Chapter 67
Uncomfortable Family Ties
There's not much more to say now that things have come to this point; all we can do is wait for the investigation results.
Since the investigation results would take some time, Ning Qi suggested that Ning Shu stay in the sect for a few more days to clear her name.
Ning Shu didn't have much to say about the outcome or how the matter was handled; all she wanted was for them to punish Ning Li and for the elders who had slandered her to apologize.
Ning Qi agreed, and only then did she agree to stay at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School for a few more days.
Having listened to the entire process, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had a clear understanding of who was right and who was wrong.
Looking at Ning Rongrong's unpleasant expression, Zhu Zhuqing didn't know how to comfort her.
It's no use saying anything now.
Ning Shu was truly wronged.
Zhu Zhuqing felt sorry for Ning Shu. Being wronged was torture, not to mention a year or two, even a minute of it was unbearable.
Ning Li was ordered to stay at home by Ning Qi, but Ning Fengzhi turned a deaf ear to it. It was as if the sun had risen in the west. This time, Ning Li did not resist at all, as if she had already accepted her fate. This was completely different from her before.
After Yu Shui finished dealing with the matter, he took Ning Shu back to his own courtyard.
He hadn't seen Ning Shu for a long time, and he missed her terribly.
If it weren't for the deep misunderstanding, he would have hoped that Ning Shu wouldn't leave again now that she's back.
Nighttime, the bamboo grove in the backyard, Yu Shui's residence.
The bamboo garden is fresh and elegant, with a unique charm, and is also a quiet and secluded place.
Yu Shui prefers tranquility, so she chose a courtyard far from the hustle and bustle to settle down. It had been a long time since she had returned to the Bamboo Garden. Looking at everything familiar here, Ning Shu felt a warm feeling inexplicably in her heart.
"Shu'er, I've already had the chef prepare your favorite dishes. Shall we sit down and eat?"
A gentle night breeze stirred, and Yu Shui hurriedly tidied up the table and chairs, then put them back in their proper place.
He usually eats in the yard, except on rainy days.
Although it is now winter, he still maintains this habit because Ning Shu used to like to eat outside in the wind.
Yu Shui smiled and said warmly, "Everything is still the same as it was more than a year ago. I was just afraid that you would feel unfamiliar with the place after being away from home for so long, so I didn't touch anything, including your room. I send someone to clean it every day, so there isn't a speck of dust."
"Come, sit down. Let's eat first. After we finish eating, I'll take you to some of the places you used to like. The sect has changed a lot in the past year..."
Yu Shui kept talking, setting out the bowls and chopsticks, and then making Ning Shu sit down. He was so busy that Ning Shu was a little confused.
She spoke somewhat awkwardly, "Father, please sit down, there's no need to go to work."
The original owner of this body was raised by the Yu River, not the transmigrated one. Although she also longed for family affection, this affection should not have belonged to her in the first place, and she did not know how to face it.
She had originally planned to leave after resolving this matter, but Ning Qi and Yu Shui insisted that she stay a few more days, and her refusal was to no avail. Now that it came to this family-related part, she really didn't know what to say or do.
Seeing Ning Shu's distant manner, Yu Shui was taken aback. The smile on her face froze, and then she lowered her head and gave a bitter smile, stopping what she was doing. "Shu'er, you're still blaming me, aren't you?"
Strange?
Ning Shu looked somewhat bewildered. "No, it's not."
What's strange about it?
Yu Shui sighed with a wry smile, put down his chopsticks, and said, "It's alright, Shu'er, it's understandable that you blame me. I know that the way this was handled still made you feel wronged, but Ning Li is, after all, surnamed Ning, she's not an outsider..."
At this point, Yu Shui paused again, seemingly realizing he had said something wrong. He then explained, "Shu'er, that's not what I meant. It's just that Ning Li and I have been husband and wife, and I can't just watch her like that..."
The more he explained, the more confused people became. Finally, he changed the subject, "Alright, let's not talk about her anymore. Your return this time has fulfilled one of my wishes. But I heard that you joined the Spirit Hall?"
"Yes, that's right." Ning Shu nodded in agreement.
She didn't want to talk about Ning Li anymore. Since things were already like this, she wouldn't take Yu Shui's words to heart to avoid any emotional issues.
Is that strange?
Because of Ning Li's matter, it's not worth blaming her.
Yu Shui nodded in agreement. "But I heard you were at Shrek Academy, the same school as Ning Rongrong. Why did you suddenly leave and go to the Spirit Hall?"
Yu Shui had been secretly investigating Ning Shu's whereabouts. In addition, since Flander, the dean of Shrek Academy, had taken money from him, he knew most of what Ning Shu did at Shrek Academy. Of course, this knowledge was only what Flander was willing to tell him.
When Ning Shu suddenly left Shrek Academy, Flander immediately told him. Although he didn't explain the reason, he had heard some news when Ning Rongrong returned to the sect before, so naturally, he also suspected that Ning Shu had been bullied by Ning Rongrong.
But when he went to look for her, Ning Shu had vanished without a trace. After searching for quite some time, he learned that she had gone to the Spirit Hall. He wanted to bring Ning Shu back for two reasons: first, to clarify what had happened before, and second, to find out why Ning Shu had suddenly joined the Spirit Hall.
How could Ning Shu not understand Yu Shui's thoughts?
She answered truthfully, "It's because I couldn't learn anything good at Shrek Academy. Coincidentally, during a training trip outside the academy, I met some friends from the Spirit Hall. They warmly invited me to join the Spirit Hall and offered me generous terms. After comparing them, I joined the Spirit Hall. After all, the conditions at Shrek Academy were really not satisfactory. It all depended on fate. I didn't want to waste any more time, so that's how it is."
"I see." Yu Shui nodded, indicating her understanding. "The conditions at Shrek Academy are a bit tough, but the teachers are of a very high standard. I heard that a master is also teaching at Shrek Academy."
"Yes, but I don't think much of him," Ning Shu said bluntly.
"You don't like him?" Yu Shui asked curiously. "But I heard he's a good person."
Ning Shu chuckled, "That must have been Ning Rongrong who told you."
Yu Shui laughed and shook his head, "It's not Ning Rongrong, it's someone else."
"Those must be Yu Xiaogang's online trolls," Ning Shu affirmed.
"An online troll?" This was the first time Yu Shui had heard Ning Shu evaluate someone like this. He thought for a moment and said, "Is he a bad person? It's rare to find someone you think is bad. It seems he's just all talk and no action."
Ning Shu snorted, "He's more than just a figurehead. Humph, I don't think he's a good person!"