The Devious First-Daughter

Ning Zu’an called Ning Xueyan and Ning Qingshan. Of course, Prince Yi asked him to do this. Ning Zu’an let his two unmarried daughters come here only because that Prince Yi had heard Ning Qingshan’s good reputation. He wanted to see this lady who had gained a widely known reputation for her loyal and filial manner.

But if Ning Zu’an let Ning Qingshan come over alone, it was highly improper. Therefore, Ning Zu’an also asked Ning Xueyan to come here with her. In this way, two Young Ladies from the Lord Protector’s Manor would meet Prince Yi together. And the Third Prince who left just now would not take it as an offense.

“So she is your Third Young Lady. She indeed looks smart and beautiful. Have you ever planned to marry one of your daughters to me?” Not in a hurry, Ao Chenyi smiled gently. Staring at the two girls up and down with his pretty eyes, Ao Chenyi seemed to be very interested in them.

“Prince Yi, Honored Consort Ya had mentioned that she might want my third daughter to marry the Third Prince.” At this time, Ning Zu’an was truly in a cold sweat. “Does Ao Chenyi really take a fancy to Ning Qingshan? But it is not a good thing to the Lord Protector’s Manor at all.” Thus, he made an excuse and refused him in a hurry.

“Oh, that’s a pity. So has the Fifth Young Lady ever accepted a marriage proposal?” Then, Ao Chenyi turned his eyes to the well-behaved Ning Xueyan, who stood quietly on the side, lowering her head in meekness. Slightly curved his lips into a smile, Ao Chenyi thought, “This little wild cat is so quiet today! She has put all her talons and fangs away. Now she doesn’t look like the aggressive girl at all.”

“She is too young, so she will marry someone only after all her sisters are engaged.” Ning Zu’an glanced at Ning Xueyan and carefully chose his words. It was not because he loved Ning Xueyan dearly and had pity for her, but because he didn’t want to associate too much with Ao Chenyi. In his opinion, the emperor would only pass the throne to his sons, and Ao Chenyi was destined to be a loser. Thus, how could Ning Zu’an want to get involved with him?

And with Ao Chenyi’s character, Ning Xueyan would only be another toy of him if Ning Zu’an married her into his manor, which could not bring any benefits to the Lord Protector’s Manor.

“Great. Those daughters of the Lord Protector’s Manor are all good. They are as pure as the dewdrops and as bright as pearls.” Suddenly, Ao Chenyi stood up and showed Ning Xueyan and Ning Qingshan a spurious smile. Then, wearing a somber look, he glanced at Ning Zu’an and laughed. Striding forward, Ao Chenyi walked outside. In a hurry, Ning Zu’an quickly followed him out.

They left the puzzled Ning Xueyan and Ning Qingshan, who then glanced at each other and went back to the flower hall together.

When such a thing happened, the party had to be huddled through at express speed. As they finished their meals, all the guests departed.

After seeing these guests off, Madam Dowager especially let Ning Qingshan and Ning Xueyan go to the Lucky Garden.

When all of them took their seats, Madam Dowager’s face turned gloomy. Looking at them with a cold face, she questioned, “What the h*ll is going on?” Madam Dowager didn’t indicate who she asked, but she landed her eyes on Ning Qingshan.

After all, except for the two princes, the people present at that time were only Xia Yuhang and Ning Qingshan.

“Grandmother, I… I don’t know what has happened, either. When I heard someone screaming and entered the door, I saw the Eldest Sister standing there, shivering with only long johns. Qiushui, her maid, looked at the back of the screen, screaming. The Third Prince had sent someone to check. But they left without saying anything, leaving only the Eldest Brother-in-law to handle the matter alone.”

Knowing well that Madam Dowager was shrewd, Ning Qingshan didn’t dare to lie to her. Right away, Ning Qingshan told her the whole affair from beginning to end. This matter had nothing to do with her now, so she should say everything clear in case she might bring trouble to herself.

“Didn’t you see who was behind the screen?” Madam Dowager asked. She knew the situation clearly when they left the manor. And then, Xia Yuhang, Xia Yudong, and Ning Ziyan came back to the manor together. Thus, Madam Dowager was pretty sure that Xia Yudong, who joined them halfway, must be the man behind the screen.

“Grandmother, I didn’t see the man. Only the Third Prince and the Eldest Brother-in-law knew who he was. And I suppose that the Fourth Prince also didn’t know. But… but I’m afraid that he has figured out who this man was.” Ning Qingshan tried very hard to recall the scene and answered.

At that time, Ao Mingwan didn’t send anyone to check. But he patted Xia Yuhang’s shoulder, which meant that he thought Xia Yuhang could only seek fortune for himself. Then, Ao Mingwan must have guessed that there was a man behind the screen. He didn’t send people to go further to check only because he wanted to show some respect to Xia Yuhang.

“Fifth Young Lady, when you went out with the Third Young Lady and the two princes, your mother said a lot of nonsense. It is not necessary to take this thing to heart. I suppose that your mother behaved abnormally because she was afraid of the assassin.” said Madam Dowager. Ning Qingshan did not notice that Madam Dowager’s expression was a little calmer. After Ning Qingshan thought the whole thing over, an idea flashed across her mind. She turned around and said to Ning Xueyan with a gentle voice.

Madam Dowager knew everything that had happened in that house. Moreover, she also knew the interaction between the two princes, which reminded her that the Third Prince had once said that he wanted to marry Ning Xueyan. Later on, a series of things happened. Since then, the Third Prince had never mentioned this thing again, and all of them gradually forgot about this matter.

Now it seemed that the Third Prince must have a crash on the Fifth Young Lady!

Because both the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince valued Ning Xueyan, Madam Dowager certainly was very kind to Ning Xueyan at this time. Though such a big thing happened in the manor, first of all, she should pacify Ning Xueyan’s emotion. The words that Madam Ling said when she was out of control could make people think of many things.

At this time, Madam Dowager also should feel lucky because Madam Ling vomited blood in time. At least, she could tell others that Madam Ling must have been possessed by some evil thing, so she said those crazy words and acted strangely.

“Grandmother, I’m fine. I just worry about Mother’s body. The Eldest Sister got married, and the Second Sister isn’t here. I think it would be much better to let me serve Mother this evening.” Ning Xueyan suggested in a gentle voice as if she didn’t think that Madam Ling’s abnormal behaviors were strange at all. She looked calm, and there was a little bit of worry between her eyebrows.

Madam Dowager carefully examined Ning Xueyan for a few times. Judging by her look, Madam Dowager was sure that she was sincere and held no grudge against Madam Ling. Then, she nodded with satisfaction but still refused Ning Xueyan’s suggestion. “You don’t need to care about your Mother’s health. She was so timid that she was scared by the assassin today. After some time, she will be fine again.”

When Mother was sick, as her daughter, it was right and proper for Ning Xueyan to attend upon her beside her bed. Ning Xueyan certainly was unwilling to serve Madam Ling, but she was afraid that Madam Ling would get some evil ideas later on. She might deliberately ask her to go to the Auspicious Clouds Courtyard and dealt with her. One should know that all the people there were Madam Ling’s trusted people. Compared with these people, Ning Xueyan and a few her people seemed to be much weaker. Thus, Ning Xueyan volunteered to make this concession only to avoid possible trouble in the future.

“Grandmother, after all, my Mother is sick. If I don’t go there to serve her, I will feel terribly sorry.” Wearing a gloomy face, Ning Xueyan sighed.

“Well, I know that you are love and devotion to your Mother, but this matter should be no rush. You Mother is ill, and you are also very busy. Not only will you continue to check the account book for me, but you have to prepare the things for entering the imperial palace. And so do the Third Young Lady. The two of you will represent the Lord Protector’s Manor. Don’t make others look down upon you.”

Madam Dowager surely would not let Ning Xueyan attend Madam Ling, and she believed that Madam Ling must have planned to frame up Ning Xueyan once again today.

In previous, Madam Dowager might not care if Madam Ling would murder Ning Xueyan. After all, she was a weak and useless girl that Madam Dowager had never regarded her as her own granddaughter. But now Ning Xueyan was much more important than Madam Ling. Since the two princes took a fancy to her, Ning Xueyan would become one of the princes’ co-consort after this Beauty Contest.

Madam Dowager thought that it would be best if Ning Qingshan could marry the Third Prince, and Ning Xueyan would become the Fourth Prince’s co-consort. But if the Third Prince got both Ning Xueyan and Ning Qingshan, it would indicate that the Third Prince could never be neglected because he was far more powerful than the Fourth Prince. And if her two granddaughters could marry the Third Prince, the relationship between the Lord Protector’s Manor and the Third Prince’s Manor would be strengthened.

Madam Dowager thought that it was necessary. After all, Ning Qingshan was not like Ning Yuling, who was related to them by blood. So Madam Dowager thought that she inevitably would not put her whole heart into the benefits of the Lord Protector’s Manor. Not only that, but they didn’t know Ning Qingshan’s background clearly.

Therefore, at this time, Madam Dowager thought that the Lord Protector’s Manor could secure an invincible position no matter Ning Xueyan would marry the Third Prince or the Fourth Prince.

In this way, Madam Dowager certainly would not watch Madam Ling make more mistakes and hurt Ning Xueyan again. Now she would protect not only Ning Xueyan but Ning Qingshan. Thus, Madam Dowager had already found an excuse for them to avoid Madam Ling in advance.

Compared with Madam Ling’s body, it was much more important for her to let the two granddaughters enter the imperial palace and join the Beauty Contest. How could family affairs be more important than national affairs?

And this result was exactly what Ning Xueyan wanted. Immediately, she nodded docilely and agreed.

Of course, Madam Dowager had especially sent Mother Qin to the Auspicious Clouds Courtyard. On the one hand, Mother Qin went there to visit Madam Ling. On the other hand, she implicitly delivered a warning, telling Madam Ling that she should keep her hands off the two ladies. It was said that Madam Ling vomited a mouthful of blood and passed out again upon hearing the messages from Madam Dowager. However, Madam Dowager ignored her because she was very upset at her now.

They talked for a while longer in the Lucky Garden. Then, Ning Qingshan and Ning Xueyan left. When they arrived at a fork in the road, Ning Qingshan suddenly stopped and slightly bowed to Ning Xueyan. Though Ning Qingshan did it quietly and gently, Ning Xueyan could clearly see that Ning Qingshan had bowed to her.

“Er… what is she up to now?” Ning Xueyan thought to herself.

Raising her eyebrows, Ning Xueyan smiled and reached out to stop her. “What’s the matter, Third Sister? You are my Third Sister, how can you be so courteous to me? I don’t dare to receive your salute.”

“Fifth Sister, your words made me feel ashamed. We had some misunderstandings before and had some unpleasant memories. But once we enter the imperial palace, we are still sisters from the same manor so that we should not regard each other as an outsider from now on. I hope that we are of one heart about this.” Ning Qingshan said sincerely and even wiped the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief as if she was truly touched and cried.

“Is she making efforts to improve relations with me for the imperial palace’s Beauty Contest? Sure enough, for Ning Qingshan, the Beauty Contest is the most important thing.”

“What are you talking about? Some unhappy things have indeed happened between us before, but it was only because I was too young to be sensitive enough at that time. After we enter the imperial palace, I naturally will be of one heart with you.” Ning Xueyan smiled and promised without any concern.

Since Ning Qingshan was not sincere, she would not be sincere either. Both of them would only maintain superficial harmony with each other. Ning Qingshan chose to show her kindness to Ning Xueyan here because she noticed that Madam Dowager seemed to think highly of her. Thus, she intentionally wanted to show Madam Dowager that she had a good relationship with Ning Xueyan.

Though a good relationship was a false impression, Ning Qingshan needed it, and so did Ning Xueyan!

Moreover, Ning Qingshan deliberately showed Ning Xueyan that she wanted to make peace with her. Also, she hinted that to achieve a high position and gain great wealth, they should put the disputes between sisters aside.

Besides, as the honorable Consort-to-be of the Third Prince, Ning Qingshan believed that Ning Xueyan would not refuse her good intentions.

As Ning Qingshan had expected, Ning Xueyan echoed her words. They talked and laughed. Then, they said goodbye to each other and went back to their courtyards.

Now both of them knew in their hearts that an agreement between them had reached. In order not to bring any adverse influence on the Beauty Contest, neither of them would stir up any trouble to each other at least before they entered the imperial palace.

“Young Lady, there was a woman who secretly came looking for marquis at the backdoor!” Lanning waited until Ning Qingshan walked far away and whispered in Ning Xueyan’s ears. She knew it because Qingyu stayed at the back door at that time and saw everything clearly.