THE DEVIOUS FIRST-DAUGHTER

41-50

Chapter 41 Your Highness Wants Something, So Do I

Madam Dowager pressed on her chest, so furious and livid at what Ning Yuling had just said, which almost caused her to have a heart attack. The messages Ning Yuling conveyed was that in the Lord Protector's Manor, Madam Ling prevailed her on power. Though she barely laid her hands on the matters in the Manor, she couldn't bear such a demeaning attitude towards her. "Force her out, force her out, leave her kneeling in her own yard, and without my permission, she shall never get up."

After yelling out, she was all worked up and panting heavily. Sensing the severity of this situation, with no hesitation, maids and older female servants unambiguously dragged Ning Yuling out. After all, Ning Yuling hadn't dared to cross the line so far. As soon as she was outside, she cleared her hair, angrily shoved two older female servants' hands away and strode forward. Two older female servants looked at each other, knowing there was nothing they could do but following behind her, which made the whole thing more like "escorting", rather than "forcing".

Master Mingyue came over and checked on Ning Xueyuan. Aside from prescribing her some medicine for swelling, he asked her to ensure enough rest. As a token of consolation, Madam Dowager sent someone to select and give her some luxuries, and then to escort her back to her own yard.

Coming back to her yard and sitting down, Ning Xueyan leaned on the bed, resting. The medicine prescribed by Master Mingyue was so effective that it took only a short time before her forehead felt much better. Qingyu felt relieved after finding out nothing serious was going on on her forehead.

"Young Lady, how come Madam Dowager gives away such things to you when you are not allowed to wear them currently?!" Lanning frowned and asked, pointing at the exquisite silks, satins, and the jewelry on the table which were identifiable as high quality at first glance. However, since she was in mourning right now, it would be extremely inappropriate to put those on.

"This is a gesture from Madam Dowager to show her kindness to you. It seems like she has truly realized how good you are." Qingyu laughed naively.

"That is because she found out the great benefits of using me and I am such a good asset to her, rather than how good I am." Ning Xueyan tilted her head and sneered. Her long eyelashes teetered a little, leaving the subtle shadow on her pure white face. The thing was that Madam Dowager was absolutely too confident of her plan to realize that Ning Xueyan was no longer the person who knew nothing about how to defend herself.

There was no way that Madam Dowager could genuinely care about her. In front of her granddaughter, she had always adored her most with a full heart, Ning Xueyan was the one that lacked any interaction and attachment to her. On one hand, treating her well was to show the manners and rules in the Lord Protector's Manor to the bystanders, especially after Ning Yuling made such a dramatic scene. On the other hand, she aimed to reestablish and improve Ning Yuling's resilience in this way.

Madam Dowager was encouraging Ning Yuling, by taking advantage of the situation so Ning Yuling could use it as a stepping stone.

Given Ning Yuling's disposition, it would be unwise to become one of the royals. Madam Dowager intended to teach her a lesson by giving Ning Yuling a hard time under her watch. As for whether Ning Yuling would wind up turning against her, or whether she could make it, was all beyond her consideration.

Lanning stayed silent. As someone who had been through hell once, she could think about things ahead of Qingyu. Knowing Ning Xueyan was right about this, she had nothing to say.

Qingyu bit her lips, speechless, and feeling sorry for the Young Lady she served.

The carriage Honored Consort Ya rode in arrived at nightfall, with everyone's expectation and attention. All of a sudden, the madams in the temple all rushed outside to welcome her. In Cold Mountain Temple's gate was such a hustle and bustle, swarmed with young ladies. The madams who brought their eldest daughter, all eagerly wanted to make some impression in front of Honored Consort Ya, with the hope of marriage being possible if they were lucky enough to catch Honored Consort Ya's eye. Even though it was not the emperor's son who was to marry, noble and dignitary princes in the palace of the Prince would also be enough for them.

Since the people had all gathered in front, correspondingly there was a lot of space in the back. Ning Xueyan saw the chance and headed to the back. Constantly resting on a bed for these past few days evidently crippled her flexibility. She roamed around to get some fresh air and relax.

Since everyone had been attracted to the front where Honored Consort Ya was, the ambiance of the mountain behind Cold Mountain Temple was fairly quiet. The stream was running through, the road was still, and the breathtaking trees stood against the sky, as she ambled along a path. She felt humble and peaceful. Immersing herself in the serene forest felt like a dream to Ning Xueyan.

As a survivor, everything around her was surreal, more like a dream. Only can wrenching pain while suffocating provide a real awareness of being alive.

Walking for a while, a stream settled underneath a small-sized waterfall and grew into a lake. Though the waterfall came far from the sky, the complicated turns and twists compromised its speed and impact, so the sound of its impact was muffled. Through the crystal clear lake, there were fish swimming by frequently, exclusively nurtured and pampered by idyllic nature.

There was a person sitting on a tall rock beside the lake, with their hair scattered and soaked. Though he was facing away from her with his back turned, Ning Xueyan still recognized the black garment as sooty ink, resplendent yet aggressive, with the crimson Manjusaka blooming and the elegance conveyed by the golden silk thread.

She couldn't help but sigh, sometimes fate was sometimes karma.

It was the last person she wanted to see, and here he was!

The whole temple, as His Highness whose power loomed over the entire imperial government, Prince Yi was the one that didn't take Honored Consort Ya seriously. It was already too late to retreat. Besides, given there were no guards getting in the way, he must allow her to get near.

"Why not go to the front to please Honored Consort Ya. You may wind up getting married to the Third Prince, who knows." Expectedly, before she moved, Ao Chenyi turned his head, sitting on that tall rock, and looked down on her. Without his gold crown, he looked less superior and cavalier and yet more enchanting. Slightly rolling his beautiful eyes, he distantly looked at Ning Xueyan and asked.

Ning Xueyan shook her head as she leaned on a stone next to her, looked upwards and replied, "Playing a role as the royal wife is quite demanding. Since I am not endowed with enough intelligence and the gifts I need, it is better if I distance myself from this mess where I may die without even knowing why."

All she said was unfortunately true. She had already been struggling in the Lord Protector's Manor, and every step ahead of her was tough enough. Turning her back against others for the Third Prince would leave her marooned and isolated. There was a fat chance that she would end up being eliminated without a trace.

In her last life, she had been blessed with romance. However, when it came to this life, the only thing she cared about was revenge and living a normal life ever after. The fortune and affection shall all pass.

"What if I can help you become the Third Consort to the Prince? Ao Chenyi leaned over and then laid down. His eyes looking directly at Ning Xueyan, eliciting a smile tinged with a weird chill.

"I really appreciate my lord's offer, but I literally have no intention to become Consort of the Prince," Ning Xueyan sighed, "My lord need not worry. Though becoming Third Consort to the Prince wouldn't work out for me, I will still go to Ning Zu'an's study room and help you look for that thing like I promised. She retracted her captivating gaze from the distance, projected it at Ao Chenyi and shined a smile on him. That unpolished and innocent gesture made his heart skip a beat.

This was the first time someone was so comfortable around him, unlike others who would dodge making eye contact after the first glance. Not everyone was capable of putting up with the appalling vibe which seemed to emanate from the dead and their blood. In front of him, even experienced generals who had witnessed countless battles obeyed him without questions, let alone this vulnerable young lady who could literally be carried away by the wind.

In his handsome eyes, some curiosity was stirred up. "Wouldn't it bother you if the whole of the Lord Protector's Manor was exterminated?"

Even though the words were similar to before, the tone was different.

"My lord is second to the one only, besides, In the future, with the whole country in your hand, whoever you want to kill is totally up to you. Not making a move today won't guarantee their safety tomorrow. I am not in the position to worry."

"Oh, Ning Zu'an is your own father, wouldn't you feel concern about him?"

"My biological mother is the only parent I have, I've never had a father." Cutting and distant as her eyes were, she said without a slice of hesitation, and only her long eyelashes teetered a little bit. Since she had already planned on taking advantage of Ao Chenyi's power, when it came to the choice between the Lord Protector's Manor and Prince Yi, there was no room for her to evade. Besides, she literally had no attachment to the Lord Protector's Manor. Though she was yet capable of leaving the Lord Protector's Manor for good, no one can stop her from building up her strength.

Ao Chenyi's thin lips went slightly upwards at the edges, black hair falling smoothly down his shoulder, looking like dark silk. Slender eyes squinted towards this delicate girl standing in front of him, "Do you want to leave the Lord Protector's Manor?"

"Yes, the day I leave shall come!" Ning Xueyan answered bluntly.

"That's a quick answer, aren't you afraid of me dragging you down while I crush the Lord Protector's Manor?" Ao Chenyi found her more intriguing and looked at this young lady, who had been telegraphing cold and distant vibe, with great interest. As a person who treated the one she loved with a full heart and paid back the pain to the people she hated a hundred times over, she was quite something else.

To get what she wanted, she acted merciless and assertive, even to herself.

It was her personality that he was mesmerized by.

"My lord wouldn't. Killing someone on your side with no good reason would definitely make the people who work for you feel disappointed and even betrayed!" Ning Xueyan looked up, corners on her mouth going upwards slightly. She raised her head and looked at Ao Chenyi with her clear eyes as water yet fairly cutting and elusive. Only she knew that her drooping long sleeves hid her clenched fists. In front of Prince Yi with his capricious mood, she never would dare to lower her guard.

She circumspectly saw herself as one of Ao Chenyi's subordinates.

"Hehe......" he smiled, with his glamorous beauty, while ruffling his handsome eyes. He raised his hand casually, grabbed a flagon and frivolously poured himself a cup of wine. Red wine, dark as blood, spinning in glass, reached his lips which made them much brighter and tinged them with a sense of danger like he'd been drinking blood.

"How dare you threaten Your Highness? Aren't you afraid that I would kill you right now?" Ao Chenyi's slender, charming eyes flashed a hint of astonishment. This girl kept surprising him. His focus was not on the menace hidden in her words, but her boldness, which he really appreciated.

His eyes looked at her palm-sized face, stopping at her forehead where some medicine had been applied. To avoid infection, Lanning deliberately let her hair down onto her forehead and thought no one would notice. Her exquisite facial features were utterly exposed, the redness and swelling on her forehead made her look more pitiful and fragile.

From every angle, she was a delicate young lady from a respectful family. However, what she said and what she did was far from that image. If he didn't see the evident bite on her arm in person, there was no way for him to believe that she could be so hard-hearted.

"My lord, of course I'm afraid, but I still stand by my words."

"Oh, why?" Ao Chenyi widened his eyes a little.

"If my Lord wants something, so do I." Ning Xueyan looked straight at his gorgeous face and confided in him as if in front of Ao Chenyi, she had nothing to hide.

This answer made Ao Chenyi laugh so hard. "In fact, you can also ask the Third Prince for help, maybe he is more willing to do the beauty a favor."

"What Third Prince would do is his own business, not mine!" Ning Xueyan articulated. Judging from Madam Dowager's attitude, that door for Ning Yuling becoming Third Princess was not entirely closed, it seemed like Third Prince's marriage was not entirely up to him.

Besides, Ning Zu'an's power was something Third Prince probably craved.

Chapter 42 Assassination and Blood Everywhere.

So, when it came to Third Prince, she yearned for nothing that could happen between them. Initially, she had no intention to swoop in and compete with Ning Yuling. What Third Prince would do was literally none of her business, and the reason she didn't want Ning Yuling to marry Prince was that she had been afraid Madam Ling would capitalize on the power coming along with this marriage against her.

"If Third Prince knew the opposite side of you that you act so hard-hearted, I am not sure whether he would still treat you nice and kind." Something funny occurred to Ao Chenyi which made him laugh even harder. His eyes, falling on Ning Xueyan, were so gloomy and cold that made her whole body nervous, like being hit by something resplendent yet glacial.

She couldn't afford a slice of suspicion from Ao Chenyi, was afraid to remove her eyes away first. She had no choice but to confront that creepy gaze, while in her heart deep trembling with fear. She kept telling herself as comfort that since Ao Chenyi needed her to find that military medallion which belonged to preceding dynasty, he must need her alive and would not kill her at least for now.

Compared with the first time they met, Ao Chenyi was less hostile and intimidating to her, but still couldn't guarantee her safety for good, considering that Prince Yi was obnoxiously capricious.

Requesting evils to act against their interests, is a business either to win or die. She put her own life at stake.

To defeat Madam Ling mother and daughter was out of her league, so she had to seek support from others. Her uncle was one of them, but he would eventually return far back to the border. It just hit her that since there was no other valuable family background for her to exploit, she must take advantage of other's power, otherwise, killing her would be like nipping a bud to Ning Yuling, leaving no chance for her to fight back.

In the whole Manor, there was no one for her to count on, neither the Madam Dowager, nor Ning Zu'an. As incompetent as she was, how on earth could she win Madam Ling to get her revenge!

The weak might succeed in manipulating others, but not the military force. In front of Madam Ling's tremendous appalling power, everything she had was trivial. If Madam Ling wanted her dead, there was nothing she could do to stop her. Besides, Ning Zu'an wasn't a threat to her. All in all, she had to score this one.

She must become one of Ao Chenyi's people.

"Okay, you are in." He smiled with some elusive meaning, and surprisingly long eyelashes cast creepy shadows on his white smooth face, "since I've already listed you in my team, you don't need to be so frightened."

That flippant laughter sounded like a signal and was received by the guards who ambushed him on the side, which made their hearts jolt. They all desensitized their hearing and retracted their attention from the lake. If Prince Yi found out they were all eavesdropping, they might lose their ears for that.

He suddenly hurled the wine glass backward, drawing a crimson light and it thudded into the lake. Before Ning Xueyan could figure out what happened, Ao Chenyi adroitly landed on the ground from that rock, caught Ning Xueyan and turned around before both of them fell on that rock. He remained half-reclining posture, and the only difference was that there was a beautiful, pale yet chaste as clear water in this handsome man's arm.

What presented in front of her was the red blood waving in the water and drifting away!

On the hills of both sides, some people in black with masks either rolled down or showed up from the lake. All of them were aiming their swords toward Ao Chenyi, as well as Ning Xueyan in his arm. Blinding and cold lights went straight to their faces within a blink...

Meanwhile, a group of guards coming out from nowhere jumped out from all directions and acted mercilessly. People in black were extremely skilled, but they were immediately ambushed. In front of guards who were twice times than them in number and equally trained, people in black couldn't stand a chance to spare.

All of a sudden, cries only from one party were everywhere. The clear lake was colored into bloody red.

There was blood everywhere. People in black were taken down one by one, a few of them died of one fatal harm, and some of them were still struggling to march toward Ao Chenyi after applied seven or eight wounds by the sword. An assassin who had already jumped up on the rock fell down in front of Ning Xueyan. His eyes were still wide-open, bluntly gazing at her, and the color in his eyes was fading away. Before dying, he spurted blood on Ao Chenyi's and Ning Xueyan's clothes.

Unconsciously, Ning Xueyan reached out and dragged Ao Chenyi's garment.

"Are you scared?" A cold yet enchanting sound echoed in her ear...

"Does it matter whether I am scared or not?" Ning Xueyan's eyes cast on that assassin's face. Although her face had turned pale and her extremities were frozen, she still exerted herself and stared at that assassin.

After being stabbed a few times, fresh and warm blood was flowing out. Wide-open eyes were staring at them in vain and vanity, but still could sense the bloody hatred. This assassination ended up with failure, as the cries became weaker and weaker.

Everything had been planned. Prince Yi showed up here because he had known this. It was herself that strayed into this.

"If you are frightened, feel free to go!" Ao Chenyi let go of Ning Xueyan's slim waist, and on the corners of his mouth, a creepy cold smile emerged, resplendent yet elusive, which was quite terrifying, especially against this bloody background.

"Even if I can leave, I can't be safe. For your information, the road has been full of danger, too." Ning Xueyan felt a stab of pain. She quickly calmed down, sat up, embraced her knees where her head settled and said in a low voice.

Since assassination had happened, there was no way there were only a few people. Those people could not kill Ao Chenyi. There must be some attacks waiting for him since they dared to assassinate Ao Chenyi. It was the most relaxing moment for someone who just won a battle after being threatened. If the enemy mustered their strength to fight back, it was possible that they could get what they want.

This reminded her of the last life, Madam Ling and her daughter, along with Xia Yuhang acted exactly like that. At the last night before her wedding, which was supposed to be the happiest and most blessed moment in her life, they cruelly drowned her to death in that lotus pond.

The young lady in plain dress bent her knees and sat on the stone stage, and her eyes were black as dark jade, deep yet distant, emanating a sense of melancholy. Her palm-sized innocent face seemed at a loss. The corner of her clothes was covered with some blood. This was a dramatically bloody scene where she was the only one who seemed out of all this and unbelievably peaceful, like a pure white snowdrop, so unapproachable and elegant.

The view full of blood on the back actually served as a foil to her.

She didn't feel sorry for them, given she would lose her life if they won. After all, they wouldn't spare her life out of her being innocent.

Ao Chenyi frowned, flippantly pointed at the path Ning Xueyan took before, and asked, "So, you mean there are more assassinators out there?"

"My Lord, this question is actually redundant. Along that path, I can't even hear the sounds of insects and birds. This forest is abnormally quiet!" Ning Xueyan retracted her thoughts and slightly looked back, eliciting a smile at the edges of her eyebrows, "Since My Lord has already set up everything, how come you ask me again!"

She hadn't noticed when she came here, the path she took was oddly quiet. Cooperating with this current situation, all was so clear.

Looking upward, this intense fight was just over, while another fight got started. Although she couldn't see the details, the cries loomed over this place, scary and terrifying. Though she didn't pity those people, that didn't mean she appreciated such a scene, which was full of blood and death. Even the air smelled bloody. She looked down and kept silent.

She tried to avoid witnessing such a living hell.

"My Lord, what should we do with those people?" A guard came and saluted respectfully under the stone stage.

"Old rules!" Ao Chenyi said without any feelings.

"Understood!" With no more words, the guard went back a few steps and then retreated!

In the meantime, there were cries coming one by one, echoing long in the air. The last cry came right before they died, in the broad field, before the final strike, it was more like a cruel game of cat catching mouse. Not until they grew bored about this, here came the lethal move!

Prince Yi, who had been through a lot, how come he didn't realize there were people ambushing him.

Ao Chenyi narrowed his eyes and asked Ning Xueyan no more questions. He stood beside Ning Xueyan. The autumn wind blew his sooty garment with some blood, where the Equinox Flower looked even more glaring and striking and got people spellbound by the arresting red. From Ning Xueyan's position, she could see the blooming Equinox Flowers, which blocked her view of the sky flying toward her with the wind.

The night rolled over. Ning Xueyan came back to her yard in the darkness. Fortunately, everyone had gone to the Honored Consort Ya's place to pay their respect, so she didn't encounter anyone. When she entered her room, Qingyu almost shouted out after inspecting the blood on her dress.

"I am okay, and this blood is not mine." Ning Xueyan urgently explained in order to prevent her from screaming.

"Young... young lady, what happened?" Qingyu asked concernedly after finally getting herself together, while her face was still pale.

If this blood wasn't from Ning Xueyan, then it must be others'. How come others' blood splashed on young lady's clothes. Thinking of this, Qingyu was terrified.

"I ran into an event that someone tried to assassinate Prince Yi. Go get me clothes to change." Ning Xueyan sat down on a chair and acted composed when the fatigue kicked in. She had been holding her breath until now. After she exhaled, she felt that her arms and legs were trembling and freezing. It was not she was not afraid; it was because she could not be afraid.

"Young lady, please take the tea first, and then I will help you change your dress." Lanning served a cup of steamed tea, and said in a low voice. She had always been more sophisticated than Qingyu, so after she saw Ning Xuening come in, she acknowledged Ning Xueyan wasn't injured. Lanning, on the opposite, behaved herself as normal and went make a cup of tea.

Ning Xueyan fetched the tea. When her trembling fingers touched that warm cup, a stream of warmth seeped in through her fingers literally and brought her back to life.

After they helped Ning Xueyan change and clean up, she finally got to sit down when hearing someone asking, "Is Fifth Young Lady here?"

"Sister, can I help you?" Lanning came out and saw a maidservant, so she asked politely.

"Madam Dowager asked Fifth Young Lady to dress up and come over now." This maidservant replied.

"Sure, she will be there in a minute." Lanning nodded. Hearing this, the maidservant turned around and left.

"Madam Dowager was asking for me?" Ning Xueyan was shocked. After giving it a lot of thoughts and getting the clue, she barely hesitated before standing up, bringing a lantern and heading toward Madam Dowager's place with Qingyu. Lanning was bumped by Ning Yuling and hadn't fully recovered yet, so she stayed in the yard.

When they got to the gate, they saw the dazzling gate and a group of maidservants standing still on the corridor. Also, there were a few eunuchs waiting next to the door. When they spotted Ning Xueyan coming, one of them stepped forward and asked, "Who are you?"

Chapter 43 The Appreciation Comes from the Honored Consort Ya

"Our Young Lady is the Fifth Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor. She's coming here to meet Madam Dowager." Qingyu stepped forward, raised her head and answered. During this period of time, Qingyu had been trained to be no longer as timid as before. She was neither humble nor arrogant when she answered the eunuchs.

Someone came in to ask for permission. After a while, an older female servant came out and nodded while looking at Ning Xueyan who was blocked outside. Then the eunuch raised his hand and let go.

Qingyu was left in the corridor and Ning Xueyan went into alone. Although she didn't look up, she had seen everything in the room as soon as she came in. In the spacious room, a beautiful woman in a piece of clothing embroidered phoenix was sitting at the top seat. She had an oval face and her eyebrows were slender, showing her gentleness while speaking and smiling.

It was hard to believe that such a pure and gentle woman was the favored Honored Consort Ya.

The Third Prince sat on her left hand while Madam Dowager was sitting on her right hand. Ning Yuling, who was supposed to be punished in the courtyard now was standing next to Madam Dowager with a charming and shy look. When Ning Xueyan came in, Ning Yuling looked at her with maliciousness but did nothing.

Sure enough, the Honored Consort Ya was here. She came to Madam Dowager's courtyard at this time, which showed that she had a good personal relationship with Madam Dowager.

"You're the Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protector's Manor? How old are you?" The Honored Consort Ya scrutinized Ning Xueyan for a while. Ning Xueyan looked pale at first glance, which gave people a feeling that she was not in good health. But when people looked at her carefully again, they would found her delicate face was really beautiful. Just because of her light lips, she looked less eye-catching.

But the more you looked at her, the more beautiful you felt she was. She was a young beauty.

"Her Royal Highness, I am the Fifth Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor. I'm fourteen years old." Ning Xueyan went forward and saluted respectfully, then stood on the side and answered.

She was natural and graceful and didn't show any surprise, panic or joy when she saw Honored Consort Ya.

Seeing Ning Xueyan behaved well, the Third Prince praised her in mind and his look became more gentle. He gave a look to Ning Xueyan with an unconscious smile. Ning Yuling, who stood opposite him, saw his smile clearly. Immediately, she became angry and almost tore her handkerchief into pieces.

"You're a clever child. But I found that you're not in good health. Have you ever gone to the doctor?" The Honored Consort Ya looked at her with a smile and asked, seemingly in a casual way.

"Mother, the imperial physician had seen Fifth Young Lady before, saying that there was nothing serious. Because of the neglect of nursing, she always falls ill." The Third Prince answered first. When they were in the back mountain, Ning Yuling didn't hit Ning Xueyan but hit Lanning. After checking Lanning, the imperial physician was asked by the Third Prince to see Ning Xueyan's complexion.

Originally, the Third Prince wanted the imperial physician to feel the pulse for Ning Xueyan. But Ning Xueyan didn't want to be close to the Third Prince, so the imperial physician only saw her complexion.

His word made Madam Dowager uncomfortable. A Young Lady of the Lord Protector's Manor always fell ill because of the neglect of nursing. Did it make sense? It clearly meant that the Lord Protector's Manor slighted Ning Xueyan. But it was the Third Prince who said that, so Madam Dowager couldn't refute even though she wanted to.

"Not just because of that. I just lost my mother. I missed her very much day and night. So I'm weak now." Ning Xueyan raised her head and explained in a soft voice. Her expression was gentle and the voice was clear. She ascribed her illness to her missing of mother in a few words.

Madam Dowager, sitting at one side, could not help smiling and satisfactorily looked at Ning Xueyan.

"The Fifth Young Lady is really filial. Madam Ming is dead, and she doesn't want to see her only daughter fall ill because of her. You should be happier in the future and take care of yourself." Listening to Ning Xueyan's word, Honored Consort Ya soothed her with a smile. She waved to her with a kind look. "Come here, let me see, how come you are so weak!"

Hearing that, Ning Xueyan gently and obediently raised her head and stepped up to Honored Consort Ya, behaving appropriately. There was nothing wrong with her. It really made people feel that she was a true Young Lady of a noble family. Compared with the Second Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor who flattered Honored Consort Ya as soon as she met the Honored Consort Ya, Ning Xueyan was much better and more graceful.

"You're really beautiful, looking like a fairy from the painting." The Honored Consort Ya took Ning Xueyan's hand and praised her with a gentle gaze.

Ning Xueyan was slightly uncomfortable, but she couldn't pull her hand out of the Honored Consort Ya's hands. She looked up and looked into the Third Prince's eyes.

The Third Prince was scrutinizing Ning Xueyan. She was still in plain clothes. She couldn't be too plain because she came here to see Honored Consort Ya. So she wore light white clothes embroidered a few light pink flowers on the edge of her skirt. It made her look more elegant.

Such a woman was not only beautiful but also indifferent. With her slightly childish face, her temperament was quite attracted and it was difficult for people to remove their gaze from her delicate face.

"Many thanks for your love." Ning Xueyan lowered her head to avoid the deep gaze of the Third Prince.

"Madam Dowager, your granddaughters are both beautiful and graceful. How come the Lord Protector's Manor fosters such outstanding Young Ladies." The Honored Consort Ya let go of Ning Xueyan's hands, turned to Madam Dowager, and said to her with a smile.

Seeing that the Honored Consort Ya also praised Ning Yuling, Madam Dowager smiled more greatly. "Thanks for your praise. They're just little girls and don't dare to speak in front of you, so they look quiet. Usually, the two sisters like playing in the courtyard. It's quite annoying. They're so childish."

She openly talked about the event that happened in the Cold Mountain Temple before. At that time, the Third Prince was there and watched the whole process. He even took the initiative to help Ning Xueyan in the end. Madam Dowager thought that Honored Consort Ya must know this matter too. So she claimed that this matter just was the quarrel and fight among children.

Ning Xueyan, with a smile on the face, retreated a few steps and then stood behind Madam Dowager. "The quarrel and fight among children? How dare you said that. Your lovely granddaughter's quarrel will cause death." Ning Xueyan thought in mind with a cold smile on the face.

"They are still young and sisters. It's normal for them to have fun. When they get married, they will have no possibility to play together." The Honored Consort Ya sighed, seeming to recall the past that happened when she was a little girl. She turned to Ning Yuling and Ning Xueyan and smiled more softly.

"Madam Dowager, have your two granddaughters been betrothed to anyone?"

Ning Xueyan suddenly became excited and haze flashed through her eyes, thinking in mind, "I know that the coming of Honored Consort Ya to the Cold Mountain Temple this time is bound to have something to do with the Third Prince's marriage, but why did she mentioned me? I have nothing to do with the Third Prince's marriage, why did they ask me to come here?"

"Their mother loves them very much and don't want them to marry early, so they stay in the manor all the time and haven't been betrothed. Too much spoiling is harmful to children. Look, their marriage have been delayed."

Madam Dowager answered with worry. She blamed Madam Ling for spoiling daughters too much so that they couldn't get married early.

"It's normal that parents love their children. They're afraid that their daughters will be wronged after getting married. So they want them to stay at home longer. But it can't be too long. Look at your two granddaughters. They look like a pair of beautiful flowers. I really like them very much. It will be a good thing if they are still together and follow the example of Ehuang and Nvying!"

With a smile on the face, Honored Consort Ya turned her gaze from Ning Yuling's face to Ning Xueyan's and put them together.

Ehuang and Nvying?

Ning Xueyan finally understood what that weirdness was. No wonder the Honored Consort Ya asked her to come at night. She didn't mention what happened to Ning Yuling before and even praised her. She wanted Ning Xueyan and Ning Yuling to marry the Third Prince together.

Honored Consort Ya wanted the two daughters of Lord Protector's Manor to marry the Third Prince together. Ning Yuling would be the Consort of Prince and Ning Xueyan would be the Co-consort of Prince. She really had a good intention. Ning Xueyan gave a look at the Third Prince who was looking at her gently, a trace of disgust flashing in her eyes. She didn't want Ning Yuling to marry the Third Prince. At the same time, she also didn't want to marry him, let along being a Co-consort of Prince.

Co-consort of Prince namely was the consort, just like the co-wife namely was the wife. In fact, Co-consort of Prince was a concubine.

What's more, she didn't want to be hated by other women because of this man. This man was rich and powerful, but actually, he had too many scruples. He didn't like Ning Yuling, but he had to marry her. If Ning Xueyan married him, she was bound to be murdered.

People of the Lord Protector's Manor in the room changed their looks because of the words of Honored Consort Ya. Ning Yuling almost couldn't stand up. If she hadn't been helped by the older female servant beside her, she would have fallen down. She couldn't believe it. She looked at the Honored Consort Ya, and then looked at the Third Prince who was looking at Ning Xueyan. In the end, she looked at Ning Xueyan with jealousy and hatred.

"This little bitch dares ogle the Third Prince and seduce him in front of me. She's so cheap and shameless!" Ning Yuling thought in mind with angry.

"Your Highness, they are all the Young Ladies of the Lord Protector's Manor. Zu'an said a few days ago that we should choose a good husband for them. Their marriage shouldn't ruin the reputation of the Lord Protector's Manor. Although the Fifth Young Lady is weak and the daughter of the co-wife, fortunately, she's smart and gentle." Madam Dowager was shocked. Although she didn't expect the Honored Consort Ya to have this idea, she responded quickly and said with a smile.

When Ning Xueyan was in Bright Frost Garden, Madam Dowager didn't care about her. At most, the Lord Protector's Manor supported one more person. In Madam Dowager's mind, the 'support' meant feeding her. Ning Xueyan's safety was not in Madam Dowager's consideration.

But now things had changed. Ning Xueyan was quite different now and she was beautiful. Madam Dowager hadn't figured out how to arrange the future of Ning Xueyan, so she subconsciously refused Honored Consort Ya's suggestion.

Ning Xueyan relaxed at one and looked at the ground.

"Oh, that's a pity. I really like these two girls." Honored Consort Ya didn't show any unhappiness on her face, as if Madam Dowager didn't refuse her just now. She continued with a smile. "Here, reward the two Young Ladies a set of ruby headwear and ten pieces of brocade separately. Besides, reward the Second Young Lady a golden Phoenix Hairpin."

Chapter 44 An Extra Phoenix Hairpin

Ning Yuling was unsatisfied when she first heard that she was had the same reward as Ning Xueyan's. But when she heard that she could still get a Phoenix Hairpin, she looked up at Honored Consort Ya in surprise. Her eyes were widened and she was very happy. Then she turned to Ning Xueyan and glared at her with satisfaction.

The Phoenix Hairpin was not something that ordinary people could have!

Only the consort of the royal family could be called the Phoenix. "Since Honored Consort Ya noble rewards me with such a Phoenix Hairpin, she must be satisfied with me and wants me to marry the Third Prince." Ning Yuling thought in mind.

Madam Dowager also was very happy and relaxed. Unexpectedly, Honored Consort Ya didn't ask about the trouble Ning Yuling made before, which pleased Madam Dowager. She deliberately asked Ning Yuling to dress up and then come here in order to Ning Yuling could leave a good impression to Honored Consort Ya.

The jewelry and brocade were put on the table by the palace maids one by one, beautiful and noble!

"Why does she also have a Phoenix Hairpin?" Ning Yuling was smugly looking at her own reward. Suddenly, she turned around and saw that there also was a gold Phoenix Hairpin in Ning Xueyan's ornamental box. Although it was not as beautiful as her, it still was not a common product, so Ning Yuling could not help crying out at once.

She was so angry because she thought Ning Xueyan didn't deserve the Phoenix Hairpin.

"Maybe the palace maids brought an extra Phoenix Hairpin. Fine, give it to Fifth Young Lady!" Honored Consort Ya waved her hand at will and said as if she didn't care much about it.

How could the palace maids bring an extra Phoenix Hairpin that couldn't be sent at will? Ning Xueyan sneered in his mind but didn't show it on her face. She stepped backward, bowed respectfully and saluted. "Your Highness, thank you for your rewards. But I'm not qualified to own this Phoenix Hair. I don't dare to accept it."

She didn't want to be Third Prince's Co-consort, so she couldn't receive this Phoenix Hairpin. This one was lower than Ning Yuling's. And the two Phoenix Hairpins represented the Consort and Co-consort. Unexpectedly, the Honored Consort Ya didn't say anything on the surface, but rewarded her with this Phoenix Hairpin. If Ning Xueyan accepted it, she wouldn't make it clear!

"She dares to refuse my mother's Phoenix Hairpin!" The Third Prince was slightly unhappy, thinking in mind.

Although he had heard before that she didn't want to marry into the Royal family, he didn't expect her to give up the opportunity when it was there. This made the Third Prince who was loved by countless Young Ladies stricken. He lowered his head and play with the folding fan in his hands without saying a word.

Madam Dowager also reacted at this time and hastily explained. "Honored Consort Ya, you really think highly of her. How dare she accept such a valuable Phoenix Hairpin."

Hearing that, Honored Consort Ya looked at the gold Phoenix Hairpin for a while and pretended she suddenly recalled something, then said, "Oh, it's my negligence. Change a gold hairpin for the Fifth Young Lady."

The palace maid immediately took away the Phoenix Hairpin and replaced it with an ordinary one.

This matter seemed to be just a misunderstanding.

Ning Xueyan knew that the Honored Consort Ya really wanted her to marry Third Prince. Ning Xueyan knew herself well. She always was in bad health. It was possible that she might die quickly after the marriage. So no one wanted to marry her.

The Co-consort of the Third Prince was also noble.

Why did the Honored Consort Ya feel satisfied with her and repeatedly hinted to Madam Dowager? Because she was the daughter of the Madam Ming? Honored Consort Ya had met Madam Ming secretly, did they have a good personal relationship? If so, why didn't she send someone to worship Madam Ming since she died? Did Honored Consort Ya have other intentions...

After rebirth, Ning Xueyan habitually considered things in a comprehensive way. The tragedy of her Last Life told her that things could be traced!

Honored Consort Ya and Third Prince for a short time and left. Ning Yuling was also asked to leave by Madam Dowager while Ning Xueyan was left behind. Under the light, Madam Dowager's face couldn't be seen clearly and her look was cold. Ning Xueyan stood there, bowing her head and saying nothing.

"Would you like to marry the Third Prince?" Madam Dowager asked slowly while staring at Ning Xueyan closely.

"I don't want to!" Ning Xueyan firmly said, looking up at Madam Dowager respectfully. "Grandmother, I knew the meaning of Honored Consort Ya. But I really don't want to marry the Third Prince."

"Why? Since ancient times, marrying into the Royal family means wealth and rank. Marrying Third Prince, you'll get more wealth and rank. Even though you'll be the co-consort, it's possible that you'll have great wealth in the future. You really don't want to?" Madam Dowager didn't express her meaning clearly, but Ning Xueyan understood.

If the Third Prince became the next emperor in the future, things would change greatly. Those women who married him before, including consort, co-consort, and concubines, all would be exalted and enjoy countless wealth.

Ning Xueyan respectfully and gently replied, "Grandmother, as a Young Lady, I shouldn't have said that. But since grandmother asked me to stay, I don't want to conceal. The marriage of Third Prince and second sister is secretly agreed by you and Honored Consort Ya. Second sister likes the Third Prince. I would not like to get involved with them. Both second sister and I are the Young Ladies of Lord Protector's Manor and are exalted. If we marry the Third Prince together, it will only weaken the reputation of the Lord Protector's Manor. What's more, if the Third Prince failed in the future... We shouldn't put all the eggs in one basket!"

After saying that, Ning Xueyan looked at Madam Dowager sincerely. Her words showed her concern for others. And she didn't speak out her meaning completely in the end, but Madam Dowager could understand. If the Third Prince failed in competing for the throne, the whole Lord Protector's Manor might get into trouble too. It would be much difficult for them to get rid of the trouble if one of their Young Lady married the Third Prince, let alone two Young Ladies married him.

Nobody dared say that he would win before the result came out. What's more, it was the ruthless and cold-blooded Prince Yi who controlled the court. It was difficult to get along with him.

Madam Dowager was shocked and stared at Ning Xueyan in silence. She didn't expect the most insignificant Fifth Young Lady to have such insights. It shocked her greatly. Both she and Ning Xueyan didn't speak out their meaning clearly, but they understood each other clearly.

"It's hard for you, a young girl, to have such an idea." After a long time, Madam Dowager sighed, and her look became mild. What Ning Xueyan scrupled was what Madam Dowager scrupled. She would never let her son support Third Prince with the whole Lord Protector's Manor before things were clear.

"Grandmother!" Ning Xueyan said in a soft voice and didn't show any fickleness. She was totally unlike those Young Ladies who blushed when they saw Third Prince. She was graceful while indifferent. When the Honored Consort Ya rewarded her with the Phoenix Hairpin, she refused politely. It seemed that she really didn't want to marry Third Prince with Ning Yuling.

"Well, go back and rest! Today you are tired. Your second sister is impatient. Although her some words are harsh, she isn't unintentional. Forgive her, after all, she is your sister." This time, Madam Dowager's smile was sincere. She waved her hand, and specifically asked servants to send Ning Xueyan's rewards to her place.

Although the quality of the cloth was good, they were plain. Maybe because the Honored Consort Ya thought of that Ning Xueyan's mother had died.

The Honored Consort Ya and her servants occupied three courtyards. It seemed that the Cold Mountain Temple already knew she was coming, so the temple had left these three middle courtyards to her. The Third Prince didn't come back to his own courtyard and followed Honored Consort Ya to her courtyard. When they entered the house and sat down, the Third Prince was depressed.

"You really want her?" Honored Consort Ya looked at her unhappy son and laughed suddenly. Then she asked servants to serve them tea and leave.

"Mother, Ning Yuling is arrogant and domineering. She's a shrew. I don't want her. You didn't see what she had done in the temple before. She scolded and beat her bloody sister. How could such a woman be my consort?"

The Third Prince unhappily said and took a sip of tea, remembering Ning Xueyan. She wore plain clothes and was still calm when she was bullied. She must be graceful and was much better than Ning Yuling. She was the right person to be his consort.

"I've heard before that she's very unpopular in the Lord Protector's Manor. Maybe she refused my mother's suggestion just because the Lord Protector's Manor doesn't want her to marry me." Thinking of this, the Third Prince became happy again. Then he began to worry about her because she was innocent and weak.

"Mother, how about Ning Xueyan being my consort?" He turned to the Honored Consort Ya and said.

"No way!" The Honored Consort Ya's face darkened and she refused directly.

"Why?" The Third Prince could not help but ask.

"Need I say the reason? Do you really like her? She's so weak. I think she won't live for a long time. Maybe she'll die before marrying him. How can such a woman give birth to a child for you? Besides, she has nothing, what's the advantage of marrying her?"

Honored Consort Ya said coldly.

In fact, the Third Prince understood all that his mother said. He also knew that it was impossible for Ning Xueyan to be his consort. A daughter of co-wife could only be his co-consort. He married Ning Yuling, not only because she was the daughter of the Official Wife, but also because of the forces behind her.

One was the beloved daughter, and the other was the unfavored daughter. In addition, Ning Zu'an's attitude also mattered. How could the Third Prince not be clear about the reason behind?

"The news that the assassination failed again came just now. But you are immersed in love now! I promise, Ning Xueyan will be your co-consort if possible. The Lord Protector's Manor doesn't want Ning Xueyan and Ning Yuling to marry you together. But if no one wants to marry Ning Xueyan, they won't refuse to our suggestion."

The Honored Consort Ya said with an unhappy look. The Madam Dowager repeatedly refused her just now, which had already made her angry. Now there were no other people, Honored Consort Ya didn't need to cover her anger. She clearly knew what Madam Dowager was thinking. Ning Xueyan was beautiful, so she should have had a good marriage. Unfortunately, she was in bad health and her mother had died. It was hard to say that if anyone wanted to marry her.

Today she deliberately asked Ning Xueyan to come over and said those words. She also knew that Madam Dowager would not agree, but she did so. What she wanted was to provoke the vixenish Second Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor. The Second Young Lady wasn't easy-going. She was certain to make trouble for Ning Xueyan. So Honored Consort Ya only needed to watch on one side.

"Maybe I can help Ning Xueyan when she is in danger..." Honored Consort Ya thought.

Of course, these were not her main goals. How could these two Young Ladies be her daughter-in-law? Just because the situation now was not clear, she needed to do something to help her son.

"Mother, you decide this matter. I'll go to deal with the affair." On hearing the failure of assassination, the Third Prince rubbed his eyebrows and stood up, putting the matter of Ning Xueyan aside. This was the fifth time that he sent people to assassinate Ao Chenyi. But no one hurt him. If this went on, he would use up his killer that he trained secretly.

"See if there are any traces left. If any, clean them up!" The Honored Consort Ya said coldly.

"I know." The Third Prince turned and strode away. The house became quiet. Only the Honored Consort Ya sat quietly under the lamp, her eyebrows wrinkling slightly.

"Your Highness, are you going to have a bath and rest?" A 30-year-old woman knocked at the door, came in, and asked.

"Yes." The Honored Consort Ya nodded. It was late and there would be madams to visit her early tomorrow morning.

A group of palace maids came in with towels for bathing. They followed Honored Consort Ya into the inner room where everything had been prepared well. Honored Consort Ya took off her clothes and went into the bathtub.

Chapter 45 Aunt Xiang's Surprise

Seeing that the Honored Consort Ya going into the inner room to have a bath, the 30-year-old woman left the house.

"Aunt Xiang, it's late, where are you going?" Seeing Aunt Xiang came out, the eunuch who guarded the door asked with a smile.

"I heard that there is a sole chrysanthemum outside our yard. I'll go and see it first. If Honored Consort Ya asks about it tomorrow, I can tell her." Aunt Xiang answered with a faint smile. She was Honored Consort Ya's servant and in charge of the flowers and plants in Honored Consort Ya's palace for her. She was good at growing flowers and plants, so the flowers in Honored Consort Ya's palace bloomed better than that of anywhere else and even was praised by the emperor.

Since these flowers could attract the emperor for Honored Consort Ya, Aunt Xiang was not an ordinary servant anymore. Everyone respectfully called her Aunt Xiang. Aunt Xiang came into the palace with Honored Consort Ya and was Honored Consort Ya's dowry. Naturally, she was Honored Consort Ya's henchman. So these eunuchs smiled and let her go when she went out at this time.

Aunt Xiang went out of the courtyard and observed for a while, then she went to the left. The chrysanthemum was specially planted by the monks in Cold Mountain Temple for the guests to enjoy. The flowers were elegant when bloomed. But people seldom enjoyed it at night. The eunuchs who guarded the door didn't know that, but Aunt Xiang was very clear about that.

Aunt Xiang walked along the path and passed the chrysanthemum. She didn't see the chrysanthemum at all but went to the pavilion on the side. Under the moonlight, there was a beauty sitting on the stone bench. She poured a cup of tea and slowly drank. Her delicate face, together with her inky jade-liked eyes, made her alone in the night.

Aunt Xiang could hardly believe it. She stared at Ning Xueyan's white face in excitement. The huge impact almost made her unable to believe what she saw for a moment. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the young girl in the pavilion again. She could say nothing due to great amazement.

She had seen almost identical inky jade-liked eyes. Though the two faces were not very similar, both were beautiful. The face in front of her was too pale so that people couldn't realize its beauty at one. The childish gaze was also familiar to Aunt Xiang. She almost thought that the girl she saw was the beautiful and graceful woman...

Aunt Xiang's lips trembled and her eyes became red because of sadness. "No, it could not be her." Aunt Xiang had seen her jumped into the fire in person. The flames burned her skirts, reflecting her beautiful face. Then she was covered by the fire and smoke...

"Aunt Xiang?" Ning Xueyan stood up leisurely. The moonlight shone on her little face, making it a little blurred. Her glittering eyes were full of smile. She looked calm and gentle. It seemed that she encountered Aunt Xiang by chance instead flicking a note and it fell to Aunt Xiang when Honored Consort Ya walked by her with Aunt Xiang. The note said she wanted to have a meeting with Aunt Xiang at night.

Aunt Xiang came to the imperial palace with Honored Consort Ya when Honored Consort Ya married the emperor. She had visited Madam Ming in private with Honored Consort Ya. It seemed that Honored Consort Ya wanted to leave Aunt Xiang to Madam Ming, but Madam Ming refused. The former Ning Xueyan didn't know who Aunt Xiang was, but now Ning Xueyan knew.

The real Ning Xueyan had died. The soul of the present Ning Xueyan was Ning Ziying. Ning Ziying's mother knew how to make spices and also knew how to make poisons with spices. She said that the invisible poison was made up of several kinds of spices. But Ning Ziying's mother said she wasn't good at that and mentioned Aunt Xiang, saying Aunt Xiang was a master who knew all kinds of poisons made up of spices and also knew how to make poisons.

If there was such a person to help Madam Ming, the competition and poison wouldn't be a problem for Madam Ming.

Madam Ming was poisoned to death. But actually, that poison was not difficult. One could found it as long as he or she knew a little bit about poison. Unfortunately, Madam Ming refused the goodwill of Honored Consort Ya, which puzzled Ning Xueyan. On that day, Aunt Xiang kowtowed to Madam Ming. From that, Ning Xueyan speculated that the relationship between Aunt Xiang and Madam Ming was unusual. So she invited Aunt Xiang to come here in the name of Madam Ming's daughter.

She was in great need of help now. If there was an expert like Aunt Xiang who knew poison well, she didn't have to worry about being poisoned by Madam Ling. Maybe she also could fight back in some respects. With Aunt Xiang's help, she could revenge with more courage. That was why she risked meeting Aunt Xiang.

Aunt Xiang came as what she expected.

"You... you're Madam Ming's daughter, the Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protector's Manor?" Aunt Xiang finally controlled her mood and calmed down. She walked slowly and scrutinized Ning Xueyan. She was a little excited and confused. When she went to the Lord Protector's Manor last time, she only saw Madam Ming and didn't saw Ning Xueyan.

"Yes, please sit down, Aunt Xiang." Ning Xueyan smiled and invited her to sit. Then she sat down on the stone bench leisurely, poured two cups of tea, and pushed one to Aunt Xiang.

"Fifth Young Lady, why did you want to see me?" Aunt Xiang did not sit down, looking at Ning Xueyan on alert.

"Aunt Xiang almost followed my mother before. I wonder if Aunt Xiang would like to follow me now if there's a chance." Seeing Aunt Xiang didn't sit down, Ning Xueyan didn't invite again. She gently buckled the teacup, lifted her watery eyes, and lifted the hair on her face casually, asking directly.

On that day, the Honored Consort Ya came to see Madam Ming in person in order to leave Aunt Xiang to Madam Ming, but Madam Ming refused for some unknown reason!

"You want me to help you?" Aunt Xiang was shocked. She didn't expect gentle Ning Xueyan to say that directly.

"Yes, Aunt Xiang. How can you leave Honored Consort Ya?" Ning Xueyan asked with a smile.

Although she hid at that time, she still saw that Aunt Xiang left reluctantly while crying. She must want to stay with Madam Ming.

"I can't leave Honored Consort Ya!" Aunt Xiang refused.

"Why? Didn't you wish to stay with my mother before?" Ning Xueyan wasn't very surprised, because she knew that Aunt Xiang wouldn't help her easily.

"That was just my wish. Madam Ming didn't want me to stay with her." Aunt Xiang said with sadness but didn't speak out the meaning directly.

"So, my mother died. Aunt Xiang, do you want me to die my mother?" Ning Xueyan smiled slightly as if she were talking about other people's affairs, only hatred in her eyes. Madam Ming died because of Madam Ling's plot. But the whole Lord Protector's Manor didn't give her an explanation. Only several servants were punished. Ning Zu'an really ignored her completely!

"Your mother has been sick for a long time, so..." Aunt Xiang's face became pale. After a while, she answered in difficulty.

"She had been sick for a long time? Aunt Xiang, you're wrong. She died of poisoning. There was a light fragrance of peach blossom after her death. The imperial physician brought by Prince Yi diagnosed in the mourning hall. But they only punished several servants. I don't know when I'll die like my mother." Ning Xueyan smiled, picked up the tea cup on the table and took a sip.

It seemed as if she were talking about other people's life and death.

Aunt Xiang shocked violently, and her calm eyes were full of rage. One could see that she was very angry. She couldn't be indifferent to Madam Ming's death and Ning Xueyan.

"Aunt Xiang, the Lord Protector's Manor isn't the right place for my mother and me. My mother was too confident to fall into such a situation, but I don't want to die in the backyard of Lord Protector's Manor so silently." Something fierce flashed in Ning Xueyan's dark eyes and she smiled coldly.

Ning Xueyan didn't know why Madam Ming refused such a big helper. Now she only wanted to revenge herself, Madam Ming and Ning Ziying. She would never let them succeed again and again. "Aunt Xiang, if you still remember the relationship with my mother, please help me."

Ning Xueyan stood up and remembered the despair when she was pressed tightly into the water, holding her fingers tightly. No matter when, she would not give up. Of course, she couldn't persuade Aunt Xiang to help her so easily. Aunt Xiang was Honored Consort Ya's henchman and it was not an easy thing that she came to Ning Xueyan. This Aunt Xiang didn't seem to be impulsive. She must think about it carefully.

And she just needed Aunt Xiang's help.

"Fifth Young Lady, did you ever feel uncomfortable?" Aunt Xiang stood by the roadside, frowning and meditating. When Ning Xueyan passed by her, she suddenly widened her eyes and grabbed Ning Xueyan's hand, asking in a hurry.

"Aunt Xiang, what's wrong?" Ning Xueyan stood still and asked softly, but she was not surprised at all.

Aunt Xiang pulled Ning Xueyan and looked at her face under the moonlight. Then she picked up her hand again and felt her pulse. In the end, she asked with a trembling voice, "Fifth Young Lady, do you always feel uncomfortable? Do you often feel sleepy but can't sleep at night, and sometimes feel epigastric pain?"

"Yes. How could I sleep well when I think about mother's death?" Ning Xueyan said indifferently. She seemed to have no surprise about her discomfort at all.

"Are you taking medicine?" Aunt Xiang looked pale.

"Yes, I have been taking all the time. My mother asked people to nurse my health when she was alive. Now Madam Dowager asks people to take care of my health." Ning Xueyan said with a smile. She was calm and not surprise at all when she said that, but her gaze was cold. "No matter what medicine I take, there's always a light fragrance of osmanthus. It's not easy for others to notice that when it's mixed with the medicine. But I have a keen sense of smell!"

After listening to Ning Xueyan's words, Aunt Xiang was sure what was mixed with the medicine. She bit her teeth and said with hatred, "Fifth Young Lady, don't take that medicine again. This... this is used to make woman infertility and kill people. I checked for you just now. If you take more of it, I'm afraid you won't..."

This kind of thing only happened in the backyard when women competed for husband's favor. Ning Xueyan was only a child. But Madam Ling should poisoned her. Before that, Aunt Xiang was still hesitant. At this time, she had made a decision in an instant.

Chapter 46 The Handsome Princely Heir, Wen Xueran

Madam Ming wanted her to be childless and also wanted to murder her. Ning Xueyan noticed that something was wrong in medicine, which was the reason why she invited Aunt Xiang to come tonight. But she didn't expect Madam Ling to be so malicious. For a woman, her children were her lifelong dependence. The love came from lover would change one day. Ning Xueyan didn't believe love anymore.

If she could succeed in revenge in the future, she wanted to marry an ordinary person and live a simple life. If she had no offspring, it could be imagined how miserable her future life would be. First, she would have no offspring, and then she would die. She couldn't figure out that there would be anyone but Madam Ling who hated her so much.

No wonder Madam Ling had kept a low profile for Ning Xueyan these days. She had already poisoned her and waited quietly to see Ning Xueyan get weak step by step and die in the end. Even though Ning Xueyan wouldn't die, she also would have no children. Then her future would be...

"Fifth Young Lady, have you ever taken a precious pill?" Aunt Xiang's hand came over again. It seemed that she didn't get the right diagnosis just now. This time, she put her hand on Ning Xueyan's wrist to feel her pulse for a longer time and then asked confusedly.

A pill? Ning Xueyan suddenly thought of the pill given by Ao Chenyi and became surprised. "Yes, I have taken one."

"Fifth Young Lady, is that pill still available? This pill suits the remedy to the case. If you can take it several times for a long time, most of the residual poisons in your body can be solved." Aunt Xiang put down Ning Xueyan's wrist and looked at her, seriously saying, "One of its components is very precious, and even no stock in the palace. Although I know how to detoxify, I can do nothing without that medicine."

"If I don't take this medicine, what will happen to me?" Ning Xueyan asked softly.

"Without the pill, the residual toxicity in your body won't be cleared and you won't get well. In the future, it will be very difficult for you to have children and you will die soon!" Aunt Xiang was very sad and angry. Even if it was found earlier, Ning Xueyan had already been harmed for a long time.

It seemed that she had to ask for Ao Chenyi's help in order to survive. Ning Xueyan sighed helplessly.

"Fifth Young Lady, I'd like to help you, but I'm afraid I can't leave Honored Consort Ya for the time being. However, I can occasionally leave the palace and you can learn how to make perfume with me. What do you think?" Aunt Xiang had made up her mind at this time. The Fifth Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor not only was Madam Ming's daughter, but also her face was familiar, which made Aunt Xiang want to help her uncontrollably.

Now, Aunt Xiang was Honored Consort Ya's servant. As she could not leave Honored Consort Ya to follow Ning Xueyan, she could only help Ning Xueyan in private.

She went into the palace and became Honored Consort Ya's henchman, which involved lots of people. She didn't want to cause too many trouble.

"Thank you, Aunt Xiang! Maybe you can help me tomorrow." Ning Xueyan said readily. Her smile contained some indescribable charm, which made the sad Aunt Xiang feel a little more gratified. Compared with Madam Ming, the Fifth Young Lady was stronger and smarter. If Madam Ming knew it, she would surely rest assured.

"Okay, I'll help you in secret!"

Ning Xueyan didn't expect Aunt Xiang to give up Honored Consort Ya and follow her. What kind of person was Honored Consort Ya? Ning Xueyan had known after having a few words with her today. She couldn't tolerate people's betrayal. If Aunt Xiang promised to leave Honored Consort Ya immediately, she would bring trouble to both of them.

The way Aunt Xiang did this was consistent with what Ning Xueyan thought. On the one hand, it could be seen that the relationship between Madam Ming and Aunt Xiang was unusual. On the other hand, it could prove that Aunt Xiang was not a rash person, whom Ning Xueyan needed most.

After Aunt Xiang left, Ning Xueyan walked alone on the path of the Cold Mountain Temple, thinking about what to do next. It was dark and cold wind blew gently. Fortunately, the moon was still bright, shining on her head.

"Fifth Young Lady, it's so late, why don't you go to sleep? Or you are like me who can't fall asleep?" A tall figure appeared turned out under the tree. A man in a light blue robe appeared in front of Ning Xueyan. A folding fan in his hand shook slightly, which made people feel he was flashy. Using a fan in autumn, together with his smiling eyes, made him like a libertine.

Why was he here? Did he see what happened just now?

"I lost a piece of jewelry here. I'm looking for it. Sorry for disturbing you." Ning Xueyan explained with a slight smile, but didn't answer Wen Xueran's question, showing indifference on her face.

Wen Xueran, the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Min, was famous in the capital because of his appearance. He was not only handsome but also the son of the rich and noble family. He was the ideal husband of many Young Ladies, except Ning Xueyan.

In the night, he wore a loose-bodied robe whose cuffs were embroidered a purple auspicious cloud pattern. His appearance and temperament were eye-catching which couldn't be ignored.

Unexpectedly, such a handsome and gentle man became a ruthless person. Just as an old saying goes, never judge a book by its cover.

In the Last Life, when Ning Xueyan saw Wen Xueran for the first time, he just arrived at the capital city. He entered the capital on a fine horse and so many Young Ladies rushed to the road to see him that even the road was blocked.

For the second time, Ning Xueyan met him in Cold Mountain Temple. That night, Wen Xueran in black was completely different from the handsome and elegant man of daytime. He pointed at her chest with a sword, asking about the whereabouts of a nun. When he was aware that she didn't know anything, his coldness and ruthlessness made her believe that she would be killed.

But in the end, he disappeared without saying anything...

"What did you lose? Let me help you." Wen Xueran walked over leisurely with a smile, looking at Ning Xueyan with his bright eyes in a good mood. He felt interested since all the Young Ladies in the capital were shy and excited when they saw him. He had never seen a girl who saw him with alert.

She looked at him with alert both the first time and the second time. Wen Xueran couldn't remember what had happened between the Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protector's Manor and him.

She stood there so quietly with indifference. She frowned slightly, and then naturally turned away. She didn't show any uneasiness, shyness, or coquetry, as if he was nothing.

"Thank you. It's just a piece of valueless jewelry. Forget it. I don't dare to bother you." Ning Xueyan smiled and nodded. Losing jewelry was just an excuse. This seemingly passionate Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Min was not a decent person. Was it a coincidence that he was here alone at midnight?

Ning Xueyan unconsciously turned to another path, avoiding the one where Wen Xueran appeared.

"An inessential accessory? None of the girl's accessories is unimportant. I'm not busy now, so I'd like to help you." It seemed that this handsome gentleman didn't perceive Ning Xueyan's unwillingness. He said with a smile, which made people feel warm.

Then he headed to the road where Ning Xueyan turned to, which meant he would go with Ning Xueyan!

Ning Xueyan slightly frowned. It seemed that she couldn't get rid of this Princely Heir! She stopped instantly and said, "Princely Heir, please stop. I really don't want to bother you. If people see we're together, they will gossip. That might not bother you. But it'll be a big problem for me."

People were always tolerant of man. If a man and a woman dated secretly, people only would say the man was romantic. Especially when the man was like Wen Xueran, it would bring more gossip.

But things were different for women. In Ning Xueyan's Last Life, she was framed by Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan that she had secret communication with other men. Although everyone knew it was fake, Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan insisted that it was true. Then she was drowned at the lotus pond so that they could destroy her marriage.

Nowadays, she became Ning Xueyan. If she made a tiny mistake, Madam Ling would not spare her, even if she was the Young Lady of the Lord Protector's Manor.

Wen Xueran didn't expect Ning Xueyan to be so evasive and say that directly. He was speechless for a moment, shaking the fan in his hand. Seeing that she looked down obediently and the firmness in her eyes, Wen Xueran thought for a second and then nodded, indicating that Ning Xueyan could leave.

Then he walked to another road.

Seeing he leave, Ning Xueyan turned and left, saying nothing. She would better leave here as soon as possible.

When Ning Xueyan returned to her courtyard, Lanning had long been waiting for her. Seeing her coming, Lanning was relieved. Lanning had wanted to follow Ning Xueyan, but Ning Xueyan said that the fewer people went, the less likely they would be found. So she stayed in the courtyard. When they closed the gate and entered the house, Lanning asked in a low voice, "Young Lady, how's it going?"

Qingyu was decocting in the corridor. Seeing Ning Xueyan come over, she stood up and saluted.

Ning Xueyan stopped beside the medicine can and sniffed, but smelled nothing. Actually, that smell was very light and could only be smelled when the medicine was hot. After the medicine cooled down, one couldn't sniff that smell even though his or her nose was sensitive. Usually, the medicine that the maids brought was cool. If it wasn't because the medicine maids brought it when it was hot occasionally, Ning Xueyan would not doubt it.

But she was not good at distinguishing the scent, so she only felt strange. After listening to what Aunt Xiang said, she knew what it was.

"Is this medicine sent by Madam Dowager?" It was Master Huiming who prescribed, but the medicine was sent by Madam Dowager. Now it seemed that Madam Ling had planted her people in Madam Dowager's place. And these medicines had been changed before they were sent to Ning Xueyan.

"Yes. Madam Dowager's maid, Xiangmiao, asked the second-class maid Huanlan, who was in charge of the store house in the Lucky Garden, to send it to us. We didn't take enough medicine with us when we came to the temple. When we used up the medicine, you didn't ask us to fetch from the manor. Later, Madam Dowager knew that we had used up the medicine, then she asked people to give some to us."

Lanning answered after thinking for a moment. When Ning Xueyan came to the Cold Mountain Temple, they didn't bring too much medicine and used up all after several days. But Ning Xueyan didn't tell the manor. Instead, she insisted on going to the mountain to exercise every day and got much better. This time, in order to enjoy the trust of Madam Dowager, all of the medicine Ning Xueyan took were taken from Madam Dowager's store house.

Chapter 47 Greetings and the Poison in the Medicine

"Does Madam Dowager also take tonics?" Ning Xueyan thought for a second and said. In the Lord Protector's Manor, the masters were used to taking tonics in winter. Of course, there was no such rule in the Bright Frost Garden. People in the manor said that Madam Ming and Ning Xueyan had been taking medicine all the time and they couldn't eat other tonics randomly in case the effect of the medicine would be influenced. But Ning Xueyan knew that Madam Dowager started taking tonics in autumn which was useful for old people.

So Madam Dowager had a small pharmacy, small but complete. Compared with the large pharmacy which was in charge of by Madam Ling, there were more precious medicinal materials in Madam Dowager's small pharmacy. Usually, Madam Dowager kept a close eye on her small pharmacy strictly and always brought good things into it, which made Madam Ling jealous.

Ning Xueyan had come up with an idea. Since Madam Ling planned to hurt her, she would let her pay a double penalty.

"Madam Dowager's maids have begun to decoct tonics. Yesterday, I saw a maid decocting medicine in the corner of the corridor. What's wrong, Young Lady?" Lanning had been keenly aware of the problem and urgently asked.

"There is a kind of poison which could make people infertile and die." Ning Xueyan said faintly.

Qingqu was shocked when she was going to take up the lid of the medicine pot to see if the medicine was ready. The lid of the medicine pot in her hand suddenly fell to the ground, making a crisp sound. Qingyu didn't pick it up but asked in surprise, "Young... Young Lady, you said that it was poisoned?"

Under the lamplight, the face of Qingyu was pale. She looked at Ning Xueyan with horror, and almost screamed!

"Qingyu, bring the decoction and come with me." Ning Xueyan walked into the house. Lanning said nothing and followed her. Qingyu calmed down herself, picked up the lid of the medicine pot from the ground, came into the house with the medicine, and closed the door behind her.

The pot was put on the table. Ning Xueyan opened it and smelled a faint osmanthus fragrance. It slowly spread out from the inside, and then dissipated in the wind, leaving no traces. It was very light and dissipated in a very short time. If it was placed for a longer time, that fragrance wouldn't be smelled any more. Then no one would doubt that there was a poison in it. This poison was more powerful than that was used to poison Madam Ming.

Maybe Madam Ling was afraid that things had happened to Madam Ming would happen again and then people would suspect her, so she poisoned Ning Xueyan in a more insidious way.

"What time does Madam Dowager usually take medicine?" Ning Xueyan thought for a while and then asked.

"Madam usually take medicine at around 10 o'clock in the morning. The doctor in the manor said that that time was the best time for Madam Dowager to take medicine. So the maids in Auspicious Fortune Hall decoct medicine for Madam Dowager around that time every day." Lanning had a good relationship with the maids in all the courtyards, so she knew Madam Dowager's habit.

"Young Lady, do you want Madam Dowager to know that First Madam had secretly changed the medicinal materials?" Qingyu also calmed down at this time. Her eyes suddenly brightened, but soon faded down. "Young Lady, the smell is so light that Madam Dowager may not detect it. And she won't check her own pharmacy without any reason. Or do you want to take this medicine to Madam Dowager directly?"

This medicine had been decocted for some time, and Qingyu had never noticed any difference. If they could not find anything, what was the use to bring it to Madam Dowager? On the contrary, Madam Dowager would suspect that Ning Xueyan had a bad intention.

They all knew that Madam Ling was harming Ning Xueyan, but there was no evidence and nobody could prove it. Madam Ling was still the First Madam of the manor as well as Ning Xueyan's namely mother. If she made a false countercharge then, Ning Xueyan would fall into danger.

Ning Xueyan sat down beside the bed and thought for a while, then said, "Don't worry, I'll let people find out that the smell of this medicine is not right. Lanning, you and Qingyu walk to Ning Ziyan's courtyard later while saying..."

Seeing that Ning Xueyan was confident, Lanning and Qingyu nodded and believed that their Young Lady would have the solution. They relaxed and thought in mind, "The Young Lady is quite different now and is more and more convincing!"

After getting up the next morning, Ning Xueyan went to visit Madam Dowager with Qingyu. Her face was paler than before. Madam Dowager asked her to sit down and asked about her situation but found nothing different. She thought that Ning Xueyan looked so pale maybe because she had been weak for a long time.

When they were talking, Ning Yuling came in with her maid. She wore a coat that embroidered gold twisted branches patterns and a skirt in a bright color, which showed her more charming. Compared with pale Ning Xueyan, Ning Yuling was beautiful and lovely.

Seeing that Ning Xueyan was still pale and powerless, Ning Yuling restrained her jealousy. So many things had happened yesterday. The Honored Consort Ya even suggested that Ning Xueyan should marry to Third Prince. Although she didn't mention Ning Yuling, it still alarmed her.

Now Ning Yuling's personal older female servant was sent by Madam Ling. When they returned last night, this older woman told Ning Yuling that Ning Xueyan would not have any children or live for a long time even though they married the Third Prince together. These words made Ning Yuling feel comfortable. Therefore, although she still hated Ning Xueyan, she didn't show it on her face. She even felt a little proud.

"So it's okay that Ning Xueyan seduces the Third Prince since she'll die soon. If she marries the Third Prince together with me, I'll step on her. Look at her, she's so pale and ugly. How dare she seduce the Third Prince?" Ning Yuling thought.

"Fifth sister, you're so early. Did you take the medicine today? I'm afraid you'll faint in front of the Honored Consort Ya if you don't take the medicine. If so, it will irritate the Honored Consort Ya and affect the Lord Protector's Manor!" Ning Yuling proudly raised her chin and said to Ning Xueyan with disdain.

Ning Xueyan smiled lightly and said softly, "Second sister, you came early too. Is it early to visit Honored Consort Ya now?"

If Ning Xueyan hadn't said that it was still early, Ning Yuling also would think it was early. But since Ning Xueling had said, Ning Yuling would not agree with her. She sneered at the moment and said, "It's early? It's just right to go at this time, so as not to make Honored Consort Ya feel that we are used to be idle and there's no rule in the manor. In the manor, everybody visit elders at this time."

Previously, Madam Dowager didn't like Ning Xueyan and never let Ning Xueyan greet her in the morning. Madam Ming didn't trust Madam Ling, so she never greeted anybody in the morning. Now Ning Yuling mocked Ning Xueyan of being unfilial. Sure enough, Madam Dowager became unhappy at once when she heard Ning Yuling's words. But she forgot that it was she who never let Ning Xueyan greet her in the morning.

"Yes, you're right, second sister. Let's go now. But Grandma's medicine..." Ning Xueyan pretended not to understand her meaning. She pointed at the medicine that was being decocted outside and asked, frowning. Usually, Madam Dowager didn't take medicine at this time. But when Ning Xueyan came in, she noticed that the medicine had been decocting for some time. It seemed that Madam Dowager wanted to take some before greeting the Honored Consort Ya.

"The medicine?" Ning Yuling understood at this time. But she didn't want to deny what she said just now and was unwilling to show weakness in front of Ning Xueyan. She took Madam Dowager's sleeve and shook it, saying with coquetry, "Grandmother, we should not take the medicine now. First, it is not the right time and the effect won't be good. Second, I just saw several madams with their daughters going to Honored Consort Ya's courtyard."

"Are they so early?" asked Madam Dowager.

"Yes, Grandma. Tomorrow is the chrysanthemum appreciation grand meeting. Those madams have to go to Honored Consort Ya's courtyard to inquire about it." Ning Yuling muttered, "Grandma, everyone else has gone. It won't be good if we're late."

This remark was very reasonable. The relationship between the Honored Consort Ya and the Lord Protector's Manor was unusual. The marriage between Ning Yuling and the Third Prince was certain. If they were later than others, maybe Honored Consort Ya would be unhappy. Moreover, Madam Dowager had refused Honored Consort Ya's suggestion yesterday, which already had made her unhappy.

"Fine, let's go first!" Madam nodded, stood up, and walked out with Ning Yuling and Ning Xueyan.

"The medicine can't be taken if it's cool. How about asking them to send it to Honored Consort Ya's courtyard. Grandmother can come out to take it and then return to the house. Or else all the medicines you had taken will be in vain! " Ning Xueyan suggested Madam Dowager with concern on her face.

Ning Xueyan's suggestion hit the spot. Madam Dowager had been taking this tonic for some time before and the doctor also told her that she could not stop taking. Otherwise, all the previous efforts would be wasted. Madam Dowager thought Ning Xueyan's suggestion was a good idea. She could then explain to Honored Consort Ya and come out to take medicine. Then she would go back and continue to chat with the Honored Consort Ya.

So Madam Dowager nodded and asked the servants to send the medicine to her when it was ready. Ning Xueyan also specifically advised the servants to pour it into the bowl when it was taken to the Honored Consort Ya's place in case it would be cold and the effect would be reduced. Hearing Ning Xueyan's words, the servants nodded. The Madam Dowager showed a satisfied smile when she saw that Ning Xueyan was so careful.

When they arrived at the entrance of Honored Consort Ya's courtyard, they saw a large group of maids and servants waiting outside. It seemed that those madams were eager to visit Honored Consort Ya.

Knowing that the Madam Dowager of the Lord Protector's Manor was coming, Honored Consort Ya allowed them to come in.

In the house, there were several madams with their daughters. After saluting Honored Consort Ya, Ning Yuling and Ning Xueyan stepped back and sat down with other Young Ladies.

"Madam Dowager Ning, you're so lucky. Look, how beautiful your two granddaughters are." Sitting on the one side of the Honored Consort Ya was the Consort Dowager of the Commandery Prince Li's Manor, who held a snow-white civet cat in her hands. She and Madam Dowager were familiar with each other. She gave a look to Ning Yuling and Ning Xueyan and praised them while touching the head of a civet cat.

Ning Xueyan's gaze could not help but fall on the lazy civet cat.

The snow-white civet cat leaned lazily in the arms of Consort Dowager. There was a lot of meat around its belly. It curled up naturally, head touching its tail. It looked very lovely.

"It's very kind of you, Consort Dowager. They're just ordinary girls. They don't deserve your high praise." Madam Dowager said modestly with a smile. Hearing Consort Dowager's praise, the Madam Dowager was very happy but didn't show it on her face.

"Madam Dowager, you're too modest. Everybody knows that the Second Young Lady of the Lord Protector's Manor is highly cultured and steeped in propriety and also elegant and versatile. She has a straightforward temperament and is responsible. Looking at her appearance now, it's really enjoyable." The Consort Dowager said with a smile and praised Ning Yuling while looking at her.

Chapter 48 The Kindness of the Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor

Ning Yuling flushed because of the praise. Although she didn't understand what the meaning of the Consort Dowager was, she still proudly looked at Ning Xueyan. She had already felt that she was much more beautiful than Ning Xueyan.

But Ning Xueyan remembered something and understood the meaning of this Consort Dowager. She lowered her head to cover the sneer in her eyes. Ning Yuling was very proud now. Ning Xueyan wondered whether she would be proud too when she knew the truth.

"Consort Dowager, you think highly of her." Madam Dowager said with a smile, then she raised her hand and said to Ning Yuling, "Yuling and Xueyan, you two come over together and salute the Consort Dowager of the Commandery Prince Li's Manor."

"Yes!" The two came together and saluted the Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor with great respect.

Really speaking, the identity of this Consort Dowager was the same exalted as that of the Empress Dowager. She was the present emperor's aunt. The Honored Consort Ya also had to respect her. Her meaning that she took a fancy to Ning Yuling was so obvious. The Madam Dowager couldn't act like she didn't understand.

So she let Ning Yuling come over to salute the Consort Dowager with Ning Xueyan. In this way, Ning Yuling would be less conspicuous.

"You're really a good girl. You're so lovely. If you were my child, it would be great. Good girl, I don't have something good with me now. I just give this to you." The Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor took Ning Yuling's hands intimately. She took off the ruby bracelet on her wrist and then put it on Ning Yuling's wrist.

Both Madam Dowager and Honored Consort Ya changed their looks.

Only Ning Yuling still didn't know. Ning Yuling knew this ruby bracelet was the best when she saw it. She remembered the pair of ruby bracelets that she wanted and finally was given to Ning Ziyan by Madam Ling. So she now wanted to accept this ruby bracelet when she saw it.

"Consort Dowager, this is too expensive. How could a child deserve such a good thing?" Madam Dowager refused with a smile.

"It doesn't matter. I just like her, so I want to give it to her. I have no other meaning." The Consort Dowager said with a smile. Her words relieved Madam Dowager and showed that she really liked Ning Yuling. And when she was talking, the ruby bracelet had already been worn on Ning Yuling's wrist.

"Thank you, Consort Dowager." Ning Yuling had already thanked Consort Dowager before Madam Dowager said something again. So Madam Dowager now could say nothing more and had to thank Consort Dowager with a smile. But she had made up her mind that she would let Ning Yuling take off the bracelet and then send it back when they returned.

This ruby bracelet was not an ordinary bracelet. It was the heirloom of the Commandery Prince Li's Manor and also was the bride-price for the future Consort of the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. Thinking of this Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, Madam Dowager couldn't be happy anymore. He just was a libertine. Every day, he either saw a play or drank in the brothel. No parents wanted their daughter to marry him.

He dared to bring any woman to the manor. It was heard that he had married many concubines and had several children. And he had once annoyed his mother seriously. If any girl became his Official Wife, she wouldn't live a good life!

Ning Yuling didn't know the meaning of this bracelet. She returned to her seat with joy, and also deliberately show off her new ruby bracelet in front of Ning Xueyan.

Ning Xueyan smiled faintly and didn't pay attention to her. Her gaze fell on Aunt Xiang who stood next to Honored Consort Ya. Seeing that she had been standing behind Honored Consort Ya, Ning Xueyan smiled more greatly.

The madams in the room chatted about their daily life and the chrysanthemum appreciation grand meeting of tomorrow. Several madams also asked about who would attend the chrysanthemum appreciation grand meeting, wondering if there was a daughter in their manors who could marry the Princely Heir or prince. All of them calculated in mind and chatted with each other, which cost quite a long time.

Ning Xueyan felt it was the time that Madam Dowager's medicine should be sent. She looked up and looked outside, seeing a palace maid coming in.

"Your Highness, an older female servant of the Lord Protector's Manor is outside and said that she came here to send the medicine to Madam Dowager."

Hearing that the medicine had arrived, Madam Dowager stood up and said to Honored Consort Ya with a smile, "Your Highness, I'll go out to take the medicine first, and then come back." After that, she was going to go out.

"Madam Dowager, don't have to be so troublesome. Let she come in and you can take the medicine here." Honored Consort Ya politely said.

"Er..." Madam Dowager hesitated.

With a slight smile, Ning Xueyan was about to persuade Madam Dowager to take medicine in the room. But she stopped and kept her head down when she heard the words of the Consort Dowager. Since someone was willing to persuade Madam Dowager, she just needed to watch the show!

"I've heard that the medicine taken by Madam Dowager is very good for the elderly. I wanted to ask Madam Dowager for advice. Now that Madam Dowager's servant has taken the medicine here, how about letting us look at it." Consort Dowager said with a smile. Now the Consort Dowager wanted the help of Madam Dowager, so she flattered Madam Dowager.

Since Consort Dowager said that, Madam Dowager would be pretentious if she refused again. So she had to agree.

After a while, an older female servant of the Lord Protector's Manor walked in with a pot and was led to Madam Dowager. The palace maid took out a bowl and the older female servant opened the pot. Immediately, a strong smell of medicine rushed out and the Honored Consort Ya who was the nearest to the medicine couldn't help but lean to the side.

Madam Dowager took the pot, poured the medicine into the bowl, and was going to drink.

Aunt Xiang who stood next to Honored Consort Ya suddenly changed her look, looked up slightly, and looked at the bowl in Madam Dowager's hands. She shouted, "Stop! There's something wrong with the medicine!"

This word stunned everyone. And they all looked at the bowl in Madam Dowager's hands.

Ning Yuling first shouted and rebuked, "Nonsense. This medicine is made by grandmother's servants in her yard. How could there's something wrong with it?"

If there was something wrong with the medicine in the manor, Madam Ling was the first to be suspected. Ning Yuling was particularly clear-headed this time.

When Ning Yuling reproached Aunt Xiang, Honored Consort Ya frowned and looked at Ning Yuling with unhappiness. Aunt Xiang was Honored Consort Ya's henchman, and even she herself also respected Aunt Xiang. How dare Ning Yuling reproached Aunt Xiang in front of her?

"Aunt Xiang, what's the matter?" Honored Consort Ya ignored Ning Yuling and asked Aunt Xiang gently.

Madam Dowager knew Aunt Xiang. At this time, she didn't dare to take the medicine in her hands. She put it on the table, looked at Aunt Xiang with confusion, and listened to her.

"Your Highness, there's another kind of medicine material in it. Long-term use will make people sleepy. Weak people like Madam Dowager will lose her life if they take it. Originally, this medicine is used for people who are in good health. But it's harmful to weak people!"

Aunt Xiang said with a faint expression. Then she came over, smelled it and said, "The smell of that kind of medicine is very light and couldn't be smelled when it's mixed with other medicines. Only when the pot is opened, one could smell the faint scent that is different from the smell of general medicine. Madam Dowager, if you don't believe it, you can smell it now. Otherwise, it'll dissipate after a while."

It was almost colorless and tasteless, but could kill people! How poisonous this medicine was. No one would pay attention to the tiny difference in the medicine. Usually, it had been cool when it was sent to Madam Dowager. But this time, Madam Dowager poured it into the bowl in person in order to take it when it was still hot.

The looks of everyone changed.

"Bullshit! How could someone poison grandmother!" Ning Yuling subconsciously felt bad and refuted.

"Second Young Lady, I don't know how to say if you insist on not believing. You can invite other doctors to have a look. Are the dregs of the decoction still here?" Aunt Xiang indifferently said. She looked at Ning Yuling, stepped back, and stood behind Honored Consort Ya, as if she just casually discovered something and spoke out it.

What would happen next had nothing to do with her!

What would happen next had nothing to do with Aunt Xiang. But how could it have nothing to do with Madam Dowager. Madam Dowager was extremely angry when she thought that there was poison in her medicine. She pointed at the older female servant and shouted, "Go, pour the medicine dregs out."

The older female servant was so frightened. She had wanted to be rewarded for bringing the medicine to Madam Dowager. Unexpectedly, it might bring a great disaster to her. She didn't dare to be slow, quickly pouring out the dregs into another bowl sent by a palace maid.

Honored Consort Ya also brought an imperial physician with her when she came to the Cold Mountain Temple. Aunt Xiang was her henchmen. If she invited her own imperial physician to check the dregs, others would suspect the result. So Honored Consort Ya didn't invite her imperial physician. Instead, she let people tell the Forth Prince that she wanted to borrow his imperial physician.

Since such a thing happened, the palace maid ran away quickly to invite the Forth Prince's imperial physician.

When things got to this point, Ning Yuling was shocked at first, and then looked back at the servant standing behind her. This was the person Madam Ling sent to her and was Madam Ling's henchmen. When Ning Yuling looked at her, she shook her head, indicating that there was no problem with the medicine and the First Madam didn't poison.

Although the interaction between them was not attention-getting, it still fell into Madam Dowager's eyes, and her gaze suddenly turned cold.

This servant's behavior relaxed Ning Yuling. She came over and said to Madam Dowager with a smile, "Grandma, don't worry, there can be nothing wrong. It must be this female officer's mistake. Your medicine materials are the best medicine materials selected by my mother, and the doctor in the manor has also checked. How can there be problems? Is there something wrong with this bowl?"

She just wanted to say that Madam Ling was filial to Madam Dowager, not to speak ill of Honored Consort Ya. But this bowl was taken out by Honored Consort Ya's maids from Honored Consort Ya's room. It seemed that Ning Yuling targeted at Honored Consort Ya. The meaning was that the Honored Consort Ya deliberately made troubles.

Ning Xueyan smiled slightly and thought Ning Yuling was the most stupid one she had seen. Didn't she see Honored Consort Ya's and Madam Dowager's cold and unhappy faces? Originally, Ning Xueyan had wanted to irritate Ning Yuling so that she would say something foolish. Unexpectedly, she didn't need to do that. Ning Yuling had already taken the initiative to say something wrong. So Ning Xueyan simply sat aside and quietly saw what would happen.

"Ning Yuling, just boast. You'd better say how virtuous and filial Madam Ling is. Later, you'll regret what you have said." Ning Xueyan thought in mind.

Madam Dowager didn't show a smiling face because of Ning Yuling's explanation. Instead, she looked at Ning Yuling coldly and gave a gloomy smile, ignoring her.

Chapter 49 Things Happen One after Another and Madam Dowager Gets Angry

Ning Yuling was ignored and felt embarrassed for a while. When she saw Honored Consort Ya's unhappy face, she realized that she was disgusted. So she quietly stepped back and stared at Ning Xueyan fiercely when she came back. When passing through Ning Xueyan, she whispered angrily, "Did you do that, little bitch?"

Ning Xueyan gave her a faint smile, but didn't answer her question. She looked at Madam Dowager's face and ignored Ning Yuling directly, which made Ning Yuling angry. However, she dared not indulge in front of so many people.

The Forth Prince's imperial physician came quickly. Listening to the order of the Honored Consort Ya, he went to examine the dregs and said, "Yes, there's one harmful medicine material!"

Ning Yuling stiffened and could hardly believe what she heard. She unconsciously looked at the servant behind her again. "Did I misunderstand just now? Did she mean that there really is something wrong with the medicine? Did she want to tell me that my guess is right?" Ning Yuling was tense and restless, thinking in mind.

Seeing Ning Yuling's tense and restless look, Madam Dowager was furious. It seemed that Madam Ling really had added one harmful medicine material into her tonics. She recalled what had happened in the mourning hall. At that time, she found that someone was going to report to Madam Ling's person. Combining the two matters, Madam Dowager realized that Madam Ling not only planted people in her place but also poisoned her.

Madam Dowager could hardly contain her anger.

"Grandma... How could it be? Did... did the servants mistake it? My mother has always been responsible. It's impossible that she delivered the wrong medicine." Ning Xueyan suddenly stood up, as if she was frightened. She stepped forward. It seemed that she wanted to check in person. But after a few steps, she teetered with amaze and scare on her face.

It seemed that she was incoherent because of over-fright. But her words unconsciously linked Madam Ling and Madam Dowager's medicine. Ning Yuling had said that before. So it wasn't abrupt that she said that again. On the contrary, it made people feel that it must be true since Madam Ling's own daughter said that.

This was a family affair of the Lord Protector's Manor. So no one said something now even though they had guessed it was Lord Protector's wife, Madam Ling, who did that. Madam Dowager was extremely angry and didn't want to stay any longer. She rushed to say goodbye to the Honored Consort Ya and returned with Ning Yuling and Ning Xueyan.

As soon as she entered the room and sat down on the couch, Madam Dowager slapped the table heavily, pointed to the older female servant standing behind Ning Yuling, and scolded, "Kneel down!"

Madam Dowager saw clearly that this older female servant had been making eye contact with Ning Yuling just now. She must know the truth. Thinking that she had been poisoned by Madam Ling, Madam Dowager was furious. In order to maintain the face of Lord Protector's Manor, Madam Dowager had controlled her anger in front of Honored Consort Ya.

"I, I..." The older female servant didn't expect the Madam Dowager to blame her as soon as they came back. She immediately knelt down and trembled, not knowing how she made Madam Dowager angry. "Madam Dowager, I don't know. It really has nothing to do with me!"

"Huanlan, you say!" Madam Dowager said with anger.

Huanlan, who had been informed earlier, was also frightened to tears. At this time, she hurried to explain when Madam Dowager asked her. "Madam Dowager, the medicines are taken from Manager Zhang. When I get them, I'll carefully seal them up. When we use them, I'll take them out with other maids. Madam Dowager, if you don't believe it, you can ask the servants who guard the pharmacy."

Huanlan was afraid to be involved in this matter, so she explained it hurriedly.

Mother Zhang, the manager of the backyard, was Madam Ling's person.

Ning Xueyan moved back silently and let Ning Yuling's older female servant expose to Huanlan. Huanlan was worried that she couldn't explain clearly. Her eyes suddenly brightened when she saw Ning Yuling's older female servant. So she said urgently while pointing at the older female servant, "Madam Dowager, when I was preparing the medicine to be decocted for you in the morning, she came over and said that the Second Young Lady was uncomfortable and wanted some medicines. So I, together with a little maid, hurried to get the medicine that the Second Young Lady needed. At that time, she... she was left there alone!"

Huanlan originally didn't think of this matter. But she suddenly remembered when she saw the older female servant.

The older female servant didn't expect that. She was frightened and could not even speak fluently for a moment. "Madam Dowager, Second Young Lady was... uncomfortable... I, I wanted to nurse her health, so..."

"She was uncomfortable? Why?" Madam Dowager snapped.

Ning Yuling wasn't uncomfortable at all. She thought that what had happened yesterday would let the Honored Consort Ya and the Third Prince feel dissatisfied, so she listened to a maid's suggestion. She wanted to get some medicine to take and deliberately pretended that she was uncomfortable yesterday so that she did those foolish things.

But the older female servant couldn't say that now.

Therefore, after listening to Madam Dowager's words, this older female servant looked paler and almost collapsed to the ground. She was Madam Ling's henchman and was arranged to help Ning Yuling. Usually, Ning Yuling relied on her very much. But such a serious thing had happened, Ning Yuling wouldn't talk for her. Looking at Madam Dowager's angry face, Ning Yuling suddenly became sober.

Her grandmother's medicine was poisoned, which seemed to be related to her mother. If she still talked for this older female servant, her grandmother would be more suspicious of her mother!

Therefore, she could never save this older female servant!

Not only could she not be saved, but also she needed to be punished severely. In this way, her grandmother's suspicion would be dispelled.

"You, how can you do that? I always respect my grandmother. You dared to poison her. Did you forget why my mother sent you to me?" Ning Yuling came forward and heavily slapped the older female servant. Blood immediately appearing on her face.

She accentuated the word "mother" deliberately.

Listening to Ning Yuling's words, the older female servant trembled all over. She clearly knew how vicious Madam Ling was. If she said that it was Madam Ling's order, her whole family would be murdered by Madam Ling. Moreover, Madam Ling had born a son for Lord Protector. So whatever she said now was useless. She had to admit it now.

The older female servant gritted her teeth and kowtowed at Madam Dowager, crying loudly, "Madam Dowager, please spare me. I did that. Huanlan and I are not in harmony. So I added another medicine material in your medicine. I didn't mean to harm you. I just wanted Huanlan to be punished. Madam Dowager, forgive me. This was originally the unhappiness between Huanlan and me. I didn't expect to involve you."

"She dared to murder the master. Such an evil servant should be beaten to death. Grandma. Do you think so?" Ning Yuling's suggested with indignation.

"Grandma, we're in the temple, I'm afraid..." Ning Xueyan suddenly said.

Madam Dowager then remembered that this was the Cold Mountain Temple. It wasn't suitable to kill people directly here. But she was unwilling to let this older female servant go. She thought for a while and came with an idea.

"Here, send her back and let Madam Ling find out who wanted to kill me! Let her execute this older female servant as a warning to others!" Madam Dowager snapped with fierce. Although this older female servant's words were reasonable, Madam Dowager still didn't believe her. She suspected that Madam Ling was involved in this matter. She already didn't believe Madam Ling, so she thought everything seemed possible.

This older female servant would be sent to Madam Ling to be executed as a warning to others. Madam Dowager would see who dared to follow Madam Ling in the future.

The older female servant was gagged and taken away. Madam Dowager was still angry and didn't want to pay attention to Ning Yuling and Ning Xueyan. She waved her hand and let them go.

Ning Xueyan returned to the courtyard with Qingyu and Lanning had been waiting for them in the courtyard. Then the three closed the door and went into the house together.

Ning Xueyan's courtyard was in a remote place and few people came here.

"Young Lady, how do you know that Second Young Lady's maid would listen to us and persuade the Second Young Lady to ask for the medicine from the Madam Dowager?" Thinking about what happened just now, Qingyu couldn't help asking when there were no outsiders around.

Last night, she and Lanning made a special trip to Ning Yuling's place. When they saw two of Ning Yuling's maids coming, they deliberately talked about Ning Yuling's scandal and exaggerated it and said Ning Yuling was so foolish. Then they joked that if the Second Young Lady was smart enough, she would surely think of pretending to be ill to account for her foolish behaviors.

As long as she got some medicine to take and spread a rumor that she was so uncomfortable that she did such stupid things yesterday, maybe her reputation would be saved.

Qingyu had thought that those words would be useless. She didn't expect it to have a great effect. Qingyu was surprised at her Young Lady's cleverness.

Ning Xueyan took the tea from Lanning, drank it, and smiled. "Yesterday many things happened. Ning Yuling was impulsive at that time, then she would certainly want to remedy her reputation. When she heard the maid's suggestion, how could she not accept? It was late last night. So asking for medicine from Madam Dowager before others getting up this morning was better. When Honored Consort Ya asks about it, she could explain."

Ning Yuling was easy to be impulsive but was extremely poisonous when she calmed down. In Ning Xueyan's memory, she had been framed by Ning Yuling for many times and finally didn't dare to go out of the Bright Frost Garden because of Ning Yuling. This time she wiped out one of Ning Yuling's important helpers. Then, she would revenge on Ning Yuling step by step.

Didn't she want to marry the Third Prince? Unfortunately, the Third Prince didn't like her. But that Consort Dowager of the Commandery Prince Li's Manor seemed to be satisfied with her. If Ning Yuling married this Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, it would be a good thing. That Princely Heir was a famous libertine, and Ning Yuling was a shrew. They suited each other.

"Are you better now, Lanning?" Ning Xueyan looked back at Lanning, who had been standing beside her with a faint smile. She knew that Lanning was smarter than Qingyu, so she asked at the moment.

"Young Lady, what can I do for you? The injury isn't serious. I feel much better after taking medicine." Lanning nodded and said with a smile, knowing Ning Xueyan's meaning. Actually, she was hit seriously yesterday. Luckily, she was treated in time. The imperial physician came timely and the medicine she took was good. Although she still felt a little uncomfortable, she was much better today.

Chapter 50 The Disturbance in the Lord Protector's Manor and Madam Ling Is Going to Frame Ning Xueyan

There were few people who could help Ning Xueyan and everyone had to bear more responsibilities. Lanning knew this situation very well, so she said she was okay.

"You and Qingyu go out for a stroll in the afternoon. As soon as you see the maids of other manors, you talk to them. During the conversation, you only say that Ning Yuling is beautiful and virtuous." Ning Xueyan leisurely said with a smile.

"Many Childe and Young Ladies saw what happened yesterday. No one will believe us!" Qingyu blinked her eyes and couldn't understand Ning Xueyan's meaning for a moment, asking in perplexity. At that time, more than one Chile was present and saw what Ning Yuling did. Who would believe Ning Yuling was virtuous?

"Those Chiles who were present yesterday know that Ning Yuling isn't virtuous. But not all Childes were present yesterday. They might believe what we'll say." Ning Xueyan smiled and jade-like eyes circled, mockery in her eyes.

She didn't know how many people saw it yesterday, but she knew that the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was absent!

It was said that this Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was unhappy without women. It was impossible for him to stay quietly in the Cold Mountain Temple. Even though the Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor had come, this Princely Heir would only appear at the end. Tomorrow, he would come and might leave as soon as possible.

The Third Prince was that Princely Heir's friend on the surface, but would not be too intimate with him. So the Third Prince wouldn't gossip about Ning Yuling with that libertine. In this way, that Ning Yuling actually was a shrew wouldn't be spread to the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li.

"Yes, I'll go with Qingyu in a minute." Lanning had a better understanding of worldly wisdom. So she understood Ning Xueyan's meaning at once and showed it on her face. She looked at Ning Xueyan with admiration and nodded her head forcefully.

Although Qingyu was still somewhat confused, she knew that Ning Xueyan had made up her mind, so she didn't ask any more questions. Now she was more and more convinced of Ning Xueyan, feeling that Ning Xueyan was right all the time.

After lunch, Ning Xueyan went to bed for a nap. Lanning and Qingyu closed the courtyard door and went outside to meet people "occasionally". In order to meet more people, they deliberately separated and went to different places. Originally, one of the two had to stay to serve Ning Xueyan, but Ning Xueyan refused this time. She was really short of manpower now. Even though both Lanning and Qingyu went out, she still was afraid that words wouldn't be spread to the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li.

The most important thing for Qingyu and Lanning was to encounter the servants of Commandery Prince Li's Manor. Those servants had seen how the Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor treated Ning Yuling today. So they also wanted to know some good news about Ning Yuling and then told the Princely Heir. At that time, the Consort Dowager would be satisfied and reward them.

At the same time, there was a great disturbance happening in the Lord Protector's Manor.

Looking at the older female servant who was on her knees, Madam Ling was very angry and almost tore her handkerchief. She was unpleasant recently. Her person was wiped out one by one and now the people she sent to Ning Yuling was accused of poisoning and murdering Madam Dowager. How dared Madam Ling join in such a thing? Although she wanted Madam Dowager to die, she also knew that she couldn't do.

Ning Zu'an was a well-known filial son. Seeing that he sit aside with an angry look, one could know he must be very angry.

"Marquis, what should I do?" Madam Ling asked carefully, forcing a smile on her face.

"Do what mother says! You're the Marchioness, but you can't manage the whole manor well. Things that servants murder masters happen again and again! Didn't anyone teach you before? When something like this happens, just beat the servants to death. Don't ask me anymore." Ning Zu'an was extremely angry. He rarely punished servants so severely. It seemed that he was in a great rage.

The evil servant dared to murder his mother so that Ning Zu'an was very angry and even scolded Madam Ling!

Didn't anyone teach her before? Did this mean that she was lowborn? Madam Ling felt angry in mind. She gritted her teeth, pretended to cry because of anger, wiped her face with her handkerchief, and cried wrongly. "Marquis, do you dislike me now? Since I married you, I have given priority to you and taken care of mother all the time. Mother is a Buddhist, so I think we can't really beat her to death..."

This older female servant was her person, so she wanted to save her life, although she dared not ask for mercy for her publicly. Now there were fewer and fewer people who could help Madam Ling, so she had to save her person.

"If you are a Buddhist, can you be poisoned by others? Mother lets you execute her as a warning to others. Don't you understand?" Ning Zu'an pounded the heavily and stared at Madam Ling coldly. Now he suspected that Madam Ling was unfilial to his mother. And he felt angry when he thought that his mother was poisoned by an evil servant.

He was originally a general, so he was full of fierceness. Now he stared at this older female servant with fierceness, and she had collapsed to the ground in fear for a long time.

"Here, take her away and beat her to death!" Madam Ling had no choice but to order. Ning Zu'an had determined to severely punish this older female servant.

Two servants came over and carried away the older female servant. Knowing that she had been abandoned, the older female servant who had been gagged showed her entreaty in her eyes. But Madam Ling also wanted to kill her now. If Madam Ling didn't execute this older female servant, she would be suspected by Madam Dowager. Then she would lose more.

Seeing Madam Ling was going to execute the older female servant, Ning Zu'an was satisfied. He stood up and said casually, "Huaiyuan will come back in a few days. Ask servants to clean up his room. All the evil servants must be wiped out. I don't want to see these things happen again."

"Yuan'er's coming back?" As soon as she mentioned that her only son would come back, Madam Ling was in a high mood. She didn't even pay attention to the other meanings of Ning Zu'an's words. Madam Ling hadn't seen her son for half a year. She really missed him.

"He'll be home in about half a month! You prepare to welcome him." Ning Zu'an shook his hand and went out.

"Yes, I'll clean up in a minute." Madam Ling said with joy. When Ning Zu'an left, her face grew gloomy at once. Her beautiful face became cruel, which showed that she was very angry.

Mother Chen, who knew her temperament well, knew her mind, waved her hand and let all the maids in the room leave. Then she said, "Madam, what's wrong with Madam Dowager's medicine?" "I remember you didn't touch her medicine."

How could there be such poison in Madam Dowager's medicine? This poison was only added into the Fifth Young Lady's medicine a short time ago.

"That little bitch is not a good woman, and I misjudged before." Madam Ling said in a gloomy way. Madam Ling had been framing others all the time, but this time she was framed by others. Madam Ling didn't expect Ning Xueyan to revolt. She had realized that she was framed by Ning Xueyan.

"Madam, would it be the servant who sent the medicine which should be sent to the Fifth Young Lady to Madam Dowager?" Mother Chen hesitated and asked. She still didn't believe that Ning Xueyan would be so fierce. She thought that the Fifth Young Lady had no courage or ability to do such a thing.

"I don't care whether it's her or not. But the cause is her. I heard that the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li also would go to the Cold Mountain Temple to choose his consort. Did you find the person I want?" Madam Ling narrowed her eyes slightly and said with hatred, "How can things be so coincidental? Since Ning Xueyan came out of the Bright Frost Garden, bad things happened one by one and the manor isn't peaceful anymore."

"Yes, I've already prepared well. He's good at drawing, especially drawing the portrait of a lady. Later, I'll bring him to the Cold Mountain Temple. Even though he can only see her for one time, he still could draw well. The Young Ladies in his pictures are so beautiful. Those Princely Heirs and Princes must like the Young Ladies in his picture as long as they see the picture. You have ever seen his pictures before."

Mother Chen said with a smile. That man was her nephew, a chair warmer who haunted the red-light district every day and used up all his family property.

Fortunately, he had read books for some time when he was young and drew pictures well. So now he drew the portraits of ladies in a brothel and was in charge of all the portraits sending everywhere. The longer the time, the better his painting was.

"Good. Do it quickly. Let him draw well. I don't want to see a weak lady in the picture. And the chrysanthemum appreciation grand meeting will be held tomorrow." Madam Ling said coldly. The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li had married many women who were scheming. When Ning Xueyan married him, she would inevitably be tossed to death. It was possible that she would survive. But the Princely Heri was a playboy. She also would live an unhappy life even though she survived.

For an unfavored woman, death was much better than being alive!

"Madame, don't worry. He has worked for you before. You can be assured." Mother Chen nodded her head with understanding

"Last time he did a good job. This is for him!" Madam Ling took an ordinary hairpin and threw it to Mother Chen. In Madam Ling's opinion, this hairpin was common. But it valued a lot for ordinary people. Mother Chen was so happy that she bowed her head and thanked Madam Ling vigorously.

When Ning Xueyan woke up in the afternoon, the weather was cloudy and it seemed it was going to rain. Lanning and Qingyu had come back. When they heard the sound of Ning Xueyan waking up, Qingyu came to help her get up and Lanning poured a cup of warm water for her. Ning Xueyan was spirited after taking a nap.

Holding Ning Xueyan to the dressing table to dress up, Qingyu said, "Young Lady, an older female servant of Madam Dowager came and said that the Madam Dowager invited you to the Fragrance Pavilion in the back mountain."

"Madam Dowager invited me to the Fragrance Pavilion at this time?" Ning Xueyan frowned and thought in mind. She looked up at Qingyu and asked, "Is she really Madam Dowager's servant?"

"Yes, she guards the gate in Madam Dowager's courtyard. I have seen her in Auspicious Fortune Hall before. And this time she also came along with Madam Dowager." Qingyu answered naturally.

"It's going to rain at this time... She's just a gatekeeper... The Fragrance Pavilion..." Ning Xueyan looked out at the sky and showed an indifferent smile on her face.

Qingyu didn't understand what Ning Xueyan murmured. "Young Lady, what did you say?"

"Young Lady, you'd better not go. I'll go for you!" Lanning sensitively felt the weirdness. She put down the comb in her hands and said urgently.

"Yeah, you'll go somewhere for me. Qingyu, prepare the brush pen and paper." Ning Xueyan stood up with her long hair scattered. Although her face was pale, her hair was dark and smooth. When it was scattered, her face looked smaller and paler. Ning Xueyan went to the bookcase in front of the window with a calm expression.

Qingyu had prepared the brush pen and paper. Ning Xueyan thought for a while and then wrote a few words with her left hand. After that, she looked at it, folded the paper and handed it to Lanning. Lanning changed her look as soon as she saw the words...