The reborn daughter of the Marquis Mansion takes over the world

When Huo Yunjue returned to the banquet after rescuing Ning Ziqing, he ran into officials led by Grand Tutor Liang who fiercely opposed the marriage between Huo Yunhong and Qian Yeguo.

Lord He from the Censorate even risked his life to present a memorial, impeaching Huo Yunhong for condoning corruption and abuse of power by his trusted officials during his term as regent, and accusing Huo Yunhong of attempting to control the government and seize power to usurp the throne.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yao was furious and smashed the jade cup in his hand. He publicly scolded Huo Yunhong for his evil ambitions and ulterior motives, and ordered to take back his power as regent.

Huo Yunhong fell to his knees unexpectedly, his mind in a mess: "Father, please understand! Censor He's accusation is a pure frame-up. I am being wrongly accused."

He suddenly raised his head and glared at Huo Yunjue, his eyes blazing with poisonous fire: "Someone must have instigated Lord He to deliberately frame me. I beg you to investigate this thief and clear my name!"

He had a hidden meaning, and the first person he suspected was Huo Yunjue.

Huo Yunjue turned a blind eye, put down his empty wine glass, and calmly walked to the emperor to ask for permission.

"Father, I don't think my second brother would be so foolish. Why don't we just follow his words and find out who framed him?"

"Your son is willing to lead the three courts in the trial to find out the truth and clear your second brother's name - but to prove fairness, your second brother may have to avoid suspicion for the next few days."

Huo Yunhong's face froze, and he almost bit his back teeth to pieces in hatred.

Emperor Yao rubbed his painful forehead, his cold eyes swept across Huo Yunhong's distorted face, and after a brief thought, he approved Huo Yunhong's request. He then issued an order to confine Huo Yunhong and forbid him from interacting with the envoys of Qianye Kingdom.

Huo Yunhong was furious after being stabbed in the back by Huo Yunjue, and immediately wanted to kill him.

Anyone who dares to block his way, even if they are his own brothers, he will kill them.

In the middle of the night, Huo Yunhong returned to his mansion in a rage. The fire in his chest was still not calmed down, and he bore a grudge against the official named He who impeached him.

He flew into a rage in the study and smashed several pieces of porcelain before he finally calmed down and ordered someone to call Ning Ziqing.

When Ning Ziqing dragged her exhausted body into the study, Huo Yunhong first pretended to praise her for helping him a lot with her dance tonight, and then changed the subject.

"Ning San, that He must be a remnant of the deposed crown prince. He dared to impeach me tonight and made me lose face in front of the envoys of various countries. This must be the deposed crown prince who secretly instructed him to do it in order to retaliate against me. Go and get rid of him for me. I have sent people to investigate. His biggest weakness is lust. It is most appropriate for you to do this."

Ning Ziqing stood before him with his head lowered, not saying a word, feeling mixed emotions.

How she wanted to ask him face to face whether he really wanted to abandon her and marry the princess of Qianye Kingdom as his concubine.

Huo Yunhong looked at Ning Ziqing expectantly, not caring about the red and swollen slap marks on her face.

Seeing that she didn't answer for a long time, Huo Yunhong's eyes flashed with displeasure.

"What's wrong with you? Why haven't you answered my Highness yet?"

Ning Ziqing then slowly raised his head, tears welling in his eyes, and mustered up the courage to ask, "Your Highness, are you really going to marry the princess of Qianye Kingdom as your consort?"

Huo Yunhong frowned slightly, and suddenly realized what was going on. He immediately changed his expression, stood up, took Ning Ziqing into his arms, stroked her hair with his fingers, and coaxed her softly: "Ning San, this is just a temporary measure. I did this to gain the support of King Rui'an and his son. With their help, I can successfully seize the throne. You have to understand my difficulties."

"I promise you, when I ascend the throne in the future, I will find a reason to banish her to the cold palace and allow you to be my queen, okay?"

Ning Ziqing looked into Huo Yunhong's seemingly affectionate eyes, and yet again, somehow, she believed his sweet lies.

The next night, Ning Ziqing dressed up as a dancer in Jinhuan Tower to seduce Censor He as planned.

Just as she drugged Censor He and was about to kill him with a dagger, Censor He was prepared. He clamped Ning Ziqing's wrist tightly and shouted, "Hurry up, someone is trying to kill me!"

The guards outside the door noticed something unusual and immediately rushed in to capture Ning Ziqing.

Ning Ziqing broke free from Censor He and fled by jumping out of the window in panic. However, the injury on his foot had not healed yet and his movements were slow. He was about to be caught up by the group of guards.

At the critical moment, Huo Yunjue, who had been following Censor He for a long time, suddenly appeared wearing a mask and saved Ning Ziqing, and even blocked the fatal knife for her with his arm.

He kicked away the guard who had injured him, gritted his teeth and endured the pain, holding Ning Ziqing's waist. After a few jumps, he shook off the pursuers and took Ning Ziqing to hide in a deserted courtyard.

The two were out of danger. Huo Yunjue took off his mask, pressed his arm which was bleeding profusely, and scolded Ning Ziqing with anger that could not be concealed.

"Are you crazy? You dare to assassinate an official of the imperial court, you are going to die!"

Ning Ziqing came back to his senses from his fright, and after seeing Huo Yunjue's face clearly, he hurriedly took out an embroidered handkerchief and pressed it against his wound.

"I'm sorry, Ah Si, I got you into trouble."

She helped Huo Yunjue sit down against the wall, tears welling up in her eyes.

"It's all my fault. I was so close to helping His Highness kill that man... Why am I so stupid..."

Seeing that she was still regretting and blaming herself for Huo Yunhong, Huo Yunjue felt a mixture of pain and anger in his heart. He could no longer control himself and hugged Ning Ziqing into his arms.

"Don't be stupid! In this world, no man would watch his beloved woman please others, risk her life for him, and stay out of it. He just treats you as a chess piece, as a knife that can be wielded at will. He has never had any sincerity towards you! Why are you so foolish and insist on returning to him and letting him manipulate you?"

Ning Ziqing was struck by lightning when he heard this. He shook his head desperately, refusing to admit it.

"No, no, His Highness would not lie to me. He said that when he ascends the throne in the future, he will marry me and grant me the title of Queen!"

"Ning Ziqing! Wake up!"

Huo Yunjue was so angry that he roared in a hoarse voice.

"If Huo Yunhong really wanted to marry you, how could he let you stay by his side without any status and be looked down upon by the world? You are the third daughter of the Ning Marquis's mansion, but in his heart, what are you? A maid? A concubine? Or even a dispensable plaything that can't be considered anything else?"

"Believe it or not, if you die in the hands of those guards tonight, he won't shed a single tear for you. He has been lying to you from the beginning to the end!"

Ning Ziqing's pupils shook as he stared at Huo Yunjue in a daze, his eyes full of disbelief.

"Ah Si, you... know my identity?"

Huo Yunjue nodded: "I asked around in the Su Mansion and found out that you are the third lady of the Ning Marquis Mansion."

Ning Ziqing avoided his gaze, gave a sad smile, and the last bit of fantasy in his heart was completely shattered.

"Ah Si, you are right. What on earth am I hoping for when my reputation is ruined? The Second Prince is a noble man, so how could he marry me? All this is just wishful thinking on my part."

Huo Yunjue's heart tightened. He gently lifted the back of her head with one hand, his voice firm.

"Ning Ziqing, listen carefully, you are fine, really fine. They are blind and they are sorry for you. Your father's indifference, your stepmother's calculations, your stepsister's jealousy, and Huo Yunhong's hypocrisy, they are not worthy of you, let alone you mistreating yourself like this."

"If you don't want to see them again, and don't want to stay in Kyoto, a city full of intrigues, I can take you away. No matter where you want to go, I will accompany you to the ends of the earth!"

When Ning Ziqing heard his words, tears rolled down her cheeks like beads from a broken string.

The next moment, she fell on Huo Yunjue's chest, crying heart-wrenchingly, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances and pains of the past years.

Huo Yunjue caressed her back lovingly, and comforted her softly over and over again: "Don't be afraid, I'm here to protect you and will never let you get hurt again. I will make those who hurt you pay the price."

Ning Ziqing clutched his collar tightly, as if he had grabbed the last straw and was unwilling to let go.

She cried in his arms for a long time until her tears gradually dried up. She finally calmed down, wiped the tears from her face, carefully bandaged Huo Yunjue's wound, and stood up to go back.

"Ah Si, I have to go."

Huo Yunjue urged him urgently, “Don’t leave. Can you please not go back to Huo Yunhong? He won’t let you go.”

Ning Ziqing shook his head, still worried about Bai Yifeng.

"Ah Si, although I don't know who your master is, the Second Prince is extremely powerful, and he is the future crown prince. Don't provoke him because of me, otherwise it will implicate your master."

Huo Yunjue was extremely anxious and held her hand, trying to keep her.

"Don't worry about me. Believe me, I will find a way to get you out of this unscathed. If you fail in your mission tonight, the Second Prince will not let it go. Besides, your foot injury has not healed yet. How can you withstand his wrath?"

Ning Ziqing smiled calmly and said decisively: "Ah Si, I will be fine. Now that I have seen the true face of the Second Prince, I will find a way to leave. After I settle my master, I will find a place where no one knows me, start over, and live a good life alone."

"Goodbye, Ah Si!"

She let go of Huo Yunjue's hand, turned around and left resolutely.

Huo Yunjue's eyes were dim, and he could only watch her frail figure disappear into the distance.

He stood up by holding onto the wall, his expression becoming more determined. He must defeat Huo Yunhong as soon as possible, rescue Ning Ziqing, and take her away from Kyoto.