The Devious First-Daughter

“Grandmother, the Prince treats me very well,” Ning Xueyan said, her face lit up with embarrassment. She toyed with her handkerchief with a flushed face, looking too embarrassed to speak. Her words weren’t explicit, but the obvious joy on her face indicated that Prince Yi had indeed visited her courtyard.

Madam Dowager felt the rock in her heart fall heavily to the ground, having been feeling uneasy ever since Ning Xueyan fainted on her wedding day. She was afraid that Ning Xueyan would be in trouble as soon as she entered Prince Yi’s Manor. Prince Yi wasn’t a generous man and any careless mistake could easily implicate the Lord Protector’s Manor.

She could still remember Prince Yi personally visiting their manor and warning them against any schemes. He had even nearly withdrawn his marriage proposal. The fact that he could make such a provocation made her feel deeply uneasy.

“Didn’t the Prince ask you why you fainted?” Madam Dowager repeated her question in another manner.

She had always been concerned about Ning Xueyan’s poor health, and was worried that Prince Yi would take offense to this. Although it wasn’t terribly likely, the possibility of angering Prince Yi still made her uneasy.

“He did, but I told him I was just too tired. Don’t worry, Grandmother. I’m in good health. The imperial physician in the manor examined my pulse and said I’m fine. All I have to do is take care of my health.” Ning Xueyan stopped beating around the bush and gave Madam Dowager the answer that she wanted. Although her cheeks were still pink, her expression was certain.

“The imperial physician in the manor examined your pulse?” Madam Dowager was stunned.

“Yes, and it was the Prince who sent him to examine my pulse and health. He said it was because I was nearly assassinated in the Lord Protector’s Manor. He was worried that the incident left any issues with my body,” Ning Xueyan said, chuckling softly. When she looked down, her eyelids appeared like two fluttering butterflies but conveniently concealed the iciness of her pupils.

Madam Dowager’s concern about her health was truly baffling.

“That’s great. I’m glad you’re fine.” Madam Dowager became relieved after hearing that Ning Xueyan wouldn’t have any problem conceiving.

“Grandmother, I saw Fourth and Third Sisters earlier. What’s wrong with them? Why is Third Sister smiling so happily, yet Fourth Sister is looking so downtrodden? Did something happen to her?” Not wanting to continue talking about herself, Ning Xueyan decisively changed the topic and redirected the conversation to Ning Lingyun and Ning Qingshan.

“It’s not a big deal. Lingyun just has something on her mind,” Madam Dowager said hesitantly with a sigh. She couldn’t bring herself to say her prepared speech. She thought Ning Xueyan would be neglected in Prince Yi’s Manor and wouldn’t be bearing the Prince any heirs either. Her future was dark, and she might as well have not married Prince Yi at all. So, she had other plans.

But now, she found out that Prince Yi treated Ning Xueyan well, and even visited her courtyard within three days of marrying the Princess. Moreover, Ning Xueyan’s health was fine and giving birth to an heir didn’t seem to be a problem if she could receive the Prince’s favor. Saying what she wanted to say was like slapping her own face.

But, she couldn’t just decide against sending the person over, not when she had already prepared the candidate. She had also discussed with Ning Qingshan and thought that this was the best way. Suddenly, she couldn’t make up her mind.

Ning Xueyan sneered secretly when she saw that Madam Dowager wasn’t going to bring up the matter immediately. She smiled and asked, “Grandmother, did you know that something happened in Prince Yi’s Manor on our wedding day?”

“What happened?” Madam Dowager became spirited as soon as she heard that the matter occurred on the wedding day. She looked at Ning Xueyan, full of vigor, fearing that her granddaughter had caused even more trouble that day.

“An argument broke out between a few concubines and it got so bad that they even kicked up a fuss in my courtyard. I was still ill, so I didn’t get up from bed. It was the Prince who threw them out and gave them twenty beatings. Afterward, the Princess investigated the matter and learned that it was the work of two concubines. But the concubines were sent by the Emperor, so she didn’t know if she should punish them, and let the Prince decide. In the end, he ended up beating the concubines to death.”

Ning Xueyan appeared to be treating the whole incident as a joke, looking as if she hadn’t noticed Madam Dowager’s face turning pale in an instant.

The Prince dared to beat women sent by the Emperor to death! Who else wouldn’t he dare to kill? Besides, him shedding blood as a newlywed showed that he didn’t care for taboos!

“The palace has sent the manor too many beauties to count. Grandmother, I personally visited them the other day. There are all sorts of beauties there. I heard some were sent by the Empress, some by Honored Consort Ya, and some by other consorts in the palace. What a feast for the eyes! I thought the ladies in our family were pretty, but after seeing so many beauties in Prince Yi’s Manor, I realized that his manor is the true haven of beauties. You can find any beauty you want there.”

Ning Xueyan looked curious and amazed, but quickly sighed. “Speaking of which, these beauties are pitiful creatures. Not only are they without a title, the Prince even can beat and kill them as he likes. I heard that the two concubines this time weren’t the only ones that he killed; he had even beheaded several concubines before.”

Madam Dowager was speechless. To think that Prince Yi would behead and beat to death concubines sent by the palace! Her expression turned gloomy and her eyes became filled with fear. There were so many beauties in his manor that they became disposable. From the looks of it, he would kill them the minute that they displeased him. Most importantly, he didn’t even grant concubines sent by the palace any title, so what more of those sent by the Lord Protector’s Manor? Even if they send him a concubine, the only outcome awaiting the concubine was death.

Although Ning Lingyun was born from a concubine mother, she was nevertheless a valuable lady from the Lord Protector’s Manor. Madam Dowager didn’t want to lose this chess piece in vain.

The two of them continued talking until Ning Qingshan and Ning Lingyun returned. The first thing that they noticed was Ning Xueyan’s bright smile. On the contrary, Madam Dowager’s smile appeared forced and she would frown from time to time. Her complexion seemed poor, too.

It was soon time for lunch, and a maid invited Ning Zu’an to eat together. No one waited for Ao Chenyi, knowing that he wouldn’t come. After lunch, Ning Xueyan decided to take a nap in the Bright Frost Garden. She had nothing to do today, so there was no need to rush back to Prince Yi’s Manor.

Mother Han had gone to the Bright Frost Garden in advance. By the time Ning Xueyan arrived, everything was ready for her.

She walked up to the garden before stopping and looking at the plaque reading “Bright Frost Garden” while biting her lower lip.

She found herself in the Bright Frost Garden at the moment of her rebirth, and Ning Xueyan’s memories gradually surfaced on her mind. This small courtyard occupied nearly every part of Ning Xueyan’s memory. Her few rare excursions outside the courtyard had ended in humiliation.

Since then, the timid and cowardly little girl slowly stopped appearing in front of everyone in the manor.

After Madam Ming’s death, everyone neglected the poor girl. She eventually cried herself to death in front of Madam Ming’s grave, in a state of hunger and depression.

Then, she was reborn in the body of the newly-dead Ning Xueyan. She became the new Ning Xueyan and walked out of the Bright Frost Garden, appearing in the world again. After being reborn from fire, she was no longer the cowardly and useless Ning Xueyan who would only hide and secretly cry after being bullied, too afraid of leaving her courtyard.

“Master, the Fourth Young Lady is here!” Lanning reminded her in a soft voice.

Ning Xueyan turned her head and stared at Ning Lingyun as she rushed over, her eyes a picture of calm and indifference.

Ning Lingyun had basically run here. When she saw Ning Xueyan, she couldn’t help but raise her head and meet her sister’s jet-black eyes—eyes that looked as if they could see through anyone. She subconsciously lowered her head, not daring to look at Ning Xueyan again.

“Fifth Sister,” she said timidly.

“Fourth Sister, please come in. We’ll talk inside,” Ning Xueyan said calmly, turning her head and stepping through the door of the Bright Frost Garden. Ning Lingyun hesitated for a moment but ultimately followed her in along with her maid.

The room had been tidied, and everything was left the same way as the day she had moved out. Nothing here had changed. It was as if the past three days were an illusion and she was still the same Fifth Young Lady of that day.

“Grandmother has kept this place exactly the same for you, Fifth Sister. Nothing has changed. She’s so kind to you,” Ning Lingyun said enviously, emotion briefly flickering in her eyes.

“You’ll enjoy the same treatment if you get a good marriage that Grandmother approves of. Perhaps you can even go further. I heard she promised Third Sister that she’ll continue sending precious items to the Foggy Courtyard in the future.” Ning Xueyan’s long eyelashes fluttered as she entered the room and sat down on a chair indifferently.

Lanning had cleverly retreated after serving them tea. Mother Han had come here ahead of time, so the tea was already ready.

“She promised Third Sister something like that?” Ning Lingyun was shocked. Although she knew Madam Dowager favored Ning Qingshan, she didn’t expect it to be to this extent. Madam Dowager treated Ning Qingshan so well that not even her treatment of her actual granddaughter, Ning Xueyan, could compare. They were both consorts, so why was Ning Qingshan’s treatment much superior to Ning Xueyan’s?

“The Third Prince has always been gentle, and he treats people respectfully, too. If she marries him, her future will certainly be bright. If she bears a son and a daughter in the future, she might even… There’s still hope for her, but Prince Yi’s Manor is different. Haven’t you heard, Fourth Sister? The beauties in the manor have precarious lives. They never know when they’ll die. A few days ago, two beauties sent by the Emperor were even beaten to death.”

Ning Xueyan spoke softly, all while relishing in Ning Lingyun’s changing expression as she battled her surprise. It had only been three days since she last saw Madam Dowager, but that old woman was scheming against her again. Fortunately, she was no longer the same Ning Xueyan that could only endure it if Madam Dowager wanted to send a few concubines to Prince Yi’s Manor.

She had grasped nearly the extent of Madam Dowager’s intentions now. That old woman wanted Ning Lingyun to return to Prince Yi’s Manor with her, wanting to use Ning Lingyun to consolidate the relationship between Prince Yi’s Manor and Lord Protector’s Manor. If she died of illness, it was only natural for Ning Lingyun to continue the alliance marriage with Prince Yi. Perhaps, Ning Lingyun could even become his consort in the end.

Ning Xueyan slowly picked up the cup of tea nearby and took a sip. Her alluring eyes fell on Ning Lingyun’s fair and tender neck. She purposefully let her gaze linger before smiling meaningfully at Ning Lingyun. “Prince Yi loves beheading people. In the past, he even killed two incredibly beautiful women with his sword. The neck of beauties…”

Ning Xueyan didn’t finish her sentence, but it was enough to scare Ning Lingyun. Ning Lingyun felt her neck turn cold as if there was a sword swinging near her. Her legs became soft and she fell to the floor with a resounding thud.