But not only did Gu Xiyao not repent, she even turned the tables with Ning Zeyan’s help, which led to her and Ji Niandong confronting each other in court.
Gu Xiyao got her comeuppance and ended up in jail, while Ning Zeyan exposed his past attempt on Ji Niandong’s life, leading to his own demise.
The entire Ning Family fell into a silence, Mrs. Ning wept all day, determined to seek revenge on Lu Beichen.
"Father, Lu Beichen leaving the body intact was already on my account. We all know what Big Brother did. If we insist on clashing with the Lu Family, we’ll end up with nothing to show for it. Big Brother’s death was ultimately of his own doing." Ning Zesheng said indifferently.
"His own doing? You wouldn’t say that if you truly regarded him as your Big Brother! Are you happy now, Ning Zesheng? The Ning Family is all yours now. Did you conspire with Lu Beichen to kill my son?" If it wasn’t for the servants holding her back, Mrs. Ning would have lunged forward.
"Happy?" Ning Zesheng chuckled lightly, "With or without the Ning Family, I’ll live just fine."
"Do you think having Lu Beichen to back you up makes you impressive? At best, you’re just his dog." Mrs. Ning shouted.
Ning Zesheng didn’t bother responding further, glancing sideways at his father, "Make your own judgment."
"Wait! Your Big Brother’s life is gone, and you’re still going to work for Yi Tai?" Ning Zhiyuan, eyes red, questioned. He had lost a son and was exhausted, but he understood Ning Zesheng’s words very well.
"I have no intention of returning to the Ning Family. I always planned to establish my own career."
"Your Big Brother’s death was his own fault, but the Ning Family cannot end just like this. No matter what, you must return; the future of the Ning Family will be in your hands." Ning Zhiyuan said solemnly, "I’ve already lost one son; I cannot lose this family as well!"
"This family belongs to my son; why give it to him? If it weren’t for him, my son wouldn’t have done so much to protect everything!" Mrs. Ning ranted like a madwoman, "If it weren’t for you having a child with that little hussy, and bringing him back to fight for the inheritance, would my son have taken such drastic measures to protect everything? It’s all because of him, all because of him!"
Upon hearing his mother being scolded, Ning Zesheng held back his anger and said, "I can come back, but if you say the future of the Ning Family is in my hands, then from now on, I call the shots. Whom I marry is my own affair."
"A wolf in sheep’s clothing, he’s just been waiting for this day!"
"Think it over." With that, Ning Zesheng really left.
Ning Zhiyuan shouted, "Enough! Can’t you see? If it wasn’t for wanting me to acknowledge that woman, he wouldn’t even return to the Ning Family. He can just as freely marry that woman if he establishes his own career."
"What does it matter to me whom he marries? My son is gone, isn’t he your son too? Why won’t you avenge him? Why? Is it because you still have Ning Zesheng, while I... I have nothing left..."
...
"I’ll come to you later."
Qiao Anlu received the message and replied, "Okay."
She didn’t ask anything. By the time Ning Zesheng went to her house that night, she had already cooked porridge for him.
"I thought you couldn’t cook?" Ning Zesheng was a little surprised.
"I can’t, but I’m naturally smart. I just took one look at the recipe, and it was done. It’s just plain porridge, nothing added. But I promise, it tastes great." Qiao Anlu leaned by his side, seemingly asking for praise.