Mu Huaner looked at Yan Yao and Andelle, "I heard that men from the Morris Empire are really good at pampering women. Perhaps Her Majesty and Your Highness the Prince could help me look for someone too?"
Yan Yao nodded, "No problem, we will keep an eye out for you once we return."
"Thank you, thank you. I’ll be entrusting my lifelong happiness to you then."
Mu Huaner was skilled at socializing, and the previously awkward atmosphere eased with just a few words from her.
Everyone was laughing, and Yan Qianyi also joined in the laughter nearby.
Only Ning Nuan wasn’t laughing.
She had just been interrupted by Yan Qianyi while talking with Yan Yao, and now Mu Huaner continued to dominate the conversation, leaving her no chance to chime in.
Mu Huaner asked Yan Yao, "How long do you plan to stay in the Federation Empire? I’ve always heard about you from Qianyi. Now that you’re here, you should really enjoy yourselves before leaving."
Old Master Ning seized the opportunity, "Just now, we were also inviting Prince Yao and Her Majesty to visit our house."
Ning Nuan finally found a chance to speak, "Brother, sister-in-law, stay and play for a while. I am not in school right now, and Qianyi is pregnant and finds it inconvenient to accompany you, but I can guide you around. Our Federation Empire has many fun places and beautiful landscapes, as well as lots of delicious food!"
"No need, Miss Ning, your kindness is well noted," Yan Yao said.
With a single "Miss Ning", a distance was formed instantly.
Ning Nuan sensed Yan Yao’s indifferent attitude towards her and strained to keep her smile.
"Brother, there are no strangers here, and we all know about your relationship with my dad. Since you are my dad’s son, you are my brother. Calling me Miss Ning feels too distant. From now on, call me Nuannuan, or just ’sister’ is fine too. I’m really happy to have you as my brother."
Yan Yao gave a slight, polite yet distant smile, "Miss Ning, maybe you’ve misunderstood something? I only have one sister, and that’s Yan Qianyi."
At his words, the smile on Ning Nuan’s face completely stiffened.
What was a moment ago a lighthearted atmosphere instantly turned awkward again.
Seeing Ning Nuan’s embarrassed state, Yan Qianyi and Mu Huaner chuckled internally, exchanging glances.
Two individuals who had once been at odds stood united today.
"We still have some things to attend to, we must be leaving first," said Yan Yao, taking Andelle’s hand and leaving.
Mu Huaner, trying to suppress her laughter, looked at the awkward Ning family and spoke, "Uncle Ning, Xiuzhuo, don’t rush this. These things take time; give Prince Yao a bit of time to accept it."
Ning Xiuzhuo nodded with an embarrassed expression.
"I’ll go attend to other guests with Qianyi then, feel free to mingle," said Mu Huaner, linking arms with Yan Qianyi and walking away.
As they turned around, they could no longer hold back their smiles.
Mu Huaner chuckled, "That was hilarious, Ning Nuan’s expression just now, hahaha... Prince Yao really doesn’t spare feelings, does he?"
Mu Huaner still thought that someone like Yan Yao, holding a high position, would be good at being diplomatically smooth.
She had not expected him to be so direct.
"Sometimes, my brother is like that. When he doesn’t want to force a smile, he won’t give any face," Qianyi agreed.
"Refreshing, I like it, hahaha."
Yan Qianyi felt pleased too. Googlᴇ search ɴovelfire.net
She hadn’t expected her brother to speak so bluntly.
Mu Yunlie approached them, asking, "What happened just now? You two seem very happy."
Mu Huaner quickly said, "Ah Lie, you just missed a really hilarious moment!"
Mu Yunlie asked, "Did you go to stop Prince Yao from reuniting with his kin?"
"Not at all," Yan Qianyi replied, "we didn’t do anything."
Mu Huaner couldn’t stop laughing, "Haha... just now, Ning Nuan kept calling Prince Yao ’Brother’ and then... hahaha... guess what Prince Yao said?"
"Prince Yao said he only has one sister, and that’s Yan Qianyi, hahaha... Ning Nuan’s expression completely changed. If I were her, I would’ve immediately dug a hole and burrowed underground, it was so embarrassing."
Yan Qianyi also couldn’t stop laughing.
Under her usual conduct, Yan Qianyi would have never let Ning Nuan off the hook so easily.
But because Old Master Ning had once saved Nangong Jie, she needed to consider the bigger picture and couldn’t just punish Ning Nuan.
So, seeing Ning Nuan’s face looking like she had swallowed a fly really felt incredibly satisfying!
Mu Yunlie also smiled, "It’s rare to see the two of you laugh together over the same thing."
Yan Qianyi and Mu Huaner paused momentarily.
They just realized their arms were linked together like close girlfriends.
Almost simultaneously, both awkwardly pulled their arms away.
On this end, after Yan Qianyi and the others left, Ning Xiuzhuo immediately scolded Ning Nuan, "Didn’t I tell you to stay quietly at home? What are you doing here?"
Ning Nuan guiltily hung her head, tears in her eyes, "I just wanted to see my brother, I didn’t do anything wrong."
"How dare you say you didn’t do anything wrong?" Ning Xiuzhuo was furious, "Do you think I don’t know what you’ve been doing?"
Ning Nuan looked up at Ning Xiuzhuo in astonishment, "I... what have I done?"
"Ah Lie has already told me everything, I didn’t reprimand you, thinking you understood what you did wrong, but you still have the audacity to come here today, clearly you have no idea you’re in the wrong! You’ve really disappointed me!"
Ning Nuan had always been sensible and measured in her actions.
So when Mu Yunlie told Ning Xiuzhuo about Ning Nuan’s actions, Ning Xiuzhuo thought his daughter was just momentarily confused, so he saved her face and didn’t expose her or punish her.
Tears suddenly sprang from Ning Nuan’s eyes as she gritted her teeth, "Brother Ah Lie... he actually told you?"
"He didn’t press on your faults, which was already extremely generous of him, giving our family ample dignity! If the Duke knew about this, our families’ relationship would break apart because of your misdeeds!"
Ning Xiuzhuo looked at Ning Nuan, utterly disappointed.
When Mu Yunlie told him, he hadn’t asked for Ning Nuan to be punished and said he wouldn’t let others know about the incident.
He merely hoped that he would keep a better watch on Ning Nuan in the future, so she wouldn’t appear before Yan Qianyi again.
Mu Yunlie’s way of handling it was already very lenient.
He knew how intensely Mu Yunlie had reacted when Mu Lingling almost caused Yan Qianyi to miscarry previously.
Thus, he felt even more remorse toward Mu Yunlie and Yan Qianyi.
He also knew about the deep sibling bond between Yan Yao and Yan Qianyi.
If Ning Nuan had actually caused Yan Qianyi to miscarry, Yan Yao probably wouldn’t acknowledge him as a father for the rest of his life!
"Dad, please don’t be angry... I know I was wrong, it really was just a moment of confusion, it won’t happen again!" Ning Nuan immediately conceded, "I came here today just to show my standpoint in front of my brother, hoping he would recognize us sooner."