The Rise of Ning Episode 28 Recap
> The Rise of Ning Recap
At the time, Luo Chengzhang felt it best to keep family scandals from spreading, so he temporarily dismissed everyone. Luo Yining, upset, returned to her courtyard. Soon after, Luo Chengzhang summoned her to the ancestral hall. Luo Shenyuan, suspecting things wouldn’t be that simple, immediately set off up the mountain to ask the matriarch, Grandmother Luo, to take charge of the situation.
When Luo Yining arrived at the ancestral hall, she found Luo Chengzhang, Lin Hairu, Chen Lan, and her eldest uncle Luo Chengwen present. Chen Lan produced love letters Luo Chengwen had once written to Luo Yining's mother, revealing that Luo Chengwen, too, had once admired her. Now, with old secrets laid bare, Luo Chengwen explained that he had only harbored a secret love.
In their youth, Minglan had grown up with him and Luo Chengzhang, and later, Grandmother Luo had arranged her marriage to Luo Chengzhang, after which Luo Chengwen gave up any inappropriate thoughts and even swore an oath to that effect. Meanwhile, Luo Shenyuan had found Grandmother Luo and brought along the old midwife who had assisted with Minglan's delivery years before. That night, Grandmother Luo questioned the midwife in detail about the circumstances of Minglan’s child.
The midwife revealed that, at the time, Luo Chengzhang and Minglan had written a divorce agreement, and Minglan had been living alone in a separate courtyard. One day, some soldiers broke into her quarters and took her away, claiming she was needed to care for a wounded general. Later, Minglan returned home safely, and gradually, people forgot about the incident. However, a few months later, she showed signs of pregnancy, and soon after, Luo Yining was born.
All that was known of Luo Yining’s biological father was that he was a general, with no further information. Grandmother Luo, hearing the truth for the first time, was stunned, and Luo Shenyuan, listening in the shadows, also heard the entire story. He had long harbored suspicions, but with Chen Lan now slandering Luo Yining, he knew the need to protect this secret was more important than ever.
Grandmother Luo dismissed the midwife and called forth Luo Shenyuan, asking him to swear an oath to protect Luo Yining for the rest of his life. Understanding the gravity of this, Luo Shenyuan solemnly took the oath. That same night, Luo Shenyuan rushed back to the Luo residence and went to the ancestral hall. Gazing upon Minglan’s portrait, he knew that Luo Yining was about to face a turbulent storm, and he silently prayed that Minglan’s spirit would protect her.
By morning, Luo Chengzhang questioned the midwife about the past. She firmly maintained that Minglan had been blameless and that Luo Yining was indeed the seventh young lady of the Luo family. However, Chen Lan had already bribed another old servant, convincing Luo Chengzhang that Luo Yining was not his biological daughter. Not wanting the elderly midwife to be beaten, Luo Yining volunteered to return to the woodshed and accept punishment.
After enduring a severe beating, the midwife was left in the woodshed, gravely injured. As she lay near death, she told Luo Yining that Minglan had loved her deeply and gave her a pendant that Luo Yining’s biological father had gifted Minglan. With these final words, the midwife lost consciousness. At the same time, Luo Shenyuan investigated near the separate courtyard the midwife had described. Some locals still recalled events involving displaced people from those days.
Luo Shenyuan focused his search on Taoyuan Courtyard, where a general had once resided briefly before returning to the frontlines. To prevent Chen Lan from causing further trouble, Grandmother Luo personally reported her to the authorities. Chen Lan angrily accused Grandmother Luo of favoring the second branch of the family, but Grandmother Luo pointed out that Chen Lan had caused the deaths of two people and deserved no sympathy.
Grandmother Luo reminded her that the Luo family still had her three children, and that spreading rumors about the family’s disgrace was unimportant. Seeing the children, who were either preparing for marriage or civil service exams, Chen Lan regretted her actions. Finally, Luo Shenyuan found Luo Yining’s biological father, who turned out to be the Duke of Ying. Now middle-aged and never having taken a wife or concubine, he had kept Minglan in his heart all these years.
Luo Shenyuan brought Minglan’s portrait to the Duke’s residence, and upon seeing it, the Duke understood everything. He immediately followed Luo Shenyuan to the Luo residence. Meanwhile, Luo Yilian seized the opportunity for revenge. She went to her father and exaggerated events, suggesting that while Grandmother Luo was unwell, it would be best to drive Luo Yining out as soon as possible.
Consequently, Luo Chengzhang ordered Luo Yining to be taken out of the family residence at night, gave orders for her to receive twenty lashes, and banished her from the family. As Luo Yining fainted from the lashes, the Duke of Ying arrived. He quickly surrounded the ancestral hall and ordered those delivering the lashes to stop. Upon seeing a jade pendant that had fallen to the ground from Luo Yining, he recognized her as his daughter.
He then reminded Luo Chengzhang that Minglan had been divorced at the time, so there had been no breach of morals. Luo Yining was now his legitimate daughter, and no one was permitted to harm her.
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