The Rise of Ning Episode 14 Recap
> The Rise of Ning Recap
Luo Shenyuan led his men to Dali Temple to rescue his senior brother Daoyan. However, Lu Jiaxue had already surrounded the temple with his forces. The corridors of Dali Temple were winding and complex, and despite Daoyan's efforts, he couldn't shake off his pursuers. When Luo Shenyuan heard the clash of cold weapons, he immediately rushed over with reinforcements, and they managed to rescue Daoyan. Lu Jiaxue blocked Luo Shenyuan's path.
At the time, Luo Shenyuan was wearing a black mask. The two men were evenly matched in martial arts, but Lu Jiaxue's attacks were deadly, and with more and more soldiers closing in, Luo Shenyuan quickly set the nearby firewood ablaze. Using the cover of the smoke, he managed to escape. That evening, Lin Mao was in low spirits because his sister had scolded him earlier in the day.
Luo Yixiu saw Lin Mao drowning his sorrows in alcohol and couldn't help but go over to comfort him. Lin Mao knew he wasn’t cut out for scholarly pursuits, yet his entire family had pinned their hopes on him. Luo Yixiu also lamented that she wasn’t as talented as her elder sister, but their mother always encouraged her to lose weight in hopes of becoming more like her. Hearing this, Lin Mao couldn’t help but laugh.
He joked that if losing weight was just to find a good match, whoever married Luo Yixiu would have quite a challenge ahead. What began as mutual sympathy between the two ended in lighthearted teasing, and they both ended up laughing together. Lu Jiaxue led his men to search the city for the fugitive who had just escaped, eventually tracing the investigation back to the Luo residence.
The fire at Yixinge last time had also been linked to the Luo family. So, Lu Jiaxue surrounded the Luo residence with his guards and began searching room by room. Luo Yining was deep in thought in the pavilion when a maid came to report that Lu Jiaxue was leading a search. Her heart began pounding—Lu Jiaxue was practically her worst nightmare. She overheard that Lu Jiaxue’s investigation yielded nothing, and he was preparing to head toward Luo Shenyuan’s quarters.
Luo Yining asked her maid, "How should one face their fears? " The maid didn’t quite understand what Luo Yining was referring to and merely mentioned that when she was little, she was afraid of chickens, but her mother threw her into the chicken coop for half a day, and after that, she wasn’t scared anymore. Inspired by the maid’s story, Luo Yining gathered her courage. Yes, the more you fear something, the more it seems to come at you.
It was better to face it head-on. At the time, Lu Jiaxue was punishing Luo Shenyuan. Gathering her courage, Luo Yining stepped forward to stop him, questioning why he was punishing members of the Luo family without any evidence. Lu Jiaxue’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing Luo Yining’s voice—it reminded him of the girl named "Meimei" who had once saved him, and her voice was exactly the same.
Lu Jiaxue sighed, noting how Luo Yining resembled someone from his past. Luo Yining met his gaze and reminded him that with so many people in the world, it’s natural for there to be similarities. She pleaded for Luo Shenyuan, but Lu Jiaxue was unrelenting, even when Luo Yining threw herself over Luo Shenyuan to shield him, refusing to spare him from the punishment. In the end, it was the old matriarch of the Luo family who intervened.
She was a titled lady officially recognized by the court, and thus had the authority to oppose Lu Jiaxue's orders. Reluctantly, Lu Jiaxue withdrew with his men, but as he left the Luo residence, he instructed his subordinates to conduct a thorough investigation into Luo Yining's past. It was already late, and the old matriarch didn’t question what had happened that day. However, the next day, Luo Shenyuan took the initiative to meet with her.
He explained that he had been working to clear his master’s name for years. His master was highly respected, and Luo Shenyuan was confident that he could prove his innocence. The old matriarch knew that Luo Shenyuan’s years of enduring hardship in the Luo family were all for the sake of obtaining a crucial testimony.
Luo Shenyuan expressed his hope that if he could emerge as the top scorer in the imperial examination this time, the old matriarch would hand over the testimony. He also asked to be included in the family genealogy, so he could legitimately take part in the examination. The old matriarch had long been searching for someone who could help restore the family’s honor, and now she saw hope. She gladly agreed to Luo Shenyuan’s requests.
Preparing for the imperial examination required more than just studying diligently—it also involved understanding your competitors. Luo Yining suggested to Lin Hairu that they should hold a literary banquet in the house. Ever since the death of the old patriarch, it had been a long time since such an event had been organized. Not only would this help improve their scholarly skills, but it would also give the young women of the house a chance to meet renowned scholars. Lin Hairu immediately went to discuss this with the old matriarch, but the old lady simply said she would consider it.
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