Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 13

Zhou Xiang Ning closed her mouth right after speaking. Her voice was rough like sand scraping against stone. Her throat didn’t hurt, but her voice didn’t sound like a girl’s—it was more like a boy’s.

She tried her best to stay calm and looked steadily at the girl across from her, waiting for an answer.

After watching for a while, the girl across from her finally stopped teasing and showed a pure and friendly smile.

“My name is Cen Ning’er. This is Yunzhong City, under the Anbei Protectorate. My brother was out on patrol a few days ago and brought you back.”

Perhaps because life on the frontier was more open, Cen Ning’er spoke and acted in a straightforward manner.

Yunzhong City? Zhou Xiang Ning didn’t know where that was.

Seeing the confusion on Zhou Xiang Ning’s face, Cen Ning’er explained again, “This is inside the Central Plains territory, not far from the Huihu people.”

She had escaped before arriving at her destination, so the person who bought her shouldn’t be here.

She remembered the fat man on the cart saying that the buyer was some kind of Huihu chieftain—very rich but already in his seventies or eighties, with a shameful reputation for ruining young girls.

She had been terrified of ending up in such a fate, so she had chosen the right moment to jump off the cart and escape.

Zhou Xiang Ning pressed her lips together and remained silent.

Cen Ning’er was very curious.

Looking at Zhou Xiang Ning’s appearance, Cen Ning’er thought she didn’t seem like a local.

“How did you end up fainting in the wilderness? If my brother hadn’t found you, the wild wolves might have dragged you away.”

“You shouldn’t ask about people’s backgrounds like that,” a woman said as she pushed open the door, her voice hearty and bright.

The sudden light made Zhou Xiang Ning squint. The woman standing there seemed to shine with a warm glow.

She wore a practical riding outfit, and her every movement was full of energy and confidence. Her hair was tied in a simple bun, and she had a round face with eyes full of laughter.

The harsh winds of the grasslands had roughened her skin, and the smiles at the corners of her eyes had carved a few wrinkles.

Zhou Xiang Ning couldn’t look away.

“Sister-in-law, I was just curious.” Cen Ning’er stood up and introduced her. “This is my sister-in-law, Jiang Yutong.”

Seeing her sister-in-law acting so playful, Jiang Yutong could only shake her head helplessly.

Cen Ning’er was innocent and lively but never spoiled. The whole family adored her, and Jiang Yutong was especially fond of her. Whatever good food or nice things she found, she always sent them to Cen Ning’er’s courtyard first.

She patted Cen Ning’er’s head, then turned to Zhou Xiang Ning.

“A royal merchant has come to the Protectorate. He said he was entrusted by someone to find a little girl who was sold to the Huihu people. I’ll take you to the front courtyard so you can see if he’s looking for you.”

Zhou Xiang Ning’s eyes flickered.

Was it really Mother looking for her?

But how would Mother know a royal merchant?

If he was a royal merchant, could it be that man?

Zhou Xiang Ning stayed silent, weighing her options carefully.

“You don’t have to worry. If they’re not your real family, the Cen family won’t let them take you by force. If you want to return home on your own, the Cen family can also arrange for someone to escort you back.”

Jiang Yutong assumed Zhou Xiang Ning was afraid of being taken away unwillingly and reassured her.

Zhou Xiang Ning nodded and followed Jiang Yutong to the front courtyard.

Shi Wentao had been waiting in the front courtyard of the Protectorate for some time.

General Cen was a great leader, fully devoted to guarding the borders.

Although Shi Wentao was officially a royal merchant, in reality, his trade journeys were a cover for assessing local officials and their governance. If he noticed anything unusual, he would immediately report it to the emperor.

This particular matter was a bit different—it wasn’t assigned by the emperor. It was a personal request from Shopkeeper Hao.

Before setting out, Shi Wentao had even sought the emperor’s opinion. The emperor simply said, “If you take on the task, you will be rewarded accordingly. The royal family doesn’t lack the money.”

So, they had followed the trail all the way here and were now waiting at the Anbei Protectorate’s estate.

After sitting for a while, Shi Wentao hesitated, wondering if he should leave and return tomorrow.

“Father-in-law, the person is here.”

Since they had arrived, he should at least take a look.

Shi Wentao sat upright, putting down his teacup, and waited with some anticipation.

A young woman entered from the doorway—this was the wife of the Protectorate’s heir.

She gestured for the guest to enter, and Shi Wentao sat up straight, setting his tea aside.

The newcomer was dirty and disheveled, her clothes tattered. At first glance, she looked like a young boy. Whether she was male or female was hard to tell since her face was mostly covered by dirt. However, her posture was straight, and her movements were disciplined.

Shi Wentao felt some of his initial anger subside.

“You came looking for someone? Who sent you? Do you have proof?” The ragged-looking child spoke first, and Shi Wentao frowned. Was this a boy?

“I am here to find a little girl,” he said. The meaning was clear: If you’re a boy, you’re not the one I’m looking for.

Zhou Xiang Ning didn’t say anything. She only looked at Jiang Yutong.

Jiang Yutong understood and gave a polite bow. “She is indeed a girl. The dry air here has damaged her voice. Once she returns home and rests, her voice should recover.”

Shi Wentao nodded, shifting his gaze back to Zhou Xiang Ning.

She was staring at him—not with emotion, just silently watching, waiting for his answer.

Understanding her intent, Shi Wentao gestured for his guard to bring forward a tray.

“I was entrusted by Lady Zhang Xiaolan to find her lost daughter, Zhou Xiang Ning. You may examine the keepsake.” Shi Wentao nodded toward the tray.

Zhou Xiang Ning had already stepped forward as soon as he spoke. She lifted the silk cloth, revealing a jade ring lying quietly on the tray.

She reached out and picked it up, her thin and dry fingers gently rubbing the surface. When she found the familiar crack, her eyes instantly filled with tears.

She had carved this jade ring for her mother when she was little. But at the final step, she had applied too much pressure and caused a crack.

Her mother had been delighted nonetheless, treasuring it and always keeping it in her pouch.

“You asked me a question, now let me ask you one.”

Shi Wentao stood up and walked over to Zhou Xiang Ning.

Zhou Xiang Ning looked up at him.

He was tall, completely blocking her tiny frame.

Shi Wentao bent down and whispered something in her ear. Zhou Xiang Ning flinched slightly but remained still, listening. Then, she murmured a response.

Shi Wentao stood up.

“General Cen, I have confirmed her identity. We will depart the day after tomorrow and return to the capital.”

Shi Wentao bowed in farewell and took Zhou Xiang Ning’s hand, about to leave.

“Wait!”

Zhou Xiang Ning was startled by Jiang Yutong’s sudden interruption.

Jiang Yutong glanced at Zhou Xiang Ning, giving her a reassuring look, then turned to Shi Wentao.

“Mr. Shi, your trade caravan is full of men. It’s not appropriate for a young girl to travel among them. Since you are leaving the day after tomorrow, why not let her stay at the Cen estate for now? She can rest and prepare. On the day of departure, the Cen family will personally escort her to your caravan.”

General Cen turned to Shi Wentao. “What do you think, sir?”

Shi Wentao thought for a moment and agreed. They arranged to meet at the city gate at dawn in two days.

After sending Shi Wentao off, Cen Ning’er suddenly appeared, blocking Zhou Xiang Ning’s path.

“Are you going with him?”