Ning Cheng was already angry to begin with, so hearing Ning Jing's words only made him slap her across the face. "Since when did you have the right to call the shots in the Ning Clan?"
Even if he didn't want to form a marriage alliance with the Tang Clan, this matter still had to be handled properly. Cloud Realm Trade Consortium had almost lost all face in a single night!
This wasn't just Ning Jing's problem anymore, but Cloud Realm Trade Consortium's – or rather, the Ning Clan's.
Ning Jing cradled her burning cheek in pain, but she didn't lower her head. She was still staring straight at her older brother, the head of the Di Clan's Ning Clan.
Although he was the only person she'd ever feared since she was young, she wouldn't back down a single step on this matter. She'd already thrown away her chastity, so how could she back out now?
"Big bro, what do you mean by this?" Ning Jing asked calmly.
Ning Cheng fell silent before he gave her five words. "Pear Blossom Rain Needles."
The Pear Blossom Rain Needles were the Tang Clan's second most precious treasure. A single one was worth the price of a top-grade expert, but no one knew that Tang Li had already used them all up.
Ning Cheng's intentions were clear. He wanted the Tang Clan to offer up the Pear Blossom Rain Needles as an apology, then settle the matter peacefully.
Was her chastity only worth a single assassination weapon?
Ning Jing's eyes flashed with pain, but she still smiled. "Big bro, when did your appetite shrink?"
Ning Cheng had a huge appetite and even greater ambitions. He'd considered using this chance to pull the Tang Clan into his camp, but he had other misgivings.
For one thing, Tang Li and Long Fei Ye had a close personal relationship. For another, if Cloud Realm Trade Consortium insisted on letting Tang Li marry into their family, they'd offend Cang Qiuzi for sure.
"Big bro, are you so sure that Chu Tianyin can handle Duanmu Yao? The one who died was Duanmu Yao's own mother! "
This time, Ning Jing wasn't here to discuss, but to negotiate. Just like how she'd done countless business negotiations in the past, she'd made ample preparations this time.
"Even if Chu Tianyin can find the true culprit behind Empress Xue's assassination, so what? Empress Xue had been kidnapped and assassinated, so the Chu family was definitely involved. Would Duanmu Yao forgive the Chu family? Moreover, even though Duanmu Yao had been banished from the Western Zhou imperial family, she was still the princess of Western Zhou. Brother, even if the Ning Family doesn't want me one day, I won't do anything to betray the Ning Family, let alone make friends with the Ning Family's enemies. The logic was the same! Why should we lower our own prestige just to please Duanmu Yao and Celestial Mountain? "
Ning Cheng sat off to the side, not replying. Ning Jing continued, "Big brother, why don't we push all the blame for Empress Xue onto the Chu clan? The Ning clan should be a bit more forceful so that Duanmu Yao won't think that we're afraid of her. If that's the case, she'll be more or less afraid. "
Ning Cheng nodded thoughtfully. He agreed with the idea. Not offending Celestial Mountain and expressing goodwill were two different things. He didn't want to offend Celestial Mountain, but that didn't mean he'd take the initiative to do so.
Ning Jing rejoiced at Ning Cheng's nod. She quickly coaxed, "Big brother, as long as Duanmu Yao is in Celestial Mountain, we'll never be on good terms with them. Why don't we use this chance to rope in the Tang Clan? Once Eldest Young Master Tang joins Cloud Realm Trade Consortium, we won't have to worry about getting our hands on powerful assassination weapons. "
"Tang Li …"
Ning Cheng was lost in thought, but Ning Jing guessed his intentions before he could speak. "Big brother, I've already investigated. Tang Li and Long Fei Ye are on very good personal terms, so Han Yunxi's assassination weapons all came from Tang Li. But that's just a personal relationship. The Tang Clan has never had any dealings with the Duke of Qin's estate. Tang Li's marriage was still decided by Tang Zijin. "
"Did you figure out the relationship between the Tang Clan and the Duke of Qin's estate in just a few days?" Ning Cheng Cold retorted.
"If the two are on good terms, then Tang Li and Long Fei Ye are on good terms. Why would Tang Li run away from the marriage? Why would Tang Zijin need to scheme so hard to form a marriage alliance with the Cang Clan and establish good relations with Celestial Mountain? Big brother, don't forget, Long Fei Ye is Tianshan Kenzō's eldest disciple! "
Ning Cheng didn't speak. After a long time, Ning Jing couldn't wait any longer and asked, "Big brother, you must have investigated the relationship between the Tang Clan and the Duke of Qin's estate, right?"
Ning Jing knew that this was Ning Cheng's greatest worry, so he must have sent people to investigate after the incident. Moreover, he must have found nothing, or else he wouldn't be sitting here listening to her nonsense.
Ning Jing's face was still hurting, but she resolutely walked in front of Ning Cheng and said word by word, "Big brother, no matter what. I'm taking Tang Li for sure! "
So speaking, she turned to leave. Although her heart was filled with apprehension, she didn't hesitate to take each step. She had already prepared herself for the worst. Even if she had to use Cloud Realm Trade Consortium's assets to threaten him, she had to decide her own marriage.
By the time she reached the door, Ning Cheng finally spoke up. "Make an appointment with Tang Zijin. Your lordship wants to meet him personally."
There's finally hope!
Ning Jing was thrilled, but she didn't show it. She said seriously, "Alright, I'll do it right away!"
Once she was out the door, she exhaled in relief. From what she understood of her big brother, as long as he made an appointment with Tang Zijin, he'd already made up his mind.
Touching her swollen face, Ning Jing didn't mind at all. Instead, she smiled happily.
How could she not be happy that she'd finally made progress in her marriage? She didn't know what was going on, but as she smiled, the image of that man's face that was burning with lust that night surfaced in her mind.
What the hell, what was she thinking about him? Hmph, Tang Li, Changli, how dare you trick me like this? Just you wait!
Ning Cheng might have said he wanted to meet Tang Zijin personally, but due to his special status, he'd only show up in disguise. In name, he'd only meet with Tang Zijin as one of Cloud Realm Trade Consortium's higher-ups.
Very soon, Tang Zijin received news that Cloud Realm Trade Consortium had sent someone to take care of Ning Jing's affairs. They wanted him to pick a time and place for the meeting.
"Who did they send?" Aunt Ru asked.
"They didn't say, but it shouldn't be Ning Cheng," Tang Zijin said seriously. "This matter can't be delayed. Cang Qiuzi's men should be here soon. "
Aunt Ru only smiled coldly. "Brother-in-law, Cang Qiuzi hasn't made any moves recently. If I'm not wrong, he's still observing the situation."
"How could that be? He'll definitely come personally within the next few days, "Tang Zijin didn't believe it.
"Heheh, that damned girl Ning Jing deserves to be the head of the Baili Trade Consortium. Guess what she did," Aunt Ru grinned.
Tang Zijin didn't understand. Aunt Ru explained, "News of her being humiliated by Tang Li has already spread like wildfire. That girl spent a fortune and two days to control public opinion. Now all of Cloud Realm Continent is cursing Tang Li and clamoring for Tang Li to take responsibility."
Hearing this, Tang Zijin understood. Although he loathed Ning Jing, he still admired her for her skills.
She wasn't just pressuring the Tang Clan, but Cang Qiuzi as well! Celestial Mountain had always been a symbol of justice and morality. If Cang Qiuzi fought with Ning Jing over Tang Li now, he'd be the subject of ridicule. No wonder Cang Qiuzi hadn't made any moves. He had no choice but to avoid the wind.
"Very good, very good! Where do you think it'll be appropriate to meet? "Tang Zijin asked.
Aunt Ru smiled. "The Tang Clan, of course. Feiye hasn't been back in ages. If he comes this time, we have to keep him for a few days so he can kowtow at his mother's grave. "
Aunt Ru was certain that Long Fei Ye would show up. As an older brother, he was still concerned about Tang Li's marriage. Of course, she was more concerned about the fact that if Long Fei Ye came, then Han Yunxi would come as well.
Finally, she had a chance to lure Han Yunxi to the Tang Clan!
"Alright, you go make the arrangements." Tang Zijin left the matter to Aunt Ru, who quickly wrote back to Cloud Realm Trade Consortium to meet at the Tang Clan in five days.
As soon as Long Fei Ye received the news, he tossed the letter to Tang Li and said Coldly, "It's time for you to scram back."
"You're not coming with me?" Tang Li asked timidly.
Although his father had already agreed to help Long Fei Ye deal with the Ning Clan, he was certain that if Long Fei Ye didn't go back with him, he'd be beaten – severely.
"You go back first. Your sister-in-law and I will be right behind you," Long Fei Ye said. Over the past few days, people had been investigating the relationship between the Duke of Qin's estate and the Tang Clan. If he went out with Tang Li again, it'd be too suspicious.
Tang Li understood the logic after some thought. Although he was reluctant, he still nodded. "Fine … then!"
Before he left, he asked Long Fei Ye, "Big bro, are you really going to let me marry into the family? This … "
Although he knew it was all an act, he still couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart. "Big bro, no matter what, it should be Ning Jing who marries into the family! Ning Jing, she … she … "
At this moment, Han Yunxi walked in with a smile. "She what?"
"In any case, they're well aware of the truth. They're the ones with a guilty conscience, not us. If we insist on Ning Jing marrying into the Tang Clan, what can they do?" Tang Li asked seriously.
"Ning Jing marrying into the Tang Clan?" Han Yunxi couldn't believe it. "Brat, you haven't been poisoned in the head, have you?"
Does this fellow know he's going to be a spy in Cloud Realm Trade Consortium?!
"What I mean is, let her marry into the Tang Clan. After that, I can go anywhere with her. In any case, she has to be the one marrying me, not the other way around!" Tang Li emphasized.
If Ning Jing married into the family, her husband would be the head of the household. He could order her around and torture her to get his revenge. But once he married into the family, his wife would be the head of the household. How could he suppress her then?
"Scram back and discuss this with your father," Long Fei Ye was getting impatient.
What else could Tang Li do besides silently leaving the house? The last thing he expected in his life wasn't that he'd be drugged by a woman, but that his Big Bro Long would stand on the same side as his father.
Thinking up to here, Tang Li hated that slut Ning Jing even more!
He'd already walked out of the courtyard gates when he doubled back to appear in front of Han Yunxi. "Sister-in-law."
Seeing his expression, Han Yunxi couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine. "What?"
"Do you have the medicine?" Tang Li asked seriously.
"Are you … sick?" Han Yunxi asked doubtfully.
Tang Li said unhappily, "Aphrodisiac! Do you have it? Give me a bottle. "
Han Yunxi's mouth twitched. She didn't know how to reply.
Tang Li urged, "It's fine even if you don't have to use the aphrodisiac. In any case, give me as many as you have!"
Han Yunxi ignored Tang Li and slowly turned to look at the tea table on the side.
As expected, Long Fei Ye was already looking towards them …
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