Taking the Child's Surname

The ministers trembled when they heard what Guagua said.

Oh, come on! They had only enjoyed two quiet days without having their scandals aired. Was it starting again already?

Ninth Princess, please spare us!

Looking at all those ministers, Jiang Nuan found herself in a dilemma. There were so many of them—whose gossip should she feast on?

Just then, a colleague beside Ning Ziteng, an assistant director in the Ministry of Revenue, nudged him and whispered, "Didn't you have something to report today? Go on!"

Ning Ziteng had no desire to become the first target of today's gossip and intended to make his report later. Unfortunately, Jiang Nuan spotted their little exchange.

[Huh, what was this official's name again? I can't remember, but I do remember something about him. He seems to have never married. There must be some juicy gossip behind that!

I think he'll be today's lucky winner!]

Ning Ziteng had already reached thirty, yet he remained unmarried. In a dynasty that placed such importance on carrying on the family line, that was exceedingly rare. Once Jiang Nuan noticed him, she settled on him as today's gossip target.

[This minister is called Ning Ziteng. It's not that he doesn't want to marry. He had a childhood sweetheart he grew up with, but his family was desperately poor back then, and he repeatedly failed the imperial examinations.

His sweetheart didn't want to waste her time on him, so she hooked up with the local landlord's son. Then he promptly dumped her. She didn't even get to become his concubine, and she was already pregnant.

Around there, that meant being drowned in a pig cage. Ning Ziteng went to find her of his own accord and offered to become the ready-made father.]

Jiang Nuan was stunned. Someone like that actually