The Devious First-Daughter

Wen Xueran stopped at the door and said, without turning around, “If… you’re in trouble in the future, you can come to Annan and look for me.” Only then did he leave.

He knew very well that they would have nearly no chance of meeting again after this meeting. He never took their so-called marriage agreement seriously in the past, for he never lacked women around him. Even the most cold-hearted women would show a shy, timid smile after meeting him.

Yet, right now, all he wanted was for the woman behind him to leave with him. He wouldn’t demand anything of her anymore.

He had been mistaken from the very beginning. He thought it wouldn’t matter even if she married Prince Yi, that she would follow him without hesitation after learning about her identity. He thought she was just a secret chess piece that he placed in Prince Yi’s Manor.

Ao Chenyi was never a gentleman, and her health was so frail. Even if she would eventually grow up and blossom, she was still so young. She couldn’t win against a mature beauty like Commandery Princess Xianyun, so she would never gain favor.

But how did things turn out so differently than he planned…?

“All right.” Ning Xueyan’s soft voice came from behind him but it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He sighed, opened the door, and left without hesitation. If that was her wish, so be it…

Seeing Wen Xueran come out of the room, Lanning took a step back and peered inside warily. She sighed when she saw Ning Xueyan standing there. She had been worried. Today, the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Min seemed so dangerous.

“Come in, Lanning,” Ning Xueyan called out from inside the room.

Lanning hurried in and looked her master up and down. She only felt truly relieved after finding nothing wrong with her. “Master, is everything all right with Princely Heir Wen?”

“Yeah, he has said what he wanted to say.” Ning Xueyan shook her head. She didn’t want to tell anyone about Wen Xueran’s identity. Unlike her, any hint of Wen Xueran’s identity could put his life in danger. She could leave the previous dynasty in the past but she wouldn’t harm Wen Xueran when he didn’t have any intention to hurt her.

“Then, are we still going?” Lanning asked, taking in her master’s dim expression. Naturally, as a servant, she wouldn’t pursue something that her master didn’t want to talk about. That was why she changed the topic.

“You don’t have to go down. I’m here!” The hidden door flung open, making way for Heng Yuqing and her maid to come in. When she saw Ning Xueyan standing near the door, looking stunned, she laughed.

“What a coincidence. I just happened to come up when you’re about to go down.” Heng Yuqing thought Ning Xueyan stood up to find her.

Ning Xueyan’s lashes fluttered and she was already back to normal. She turned around and took her seat again, asking curiously, “How did it go? Did they notice you?”

Heng Yuqing picked up the hem of her skirt and sat down opposite Ning Xueyan without hesitation. She first picked up the cup of tea on the table and took several sips before putting it down and wiping her mouth with her handkerchief. Only then did she reply proudly, “They didn’t notice me. They hid in a corner and chatted, but the seat behind their screen just happened to be empty. I went over and sat there. I waited until they left before coming out.”

“Heng Yuwan and Hua Qiuying?” Ning Xueyan asked, smiling. There was a touch of coldness in her eyes.

“Yes, the two of them. I have no idea when they became such good friends. Hua Qiuying used to be the most arrogant girl who looks down on everyone! Never mind a concubine-born daughter, she wouldn’t even pay a wife-born daughter any attention. She never respects anyone.”

Heng Yuqing found this quite odd as well. The daughters of the Hua family were always known to be noble, and it was rumored that the only remaining daughter would be entering the palace as a consort. Of course, it was also rumored that she would be bestowed to the Third Prince or Fourth Prince as their princess. There was even a rumor that claimed she would marry Prince Yi.

Regardless of which rumor was true, Heng Yuqing always thought that Third Young Lady Hua would be marrying into the imperial family. Hua Qiuying rarely showed up in public and wouldn’t attend most banquets. She didn’t meet Hua Qiuying very often at banquets, but every time she saw her, Hua Qiuying would always have an arrogant expression. Even when Hua Qiuying spoke softly, the contempt in her eyes was unmistakable.

Heng Yuqing didn’t know when Hua Qiuying and Heng Yuwan became friends, but she didn’t think that someone of Hua Qiuying’s character would ever see Heng Yuwan as an equal. Even if they met, shouldn’t Hua Qiuying pretend that she didn’t see Heng Yuwan and ignore the latter?

Ning Xueyan pondered for a while before saying, “If one is being courteous, one must need the other’s help. It seems that Third Young Lady Hua needs Second Young Lady Heng’s help.”

“Seems like it. I didn’t hear their conversation too clearly because they were speaking so softly. I think they mentioned Weiran Pavilion. From the sound of it, they wanted to meet someone in Weiran Pavilion. Hua Qiuying even reminded Heng Yuwan to prepare everything well. I didn’t hear the rest,” Heng Yuqing said excitedly, patting the table with her eyes gleaming.

“Is Weiran Pavilion a secluded place?” Ning Xueyan guessed.

“Exactly. It’s a secluded place, with few visitors on most days. I heard that it was close to the yard where my grandfather used to keep his weapons. My grandmother forbade everyone from going there. She always thought that even though my grandfather is dead, he might still come back and look at his old weapons.”

Heng Yuqing nodded and explained. Only, she was left a little puzzled. “What are two girls doing there? Besides, I never heard that Hua Qiuying knows swordsmanship!”

Weiran Pavilion! That was the place, it seemed. Hua Qiuying—perhaps more precisely, Honored Consort Xia in the palace—was trying to ambush Ao Chenyi there! But could an imperial consort do this? Instinct told Ning Xueyan that this was all very odd.

What exactly was Honored Consort Xia after, in the palace banquet the last time and the situation now?

How could a consort be so courageous? Why would she dare look for Ao Chenyi and what could she do after meeting him? Even if Honored Consort Xia was who she thought it was, what good was meeting Ao Chenyi under such circumstances? What was she doing before, back when she stood a chance?

“Yuqing, can you lend me two maids that day?” Ning Xueyan asked, frowning. She had made up her mind. No matter what Honored Consort Xia was up to, she must first come up with a countermeasure.

“Sure, no problem. But why do you need two maids?” Heng Yuqing agreed but was still confused.

“Don’t ask. Just arrange for the two maids to follow me as soon as I enter your manor. Get me two who are close to you.” Ning Xueyan looked up, revealing a beautiful pair of glistening eyes, and smiled widely.

She was looking for Heng Yuqing’s trusted aides, or perhaps, this matter couldn’t be revealed to others. Heng Yuqing nodded, understanding what her friend meant. Her mother was overseeing the backyard of the Lord Guardian’s Manor once again, and it was an easy task to find two trusted maids.

The two of them settled the matter, chatted for a while, and then returned to their homes. Ning Xueyan was forbidden from returning home late, and there was also a rumor that Princess Yi was sick from fright. She had to pay heed to the rumor.

It was lunchtime when she returned to the manor, so she sat down at the table and had lunch served. Then, she heard servants in the courtyard calling, “Your Highness!”

Why would Ao Chenyi be here at this time?

Ning Xueyan put down her chopsticks and looked at the door. Sure enough, a handsome and towering figure was standing behind the bead curtain. “I have such good timing to come right at lunchtime.”

Ning Xueyan got up and asked Qingyu to reset the tableware. She was surprised that Ao Chenyi would come here at this hour. Usually, Ao Chenyi would be dealing with work at the Moon-embracing Tower. He rarely came here at this time, especially right after she just returned.

They had lunch in complete silence. Ning Xueyan didn’t eat much but Ao Chenyi’s appetite was great. He only stopped after finishing three bowls. Once they washed up, he pulled her aside and made her sit on the couch beside him. The maids quickly cleared the table. Everyone knew that the prince preferred to stay with Ning Xueyan when he was around and didn’t like to have servants waiting on them.

“There’s news from Annan that the three princes of Annan have officially rebelled!” Ao Chenyi grinned, a languid expression taking over his handsome face. No matter how she looked at him, he didn’t look like he was talking about a major event that would shake the dynasty. He seemed as though he was asking if she had eaten today, looking as calm as if he was talking nonsense.

Ning Xueyan was rendered speechless. She reached out and placed her tender, fair hand on his forehead. “It’s not burning!” she muttered to herself doubtfully.

The next thing she knew, her hand was thrown off and her body was pressed on the couch. He climbed over her and pinned her underneath his body.

“Don’t you know whether I’m burning or not, Yan’er?” He raised an eyebrow at her. His delicate, thin lips were curved into a devious smile.

Ning Xueyan felt that he was burning—a burning fever, that was. Not only was his body heavy, but it was also scorching hot. He was so hot that she felt herself heating up as well. Her breathing and heartbeat were speeding up. In front of her was an enlarged view of a devastatingly beautiful face. That face was so charming that she was left even more breathless.

The situation was dangerous. Ning Xueyan subconsciously pouted and pushed him, saying coquettishly, “Chenyi, move aside. Tell me about Annan.”

“Forget that. Let’s talk about us.” Ao Chenyi could tell that she was embarrassed and shy, but he didn’t intend to let her off. He leaned in and planted a flirty kiss on her ear. He even went so far as to blow in her ear.

Ning Xueyan was so flustered that she pushed him away. Her tender face was burning red. “What… What is there to talk about us?”

“Of course there is. We haven’t slept together since we got married. We have to get that sorted first, don’t we?” Ao Chenyi said, sounding deeply dissatisfied. He even seemed wronged and matter-of-fact about it.

How could he say that… in such a righteous way? Ning Xueyan felt that even her body was burning this time. She kept trying to push him away while stammering, “An… Annan is more important.”

She had been feeling horrified and solemn because of Annan’s rebellion but those feelings were all gone! All she could focus on was pushing him away. To think that such words would come out from his mouth! How could he say such words in front of her with such blatant righteousness? Did he want her to say “yes”, “it’s fine”, or something?

She could hear his chuckle beside her ear, a burst of clear and alluring laughter. The sound was so close to her ear. Pinned underneath him, all she could smell was him. She felt weak all over and even her outstretched hand was trembling…