June 27th.

Liang Song had already decided to abandon Ning Wan, and he even thought of a reason to restore his reputation.

That was that Ning Wan suddenly died of natural causes.

As long as he returned to Hedong and announced to the world that his beloved wife Ning Wan died suddenly at the beginning of April, his reputation would not be harmed.

After all, Ning Wan supposedly died before Chen Mo captured Longmen County, so there was no incident of her being defiled by Chen Mo.

Anyway, Ning Wan, as his wife, was once a noble lady who rarely showed herself in public, and only those close to Ning Wan knew what she looked like.

Therefore, as long as he let the Liang Family control the direction of public opinion, then Chen Mo's claim of capturing his wife would be false.

Even if Ning Wan exposed herself boldly in Yuzhou, no one would know she was once his second wife.

And he was confident he could persuade the Ning Family to stand with him, so even if the worst case happened and Ning Wan confronted him, Liang Song could claim she was fake.

But after all, they were once husband and wife, so before Liang Song left, he still spoke to Ning Wan.

Women are very sensitive, and in recent days, Ning Wan clearly felt Liang Song's coldness towards her, and when she took the initiative to approach, Liang Song actually said he was tired.

Ning Wan knew that Liang Song no longer loved her, but she still held onto some hope because if he no longer wanted her, Ning Wan truly did not know what to do.

In Hedong, it would be okay, although humiliated, she could return to her family, but now she was in Yuzhou, which was unfamiliar territory for her since she seldom traveled.

But now Liang Song's words to her shattered the last sliver of hope in her heart.

She stepped forward and grabbed Liang Song's clothes, saying, "My lord, I wish to leave with you, I am not afraid of danger."

"Not suitable." Liang Song casually pulled away, and then said, "My Dantian was destroyed by that scoundrel, I lost all my cultivation and became a useless person, even protecting myself is difficult, if I take you with me and encounter danger, how could we escape?"

This point Liang Song said truthfully, walking in troubled times, especially with a beauty, the risk was too great.

"I can take care of myself and will disguise as ugly, I will not be a burden to you," Ning Wan's eyes reddened slightly.

Liang Song frowned slightly, reluctant to be too direct, said, "To be prudent, you stay in Longmen County first, once I settle back in Hedong, I'll come for you, I... I'll ask Xue'er to look after you."

Ning Wan could no longer hold back, with tears in her eyes she said, "My lord, don't you want me anymore?"

She had been a cherished woman once, seeing Ning Wan like this, his heart softened briefly, but he quickly steeled himself and said, "That's not true. After I return, someone will surely be sent to bring you back."

"You do." Ning Wan, with tears in her eyes, said, "You're just thinking I was defiled by that scoundrel, believing I've been tainted and fearing that it would ruin your reputation, so now you don't want me..."

Ning Wan was truly afraid, so after criticizing, her tone softened, saying, "Please believe me, that scoundrel never touched me, Xue'er lived with me, she can testify."

After speaking, she stepped forward and grabbed onto Liang Song's sleeve again, pleading for him to take her away with him.

She didn't know who Chen Mo was, but Yuzhou was notoriously a den of thieves, so compared to Chen Mo, she felt safer beside Liang Song.

"I understand." Looking at Ning Wan with tears flowing, in such a pitiful and delicate manner, Liang Song felt his heart stir slightly, gently wrapping her in his arms, patting her back and said, "I believe you."

Ning Wan thought Liang Song had changed his mind, just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Liang Song added, "So please believe me too."

Liang Song grabbed Ning Wan's shoulders, looking into her eyes, said, "After I get back to Hedong, I'll surely send someone to bring you back first thing, you are my lawfully wedded wife, how could I forsake you."

Ning Wan's heart immediately sank to the bottom.

She wasn't a fool.

It was just in front of Liang Song, she purposefully made herself seem foolish.

Actually, after feeling Liang Song's coldness, Ning Wan had realized, whether she was defiled or not didn't matter, what mattered was she was captured by Chen Mo.

So in the eyes of outsiders, she was defiled.

Noble Families cared most about face, that is, others' opinions, and Liang Song was a prideful man.

Therefore, these days, she hadn't mentioned it to Liang Song.

Liang Song believed her, then her defilement was false, no need to speak of it.

If Liang Song didn't believe, then it was true.

So her speaking of it was pointless, and so it was.

Liang Song left.

Ning Wan collapsed to the ground, her tears smudging her makeup, she watched as Liang Song's figure receded, hoping he would stop, turn back, and take her away, but he didn't, left without a glance back.

Ning Wan felt her heart turn to ashes.

Liang Song indeed instructed Liang Xue to look after Ning Wan, he had to maintain his image in front of his daughter.

After Liang Song left, Liang Xue came over, intending to speak well of Liang Song in front of Ning Wan, to comfort her, but this was the scene she witnessed.

It was the first time she saw Ning Wan cry, if she'd seen this before April, she would have only mocked and spoken insensitively, but now, she felt a little heartache.

Liang Xue walked over and helped Ning Wan up, unaware of Liang Song's plan to abandon Ning Wan, comforted her saying:

"Aunt Ning, I know you're reluctant to see father go, but it's only for a while, when father returns, he'll find a way to bring you over, don't be too sad.

"Before Dad left, he asked me to take good care of you, so stay here for now, no one will disturb you."

"He won't come to pick me up, he won't." Ning Wan shook her head, her heart aching.

A woman follows the man she marries, and after being with Liang Song for a few years, how could Ning Wan have no feelings at all.

Hearing this, Liang Xue frowned. Although his relationship with Ning Wan had eased a bit, he wouldn't allow her to speak of Liang Song like that, saying: "When Dad speaks, he means what he says, hasn't Aunt Ning known this after all this time with him?"

Of course, Ning Wan knew. Liang Song had once served as the Prefect of Yuzhou; without some authority, he couldn't have governed Yuzhou well. But for adults, especially someone with Liang Song's status, there's a set way to handle things, understanding what to pick and choose.

And abandoning her was clearly about maximizing benefits over costs.

"I hope so." Even though her heart was like dead ashes, Ning Wan still hoped for a rekindling, that Liang Song would take her back after returning to Hedong, or at least notify the Ning Family to fetch her.

...

Chen Mo certainly wouldn't let Liang Song go; he knew too much.

Therefore, after Liang Song left Longmen County, Chen Mo had Cui Shuang secretly follow him.

June 29th.

Liang Song was knocked out by Cui Shuang, who then rode a fast horse, heading west with Liang Song.

By early July, in a small county town on the western edge of Yu State, a hundred miles from Longmen County, Cui Shuang, following Chen Mo's orders, imprisoned Liang Song there.

Chen Mo had promised Liang Xue that he would not kill Liang Song, and he meant it.

...

July 10th.

The Holy Decree from Luonan arrived in Yu State, and the news of Chen Mo being conferred the title of Marquis spread like wildfire throughout Yu State.

Especially the soldiers under Chen Mo's command, who were dancing with joy.

An eighteen-year-old Marquis.

Too exaggerated since ancient times.

Since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, Chen Mo was definitely the youngest Marquis.

Their top leader being ennobled also brought great pride to his subordinates.

For the soldiers below, what they saw was Chen Mo's noble rank, but the real insiders valued the phrase "authorized to act as necessary."

What does it mean to be authorized to act as necessary?

It means Chen Mo could do anything in the Qing and Yu States.

For example, previously, though Chen Mo recruited soldiers in Yu State with no one to intervene, it was illegal, and a capital crime, punishable by the execution of nine families. Should future peace prevail, the ruler could use this charge to settle accounts against Chen Mo.

But with this "authorized to act as necessary," Chen Mo's recruitment became legalized.

Aside from recruiting soldiers, Chen Mo could justify forging armor, killing, or even exterminating clans.

This is the power given to Chen Mo by the Emperor.

Besides ennobling Chen Mo, Luo Yong, who achieved the Xian Deng merit, was also granted the title of Baron.

Wen Heng, Xu Mu, and other defectors were all pardoned.

...

The backyard of Longmen County Government Office.

"Marquis of Fu Ze Pavilion..." Xia Zhining looked at the Holy Decree stamped with the Jade Seal in her hand, speechless for a long time.

Thinking of her father, who worked hard for half his life, reading people's expressions, accumulating wealth and giving gifts, only to achieve the Fourth-Grade Official position of Prefect of Qingzhou, and sacrificed his life for the nation without any acknowledgment from the Court.

But now, an eighteen-year-old boy has reached such heights, with the Prefects of Qing and Yu States merely as garnish, the real focus being the General of Pingxi, Marquis of Fu Ze Pavilion.

"He truly is the man I chose..." After the shock, Xia Zhining felt a sense of smugness, subconsciously feeling that it was an honor for her to have lost herself to Chen Mo that day.

"Hey..."

At that moment, a soft voice startled Xia Zhining. The Holy Decree in her hand almost slipped, but upon realizing it was Chen Mo, she bashfully patted Chen Mo's shoulder and scolded, "Do you want to die walking without making a sound?"

"You're the one lost in thought and didn't hear." Chen Mo embraced Xia Zhining from behind, glanced at the Holy Decree in her hand, and smiled, "Just a few lines, do you have to look at it for so long?"

Xia Zhining pouted, "What do you know? Jumping from Baron directly to Marquis, do you know what that represents? It's such a great favor; my father died a Viscount."

Chen Mo, thinking it was nothing, held Xia Zhining's jade hand and boldly proclaimed, "If I ascend to the throne one day, I will surely posthumously confer Duke upon your father-in-law to honor his deeds."

This wasn't the first time Chen Mo had revealed his ambition, and it wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility at the moment.

Xia Zhining's body trembled, her heart fluttering, "Emperor..."

"When..."

Right then, an unusual sound came from behind.

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