She is the Side Character! — Watch Her Change her fate!-Chapter 16: The Princely Heir Is a Woman

"All of you, leave." After Ning Yutong dismissed everyone, her beautiful eyes swept over Ying Fang beside Ah Chen.

Ah Chen put down the teacup, "Ying Fang, you should leave too."

The Commissioner’s fourth sister seemed to be a very thoughtful person.

Thinking about what she had done, she smiled with pursed lips; it was indeed very unusual.

Only the two of them were left in the room, and it was exceptionally quiet.

Ning Yutong’s gaze fell on Ah Chen. Compared to the previous calm and gentleness, there was suddenly a bit more sharpness and penetrating power, as if trying to discern something from her.

"Ah Chen, do you remember the incident when you fell into the water that year?" Ning Yutong suddenly smiled, as if the previous atmosphere was just an illusion.

Ah Chen said, "Of course I remember, if fourth sister hadn’t happened to pass by, I might not be here. Because of that, fourth sister even fell terribly ill, it was also then that fourth sister learned my secret."

Ning Yutong’s expression softened considerably. Yes, that year after saving Ah Chen, she learned a secret. Ah Chen was not a younger brother, but a younger sister. Ah Chen’s mother naturally wouldn’t dare do such a thing, only Father Wang could have made Ah Chen do it.

After all, in Prince Ning Mansion, who dared to deceive her father who was madly longing for a son?

"It was also because of this, even though we are several years apart, we have still been close." Ning Yutong recalled, "Do you remember what you liked to play with every time Father went out and you came to my room?"

Ah Chen’s eyebrows arched, "Of course, playing with sister’s dresses, powders, and jewelry."

Ning Yutong became a bit absent-minded; although Ah Chen was young then, she was exceedingly striking in women’s clothing.

Compared to those daughters who were ignored and then completely used by Father, Ah Chen, disguised as a boy and followed Father around every day, how good could it have possibly been?

She thought none of their outcomes would be good; a daughter’s happiness in marriage depends on her in-laws and husband.

And Ah Chen, raised as a boy from a young age, could never reveal her true identity.

If Father succeeds, once he has a son, Ah Chen would surely die, Father would never let this shameful secret be exposed.

If Father does not succeed, Ah Chen would still die.

So, Ah Chen was worse off than any of them, with only a dead end.

But she hadn’t expected that after Ping Mountain Hunting Ground, everything would change.

Father went mad, and the once weak and timid Ah Chen took control of the entire Prince Ning Mansion, even backing the sisters. Incident after incident happened, making her unable to believe that the person doing these things was the Ah Chen she knew.

Therefore, it was only natural for her to have suspicions.

After probing earlier, Ah Chen remembered everything between them.

Ning Yutong took a deep breath, shook her head with a smile. If she could put on an act, why couldn’t Ah Chen do the same given her situation at that time?

"Sorry, Ah Chen." Ning Yutong stood up and lightly embraced Ah Chen, "I shouldn’t have doubted you."

"I forgive you, fourth sister." Ah Chen responded with a hug.

Ning Yutong’s eyes reddened, the earlier sharpness vanished completely, and she appeared calm and gentle, with a hint of loneliness.

"Fourth sister, do you want to go home?"

"If you want to go back, I’ll take you back right away. You can stay as long as you like. What I want to do, no one can stop me."

"Even if you don’t want to return here, that’s fine," Ah Chen added.

Ning Yutong didn’t let go, resting her head on Ah Chen’s shoulder, eyes slightly closed, feeling secure in her brows. She hadn’t relaxed like this in a long time.

There were many people in this mansion, yet she couldn’t trust anyone, even sleeping with her eyes closed was unsettling.

Only with Ah Chen could she let her mind go blank and not think about anything, momentarily without tension.

Ning Yutong said nothing, and Ah Chen didn’t disturb her.

She seemed very tired, so let the other party rest a while longer.

After a long while, Ning Yutong opened her eyes, erasing any trace of fatigue, "Ah Chen, I’m not going back."

"Prince Ning Mansion is fine now, but I want to stay here."

Ah Chen said nothing, waiting for Ning Yutong to continue.

"He gave me such a big gift, and I haven’t had the chance to return the favor," Ning Yutong stood up, smiling playfully at Ah Chen, "I have to reciprocate, right, Ah Chen?"

Ah Chen took Ning Yutong’s hand and responded, "Alright."

"You can do whatever you want, I’ve brought people you can trust, feel free to command them."

"They’re very capable, and it’s hard for others to detect what they do," Ah Chen added, "At least with the Weian Earl Mansion’s capacity, there’s no way they can detect them. They are adept in martial arts, have excellent stealth skills at night, and top-notch assassination skills."

"They also know medical and toxicology skills; making someone die in their sleep is easy," Ah Chen remarked with a sweet smile, "If they want to, no one in this mansion can escape."

Ning Yutong laughed out loud, reaching out to pinch Ah Chen’s cheek, "What are you thinking, I wouldn’t kill anyone."

"Hmm, they’re also good at crippling people."

Ning Yutong embraced Ah Chen, "I’ll come back to see you once I’ve settled things."

"And also visit Father along the way."

She glanced at the seemingly obedient and honest Ah Chen; most likely, her sister caused Father’s madness.

With Ah Chen’s nature, it’s very likely Father didn’t suffer his madness naturally; he had been in good health.

Ning Yutong didn’t probe further, straightforwardly accepting the people Ah Chen brought, and didn’t stay for a meal; the food here wasn’t very good. There would be times in the future for the sisters to eat together.

After Ah Chen left Weian Earl Mansion, there was no commotion in the following days, bewildering those involved in the bet.

What, really, was the attitude of Prince Ning towards Zhou Yuanjia, this fourth brother-in-law?

The two seemed never to have met; afterwards, nothing happened and everything seemed as usual.

Onlookers were a bit anxious and very curious.

"Did your brother-in-law really not come to have a heart-to-heart with you?" someone familiar with Zhou Yuanjia couldn’t resist asking during a small gathering.

"No."

Zhou Yuanjia knew a bit about his brother-in-law’s matters and didn’t mind as he laughed.

Initially, hearing the other came to the mansion surprised him, thinking Ning Zhen was up to something. Later, realizing the other party truly did nothing, only visiting Ning Yutong, reassured him.

People outside exaggerated Ning Zhen’s malevolence; the previous two who had mishaps met their fate because they themselves committed wrongs, offending someone in the Imperial Palace to end up like that.

Jian Jikang and Fan Wenjue were doing just fine, weren’t they?

Especially Jian Jikang, who recently gained quite a reputation by resolving such a significant issue in Qingzhou. Needless to say, he is sure to soar high in the future.

Thinking about this, Zhou Yuanjia felt somewhat depressed and took a sip of wine.

Now that Beixia was stable, there were no wars, and his grand ambitions had nowhere to manifest, with no chance to establish achievements.

If not for these circumstances, how could his marriage been manipulated so?

Were it not for such a situation, how could he be pressured by his family to marry Ning Yutong?

He didn’t like Ning Yutong at all; it was all because of his father and mother’s coercion.

Though they knew he was in love, they still forced him, even using the person he cared about to threaten him; what could he do?

Lacking the ability to resist temporarily, he could only lie low, waiting to act later.

Marrying Ning Yutong already felt like a betrayal to his cousin, so there was no way he would allow Ning Yutong to have his child!

Even the position of his legal wife, the other party temporarily occupied it, would ultimately need to give it up because it was rightfully his cousin’s.

They forced him into this situation.