Chapter 299: Chapter 299: Seclusion
Seeing Ning Xuan so close and acting so intimately, Ying Yaoshi’s ears flushed red and a smile crept onto his face.
"Then thank you, Xuanyuan. To be able to spend more time with you in the future, I’ll train a successor as soon as possible," Ying Yaoshi said, shooting Yu Mingche a dark look.
’Yu Mingche is certainly her favorite, but I can feel that Ning Xuan likes me, too. The only thing I’m missing is time with her.’
Ying Yaoshi silently resolved to train Lan Xin as quickly as possible. At the very least, Lan Xin needed to be capable enough to hold the fort when the fighting was relatively stable.
Ning Xuan and Yu Mingche boarded the Starship together. This new vessel was for the base’s exclusive use and would take them to the Starship station on Star 525, where the people Yu Mingche had brought along were waiting for them.
For the return journey, Ning Xuan and her group traveled on a large passenger Starship. Although it was a little slower, the vessel’s interior was spacious. Ning Xuan had booked a luxury suite with a fantastic view. She also had Yu Mingche for company, who was exceedingly gentle and submissive, letting her do as she pleased. Consequently, Ning Xuan had a very pleasant trip, and her relationship with Yu Mingche grew even stronger.
Feng Linran walked in on Ning Xuan and Yu Mingche being intimate a few times. Due to some of Ning Xuan’s... peculiar tastes, Yu Mingche was always the one being dominated, forced into passive positions. To Feng Linran, it looked as if Yu Mingche was being wronged.
Feng Linran already held some disapproval for Ning Xuan, and this only worsened his impression of her.
However, having learned his lesson from the last time, Feng Linran didn’t dare show his displeasure, no matter how much he felt it. He was afraid that if he angered Ning Xuan, she would forbid him from getting near Yu Mingche.
After a full month of travel, including a transfer to another Starship, Ning Xuan finally returned to Central Star.
Yan Fuzhen, Chen Nan, and Nine-tailed were already waiting at the station. When they saw Ning Xuan emerge, the three of them rushed forward to bow and pay their respects.
Ning Xuan and her entourage returned to the villa on Qingluan Mountain. As she looked at the interior landscape and decor, she saw that everything was just as she had left it.
Ning Xuan had first gone to the Spiritual Cultivation Secret Realm, then to the Ten Thousand Meteor Star Domain Battlefield. Including the travel time, she had been away from Central Star for half a year.
Over the past six months, Yun Han, Lin Mo, Di Youlin, and Lan Xin had each sent her a formal letter every three to five days, reporting on their respective situations. Ning Xuan didn’t read them most of the time. Only occasionally, on a whim, would she open one to read, and rarer still, reply.
However, the rare occasions she did reply usually didn’t bode well for the recipient.
"I’m going into seclusion for a while. During this time, I will see no one. Ming Che, I’m entrusting all affairs of the estate to you. Housekeeper Yan, if there are any difficult decisions, defer to Ming Che’s judgment," Ning Xuan instructed the assembled group.
Standing off to the side, Feng Linran couldn’t help the slight upward curl of his lips when he heard her. ’Miss Ning finally did something right.’
Ning Xuan wanted to enter seclusion because she had been traveling a great deal. Furthermore, she’d had some new insights in the Spiritual Cultivation Secret Realm and needed time to properly consolidate them.
No sooner had Ning Xuan entered seclusion than Di Youlin rushed back. He was well-informed and audacious; as soon as he heard Ning Xuan had returned, he sent her a leave request to come home. Without waiting for her permission, he eagerly dashed back.
"Mr. Di, isn’t there a war going on in the zone you’re serving in? How could you return without authorization?" Feng Linran asked in surprise upon seeing him.
"What do you mean, without authorization? I signed the leave forms. This is official," Di Youlin said arrogantly, sizing up Feng Linran with his arms crossed.
"But the war is still going on. How could they possibly grant you leave? It’s impossible," Feng Linran said, refusing to believe him.
"I’ve already eliminated the greatest threat in the war zone. All that’s left is the grunt work of cleaning up the battlefield. Besides, over there, I call the shots." Di Youlin shoved Feng Linran aside and barged directly into Ning Xuan’s courtyard.
Ning Xuan wasn’t there.
Di Youlin found Yu Mingche under the Soul Nourishing Wood in Ning Xuan’s courtyard.
"What are you doing in Ning Xuan’s courtyard? Where is she? Where’d she go?" Di Youlin demanded, scrutinizing Yu Mingche.
"Di Youlin, you are a slave bound to our Contractor. Your parents submitted the Contract. Am I wrong?" Yu Mingche said unhurriedly, setting down his teacup.
"That’s right. Ning Xuan and I have already established a Spiritual Link Channel. I’m no ordinary slave—I’m a contracted slave." As he spoke, Di Youlin lifted his chin with a touch of pride.
"Housekeeper Yan, a moment of your time," Yu Mingche said to Yan Fuzhen, using the communication device in Ning Xuan’s courtyard.
"Right away, President Yu," Yan Fuzhen responded. Two minutes later, he appeared before Yu Mingche.
"Di Youlin returned to the estate without the Contractor’s permission, in violation of her will. Take him away. Fifty lashes to the back," Yu Mingche commanded.
"Yes. Take him away." With a wave of his hand, Yan Fuzhen summoned a dozen guards who appeared in the courtyard and surrounded Di Youlin.
"Wait! Where’s Ning Xuan? I want to see Ning Xuan! Housekeeper Yan, what have you all done with her? Aren’t you Ning Xuan’s man? How can you listen to him?" Di Youlin demanded, looking furiously at Yan Fuzhen. After all, Housekeeper Yan had always taken orders only from Ning Xuan, treating those around her with respectful courtesy at most.
"The Family Head is in seclusion. She has entrusted all affairs of the estate to President Yu. President Yu’s orders are the Family Head’s orders. Mr. Di, please cooperate and don’t make things difficult for us," Yan Fuzhen said with a solemn expression.
"In seclusion? For how long?" Di Youlin asked, his face falling in disappointment.
"That is unknown. Mr. Di, you..." Yan Fuzhen took a step forward, his expression unreadable. If Di Youlin dared to resist, he would have no choice but to act.
"Fine. It’s just a trip to the punishment chamber, isn’t it? Let’s go." Although Di Youlin chafed at being punished by Yu Mingche, Housekeeper Yan’s presence and clear statement affirmed that Yu Mingche had the authority to manage all the estate’s affairs.
’Besides, for Yu Mingche to punish me... doesn’t that acknowledge that I’m a member of this household?’
Di Youlin had rushed back in high spirits, originally hoping to be disciplined by Ning Xuan. Who would have thought that even though he failed to see her, he would still get a beating?
After Di Youlin received his punishment, Yu Mingche ordered him to return to the battlefield at once. Di Youlin had only managed to slip away for a short time and hadn’t planned to stay long. Upon learning that Ning Xuan had just started her seclusion and likely wouldn’t emerge anytime soon, he departed for the battlefield.
In the days that followed, an endless stream of visitors came to the estate besides Di Youlin, but Yu Mingche turned them all away.
It was also at this time that the various great families and major powers residing on Central Star learned that Yu Mingche was Ning Xuan’s Contractor.
「Seventh Space Station」
Mo Changsheng looked at Mo Yu and sighed. "You are still far too proud."
