The Rise of Ning Episode 16 Recap
> The Rise of Ning Recap
At the literary banquet, Luo Shenyuan impressed everyone with a poem, earning their admiration. Lu Jiaxue, who had spent the whole day searching the Luo residence without finding any evidence against him, was informed by his subordinates that there were still some gift boxes for the Cheng family that had not been searched. Lu Jiaxue realized that Luo Shenyuan was no ordinary opponent.
Luo Shenyuan, confident that Lu Jiaxue’s men wouldn’t dare inspect gifts meant for the powerful Cheng family, disguised his senior brother as a servant and hid him in the Cheng family’s sedan chair. It was a bold and risky move, showing how ruthless Luo Shenyuan could be. When Lu Jiaxue encountered Luo Yining again, although he had developed some feelings for her, Luo Yining, with her sharp tongue, never pandered to him and even had the courage to embarrass him.
Lu Jiaxue couldn’t quite figure out if Luo Yining was the same Meimei girl from his past acquaintance. That evening, Luo Chengzhang went to his son’s room, questioning him about his fainting during the poetry contest earlier in the day. Luo Xuanyuan, looking timid and fearful, later lashed out at his elder sister, blaming her for constantly urging him to stay up late studying, which left him too exhausted during the exam.
Finally, Luo Yining awaited the arrival of Zheng Rong, the old servant who had cared for her mother. Zheng Rong had served Luo Yining's mother until her death, and then left for the south. Luo Yining had gone through great trouble to have Qingqu invite her back. When the old matriarch saw Zheng Rong, her expression changed, and she scolded Zheng Rong for coming without an invitation.
Luo Yining quickly explained that she missed her mother and had asked Zheng Rong to stay for a few days. When no one else was around, Zheng Rong confided in Luo Yining that her mother’s death was highly suspicious. Back then, the concubine had been very cunning and had completely manipulated Luo Chengzhang. Luo Yining’s mother had originally wanted to divorce him, but for the sake of her children, she endured it.
For several years, Luo Chengzhang hadn’t visited her mother. But one day, he suddenly came to her courtyard and brought her a block of tea. Soon after, Luo Yining’s mother learned that Luo Chengzhang had come to covet her dowry. Heartbroken, she threw the tea under the crabapple tree, which eventually died from it. Luo Yining was shocked. Could it really be the tea her father gave that caused her mother’s death?
She rummaged through a small box containing her mother’s belongings and found half of the tea block still there. Unable to face the inevitable conclusion, she took the tea to Luo Shenyuan’s courtyard. Together, they witnessed a small white mouse die after eating food contaminated with the tea. That night, Luo Yining was overcome with anger and sorrow. She took the tea, determined to confront her father.
However, when she finally faced him and their eyes met, she found herself unable to speak. At that moment, Luo Shenyuan arrived and diffused the tense situation. Luo Shenyuan advised Luo Yining that while they now knew the tea was poisoned, they couldn’t yet prove that Luo Chengzhang was the one who had poisoned it. They would need solid evidence. Only after a doctor examined the tea to determine its exact contents could they make any conclusions.
Luo Yining began to consider the idea of having Luo Shenyuan added to the family genealogy. She went to discuss it with Lin Hairu, who had been childless since marrying into the Luo family. Luo Yining suggested that they could adopt Luo Shenyuan under Lin Hairu’s name. If Luo Shenyuan were to pass the imperial exams and become a scholar, Lin Hairu would be recognized as the mother of a scholar. Moreover, Luo Shenyuan was pure-hearted and grateful; he would certainly remember this kindness in the future.
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