The man respectfully pced the invitation down. Ning Yan gnced at it—it was embossed with gold, quite formal. He hadn't expected that Ning Zhao had made such a name for himself in Xuan City. He was no longer the little boy who used to cry while chasing after him.

  Ning Yan casually asked, "Who sent it?"

  The man scratched his head. "Seems like… the Duke of Engnd’s residence. The Duchess is hosting a birthday banquet. Normally, they don't invite just anyone. Lord Xiao Zhao must have some ties with the Bai family from before. I was quite surprised too."

  Ning Yan lifted his head, his gaze falling back onto the golden invitation. He narrowed his eyes and remained silent for a long time. His silence made the messenger so nervous that his hands trembled. "L-Lord?"

  "Just one invitation?"

  "Huh? Yes, just one."

  Ning Yan picked up the invitation, opened it, and saw only Ning Zhao’s name inside. The handwriting was delicate and elegant—clearly a woman's.

  "Leave it here."

  The messenger quickly obeyed and left, his mind full of unease. Was the lord in a bad mood? He’d better warn his brothers to be cautious these days—avoiding social gatherings might save them some trouble.

  After the man left, Ning Yan studied the invitation several more times. He seemed to grind his mors before finally setting it aside. When Ning Zhao returned, drenched in sweat and colpsing onto the ground, Ning Yan gestured toward the invitation. "For you."

  Ning Zhao sat up. "From whom? I’m busy—I don’t have time for socializing… The Duke of Engnd’s residence?"

  He blinked, suddenly recalling something. His voice turned mysterious. "Uncle, the Bai family’s young dy came to the yamen looking for me the other day. The rumors are true—she's really quite—"

  Ning Zhao abruptly shut his mouth and quickly scooted backward on all fours, tilting his head in confusion. "Did I say something wrong?"

  Why was his uncle suddenly angry?

  Ning Yan's expression remained unreadable, but a slow, seemingly gentle smile appeared on his face. Yet, it sent chills down Ning Zhao’s spine.

  "I—I think I should go take another round of punishment…"

  "You and the Duke of Engnd’s residence—seem to have a good retionship?"

  "No, no, no! I have always upheld justice and never formed close ties with any family, M—My Lord can attest to that!"

  Ning Yan’s gaze moved slowly downward from Ning Zhao’s face to his waist, where a pale yellow sachet hung. It was a standard item sold by Suiyun Pavilion.

  "The Bai family’s young dy came looking for you. And then? Did she give you a sachet?"

  "A sachet? Why would she give me a sachet?"

  Although Ning Zhao was afraid, he was quite bold. After his response, he could distinctly feel the suffocating atmosphere ease slightly, allowing him to breathe again.

  "My Lord, rest assured. These kinds of banquet invitations come to the yamen daily. I never attend them. I’ll have someone decline it immediately."

  He wasn’t lying—he mainly avoided such events because they were troublesome. People at these banquets were full of fttery, and sometimes he couldn’t even understand what they were talking about. Over time, the invitations gradually stopped coming.

  "Go."

  Ning Zhao looked up. "Huh?"

  Ning Yan withdrew his gaze from the invitation and said indifferently, "I told you to go. It would be rude to refuse their kind gesture."

  "Alright then."

  Ning Zhao didn’t think much of it. If his uncle told him to go, he’d go. But for the next few days, during morning drills, Ning Yan singled him out without mercy, beating him so hard that his bones felt like they were falling apart.

  The other yamen officers all looked at Ning Zhao with sympathy. But the more he was beaten, the more energized he became, thinking that his uncle was personally training him. Not everyone had the privilege of sparring with him!

  Uncle truly cared for him.

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