Wanqing left, Qin Hongmian looked at Ning Yuan with a complex expression.

She had always felt that Ning Yuan was lying to her and might go back on his word, but she hadn't expected him to be truly persuading her today.

"Aunt has completed everything she promised me meticulously, so naturally, I will not cut corners on what I promised Aunt."

Ning Yuan said with a serious expression.

"Thank you. I plan to take Wan'er away tomorrow."

Qin Hongmian took a deep breath and stood up.

"Is Aunt in such a hurry to leave?"

Ning Yuan sighed, looking reluctant.

Qin Hongmian remained expressionless: "Having been away for so long, it is time to go back."

"Since Aunt is leaving and we will never be able to meet again, why don't we take this opportunity to have one last deep conversation?"

Ning Yuan stepped forward, held Qin Hongmian's hand, and said affectionately.

"Impossible. You and I are already finished."

Qin Hongmian turned away, avoiding Ning Yuan's hand, and said coldly.

But she did not leave directly.

Ning Yuan smiled knowingly when he saw this.

If Qin Hongmian really didn't want to, she would have left immediately, rather than staying put.

Since she stayed, it at least meant that Qin Hongmian's heart was also conflicted and she had some thoughts.

It was just that because of Face, it was hard for her to agree.

Ning Yuan stepped forward and hugged her from behind.

Qin Hongmian struggled symbolically for a few times, but ultimately accepted this final farewell.

After an intense confrontation, the two collapsed on the bed.

Just as Qin Hongmian was about to put on her clothes, the door suddenly opened, and Mu Wanqing walked in.

Seeing the scene, Mu Wanqing was immediately shocked: "Master, you, you are..."

"Wan'er, let me explain."

Seeing Mu Wanqing, Qin Hongmian was shocked and quickly spoke.

"How could you do such a thing!"

"Master, it's already like this, what else is there to explain?"

"Are you going to say you were forced?"

"No wonder you wanted me to leave Husband; it turns out you were coveting my husband yourself."

Mu Wanqing was 'heartbroken'.

"Wan'er, you misunderstood. I didn't. This was really just an accident."

Qin Hongmian put on her clothes and rushed to explain.

But Mu Wanqing shook her head.

Finally, Ning Yuan spoke: "Wan Mei, if you want to blame someone, blame me. It was I who lost control for a moment and committed this ugly act against Aunt Qin. This matter has nothing to do with Aunt Qin."

"You..."

Mu Wanqing wanted to say something more.

Ning Yuan immediately stepped forward, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her, making Mu Wanqing unable to speak.

Then Ning Yuan gave Qin Hongmian a look.

Qin Hongmian, whose mind was in chaos, was confused, and then she heard Ning Yuan's internal voice transmission: "Aunt Qin, Wan Mei is emotional now. I don't want our affair to be exposed, and I don't want Wan Mei to be hurt. The only way now is to make her accept all of this and join me in..."

Hearing the rest, Qin Hongmian's cheeks turned red, and she looked hesitant and conflicted.

But at this moment, her mind was also in chaos.

Being seen in such an unsightly scene by her own daughter made her want to die.

She would have no way to stand on the moral high ground to lecture Mu Wanqing in the future.

Qin Hongmian confusedly followed Ning Yuan's instructions.

More than an hour later, Ning Yuan held both of them and said earnestly: "Wan Mei, as a woman, you should understand Aunt Qin. She raised you alone with great difficulty. She is inevitably lonely. From now on, you will both live here. This way you can always be together, and Aunt Qin won't be lonely anymore."

After finishing, Ning Yuan persuaded Qin Hongmian: "Aunt Qin, things have reached this point. It seems Wan Mei cannot leave with you. But you can stay. With you by her side, you can also supervise me to see if I will hurt Wan Mei. If I do such things, you can also help Wan Mei, can't you?"

"Did you two plot this!"

Qin Hongmian suddenly realized and turned to ask through gritted teeth.

"What plotted? What are you talking about?"

Ning Yuan naturally denied it, and Mu Wanqing naturally wouldn't admit it either.

Although Qin Hongmian was suspicious, she couldn't prove it.

Looking at Mu Wanqing's sad and complex expression, Qin Hongmian could only suppress her suspicion.

And Ning Yuan suddenly pressed Qin Hongmian down again.

"What are you doing? Wan'er is still..."

Qin Hongmian beat Ning Yuan's back anxiously.

"What are you afraid of? Wan Mei has already accepted it."

Ning Yuan said dismissively.

Mu Wanqing on the side flushed red.