The Devious First-Daughter

Ning Xueyan did not know that she had been targeted by Ao Chenyi. At this moment, she was walking on the street step by step with Ning Qingshan and Ning Lingyun. Their maids were surrounding them and helping them clear the way.

“Look over there, Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister. It is a cosmetics shop. Shall we go to have a look?” Ning Qingshan said to Ning Xueyan, pointing at a shop across the street.

There were so many people in front of the shop because today was a very special day without any taboo. When ladies went shopping, this kind of store was very popular, not only because the makeup in the shop would make them beautiful, but also because the hanging lanterns painted with court ladies looked delectable.

Therefore, there were many people in this area. A few philanderers were wandering around from time to time, deliberately going in and out annoyingly. Seeing that, Ning Xueyan didn’t want to be in a crowded place, so she frowned and refused. “Third Sister, you may go without me, and I…”

She looked around and found a tea house behind her. There was an extended shelter on the street where people could drink tea and rest when they were tired.

“I’ll wait for you here,” Ning Xueyan said.

“Well then, Fifth Sister, I will take you to the tea house first, and we will go to the opposite side,” Ning Qingshan said gently, looking around, then brought Ning Xueyan into it. It was very early, and there were not many people. She chose a table for Ning Xueyan to sit down at before turning around and asking Ning Lingyun, “Fourth Sister, would you like to go with me? I heard that if we can figure out the puzzles on the lanterns, they will give us some top-quality rouges for free, and they are limited.”

Hearing that there would be some limited rouges, Ning Lingyun beamed. She was unwilling to go because it would be crowded in the shop on days like today, but hearing Ning Qingshan’s words, she was tempted. However, when seeing the scene, she could not decide if she should go or not.

“Come with me, please. I haven’t seen lanterns in the past three years. Would you like to accompany me?” Ning Qingshan held Ning Lingyun’s hand affectionately, sincerely, and gently, making the latter unable to refuse.

“Third Sister, won’t there be too many people there? We are noble girls, and it is not appropriate to join the crowd on the street.” Although Ning Lingyun also wanted to go, thinking of Concubine Xu’s words, she hesitated. Her engagement was just broken off, so she should keep a low profile.

Although she canceled the engagement due to Ao Xian, her reputation had been spotty, and it was normal that people gossiped about her. Moreover, she was a concubine’s daughter who could not compare to Ning Qingshan and Ning Xueyan.

If she ruined her reputation because of being among a crowd, she could hardly get married.

“Fifth Sister, since Fourth Sister would like to go and she is afraid of the crowd, how about we take Qingyu with us? If the three maids go ahead and we follow, it will be safer,” seeing Ning Lingyun hesitate, Ning Qingshan turned around and said to Ning Xueyan, who was going to drink tea.

“You are saying that you want my maid to go with you?” Ning Xueyan raised an eyebrow and asked leisurely. There was a hint of a sneer around her mouth but she hid it under her lips.

Ning Qingshan had been busy causing so much trouble. She wanted to see Ning Xueyan’s rouge shop and then instigated Ning Lingyun to go with her. She also insisted on taking Qingyu with them. She was trying to isolate her. What was she going to do today? It was very weird.

The Beauty Contest was coming soon. Ning Qingshan had attached great importance to it, so it was impossible for her to raise big troubles, but for something unimportant…

“Fifth Sister, do you agree with me? We will be back soon and you can see us from here. If something happens, you can scream and we can hear you.” Ning Qingshan pointed at the rouge shop across the street. It was really close to the tea house, and under ordinary circumstances, if she screamed, they could hear her.

But today, that was impossible! Moreover, even if they could hear her, it would take them a long time to get over here.

“Okay, Qingyu, you go with Third Sister and Fourth Sister.” Ning Xueyan smiled and nodded, as if she didn’t find anything wrong.

Hearing Ning Xueyan’s command, Qingyu could not say anything. She followed Ning Qingshan and went across the street.

Seeing that Ning Xueyan was alone, Ning Qingshan became a little complacent. She turned around and squinted at a person at the street corner secretly, giving him a hint.

“Wow, how could a little beauty be here alone? Are you waiting for someone? Don’t wait here. Let me take you to see the lanterns, shall we?” Just after the girls left, Ning Xueyan heard a wretched voice.

Ning Xueyan looked up and saw three men standing at the table. They looked obscene. She sneered. So they were waiting for her.

Xinmei, who was standing outside the tea house, was about to move forward when she saw Ning Xueyan wave her sleeves and stop her. Ning Xueyan did not believe that Ning Qingshan would dare to destroy her reputation at this time. If something happened to Ning Xueyan, Ning Qingshan would be affected and accused. The royal family valued reputation the most and they would not allow anyone to ruin the Beauty Contest.

Ning Qingshan took away Ning Lingyun as well as Ning Xueyan’s maid. If something happened to Ning Xueyan, Ning Qingshan would surely be implicated. It might destroy Ning Xueyan’s name, but Ning Qingshan would be in trouble.

Ning Qingshan would never cause destruction to both sides! At least, not now.

Looking at the exquisite, beautiful girl in front of them, the three punks were stunningly surprised, and then they were overjoyed. They didn’t expect to be so lucky that they would meet such a beautiful girl.

The jerks found she was silent and thought that she must be frightened. The leading person stepped on the bench opposite Ning Xueyan and patted his chest and said, “Little beauty, don’t be afraid. I will protect you. Let’s go. I am taking you to have some fun.”

Actually, he was saying that if she did not go with them, they would use some means. Of course, looking at the gorgeous girl in front of them, they were already disoriented and could not help appreciating their good fortune.

Seeing this, everyone around knew that the girl was going to suffer. These men were all famous punks in the street and they often bullied neighbors. So no one dared to stand up and stop them when seeing their ferocious appearances.

“Stop! Who are you punks? How dare you bully a fine girl in broad daylight. Get lost immediately,” someone shouted from among the crowd. Before people could see it clearly, a young man walked out. He looked very angry but handsome in tight white clothes and a big cape.

Seeing his face, all the women aside became excited, and their hearts throbbed. What a handsome and righteous young man!

“Go and check it out. Who is he?” The proud prince, who had been paying attention to this, became angry. He looked at the young man, but he could not recognize him for a moment. He revealed a dangerous smile on his face as a chilling light flashed across his eyes. His gorgeous long eyelashes dropped two shadows on his fair face.

Someone dared to covet one of his people. He was seeking death.

“Yes, I’m on it.” The guard knew that his master was unhappy, so he had to do it as fast as possible. He immediately went downstairs and ran toward the shop to get first-hand information.

In front of the tea house, the three rogues never expected that someone would dare to stop them and help the girl, so they smiled and turned around. “Get lost? Are you talking to us? Let’s teach you a lesson today. You can only leave if you are dead.”

They laughed arrogantly and surrounded the young man in the middle as if they were going to fight against him together. The people around roared and took a few steps back. They talked in low voices, but no one believed the young man could win.

When Ning Xueyan saw the young man, she was stunned, and then she smiled. She was relaxed and looked at him at ease, happily. She didn’t expect that he would be here. It seemed that Ning Qingshan’s drama of the hero rescuing a beauty would fail.

Xinmei didn’t show up because she had not received Ning Xueyan’s instructions at this time. She stepped back into the crowd and looked at the people in the tea house carefully. Suddenly, she saw a familiar face flash in front of her. She was shocked. Seeing there was no one watching her, she approached the man. The guard also saw Xinmei and shook his head at her, signaling to her to have a talk in secret.

They pushed out of the crowd one after another.

At this time, the young man had punched the three rogues to the ground. They could only scream.

“How about that? Do you want to fight again?” The young man in white pointed at them contemptuously and hooked his fingers, sneering.

“Bah, boy, do you dare to wait for our eldest brother to kick your ass?” The three punks climbed up from the ground with difficulty and left those malicious words before they fled away.

The young man looked handsome and his clothes were expensive. When seeing that he acted so bravely, all the women were attracted and moved their eyes from the shop to him. Several noble ladies who were leading their maids could not help stopping and looking at him fondly.

At this time, Ning Qingshan was watching on the other side of the street. When she saw the bustle happen in the tea house, she smiled and pulled Ning Lingyun into the shop as if there was nothing going on. The first time they met was an accident, the second time was lucky, but the third time should be intentional.

Moreover, in this case, the beauty who was in trouble happened to be saved by the heroic young man and she would finally feel something toward him.

As expected, the young man finished his performance, driving the punks away. He walked to Ning Xueyan, but before he spoke, Ning Xueyan stood up with a naughty smile on her lips as she bowed and said softly, “Thank you for saving me. I will let my father go to thank you some other day.”

After speaking, she deeply bowed again, very politely.