www.asianovel.

com
 i

The Devious First-Daughter

嫡女有毒

The adopted girl, who was fostered in the Lord Protector’s Manor,
was took away her husband by the Miss Hou, the elder daughter of
Lord Protector. After that, the adopted girl died the night before her
marriage. Fortunately, she was born again as Ning Xueyan, a 14-
year-old first-Daughter of Lord Protector. Covered in intrigue and
poison, cold and bloodless, she revenged for herself, also unveiled
the death mystery of her previous life step by step!

Author(s): Lian Shuang, 帘霜

Artist(s):
Year: 2019
Country: China
Genres: Harem, Josei, Romance
Tags: Late Romance, Reincarnation
Source: TapRead

ASIANOVEL VERSION: 3.11

PDF VERSION: 1.4
UUID: 71531310-0f02-11ea-98aa-9148b73cc53c
USER: Chingy
DATE CREATED: 2019-11-24
LANGUAGE: English

More info and chapters:

https://www.asianovel.com/series/the-devious-first-daughter

www.asianovel.com
1

www.asianovel.com
 2 Report

Chapter 51
Source: TapRead

It started to rain. The raindrop, with a touch of coolness, fell on the

human body from the sky. The sky was dark and gloomy!

Ning Yuling was walking to the Fragrance Pavilion with Xianghong

in private, tightly holding a piece of paper in her hand. She was so
happy that she didn't found that the umbrella which was held by
Xianghong didn't stop the sporadic raindrops from falling on her head
and body. Thinking that she would catch the man who secretly dated
Ning Xueyan and then murder Ning Xueyan, she could not help being
excited.

"Ning Xueyan is so unlucky. The note she dropped in front

of my door was picked up by Xianghong." Ning Yuling thought
with excitement. How could she give up the chance of exposing Ning
Xueyan's scandal and letting people see what kind of person she
was? Ning Yuling was very excited when she thought that.

She rushed to the Fragrance Pavilion with Xianghong.

Ning Yuling saw someone in the pavilion far away, but she couldn't
see who it was. The sky became darker. It seemed that she had
come early, and Ning Xueyan hadn't come yet.

Ning Yuling, hiding aside on a rainy day, felt very uncomfortable.

She had waited for a while and still didn't see Ning Xueyan. She was
a bit upset. Would Ning Xueyan not come when she found that the
note was missing?

"Young Lady, will Fifth Young Lady come?" Xianghong also

felt tired because she had held the umbrella for a long time. Now
they couldn't see the man in pavilion clearly from a distant place, so
she could not help asking.
www.asianovel.com
 3 Report
When Xianghong asked this question, Ning Yuling also felt
uncertain. Would they go back empty-handed? Ning Yuling had
stayed here and endured the rain and coldness for so long. She was
unwilling to go back empty-handed. She took a look at the people in
the pavilion not far away and determined to go to the pavilion. "Let's
go!"

She couldn't come back empty-handed. Even if she couldn't catch

them on the spot this time, at least she had to see who the man
secretly dating Ning Xueyan was. Then she would find another
opportunity to catch them on the spot. Ning Yuling didn't believe that
she couldn't murder Ning Xueyan. She didn't expect that the cold and
indifferent Ning Xueyan couldn't stand loneliness and started to date
man soon after her mother died.

Chen Qing was also cold on a rainy day. He didn't expect the
weather to change greatly at once. In order to pretend to be an
encounter, he dressed himself as a handsome scholar. He was quite
handsome, but was foppish, two eyes rolling around. He didn't look
like a good man.

After sitting for a while, he stood up and looked outside. "Why

hasn't she come yet? It will rain heavily. Maybe she won't
come." Chen Qing thought in mind. If he couldn't finish the picture
today and send it to the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, he
would lose his reward. Thinking of that, Chen Qing felt distressed.
Besides, he had to report to Madam Ling.

He just wanted to leave, but it wasn't that easy.

When Chen Qing was anxious and looked around, he suddenly saw
a master and a maid coming. The one walked ahead must be the
Young Lady. She wore a light pink coat with peach blossoms on it and
a light green pleated skirt. As soon as she appeared, Chen Qing's
attention was attracted by her.

It was a beautiful woman with a pink face, very bright and eye-

www.asianovel.com
 4 Report
catching.

Didn't they say that she was a patient? In order to make her more
beautiful in the picture, Chen Qing decided to pinken her pale face in
the picture. He had to paint her as a bright and charming beauty. But
the person in front of him didn't need those embellishments any
more. Such a ruddy, healthy, and charming face could attract men in
an instant.

Compared with the fair prostitutes in the brothel, she was more
brilliant.

"Why are you here alone?" Ning Yuling walked into the pavilion,
scrutinized Chen Qing, and asked with a smile. It was unexpected
that Ning Xueyan had found a handsome childe who seemed to be
from a rich family.

Chen Qing had decided to have a look at her, and then go back to
finish the picture. Unexpectedly, this beauty didn't avoid him when
she saw him. Instead, she came to the pavilion. Hearing her soft
greetings, Chen Qing was intoxicated.

He had been haunting in the brothel and often saw prostitutes'

wandering behaviors there. So he didn't feel that Ning Yuling
shouldn't have talked to a stranger. Instead, he wondered whether
Ning Yuling had taken a fancy to him. Thinking of that, he almost
couldn't control himself. Fortunately, he still had some sense and
remembered that this was the Cold Mountain Temple where there
were many noble people. He couldn't be rude.

"I'm having a rest here and waiting for the rain to stop. My
servant went to other Princely Heirs' courtyards to see if
there were any extra umbrellas." Chen Qing saluted Ning Yuling
in a gentle and elegant way. He had seen many such behaviors in the
brothel, so he applied them now.

Ning Yuling's gaze changed instantly when she knew that this man

www.asianovel.com
 5 Report
knew those Princely Heirs. She had thought that he was rich but had
no right. Unexpectedly, he was the son of an official family. Besides,
he was so gentle and elegant. He was in line with Ning Yuling's image
of a good husband. Therefore, Ning Yuling became shy for a moment.

"Childe, I have an extra umbrella. You can take it. It's late
now." Ning Yuling said in a soft voice.

Ning Yuling really took an extra umbrella. In Ning Yuling's plan, if

Ning Xueyan was here, Xianghong would call over all the servants
hiding at the back intersection. Then it would be more convenient for
them to act if they had two umbrellas.

"Er... I'm afraid I won't have the chance to return the

umbrella!" Seeing the beautiful woman was delicate, Chen Qing was
delightful. But he deliberately frowned and hesitated for a moment.

"It doesn't matter. It's normal to forget to take an umbrella

when people go out. If there's a chance, you can return it
next time. If there's no, just keep it." Said Ning Yuling.

"Well, thank you very much!" Chen Qing didn't refuse this time.
He smiled and took the umbrella handed by Xianghong.

Ning Yuling also remembered that she shouldn't stay any longer.
So she turned and left with Xianghong.

Looking at her disappearing in sight, Chen Qing smiled proudly. He

didn't expect her to be a beauty. He hoped that the Lord Protector's
Manor wouldn't murder her. After all, it was a pity that such a vivid
beauty died.

Last time, when his aunt came back and told him about another
Young Lady, he sighed in mind. It was a pity that a beautiful woman
was drowned.

This one was also good. When the Princely Heir disliked her, he
could ask her out in the name of today's encounter. It would be a

www.asianovel.com
 6 Report
romantic affair. Chen Qing's eyes brightened when he thought of
that. He didn't care the coldness and strode back, holding the
umbrella. He didn't dare to disobey the order of the Marchioness of
Lord Protector. He had to finish the painting as soon as possible.

Neither Ning Yuling nor Chen Qing noticed that Ning Xueyan had
been standing under a big tree at the top of the mountain with
Lanning and Qingyu for a long time. They happened to see the whole
thing. Ning Xueyan was in a high position, so she couldn't see and
hear them clearly. But she clearly saw that Ning Yuling left an
umbrella to that man in the end.

Seeing Chen Qing left, Ning Xueyan made a look at Qingyu. Qingyu
busily went down the hill from the other side to inquire about him. A
male outsider could never appear here without any reason. And it
was impossible that someone deliberately asked her to come just in
order to see such a man. Ning Xueyan coldly smiled, with a deep
gaze.

Madam Ling's method was superb. She wasn't here, but still could
frame Ning Xueyan.

Madam Ling framed Ning Xueyan again and again. At this time, this
matter must be related to the chrysanthemum appreciation grand
meeting... Ning Xueyan hoped the intention of this matter wasn't the
same as what she thought. The matter that Madam Dowager was
poisoned just was revealed. Madam Ling couldn't wait to wipe out
Ning Xueyan. It seemed that Ning Xueyan was Madam Ling's most
hated person and Madam Ling wanted to kill her as soon as possible.

Ah, that was a great honor for Ning Xueyan!

It was too strange that Madam Ling always aimed at Ning Xueyan.
Madam Ming had died, Ning Xueyan wouldn't be superior to Ning
Ziyan and Ning Yuling. But Madam Ling refused to let Ning Xueyan
go. Was it because she hated Madam Ming very much and didn't
want her daughter to live a good life? But Madam Ling didn't treat

www.asianovel.com
 7 Report
Ning Lingyun, who was not born by her, like that. It was quite
interesting.

Qingyu came back very quickly. When Ning Xueyan came back to
the courtyard, she had inquired about that man.

"Young Lady, he's a painter. It's said that he's good at

painting. This time, he came here with the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li. The Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li hasn't come yet, but he has already come and lived
in the courtyard where the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li will live. I asked several maids about him. They all
look down on him. They said that he lives in a brothel. They
didn't know how he knew the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li and also didn't know why the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li brought him to the Cold Mountain
Temple. "

"When did he come?" Ning Xueyan narrowed her eyes and

asked.

"He came here today. He came at lunchtime today with a

young manservant of the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince
Li. After he settled down, the young manservant said he had
to accompany the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li and
then went back. So he was left alone." Qingyu just chatted with
an older female servant and asked for it clearly.

He came here with the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. But
the people came with the Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince
Li's Manor disliked him and looked down on him. He was the friend of
the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. He must be another
libertine. Maybe he was a pander. He was good at drawing the
portraits of beauties, the meaning of which was doubtful. Recently,
there were many Young Ladies in the Cold Mountain Temple. What
did he want to do?

www.asianovel.com
 8 Report
A painter, the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, the meeting
at night...

An invisible line slowly extended out in Ning Xueyan's mind and

strung those matters together. Ning Xueyan understood why a
painter was here. She clenched her fists tightly and her fingernails
hurt her hands, but she didn't care about that.

The painter... the portrait... the portrait that was believed to be a

token of her love... the portrait that became the evidence and Ning
Xueyan couldn't explain in her Last Life. In her Last Life, Madam Ling
and Ning Ziyan took out a portrait of half-naked Ning Xueyan and
said she secretly dated a man. Thinking of that, Ning Xueyan felt
headache, as if she were pressed in the water now.

Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan planned it in her Last Life. Ning
Xueyan had decided to look for the evidence of that day. Now she
found out that they were right here. Madam Ling wanted to repeat
her plan again to kill Ning Xueyan!

"Madam Ling, since you gave me such a big gift, I should

give you a gift too. I hope you can bear it..."

www.asianovel.com
 9 Report

Chapter 52
Source: TapRead

It grew dark. The maid lowered her head and walked hurriedly
through the courtyard door. She was from the other manor but
nobody had seen her. She looked around, then went straight towards
the candle lit room. Knocking lightly on the door, she heard a voice
from inside, "Who is it? Please come in."

The maid saw no one around, so she entered and closed the door.
From the shadows outlined at the window, it showed two persons
talking and delivering something. After a while, the door reopened.
Again, the maid looked around furtively, making sure there was no
one around, then walked out and closed the door.

Suddenly a scream came from nowhere just as she was about to

leave. The sound frightened the maids and older female servants
who were working in the courtyard. They raised their heads in
confusion, looking around for the source of the scream. They
wondered who could be making a sound like that. However, an older
female servant, who was standing under the roof, caught hold of the
external maid, and asked her, "Which manor do you belong to?
Why are you here?"

When they heard this, all the maids and older female servants
looked at her.

"I...I got the wrong place, sorry, I made a mistake." The

maid explained hastily in shock and dropped her head because of
their close scrutiny.

She walked out quickly before she finished talking.

Someone recalled seeing her going into the candle lit room just
now, so they exchanged weird looks. A few of the older female
www.asianovel.com
 10 Report
servants couldn't hold back their laughter. Although they didn't block
her way, they judged her with contempt, thinking that the one inside
the room could not be a good man, since he had seduced the maid in
such a short time.

It also seemed the maid wasn't a good girl. She was enticed to his
room within a mere 4 hours.

They had no idea which manor she was from. But how indecent
and unruly she was!

After all, it had nothing to do with them at all. The only thing they
could do was to regard this as a joke, which would make them laugh.
The one inside the room wasn't their master. They would let Consort
Dowager know about this because maybe it would make her laugh
and they would get some money as a reward.

Seeing that nobody came out to stop her, the maid felt relieved
once she reached the door. She checked her route and returned
hurriedly.

After she left, Ning Xueyan and Qingyu showed up round the
corner. Qingyu held a food basket containing their dinner.

"My lady, how do you know that Xianghong will be asking

around here?" Qingyu wondered. She didn't believe it before but
now she saw it in person. She admired Ning Xueyan greatly for
leading Xianghong to the monk, after knowing that she would be
inquiring about the painter.

The monks dared not say comment on this, especially since the
painter was here because of the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince
Li. So they just indicated the way without saying anything.

"How can Ning Yuling give up such a great opportunity?"

Ning Xueyan turned around and walked back with a cold smile. She
was aware that Ning Yuling's viciousness was the same as that of

www.asianovel.com
 11 Report
Madam Ling. She would not give up this chance of framing Ning
Xueyan. Now Ning Yuling had mistakened the identity of the person
inside so she would shoot herself in the foot.

When she reached the corner of the cloister, Ning Xueyan stopped
to look around. The view here was great. Even though it was dark,
she could see the other side clearly. On the contrary, nothing could
be seen from the other side.

They waited for a while, standing under the roof, then they noticed
Chen Qing leaving the room stealthily. Chen Qing thought nobody
was paying any attention and was about to leave. Ning Xueyan then
gave a signal to Qingyu. Qingyu rushed out and collided with him on
purpose. A gold hair clasp dropped from Chen Qing's hands. Qing
Yu's sharp eyes saw that it belonged to her manor.

Qingyu pretended to be astonished and calmly asked, "My childe,

are you the one whom sister Xianghong is talking about?"

"Is something wrong?" Chen Qing picked up the hair clasp on

the ground and said this with a sense of fake calmness.

"Sister Xianghong is afraid that you will forget so she told

me to remind you again. Please remember it is Second Young
Lady. She asks me to give you this, too." Qingyu answered
politely in response to Ning Xueyan. She took out a gold head-
ornament flower and gave it to him, then she said with a smile, "We
all know it will cost a lot if we want this to work. I just hope
you, my childe, will not forget my lady."

"Of course I won't. I can guarantee that. But I was told it

was Fifth Young Lady." Chen Qing said excitedly. He didn't expect
the beauty would really choose him. Now that he received the favor,
he must do something worthwhile. He planned to use Madam Ling's
gold hair clasp to ask for help. It was better that he need not pay for
the help anymore.

www.asianovel.com
 12 Report
"My childe, you heard wrongly. It's Second Young Lady.
Please remember this time." Qingyu emphasized again.

Chen Qing did not suspect anything. He nodded and said, "Yes,
yes, I won't forget it anymore. Second Young Lady of Lord
Protector's Manor, I get it! I won't make the same mistake
again."

When he thought that the beauty would rather be with him, and
had planned all these, Chen Qing's heart beat faster. He had already
forgotten about the portrait which he had asked someone to deliver
to Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li.

The Chrysanthemum Party, held by Honored Consort Ya, was held

halfway up the mountain, behind the Cold Mountain Temple. There
was a large open space so the party was a magnificent affair. The
ground was filled with all kinds of chrysanthemums. There was also a
small man-made lotus pond on the west. Although it was not time for
the lotus to bloom, the fish inside were very lively.

Groups of red koi carps in the water, showed up leisurely from time
to time.

Several pavilions were beside the lotus pond. Princes, Princely

Heirs and the daughters of aristocratic families stood or sat inside.
They chatted. And they were supposed to choose someone they like.
The girls couldn't stopping sneaking peeks at the heirs although they
were shy. The most outstanding prince was Third Prince. Fourth
Prince was busy today so he did not come.

Third Prince's biological mother was Honored Consort Ya and

Fourth Prince's was Honored Consort Shu. Their mothers held high
statuses in the palace. But Third Prince was the elder and his mother
was the highest-ranking, so he had the upper hand. The girls paid
more attention to him.

Even if a girl couldn't be his wife, her future would be just as

www.asianovel.com
 13 Report
promising if she became his concubine. Not to mention the fact that
Third Prince was a dashing man.

Compared with noble Third Prince, the Princely heir of

Commandery Prince Min was popular, too. As one of the most
handsome man in the capital, Wen Xueran was born with a pleasing
appearance with a pair of bright, amorous eyes. Any girl whom he
had his eye on, would always blush and try to avoid his attention.

Being watched by such a pair of beautiful eyes would make anyone

drown in its appeal. The romantic feeling it evoked made people's
hearts beat fast.

Honored Consort Ya chatted and laughed with a few of the elder

madams sitting in the middle pavilion. In the way, she could also
observe the crowd.

Ning Yuling secretly peeked at Third Prince, standing on the other

side. He looked tall and handsome in the sunshine. In his tight finery,
Third Prince showed an extraordinary temperament. His profound
eyes, natural Roman nose, and thin lips with its bright smile seemed
warm. His gentility swept through the crowd and settled on her, too.
He looked at her gently.

"Third Prince is looking at you all the time!" Lin Ziruo, the
one who sat beside Ning Yuling, was the daughter of Imperial
Supervisor Lin, said this ambiguously while nudging her.

"Maybe it's you he's looking at, instead of me." Ning Yuling
replied, blushing. She heard that Imperial Supervisor wanted to let
his daughter marry Third Prince. Lin Ziruo had a purpose in mind and
it was obvious from her actions.

"How can it be? I heard that Lord Protector's Manor had a

marriage deal with Third Prince. Is it true?" Lin Ziruo asked
chuckling. She nudged Ning Yuling again. And she expressed herself
clearly even though she equivocated.

www.asianovel.com
 14 Report
"You are talking nonsense! How is it possible? It won't be
easy to have a royal marriage." Ning Yuling glared at Lin Ziruo.
She wouldn't tell her the truth.

"Really?" Lin Ziyan looked doubtful.

"Of course!" Ning Yuling said seriously. But she couldn't stop her
complacency from showing, which was easy to see. Especially since
her eyes were following Third Prince all this while. When she looked
into Third Prince's eyes, she showed great affection. Her pretty eyes
became soft and beautiful. This made Lin Ziruo even more jealous.

"How can Lin Ziruo dream of marrying Third Prince? She is

just a nasty shrew." Ning Yuling had this cold thought in her mind.

Suddenly, Lin Ziruo inadvertently witnessed something. She

reached out to pull Ning Yuling's sleeve after taking a close look and
in a mocking tone, said, "Second Young Lady, it looks like
Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li has been staring at
you all this while. Look! He's been there for a long time, so
he must be watching you. And he appears to be in a trance."

Ning Yuling looked at the direction where Lin Ziruo's hand was
pointing. She saw a handsome young man, dressed in finery, staring
at her absentmindedly. There was an undisguised stunned look in his
eyes. Ning Yuling felt complacent about being stared at by a young
pretty noble Princely Heir, but she had to pretend to be unhappy.

"How can he be so rude? How dare he look at me like that?

Where are his manners?" Ning Yuling said coquettishly.

"You can't say that. He is the beloved one of Consort

Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor. If he hears you,
he will get angry." Lin Ziruo said with a smile.

Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li? It reminded Ning

Yuling of the old lady who gave her a pair of bracelets yesterday. She

www.asianovel.com
 15 Report
had a good feeling about the old lady. Thinking of her, she smiled at
Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li spontaneously. She felt happy
in her heart but she said coldly, "Why does he keep looking at
me? Disgusting!"

"Because you are so beautiful. This heir is too obsessed

with you to remove his gaze. Maybe he will ask Honored
Consort Ya later for the honor of marrying you." Lin Ziruo
teased her and covered her mouth.

"Nonsense!" Ning Yuling said unhappily. She was determined to

become the wife of Third Prince now. Other men were not her choice.
Although it was noble Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, he
wasn't good enough compared with Third Prince. She was unwilling
to marry him even though she felt satisfied with his adoration.

"I'm telling the truth. See, he is walking towards you." Lin

Ziruo nudged her, smiling.

Ning Yuling turned around subconsciously and saw Princely Heir

walking straight to her. She frowned a little and turned round,
moving off to another road. Now it was party time, a lot of people
including Honored Consort Ya were watching. She could not have
anything to do with other men. It would make Third Prince and his
mother unhappy.

www.asianovel.com
 16 Report

Chapter 53
Source: TapRead

Something had happened the day before yesterday that made

Third Prince and his mother unhappy. So Ning Yuling needed to be
more careful now. She remembered that Honored Consort Ya wanted
Ning Xueyan to be her son's concubine. Ning Yuling had a cold smile
on her face. She tried to look for Ning Xueyan but could not find her.
Where was the bitch?

Actually, Ning Xueyan was present. She stood in a secluded place,

far away from the crowd, so Ning Yuling did not see her. She leaned
against a tree, leisurely waiting for their next move. Honored Consort
Ya and Lord Protector's Manor had already decided in secret that
Ning Yuling would be Third Prince's wife. Now she wondered what
Ning Yuling would do if she became his wife.

Qingyu had appeared earlier but had already excused herself.

There was only Lanning beside Ning Xueyan.

"Are you Second Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor?"

Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li asked, looking at Ning Yuling
with a smile. He only reached out to talk to her politely. It seemed his
propriety was less than the dignity of a childe.

He then stared at Ning Yuling lewdly, looking at her from top to

toe. He paid special attention to her buxom breasts. This made him
even more of a disgrace.

From a distance, she thought he was a noble Princely Heir. Ning

Yuling felt something was terribly wrong when he came closer. He
seemed like a scoundrel on the street instead of an heir. It was
disgusting. His eyes seemed to be removing her clothes. This made
Ning Yuling feel ashamed and angry.

www.asianovel.com
 17 Report
He couldn't be Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. He was a
shameless jerk!

"Who... who are you? Go away!" Ning Xueyan scolded him

angrily. She struggled to pass by using the side road. Several noble
girls standing beside her noticed what was happening. They
retreated after discovering that it was Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li. Everyone knew his bad reputation. Getting involved with
him would only create problems. It seemed he was fond of Second
Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor.

The wastrel and the shrew, this should be fun. The girls mocked
her, as they covered their mouths with their hands. They scattered,
walking back a few steps because they wanted to see what would
happen next.

Princely Heir seemed satisfied. His eyes fell on Ning Yuling's buxom
breasts after scanning her face. Sure enough, she was the type of
beauty he fancied. Her pretty face and nice-shaped body made her a
rare one. He had lost sleep ever since Chen Qing delivered the
painting to him.

When he heard that she would be attending the party today, he

purposely came early in the morning in order to meet her.

What surprised him most was that she seemed to have a crush on
him, too.

He was looking for her just now. The painter did not give any
further details and had said that it was a lady of Lord Protector's
Manor. Thinking that the most famous girl in the manor was Second
Young Lady, he believed that the girl in the painting was Ning Yuling.
Furthermore, he heard that Ning Yuling was a beautiful girl with a
good reputation, as soon as he arrived at Cold Mountain Temple. The
girl, who drew the picture, had a good reputation. This made him
curious. He had to see her.

www.asianovel.com
 18 Report
A maid came from the other side, lowered her head and said
something to his servant before leaving when Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li was unable to find Ning Yuling. She said that
Second Young Lady was over there and had asked Princely Heir to
come over. It thrilled him greatly.

Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was a dissolute man. His

bones melted when he heard that the beauty had invited him, and he
went to see her in spite of everything. Seeing Ning Yuling, he was
overjoyed and thought she was the mistress of the maid. She must
have been aware of his charm and good looks, so she instructed her
maid to tell him that on purpose. However, he was surprised that
Ning Yuling was angry. Then he believed he understood her.

She knew nothing about him so she thought he was a wastrel who
had accosted her and rebuked him. Luckily, he was a thick-skinned
man who was doing this deliberately. He wasn't angry with her. On
the contrary, he kept his smile on face and said, "Second Young
Lady, I'm Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. Nice to meet
you!"

After talking, he bowed to her especially. He kept looking at her

from top to toe and smiled leeringly at her.

Ning Yuling's face turned dark because she was angry. As a noble
lady, she had never been so humiliated by such a person. And she
was so angry that her body trembled. Under his watchful eyes, she
didn't notice what he said. It seemed that his eyes were undressing
her. She felt ashamed and full of hate for him.

She shouted furiously, "Guards! Kick him out!"

Ning Yuling was the boss in her manor so her older female servants
behind her were good at their jobs. They scrambled to Princely Heir
of Commandery Prince Li. And the one ahead slapped him in the
face.

www.asianovel.com
 19 Report
Although Princely Heir was young, he wasn't in good shape
because he indulged in women and alcohol. After downing two
bottles of wine in the morning, the only thing he had in mind now
was how to get Ning Yuling in his arms. He didn't hear what she said.
The next moment, he felt a sudden slap on his face.

He became dizzy and stepped back a little. His servants tried to

hold him so he didn't fall down. They shouted, "Heir, heir!"

He was the beloved son of Consort Dowager. She would punish the
servants if anything bad happened to him.

The other older female servants tried to rush up to him, when they
saw the one ahead hitting him, but they failed. They knew they could
not give up the chance to show their loyalty because Second Young
Lady was furious now. Seeing Princely Heir of Commandery Prince
Li's servants coming, they didn't wait and tried to push the servants
away, in order to hit the heir.

The servants stayed with Princely Heir in case the older female
servants hit him again. He was precious. Even his father would be
punished if he beat or rebuked him harshly. Of course, they would
protect him until death. So, they fought back.

The place where Ning Xueyan stood in was a brae. She saw
everything clearly. Putting her fingers slightly on Lanning's hands,
Ning Xueyan moved her eyes to the south-west corner of the party,
from Ning Yuling's angry face. She heard voices from there, too.
However, it sounded much lower compared with the ones coming
from the fight.

There was a slight smile on her face, but there was no happiness in
her eyes.

Madam Ling wanted to slander Ning Xueyan. But Ning Xueyan

played her back at her game, now her daughter was the one who
was being played.

www.asianovel.com
 20 Report
The older female servants wanted to hit him again as Princely
Heir's servants tried to protect their master. This caused chaos and
attracted the attention of Honored Consort Ya and the other people
who sat on the other side. A royal maid came over hurriedly. She
whispered to Honored Consort Ya. Honored Consort Ya looked at
Madam Dowager of Lord Protector's Manor and frowned. Her face
turned dark.

"Honored Consort Ya, what's wrong? Why are they making

so much noise? These days, young ladies and childes can't
seem to behave." Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's
Manor said unhappily after seeing what had happened on the other
side. She always preferred quiet places.

"Go! Go and ask what has happened?" Madam Dowager

thought something wrong so she asked Xiangmiao to check. But after
thinking for a while, she said, "Find Second Young Lady first."

She had a bad feeling.

The noisy crowd moved towards them before Xiangmiao's could

respond. Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, who was obsessed
with the beauty, had been beaten badly, had just regained
consciousness. He found himself being teased by the noble ladies
and childes who stood beside him. His face darkened after assessing
the situation.

Nobody could humiliate him like this. The person he hated most
now was Ning Yuling. She asked the maid to guide him here, but then
she pretended to be lofty and ignored him. Moreover, she asked her
servants to beat him. There was no way he would let her go so easily.
He became instantly angry even though Ning Yuling was a beauty.
He played with beautiful girls every day. There was one, who became
haughty because she was indulged by him and ended up being
flogged to death.

"Stop! I am here because Second Young Lady asked me to

www.asianovel.com
 21 Report
come over. I will cut your hands off if you hit anyone again.
Ning Yuling! Tell your servants to stop immediately!" Princely
Heir yelled.

He didn't notice any other stuff now and pushed his servants away
and rushed to slap the older female servant hard. He used all his
strength. The crowd became quiet when they found that he was truly
angry and heard his words clearly.

He had said that Ning Yuling was the one who invited him here and
wrote him a letter, which could be termed as a private relationship.
But she chose to have a relationship with this dissolute Princely Heir
of Commandery Prince Li. People thought Ning Yuling fancied his
status, so she invited him secretly. She did not expect him to turn out
to be a playboy, so she had put them both in an awkward situation
now.

"You are talking nonsense! I never wrote to you!" Ning

Yuling's face turned red after hearing what he said, "Hit him! Hit
him harder!"

"Beat them! You! The slutty bitch! You dare to ask me to

come over but dare not admit it. You even asked your people
to hit me." Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li had never been
humiliated by a woman before. He got angrier and stared at Ning
Yuling in a rage. And he moved forward and slapped her on her
cheek.

She, the bitch, was the one who wanted him here. How dare she
pretend to be the innocent one now? This pissed the arrogant heir off
horribly. He couldn't care less about what she was or he needed to
exercise more tolerance when he was really angry. The reality was
that he was embarrassed because of her.

The heirs and childes Ning Yuling saw in her daily life were all
elegant. They talked gently with smiles and were polite. She never
saw anyone like him. Being beaten by Princely Heir of Commandery

www.asianovel.com
 22 Report
Prince Li was unexpected, so she was confused at that moment.
Flowers fell down from her head and her hair was loose. She fell
awkwardly onto an older female servant.

The noble daughters around watched the drama, pointing at her at

the same time. The heirs looked at them from a distance, with
disdain on their faces. Nobody tried to interfere. She even saw Third
Prince, who was talking to several noble girls facing her just now,
turn around after discovering what happened, and leaving her with a
view of his back.

She was ashamed, furious and felt so wronged. She looked at the
crowd and not finding anyone to help her, couldn't repress her
feeling anymore. She started to cry and turned to run to Madam
Dowager. The older female servants stopped scuffling and ran behind
her. They tried to console Ning Yuling, "Please don't cry, my
Second Young Lady. We will tell Madam Dowager and she will
back you up."

"My lady, no need to hurry. Madam Dowager is there..."

www.asianovel.com
 23 Report

Chapter 54
Source: TapRead

They showed up in front of the noble madams with tears and much
noise. The Madams already knew what had happened. Consort
Dowager of Commandery Prince Li, who liked Ning Yuling a lot
before, talked with the other madams, while holding a leopard cat in
her arms. She just heard that Ning Yuling had hit her baby grandson.

She was immediately unhappy. Princely Heir was her beloved

grandson who grew up by her side. Even Commandery Prince Li
would be punished if he touched him, let alone a stranger.

Let alone a strange woman.

She knew everything about her grandson. She understood that she
had overindulged him. This made him naughty. It was said that
Second Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor was vixenish so she
was satisfied and hoped that maybe Ning Yuling could change her
grandson. It would comfort her and her son wouldn't say that she
spoiled her grandson too much.

Ning Yuling was a beauty from a good family, so she was satisfied
with her at the beginning. It would be a good thing if her grandson
could marry Ning Yuling. Although she knew that Lord Protector's
Manor and Honored Consort Ya wanted Ning Yuling to be Third
Prince's wife, she still wanted her. Anyway, she was the emperor's
aunt. If she asked for a lady of Lord Protector's Manor, Third Prince
would have to give her up.

So she gave the bracelets to Ning Yuling on purpose.

But Ning Yuling knew nothing about it and had accepted it,
although she felt a bit confused.

www.asianovel.com
 24 Report
Madam Dowager and Honored Consort Ya were aware of this. But
she was Consort Dowager, so they wouldn't be against her openly. In
the end, this became unexpectedly feasible. Now she only wanted
her grandson to get to know Ning Yuling. He was a royal heir with
good looks, so Ning Yuling would like him definitely. She could help a
little after, then it would be done.

This was what she had planned, but what happened today was
unexpected. She was furious now and already erased any ideas that
she previously had. Ning Yuling had hit her grandson before their
marriage. Her manor wouldn't be peaceful anymore if they really got
married. Sure enough Ning Yuling was a heinous shrew. There was no
way she would let the shrew into her manor.

She didn't want Ning Yuling any longer and sat there with a dark
look on her face, waiting for Ning Yuling's explanation.

Ning Xueyan walked towards them, mingling in quietly with the

crowd.

"Grandmother, grandmother, that... that jerk... where is he

from? He said all kinds of things. Grandmother, please let
someone flog him to death!" Ning Yuling cried piteously. She
could get whatever she wanted in Lord Protector's Manor and had
never been a doormat. Now she wished she could tear Princely Heir
up.

She rushed to Madam Dowager's arms, crying grievously as soon

as she saw her.

"My baby girl, what's the matter? You are a noble daughter.
Why are you doing this?" Madam Dowager avoided the topic
awkwardly, with a dark face. The one beside her was the
grandmother of the "jerk", who looked at her with such a horrible
expression. Madam Dowager was cunning so she did not answer Ning
Yuling's questions directly.

www.asianovel.com
 25 Report
"Second Young Lady, what happened?" Honored Consort Ya
had to ask. Honored Consort Ya was the organizer of the
Chrysanthemum Party. As the highest-ranking imperial concubine of
the emperor, the emperor trusted her, so he asked her to help heirs,
princes and ladies with their marriages and got them acquainted with
each other.

Two teams, who were supposed to get along well, had a fight from
the start. This annoyed Honored Consort Ya. Cold light flashed
through her eyes.

The only reason why she agreed to let her son marry the shrew
was because she was interested in Lord Protector's Manor after Ning
Yuling. But now Ning Yuling had shown up, looking so messy. The
rouge and make-up on her face had been washed off by her tears
and her face was covered with red and black tear marks.

There was no air of a noble lady on Ning Yuling now. She looked
like a crazy, ugly woman who disgusted people.

Hearing Honored Consort Ya's question, Ning Yuling became sad.

She wiped away her tear marks, then complained tearfully to
Honored Consort Ya, "My royal madam, please help me regain
my reputation. Please let your officers punish the jerk who is
bothering the girls."

Everything happened too quickly so she couldn't react to this in

time before she got slapped. Now she ran back tearfully without
thinking about who Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was. She
only remembered she needed to pay him back for what he had done.
Actually, her reputation could be ruined by getting slapped by a man
and showing up here in a disheveled state.

Madam Ling had warned her many times that the reputation of a
woman was very important. As a result, she said, in a rage, that she
was determined to get the man killed without any hesitation. Nobody
would dare to hurt her anymore.

www.asianovel.com
 26 Report
"Hum!" A cold snort was heard before Honored Consort Ya spoke.

"As what Second Young Lady says, my grandson needs to

pay for your unnecessary reputation with his life. Isn't it?"
The cold voice came from Ning Yuling's lateral side with irrepressible
anger in it. Consort Dowager was really angry. She did not expect
Ning Yuling to be not only mean, but vicious as well. She was the one
who started all these. She was the one who had invited her grandson
first, but now Ning Yuling refused to admit it. How could Consort
Dowager tolerate this? So she opened her mouth.

Ning Yuling felt dizzy and befuddled because she had cried for so
long. Finding someone against her, she retaliated without figuring out
who was the one talking before, "He is an ignoble lecher. He
even dares to harass me. Of course, he need to pay for it with
his life. Grandmother, Honored Consort Ya, please help me.
Please kill him!"

She continued crying after finishing her speech.

"Bitch! What did you say? I harassed you? Look at you, do I

need to do that? You will come voluntarily. You asked your
maid to lead me to you, then you pretend to be innocent
when I am here. It sounds like I am the one who came
voluntarily." Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li arrived and
scolded her harshly, after hearing what Ning Yuling said.

He hated her so much. She had made it into such a great issue.
There was really a maid who told him where Ning Yuling was and
asked him to find her. He was conscious now and saw clearly,
Honored Consort Ya sitting above and Consort Dowager's wink, and
wanted to let Ning Yuling take the blame.

A jerk like him, could turn nothing into anything. And something
had really happened between them just now.

"Nonsense! You, bastard! I didn't do it. I never asked you to

www.asianovel.com
 27 Report
come over. I don't even know who you are." Ning Yuling
shouted again tearfully. She would have kicked his ass if the two
older female servants didn't stop her. She looked like a mad woman
with her crazy looks and actions. People looked at her with great
scorn.

How could this girl be Second Young Lady with the good
reputation? She was a totally mad shrew.

Third Prince, who had just come over, was standing next to his
mother, had a dark expression on his face.

Honored Consort Ya frowned and didn't know what to say at the

moment. A woman like Ning Yuling could never marry her son and be
the future empress.

"My baby girl, don't hurry. Talk slowly. It is Princely Heir of

Commandery Prince Li in front of you. His grandmother gave
you the bracelets yesterday. Did you forget that due to the
grievances today?" Madam Dowager consoled Ning Yuling and held
her hands. Trying hard to repress her face muscles, she kept a
serene look on her face, although she was so angry with Ning Yuling.

She had tried to hint to her that the man in front of her was
Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, instead of a lecher. Especially
since Honored Consort Ya and Consort Dowager were both there.
Ning Yuling couldn't afford to offend them.

"Madam Dowager, the education of your manor is really

good. Your granddaughter uses words like Lecher, bastard
and jerk when she speaks. Our eyes are truly open now.
Luckily we know she is Second Young Lady of Lord
Protector's Manor. If we did not, we would have thought that
she is a disgraceful shrew."

Hearing Ning Yuling calling her baby grandson a lecher and a

bastard, Consort Dowager couldn't help saying this. She lost all

www.asianovel.com
 28 Report
interest in the marriage so she stopped being courteous and
retaliated harshly against the shameless shrew.

Not to mention the single girls, even the madams could not take it.

Ning Yuling raised her head in amazement after hearing her words.
She saw clearly now that the one sitting beside her grandmother was
Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li, who had been kind to
her. What did she say? Did she scold her just now?

Madam Dowager felt suffocated and almost fainted because of

Consort Dowager's words. If Ning Yuling's reputation was tarnished
by Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, her innocent
granddaughter would be unable to marry anyone in the future.

"Heir, you say it is Second Young Lady who asks you to

come over. But she doesn't know you, how could she invite
you here? Enlighten me, Princely Heir. "Madam Dowager said
with great anger, while she used her cane to knock heavily on the
ground. It wasn't time for tolerance. She got to the point and asked
Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, while staring at him.

"She sent a maid to tell me that she was waiting for me

there. The maid emphasized especially it was Second Young
Lady of Lord Protector's Manor." Princely Heir said, with a cold
snort, as he held his head up high.

As for whether the maid emphasized it or not, when she said it was
Second Young Lady, then it must be.

"The maid? Which maid? Ning Yuling only has several maids
with her this time and they are all here. Can Princely Heir
recognize the maid?" Madam Dowager had a surprised look on her
face. Looking at Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, she thought
Ning Yuling wouldn't like him, so she asked again.

"They all look the same. How can I tell which one is the

www.asianovel.com
 29 Report
maid? Just ask them who the one who informed me earlier
was. Anyway, I was invited by Ning Yuling. It's expected that
she would not admit it in front of the crowd." Princely Heir still
believed it was Ning Yuling who invited him.

Seeing the situation, his eyes blinked a little. He was conscious

now so he wouldn't take the blame. He would let Ning Yuling be
responsible for all of it. He was Princely Heir. If he was found to be
harassing the daughter of Lord Protector's Manor, his father, who had
a bad temper, would break his legs.

He was clearly aware of this.

Ning Xueyan had a slightly cold smile on her face as she stood at
the other side. She knew that Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li
would take a bite at Ning Yuling.

www.asianovel.com
 30 Report

Chapter 55
Source: TapRead

"Ask the maids to tell which one of them passed the

message!" Ning Yuling wanted to rush over as she gritted her teeth
in anger. The two older female servants tried to stop her under the
command of Madam Dowager.

"You are talking nonsense. How dare you do this? I have no

private relationship with you. Why do I need you here? I am a
Young Lady of Marquis Manor and I will never like a prodigal
like you!"

She remembered the kind of man he was, so she spoke without

thinking when she thought of the bad reputation he had.

"Yes, Second Young Lady isn't that kind of girl who will ask
you to come over. Maybe you made a mistake?"Madam
Dowager said, with great anger on her face.

"How do I know why she is doing this? Fortunately, I have

the evidence. It is from her. I can show you if you don't
believe me. Honored Consort Ya and madams, please find the
truth for me." Princely Heir shouted loudly.

Everyone started to whisper. Their eyes filled with doubts, disdain

and unbelievable feelings, were focused on Ning Yuling. People
thought it was Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li who had lusted
for her beauty and was talking nonsense. They didn't expect him to
have the evidence. Maybe Second Young Lady of Lord Protector's
Manor was a slutty girl. She even tried to seduce him.

Even Madam Dowager turned to Ning Yuling in doubt, signalling

her with her eyes, whether it was real.

www.asianovel.com
 31 Report
Ning Yuling was furious. The evidence? How could she leave any
evidence in his place? She didn't know why a lot of people trusted his
words.

"Xian'er, tell us. What is the evidence? Take it out and let
Honored Consort Ya comment on it." Consort Dowager said
loudly. She had kept quiet all along until now, because she wondered
whether it was her grandson's fault. But she became excited when
she heard there was evidence.

"You have evidence?" Honored Consort Ya asked. Seeing the

drama, she kneaded her temples, and her eyes darkened. She didn't
believe Princely Heir had the evidence. No matter what, she had
made up her mind, Second Young Lady couldn't be her son's wife.

Looking at Ning Yuling now, what did she do? Luckily, the two
families had just discussed about the marriage secretly. It wasn't
officially decided yet. Otherwise, this would humiliate her son.

"My second sister won't give you any evidence. You must
be talking nonsense because you want to ruin her reputation.
Honored Consort Ya, please help my sister to safeguard her
reputation. Lord Protector's Manor will never be humiliated
like this!" A cold voice came from the crowd. People looked back
and saw a skinny lady supported by a maid walking into the area.

Because she was too thin and young, her beautiful face features
were not dazzling. Even so, she looked innocent and calm. She was a
young girl with a decent temperament. Compared with Second Young
Lady, she was much better.

Someone asked who she was, but somebody who saw Ning Yuling
blaming Ning Xueyan said it was Fifth Young Lady of Lord Protector's
Manor.

"Is there a Fifth Young Lady in the manor? Why have I

never heard of it?"

www.asianovel.com
 32 Report
"Is Fifth Young Lady's mother dead?"

"Is she the first daughter? It is a strange matter in Lord

Protector's Manor. They hide their first daughter in the
backyard. What is this all about?"

Someone teased, some laughed at Ning Xueyan, and some just

wanted to watch the drama. Madam Dowager's face turned red when
they whispered among themselves.

Princely Heir was in panic after hearing Ning Xueyan's words. His
eyes moved quickly because he lied. The evidence maybe wasn't
from Ning Yuling. When he found this concerned Lord Protector's
reputation, he thought he was unable to take the responsibility. Lord
Protector was a powerful being, in charge of troops. He wasn't like
the other nobilities who were paid without having to work.

If he was found to be harassing Lord Protector's daughter and

making the evidence on purpose, maybe it would need the emperor
to handle the issue in the end. His grandmother wouldn't be able to
protect him. Even as he thought of the bad result, he was being
pushed here. So he said loudly to his servant beside him, gritting his
teeth.

"Take out the painting Second Young Lady gave me. Submit
it to Honored Consort Ya."

At this point, Princely Heir had insisted that Ning Yuling invited him
here. Or else he would be unable to take the responsibility for this.

The servant behind him went forward and knelt in front of Honored
Consort Ya in the command of him, and lifted the painting above his
head.

A royal maid standing behind took it over and delivered it to

Honored Consort Ya.

The other royal maid came over. Two maids opened the painting

www.asianovel.com
 33 Report
together. Third Prince, who stood behind his mother snorted coldly
and his face turned dark immediately.

"Oh! This... this painting is... so obscene." Consort Dowager

shouted after moving her head and taking a look at the painting. She
sat beside Honored Consort Ya and wanted to cover her eyes with
the handkerchief. But she swung her hands so hastily that her hands
hit one of the royal maid. The royal maid's hand trembled, and
dropped the painting.

The other royal maid was looking at the painting, together with
Honored Consort Ya. Hearing Consort Dowager's shout, she let go of
the painting, too.Before she could respond, another shout could be
heard. She didn't get the chance to pick up the painting so it fell on
the ground.

The painting lay on the ground. People focused their attention on

it.

Ning Xueyan covered her mouth with the handkerchief. It was so

chaotic that nobody noticed that she was the one who had shouted.

There was a buxom voluptuous woman in the painting with a thin

gauze dress covering her half body. The woman's body could almost
be seen clearly through the dress. The woman's shy and charming
face looked exactly like Ning Yuling.

It was private. Nobody could draw this unless he or she saw it. The
meaning on the painting was sultry. Clearly it was...Thinking of it, the
painting wouldn't have been so vivid if Ning Yuling had not lain down
and dressed like that.

All the madams and ladies turned around almost at the same time,
hastily covering their eyes with their handkerchiefs. It seemed they
had seen something dirty. The painting was obscene so it was
reasonable that they acted like that.

www.asianovel.com
 34 Report
"No, it isn't me!" Ning Yuling shouted hurriedly, after seeing it.

"Second Young Lady! It is unexpected that you have a

relationship with my Xian'er. I am not against it. But Second
Young Lady. You can't be his wife. Although my manor is
willing to be responsible for this, my grandson can't marry
you. Our manor isn't powerful but we act with propriety and
we can't let you ruin it."Consort Dowager said calmly.

This meant she wanted Ning Yuling to be Princely Heir's concubine.

Everyone thought Ning Yuling, as Second Young Lady of Lord

Protector's Manor, had created the obscene painting herself. She
revealed that she was having a private relationship with Princely Heir
of Commandery Prince Li. Shame on her!

Ning Xueyan was standing aside quietly. She showed a surprised

look like everyone else. But nothing existed in her black eyes. This
was Madam Ling's plan for her. Sure enough it was vicious and
malicious.

Madam Ling had planned to add Ning Xueyan's face to the

completed painting of a prostitute's body. If Princely Heir saw that it
was Ning Xueyan, her reputation would be ruined. People would think
she was the slutty girl. Nobody would care whether her face fitted
the buxom body.

Madam Ling wanted to attract Princely Heir's attention by using the

buxom body. However, it fitted Ning Yuling perfectly. She was only
16. Exactly the age of the mature body. The painting with Ning
Yuling's face on it looked flawless. Even though Ning Xueyan knew
the truth, she could believe that the woman was Ning Yuling after
taking a look at the picture.

If Ning Xueyan did such a thing now, especially when Madam Ming
died long ago, Madam Dowager wouldn't protect her for Lord
Protector's Manor's reputation. She would strangle her with a white

www.asianovel.com
 35 Report
silk string. Then Madam Ming's reputation would be tarnished. Then
Madam Ling and Ning Yuling would take control of everything after
Ning Xueyan's death.

People would only say that Madam Ming and Ning Xueyan were
slutty. They wouldn't care about the marriage of Ning Ziyan
anymore. Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan could finally get rid of it.

Ning Yuling was as malevolent as her mother. Now that they

started this vicious affair, Ning Xueyan would let them take care of it
themselves.

Ning Xueyan lifted her lips slightly to cover the frosty coldness.

Wen Xueran, who stood beside Third Prince, happened to see this.
His amorous eyes blinked a little when it fell on Ning Xueyan. He
sneered a little, after thinking it over and showed a charming smile
on his face. He had noticed it.

"It's not me... It's not me...This isn't me..." It drove Ning
Yuling crazy. She shouted madly, her face full of shock, swinging her
hands around. It gave her a crazy look, the wide open eyes and loose
hair.

"This is not you? Oh, I remember. This maid came to visit

Princely Heir yesterday," A maid who stood behind Consort
Dowager said, pointing at Xianghong, who was standing behind Ning
Yuling.

"Yes, it's her. She came over yesterday stealthily. We

would have barely noticed her if there wasn't some sound
outside."

"Yes, it's her. We thought the maid was seducing someone.

It turns out to be our lady. The maid is just a helper."

Several older female servants and maids proved it, too. They all
spoke reasonably. It was true that they all saw Ning Yuling's maid

www.asianovel.com
 36 Report
showing up in the courtyard of Princely Heir of Commandery Prince
Li.

"Second Young Lady, how...how can you explain this?"

Honored Consort Ya sighed and asked lightly. She asked maids to
pick up the painting and deliver it to Madam Dowager.

Madam Dowager gritted her teeth tightly. She could feel her blood
gushing from her chest and almost coming out from her mouth. She
couldn't speak a word with her face turning red. She hated her
beloved granddaughter who had humiliated Lord Protector's Manor
and embarrassed her. She wanted to slap Ning Yuling now.

No... It was wrong. How could it be? It was Ning Xueyan! That
bitch!

"What a bold man! Who are you? How dare you intrude into
the Honored Consort Ya's Party?" The rebuke could be heard,
coming from outside.

Ning Xueyan's face turned dark. She couldn't help grasping her
handkerchief. Seeing Ning Yuling in a panic, she turned her surprise
into complacency. And her eyes were dark as the black jade and
profound as the sea.

www.asianovel.com
 37 Report

Chapter 56
Source: TapRead

"The Chrysanthemum Party is held by Honored Consort Ya.

How did the lecher come in easily?"

"Nobody can take the blame if he bothered Honored

Consort Ya."

While talking, the guards took a man over. Although he lowered his
head and couldn't be seen clearly, it could be told from his body that
he was a man. He was in an ordinary dress instead of fineries, but he
wasn't a servant.

A lot of things happened during the party. The earlier thing wasn't
handled yet, now this man came from nowhere. Honored Consort
Ya's face became darker and darker. The persons here were all from
noble families with honorable statuses. She wasn't able to take the
blame if bad things occurred. Honored Consort Ya stood up suddenly
and said with great anger, "How dare you sneak here. Take him
out and flog him hard 50 times."

It would kill him after taking 50 times of flogging. Although he was

young and strong, he couldn't take it.

Two guards who dragged the man in took him aside without
thinking twice. The man started to scream because of fears,
"Honored Consort Ya, please don't kill me! Please don't kill
me! I was invited here!"

Here it was. Ning Yuling showed a smug face, staring at Ning

Xueyan viciously. She gritted her teeth tightly and only got one
thought in her mind, which was the one who was unlucky today
should be Ning Xueyan... It must be her...

www.asianovel.com
 38 Report
Invited? Again? People showed doubtful faces. Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li just said he had been invited by Ning Yuling.
Now there was another man saying he was invited.

"Take him back!" Third Prince said coldly. He moved forward.

The guards dragged the man back. Now people saw him clearly.
The young man with good looks was in a mess because his clothes
were untidy. Seeing Third Prince stood high in front of him, he knew
this man was a big shot so he answered hastily.

"A lady sent her maid secretly to give me a letter saying

the lady has a crush on me, so she asked me to see her. I
doubt it and come here to have a look. I'm not planning
anything. My childe, please find out the truth."

The man said as his eyes moved quickly. It meant he was

unreliable.

"Who invited you here?" Third Prince asked coldly. Same things
kept happening, which made him so angry. His eye-sight flashed over
noble ladies' faces one by one. Whoever watched by him, they all
dropped their heads with bloodless faces. Then he looked into a pair
of profound peaceful eyes.

He drew back a little of his harshness in his eyes. He saw exactly a

prince's wife's temperament.

"It's... it's..." The man could hardly breathe. He was frightened by

atrocious guards beside him.

"Are you going to say or not?" Third Prince threatened him,

looking at him leeringly.

"It's the Second Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor." The

murderous look of Third Prince scared the man so he shouted loudly.

A smug smile froze on Ning Yuling's face. She looked at the man

www.asianovel.com
 39 Report
with total amazement. How... How could it be? It should be Ning
Xueyan!

Madam Dowager clenched her hands tightly. Her face turned dark.
She looked at Ning Yuling, gritting her teeth. It was her again!
Everything happened today was because of Ning Yuling, which made
Lord Protector's Manor lose all its dignity. But what could she do
now? The only thing in Madam Dowager's mind was to rush to slap
her face heavily.

"Oh, no wonder the maid told me where Second Young Lady

was and asked me to find her. It turns out I'm the wrong
person. He is the one she wants. Bitch! There are other men
she flirted with besides me!" Princely Heir of Commandery Prince
Li shouted loud passing the buck to Ning Yuling without hesitation.
He pretended to be innocent now.

"A woman like her won't be accepted by anyone. It's

unexpected that ethics and moral standards of Lord
Protector's family is ..." Consort Dowager said coldly. She was
ashamed of the things her grandson just did.

Ning Yuling looked at them with a cold smile, feeling ironic. Madam
Ling intended to do harm to her by letting a painter paint the
obscene picture for Princely Heir. So did Ning Yuling. She asked the
man to ruin her reputation. In the end, Ning Yuling took them all.

The situation at present was all their own fault. Madam Ling and
Ning Yuling took it themselves.

Ning Yuling started trembling because she was angry and worried.
But she couldn't say a word for her lip shivered. How could it be her
instead of Ning Xueyan?

Ning Yuling was shrewish so she pushed away an older female

servant and wanted to abuse the man. She showed a ferocious face,
looking at the man.

www.asianovel.com
 40 Report
Xianghong, who stood beside her, reached out to stop her,
whispering to her ear.

Her words stunned Ning Xueyan immediately. Shock, hatred, and

fear were all on her face.

It was Ning Yuling's plan. She asked Xianghong to tell the man that
Ning Xueyan had a crush on him but couldn't be with him, and she
would like to be his concubine because her family wanted to marry
her to someone. Moreover, Xianghong told the man that Ning Xueyan
wanted him to send a servant to ruin her reputation so that he could
help her. In the end, Lord Protector's Manor would agree with their
marriage.

However, instead of ruining Ning Xueyan's reputation, Ning Yuling

became the victim.

Ning Yuling felt her blood become cold. She could feel the disdain
and disgust in people's eyes. When she raised her head, she looked
into Ning Xueyan's profound dark eyes. She only saw the coldness in
them. So was her silent lip.

"It's you. It's you. Isn't it?" Ning Yuling screamed, pointing at
Ning Xueyan in a rage. Her face was twisted.

"My second sister, what are you talking about? I... know
nothing at all." Ning Xueyan answered calmly with a pair of
peaceful eyes. She stood aside in no hurry. Her beautiful face showed
no fear and panic.

"Bitch! It must be you! The shame was on you. You seduced

men then planted it on me." Ning Yuling was furious. She shouted
in a rage. She wasn't willing to face the truth that she planned
everything, but it turned out to be her shame.

The rouge and make-up were stacked on Ning Yuling's face. Tears
made them become colorful marks. Her ugly looks made people hate

www.asianovel.com
 41 Report
her more.

"My second sister, please don't be angry. Someone may

frame you up. Let grandma find the truth. If she can't, we will
tell some officers. All in all, we won't let anyone tarnish your
reputation for no reason." Ning Xueyan pretended to be
thoughtful.

This reminded Madam Dowager. She said, "Frisk him!"

Two older female servants did what she asked right now. They
searched all over his body and found a gold head-ornament flower in
her arms. Madam Dowager was in silence when she saw it. Her face
was twisted while she held tightly the same gold flower in her hands.
Of course, she knew what it was. This was a usual ornament in Lord
Protector's Manor.

There was a sign on the top of it, which represented her manor.
Besides, the type of the flower only belonged to Ning Yuling.

Seeing Madam Dowager's action, people understood immediately

that the ornament was Ning Yuling's.

Ning Xueyan showed a little shock on her face but she hid it
perfectly. She turned to her angry grandma and said, Grandmother,
my second sister will never do such a thing. She might think it was
funny so she wanted to imitate the drama. The worst persons are her
maids. They didn't stop her. When the truth is exposed, they are
afraid of punishments so they frame up Yan'er... Grandmother,
please forgive my second sister!"

Ning Yuling started to rebuke Ning Xueyan after hearing what her
maid said. This made people think Ning Yuling's maid suggested her
to frame up her sister. The maid was the same as her mistress.

Moreover, Ning Xueyan's words could prove Ning Yuling's sins.

"You... you, I..." Ning Yuling's face was ugly. She couldn't say a

www.asianovel.com
 42 Report
word pointing at Ning Xueyan. She could do nothing now. All she
knew was what Xianghong said was about last night's plan. The man
ought to be sent by Princely Heir. Xianghong tried to warn her. But
she couldn't tell people this.

Madam Dowager's face became worse. She had no idea what to

do, gritting her teeth. Hearing what Ning Xueyan said, she
understood the situation clearly. She decided to walk towards Ning
Yuling and slap her. Ning Yuling stepped back a little then fell down
on the ground. Her lip was broken and the blood came out.

"Grandmother..." Ning Yuling covered her mouth, looking at

Madam Dowager. She couldn't believe this.

"Xianghong connived her mistress. Flog her to death!"

Madam Dowager rebuked, staring at Xianghong in rage.

"Madam Dowager..." Xianghong was astonished, she knelt on

the ground and said, "It's Second Young Lady..."

The whole plan was from Ning Yuling, so Xianghong was unwilling
to take the blame.

Madam Dowager didn't give her more chance to explain. "Mute

her and flog her hard!"

Xianghong wanted to say more but someone already did what

Madam Dowager asked. She couldn't say anything anymore.

"Grandmother, how to deal with this man?" Ning Xueyan

asked, pointing at the man.

"Drag him out and flog him hard, too. Then deliver him to
the office." Madam Dowager rebuked again when she heard Ning
Xueyan's question because she was in rage now.

The man saw the guards walking towards him, he started to shout
in spite of everything, "My madam, it's real that Second Young

www.asianovel.com
 43 Report
Lady asked me here. She said she didn't want to marry a
prince or an heir. She just wanted to be with me. But she was
afraid her manor would be against her so she made the plan.
Madam, please let us be!"

"Mute him and drag him out! Now!" Madam Dowager knocked
the ground using her stick in a rage. Even Honored Consort Ya's and
Third Prince's faces grew dark.

When two guards saw Third Prince's horrible look, they muted the
man quickly and dragged him out immediately. Everybody here knew
Ning Yuling and Third Prince were engaged. Now they found out Ning
Yuling had private relationships with other men. This would
embarrass Third Prince.

Being stared by Third Prince's cold eyes, Ning Yuling dared not to
say more. She started to cry, covering her face.

www.asianovel.com
 44 Report

Chapter 57
Source: TapRead

After what happened, nobody could enjoy the Chrysanthemum

Party. Ning Yuling was sent away by Madam Dowager. Third Prince
wanted the power of Ning Zu'an. Ning Yuling had such a bad
reputation of dating several men secretly, so Third Prince would not
marry her if he was to get related to Lord Protector's Manor by
marriage.

He was a prince. It would be a joke if she cheated on him.

Ning Xueyan settled down back to her room. Lanning offered a cup
of tea to her and asked after thinking of something, "My lady, how
do you know Second Young Lady would leave Xianghong for
abetting the man to tarnish your reputation?"

Ning Xueyan smiled slightly. Her eye-sight fell on a cluster of

ordinary daisies. She answered coldly with her lip lifted, "Ning
Yuling only got one chance. She was too proud to let it go."

Ning Yuling, who was as vicious as Madam Ling, hated Ning Xueyan
so much. So she wouldn't give up the opportunity to frame her up.
She made a plan but it mixed up with Madam Ling's plan. Madam
Ling was so vicious that Ning Yuling was unlucky to take the
consequence.

"What will happen to Xianghong?" Qingyu couldn't help asking.

"After all these things, Xianghong won't be alive. She may

be flogged to death for abetting her mistress to date other
men." Ning Xueyan answered peacefully.

Qingyu showed an unhappy face after hearing this. She felt sorry
for Xianghong. Lanning noticed her mood and said with a cold smile,

www.asianovel.com
 45 Report
"You have sympathy for her? If they succeeded today, not
only you and I would be like her, but also our lady will be
killed by a white silk string."

Ning Xueyan wasn't Ning Yuling. Ning Yuling was under the
protection of Madam Ling, so Madam Dowager wouldn't kill her. If it
was Ning Xueyan, she wouldn't be alive.

Qingyu trembled a little after hearing this and stopped her

thinking. Ning Xueyan dropped her eyes slightly seeing Qingyu
stopped, there was some shadow in her eyes.

Qingyu had a soft heart. But if she wanted to stay with Ning
Xueyan, she must know being merciful to their enemies was killing
themselves. Ning Xueyan found out this by her blood in her last life.
She wouldn't make the same mistake now.

"My lady, will Madam Ling rush to question you because

Second Young Lady takes the blame?" Lanning worried about
Madam Ling so she tried to warn Ning Xueyan. After what happened,
Madam Ling would suspect Ning Xueyan although she had nothing to
do with it.

Seeing considerable Lanning, Ning Xueyan smiled a little, and she

felt warm, "Never mind, Madam Ling won't do that. Now she
was in danger herself. Ning Yuling had private relationships
with other men, which was proved true. People saw the truth,
so I won't get involved."

People in the party were noble madams in the capital, so Madam

Ling would be unable to turn back again.

"How about marquis? He follows his wife all the time..."

Lanning was still worried. The backyard of Lord Protector's Manor was
in the command of Madam Ling. Ning Zu'an allowed this.

"He follows her all along?" Ning Xueyan showed an ironic look.

www.asianovel.com
 46 Report
Compared with his power and money, following his wife would be an
alternative. Watch! Her uncle was almost ready. She wanted to know
which one was more important to Ning Zu'an, dignity or Madam
Ling...

Some voices came from the yard while their talking. Lanning went
out to check up and brought an older female servant in.

Two maids were behind the female servant. One of them held
some silks, the other had a jewelry box in her hands.

The older female servant bowed to Ning Xueyan with great

respectful smiling.

"Fifth Young Lady, these were from Third Prince. Madam

Dowager asked me to give you after checking up. They were
simple but the color was good, which will fit you perfectly.
Madam Dowager asked you to take them."

The gifts from Third Prince? Especially picking light color ones, he
gave them to Madam Dowager first then Ning Xueyan took them
from Madam Dowager.

Ning Xueyan never saw the older female servant acted like this.
She said while frowning, "They're gifts for grandmother, so I
can't take them. Not to mention they're useless for me."

"Fifth Young Lady didn't hear me clearly. Third Prince gave

them to you. He picked something decent. They're all silks
and satins. I heard they're from the national treasury. I never
saw anything as good as them in our manor." The older female
servant flattered.

Ning Xueyan's eyelash dropped a little. The coldness in her eyes

was covered, but her eyebrow emitted colder mood.

Seeing Ning Xueyan's reaction, Lanning understood her right now

and rebuked, "What are you saying? Third Prince gave them to

www.asianovel.com
 47 Report
my lady? My lady is noble, so is Third Prince. They won't have
a private relationship."

"Oh... no, it's not what I meant..." Being misunderstood, the

older female servant was astonished and tried to explain, but Ning
Xueyan stopped her.

"Now that you said no, why do you take Third Prince's gifts
to me? People who know the truth think it's grandmother's
love to me, but people who don't will talk about me and Third
Prince. After what happened to my second sister, do you
want more troubles?"

The words were harsh, Ning Xueyan even blamed her

grandmother. Her white face showed some cold smiles.

"It's... it's not what Madam Dowager meant..." The older

female servant planned to flatter Fifth Young Lady by sending her
gifts. It was unexpected she was misunderstood by the lady. The
older female servant was about to explain with widely opened eyes
and mouth, "Fifth Young Lady, Madam Dowager sent me here
and asked me to give you..."

"You still don't get it. You want Fifth Young Lady to tell it
to Madam Dowager herself?" Qingyu rebuked with unpleasure.
She was aware of it now.

Seeing the situation, the older female servant moved her eyes
quickly and smiled brightly to Ning Xueyan, "Fifth Young Lady, it
would waste Madam Dowager's kindness if you refuse."

"The kindness of Madam Dowager or Third Prince?" Ning

Xueyan asked coldly. Her frozen eye-sight scared the older female
servant.

"Of... of course the gifts were from Third Prince. Madam

Dowager sent them here."

www.asianovel.com
 48 Report
"I can't take Third Prince's gifts. Please tell my
grandmother. I'm the noble daughter of Lord Protector's
Manor so I won't take them." Ning Xueyan said coldly.

"I..." The older female servant didn't expect her to be like this so
she didn't know what to say now.

"Do you really want Fifth Young Lady to say it to Madam

Dowager herself?" Lanning rebuked again.

"No... no. I will tell it to Madam Dowager." The older female

servant saw Ning Xueyan's cold face although Ning Xueyan said
nothing. She would put down things and leave directly in her old
time. But the older female servant remembered what Third Prince
said, so she dared not to make it up. So she excused herself quickly.

The older female servant planned to flatter, but now she was
kicked out. This was a shame. She felt angry so she stomped her feet
heavily by the yard door and cursed something. Then she went back
angrily to reply to Madam Dowager with maids, shaking her
handkerchief. The little bitch dared to insult her, so she would say
something bad to Madam Dowager.

The servants of Madam Dowager despised Ning Xueyan.

Lanning closed the door after they left and went back to the room.
She asked uncertainly, "Fifth Young Lady, what does Madam
Dowager want?"

Ning Xueyan raised her head with a cold smile on her lip, "She
wants to get on well with Third Prince. Now that Ning Yuling
is useless, so her focus is on me. She even wants to marry
me to him in spite of what happened to Ning Yuling."

Ning Xueyan was unwilling to be a chessman of Lord Protector's

Manor for richness and dignity. What she did wasn't for marrying
Third Prince. Third Prince was obsessed with Ning Zu'an's power so

www.asianovel.com
 49 Report
he wouldn't break with Lord Protector, because it wasn't good for
him.

Honored Consort Ya and Third Prince paid attention to her at the

moment of what happened to Ning Yuling. Madam Dowager was
willing to do this. It might be better than Ning Yuling that her
unfavored granddaughter could marry Third Prince.

If Third Prince was the future emperor, Ning Xueyan would earn
dignity for Lord Protector's Manor as the first daughter of it.

If Third Prince couldn't be the future emperor, she was a useless

chessman which would be thrown away easily. She wasn't favored so
marquis and Madam Dowager could handle her in the way whatever
they wanted. So Madam Dowager hurried to send her gifts of Third
Prince and wanted to keep her reputation at the time.

"My lady, what should we do now?" Qingyu understood it and

asked hurriedly, "The older female servant was unhappy when
she left. Maybe she is saying something bad about you in
front of Madam Dowager. What should we do if Madam
Dowager blames you for this?"

"She'd better say it. Lanning, fetch my scissors." Ning

Xueyan showed a cold smile on her lip, standing up. She tried to find
a way to get Madam Dowager here. Seeing the older female
servant's face, she knew she would definitely say bad things to
Madam Dowager which would enrage her.

Lanning did what Ning Xueyan asked without thinking twice. She
put scissors on the desk.

Ning Xueyan's cold eye-sight fell on the scissors. She put it under
the loom and smiled. "Qingyu, go to decoct medicine under the
roof. Right under the roof. You need to give me the medicine
when Madam Dowager is here later."

www.asianovel.com
 50 Report
Madam Dowager wanted to use her to please Third Prince. Third
Prince wanted to use her to build the connection with Lord Protector's
Manor. But she wasn't the old her. She would be against them and
use them to deal with some troubles of her own.

An older female servant who was good at medicine followed

Madam Dowager everywhere.

It was said that the servant had checked all the medicine around
Madam Dowager. So madam Dowager only used the things she
checked.

As for Madam Dowager, she heard Ning Xueyan didn't take the
gifts and said impolite words. So she got angry and rushed to Ning
Xueyan's place with many maids and older female servants.

www.asianovel.com
 51 Report

Chapter 58
Source: TapRead

"Young Lady, Young Lady, you can't do that... If Second

Madam knew it, she would have been sad." The voice of a maid
came out of the room, accompanied by the sound of something
falling.

Under the corridor stood a maid who stunningly saw Madam

Dowager coming with anger. The medicine pot in her hand was still
steaming. It seemed that she had just decocted the medicine and
was about to bring it to Ning Xueyan.

"Madam Dowager, you... come and see our Young Lady."

Qingyu seemed to see the savior when she saw Madam Dowager.
She rushed to Madam Dowager, forgetting to put down the hot
medicine pot in her hands.

"What's wrong with her?" Madam Dowager asked impatiently.

Originally, she came here with anger to denounce Ning Xueyan and
became unhappier when she found that it was in a mess here.

"Our Young Lady..."

Before Qingyu finished her words, a sudden cry followed by a loud

sound came out of the room, which made Qingyu almost unable to
hold the medicine pot. She rushed into the house in spite of talking to
Madam Dowager who followed up with her servants.

In the room, Ning Xueyan fell to the ground, and on the other side
was a fallen chair. Lanning was also half sitting on the ground,
holding Ning Xueyan's one hand tightly. What made people nervous
most was a pair of sharp scissors in Ning Xueyan's hands. Lanning
and she were snatching the scissors.

www.asianovel.com
 52 Report
The two ignored the messy embroidery on the ground.

"What are you doing?" Madam Dowager's face darkened and

she heavily rapped the ground with her walking stick, making a loud
sound.

"Grandma!" Ning Xueyan looked up with surprise as if she didn't

know why Madam Dowager was here. Then she let go of the scissors
she held tightly, stood up with the support of Qingyu, and saluted
Madam Dowager respectfully, with a dim look on her face.

Her elegant salute was totally different from her radical behavior
before.

"Grandma, please sit down!" Lanning grabbed the scissors and

threw it away. Then she picked up the fallen chair, bowed her head,
and stepped back to one side.

Madam Dowager sat down and asked angrily, "What were you
doing just now? Do you think that we haven't had enough
trouble recently so you make troubles now?"

So many things had happened. Ning Yuling lost the chance to be

the Consort of Third Prince, which made Madam Dowager very angry.
So now she vented her anger on Ning Xueyan.

The Madam Dowager was so biased.

Ning Xueyan glanced at Madam Dowager, hatred flashing in her

jade-like eyes.

Looking at Madam Dowager's angry look, Ning Xueyan raised her

head and explained, "Grandma, I just want to shave my long
hair and worship it in front of mother's memorial tablet. From
then on, I'll stay with her to show my filial piety to her."

Shaving her hair and staying with her mother forever? Did she
want to be a nun?

www.asianovel.com
 53 Report
Thinking about her previous plan, Madam Dowager was furious and
couldn't think too much in her mind. She immediately looked sharply
at Ning Xueyan and said, "What do you mean? Are you not
satisfied with the gift that I just sent and deliberately did
those things to embarrass me?"

The Third Prince just talked with Madam Dowager about Ning
Xueyan and said he was very satisfied with Ning Xueyan. But now
Ning Xueyan said she wanted to be a nun. How could the Madam
Dowager not be angry?

And then she began to cough and flush. It was obvious that she
really was angry!

The female physician standing behind Madam Dowager

immediately went to take a cup of water to her.

Ning Xueyan knew that Madam Dowager didn't like Madam Ming
and her. If not, she would help them in the backyard in the past.
Even though Ning Yuling murdered Ning Xueyan, Madam Dowager
still wouldn't care too much. Now Madam Dowager cared for Ning
Xueyan because Ning Yuling couldn't become the Consort of Third
Prince. So she was afraid that Ning Xueyan really wanted to be a nun
and couldn't marry the Third Prince.

At this time, Madam Dowager wouldn't allow Ning Xueyan to shave

her hair and become a nun.

"Grandmother, my mother used to accompany me. Now I

want to accompany her in the future. Grandma, please allow
me to do so." Ning Xueyan looked up and said with calmness on her
face. Then she looked down to cover the hatred in her eyes.

Hearing that, Madam Dowager who leaned on the back of the chair
became more furious. She pounded the table with her hands, saying,
"You only care your mother. Your father and I are your
families too. If you become a nun, how could your father and

www.asianovel.com
 54 Report
I face the ancestors when we die?"

"But, my mother..." Ning Xueyan's look changed and she

hesitantly said.

"Your mother has died. But you still have father, brothers,
sisters, and I. Isn't it good for us to live happily in the
future?" Madam Dowager constrained her anger and persuaded
Ning Xueyan first.

If Ning Xueyan really shaved her hair and became a nun, the Lord
Protector's Manor would greatly lose face.

Madam Ming had just died, and then her daughter wanted to shave
hair and become a nun several days later!

Moreover, Ning Xueyan was beautiful and the daughter born of the
legal wife. Madam Dowager was reluctant to allow Ning Xueyan to
become a nun in any case. What was more, the Third Prince had
made it clear that he was fond of her.

Ning Yuling couldn't marry the Third Prince anymore. Strictly

speaking, Ning Yuling had cuckolded Third Prince. It was considered
that the Lord Protector's Manor was sorry for the Third Prince. So the
Third Prince should be angry and vent his anger on the Lord
Protector's Manor.

At this time, Madam Dowager should please the Third Prince even
more!

Madam Dowager had sent people to greet the Honored Consort Ya.
But the Honored Consort Ya refused to see them. It could be seen
that Honored Consort Ya was angry too!

So in this case, the importance of Ning Xueyan was obvious.

Madam Dowager had seen how fierce Ning Xueyan was when she
snatched the scissors, so now she changed her mind and dared not

www.asianovel.com
 55 Report
force Ning Xueyan anymore.

"Grandmother, my mother will be lonely if I don't

accompany her." Ning Xueyan hesitantly said, seeming to be
convinced by Madam Dowager.

Seeing Ning Xueyan no longer stubborn, Madam Dowager was

relieved. Now she didn't dare to vent her anger on Ning Xueyan. She
took Ning Xueyan's hands and said lovingly, "Xueyan, your mother
also wants you to live well. She also wants you to live in
harmony with your sisters and brothers. Now, you should
take care of yourself. If something bad happened to you,
your mother would be sad if she knew that."

Madam Dowager became sad when she said that. She took up her
handkerchief and wiped around her eyes. "Your mother used to be
obedient. You take after your mother. You're also sensible.
Don't make me worry about you anymore."

Madam Dowager's statement was sincere as if she really worried

about Ning Xueyan. If Ning Xueyan hadn't know Madam Dowager's
mind, she would have regarded Madam Dowager as a good
grandmother who loved her granddaughter.

After hiding the scissors, Lanning came over and also said to Ning
Xueyan, "Madam Dowager is right. Young Lady, Madam
Dowager cares you so much. How could she make you
unfaithful and unfilial? It's all that older female servant's
nonsense. It must have nothing to do with Madam Dowager."

Madam Dowager was stunned by Lanning's words. She looked back

at the older female servant Lanning pointed at, face becoming
gloomy.

"What did she say?"

The older female servant who stood beside was frightened, and her

www.asianovel.com
 56 Report
face suddenly turned pale.

"Madam Dowager, the older female servant who came just

now said that you're going to give the gifts of the Third
Prince to our young lady. She also said that our Young Lady
will marry the Third Prince and be his Co-consort. Listening
to those words, our Young Lady felt indignant and said she
would shave her hair and become a nun. How a daughter
could be engaged after her mother died less than one
month!"

Lanning pointed at the older female servant and angrily said.

Then she turned to Madam Dowager and said, "Madam Dowager,

how could she say that? Our Young Lady repeatedly said that
the gifts were given by you. But she said it was the Third
Prince who gave them to our Young Lady. If so, it will become
a private deal. The Second Young Lady's private deal was
revealed. If such a thing happened to our Young Lady too, it
will bring shame to the Lord Protector's Manor!"

This remark was very sharp. Madam Dowager was angry, but she
couldn't vent her anger. She felt embarrassed.

She turned around and heavily slapped the older female servant
who stood behind her. The older female servant immediately knelt
down, covering her face. The older female servant had spoken ill of
Ning Xueyan in front of Madam Dowager. Now she was scolded by
Lanning and she couldn't respond for a moment. Before she could
respond, Madam Dowager slapped her.

Now she didn't dare to say more, and wonder if Madam Dowager
knew her slander. She only felt frightened and begged for mercy.

"Grandma, don't be angry. It's nonsense. I don't care. You

greatly value propriety and rule. How can you say that?"
Feeling that it was her turn, Ning Xueyan went to Madam Dowager

www.asianovel.com
 57 Report
and gently said.

Ning Yueyan's remark made Madam Dowager more depressed, but

she could say nothing. Madam Dowager couldn't say that she really
wanted Ning Xueyan to marry the Third Prince. She also couldn't
admit that in order to please the Third Prince, she sent the gifts of
the Third Prince to her granddaughter who was observing mourning
for her mother.

Apart from feeling angry, she still felt regret. Ning Yuling's
reputation had been ruined. If Ning Xueyan's reputation was ruined
too, there would be no suitable Young Lady in Lord Protector's Manor.

It seemed that the marriage between the Third Prince and Ning
Xueyan couldn't be rushed. This matter should be discussed after at
least three months!

If Madam Dowager was too anxious, she might fail!

"I won't say that. You're observing mourning for your

mother. How can I talk about that now? Well, forget that and
don't shave your hair. Is that your medicine? Take it first. The
health is the most important thing. You have to take care of
yourself." Madam Dowager only wanted to change the topic now.

She pointed at the medicine pot that Qingyu put aside and asked
Ning Xueyan to take it with concern.

"Ah, the medicine." As soon as Madam Dowager mentioned,

Qingyu also seemed to remember it. She rushed to the medicine pot,
opened it, and poured the medicine into a bowl. Immediately, the
strong smell suffused the whole room. The smell of it was much
stronger than that of Madam Dowager's medicine.

Ning Xueyan took the bowl handed by Qingyu and was about to
take the medicine, frowning uncomfortably.

The female physician standing next to Madam Dowager suddenly

www.asianovel.com
 58 Report
changed her look when she smelled something. She looked up
slightly and stared at the medicine bowl in Ning Xueyan's hands,
shouting, "Wait a minute! There's something wrong with the
medicine."

www.asianovel.com
 59 Report

Chapter 59
Source: TapRead

There was also a problem with this medicine!

Madam Dowager's look changed as soon as she heard that!

Madam Dowager had been frightened by the matter of her

medicine. When she heard that something was wrong with Ning
Xueyan's medicine, she looked at the medicine bowl with gloom and
asked, "What's wrong?"

"Madam Dowager, it's poisoned too! And the poison in it is

the same as that in your medicine." The female physician
smelled again and said firmly.

"Was my medicine material taken from grandmother? It's

impossible. I didn't use up my medicine last time. They were
directly taken from the manor." Ning Xueyan slight frowned and
said casually.

But her words made Madam Dowager's look more sinister!

"Please help our Young Lady!" Qingyu got the hint of Ning
Xueyan and knelt down to the female physician.

Madam Dowager nodded with a gloomy face.

The female physician went to Ning Xueyan and took her pulse. But
after a while, she frowned tightly and took Ning Xueyan's other hand
to feel her pulse again.

"Am I... unable to be cured?" Asked Ning Xueyan.

"No..." The female physician felt embarrassed and looked around.

www.asianovel.com
 60 Report
Madam Dowager waved her hand, all servants leaving the room
except her two henchmen.

"What's the matter?" Madam Dowager asked with a gloomy

look. She had to care about Ning Xueyan. The Third Prince had
clearly expressed his like for Ning Xueyan and his wish to marry her.
Although Ning Xueyan only would be his co-consort, she had won the
favor of the Third Prince. The Third Prince gave gifts to Ning Xueyan
in person, which obviously showed his attitude towards Ning Xueyan.

Nothing could happen to Ning Xueyan at this time!

"Madam Dowager, long-term use of this poison will not only

lead to death but also..." The female physician spoke with
hesitation and took a look at Ning Xueyan's pale face.

Seeing that things went on as her expectation, Ning Xueyan

showed coldness in her eyes. Madam Ling didn't add too much
poison to her medicine. It was she herself who deliberately add that
poison to all medicine.

In this way, the female physician could distinguish it easily.

"Just say it. I can stand it!" Ning Xueyan calmly said with a faint
smile on her face. She still kept graceful and calm in the face of
disasters, which few men could do. Madam Dowager couldn't help
but attach more importance to Ning Xueyan.

"Say it!" Madam Dowager said with a serious look.

It could be seen from the female physician's face that this matter
was quite serious!

"This medicine is only harmful to ordinary people's body.

Long-term use will lead to death. But for young women, it will
also make them... childless!"

Childless?

www.asianovel.com
 61 Report
"Ah! Our Young Lady will get married in the future. What
will happen if her future husband knows it?" Qingyu was
astonished and cried out in distraction.

Her future husband? Madam Dowager's face suddenly turned

gloomy. She was very angry and even wanted to kill Madam Ling.

In Madam Dowager's opinion, Ning Xueyan was now favored by the

Third Prince and would marry him. She was beautiful and sensible.
She would be favored by the Third Prince for a long time after getting
married.

If one day they found that it was Madam Ling who made Ning
Xueyan childless, this marriage would become a misfortune for Lord
Protector's Manor.

Madam Dowager was very angry and wanted to kill Madam Ling
directly at this time when she thought of the final result of the
marriage.

"Can I be cured?" Although Ning Xueyan's face was pale, she still
was calm and forced a smile on her face. She didn't ask the reasons,
but directly asked the results.

The matter that Madam Dowager was poisoned was directly

related to Ning Yuling's a personal older female servant who was
Madam Ling's henchman. Although there was no evidence that
Madam Ling had poisoned Madam Dowager, people who saw the
whole process knew that it must be Madam Ling's order. How could
an older female servant dare to poison the Madam Dowager?

Now, this kind of poison appeared again. And Ning Xueyan's

medicine was taken from the manor too. Everyone could imagine
who poisoned Ning Xueyan.

Besides, the death of Madam Ming was related to Madam Ling. But
Ning Xueyan's words showed that she didn't want to hold anyone

www.asianovel.com
 62 Report
accountable.

Ning Xueyan was so generous that Madam Dowager's face

softened. She also became angrier with Madam Ling. Then she
turned her head and beckoned the female physician to go on.

"Fifth Young Lady has been poisoned for a long time and
her body has been seriously hurt. In the future, she needs to
be nursed carefully so that she might recover." The female
physician frowned and didn't express her meaning directly. But her
meaning was clearly understood by others.

Ning Xueyan had been poisoned for a long time, and she wouldn't
be cured in a short time. Whether she could have children in the
future was still a problem. That was to say, it not only relied on her
future treatment, but also depended on her fate.

Madam Dowager had wanted Ning Xueyan to marry the Third

Prince, but now she was hesitant. It was very likely that Ning Xueyan
would be childless. If the Third Prince blamed the whole Lord
Protector's Manor when he became the emperor, they all would get
into trouble.

Moreover, if Ning Xueyan had no child after she married the Third
Prince, she might lose the Third Prince's love soon and the Lord
Protector's Manor might not maintain the glory and wealth.

Madam Dowager greatly hated Madam Ling as long as she thought

of the possible future results.

"Xueyan, how much medicine is left?"

"Little of the medicine I brought from the manor is left.

There are about ten doses. When I came to the temple, I
brought some with me. Soon afterward, mother sent some to
me. I think she's afraid I've run out of the medicine."

Ning Xueyan thought for a moment and replied.

www.asianovel.com
 63 Report
"Take them and show me!" Madam Dowager said.

Ning Xueyan nodded and asked Qingyu to fetch them. After a

while, ten doses of medicine were placed in front of Madam Dowager.
The female physician looked at them one by one, and finally stood in
front of Madam Dowager. She looked up and said, "Madam
Dowager, all of the ten doses are poisoned. Fifth Young Lady
is very weak now. If she takes another month or two, I'm
afraid she would have no children."

Things were very clear. It must be Madam Ling who poisoned Ning
Xueyan. Madam Dowager was livid, and her face darkened and
turned gruesome.

"Xueyan, you take a rest first. I'll certainly look into this
matter." Madam Dowager calmed down and conciliated Ning
Xueyan.

Even if Madam Ling bore Ning Zu'an a son, Madam Dowager

wouldn't allow her to be so presumptuous. She turned her head and
said to Mother Qin with a cold look, "Pass on my message to
others. Tell them that Fifth Young Lady is filial and obedient.
From today on, she'll receive the same treatment as the
Second Young Lady's and all her articles of daily use will be
taken from my place."

Mother Qin hurried to nod her head.

It meant that Madam Dowager would protect Ning Xueyan in the

future.

"Grandmother, thank you." Ning Xueyan said with gratitude.

"Well, that's it. The servants in the manor are too cunning.
Your mother should teach them a lesson. Here, pack back all
the medicine." Looking at Ning Xueyan's grateful face, Madam
Dowager stood up with satisfaction. Then she went back with her

www.asianovel.com
 64 Report
servants, leaving such a sentence to Ning Xueyan.

Looking at Madam Dowager who left with her servants, Ning

Xueyan sneered in mind. Before leaving, Madam Dowager told Ning
Xueyan that it was servants' faults and had nothing to do with
Madam Ling. This matter would be dealt with like those matters
before. Some servants would be punished, and Madam Ling would be
let off.

Unfortunately, Ning Xueyan would never let off Madam Ling this

time.

Ning Xueyan played such a show so that Madam Dowager wouldn't

casually determine her marriage and had to carefully reconsider.
Besides, one of her purposes was to expose Madam Lings evil deeds.
How could she let off Madam Ling easily?

Madam Dowager wanted to cover up the fact, but Ning Xueyan

would disclose it...

Seeing off Madam Dowager in the corridor and seeing her

disappear outside the courtyard, Ning Xueyan returned to the house.

"Young Lady, Madam Dowager is unfair and helps the First

Madam. She even took the medicine away." Qingqu followed
Ning Xueyan to the house and said with indignation. The medicine
was the evidence that the First Madam framed Ning Xueyan.

Madam Dowager's help to Madam Ling was too obvious, and she
even took away the evidence.

"Qingyu, don't worry. Our Young Lady had thought of it

before!" Lanning smiled, took out two doses of medicine from Ning
Xueyan' sundries box, and put them in front of Qingyu.

They were the same as those were shown to Madam Dowager, and
also were sent by Madam Ling. Besides, they had already been
added poison to.

www.asianovel.com
 65 Report
"Fortunately, our Young Lady had thought of it before,
otherwise our efforts would be wasted! Young Lady, what
should we do now?" Thinking of Ning Xueyan's foresight, Qingyu
smiled. Then she turned to ask Ning Xueyan.

Ning Xueyan sat down on one side, took a sip of tea, and relaxed,
looking at the sky outside the window with a faint smile on her face.
"Lanning, check it for me that whether the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li is gone?"

Although the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li got rid of that

scandal, his reputation must have been suffered.

Ning Yuling was rakish, but the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince
also behaved poorly. He shouldn't habe held that sort of vulgar
picture!

The Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor originally

wanted Ning Yuling to marry her grandson. But after such a scandal,
they wouldn't get married. And even the Consort Dowager would
dislike Ning Yuling because her grandson was involved in this scandal
because of Ning Yuling. It was heard that this Consort Dowager loved
her grandson very much.

Presumably, Consort Dowager also hoped that Madam Ling and

Ning Yuling would fall on evil days! Moreover, it looked like that the
civet cat was favored by Consort Dowager...

"Yes, Young Lady. I'll ask now." Lanning nodded, turned, and
left.

"She refused to marry me?" The Third Prince put down the
writing brush and inkstick in his hands, took the towel handed by the
maid to wipe his hands, and asked.

"Yes. I heard that the Madam Dowager of Lord Protector's

Manor went to see her with anger. Your Highness, you're the

www.asianovel.com
 66 Report
exalted Third Prince. She's an unfavored Young Lady of Lord
Protector's Manor. Why did you want to marry her? How dare
she refuse you? Maybe she'll show off it in the Lord Protector'
Manor."

The guard said in indignation.

His master was gentle and cultivated and countless Young Ladies
wanted to marry him. It was Ning Xueyan's luck that his master liked
her. But this weak woman dared to refuse, which made him angry!

The handsome Third Prince smiled. He would like to help Ning

Xueyan, but why did she refuse? He said, "It doesn't matter. I just
want to know her family's attitude. I didn't expect her to
irritate the Madam Dowager."

Actually, the Third Prince was annoyed. He clearly expressed the

willingness to marry her, but she refused. However, he certainly
would marry the daughter of Lord Protector. He was looking forward
to seeing how she would respond next time!

www.asianovel.com
 67 Report

Chapter 60
Source: TapRead

Although several young men and women became couples after the
chrysanthemum appreciation grand meeting held by Honored
Consort Ya, it was unexpected that neither of the two most important
princes found a good match. The reasons why they didn't find a
match were that Ning Yuling had an accident and the Fourth Prince
was absent on business.

Although the chrysanthemum appreciation grand meeting was

over, the Honored Consort Ya didn't leave, so those madams couldn't
leave first.

Early in the morning, Ning Xueyan went to greet Madam Dowager.

Madam Dowager had already got up. She heard that Ning Xueyan
had come and asked her to come in. Before they chatted for a longer
time, Madam Dowager received an invitation from the Honored
Consort Ya. Something big happened yesterday and the two families
hadn't sat down to have a good talk. So Honored Consort Ya invited
Madam Dowager to have a talk.

Ning Yuling's scandal apparently brought shame on the Lord

Protector's Manor. However, all the madams here clearly knew that
there was an agreement between the Honored Consort Ya and Lord
Protector's Manor that Ning Yuling would marry the Third Prince and
be his consort. So such a thing also brought shame on the Third
Prince.

Generally speaking, it was the Lord Protector's Manor that was

sorry for the Third Prince. There must be an explanation for this
matter.

Whatever the reason was, Madam Dowager should go there. So

www.asianovel.com
 68 Report
she decided to go with Ning Xueyan.

The two followed by a group of servants went to Honored Consort

Ya's courtyard together.

When they arrived at the gate of the courtyard, the eunuchs were
already there. Seeing Madam Dowager coming, a eunuch trotted into
the room to report. When Madam Dowager arrived, an Honored
Consort Ya's older female servant came out with a smile and
respectfully welcomed Madam Dowager in.

Not only the Honored Consort Ya was in the room, but also the
Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor sat there with a
depressed look.

Ning Xueyan gave a look to Consort Dowager and found that she
didn't bring her white civet cat. It seemed that the incense she made
had worked.

The Honored Consort Ya smiled all the time as if she didn't mind
the matter of yesterday at all. When she saw Madam Dowager
coming in, she politely invited her to sit down.

"Madam Dowager, some preserved fruit were sent from the

Palace this morning. I heard they are the new product this
year. So I especially invite you to have a taste." The Honored
Consort Ya pointed at the preserved fruit in front of her and said to
Madam Dowager with a smile on her face.

The Honored Consort Ya just left the palace for a short time, but
His Majesty in the palace began to miss her and sent something to
her. It could be seen that she was favored now.

Madam Dowager recognized Honored Consort Ya's power from her

words, so she hurried to stand up and said, "Your Highness, thank
you very much. But I'm too old to eat this sweetmeat. Thank
you for your care."

www.asianovel.com
 69 Report
Honored Consort Ya didn't say anything, but actually, she was
extremely unhappy. The Third Prince always had a good reputation.
But now he was cuckolded by Ning Yuling. Everyone would be angry
if such a thing happened to them, let alone the royal family member.

"Honored Consort Ya really cares about Madam Dowager.

Look at your dark circles, didn't you sleep well last night?"
Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor coldly said in an
impolite way.

Honored Consort Ya's face darkened when she heard that.

Hearing Consort Dowager's words, Madam Dowager felt

embarrassed. Yesterday's scandal also implicated the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li. It seemed that the Consort Dowager was
angry too and today came here to find fault with Madam Dowager.

"I'm so sorry, Your Highness. I've lived for a long time, but I
didn't expect such a thing to happen. The Second Young Lady
usually behaves well. I really don't know how she was fooled
by her servants. Alas, it's a family misfortune!" Madam
Dowager sighed with tears in her eyes and her voice trembled.

Although Madam Dowager wanted to pin that on the maids, she

was really sad!

Honored Consort Ya, whose smile became sort of gentle, turned

around and saw Ning Xueyan standing behind Madam Dowager. She
softly said to her, "Fifth Young Lady, come here, let me see
you. You face is really pale. How about I asking the imperial
physician to treat you? How can a young girl be so weak?"

This scene was similar to the scene that Consort Dowager of

Commandery Prince Li's Manor cared about Ning Yuling while taking
her hands!

Ning Xueyan smiled coldly. She didn't want others to think that she

www.asianovel.com
 70 Report
would certainly marry the Third Prince. If the Honored Consort Ya
really cared about Ning Xueyan, she wouldn't wait until this time and
intentionally showed her concern in front of others. Honored Consort
Ya just wanted others to believe that there was a new agreement
between the Lord Protector's Manor and her.

Ning Xueyan lifted her head and regained composure. She walked
forward and saluted Honored Ya with cleverness. "Thank you very
much for your kindness, Your Highness. But Grandma has
invited a new doctor for me. The doctor said that I'm only
weak and need good care."

"Yes, there's nothing serious about her health. It's inborn.

She didn't pay much attention to her health so that she's so
weak now. The doctor said that she should pay more
attention in the future. The imperial physician needn't come."
Madam Dowager rushed to say after Ning Xueyan.

If the imperial physician checked Ning Xueyan, the matter that she
had been poisoned would be disclosed!

But Madam Dowager's words showed that there was more distance
between her and Honored Consort Ya.

The Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor, who was

sitting on the other side, stopped finding fault with Madam Dowager,
shrewdness in her eyes. But all her behaviors and expressions had
been seen by Ning Xueyan. It seemed that the Consort Dowager was
not as useless as others said.

"Women should pay great attention to their health. It's

related to whether they will have children or not. You can't
slight your health." Honored Consort Ya didn't insist on asking the
imperial physician to check Ning Xueyan, but the meaning of her
words made Madam Dowager upset. Actually, Madam Dowager
wanted to accept Honored Consort Ya's advice and tell others that
the Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor still would marry the Third

www.asianovel.com
 71 Report
Prince.

However, she was afraid that the Honored Consort Ya would know
Ning Xueyan's current physical condition by the imperial physician.
And the issue of child Honored Consort Ya mentioned greatly upset
Madam Dowager.

"Yes, girls do have to pay more attention to their health."

Madam Dowager reluctantly replied. Then she turned to Ning Xueyan
and said, "Xueyan, you can go to the garden. It's nice. I'll talk
to the Honored Consort Ya for a while."

Madam Dowager wanted Ning Xueyan to leave for a while, because

some topics were not suitable to be talked in front of young girls.

Because of the previous matters, Madam Dowager would never

determine her marriage at random, so Ning Xueyan nodded her head
and left the room.

When she passed the Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's

Manor, she understood why the Consort Dowager of Commandery
Prince Li's Manor was unhappy and smiled greatly.

The Honored Consort Ya's courtyard was one of the best in Cold
Mountain Temple and was originally used to entertain important
guests.

Behind Honored Consort Ya's courtyard, there was a garden where

there were many rockery forests and a winding cobblestone path
paved with red maple leaves.

Palace maids and eunuchs were all serving Honored Consort Ya

and her guests, so the garden was quiet. Ning Xueyan strolled along
the winding cobblestone path, feeling soft under her feet. The
chrysanthemum bloomed around the rockery, which was very
charming. The layered petals made them look like pleated skirts,
colorful and beautiful.

www.asianovel.com
 72 Report
Ning Xueyan walked slowly forward while enjoying the beautiful
scenery around her. After turning a corner, she saw Aunt Xiang
standing under a big maple tree with her hands clasped behind her
back.

Aunt Xiang had helped Ning Xueyan prove that Madam Dowager
was poisoned. But after that, Ning Xueyan had no chance to see Aunt
Xiang. So when she met Aunt Xiang at this time, she hurried to step
forward and cried, "Aunt Xiang!"

"Fifth Young Lady, are you here to see Honored Consort

Ya?" Aunt Xiang didn't move, but only turned her head to face Ning
Xueyan and asked politely.

"Yes, Grandma is talking to Honored Consort Ya. She asked

me to go out for a stroll." Ning Xueyan answered with a faint
smiled. Then she stood beside Aunt Xiang and looked up at the
maple tree Aunt Xiang had been looking at. "What's on the tree?
Why are you so absorbed in it?"

"I'm not looking at anything, just thinking of an old friend."

Aunt Xiang turned and walked to the back of the tree, followed by
Ning Xueyan. After several steps, Ning Xueyan saw a stone table and
two stone benches behind the tree. A teapot and two delicate
bamboo-shaped cups were on the stone table, and one cup was
steaming, tea aroma spreading.

"Aunt Xiang, you're aesthetic. It's great to drink tea and

enjoy the scenery here!" Ning Xueyan said with a smile.

"Fifth Young Lady, please sit down!" Aunt Xiang smiled and
offered a seat to Ning Xueyan. Then she poured a cup of tea and
pushed it to Ning Xueyan.

It was daytime now and they were in Honored Consort Ya's

courtyard, so they couldn't be too close. However, Ning Xueyan could
still sense Aunt Xiang's sincere and warm smile in her eyes.

www.asianovel.com
 73 Report
"Thanks!"

Ning Xueyan didn't refuse the tea. She took it handed by Aunt
Xiang and took a sip. Immediately, her eyes brightened and she
couldn't help but praise it. "Aunt Xiang, it's really a good tea. I
can taste the fragrance of chrysanthemum. How did you
make it?"

There were only tea leaves in the tea, but Ning Xueyan tasted
chrysanthemum. The aroma of chrysanthemum and tea was mixed
together, which was a different flavor.

"This is a favorite tea of an old friend. She made the tea

leaves by her new method. Hasn't your mother mentioned it
to you?" Aunt Xiang seemed to ask at will, but the corner of her
eyes throbbed for one time unconsciously. From that, Ning Xueyan
felt that Aunt Xiang was nervous when she asked.

"My mother didn't mention this kind of tea to me. I think

your old friend must be a person of poetic temperament. I
really admire her for making such good tea. What kind of
people your old friend was?" Ning Xueyan asked in a pretended
casual way, turning around the cup with her white fingers.

"She's just an old friend of mine. But she has passed away."
Aunt Xiang shook her head with sadness on her face and didn't want
to talk about the past. Then she stood up and said, "Please enjoy
yourself, Fifth Young Lady. I have work to do and have to go
now."

Then she stretched out her hands and lifted her long sleeves, as if
she was going to pour more tea for Ning Xueyan before leaving.

Aunt Xiang's long and layered sleeve blocked the sight in the other
three directions, and only Ning Xueyan could see a small note falling
in front of her. Ning Xueyan's fingers moved slightly, and the note
silently fell into her sleeves.

www.asianovel.com
 74 Report
Ning Xueyan had guessed that Aunt Xiang wouldn't appear in the
courtyard for no reason. She was waiting for Ning Xueyan here.

Ning Xueyan stood up and said with a smile while keeping her
countenance, "Aunt Xiang, please yourself."

Aunt Xiang smiled and said nothing more, turning and leaving. But
when she passed the maple tree, she paused and looked up at the
straight maple tree, murmuring something before leaving.

When Aunt Xiang disappeared in her sight, the smile on Ning

Xueyan's face faded away and she began to meditate.

Just then, Ning Xueyan seemed to hear a footstep. Somehow, she

unconsciously looked to the left and hid behind the rockery on the
other side. She couldn't help be shocked when she saw a familiar
person coming from another road through the holes in the rockery.

How could it be him!

www.asianovel.com
 75 Report

Chapter 61
Source: TapRead

The handsome man coming from afar was the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Min, Wen Xueran.

How could he, a man, be alone in the courtyard of Honored Consort

Ya!

Suddenly, another figure appeared in the sight of Ning Xueyan who

frowned when she saw that woman.

Yesterday, Ning Xueyan saw this woman who had been sitting
behind the Honored Consort Ya. At first glance, Ning Xueyan felt she
was arrogant. It was said that she was the daughter of the Feudal
Prince of Yunnan, Commandery Princess Muling.

Since the founding of the country, the Feudal Prince of Yunnan had
been stationing in the southeast of the country. But his daughter was
born and grew up in the capital.

"Elder Brother Ran, why are you walking so fast? Would you
like to have a rest?" The blushed Commandery Princess Muling
stepped forward and delicately asked while pointing at the stone
bench and table.

Seeing that their eyes turning to the table, Ning Xueyan felt bad
and shrank more unconsciously. From the two steaming cups, one
could know that there had been two people here.

But the two over there seemed to be unknown.

Wen Xueran gently smiled, eyes smiling too. He sat down on the
stone bench where Ning Xueyan had just sat and turned over the
folding fan in his hands, asking with a smile, "Commandery Prince

www.asianovel.com
 76 Report
Muling, why did you ask me out?"

"It's not a big deal. I heard you're looking for a nun. I've
heard of such a man and I also found her. But I don't know if
she's the one you're looking for!" The Commandery Princess
Muling said with a smile.

Looking for someone? Was Wen Xueran still looking for that
person?

Ning Xueyan couldn't help but be alert. That person seemed to be

very important to Wen Xueran.

On that day, Ning Xueyan didn't know the nun Wen Xueran was
looking for, but he still pointed at her with a sword and kept asking
her with a murderous look. No one had expected the handsome and
gentle Wen Xueyan to be so fierce.

"Don't trouble yourself. I've found her." Wen Xueyan smiled,

eyes becoming enchanting. He was originally handsome. So when he
smiled like that at this time, the Commandery Princess Muling who
was sitting opposite him became shier. She pinched her
handkerchief, put down it, and then rubbed it up again.

Hearing that Wen Xueran had found the nun, the Commandery
Prince Muling could not help being disappointed. She thought that
she had finally found an opportunity to please Wen Xueran, so she
made an appointment with Wen Xueran solemnly today.

Ning Xueyan frowned slightly. She was a bystander, so she could

see them clearly. It was not like he had found the nun, but like a
random refusal.

"Ah, you've already found her!"

"But if you also find someone, you can tell me who she is.
It's not a big thing, but still bothers you." Wen Xueran said with
a smile. It sounded like he was thanking the Commandery Princess

www.asianovel.com
 77 Report
Muling, but people could felt his reluctance and random from his
words.

Wen Xueran had found the nun, but he was still willing to sit down
and listen to Commandery Princess Muling. It was because of
Commandery Princess Muling's enthusiasm!

In this way, it was Wen Xueran who gave a face to Commandery

Princess Muling.

Ning Xueyan praised Wen Xueran in her mind. The Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Min was so smart that he took the initiative in
his own hands by a few words. The Commandery Princess Muling
helped him find people. But it seemed that the Commandery Princess
Muling owed him a favor.

From Wen Xueran's action, Ning Xueyan was sure that he hadn't
found that person.

"It seems that the person I found is not what you want. But
you can have a look since I find a nun. Later, I'll bring her to
you by myself." As soon as she heard that Wen Xueran was willing
to see the people she found, the Commandery Princess Muling
relieved, raised her watery eyes and said while looking at Wen
Xueran.

"That's not necessary. You just ask an older female servant

to send her over. It's just an insignificant person." Wen Xueran
casually said, seeming to stand up and leave.

"Elder Brother Ran, why are you always avoiding me? We

grew up together and played together since childhood. I
think we match each other in the aspect of appearance,
family background, and status. What on earth do you dislike
about me? I'll change it." The beautiful girl finally couldn't bear
anymore and asked.

www.asianovel.com
 78 Report
Yesterday, the Honored Consort Ya said she would betroth
Commandery Princess Muling to Princely Heir of Commandery Prince
Min. But he was absent. Later, something bad happened.
Commandery Princess Muling's aunt had no time to care about her
and only said that she let the Third Prince ask Wen Xueran in private
and Wen Xueran expressed his unwillingness to marry her.

How could the proud Commandery Princess Muling accept that?

"Commandery Princess, you are neither as good-looking as

I am nor graceful. Look at my own face, and then at yours...
Commandery Princess, do you really think I need to marry
you?" The handsome man smiled casually, but said cruel words to
the beautiful girl in front of him.

The Commandery Princess Muling burst into tears and wiped her
eyes with a handkerchief.

Wen Xueran, however, didn't care. He looked at her with a smile,

stood up and seemed to be leaving.

Seeing that Wen Xueran was going to leave, Commandery Princess

Muling became anxious.

She had made great efforts to invite Wen Xueran to Honored

Consort Ya's courtyard and also asked all servants to leave so that
she could be alone with him.

"Elder Brother Ran, don't go. You've made me cry, you have
to comfort me." The Commandery Princess Muling stood up and
pretended to stop Wen Xueran, but threw herself straight into his
arms.

As long as she fell into his arms, their relationship would be

unclear. The Honored Consort Ya who knew what Commandery
Princess Muling was thinking would surely stand on her side. At that
time, Wen Xueran, even if he didn't want to marry the Commandery

www.asianovel.com
 79 Report
Princess Muling, had to marry her!

Wen Xueran smiled and avoided Commandery Princess Muling.

From the angle of Ning Xueyan, she could clearly see him secretly
tripping up Commandery Princess Muling.

Commandery Princess Muling rushed forward, but suddenly found

that Wen Xueran was missing. She was tripped and rushed forward
for several steps, and then threw herself to the ground, falling
heavily in an extremely indecent position.

"Young Lady, Young Lady, what happened?" Two maids

rushed out from the back of a tree, shouting and rushing to help the
Commandery Princess Muling, who still did not understand the
situation.

Wen Xueran smiled and stepped back, the folding fan in his hands
shaking slightly. "Nothing. The sunlight is too strong and your
Commandery Princess feels dizzy so that she fell down. You
should pay attention to it so as not to fall down from time to
time."

Falling down and losing face in front of her sweetheart and

meanwhile being slighted by him, Commandery Princess Muling
couldn't bear anymore and burst out crying loudly. She pushed aside
the two maids who were supporting her and ran out crying.

It was late autumn. Although there was the sun in the sky, it wasn't
hot at all!

But Wen Xueran's look was extremely innocent, making people

believe that the Commandery Princess Muling really fainted because
of strong sunlight.

The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Min had no tenderness

toward women. His graceful face was so deceptive!

Commandery Princess Muling had run away, but Ning Xueyan

www.asianovel.com
 80 Report
hadn't gone out. She was waiting for Wen Xueran to leave.

ly, there seemed to be only Wen Xueran and Commandery Princess

Muling in the garden. However, as soon as Commandery Princess
Muling fell down, there were maids running out. This matter was
obviously not simple.

Ning Xueyan didn't want to be involved in such a matter. So she

kept hiding first and then went out when Wen Xueran left.

"Well, haven't you seen enough yet?" A voice with laughter

suddenly sounded in Ning Xueyan's ear, which made her
unconsciously stepped back. Then Ning Xueyan saw a magnified face
in front of her and couldn't help but complain in mind.

She really didn't want to have any relationship with the Princely
Heir of Commandery Prince Min!

The scene that he pointed at her with a sword in her Last Life was
firmly imprinted in her mind.

"Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Min!" Knowing that she

couldn't avoid him at this time, Ning Xueyan stood by the rockery
and saluted him.

"It's destined. I didn't expect to see you here. Fifth Young

Lady, did it look good?" Wen Xueran seemed to be unsurprised to
see her here and asked Ning Xueyan with a smile.

He was so handsome and graceful. No wonder the Commandery

Princess Muling loved him so much!

"You're joking. I just passed by accidentally but disturbed

you intentionally. If it's impolite, please forgive me." Ning
Xueyan gently said in a low profile, respectful and indifferent.

"Did you see me before you came to Cold Mountain

Temple?" Wen Xueran didn't answer, but scrutinized Ning Xueyan

www.asianovel.com
 81 Report
and asked with interest.

"I've never seen you before!" Ning Xueyan was amazed by Wen
Xueyan's question. Then she shook her head firmly and answered.

"Then, why did you avoid me when you saw me? Isn't it that
I am too scary, so that you retreated?" Wen Xueran teased. "Or
you're afraid that you'll fall in love with me if you're too close
to me?"

Then he smiled, handsome and charming.

"You're joking. I'm just afraid of accidentally crashing the

ground in front of you." Ning Xueyan also calmed down at this
time, raised her eyebrows and said with a smile, her gaze falling on
the place where Muling fell.

"He won't recognize me! I needn't be nervous!" Ning Xueyan

thought in mind.

Moreover, Ning Xueyan looked different from Ning Ziying.

"You're afraid of crashing the ground? It's really fun!" Wen

Xueran laughed loudly. "I didn't expect the weak and
incompetent Fifth Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor to
be so interesting."

"Princely Heir, I'm in bad health, so I have to go back to

rest now." Ning Xueyan didn't intend to stay with Wen Xueran. She
took two steps and came out from the back of the rockery.

They were in the Honored Consort Ya's courtyard. Although there

was no one, maybe many people were staring at them in private.

"I specially came here, won't you join me for a cup of tea?"
Wen Xueran pretended to be sad and asked while skillfully flipping
the fan in his hands, cool and rakish.

www.asianovel.com
 82 Report
It was Commandery Princess Muling who invited him, but Wen
Xueran said he specially came here to see Ning Xueyan. It was really
difficult to get rid of him. Fortunately. Ning Xueyan had come up with
an idea. She smiled and said, pointing at the ground, "Princely Heir,
the Commandery Princess just left in a hurry. How about you
keeping this gold hairpin for her. Maybe she'll come in a
minute."

Ning Xueyan pointed to the place where Muling fell down, and a
golden hairpin was lying there. It must fell from Commandery
Princess Muling's head when she fell down. That gold hairpin was
exquisite. It must be extraordinary and cherished by its master.

"Er... Fifth Young Lady, I have anything else to do, I'll leave
first." Thinking that Commandery Princess Muling would come back,
Wen Xueran frowned. Commandery Princess Muling asked Wen
Xueran to meet her in the living place of Honored Consort Ya, which
also be Honored Consort Ya's idea. So Wen Xueran couldn't refuse.

Now he didn't want to stay here any longer when he thought that
Muling might come back.

Now that she didn't need to stay with him, Ning Xueyan said
goodbye to him with a smile!

Ning Xueyan strolled in the garden for a while and then went back
when the time was suitable.

When Ning Xueyan arrived at the garden gate, she was hit by a
man who suddenly rushed out. She stepped back for several steps
and stabilized herself by holding on to one side of the door frame,
then she saw the comer.

www.asianovel.com
 83 Report

Chapter 62
Source: TapRead

It was an older female servant who came in a hurry. Ning Xueyan

saw clearly that her clothes were the same style and color as that of
those older female servants who stood behind the Consort Dowager
of Commandery Prince Li's Manor.

"I'm sorry, Young Lady." Seeing that she had hit a Young Lady,
the older female servant didn't dare to neglect and rushed to
apologize.

Those who could go in and out of the residence of Honored Consort

Ya were not ordinary people.

"It's all right." Ning Xueyan faintly said. Seeing the older female
servant going into the courtyard after wiping sweat, Ning Xueyan
narrowed her eyes and smiled.

Ning Xueyan came back in time.

The older female servant rushed to the corridor and stopped. She
knew that the Honored Consort Ya was in the house, so she dared not
rush in and only peeped from the doorway. A maid standing behind
the Consort Dowager saw the older female servant and told the
Consort Dowager. She knew that there must be something serious
had happened, otherwise, the older female servant wouldn't have
come here.

Consort Dowager asked people to call the older female servant in.
Ning Xueyan also came into the room at this time and stood behind
Madam Dowager.

"Consort Dowager, Xue'er is missing and Princely Heir is in

a rage." The older female servant came in and report, trembling

www.asianovel.com
 84 Report
with fear.

Xue'er was the snow-white civet cat!

The civet cat was always kept beside the Consort Dowager, but the
Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li would take care of it in person
when he was at home. Usually, the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li cared about nothing, except the civet cat. Once, he was
very angry because of the missing of the civet cat and beat several
servants to death in the end.

Remembering the ferocious appearance of Princely Heir, the older

female servant could only come here to ask for help.

Hearing that her grandson was furious again and fearing that he
would make more troubles, Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince
Li's Manor was eager to leave. She stood up and said goodbye to
Honored Consort Ya.

"Grandmother, the Consort Dowager is gone. Should we...?"

Ning Xueyan saw it, smiled, and said in Madam Dowager's ear.

A scandal just happened to Ning Yuling yesterday so that Madam

Dowager felt shameful and didn't want to see others. So she wished
to leave early. But the Consort Dowager and Honored Consort Ya
made no mention of leaving, so Madam Dowager didn't say she
wanted to leave first. Now when she heard Ning Xueyan's words, she
immediately understood. She stood up and said she also wanted to
leave.

Something happened to the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li,

so Honored Consort Ya didn't persuade Consort Dowager to stay. And
Madam Dowager was also agreed to leave.

When Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor and

Madam Dowager went out together, a servant ran to Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li and said they had found the whereabouts of

www.asianovel.com
 85 Report
the civet cat. The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li heard that
his civet cat was found in the courtyard of womenfolk and went there
with a group of servants.

So the two groups happened to meet at the door.

"Xian'er, where are you going?" Seeing that Princely Heir of

Commandery Prince Li rushed to the place of womenfolk with some
servants in a fierce manner, the Consort Dowager got angry and
asked an older female servant to stop him.

Although the members of Commandery Prince Li's Manor were

relatives of the emperor, those madams here also came from noble
families and the Young Ladies came with them were born by the legal
wife. Yesterday, the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li just
offended Ning Yuling. If he offended anyone today, Consort Dowager
wouldn't be able to help him.

"Grandmother, just now a servant told me that Xue'er is

there. I just want to have a look."

"You just want to have a look? Then why there are so many
people with you?" The Consort Dowager scolded him, pointed at a
large group of people following the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li with anger.

There was a large group of people, and most of them were men. If
they offended those Young Ladies, they all would get into trouble.

"You all go back." Following Consort Dowager's gaze, Princely

Heir of Commandery Prince Li suddenly found that there were so
many people behind him. He waved his hands and drove most of
them away. He was in a hurry to find Xue'er. Just now he only said
that he would take all the people with him so that they couldn't find
Xue'er quickly. But he was not aware that so many people had come.

Most of the people who left were young male servants of Princely

www.asianovel.com
 86 Report
Heir of Commandery Prince Li and only a young male servant and
several maids were left.

"You go back too. I'll find Xue'er for you." Looking at so many
people and her grandson who was standing in the middle, Consort
Dowager frowned. In front of her was the womenfolk place, and she
was really not confident of her grandson.

"Grandmother, we have to be fast. Xue'er will disappear

again if we're late. I'll leave as soon as I catch the cat."

Knowing what his grandmother was worried about, the Princely

Heir of Commandery Prince Li said with impatience.

Such a thing happened to him yesterday and he was scolded by

Consort Dowager in the evening. So the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li felt dull and was in no mood to flirt with women.

When they were talking, suddenly a cry came from ahead. "Ah!
How can there be a wild cat?"

"What, a cat?" Hearing that there was a cat, the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li stopped talking nonsense with the Consort
Dowager and directly rushed to there. Therefore, the Consort
Dowager had no choice but to follow him with servants.

When they turned around and saw the door of the second
courtyard, a maid rushed out with a pale face. She saw the Madam
Dowager who was following the people of Commandery Prince Li's
Manor and rushed over in a hurry. "Madam Dowager, there's...
there's a big wild cat."

"A wild cat?" Madam Dowager also recognized that this was Ning
Xueyan's courtyard. She rushed forward and asked the maid.
Yesterday, they just antagonized the Consort Dowager of
Commandery Prince Li's Manor. So Madam Dowager hoped nothing
would happen to them today.

www.asianovel.com
 87 Report
"Qingyu, calm down. What's the matter?" Ning Xueyan came
out from the back of Madam Dowager and asked Qingyu softly.

"Young Lady, there's a big cat. But it seems that it's going
to die... I... I'm scared to death." Qingyu calmed down and
hurriedly said, pointing to the courtyard.

"What does the cat look like? What does it mean that it's
going to die?" Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was very
worried.

The people who followed him immediately held their breath and
dared not gasp. If it was the civet cat, the Princely Heir wouldn't let
them go.

"It's a snow-white cat!" Before Qingyu's words were finished,

the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li pushed her away
impatiently and rushed into the courtyard.

"Where?"

"It's over there!" Qingyu followed him in and pointed to a tree in

the back right corner of the garden.

The crowd looked over and saw a snow-white civet cat lying there
and struggling painfully. Its white fur was stained and it wasn't as
beautiful and glorious as before.

But it was not like a dirty wild cat!

Especially, there was blood on its body!

The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was the first to rush

over and asked, frowning and pointing at the dregs under the civet
cat. "What's this?"

"They are dregs of the medicine that our Young Lady

usually takes, and they were buried under this tree. But I

www.asianovel.com
 88 Report
don't know where the wild cat came from and why it dug up
the dregs." Qingyu answered with fear.

"How can the dregs make Xue'er so uncomfortable? Is there

anything mixed in them?" Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li
squatted down, looked at the screaming civet cat rolling around, and
shouted angrily.

"Princely Heir, they are really my medicine dregs. Is there

anything poisonous in my medicine dregs? However, it's
possible that it ate something before and felt painful when it
came here so that it scratched around." Ning Xueyan came out
from the back of Madam Dowager and said, neither humble nor
pushy.

"What did you feed Xue'er today?" Princely Heir of

Commandery Prince Li turned to the maid who was in charge of the
civet cat's food.

"Princely Heir, how can I feed Xue'er on other things? It ate

as usual. I even tasted it to check if it was hot before
feeding." The maid cried out with grievance. "Princely Heir, I'm
sure that Xue'er ate as usual today. After the meal, the civet
cat was still all right."

"Maybe other people of your manor fed the cat!" Ning

Xueyan implicitly reminded.

That sounded like she was shirking responsibility!

Everything was okay if Ning Xueyan didn't say that. Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li burst into rage as soon as he heard Ning
Xueyan's words. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the pale and
emaciated girl in front of him, then looked at Madam Dowager.
Suddenly, he remembered that this was the Madam Dowager of Lord
Protector's Manor and the Young Lady was Ning Yuling's younger
sister.

www.asianovel.com
 89 Report
Remembering that he had been badly scolded by his grandmother
yesterday, the Princely Heir became very angry. Now, something bad
had happened to his beloved civet cat and the Lord Protector's Manor
wanted to pass the buck. Therefore, Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li became angrier and vented all his anger.

Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li hadn't wanted to take it too

seriously. But he was irritated by Ning Xueyan's words and decided
he had to figure out this matter!

"Here, go and fetch the doctor of our manor. I'll figure out
what's in this pile of residue and what makes my civet cat
uncomfortable. If it's the fault of Lord Protector's Manor, you
have to explain to me."

Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li angrily said.

It seemed that he would never give up before figuring out this

matter.

Ning Xueyan knew that her words had worked. So she stopped
talking and quietly retreated, as if she was frightened by Princely
Heir of Commandery Prince Li.

"Consort Dowager, how about we sitting down to talk about

it? Maybe Xue'er has eaten something else in the courtyard
so that it's uncomfortable now." Madam Dowager had to stand
up and persuade Consort Dowager. Her words, showing a sort of
weakness, meant that it might be the responsibility of Lord
Protector's Manor.

But she also wanted to express that it had nothing to do with the
dregs.

Madam Dowager was anxious. She clearly knew what was in the
medicine residue. If it was disclosed, it would be another big scandal
to Lord Protector's Manor. Domestic shame shouldn't be made public.

www.asianovel.com
 90 Report
Although Madam Dowager also hated Madam Ling, she was never
willing to make it public that Madam Ling poisoned Ning Xueyan.

"Madam Dowager, since it's not clear now, we'd better call
in the doctor." At this time, Consort Dowager of Commandery
Prince Li's Manor calmed down. She waved hands and asked maids to
invite the doctor.

Their neighbors were all disturbed by the noise. Several madams

came curiously with some Young Ladies. When they saw the civet cat
rolling and screaming, some timid Young Ladies covered their eyes
and shivered with fear.

And those madams looked at the medicine dregs with doubts.

How could normal residue make a cat scream like that?

"Consort Dowager..." Madam Dowager was so anxious that

sweat broke out on her head. She also wanted to persuade the
Consort Dowager. However, the Consort Dowager was persistent this
time and directly interrupted Madam Dowager.

"Don't worry, Madam Dowager. This matter is unclear now.

So we just wait for the doctor to check Xue'er. If it's the fault
of us, I'll ask Xian'er to apologize to you." The Consort Dowager
said. Apparently, Consort Dowager would punish the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li. In fact, she reminded Madam Dowager that if
it was the fault of Lord Protector's Manor, they had to give a
satisfying explanation to Commandery Prince Li's Manor.

A scandal happened to both of them yesterday and Commandery

Prince Li's Manor greatly lost face.

In Consort Dowager's opinion, it was Ning Yuling who misbehaved

and seduced her grandson so that Commandery Prince Li's Manor
lost face too.

When they were talking, the doctor had come. He squatted down

www.asianovel.com
 91 Report
and looked at the residue on the ground, face darkening.

www.asianovel.com
 92 Report

Chapter 63
Source: TapRead

Everyone knew that something was wrong with the herb residue
when they saw the doctor's face. Some madams could not help
noticing Ning Xueyan's pale appearance, which was as white as
paper. Coupled with her fragile body, she did not look well. They
thought of the Second Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor
yesterday, who was in good health with a rosy complexion.

There had to be something wrong.

"Is there anything bad in the herb residue? Did it make

Xue'er sick? Tell me!" the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li
said hurriedly because the doctor remained silent.

This unintentionally got right to the point and Madam Dowager

trembled a little.

"To be honest, Princely Heir, some noxious herbs were put

into the medicine. They have cooling attributes, so it can kill
someone if they drink too much of it, and it can damage
fertility..." The doctor suddenly stopped talking. He raised his head
and looked at Consort Dowager because he knew some private
things in the manor would be exposed.

Kill people and cause infertility?

The medicine was for the Fifth Young Lady of Lord Protector's
Manor. Someone in this manor was vicious enough to harm this
fragile girl.

"Then what happened to my cat?" the Princely Heir of

Commandery Prince Li asked the doctor without much thought,
pointing at his leopard cat.

www.asianovel.com
 93 Report
"My heir, Xue'er is pregnant so she can't take it after
eating the vicious herbs with cooling attributes," the doctor
replied.

Coincidentally, the cat's reaction was because of it being pregnant.

"Doctor, if someone keeps drinking it for a long time, what

will happen?" Qingyu stood out from the crowd and asked hastily.

"It has a high dosage. If someone keeps on drinking it, they

will die in less than half a year..." The doctor was uncertain.

"No wonder my lady is so weak," Qingyu whispered.

Everyone looked at the skinny Ning Xueyan, who was supported by

Qingyu. And as she stood there, her long feathery eyelashes drooped
slightly making two shadows below her eyes, which made her face
look more bloodless. But she had a kind of poignant beauty. And
although she look tired, she was peaceful. She stopped Qingyu by
pulling her hands.

"Qingyu, stop talking!"

At this point, everyone was aware that someone had damaged the
Fifth Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor.

The facts had proven that Lord Protector's Manor had harmed the
leopard cat, so the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li showed no
mercy and turned around to yell at Ning Xueyan, who stood behind
Madam Dowager. "I don't care about anything in your manor.
Now the blame is on the residue. How can you explain it?"

This was directed at Ning Xueyan. He was angry by her denial. Now
he would not let her go easily when he had the advantage.

But in the eyes of the others, he was staring at Madam Dowager

looking like he wanted to eat her.

www.asianovel.com
 94 Report
"Xian'er, stop! It's their family business." Consort Dowager
stopped him properly, but with a hint of ridicule on her lips.

"It's nothing to do with me!" The Princely Heir of Commandery

Prince Li lifted up his head.

Consort Dowager was a little surprised. Luckily, she knew that he

was reckless when he was in bad mood. So she said politely,
"Xian'er, Lord Protector's Manor will definitely find out the
truth because their first daughter was almost murdered. Now
what we need to do is save Xue'er immediately."

Consort Dowager was afraid of her grandson's temper because it

would cause chaos. Now that they were here in front of everyone,
Lord Protector's Manor could not pass the buck anymore.

This reminded Princely Heir. In spite of Ning Xueyan, he rushed to

ask for the doctor's help.

"Madam Dowager, I heard that the Second Madam in your

manor has just died. And now, her daughter is being treated
like this. Doesn't this prove that a weak man is calling the
shots in Lord Protector's Manor?" Consort Dowager turned
around to look at Madam Dowager with a taunting look on her face.

"Go check the Fifth Young Lady's herb residue and see if
the same ingredients are in it." Madam Dowager was pushed into
asking, while gritting her teeth. Because she was being watched by
everyone, she had to do it.

Several older female servants went to do what she asked.

Two older female servants beside Consort Dowager of

Commandery Prince Li followed them as well.

Ning Xueyan sneered secretly when she saw Madam Dowager's

great affectation. She took away all her medicine but acted as if she
were a judge. Fortunately, Ning Xueyan already knew that Consort

www.asianovel.com
 95 Report
Dowager would keep being angry at Lord Protector's Manor because
of what happened yesterday.

"Grandmother, forget it please. Maybe it's just a mistake.

Perhaps there were other things where the residue was,
causing the mistake." Ning Xueyan forced a smile with knit
eyebrows, looking like she wanted no more trouble.

This was the result that Madam Dowager wanted, but now it had
come from Ning Xueyan's mouth and it blocked her way. This made it
difficult for her to find another reason for this.

"Fifth Young Lady, it can't be a coincidence. Compared with

the Second Young Lady, you looked much weaker." It seemed
that Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li was joking. But
people noticed her sharp words and Ning Yuling's actions.

Hitting and cursing at people and making a scene showed Ning

Xueyan's good health.

Observing the Fifth Young Lady, they found her in poor health and
remembered what happened before in this manor.

"Anyway, Ning Xueyan is not her daughter, so she isn't

favored. Looking at Ning Xueyan, she was definitely
poisoned."

"Definitely, we never noticed it before. No men can marry

Lord Protector's Manor's daughters, they are shrews or
sickly. Eh... Madam Ling is vicious. She grabbed another
woman's husband then wants to kill her daughter as well."

This was old business.

Madam Dowager's expression continued changing. Veins throbbed

on her forehead and her eyes bulged out while her face showed her
great anger.

www.asianovel.com
 96 Report
She had no idea why things had turned out like this. She wanted
this to die down then she could give a lesson to Madam Ling back at
the manor. She did not expect that it would be led to the public
because of the leopard cat.

"Consort Dowager, I've found two more packs of medicine

in the corner." An older female servant of Commadery Prince Li's
Manor ran over holding two packs of herbs.

"Right on time. Show them to the doctor to discover if

there any poison in them," Consort Dowager said.

The older female servant brought them to the doctor. He smelt

them and tasted it with his tongue, then he said, "Yes, it has
poison, but it was mixed well. So the murderer must be an
expert."

The murderer had done it many times.

How could this medicine still miss! Madam Dowager's face grew
darker. She had to ask, "Qingyu, where are they from?"

"My dear Madam Dowager, my lady's medicine ran out

when she arrived at the temple. So these herbs came from
Madam Ling's roomkeeper, Mr. Lu. I thought they looked like
the old ones so I paid little attention. It's unexpected that
there's some poison in them. Please help my lady," Qingyu
knelt on the ground and said angrily.

Qingyu's words did not blame Madam Ling directly. However, she
said that Mr. Lu was Madam Ling's roomkeeper. This made
everything clear. A servant dared not murder the mistress without
any support.

Qingyu had not said this yesterday but had done it in front of
everyone. Madam Dowager felt ashamed.

Looking back at Ning Xueyan, Madam Dowager found she was a

www.asianovel.com
 97 Report
little astonished. But there was little panic on her face. So the Fifth
Young Lady had not asked Qingyu to do this. Madam Dowager made
sure it was an accident. Nobody anticipated the leopard cat run over
here.

Maybe Qingyu had said that because she wanted to console Ning
Xueyan.

"Nonsense! You, stand up! I will find out the truth," Madam
Dowager said. Everyone was watching. The medicine and the residue
were the evidence. She had to investigate. Everyone knew that
someone in their manor wanted Ning Xueyan's life, so she could not
let a servant take the blame as she had planned.

"Princely Heir, I'm so sorry. But your cat... Look, it's no big
deal..." Ning Xueyan said sorry to the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li. She wanted to calm him down.

Hearing what she said, the Princely Heir was unhappy. The cat was
cool now but it was dirty. Besides, the cat hadn't moved since being
poisoned. No big deal? Seriously?

"What? You think it's fine? Come on, my cat seemed as if it

would die. Can you call that no big deal? I happened to be
free today so I don't mind investigating with you. I need to
know who did this to my precious cat." The Princely Heir was in
a rage.

He wouldn't let it go easily. Everything that happened yesterday

and today was because of Lord Protector's Manor. He wanted to see
the manor's reaction.

Damaging his cat on purpose made Madam Dowager become more

furious. But she couldn't say no because it was his cat. At his side,
Consort Dowager did not seem to stop him, so the Princely Heir
would really do this.

www.asianovel.com
 98 Report
Madam Dowager felt dizzy, so she said angrily, "Consort
Dowager, Princely Heir, now that it's related to your cat, of
course you can do it."

The Princely Heir was a jerk, but she couldn't believe that Consort
Dowager wanted this as well.

"Madam Dowager, thanks." Consort Dowager wanted to

continue the drama from yesterday. She was willing to see Lord
Protector's Manor be mocked. So she said yes, pretending to be
angry.

Madam Dowager was angry because she did not expect Consort
Dowager to respond like this. So she had to excuse herself from
Honored Consort Ya and return in a rage with her people. The people
of Commandery Prince Li followed behind immediately. Moreover,
some madams who were familiar with Consort Dowager followed as
well to see more drama.

Honored Consort Ya heard that the two manors were about to have
a fight, so she asked the Third Prince to take a look.

Ning Xueyan needed to go with Madam Dowager back to the

manor because she was the victim. Due to her poor health and her
staying in the temple, Madam Dowager showed love to Ning Xueyan.
She asked her to pack up and take her time to return.

After everyone had left the yard, Qingyu and Lanning started to
pack up immediately.

Ning Xueyan put on an unobtrusive dress when they were packing.

She walked along the pathway toward the right-side yard of Cold
Mountain Temple.

There was one more thing that she had to finish before leaving.

www.asianovel.com
 99 Report

Chapter 64
Source: TapRead

The right-side yard of Cold Mountain Temple and Honored Consort

Ya's dwelling were the most luxurious places of the temple. Now,
Prince Yi, Ao Yichen, who was one of the most powerful man with a
changeable mood, lived in the right-side yard.

Therefore, the yards around it were empty because nobody dared

to live by his side. It seemed deserted there.

Ning Xueyan was in servant clothes so nobody noticed her along

the road. She passed by two detours, finding that there were two
poker face guards standing upright by the door. They were staring at
her expressionlessly with some sharpness in their eyes, which was
frightening.

Time was tight, so Ning Xueyan did not want to waste any. She
stepped forward, saying with smile, "Please tell Prince Yi that
someone from Lord Protector's Manor wants to see him."

The guards looked at her from head to toe, then one opened his
mouth and said, "Wait here!"

He went to ask for permission. After a while, he came back to his

position and waved to Ning Xueyan. "He said yes!"

It seemed that he did not plan to lead her in, so Ning Xueyan
walked inside on her own.

As she stepped inside, Ning Xueyan discovered that Prince Yi's

yard was much bigger than Honored Consort Ya's. Several small
yards stood there one by one. It looked magnificent.

Looking around, Ning Xueyan chose to walk toward the middle

www.asianovel.com
 100 Report
yard. It was where Prince Yi obviously was because it was right in the
middle and had four guards standing outside.

The four guards stood upright without moving as they watched her
coming over. They also did not intend to lead her in.

Walking in deeper, she became more surprised. There were

paintings and sculptures everywhere, which did not fit here. They
were luxurious and varied and it could be seen that they were taken
good care of. Only one precious black chrysanthemum had been on
display at the Chrysanthemum Party, but there were two of them
here.

Besides that, some flowers present were not shown at the

Chrysanthemum Party. They were colorful and difficult to find, but
now they were planted in the yard, which surprised her even more.
This place was especially prepared for Prince Yi because luxurious
ornaments were everywhere, which did not fit in with the temple.

"Fifth Young Lady, please follow me." The silence was broken
before she had finished looking around. A shrill voice was heard, then
she turned back to find the lovely face of a eunuch.

"Please!" Ning Xueyan said politely. She was clearly aware that
the reason she was able to be here was that Prince Yi knew who she
was.

The little eunuch led her into a luxurious room, serving her with
desserts and tea. He told her that Prince Yi was busy now so she had
to wait. Ning Xueyan nodded then the little eunuch excused himself.

It was so quiet here that there was almost no sound. Ning Xueyan
would have thought it was empty if she had not seen the eunuchs
outside. In this weird room, Ning Xueyan felt danger for no reason.
Some wind blew behind her head, so she turned around.

She only saw cold light come toward her with a voice that said,

www.asianovel.com
 101 Report
"Bastard, die here!"

There was a sword!

Any girl would run away while screaming involuntarily if they saw
this. However, Ning Xueyan did not even try to evade it. Her dark
eyes were as peaceful as the surface of a lake. Her face did not
change in the face of the sword.

The cold light stopped in front of her forehead.

Before she could see clearly, Ning Xueyan heard a beautiful, cold
voice say, "The daughters of Lord Protector's Manor are all
intrepid."

The door opened and Prince Yi came in with some eunuchs beside
him.

The one who had pretended to be an assassin held back his sword
and stepped back with respect.

Some equinox flowers were embroidered on Prince Yi's clothes.

They were red and stood in the middle of a black color. When he
moved, you could see the flower blossoms. With the dark
background, it looked like blood flowers, which bloomed in hell.
Those clothes made him look more handsome.

Unlike the female beauty of Wen Xueran, Prince Yi was more cold
and enchanting. Not only his delicate eye features, but also his lifted,
amorous lip all had a natural coldness and hegemony. His cold eyes
especially seemed to be filled with a bloody darkness inside.

There was no doubt that if he wanted Ning Xueyan's life, she would
be unable to run away from him.

Thus, she never tried to flee.

How could anyone assassinate undisguised in his yard and be

www.asianovel.com
 102 Report
ignored? Unless he did it on purpose...

Prince Yi and the emperor were well-matched. This meant he was

extraordinary and noblehe was one of the most powerful men in the
world.

Ning Xueyan's dark eyes flickered a little. She tried to calm down
as she bowed to him. "Your Highness."

Ao Chenyi sat down elegantly. Although he showed a handsome

smiling face, the sharpness inside his eyes was easy to see. It could
almost destroy Ning Xueyan's soul. Nobody could keep calm while
being watched by his eyes. Ning Xueyan tried her best to control her
breath and four words jumped into her mindevil, tricky, cold, and
cruel.

Being the emperor's brother as Prince Yi but getting no overt

objection from him was the reason why he was extraordinary.

"Yan'er, why aren't you afraid?" Ao Chenyi drew back his sharp
gaze after raising his eyebrow. His lips moved a little with a slight
smile, then he became languid.

"If your place isn't safe, there will be no safe place in the
world." Ning Xueyan raised her head calmly with a smile.

Now that Ao Chenyi tried to test her, he had to have an insight into
her tricks. Even though he did not know them all, he knew most of
them. She had better not try to hide herself in front of him.

"Bold! I didn't expect you to be brave because you are

weak after all. Weren't you afraid that I wouldn't save you in
time just now and that the sword would really stab you? You
are too weak to take that blow!" Ao Chenyi said with an
ambiguous smile on his face, although the smile was not from his
eyes.

"If you didn't save me, then it would be my destiny to die

www.asianovel.com
 103 Report
here," Ning Xueyan replied sincerely while smiling slightly.
"Moreover, nobody besides me can be used to look through
the study room of Lord Protector's Manor."

Ning Zu'an was the beloved marquis of the emperor with military
power. Additionally, the military medallion, which people knew
nothing about, would be hidden secretly by Ning Zu'an if it was
important enough. It would not be found easily.

"Oh, does this mean I have to keep you?" Ao Chenyi waved to

Ning Xueyan suddenly and she stepped forward.

He lifted her jaw suddenly and his fingers pointed against her neck.
Ning Xueyan raised her head and looked into his cold eyes as he
said, "Yan'er, maybe I will agree to help if you seduce me one
more time."

His action was elegant. Ning Xueyan struggled to move her head
away without thinking twice. She wanted to get away from him, but
his fingers glided down her delicate neck. He could easily break her
neck anytime he wanted.

Ning Xueyan tried hard to keep calm and her brain was running
fast. A light smile appeared on her lips, looking like a pure white
flower. She was calm with also a little coldness.

"If you help me, I'll do whatever you ask."

Pushing Ao Chenyi's hands away slowly, she only tried a little this
time and easily freed herself of those beautiful hands.

"Oh, what do you want me to do? I've helped you plenty,

but I've seen nothing in return," Ao Chenyi said leisurely while
leaning on the chair.

"I'll get what you want as soon as I'm back in the manor,"
Ning Xueyan answered immediately. It seemed that she was waiting
to know his intention.

www.asianovel.com
 104 Report
"There's no hurry!" Ao Chenyi shook his head. His gaze was
weird and profound. An evil smile was on his pretty noble face as he
said, "I want you to earn Ning Zu'an's trust first."

She felt relieved. Some pressure was removed from Ning Xueyan's
heart. She had to fight against Madam Ling back at the manor, so
she did not have time to find the military medallion. Besides, earning
Ning Zu'an's trust would take time.

The military medallion was so important that Ning Zu'an would

never put it away arbitrarily. Even Ao Chenyi could not find out where
it was. It was protected well.

Ning Xueyan had planned to take the advantage first.

"Yan'er, did you come here for my pills?" A cold smile was on
Prince Yi's lips. His eyes had lights flashing inside them, which looked
like freaky ghost shadows.

"Yes, I've been poisoned. It deeply wounded my body.

Although I can deal with it later, I still need some of the same
pills that you gave me the other day. Please help me;
otherwise, when I return to the manor, I can't even ensure
my life, let alone anything else."

Ao Chenyi laughed. A lazy smile appeared on his face. He picked

up a dessert from the side and took a bite elegantly. "You planned
this well. Will you be unable to serve me if I don't give you
the pills?"

"I don't dare to deceive you!" Ning Xueyan answered with

respect and was unafraid of his awareness. She smiled slightly and
took a bow.

Now that she was here asking for his help, she knew she could not
keep anything from him. She was willing to tell him the truth.

He was too clever to allow his people to deceive him.

www.asianovel.com
 105 Report
"Well, I give you my permission. Remember, you owe me
something." Ao Chenyi's lips moved a little, but his eyes were still
cold and profound.

"I will remember!" Ning Xueyan nodded heavily.

She nodded heavily but slowly. Her gaze was solemn, which proved
that she really meant it. Ao Chenyi felt happy suddenly, and
somewhat of a smile was in his eyes. He clapped and a eunuch came
in with his head lowered. There was an exquisite box in his hands.

The box was brought over to Ao Chenyi, then the eunuch excused
himself.

Ao Chenyi pressed a button on the box and opened it. Five light,
smooth red pills were inside. Their special smell came out, which
informed everyone that they were precious.

Only these precious pills could heal Ning Xueyan.

"Here are five. Take one per month. As for your illness,
you'll need at least 10. When you've finished these, you can
come and get them from here." Ao Chenyi looked at her leeringly
and his gaze grew darker.

www.asianovel.com
 106 Report

Chapter 65
Source: TapRead

Qingyu and Lanning had everything well-prepared when Ning

Xueyan returned to her yard. She wrote a letter hurriedly and asked
a Cold Mountain Temple monk to give it to her uncle.

When everything was done, they got in the carriage that had been
waiting outside and went to Lord Protector's Manor.

"My lady, many madams saw it. Consort Dowager of

Commandery Prince Li is on her way to our manor, so Madam
Dowager has to punish Madam Ling hard this time." Qingyu
was thrilled when she thought everything had gone as Ning Xueyan
had wanted.

Ning Xueyan smiled slightly and said, "She won't."

"She won't? Why not? The evidence is clear, so Madam Ling

is definitely the one who should take the blame. Can't that
get her punished?" Qingyu was astonished.

"Did anyone see her poison me? Did anyone say that it was
her? Or did anyone sell her out?" Ning Xueyan had a little rest
leaning against the carriage wall as she closed her eyes with a cold
smile.

"We only need to find Mr. Lu. Under such great pressure,
he will... My lady, will he sell her out?" Qingyu lowered her voice
gradually.

Ning Xueyan smiled coldly. "Housekeeper Zhang can't decide

what she can say and what she should keep to herself."

Housekeeper Zhang was born into the Ling family and followed

www.asianovel.com
 107 Report
Madam Ling to Lord Protector's Manor. She helped her with all the
housework. Clearly, Madam Ling trusted her deeply. However,
compared with Madam Ling's trust, her family, which was under Ning
Xueyan's control, was more important. Unexpectedly, some of her
family were not in the manor.

Being aware of this, Qingyu was surprised and said, "My lady,
what if Madam Ling starts over? Maybe she will ruin you.
Why didn't you come over in Madam Dowager's carriage?"

Lanning knew what would happen and said, "Will it be useful?

Madam Dowager only needs to ask someone to tell Madam
Ling first."

"But, Madam Dowager... she was also poisoned by Madam

Ling... Isn't she angry?" Qingyu stammered because she did not
know how to reply.

"Yes, Madam Dowager is angry and she will punish Madam

Ling, but she won't let other people mock the manor. So she
won't push her hard or let others know. At most, Madam
Ling's power will be taken back and she will be abused a
little. However, it's useless. It is so obvious that our lady will
be with them soon. This will make Madam Dowager suspect
us." Lanning understood Ning Xueyan better, so she explained it.

Madam Dowager wanted to show her love by asking Ning Xueyan

to return later. If Ning Xueyan followed her, she would be suspected.
After all, she was suspected before.

They fell into silence suddenly.

Ning Xueyan closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep as her

she listened to the words of her maids.

So the best plan was to take advantage of Madam Ling when she
was in trouble.

www.asianovel.com
 108 Report
As Ning Xueyan was arriving, someone was waiting for her. It was
Mother Qin, a servant of Madam Dowager. She ran up to her happily
after seeing her coming. She helped Ning Xueyan get out of the
carriage with respect. "Fifth Young Lady, you are finally here.
I've been waiting for you for a long time. Madam Dowager
and Madam Ling asked you to go see them."

She thought about the last time she left when nobody had said
goodbye to her. Ning Xueyan was surprised that Madam Dowager
had now asked her close mammy to wait here to show her concern. It
was totally different from last time.

But Ning Xueyan knew that Madam Ling saved herself when she
heard what the servant said.

Luckily, Ning Xueyan had already prepared for this. She said
gently, "Thanks, mammy. Is grandmother angry now? I'm so
sorry that she has to worry about me at her age. It's all my
fault."

After what had happened, Ning Xueyan was worried about her
grandmother first. This made Mother Qin have a good feeling about
her. It was unexpected that Ning Xueyan was a good girl. She had
thought wrongly of her before.

Mother Qin's face was full of smile-wrinkles while talking. She said,
"What are you saying? My lady, it's Concubine Ma who was
over the line and did this. You and Madam Ling will be
wronged if we don't discover it. I can't believe there is a
vicious woman like her in our manor. You can never know a
person by their appearance."

"Concubine Ma?" Ning Xueyan had a cold gaze again. Madam

Ling was good at telling a story. She could pass the buck to others
easily.

Concubine Ma, who was new here, was a beautiful woman. She

www.asianovel.com
 109 Report
was always close to Madam Ling. She probably never thought this
would happen to her.

Ning Xueyan pretended not to care much as she asked while was
walking inside, "Why did Concubine Ma do this?"

"I don't know why. Isn't there a Mother Han in your yard? Her son
badly hurt someone outside. The man who was beaten was
Concubine Ma's brother. At first, it had nothing to do with you, but
Mother Han said that you were the mistress of the manor and
Concubine Ma was a servant, so it was okay that her son hit the
concubine's brother. And she said she wouldn't pay any money.

"When Concubine Ma heard this, she was pissed off. She

thought you supported Mother Han to humiliate her, so she
poisoned you."

Mother Qin explained angrily and seemed to be on Ning Xueyan's

side.

"Mother Han?" Ning Xueyan's face was frozen! She stopped to

look at Mother Qin, who was in a good mood, and a coldness flashed
through her eyes.

Madam Ling was truly cunning. She fought back using Mother Han
even when she was in a panic.

"Where is Mother Han now?" Ning Xueyan stopped smiling and

her cold face and sharp gaze appeared.

Being watched by Ning Xueyan's cold eyes, Mother Qin felt afraid.
She tried to avoid her gaze but she could feel Ning Xueyan's
indescribable temperament.

"Mother Han is locked up now, waiting for the buyer to pick

her up tomorrow," said Mammy Qin slowly while lowering her
voice.

www.asianovel.com
 110 Report
Hearing this, Qingyu's face turned white. She was standing behind
Ning Xueyan and was about to ask something. But Lanning, who
stood beside her, pulled her sleeves telling her not to do so.

"Concubine Ma is also in the woodshed now, waiting for the

buyer?" Ning Xueyan's face was frozen again.

"No, she's not. She fell down recently and the doctor said
that she was pregnant, so the marquis said the punishment
would need to wait until after she gives birth." Mother Qin
regained her mood in no time. She could not be frightened by the
weak Fifth Young Lady.

The bad person was safe, but the good one was locked up.
Everything was opposite in the manor.

"Where is grandmother now?" Ning Xueyan could not show her

unhappiness on her face, so she started to walk inside.

Seeing Ning Xueyan letting it go, Mother Qin felt relieved and
smiled. "Madam Dowager is talking with Consort Dowager at
Auspicious Fortune Hall now. Consort Dowager is seldom
here. And after what happened, Madam Dowager needs to
explain everything to her."

"Is the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li here?" Ning

Xueyan asked, seemingly casual.

"Yes, Consort Dowager is here and he said that he will wait

for her so they can go back together," Mother Qin replied.

By the crossroads, Ning Xueyan stopped to say to Mother Qin,

"Mammy, I need to go back and change my clothes first. I will
be there when I tidy myself up."

"OK, OK. Madam Dowager isn't in a hurry. You are weak so

you need to take good care of yourself." Mother Qin said so, but
Ning Xueyan noticed her smug demeanor.

www.asianovel.com
 111 Report
"I will leave first, Mother Qin." Ning Xueyan no longer wanted
to be there so she went straight away to Bright Frost Garden.

Seeing Ning Xueyan leaving, Mother Qin went back to tell Madam
Dowager about her. She thought that Madam Dowager was
overthinking it and the Fifth Young Lady was weak and fragile.
Hearing what had happened to Mother Han, Ning Xueyan had just
asked routine questions, showing no extra concern.

When they turned around, Qingyu could not hold it in any longer.
She stepped ahead and said, "My lady, they're talking nonsense.
Mother Han's son would never do such a thing. Mother Han
told me the other day that her son became in charge of a
shop. Why would he have a fight with Concubine Ma's
brother?"

Qingyu and Mother Han were always loyal to Madam Ming and
Ning Xueyan. They all trusted each other. Ning Xueyan would not
believe what Mother Qin just said. She met Mother Han's son before
and thought that he was a good man. He had been asked to buy
medicine for Madam Ming when Madam Ming was ill but nobody
cared for her.

Ning Xueyan dropped her eyes slightly and asked, "You don't
believe it, Qingyu?"

"Of course I don't. I will never believe that Mother Han's

son would hurt someone and talk like that." Qingyu stomped
hurriedly. "My lady, I can make sure he didn't do it. What they
said was to frame Mother Han."

"Nobody cares whether you believe it or not. They let

Mother Han commit the crime." Ning Xueyan smiled coldly.
Madam Ling had handled it well. She arranged everything correctly in
just a short time. The fight had to exist.

As for the crime of hitting the other man, this was not up to Mother

www.asianovel.com
 112 Report
Han's son.

It would be easy if Concubine Ma wanted a new brother. Not to

mention her pregnancy seemed to be right on time. How could it be a
coincidence? Ning Xueyan was unprepared for this.

If Ning Xueyan punished Concubine Ma, everyone would think she

was harsh and mean.

In the end, the blame was on her.

But she did not expect that Concubine Ma would agree to do this.

However, they missed something!

"My lady, what should we do now?" Qingyu fell into a panic

after hearing what Ning Xueyan said. Her face became pale as she
said, "They will sell Mother Han tomorrow, what we can do?"

"Qingyu, would you mind going to Qingrong Courtyard?"

Ning Xueyan asked.

Madam Ling had handed a gift to her, so Ning Xueyan should give
something in return as well.

Ning Yuling lived in Qingrong Courtyard. Ning Xueyan and Qingyu

were bullied a lot by Ning Yuling, so they never went there. Not to
mention the things in Cold Mountain Temple, Ning Yuling would
abuse her. She would not leave Qingyu in peace when she saw her.

"I will!" Qingyu would do anything to save Mother Han. She gritted
her teeth, showing her faith.

"Okay, you need to inquire about the Third Prince and..."

Ning Xueyan whispered into Qingyu's ear. Qingyu's eyes suddenly
became brighter and she handed over her bag to Lanning. Then she
left in a hurry.

www.asianovel.com
 113 Report

Chapter 67
Source: TapRead

Hearing the sound, Mother Han, who was tied up and thrown to the
ground, tried hard to straighten her back. Upon seeing Lanning, a
pleasant surprise flashed through her eyes.

Lanning silently mouthed to Mother Han: "The Fifth Young Lady

is back", suggesting that she rest assured.

Mother Han nodded to show that she understood. It could be seen

from her eyes that she was very excited and felt greatly relieved in
her heart. If it were the previous Fifth Young Lady, Mother Han would
not have had so much confidence in her. But now, the Fifth Young
Lady was different, she could certainly clear her of the injustice.

"You little bitch, you even dared to hit me." The older female
servant became furious because she had been beaten by a maid
from Bright Frost Garden. How could she live with that in the future?
Especially the two maids standing at the door, they laughed while
bending forward and backward, which attracted more maids and
older female servants here to watch the fun. They pointed at her and
talked about her, one and all. The older female servant appeared
quite embarrassed.

She climbed up from the ground and rushed at Lanning

vehemently.

Lanning neatly flashed back. Then, she pretended to be pushed

back two more steps and fell into the nearby woodpiles. She turned
around in the woodpiles, so her body and her hair were immediately
covered with woodchips. Now her hair fell down and she looked like a
terrible mess. Her face also looked dusty and dirty because she had
smeared her face with a handful of dust that she picked up from the

www.asianovel.com
 114 Report
ground.

Nobody except Lanning and the older female servant knew the
facts. The others all thought that Lanning was messed up like this
because the older female servant had knocked her to the ground.

The woman had failed to hit Lanning. Thus, she stumbled two steps
before she finally managed to stand firmly. Seeing that Lanning
knocked herself like this, she could not help swearing at Lanning with
her hands against her sides. "You little bitch, who do you think
your mistress is? You even dared to be unreasonable and
make a scene here. You really didn't know how little strength
you have."

"You actually dared to disobey the mistress's order."

Lanning still sat in the woodpiles and had not gotten up. But she was
reluctant to show weakness, so she also raised her head and cursed
her furiously. "You just wait here. In a moment when Mammy
comes here, she will rip your skin off."

Being so despised by such a little girl she usually used to look

down upon, how could the older female servant bear it? So she broke
out into curses without thinking. "The mistress? What kind of
mistress? There is actually an older female servant who will
come here. Which shameless servant dares to rip my skin off?
I am one of the First Madam's people. No one can take her
away today without the order from the First Madam."

Because of Lanning, she had become so angry that she nearly

fainted, so she tarred all the others with the same brush.

"How dare you disobey an order from Madam Dowager?"

said the older female servant of the Madam Dowager angrily. She
was sent by Madam Dowager. After she found that her feet were fine,
she happened to arrive here to see a group of people gathered
around the door. Before she could see everything clearly, she heard
an older female servant shout that only the people of the First

www.asianovel.com
 115 Report
Madam could take Mother Han away, which instantly made her
extremely furious.

Their two mistresses could not get along. Therefore, neither the
people in the courtyard of Madam Dowager nor the people in the
courtyard of Madam Ling would give in.

The crowd was parted in the middle. Lanning's untidy face was the
first thing the older female servant of Madam Dowager saw.

Seeing the servant come over, Lanning suddenly looked so

aggrieved and she struggled to stand up. "Mammy, she, she won't
let me take Mother Han away. She also insulted the
mistress."

Lanning spoke in very general terms. She did not clearly say who
the mistress was. However, she came here to take Mother Han away
with Madam Dowager's people. Thus, her mistress certainly would be
Madam Dowager.

Upon hearing that the older female servant had insulted Madam
Dowager, the face of the personal servant of Madam Dowager was
red with anger. She grabbed the older female servant, who failed to
react at the moment, and made for the door. "Come, let's go to
meet Madam Dowager and let her decide who is right. Why
does the order from Madam Dowager not work? Why can't we
take the person away? Do we really need to ask the First
Madam for permission to take one person away?"

"I have been here for a while. No matter what I said to her,
she just wouldn't allow me to take Mother Han away and she
actually spoke ill of the mistresses. Mammy, now the
mistresses must be anxiously waiting in suspense. We really
can't afford to shoulder the responsibility." By her side, Lanning
added fuel to the servant's angry flames.

Upon hearing that she might shoulder the responsibility, the

www.asianovel.com
 116
servant was unwilling to stop. She had
Han with them. Then, holding the hand
the door, she dragged her all the way
There was a lot of noise along the way
group of onlookers there.
Report
someone else bring Mother
of the servant who guarded
to Auspicious Fortune Hall.
so she also brought a large

After Lanning and the servant had left, Madam Dowager asked
Ning Xueyan to sit down to answer questions. Madam Dowager
tenderly asked her about her body condition. She also planned on
inviting a physician to take her pulse in order to see what kind of
medicine was better for her. Furthermore, she specifically told
Mother Qin beside her to prepare some good medicine for Ning
Xueyan, and so on. All these things showed how much she cared for
Ning Xueyan.

At the side, Madam Ling also chipped in on their conversation from

time to time. The scene actually looked quite warm and happy!

When they were acting vigorously, a loud noise suddenly came

from outside. The face of Madam Dowager fell instantly. Before she
could speak, Lanning rushed in with her dirty face. After entering the
door, she immediately knelt down before Madam Dowager with a
loud thud. She burst into tears. "Madam Dowager, please
exercise justice for our Young Lady."

She mentioned Ning Xueyan at the beginning. Madam Dowager

was stunned and then she looked down at Lanning, whose face was
covered with black and white lines now. For a moment, Madam
Dowager failed to recognize who she was.

Mother Qin standing by her side actually recognized Lanning

immediately. Then she whispered in Madam Dowager's ear to remind
her. Spotting the surprised look on Consort Dowager's face, Madam
Dowager really wanted to explode.

"Lanning, what's the matter? Didn't you go to bring Mother

Han here? How could you end up like this?" asked Ning Xueyan.

www.asianovel.com
 117 Report
She frowned while looking Lanning up and down. She then asked with
an unpleasant expression, "Is there anything wrong regarding
me that needs my grandmother to get justice for me?"

Because they were just displaying their deep feelings of kinship,

Madam Dowager could not blame Ning Xueyan for speaking first.
Moreover, Lanning was Ning Xueyan's maid, so it was normal for her
to ask questions first.

"My lady, I went to get Mother Han with the Mammy from
Auspicious Fortune Hall. But when we arrived there, that
older female servant not only didn't allow us to take Mother
Han away, but she also called you a sickly. And she also said
that... She said that you were not the mistress..." Lanning felt
so wronged that she could hardly bring out a word. She was angry
and annoyed. Unconsciously, the rims of her eyes turned red. It was
obvious that she had been bullied badly.

"How dare she do such things? That dog slave, where is

she?" Madam Dowager leaned back angrily. She was performing this
deep touching bond with her granddaughter here to make others
think that she was sincerely good to Ning Xueyan. But she didn't
expect that such a thing would happen. She felt embarrassed and
opened her mouth to scold her.

While they were talking, the people from outside arrived!

Entangled with each other, the two older female servants came in.
Behind them, Mother Han also came in and then knelt at one side.

In the chaos, Qingyu managed to get in and stood in the shadow

behind Ning Xueyan.

The moment Ning Xueyan spotted Qingyu, she knew in her heart
that the things over there seemed to have already been completed!

The older female servant who came in first let go of the other

www.asianovel.com
 118 Report
servant's hand and knelt on the ground angrily. She reported loudly,
"Madam Dowager, I went there to take someone away, but
she spoke rudely. She even dared to speak ill of Madam
Dowager. The entire time, she uttered insulting remarks
without any good words."

A moment ago, she talked about Ning Xueyan. Now, the person
she talked about was Madam Dowager. Seeing that the eyes of
Madam Dowager had suddenly turned razor sharp, Madam Ling felt
really anxious. She went over and slammed hard on the face of the
servant who guarded the door. Then she said angrily, "You dog
slave. How dare you insult Madam Dowager!"

"I, I didn't insult Madam Dowager. I, I only said that the

Fifth Young Lady is sickly. I didn't curse Madam Dowager at
all!" The older female servant was nearly knocked out by Madam
Ling. After she heard what Madam Ling had said, she argued loudly
in a hurry.

As a matter of fact, she had never abused Madam Dowager. Now

she was misunderstood and had been pulled here by someone else.
Her head felt all muzzy along the way. Before she could figure
everything out, she had been slapped in the face by Madam Ling. All
she could hear were the few words: "insult Madam Dowager". She
knew that she had been wronged so she refused to admit to her
mistakes and argued loudly.

Seeing that it was almost the time, Ning Xueyan winked at

Lanning.

"Why is the Fifth Young Lady sickly?" Lanning growled at the

side at the right moment, glaring angrily at the older female servant.

The woman became angry under her gaze and her attention was
immediately attracted by Lanning.

She had gotten in such big trouble all because of the little bitch in

www.asianovel.com
 119 Report
front of her. Now, she was being beaten and wronged by others. The
servant became wild with rage. Not seeing her surroundings clearly,
she immediately argued back and cursed, "You little bitch, among
all the people in the manor, who doesn't know that the Fifth
Young Lady is sickly? She may die at any time."

"You actually dare curse our Young Lady! She is the

mistress of Lord Protector's Manor." Lanning was trembling with
anger.

Seeing the weakness of Lanning, the servant pressed on and

continued her victorious pursuit. "Why can't I curse her? What
kind of mistress is she? Among all the people in the manor,
no one regards her as the mistress. How dare she consider
herself the mistress!"

No one knew that the servant would actually say something like
this. It was too late for Madam Ling to stop her. Madam Ling went
blank on the spot and her face turned pale.

Seeing the servant froth at the mouth with curses, Ning Xueyan
immediately picked up the cup by her hand and threw it at the
servant. The fine porcelain cup smashed a step away from the
servant. It then broke into pieces. A flying piece sliced across the
face of the servant and left a bloody mark behind.

The servant shut up immediately out of fear!

Ning Xueyan threw a cold look at Madam Ling, who had yet to
come to her senses. Then she turned around and knelt down in front
of Madam Dowager with a loud thud. "Grandmother, I volunteer
to guard my mom's tomb. From then on, I'll stay with oil
lamps before the statue of Buddha and I'll never bring you
any trouble!"

Her expression looked firm and indifferent. Her face remained

calm. There was only a glimmer of tears in her eyes, which made her

www.asianovel.com
 120 Report
look stubborn and beautiful.

There was only silence in the room. They all couldn't help holding
their breath.

"Take her away and beat her to death!" Madam Dowager

growled with a solemn face. She made the decision in an instant.

"Grandmother, don't bother. There are a lot of people like

her in the manor, so why should we bother to kill her?" Ning
Xueyan said serenely. However, she got a trace of sadness at the
bottom of her eyes. She was the first wife's daughter of the manor,
but she was repeatedly cursed by an inferior servant. Anyone in her
situation would feel frustrated.

"Madam Dowager, I have never thought that the status of

the Fifth Young Lady in the manor is actually no better than
an inferior servant. No wonder that even her medicine was
poisoned," sneered the Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li.
Shaking her head, she thought, "All the people in Lord
Protector's Manor have no standards. They even let a servant
tread on the first wife's daughter."

"It seems that the status of the Fifth Young Lady is not as
high as Madam Dowager has shown us."

"Fifth Young Lady, don't be upset. Your grandmother will

surely help you vent your spleen. After that, people in the
manor won't dare to look down on you and bully you." Madam
Dowager Liu could not help starting to talk. Although she was not in
charge of the internal affairs of Lord Protector's Manor, she knew that
people in the manor treated those people from Bright Frost Garden
with indifference.

She just had not expected that even an inferior servant would dare
to curse Ning Xueyan. Thus, she glared at Madam Ling and spoke to
her angrily.

www.asianovel.com
 121 Report
Although she did not know the whole affair, she knew that servants
dared to treat Ning Xueyan with indifference only because it was
exactly what Madam Ling meant. So she became more unpleasant
regarding Madam Ling.

"I, I didn't... Guards, take her away and flog her to death!"
Madam Ling wanted to argue but she did not know where to start. It
had never occurred to her that things would end up like this. She was
only anxious to see the servant be beaten to death right now.

The guards had already come in and then they dragged the
servant out.

"Young Lady, Young Lady, my poor Young Lady!" Mother

Han, who was nearby, suddenly cried out pitifully with a desolate
sound. She attracted everybody's attention and all the people turned
their heads to look at her.

It was exactly the moment that Ning Xueyan had been waiting for!

www.asianovel.com
 122 Report

Chapter 68
Source: TapRead

It was exactly the moment that Ning Xueyan had been waiting for!

Looking up at Madam Dowager with her dark-jade-like eyes, she

slowly dropped the words one by one after clearing her throat.
"Grandmother, how could Mother Han take advantage of my
lowly status?"

Madam Ling once said that by taking advantage of Ning Xueyan's

power, Mother Han encouraged her son to commit violence and he
beat up Concubine Ma's brother.

This thing that happened to Mother Han was the reason Ning
Xueyan had been drugged. What Mother Han had done annoyed
Concubine Ma, and hence, brought a fatal disaster to Ning Xueyan.

However, if Ning Xueyan was even unable to protect herself, how

could Mother Han take advantage of her power?

In one sentence, Ning Xueyan argued clearly that Mother Han was
being framed by Madam Ling.

Then the entire house fell into a weird silence. Cold sweat was
already forming on Madam Ling's forehead. It was so unexpected to
everyone that Ning Xueyan would make such a big leap. Originally,
everyone's attention was focused on the servant who had cursed
Ning Xueyan. But now, all their eyes fell upon Mother Han.

With tears in her eyes, she looked quite sad and her voice sounded
mournful. She looked at Ning Xueyan with kindness and love. How
could she be an arrogant person? Even the woman kneeling beside
her looked much more ferocious than her.

www.asianovel.com
 123 Report
"Madam Dowager, judging by the status of the Fifth Young
Lady in your manor, how could her personal servant take
advantage of her power? It seems that you've caught the
wrong person!" Off to the side, Consort Dowager of Commandery
Prince Li's Manor saw the farce clearly. She sneered slightly with her
lips rising.

"Consort Dowager, no... How could they take the wrong

person? They all said that it was Mother Han." When this thing
came down on her head, she had to bite the bullet and explain.

Everything that happened was all linked together. If one of those

things went wrong, then the following things wouldn't follow. How
dare Madam Ling let others know the inside story!

"Mother, even an inferior servant can humiliate me at will.

She rained down curses on Lanning's head only because
Lanning mentioned me. No one spoke up for me. In this
situation, who would choose to stand on the side of Mother
Han?" Ning Xueyan asked indifferently. She lowered her eyes slightly
to cover the indignation at the bottom of her eyes.

An unfavored mistress with a servant who was despised by othersif

anyone wanted to frame her, it would just be a piece of cake.

"I..." Madam Ling was stumped and was unable to find anything to
say.

"Mother, the life or death of Mother Han was decided just

by a few people's words. Then why can't the truth we saw
before us explain everything? Does Mother also think that we
should find a few more people to verify it?" Ning Xueyan lifted
her lips a little and sneered slightly. Her eyes fell upon Madam Ling
without blinking or avoiding her.

That kind of deep and hellish aura came at her from all sides.
Madam Ling was so intimidated by this aura that she could not utter

www.asianovel.com
 124 Report
a word.

The facts were displayed in front of them. None of those servants

who had come just now had spoken a word on behalf of Ning Xueyan.
They all came here with the attitude of just watching the fun. And
judging by those people's cavalier attitudes, everyone present could
realize the status of Ning Xueyan in the Lord Protector's Manor.

Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li's Manor was present,

so Madam Ling couldn't just turn things upside down, even if she was
eager to do that.

"The rules in the Lord Protector's Manor are really

different. The Fifth Young Lady was drugged by someone but
her personal loyal servant was punished for it. The daughters
in the Lord Protector's Manor are really cheap. No wonder
that the Second Young Lady was capable of doing such a
degrading thing. Because that was the way she was brought
up!" Unable to watch anymore, Consort Dowager spoke in a voice
dripping with sarcasm.

"Madam Ling, apologize to the Fifth Young Lady." Upon

hearing what Consort Dowager had said, Madam Dowager made a
quick decision.

Madam Ling's face changed greatly. She turned to look at Madam

Dowager with disbelief, but all she saw was her ice-cold eyes.

She bit her lips and her face turned pale. All the muscles in her
face were shaking. She was a Marchioness but now she was asked to
make an apology to her daughter, which was meant to be a kind of
humiliationa terrible humiliation!

She would not only make an apology but also lose her dignity as
Marchioness.

Her dignity had already been trampled on once when she was in

www.asianovel.com
 125 Report
the palace. But that was in the palace, and the one who had
trampled on her dignity was the queen, the most distinguished
woman in the whole country.

But now, the one who had trampled on her dignity was the little
bitch that she despised the most...

In that room, there was only silence, a weird silence!

Ning Xueyan had gotten up with someone's help and now she was
standing beside Madam Dowager. A maid served a cup of hot tea and
brought it to Madam Ling's side.

Madam Ling picked up the teacup with her trembling fingers and
forced herself to stay calm. Seeing that Ning Xueyan stood still, she
had to walk over to her. She said while gritting her teeth, "Xueyan."

Ning Xueyan just looked at her indifferently but her fists clenched
unconsciously. She tried hard to restrain herself from slapping the
face of Madam Ling. Her hot blood rushed into a hell of tumult, and
finally, her blood became quiet and deep. "This time, I just taught
her a lesson. I'll have plenty of opportunities in the future."

"Madam Ling wanted more than my life."

"I misunderstood you before..." Madam Ling handed the tea to

Ning Xueyan but her eyes were full of hatred!

"Mother, you indeed had listened to the rumors and

misunderstood me. I hope that you can help me find the
person who drugged me. Now that we know it isn't Mother
Han, who told those rumors to you?" Ning Xueyan asked
naturally and then took the tea from Madam Ling's hands without
embarrassing her too much more. After this, Madam Ling's dignity in
the manor would suffer a great loss.

In addition, she still had the following moves.

www.asianovel.com
 126 Report
Madam Ling almost could not hide the hatred in her heart, and she
replied dryly, "Yes, I have misunderstood you. It won't happen
again. I will find out who is so vicious!"

Ning Xueyan looked at her and said word by word, "Mother, I

didn't blame you."

"I will certainly not only blame it on you, but also, I can't wait to
drink your blood and eat your flesh...

"One day, Madam Ling, you will pay for your vicious deeds.

"Hopefully, you can slowly endure the process until you

reach the end. I hope you can have enough strength to
withstand the blows that will come one after another..."

"Well, well. That will be all for now. Yan'er, since that
matter has nothing to do with Mother Han, it has to be re-
examined by your Mother. Perhaps, Concubine Ma was
wronged too," Madam Dowager stood up and said.

"Grandmother, what did Concubine Ma say? Did she insist

that Mother Han was the person who drugged me?" Ning
Xueyan frowned and asked. Although Mother Han had gotten out of
the trouble by taking this opportunity, she was not willing to let
Concubine Ma go because what had happened with Concubine Ma
was really a great coincidence.

There was no story without coincidences. Ning Xueyan was more

likely to believe that Madam Ling must have planned it for quite a
long time!

"The manor always has physicians to treat concubines in each

house. Why didn't they find out that Concubine Ma was pregnant
before? But immediately after something happened to her, they told
others that she was pregnant. All this must have been specially
designed by some people.

www.asianovel.com
 127 Report
"According to the timeline, this trap could only be used after I was
poisoned to death. That should be in half a year. So they might not
able to use the trap, which is supposed to be used six months later.

"No matter how Madam Ling is exceptionally adept in trickery, she

couldn't know that I would suddenly challenge her in Cold Mountain
Temple!

"Madam Dowager came back in a hurry, so Madam Ling must have

used the trap she had designed before, but it was just not in the time
that she had planned...

"Now that the situation is reversed, I should first see how

Madam Ling and Concubine Ma will explain it."

"Concubine Ma has always been living deep in the Lord

Protector's Manor. Maybe she made a mistake in thinking
that person was Mother Han's son. I will send people to find
out if this thing really happened," Madam Ling said with a
chagrined look.

It seemed that she was regretting it, but in fact, she helped to
exculpate Concubine Ma from the trouble. She made it clear that
Concubine Ma did not know the truth. Thus, they could just insist that
they got the wrong person.

"Do you mean Concubine Ma got the wrong person, so she

gave the medicine to Yan'er?" Madam Dowager asked quickly
because this result was the best one. If all this was done merely by a
concubine, it would not injure Lord Protector's Manor's dignity too
much.

"The concubine in Lord Protector's Manor was really bold.

When she wanted to hurt the daughters in Lord Protector's
Manor, she could do it without knowing all the facts. Is it
because the rules in Lord Protector's Manor are quite
different from the others?" Consort Dowager always piped in

www.asianovel.com
 128 Report
when Madam Dowager was satisfied. Besides, now she really wanted
to give support to Ning Xueyan.

Her words were extremely sharp. Merely a concubine dared to do

such a vicious thing, but they could do nothing to her now.

"You're right. We must find out who did this!" Madam

Dowager's eyes glittered and she finally had to say something.

While they were talking, a maid wearing the clothing of

Commandery Prince Li's Manor suddenly came in. She walked up to
Consort Dowager of Commandery Prince Li and whispered a few
words in her ear. Then the face of Consort Dowager abruptly
changed.

She immediately turned her head. Her eyes glaring, she shouted at
Madam Dowager, "Where is the Second Young Lady in your
manor?"

Madam Dowager went blank for a second because she did not
understand what Consort Dowager meant. Frowning, she asked
Madam Ling, "The Second Young Lady, where is she now?"

"Ling... Ling'er is now in Buddha Hall. After returning from

Cold Mountain Temple, she knelt alone in Buddha Hall."
Madam Ling drew back her neck, defending subconsciously.

In the face of Madam Dowager, how dare she say that she actually
acted to the contrary and let Ning Yuling return to her own courtyard
long ago!

"Buddha Hall. Well, what a great Buddha Hall! Madam Ling,

please take me to Buddha Hall to see if your Second Young
Lady is really there!" Consort Dowager stood up, full of hatred.
With angry flames burning in her eyes, she stared at Madam Ling,
which really bewildered Madam Ling.

But how could she agree when she heard that Consort Dowager

www.asianovel.com
 129 Report
wanted to go to Buddha Hall? Because at this time, there was not
even a shadow of Ning Yuling in Buddha Hall.

"Consort Dowager, B-Buddha Hall is the place where

Mother prays to Buddha. You... That's probably not a very
appropriate for you to go, right?" Madam Ling looked
embarrassed and put the blame on Madam Dowager.

Buddha Hall was indeed the place of Madam Dowager. Usually,

Madam Dowager liked praying to Buddha and copying Buddhist
scriptures there, etc. She valued Buddha Hall so much that she
usually did not like others to go in.

Upon hearing Madam Ling say that, Madam Dowager also felt
somewhat unpleased.

"Grandmother, Consort Dowager has something to do

there. Let's go find out the truth!" Ning Xueyan said gently in
the ear of Madam Dowager. She lowered her voice further and
added, "Grandmother, where is the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li?"

This question reminded Madam Dowager so that she could not sit
still. "The reputation of Ning Yuling has become so bad now. I was
thinking about marrying her off to a petty official or someone without
real power who only had the title of nobility after three or five years
when this thing faded. As long as Ning Zu'an is there, he can at least
give her peace in her lifetime.

"Nothing more can go wrong at this time!

"The reputation of the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince

Li being a playboy is well-known. If she gets involved with
such a person, then I really have no way to help her."

"Let's go and check it out together!" Madam Dowager was

unable to wait at this time. She stood up instantly and was about to

www.asianovel.com
 130 Report
go outside.

"Mother!" Madam Ling's head was covered with sweat because of

anxiety. She stretched out her hand to stop Madam Dowager. She
forced a smile and said, "Mother, please wait for a moment.
Ling'er has been kneeling for so long that Buddha Hall is
already a mess. Let me send someone to clean it up and then
Mother and Consort Dowager can go there to check."

At this time, she only wanted to delay them and try to send a
message to inform Ning Yuling.

"Are you trying to send a message to her?" One sentence

from Consort Dowager froze Madam Ling's smile successfully.

"There is no need. I'm going there now." Madam Dowager

immediately pushed Madam Ling away. Then she brought her people
and walked toward Buddha Hall with Consort Dowager.

www.asianovel.com
 131 Report

Chapter 69
Source: TapRead

Ning Xueyan was in poor health so she went last, with Qingyu and
Lanning following behind her.

Seeing that there was no one around, Qingyu leaned against Ning
Xueyan and whispered to her, "Young Lady, the Third Prince has
gone back. He left in a hurry so most of the people in the
manor don't know that. The Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li is resting in the Chinese Flowering Crabapple
Pavilion. Then I went to the Second Young Lady's courtyard.
However, I met Miao'er, the personal servant of the Second
Young Lady before I got to the Second Young Lady's
courtyard."

"Oh, what did she say?" Ning Xueyan asked without betraying
any emotion.

"Young Lady, you are so smart. I told her the thing about
the Third Prince. I also told her that the Third Prince was still
in the Chinese Flowering Crabapple Pavilion and was waiting
for you to meet him there." Qingyu then said with admiration, "I
saw that the eyes of Miao'er lit up, then she immediately
turned around and walked away, exactly as you predicted.
You foretold it like a prophet. You motivated her to act on
her own with just one trick."

Ning Xueyan sneered at the bottom of her heart. "Ning Yuling

always fancies herself. She is ambitious and has many evil intentions.
There have been days that she has been secretly admiring the Third
Prince. Now after such a thing happened, how could she have no
plans of her own? Now upon hearing that the Third Prince asked me
out, she would definitely wish I were dead in her heart.

www.asianovel.com
 132 Report
"If I were the previous Ning Xueyan, I would die sooner or later in
her hands long before Madam Ling made her moves.

"Fortunately, she has no time to torture me now..."

"After that, I didn't leave. Instead, I stayed by the

rockeries. After a while, sure enough, I saw the perfectly
coiffed Second Young Lady hurry to the Chinese Flowering
Crabapple Pavilion with Miao'er. The face of the Second
Young Lady was covered by a veil. She dressed with
simplicity, just like your usual style." Qingyu chuckled.

"The way the Second Young Lady dressed today was

completely different from her normal dressed-to-the-nines
style. She also deliberately covered her face with a veil. As
you had expected, she dressed herself up like you.
Pretending to be you, she went to go on a date with the Third
Prince, which was really shameless. Fortunately, one was
shameless and one was bored. What a good match!"

The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li felt extremely bored!

When the Third Prince was there, they always enjoyed the flowers
in the Chinese Flowering Crabapple Pavilion and had a chat. It felt
like nothing special at that time. But now that the Third Prince was
gone and Consort Dowager was still inside, he felt exceedingly bored
alone. Often at this time, he would have snuggled up with women.
Thinking of this, he felt an itch for the temptation.

"I shouldn't have any trouble with the Fifth Young Lady."

Feeling bored, he had all his servants go out. Now he was alone.
He hung a gauze mosquito net and lay down on the couch, closing
his eyes to take a rest.

At first, he just could not fall asleep. Then in a daze, he fell asleep
slowly. Suddenly, he heard a knock at the door. Touching his slightly

www.asianovel.com
 133 Report
unconscious head, he said impatiently, "Come in."

As the door opened, a simply dressed woman with a fascinating

body and a pair of big, beautiful eyes walked in gracefully.

The drowsiness of the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was

gone instantly. He widened his eyes to examine the woman in front
of him. Judging by her figure alone, he could tell that she was a
beauty. Moreover, this beauty was now looking at him with affection.
The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, who was used to dealing
with womenhow could he not understand that this beauty in front of
him was obviously interested in him?

It did not occur to him that there such a beautiful woman who
knew about romance and feelings was hiding in Lord Protector's
Manor. In an instant, his whole body became burning hot with
ecstasy in his heart.

"It seems that it's a beauty that Lord Protector's Manor has
prepared for me. They must know that I am lonely and bored
here," the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li thought to himself.
At this time, he got increasingly good feelings toward the Lord
Protector's Manor.

Through the gauze net, he reached out his hands and waved at her
with a smile. "Come, come here. You beautiful woman, come
here."

He was not some upright gentleman. Seeing the image of the

extremely coquettish beauty, he had melted long ago. She was
radiant and enchanting and she looked seductive with her well-
developed body, which just happened to be the type he liked.

Shyly, Ning Yuling looked at the bed with the curtains hanging. But
in her heart, she cursed the bitch Ning Xueyan. "Judging by the words
said by the Third Prince, he is quite very familiar with Ning Xueyan.
They should have had an affair early on. I never thought that would I

www.asianovel.com
 134 Report
actually get a great bargain today. When I get married to the Third
Prince, I'll grind that bitch hard beneath my feet.

"Don't even think of marrying into the Third Prince's Manor,

you bitch."

"Yes! I'm coming!" Ning Yuling thought that she was perfectly
sound and able this time. When she entered the door, she left
Miao'er outside to stop Ning Xueyan. Upon hearing "the Third
Prince" call her, she answered in a sweet voice and started to walk
over to the bed. Before she got to the bedside, a hand reached out
from within the curtains and grabbed her hand. Then, Ning Yuling's
entire body fell onto the bed along with the curtains.

Listening to her voice, all the bones of the Princely Heir of

Commandery Prince Li became limp. He didn't expect that the beauty
that Lord Protector's Manor casually sent out was even much more
lascivious than the famous prostitutes in the brothels.

Since the beauty brought herself over to him and the Princely Heir
of Commandery Prince Li himself was a dissolute person, how could
he refuse her?

Furthermore, he had been so closely watched by Consort Dowager

during these two days that there was no time for him to do anything
romantic. He finally took a fancy to Ning Yuling but it turned out that
the bitch Ning Yuling was a vamp. The Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li felt miserable even at the thought of Ning Yuling.

Now that he had gotten a chance to indulge himself, how could he

let her go?

He dragged Ning Yuling over to him, touching and kissing her.

Ning Yuling was shocked first. She did not expect that the gentle
and cultivated Third Prince could be so anxious. She secretly cursed
to herself, what a bitch that Ning Xueyan was. Then her body

www.asianovel.com
 135 Report
softened and she just allowed him to do anything to her. She thought
to herself, "No matter if I make it or not today, with such a
beginning, the Third Prince will have no choice but to marry
me."

With such a distinguished status as the Consort of the Third Prince,

no one would dare to talk about that matter of releasing animals in
Cold Mountain Temple.

"Your Highness... I have long admired you. Today, I came

here especially to see you... In my heart, you are the only
real man that I want to marry." Puffing and blowing, Ning Yuling
could not help expressing her true feelings when she was touched
and kissed by the man.

At the thought of Ning Xueyan coming here and seeing that she
was lying with the Third Prince, Ning Yuling felt quite relieved. "Ning
Xueyan, you little bitch, you even dared to seduce the Third
Prince. However, you can only watch me be the Consort of
the Third Prince." Thinking of this, Ning Yuling became very
excited and her whole body was trembling because of the
excitement.

"That little bitch, I must make her live a life that is cheaper
and nastier than pigs' and dogs'."

The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was so tempted that he

was anxious to make further moves. Tearing off the gauze clothes on
the beauty in a hurry, he completely failed to catch Ning Yuling's
words. Totally concentrating on his own business at hand while
gasping, he nodded casually. "You beauty, rest assured. I will let
you know who the real man is today. Now, let me take care of
you nicely."

"I... Ning Xueyan and me..." Ning Yuling twisted her body,
unwilling to stop. "Your Highness, out of that bitch Ning Xueyan
and me, who do you think is better?"

www.asianovel.com
 136 Report
"You, you are better. Of course, you are the better one. No
one can be better than you. You are my most beloved
woman..." With the beauty in his arms, now the head of the Princely
Heir of Commandery Prince Li was full of carnal desires. Without
considering Ning Yuling's words too much, he answered while smiling
and pressed Ning Yuling down on the bed. He was in such a hurry
that he did not even pull the veil off her face...

In Buddha Hall

Madam Dowager and Consort Dowager pushed the door of the

small Buddha Hall open. The inside of Buddha Hall was very quiet
and nobody was there. Let alone the whole body of Ning Yuling, there
was not even a piece of her clothes there. Madam Dowager was
angry on the spot. She turned back and slapped Madam Ling's face
hard, which knocked Madam Ling two steps backward and she almost
fell off the steps.

"What happened? Tell me now." Madam Dowager felt extreme

hatred as she pointed at Madam Ling and scolded her.

It turned out that Madam Ling overtly agreed but secretly acted to
the contrary. All of a sudden, Madam Dowager felt so humiliated.
Looking at the sullen face of Consort Dowager, who was standing at
the side, Madam Dowager really wanted to gulp Madam Ling down.
She hated Madam Ling since the first day she became her daughter-
in-law.

"Mother, it's probably because Ling'er fainted just now so

the servants brought her back. That's why she... she is not
here." Madam Ling tried hard to dispute it while sweat dripped from
her face.

"Grandmother, don't worry. Perhaps something really

happened to my second sister. Kneeling from yesterday until
today, her body couldn't withstand it. Thus, it's also possible
that she passed out!" Ning Xueyan came over. She supported

www.asianovel.com
 137 Report
Madam Dowager gently and said softly to save Madam Dowager from
embarrassment.

Not all the people present were from Lord Protector's Manor.
Hence, at this time, she mustn't launch a frontal attack directly.
Instead, she should guide her enemies in the direction she wanted
them to go.

It seemed that her words were to rescue Madam Ling and Madam
Dowager from a siege. However, when that thing broke out later,
Madam Ling would shoulder greater responsibilities. Now, Ning
Xueyan had set the trap and then Madam Ling would jump in it
herself.

"Yes... Right, it must be because Ling'er is in poor health.

Mother, I remember that the maid of Ling'er had appeared
outside just now. I guess that she must want to report what
happened to Ling'er. But I stayed inside and it was
inconvenient to go outside at that time. So I didn't know
what happened to Ling'er." Madam Ling nodded continuously.
Upon hearing the reason that Ning Xueyan offered, Madam Ling
accepted it immediately and made up her further explanations.

"Did the Second Young Lady faint?" Madam Dowager looked

coldly at Madam Ling.

Madam Ling nodded hard. "Yes, yes. Mother, it must be."

"Are you sure that your Second Young Lady is resting in her
own courtyard?" Consort Dowager asked with a sneer while glaring
at Madam Ling with anger.

Just now, her maid brought back a message from the servant. He
said that he saw a well-dressed woman go to the room of the Princely
Heir. The Princely Heir was resting in the room alone. And the servant
could barely hear the maid call the woman Second Young Lady. Upon
hearing the message, Consort Dowager gnashed her teeth with

www.asianovel.com
 138 Report
hatred. That shameless Ning Yuling! She even dared to seduce her
grandson. How could Consort Dowager not hate her to the extreme?

Consort Dowager swore to herself. "Such a bitchy woman wants

to become my granddaughter-in-law. Don't even try it."

"Yes, Ling'er has never been in good health. After kneeling

in Buddha Hall for one night, she just couldn't support herself
anymore and fainted. She must have been brought back to
her courtyard to rest by the servants." Madam Ling became
increasingly good at making up lies. She guessed that Ning Yuling
had to be in Qingrong Courtyard, and hence, she had to be resting.
Even if Madam Dowager suggested to take a look, she was not afraid.

Just now, she had already sent a message to the people in

Qingrong Courtyard. She asked Ning Yuling to fake an illness so they
could get away with this thing today.

"Are you sure, Madam Ling?" Consort Dowager followed up.

"Of course!" Although Madam Ling was not clear why Consort
Dowager asked her like this, she still nodded hard and stated
categorically.

Madam Dowager frowned deeply. It was only because Madam Ling

answered with such certainty that it was inconvenient for her to say
anything further. Her eyes fell on Madam Ling, sullen and cold.
"Consort Dowager inquired into the things about Ning Yuling over
and over again, which definitely would not be okay. At this very
moment, Madam Ling didn't even try to find out the truth but just
swore blindly.

"She said everything too absolutely without leaving herself

a way out. She is truly stupid enough!"

"Mother, maybe my second sister isn't..." Stretching out her

hand, Ning Xueyan pulled Madam Ling and lowered her voice to

www.asianovel.com
 139 Report
speak.

It seemed that she wanted to warn Madam Ling. But simply

because the warning came from Ning Xueyan, Madam Ling would not
believe a single word of it. Staring at Ning Xueyan, she said with a
skin-deep smile, "Fifth Young Lady, what do you mean by
saying this? Ling'er is your sister. She certainly would go to
rest in the courtyard when she fainted. Why do you still think
that she is not resting in the courtyard?"

By saying this, she implied that Ning Xueyan wanted to frame Ning
Yuling.

"Yes, Mother. You are right!" Ning Xueyan did not argue with
Madam Ling. She stepped back two steps and stayed near Madam
Dowager.

Madam Dowager heard Ning Xueyan try to help Madam Ling out of
the predicament. However, that idiot not only appeared ungrateful,
but she also blamed Ning Xueyan. Madam Dowager became furious.

"Come on, let's go to the Chinese Flowering Crabapple

Pavilion!" Consort Dowager no longer hesitated. She was now
extremely impatient!

www.asianovel.com
 140 Report

Chapter 70
Source: TapRead

To Madam Ling's surprise, the place Consort Dowager suggested to

go was not Ning Yuling's Qingrong Courtyard, but the Chinese
Flowering Crabapple Pavilion, which was used for receiving guests.
She felt really relieved in her heart. This time, without a hint of
hesitation, she led them to the Chinese Flowering Crabapple Pavilion
while smiling.

She thought that there had to be something wrong with the

unreliable Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li.

As long as the thing of Ning Yuling was not exposed, what should
she be afraid of? Therefore, she certainly had no psychological
burden at all and walked at the front.

The group of people walked up to the door of the Chinese

Flowering Crabapple Pavilion. Before they arrived at the door, they
heard the love-making sounds of a man and a woman coming from
inside. The face of Consort Dowager changed greatly. She winked at
the servant beside her. Before Madam Ling could react, the servant
already went ahead and kicked the door open. Then, the group of
people rushed in together. Only Ning Xueyan took two steps back.

So many people appeared in the room all of a sudden, which

greatly frightened the two people who were making love on the bed.

As the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was a man, he

reacted faster. He pulled the quilt over himself and left Ning Yuling
outside. Screaming, she tried hard to pull the quilt.

"You little bitch, you failed to seduce Xian'er last time. This
time, you did such a shameless thing again. Do you still want
to marry into the Commandery Prince Li's Manor in a decent
www.asianovel.com
 141 Report
manner?" As expected, Consort Dowager saw Ning Yuling in the
Chinese Flowering Crabapple Pavilion. She was so angry that she
nearly began to vomit blood. She walked up to Ning Yuling and
slapped her violently in the face.

Madam Ling was scared silly. It never occurred to her that the
woman who was entangled with the man in the room would be Ning
Yuling. Seeing her tangled up with the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li with messy clothes, a mouthful of blood nearly sprayed out
of her mouth. Her hands were trembling and she could not utter a
word.

Madam Dowager was so angry that she could only sit torpidly on a
chair nearby. She pressed her crutches hard to the ground with the
veins on her forehead popping out.

With a gloomy face, Madam Dowager Liu stood next to Madam

Dowager, wearing a blank face.

"Ah, who are you? Why is it you, the dissolute dandy?" Ning
Yuling was knocked backward so she hit the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li. Looking back subconsciously, she looked
right into the face of the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. She
pulled her clothes from the side and hurriedly put them on her naked
white body.

"You... Are you that bitch Ning Yuling?" The Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li was also putting on the clothes by his side. He
widened his eyes and yelled at her.

"You... Did you just call me a bitch?" After shuffling her clothes
on, Ning Yuling pointed angrily at the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li and scolded him in hatred while trembling with a pale face.

"Why can't I call you a bitch? You even dared to say that I
am a dandy. Even if I am a dissolute dandy, I am much better
than you, a promiscuous woman. I only wanted to take a

www.asianovel.com
 142 Report
break here. Then you came to throw yourself at me. For fear
that I would refuse you, you even covered up your face. Ning
Yuling, you are cheap enough." The Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li threw the veil from the bed and cursed in rage.

He only believed himself to be a romantic man but could not stand

being called a nasty man. Therefore, he pointed at Ning Yuling and
cursed her sharply. He even threw out the veil as the evidence to
prove that Ning Yuling was a bitch.

Looking angrily at the two half-dressed people, the eyes of Madam

Dowager almost popped out of her head. "You, you..." She failed to
catch her breath and almost passed out because of that. Madam
Dowager Liu was in a hurry to appease her.

"Mother, Mother, it wasn't me. I didn't want to come here.

It was the little bitch Ning Xueyan that wanted to date him. I
was framed by them." Faced with a situation like this, Ning Yuling
felt ice-cold from head to toe. All of a sudden, she threw herself
before Madam Ling. Holding Madam Ling's hands, she burst into
tears.

"Mother, it was the little bitch Ning Xueyan who wanted to

go on a date. I came here to check it out, so I wore a veil. But
I didn't expect that he... he actually grabbed my... my..."
While crying loudly, Ning Yuling shouted. "Mother, I was set up by
that little bitch Ning Xueyan."

At this moment, Ning Yuling got wise and realized her situation.
Miao'er told her that the Third Prince asked Ning Xueyan out. But
why did she see the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li only but
not the Third Prince? Why it was not the Third Prince? If it was the
Third Prince, she would not be afraid even if they were caught. After
all, the Third Prince had to give an explanation to Lord Protector's
Manor. She simply did not believe that the Third Prince wouldn't take
the responsibility.

www.asianovel.com
 143 Report
But now, this person was the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince
Li. Thinking of what Madam Ling told her yesterday about the
Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li when she returned to the
manor, how could Ning Yuling be willing to marry him for nothing?
Thus, she surely would insist that the person who wanted to date the
Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was actually Ning Xueyan.

"Second Young Lady, you again tried to blame your fifth

sister for a shameless thing you did. I really don't know
where your brain is!" Madam Dowager Liu could not help rebuking
before Madam Dowager started to say something.

The other people in the room also showed sarcastic looks on their
faces. Covering their mouths, they all laughed secretly. Even the few
servants in Lord Protector's Manor could not help eyeing the Second
Young Lady suspiciously because she really made a shameful scene
today.

The Fifth Young Lady had just returned to the manor. Later on, she
stayed the entire time with Madam Dowager without leaving.
Therefore, why did the Second Young Lady say that the Fifth Young
Lady framed her? Out of everyone in the manor, who didn't know
what the Fifth Young Lady's character was?

"Second sister, are you talking about me?" Ning Xueyan

walked in slowly from the outside. Covering up the coldness in her
eyes, she looked at Ning Yuling, who was now sitting weakly on the
ground in silence.

"You... It is you... It must be you!" Ning Yuling screamed

uncontrollably. She could not conceal her jealousy towards Ning
Xueyan.

Knowing that she could not control her mood now, Ning Xueyan
narrowed her eyes and asked softly, "My second sister, are you
really not sober now? I just went back to the manor. How
could I know you weren't in Buddha Hall but in the Chinese

www.asianovel.com
 144 Report
Flowering Crabapple Pavilion? Even if I really wanted to harm
you, I would have had to know these things first. Besides, I
really couldn't be in two places at the same time."

Her words reminded Consort Dowager, who then turned her head
immediately and said to Madam Ling ferociously, "Madam Ling,
you reassured me again and again that your very well-
behaved delicate daughter fainted in Buddha Hall and then
returned to her courtyard to rest, right? But now, who is this
person? Is she a famous prostitute from some brothel?"

Consort Dowager's words were extremely sharp. Speaking like

that, she totally took Ning Yuling as a cheap whore.

ly, Madam Ling had repeatedly said that Ning Yuling was in poor
health, but now Ning Yuling was caught on the spot.

"You... Miao'er, you can tell us. Tell us. Is it this bitch who
told you that the Third Prince was going to meet that little
bitchy Ning Xueyan?" Ning Yuling went mad. Pointing at Miao'er,
who stood by the side at a loss, she shouted loudly.

This time she even mentioned the Third Prince!

The faces of Consort Dowager, Madam Dowager, and Madam

Dowager Liu all became gloomy and cold. Now all of them turned
around and looked at Miao'er.

Being stared at by so many people, Miao'er immediately knelt

down with a bump.

Miao'er was shocked and scared. She only knew that bad things
had happened to the Second Young Lady and it was related to the
Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. Thus, neither the Second
Young Lady nor Madam Ling would let her go.

"Miao'er, you are the personal maid of Ling'er. The Second

Young Lady was originally resting in her own courtyard. Why

www.asianovel.com
 145 Report
did she come here? Was she framed by someone? Or is it you
who deliberately played a dirty trick and set your mistress
up? You must tell us everything honestly. You must make
yourself clear today because Lord Protector's Manor cannot
tolerate black-hearted people like you."

After the initial shock, Madam Ling's mind suddenly clarified.

Staring at Miao'er, she reproached her angrily.

It seemed that she was rebuking Miao'er and she wanted her to tell
the truth. But in fact, she was threatening Miao'er.

Madam Ling gave Miao'er two choices. The first choice was that
Miao'er had been set up by Ning Xueyan. The second choice was that
Miao'er had been framed Ning Yuling. Either way, Ning Yuling was the
victim.

Madam Ling was in charge of the backyard of the whole Lord

Protector's Manor. So she could easily decide a slave's life and death
as she wished. Moreover, Ning Xueyan, the Fifth Young Lady, had
always been looked down upon by the people in the manor. Miao'er
stayed by Ning Yuling's side all the time so she also bullied Ning
Xueyan often in the past. How could she fear Ning Xueyan?

Even the new servants of Lord Protector's Manor knew which one
they could offend and which one they couldn't.

ba

Miao'er thought about this a little while and then she made her
judgment. She immediately pointed at Ning Xueyan and said in a
trembling voice, "Yes, I... It was... it was the Fifth Young Lady
who had me lie to the Second Young Lady and lure her here.
The Fifth Young Lady gave me a large amount of money so I
became greedy. I just needed to trick the Second Young Lady
into staying in this room for a while. I thought it was nothing
serious."

www.asianovel.com
 146 Report
Her words caused an uproar!

All the suspicious eyes turned toward Ning Xueyan!

Off to the side, upon hearing what Miao'er had said, the Princely
Heir of Commandery Prince Li learned that Ning Xueyan had
instigated Miao'er to lure Ning Yuling here. With a surge of angry
flames rushing up, he dashed over to Miao'er with big strides and
kicked her. Staring at her, he scolded loudly, "You cheap maid, you
got that vamp into my bed only for a little money and harmed
my reputation. Are you looking for death?"

Miao'er's body was kicked over. She covered her chest and had a
ghastly pale face. However, she still gritted her teeth and said, "It
has nothing to do with me. The Fifth Young Lady asked me to
do so. I dared not disobey her order."

Consort Dowager saw that the face of Miao'er changed

dramatically because of the kick. Lest something bad happened to
the witness, she shouted to stop the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li. "Xian'er, stop!"

"Grandmother, Lord Protector's Manor has bullied me again

and again. I feel really upset and angry." Now his face was red
with anger. With his face red and his neck swollen, the Princely Heir
of Commandery Prince Li straightened his neck and spoke angrily.

He was not annoyed because he had been caught. He only felt

disgusted as if he had swallowed a fly at the thought that Ning Yuling
also had an affair with that poor man. That bitch Ning Yuling
pretended to be bashful before him as if it was her first time to make
love with a man, which made him cherish her a lot. When he thought
of all these things now, he only felt sick.

This bitch was so good at acting. He had dealt with women for so
many years, but he was also fooled, which was a great shame to him!

www.asianovel.com
 147 Report
"Xian'er, rest assured, Lord Protector's Manor will certainly
give us an explanation." Consort Dowager pulled him to sit down.
Now the matter had developed to this pointwhether it was Ning
Xueyan who had lured Ning Yuling here or Ning Yuling who had
misbehaved herself as an unmarried girl and had thrown herself at
Xian'er, the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was relatively
innocent.

No matter what the facts were, the Commandery Prince Li's Manor
would not lose.

Seeing that Miao'er spoke in the way as she had expected, Madam
Ling felt overjoyed in her heart. Thus, she turned her head to Madam
Dowager. She cried while wiping her tears with a handkerchief.
"Mother, the facts are in front of us. It was the vicious Fifth
Young Lady who greatly envied Ling'er and lured her here
deliberately. She has ruined Ling'er's reputation. Mother, you
should support Ling'er and shouldn't let the Fifth Young Lady
go."

Ning Yuling, who had collapsed to the ground, took the cue from
Madam Ling's eyes and then she cried louder and louder.

"Grandmother, grandmother, you have to uphold justice for

me!"

At this time, she was truly sad because her reputation had been
ruined. But actually, the most important thing was that the person
who ruined her reputation was the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li, who she despised the most. How could she not be sad? For
a while, she even choked with sobs. But she also glanced viciously at
Ning Xueyan out of the corner of her eyes and nearly grinded her
teeth to pieces secretly.

She wanted Ning Xueyan to die miserably...

www.asianovel.com
 148 Report

Chapter 71
Source: TapRead

Ning Yuling thought about the whole matter over and over again.
Even though she had not been clever enough, she knew that she had
been tricked by Ning Xueyan. How could she forgive her?

"Fifth Young Lady, did you do that?" Madam Dowager's face

turned black as she shouted angrily at Ning Xueyan.

"Madam Dowager must be planning to sacrifice herself to

save Madam Ling and her daughter since she didn't even ask
anything, as if she had heard nothing when Madam Ling and
her daughter slandered her," Ning Xueyan thought with a sneer.
"Madam Dowager always protects those who are treacherous and
she's been partial to Madam Ling and her daughter from time to
time. But what a pity it is today, since Madam Ling and her daughter
are bound to lose face with the whole Lord Protector's Manor.

"Madam Dowager has neither done enough surface work

nor was she confident. What else can she do to save face?"

"Grandmother, I was with you just now, so how could I

make such a clever arrangement? You expected that my
Second Sister would slip out of Buddha Hall, but how did you
know that she still had the strength to enjoy the flowers in
the Chinese Flowering Crabapple Pavilion? And Second
Sister, why are you here now?"

Ning Xueyan asked them calmly, her eyes looking cold. Faced with
Miao'er's and Madam Ling's testimonies, she did not lose her
presence of mind.

She was smiling slightly and looked magnanimous.

www.asianovel.com
 149 Report
Commandery Prince Li's wife, Consort Dowager, was sophisticated
in her old age. She discovered the holes in their testimonies, while
what the young lady had said in front of her was infallible. If it really
had nothing to do with her, then she had to be extremely scheming.
So she suppressed the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li for his
impatience and watched how the people from Lord Protector's Manor
investigated and dealt with it.

Ning Yuling was at a loss for words for a while when she was
questioned by Ning Xueyan. Anyway, she could not tell her that she
came here to have a secret date with the Third Prince.

"Stop resorting to sophistry, Xueyan. It was you who

incited the maid to trick Ling'er and bring her here. The maid
had clearly explained that she wouldn't have done this if it
weren't for you," Madam Ling said with a sneer while pointing at
Miao'er, who was down on her knees.

Ning Xueyan followed Madam Ling's finger and looked at Miao'er.

She approached them slowly and smiled. "Miao'er, keep your eyes
open and tell them whether or not I incited you."

Miao'er had a bellyful of tricks. But now, she had to answer Ning
Xueyan. She looked up at her, clenched her teeth and said, "Yes.
The Fifth Young Lady incited me to do that."

"What did I say to you? And when? It appears that I went

straight to Bright Frost Garden when I came here and I don't
remember having seen you." Ning Xueyan nodded and continued
to ask the maid.

Ning Xueyan could not cover up her tracks after she returned to
Lord Protector's Manor because people would know where she had
been as long as they asked about it.

"It was... Qingyu beside the Fifth Young Lady who ordered
me to do that. She said the Fifth Young Lady had asked her

www.asianovel.com
 150 Report
to incite me, and she even gave me the silver." Miao'er was
determined to make up lies. After all, she had met Qingyu and
exchanged some words with her. When Miao'er heard from Qingyu
that the Third Prince had made an appointment with the Fifth Young
Lady, she rushed to Qingrong Courtyard and told that to Ning Yuling.

After that, Ning Yuling had changed her clothes and rushed here in
a hurry. In case Ning Xueyan might arrive at that time, she asked
Miao'er to stay outside the door to stop Ning Xueyan.

"Oh? So you listened to me just because Qingyu conveyed

my words to you and gave you some silver?" Ning Xueyan
sneered.

Madam Dowager, who sat beside them, adjusted her position

uneasily while everyone in the room cast their eyes on Miao'er
looking puzzled.

If the older female servant had not cursed Ning Xueyan in

Auspicious Fortune Hall, they might have believed Miao'er's words.
But since that had happened, it seemed that Ning Xueyan had
merely a low status in Lord Protector's Manor. How could she order
about the first maid of a big shot like Ning Yuling?

Why would the first maid listen to Ning Xueyan when even an older
female servant would not take Ning Xueyan seriously? Not to
mention, Miao'er had listened to Ning Xueyan when she did not even
order her herself. Thus, everyone became more and more skeptical
about this.

But Miao'er did not know what had happened in Auspicious Fortune
Hall. She still clung to her view and said, "Yes. The Fifth Young
Lady gave me the silver and then I believed her."

"How much silver did I give you?" Ning Xueyan noded and
asked unhurriedly.

www.asianovel.com
 151 Report
Miao'er thought about this for a long time. She did not have much
silver. It would be worse if she made the amount too high. So she
told Ning Xueyan the amount of the sliver that she had with her now.
She put out two fingers and said, "The Fifth Young Lady asked
Qingyu to give me 20 taels of silver."

"Then, where is the silver now?" Ning Xueyan curved her lips
into a smile.

"I've hidden it in Qingrong Courtyard." Miao'er was chilled

with fear over these questions. Now, she had to continue to make it
up.

"Did I give you notes or pieces of silver?" Ning Xueyan

continued to ask her.

"Pieces... pieces of silver!" Miao'er responded quickly. Those

pieces of silver had been saved by herself and were undoubtedly
pieces of silver.

"Pfft." Lanning, who was beside Ning Xueyan, failed to refrain

from laughing. When everyone cast their eyes on her, she stepped
back and stood behind Ning Xueyan with a mocking look on her face.

"20 taels of silver. This is the first time I've heard that you
need just 20 taels of silver to incite a maid to set up her
mistress. It seems that the mistresses of Lord Protectors
Manor are so worthless. And if I were to set my Second Sister
up, why would I ask the maid to bring some pieces of silver?
Did I intend to let everyone see that?"

Ning Xueyan was smiling slightly but her eyes looked cold.

Her words sounded plain but they were sharp and full of and
sarcasm. Everyone present, like Consort Dowager, was calculating
enough. Why would the first maid beside Ning Yuling who was so
pampered care about 20 taels of silver? It would have made sense if

www.asianovel.com
 152 Report
Ning Xueyan had set Ning Yuling up with at least 200 taels of silver.

Furthermore, the silver was given to the maid in pieces. Why didn't
a mistress like Ning Xueyan bribe her with notes, since notes were
more portable and covert than a pocket of silver pieces?

Everyone understood this. Having been exposed by Ning Xueyan,

now they knew clearly that Miao'er had to be slandering Ning
Xueyan.

But Madam Ling would not let Ning Xueyan get away from this and
said hurriedly, "Maybe Miao'er was incited before she got the
real benefit."

"What would be the benefit? Mother, what benefit do you

think I can give to others in my present status?" Ning Xueyan
smiled slightly and defended herself plainly. She was neither humble
nor pushy at the moment, looking calm and confident.

In Auspicious Fortune Hall, everyone had clearly seen Ning

Xueyan's status, with which Ning Xueyan would not have been able
to order Miao'er even if she had given Miao'er any benefits, not to
mention that it was just a promised benefit. How dare Miao'er betray
her own mistress without gaining any real benefit?

Ning Xueyan's words successfully put Madam Ling down.

"It is you. It must be you. Grandmother... I came here

because I heard the slut had a secret date with a man."
Seeing that Ning Xueyan was getting away, Ning Yuling lost her
temper and cursed, crying and pointing at Ning Xueyan.

"Bullshit! I didn't have any date with you who are so

scrawny." Hearing he was about to be dragged into in this matter,
the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li glared at Ning Yuling and
shouted, "It's you who wanted to hook up with me and threw
yourself at me. You were so afraid of being loathed and even

www.asianovel.com
 153 Report
wore a veil. You said that you admired me so much but now
you are trying to frame me."

The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li did not intend to help

Ning Xueyan out, but he was so sick of Ning Yuling. And he had
already understood that Ning Yuling was trying to set up Ning Xueyan
through this whole affair. In addition to that, Ning Xueyan looked
calm in spite of being framed while Ning Yuling acted like a virago
and was so disgusting, so he couldn't help arguing.

His first words had hit the nail on the head. He and Ning Yuling had
just tangled with each other and he was clear about what she had
said by the bed. Now hearing him say it out loud in front of so many
people, Ning Yuling felt extremely ashamed and embarrassed. She
blushed and kept her head down.

"Ning Xueyan, how dare you have a date with a man in

private..." Madam Ling quickly changed the topic and shouted at
Ning Xueyan when she saw that it was going bad.

"Fifth Young Lady, explain it to me." Madam Dowager took

over Madam Ling's topic and shouted at Ning Xueyan with a gleam
flashing in her eyes.

They were trying to put the blame on Ning Xueyan coercively.

Ning Xueyan was bored and fed up with these people in front of
her. "Madam Dowager and Madam Ling, though thinking differently,
had the same purpose. That is, to put me on the spot and take the
blame for Ning Yuling.

"Ning Yuling is vicious and malicious, just like Madam Ling. Madam
Dowager, who looks impartial, had never been impartial actually. She
was so partial to Ning Yuling.

"The so-called mismatching of fate must be describing me

and the glorious Lord Protector's Manor."

www.asianovel.com
 154 Report
Anyway, nobody cared about her. She was the one that had to be
sacrificed.

But unfortunately for them, Ning Xueyan, who always treasured

her life so much, would never allow anybody to trick or frame her.
Madam Ling would be her foe forever, and she would no longer be
softhearted to her foes. There would be only one left alive.

"Mother, I've heard my Second Sister mention the Third

Prince. Was the Third Prince also involved in this matter?
Should we invite the Third Prince and Honored Consort Ya
here to see whether they can make it clear?" Ning Xueyan
sneered with indifference and sarcasm in her eyes.

"The Third Prince?" Madam Dowager did not look good and
Consort Dowager also narrowed her eyes uneasily.

"Involve the imperial family in the scandal? Who would be

responsible for that?"

"Yes, Grandmother. It is the Third Prince..." On hearing the

Third Prince, Ning Yuling thought an opportunity had arisen. So she
shouted hurridly, "Yes. I thought it was the Third Prince. So I..."

"Shut up!" Madam Dowager burst in anger and hit Ning Yuling
heavily with her stick, who leaned over and almost fell to the ground
when her words stopped suddenly.

"Guards! Take this lowly maid away and beat her to death
with a stick!" Madam Dowager had now made up her mind and
denounced Miao'er angrily.

"The Third Prince is His Majesty's most beloved son who has
numerous secret powers. How can we implicate him so rashly?

"This is the end of this matter of Ning Yuling's. We can't

play up to the Third Prince in case we offend him and his
powers..."

www.asianovel.com
 155 Report
Two older female servants came up and dragged Miao'er out.
Miao'er went into a frenzy, struggling and trying to scream. But her
mouth had already been covered and she was dragged out of the
room.

"Madam Ling, take the Second Young Lady to Qingrong

Courtyard and don't let her out unless she gets my
permission. Ask her to transcribe the Confucian classics 100
times," Madam Dowager said angrily as she glared at Ning Yuling in
the harshest tone that Ning Yuling had ever heard.

"Grandmother, I..." Ning Yuling refused to obey and burst into

tears.

Seeing that the whole scheme had come to naught, Madam Ling
dared not say anything and asked the guards to take Ning Yuling out.
It was clear to her that she had to rely on Madam Dowager to save
her face. Even though Commandery Prince Li's Manor had relatives of
the royal family, they still had to look up to Lord Protector's Manor
and take them as their backup force.

So she could not go against Madam Dowager's words.

www.asianovel.com
 156 Report

Chapter 72
Source: TapRead

Since it had come to this, no one there had any reason to stay.
Ning Xueyan also returned to Bright Frost Garden with her people.

Now it was tranquil in the courtyard. Madam Dowager asked those

from Bright Frost Garden to pick themselves up now that Madam Ling
was ill, and she suppressed those who seemed to always suck up to
Madam Ling. After recovering, Madam Ling also tried to take the
opportunity to do something but was held back by Mother Han, who
had always come up with some ideas to handle her. That was why
Madam Ling hated Mother Han so much and dragged her into the
mire.

Back in the courtyard, Lanning and Qingyu were sorting Ning

Xueyan's items, while Mother Han come to talk to Ning Xueyan after
packing her own things.

"Young Lady. The First Madam and the Second Young Lady
paid the price this time. Now that this has happened, the
Second Young Lady would not be the principal wife even if
she were married into Commandery Prince Li's Manor. By no
means can the First Madam and the Second Young Lady bully
the Young Lady." Mother Han smiled as she spoke to Ning Xueyan.
She had been delivered from great danger and had witnessed the
course of the incident, so she was in high spirits at the moment.

But Ning Xueyan was not as delighted as Mother Han was. She
lifted the corners of her mouth and said plainly, "Do you think Ning
Yuling will only be a concubine, Mammy?"

"But things have gone like this... She was caught in bed
with the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li before

www.asianovel.com
 157 Report
getting married. Won't she... just be a concubine?" Mother Han
opened her eyes open and asked in confusion.

"Do you think they will let this get out, Mammy?" Ning
Xueyan tittered indifferently.

No one else aside from the people from Lord Protector's Manor and
Commandery Prince Li's Manor had seen the two of them stay
together. To prevent it from getting out, they just needed an order
from the masters.

Though Commandery Prince Li's Manor had a high status, they had
little real power, while Ning Zu'an was the opposite. How would he
allow his daughter to be someone's concubine? Now that it had gone
like this, Commandery Prince Li's Consort Dowager would have to
consent to the marriage whether she liked Ning Yuling or not.

But of course, Lord Protector's Manor would also have to pay some
price for the marriage.

"Then what should we do, Young Lady? The First Madam

will tyrannize you if the Second Young Lady becomes the
consort of a princely heir." Mother Han became impatient. She
thought that the evil-minded Second Young Lady had lost her
chance, but she never expected that things would end up like this.

"Take it easy, Mammy. What do you think of the Princely

Heir of Commandery Prince Li?" Ning Xueyan raised her head and
asked softly.

"It would be interesting if the Princely Heir of Commandery

Prince Li and Ning Yuling get married."

"The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, loose in

morals, arrogant and overbearing, seems to be quite
unsatisfied with the Second Young Lady judging by what he
has done to her," Mother Han said after thinking. She was also a

www.asianovel.com
 158 Report
sophisticated old woman and her eyes brightened after saying this.
"Does the Young Lady mean that the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li won't suffer this loss without taking
any action?"

In the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li's eyes, Ning Yuling

was just a dissolute jezebel. Everyone knew that he was unwilling to
marry a woman like her. Seeing what she had done today, she was
by no means virtuous.

She hooked up with the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li on

her own accord and tried to pass the buck to Ning Xueyan when she
was discovered, which was apparently to vilify Ning Xueyan. Ning
Xueyan would have been wronged if she had not been astute
enough.

If a woman like Ning Yuling became a householder in the harem,

she would do harm to all other women in the manor. The Princely
Heir of Commandery Prince Li must have gotten dozens of beauties
in his harem because he was so romantic. Why would he be willing to
marry Ning Yuling?

"Nor was Ning Yuling willing to marry the Princely Heir of

Commandery Prince Li," said Ning Xueyan, smiling slightly.

Ning Yuling loved the Third Prince rather than the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li, and she always posed as the Consort of the
Third Prince. Compared with the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince
Li, the Third Prince was much more handsome and attractive. Most
importantly, the Third Prince had a brilliant future, which was
incomparable to the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, who was
so indolent.

And the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was notorious since

he was often seen in brothels and goofed around.

No virtuous girl would marry him!

www.asianovel.com
 159 Report
Ning Yuling would never fall in love with him because she was so
arrogant.

So their marriage would never be successful. They had hated each

other before their marriage, so who knew what it would be like when
they got married?

Superficially, Lord Protector's Manor succeeded in saving its face

but it would suffer more disturbances in the future. Even if Lord
Protector's Manor and Commandery Prince Li's Manor tried
everything to bring Ning Yuling and the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li together, it was likely that they would fail in the end since
they were both unwilling to marry each other.

Hearing Ning Xueyan's words, Mother Han was enlightened. She

stopped frowning and nodded vigorously.

"Mammy, what happened to Concubine Ma?" Ning Xueyan

stopped smiling. The matter related to Ning Yuling had come to an
end. Superficially, at least, Madam Ling did not suffer heavy losses.
Now, she would need to figure out who had put poison in her soup.
Knowing that it was not Mother Han, could it be Concubine Ma?

"Young Lady, I was called by Madam Dowager this morning

and went to Auspicious Fortune Hall. There I saw Concubine
Ma kneeling down. She said in tears that I had been on a
rampage in the manor using your power. And she said that
my son hit her brother outside the manor and that my son
was domineering because he didn't admit to his fault."

Mother Han got angry when she said this. In Auspicious Fortune
Hall, Concubine Ma cried and complained. Then, Madam Ling asked
Mother Han whether she had only one son and then locked her up,
saying that she would sell her the next day. It took no more than half
an hour for the whole process. Mother Han was sentenced before she
could even explain.

www.asianovel.com
 160 Report
And she asked someone to watch Mother Han without any
explanation.

"What's Concubine Ma's parentage?" Ning Xueyan asked this

after thinking for a while. Concubine Ma was the key to this matter.
Last time, Ning Xueyan learned that Concubine Ma was new to the
manor and was favored by Ning Hu'an while she got along well with
Madam Ling. Sometimes, when Ning Xueyan was taking a walk in the
hall, she could see Madam Ling accompanying Concubine Ma and
seemed to be joyful.

"Concubine Ma is from a humble family and was a peasant.

I remembered that my son did fight with someone the other
day, but that guy was in an opera troupe. Some people in the
opera troupe occupied some land and put up a platform,
which blocked the way. My son tried to discuss it with them
but they just wouldn't listen. So they fought. Is Concubine
Ma's brother someone from the opera troupe?"

Mother Han recalled this and told Ning Xueyan about the whole
affair.

"Though Concubine Ma is from a humble family in the

village with a humble origin, it seems impossible for her to
bear any relationship with someone in the opera troupe."
Ning Xueyan frowned. "There must be something I've missed,
otherwise I can inquire about her origin."

"Then how did they find out Concubine Ma was pregnant?"

Ning Xueyan continued asking.

"I don't know, either. I just heard from the doorkeeper, an

older female servant, who gloated and said that the masters
in the manor wouldn't do anything against her because she
was pregnant and that I was the one who would be
punished." Mother Han looked confused because she saw
Concubine Ma still kneeling down when she was dragged out.

www.asianovel.com
 161 Report
How was Concubine Ma found out to be pregnant within such a
short time?

"How was Concubine Ma doing when you were in the hall?"

Ning Xueyan smiled indifferently.

"She was crying when I got there but was not alarmed at
all. Her words were well-organized when she testified against
me, and I was stopped several times when I tried to defend
myself. But I didn't see anything else strange." Mother Han
shook her head. She did not find anything abnormal about Concubine
Ma.

"Did she look and behave as usual and keep kneeling down
when you left?" Ning Xueyan frowned. She came to realize
something.

"Nothing different. Concubine Ma was kneeling down since

my arrival and was still kneeling down when I left. She just
spoke with tears. I was impatient at that time and was eager
to defend myself. So maybe I lost some details."

"Now that they looked all right, then they must have
planned everything. They planned how to frame Mother Han
as well as how to let everyone know that Concubine Ma was
pregnant. That's why Concubine Ma was so calm."

"She kneeled down for half an hour!"

Ning Xueyan sneered. "As expected, they planned everything.

Concubine Ma was fine after kneeling down for so long! She framed
Mother Han and got away with ease. , they will do something about
her pregnancy.

"Madam Ling was so malicious. She framed me step by step

and I would have been the one to be killed in the end."

"Mammy, go out of the manor and ask about Concubine

www.asianovel.com
 162 Report
Ma's family home, her previous job, and if there is anything
special about her."

"Yes. I was planning to ask about my son and buy some

crude drugs for the Young Lady. Young Lady, these drug
stores were yours originally, but now belong to the First
Madam. And I was bullied all the time." Tears came into Mother
Han's eyes when she said this.

Mother Han was indignant when she thought that the Second
Madam used to be in charge of those stores.

Superficially, the manor had provided drugs for Bright Frost

Garden. But they did not have enough drugs to offer to two masters
at the same time. And the drugs that Madam Ling sent to Bright Frost
Garden were either fragmentary, of low quality, or had gone bad
from moisture. These drugs could not be used at all.

So Mother Han would buy some drugs for Ning Xueyan every time
she left the manor.

Hearing Mother Han's words, Ning Xueyan remembered Mother

Han's son, Da Zhuang, who served in a drug store that his family
operated.

The drug store was Madam Ming's dowry. The shopkeeper was not
only business-minded but also knew some medical skills. That was
why the store was still in his charge. He thus could lend a hand to his
previous master privately. Otherwise, all of Madam Ming's stores
would sooner or later be taken over by Madam Ling and become her
private property.

Madam Ling was from a humble family. She had no dowry when
she married into the manor. But now, all Madam Ming's dowry was
taken over by her, and the entire staff was also replaced by her
people. So she was indifferent to Mother Han and even teased her.

www.asianovel.com
 163 Report
"Mammy, I have a dowry list from my uncle. You can check
it and tell me the details." Ning Xueyan went over to the
trousseau and opened it. She took out the list that Ming Feiyong had
given her and handed it to Mother Han.

"It's so great that your uncle gave the list to you. Take it
easy, Young Lady. I will count it up right away. I didn't expect
that your uncle had been keeping the list for so many years.
The Second Madam's list had already been destroyed by the
First Madam," Mother Han said angrily.

666

During that time, Madam Ling pretended to view the list of the
Second Madam's dowry and sent someone to fetch it for her. Mother
Han had advised her to say that she did not have it but was refused
by the Second Madam. Then she never saw the list again, while the
Second Madam's stores were taken over by others one after another.

How could Mother Han not feel indignant?

"Don't worry, Mammy. Sooner or later, I'll take back what

they took from me." Ning Xueyan smiled slightly but had a cold
look cold in her eyes.

"I'll take back everything that belongs to me!

"And I'll take revenge on whoever framed me!

"I'm just waiting for the opportunity..."

www.asianovel.com
 164 Report

Chapter 73
Source: TapRead

"Young Lady, Sister Yu Lian sent by the First Madam has

come. She has something to say to the Young Lady," a maid
reported.

"Let her in!" Ning Xueyan nodded.

Mother Han put the dowry list into her breast pocket, stepped
backward, and stood behind Ning Xueyan.

The portiere was lifted and a maid came in dressed in a colorful,

embroidered skirt, looking delicate and spotless, elegant and
polished. Ning Xueyan stared at her and recognized that she was the
first maid, Yu Lian, who served Madam Ling. Ning Xueyan cast her
eyes on her face that had been meticulously made up and then
noticed her embroidering shoes, which were decorated with colorful
stitchwork of birds and gold.

There seemed to be a faint smile on her face. She was calm as she
stopped looking Ning Xueyan up and down.

"Fifth Youg Lady, the Second Young Lady is betrothed to

Commandery Prince Li's Manor. The wedding ceremony will
be held in half a year. The First Madam has asked you to
embroider some sachets for the Second Young Lady if you
are at leisure in case they don't have enough sachets to
award the servants."

Yu Lian shook her aromatic handkerchief and spoke impatiently.

She was not respectful at all. Apparently, she was treating Ning
Xueyan like a maid.

www.asianovel.com
 165 Report
"If the Second Young Lady is to be married, you can turn to
the weavers. The Fifth Young Lady never needs to embroider
personally," said Mother Han crossly.

"The weavers in the manor are busy now. The New Year is
coming and they have to weave clothes for people in the
manor. Now that the Fifth Young Lady has nothing to do, she
can kill time by doing this and make less trouble," Yu Lian
glanced at Ning Xueyan and said disdainfully.

Her words were becoming more and more bitter.

This was another slave using her mistress's power for bullying. All
the slaves beside Madam Ling were the same, who always looked
down upon those from Bright Frost Garden. These slaves once even
bossed Ning Xueyan around and never treated her as a mistress.
They created all sorts of obstacles for her and tried to frame her with
Madam Ling.

Looking at the well-dressed maid, Yu Lian, Ning Xueyan lifted the

corners of her mouth slightly and sneered. Yu Lian was probably 16
or 17 years old. She was slender and attractive and had been an
Eldest Young Lady. She was not like a maid at all judging from her
dressing.

People would take her as a Young Lady if they had not heard of
her.

But going by her facial expression, she could not be a serious girl.

Mother Han's face turned cold when she heard Yu Lian's disdainful
tone. She was about to flare up but was stopped by a gesture from
Ning Xueyan. Ning Xueyan smiled at Yu Lian, leaned back, and asked
leisurely, "Yu Lian, who will be the next for you to inform of
the marriage?"

"I'll inform the marquis next. The madam said that this will

www.asianovel.com
 166 Report
be a great event and I should let him know," Yu Lian answered
after a beat, her eyes moving constantly. She did not expect for Ning
Xueyan to ask her this.

"I'll tell my father that. You can now go back and report to
the madam," Ning Xueyan said with an affable smile.

"There is no need for the Fifth Young Lady to do this. I will

go there anyway. So just let me tell him." Hearing Ning Xueyan
was going to inform Ning Zu'an of the marriage herself, Yu Lian was
anxious and she refused.

"Are you visiting the marquis dressed up like this? Some

might know that you are going to inform the marquis of the
marriage, but most unwitting people will believe you have
other purposes," Mother Han snorted. She detested Yu Lian for her
coquetry.

"What... what else can I do?" Yu Lian blushed and stammered

because Mother Han had hit the nail on the head.

"Who knows what you want to do? There is no festival but

you've dressed up so gaudily to visit the marquis. How would
others think of you?" Mother Han never thought much of the
maids who always intended to go to their masters' beds. Now seeing
Yu Lian still being so stubborn, Mother Han could not help
denouncing her.

"Nonsense. I... I'm just informing the marquis of the

marriage. Why would you speak those brittle words? I'll tell
this to the marquis." Yu Lian was so ashamed and indignant that
she stamped her feet with anger because Mother Han had guessed
her secret.

"It seems that she is indeed in love with Ning Zu'an."

Ning Xueyan smiled and pretended to glare at Mother Han. She

www.asianovel.com
 167 Report
turned back and said to Yu Lian, "I already knew that, but I have
no time to do needlework for the Second Eldest Sister. You
can go back and tell madam that I have to transcribe the
scriptures for my mom to comfort her spirit since she has
passed away."

Madam Ling and her daughter had always been trying to frame
her, so she would never embroider for Ning Yuling. She did not feel
guilty at all refusing their request.

"Yes. I'll report to the madam immediately." Yu Lian realized

after the short conversation that the Fifth Young Lady was quite
different from how she used to be. She dared not act unbridled
anymore and instead responded obediently.

She did not have to worry about what to say to the madam. All she
wanted was to visit the marquis as soon as possible.

The madam was so alert that she seldom had the chance to see
the marquis. Even if the marquis came to the manor, the madam
would ask Hong Lian, who looked much worse than Yu Lian, instead
of her to attend to him. She was extremely annoyed by this.

Therefore, she would by no means give up this golden opportunity

to visit the marquis while having the chance to inform the Fifth Young
Lady of the marriage.

Though the madam had promised a long time ago to marry her to
the First Childe, she never put it into practice. Yu Lian became more
and more skeptical of her promise and thought the madam must
have lied to her. Maybe the marquis had fallen in love with her but
the madam was envious, so she tricked Yu Lian.

Now that Ning Xueyan had asked her not to inform Ning Zu'an
herself, Yu Lian did not run counter to Ning Xueyan's order and left
Bright Frost Garden for the front courtyard happily.

www.asianovel.com
 168 Report
As she always did, she left without bowing to Ning Xueyan.

"Young Lady, think of her attitude and behavior. As long as

they see her dress, everyone will know that she is about to
hook up with someone. Look, what a coquette she is! She
always dreams of going to her master's bed." Mother Han
cursed at her figure indignantly.

"Mammy, this isn't what we need to worry about!" Ning

Xueyan lifted the corners of her mouth with a cold looking in her
black eyes.

"That's rather interesting for Madam Ling to have a maid

like this. It seems that she was compliant outwardly but
unsubmissive inwardly. I wonder how Madam Ling would
behave if one day the first maid beside her went to the
marquis' bed."

It did not take long before Ning Yuling's delight was known all over
the manor. Though some people who did not know the truth were
confused by the fact that Ning Yuling would marry the marquis
instead of the Third Prince, they were envious because the Second
Young Lady's bridegroom was a princely heir from the royal family
and they lauded her for her good blessing.

But no one knew that Ning Yuling had smashed all the porcelain in
her room in Qingrong Courtyard.

The two maids who served her looked at the door in fear and heard
nothing from inside the room. Then they went in holding a cup of tea
with great care. "Young... Young Lady, have some tea, please."

Ning Yuling opened her eyes, looking wild and ferocious. She would
grind her teeth as long as she thought that she was going to marry
the lewd Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. She took up a cup
beside her and threw it at one of the maids' heads, cursing, "Bitch!
Bitch! Bitch! I'll kill you."

www.asianovel.com
 169 Report
"Ouch!" The maid failed to dodge the cup and she fell onto the
ground. Boiling water spilling on her hands and she screamed out in
great pain.

It was the Third Prince who privately dated Ning Xueyan, so why
did it turn out to be the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li?
Confused as she was, Ning Yuling was clear that she had been tricked
by Ning Xueyan. So she grabbed one of the maids in place of Ning
Xueyan, took out an embroidery needle from the basket, and stabbed
the other maid recklessly.

Her brittle scream stunned a group of servants who had just

arrived at Qingrong Courtyard, looking pale and scared.

Everyone knew that no one could be more ferocious than the

Second Young Lady because she would vent her anger on anyone in
front of her at any time and beat them until they were halfway dead.
They wondered who was so unlucky this time.

Madam Ling gestured at those servants and asked them with a

cold face to leave.

She stepped toward the room looking sullen.

The room was in a mess with broken porcelain all over the ground,
while the two maids who had been stabbed were rolling around on
the floor miserably.

"Get out." Madam Ling scolded them.

Seeing that Ning Yuling said nothing, the two maids left in fear,
holding each other.

"Mother, I won't marry that swinger. It's also clear to you

that the swinger is incomparable to the Third Prince. I'll
marry the Third Prince and become the Third Princess." Ning
Yuling looked wronged and cried when she saw Madam Ling come in.
"I'll kill that bitch. How dare she trick me!"

www.asianovel.com
 170 Report
"Ling'er, stop mentioning the Third Prince. You'll never
marry him." Madam Ling was more clear-headed than Ning Yuling
at the moment. Even if Ning Yuling and the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li were clean, they had been found in one bed,
not to mention that Ning Yuling was now unclean.

Ning Yuling would never be the Third Prince's wife.

"No, mom. You'll ask my father to think of an idea and have

him fully support the Third Prince. Then the Third Prince will
marry me. Honored Consort Ya had said that she liked me."
Ning Yuling was still not in her right mind yet and she cried toward
Madam Ling, pulling her clothes in agitation.

In the past, her mother would do everything to satisfy her as long

as she cried.

And now, she was still the Second Young Lady in Lord Protector's
Manor who would get everything she wanted.

Ning Yuling sighed in commiseration seeing Ning Yuling like this.

This was her most-loved daughter, but now her reputation had been
ruined and had to reluctantly marry the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li. How could she not be so resentful? Ning Yuling would have
been married as a concubine if it were not for Ning Zu'an, who
promised to ensure the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li's
prospect.

Madam Ling became resentful when she thought of this. She

reached out, wiped the tears from Ning Yuling's face, and said in a
peaceful but cold tone, "Ling'er, take it easy. Do you want to
suppress that bitch forever and decide whether she lives or
dies yourself?"

Just like Madam Ming, who used to be high above her, was
defeated and lived in a lower status than hers...

www.asianovel.com
 171 Report
Ning Yuling opened her eyes open and stopped crying when she
heard that they were going to punish Ning Xueyan. She asked
hurriedly, "Teach me what to do, mother."

The ferociousness in Ning Xueyan's eyes turned into complacency

with some coldness. She would subdue Ning Xueyan forever once she
managed to suppress her.

Ning Xueyan did not know that Madam Ling and her daughter were
scheming against her for a second time. She was taking a walk alone
after lunch. As she headed for Cloud Reflection Courtyard, she never
thought that she would run into that man at the courtyard's gate.

She felt an aching pain in her heart instantly, distinct and biting...

www.asianovel.com
 172 Report

Chapter 74
Source: TapRead

"Xia Yuhang... do you know? I wish I could eat your flesh

and drink your blood!"

In the gap between the trees, Ning Xueyan saw Xia Yuhang, who
wore a long snow-white robe, standing in front of the door with his
hands clasped behind his back.

Xia Yuhang, a graceful gentleman, should not be wearing such

plain coarse clothes. However, he stood there at this time in these
clothes and slightly frowned, showing a sense of loneliness.

Xia Yuhang, who had always been elegant and outstanding, had
lonely days too!

Ning Xueyan smiled coldly. The love between her and Xia Yuhang
had already disappeared! That kind of deep attachment, with the
drainage of her blood, had long become a cold and cruel edge,
bruising her all over.

How much Ning Xueyan had loved him before, and how much she
hated him now! She saw his hypocrisy at the cost of her life.

After rebirth, Ning Xueyan did not shed a single tear for him. With
such an excellent performance, he pushed her into the abyss and
was beyond redemption.

He was elegant and gentle. Unfortunately, Ning Xueyan had

misread him!

"Who's over there?" Suddenly, Xia Yuhang turned his head,

looked over at Ning Xueyan, and shouted with furrowed eyebrows.

www.asianovel.com
 173 Report
Even when unhappy, he still kept his elegance and gentleness. He
deserved to be called a gentleman.

"It's me!" Since she had been discovered, Ning Xueyan stopped
hiding and came out from behind a tree. Ning Xueyan was excited
just now so she had accidentally stepped on some branches on the
ground, making a sound that startled Xia Yuhang.

"You... you're..." Xia Yuhang looked at Ning Xueyan and could

not help looking into her dark, jade-like eyes with uncontrollable
enthusiasm, and his voice unconsciously shivered.

"Brother-in-law, did you forget who I am?" Ning Xueyan

faintly asked.

Only then did Xia Yuhang clearly see the emaciated girl in front of
him. She was so young and pale that no one would think she was
beautiful. But in another year or two, she would be a beautiful
woman.

Ning Xueyan, the Fifth Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor!

"Oh, it's you, Fifth Young Lady." Xia Yuhang coughed and
cleared his throat, with a gentle smile on his handsome face and a
look of sudden realization.

Xia Yuhang was just as hypocritical as before.

Xia Yuhang had black hair and wore a white robe, looking elegant
and gentle. But Ning Xueyan's eyes were full of disgust.

"Brother-in-law, why are you here at this time? I

remember... this is Sister Ziying's courtyard, right?" Ning
Xueyan's watery eyes fall on Xia Yuhang's face, twinkling to hide the
hatred in her eyes.

Xia Yuhang was stunned by Ning Xueyan's question. Then he

smiled lightly and said, "I just have the feeling that this

www.asianovel.com
 174 Report
courtyard is different from others. It's strange for such a
good courtyard to be locked."

"Sister Ziying's death is still unclear now. The servants are

scared and said that there were ghosts here. Later, they said
that there were servants missing, so no one dares to come
around. Often there are people saying that they saw Sister
Ziying wandering around the lotus pond. Maybe Sister Ziying
doesn't want to leave here. Brother-in-law, how about having
a look inside?" Ning Xueyan said with a slight smile on her face.

Ning Xueyan calmly looked at Xia Yuhang and invited him.

"No. I'm just curious. Fifth Young Lady, we heard that

something had happened to Lord Protector's Manor. So, your
eldest sister asked me to come." Looking at that pair of eyes
which showed slight alienation, Xia Yuhang smiled uneasily, and
subconsciously avoided Ning Xueyan's eyes.

That pair of eyes should have been full of love, rather than
indifference.

"Oh, it's nothing serious. The Second Sister is going to

marry the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. Only now
did the mother inform the whole family. You can go there
now to congratulate her," Ning Xueyan said with coldness in her
eyes. Then she retreated to one side and gave way to Xia Yuhang.

"The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li?" Xia Yuhang was

stunned and could not speak for a moment, his eyes widening. Then
his face darkened and did not look good. It seemed that he was
surprised by the news.

"Yes, it's the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. He and

the Second Sister had a very happy conversation, so the two
families decided on their marriage. They'll get married in half
a year," Ning Xueyan smiled and faintly said.

www.asianovel.com
 175 Report
Ning Xueyan had told the truth. Even if Xia Yuhang were to go ask
Madam Ling now, Madam Ling would also say so. It was absolutely
impossible that Madam Ling had told Xia Yuhang about Ning Yuling's
scandal.

"Wasn't it said that she would marry the Third Prince? Why
will she instead marry the Princely Heir of Commandery
Prince Li?" Xia Yuhang muttered, and the changes in his eyes were
like the rising wind and scudding clouds.

Ning Xueyan coldly looked at the handsome face in front of her.

She remembered that she had seen this face through the water when
she was being drowned. Sure enough, this man had other plans.

Only when she came back to life again could she learn what kind of
person he was!

"Maybe the Third Prince doesn't like the Second Sister, but
the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li does like her.
Brother-in-law, I have something to do. I have to go now!"
Ning Xueyan did not want to stay with Xia Yuhang any longer. So, she
saluted him, turned, and walked toward another path.

"Fifth Young Lady..." Xia Yuhang called Ning Xueyan, frowning.

Ning Xueyan looked back and asked coldly, "Is there anything
else?"

"Oh, nothing. There's no way ahead," Xia Yuhang explained

gently, his eyes twinkling for a moment.

"Unexpectedly, you're familiar with such a remote place,

brother-in-law. That makes me think you've been here
before." Ning Xueyan's gaze was cold and her smile was light. She
looked at the road under her feet and answered casually, "I'm just
wandering around. I'll come back if there's no way ahead."

She could turn around if there was no way ahead in the garden!

www.asianovel.com
 176 Report
What about the road of her life? After rebirth, she could no longer
be the infatuated Ning Ziying!

Ning Xueyan turned around and her gaze was cold and gloomy.

Xia Yuhang helplessly watched Ning Xueyan passing by. For a

moment, he wanted to reach out and hold her, but found that he had
no excuse to do so.

This strange girl gave him a sense of both familiarity and

strangeness, and always reminded him of Ning Ziying, but she and
Ning Ziying were two different people.

Ning Ziying was gentle and pure, but the Fifth Young Lady in front
of him was indifferent and not easy to get close to. Xia Yuhang could
even sense a trace of hostility from her. He had only seen the Fifth
Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor a few times. Xia Yuhang did not
know why she hated him.

But now wasn't the time to figure this out. Xia Yuhang took a deep
breath to suppress his restlessness, turned around, and strode
toward Madam Ling's courtyard.

When Xia Yuhang left and could not be seen, Ning Xueyan
wandered back from the path and went back to the door of Cloud
Reflection Courtyard.

Ning Xueyan had not been here for half a month, but the doorway
of Cloud Reflection Courtyard was overgrown with weeds. The lower
edge of the wooden door was almost hidden in the weeds. Nobody
would remember Ning Ziying, who once lived here, or anything about
her. She had faded into the past.

Ning Xueyan took a deep breath and felt uncomfortable, as if she

still could feel the pain when she was being suffocated.

Ignoring the discomfort, Ning Xueyan half-circled around the fence

and saw the familiar big crooked tree at the back of the courtyard.

www.asianovel.com
 177 Report
Seeing that there was no one around, Ning Xueyan went to the
backside of the tree. She tied a knot at the hem of her long dress,
grabbed the branches of the tree, and began to climb up. In her last
life, Ning Xueyan also had a happy childhood. She used to secretly
climb trees during her study breaks without her mother's knowledge.

Now, this crooked tree became Ning Xueyan's secret.

Even though she trusted Xia Yuhang so much, Ning Xueyan had
never mentioned that to him due to the fear that Xia Yuhang would
think she was not a lady.

After a short time, Ning Xueyan went up to the crooked trunk of

the crooked tree, where there was a small hole. Ning Xueyan
searched inside it skillfully and took out a long ribbon. Then, she
walked along a branch that crossed the fence, crouched down, and
tied the ribbon to the trunk.

She fastened the ribbon and let herself down using the ribbon.

No one lived in the yard, so it was lifeless here. The ground was
covered with withered branches and leaves that crunched under Ning
Xueyan's feet when she stepped on them.

The courtyard was so silent that you could hear someone gasp.

The courtyard was still the same courtyard where Ning Ziyan once
beat her. But now, there was no trace of blood on the ground, just
residual branches and leaves. The wind rolled up the residual leaves
and they gathered by her feet. It was bleak and desolate here.

Ning Xueyan did not think about her past for long. She looked
around, untied her dress, and walked toward the house. She pushed
open the door of the middle room. The dust in the room was blown
by the wind and went toward Ning Xueyan, who closed her eyes
subconsciously as she was about to go inside.

Suddenly, Ning Xueyan stopped.

www.asianovel.com
 178 Report
She looked at the fruit on the table in the house with astonishment.

It was impossible that the fruit had ripened during this season
unless they were produced in the greenhouse. But usually, the
amount of fruit that was grown in the greenhouse was very small.
Why would it be put in the house of a master who was dead?

The candles had been burned up, leaving two candle-holders. The
table was covered with a piece of snow-white cloth, on which fruit
was placed. All of these were sacrifices.

Ning Xueyan of course did not believe that this was done by
anyone sent by Madam Ling. Although there was a greenhouse in
Lord Protector's Manor, very little fresh fruit was offered to them
every day. So, there was no more fruit to be placed in front of Ning
Ziying's memorial tablet. Furthermore, Ning Ziying was murdered by
Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan. Why would Madam Ling be so kind to
worship her?

"Who did this?" Ning Xueyan pondered.

After she arrived in the capital, she went directly to Lord

Protector's Manor and then lived there. Aside from Xia Yuhang, she
did not know anyone else. She could not think of anyone who would
worship her. These fresh fruits were not easy to get, so this person
worshipping her could not be an ordinary person.

The closed courtyard door, slightly closed house door, and tidy but
dusty room were all strange. Everything here was full of mystery.
And it seemed that the exact cause of her death became suspicious.

Suddenly, the door opened and gave off a squeaky sound, showing

a sense of decay. Ning Xueyan turned her head subconsciously, her
eyes widening unconsciously...

www.asianovel.com
 179 Report

Chapter 75
Source: TapRead

Outside the door stood a woman, a woman Ning Xueyan had never
seen before. She was about 20 years old, wore a piece of white
clothing, and was an elegant beauty. Upon seeing someone in the
room, she still walked in with ease, although she was surprised.

She had a basket in her hand that was covered with a veil. Ning
Xueyan could vaguely see that there was some fresh fruit in the
basket.

But Ning Xueyan had not seen her before.

"Who are you?" Ning Xueyan frowned and asked vigilantly. Then
she retreated, keeping a sharp lookout.

"I'm a worshipper." The woman put the basket on the table with
an indifferent expression, put aside the veil, and replaced the fruit on
the table with the fruit in the basket.

"You do not live here! How did you get in?"

"Why can't I come in? You also came in without permission.

Fifth Young Lady, how much do you know about Ning Ziying?"
the woman said with ridicule as she gave a look to Ning Xueyan.
Then she took her basket, silently passed by Ning Xueyan, and
disappeared from the sight of Ning Xueyan.

Ning Xueyan was shocked that this woman knew her.

However, Ning Xueyan had never seen her in her last life or this
one!

How much did Ning Xueyan know about Ning Ziying? If she did not

www.asianovel.com
 180 Report
know, who else in the world knew?

This woman put fresh fruit in front of Ning Ziying's memorial tablet
to worship her, showing that she bore Ning Ziying no malice.
However, she was indifferent when she talked about Ning Ziying's
death. Why did she come here to worship Ning Ziying?

Maybe there were some things that Ning Xueyan did not know in
her last life, such as this woman and some strange things that she
had neglected...

This time, she came here to take the relics left by her mother.

In fact, Ning Xueyan had never carefully looked at these relics in

her previous life. In her previous life, her father died first, and then
her mother got seriously ill. Before she died, she asked Ning Xueyan
to go to Lord Protector's Manor. So, after her mother died, Ning
Xueyan immediately packed up her luggage and went to the capital.
And her mother's relics were kept by Mother Wang because she was
afraid that she would greatly miss her mother if she were to see
these things.

When they arrived at Lord Protector's Manor, those things were

also carefully hidden in a certain place.

Ning Xueyan had come here today to take those things.

But now, she decided not to take them.

The woman appeared in silence. Anyway, it was unsafe to take the

relics at this time.

Ning Xueyan had an intuition that the appearance of this woman

had to be related to Ning Ziying.

Ning Xueyan pretended to be curious as she walked around the

room, casually looking around. She did not enter the room where the
relics were hidden. Then she closed the door and returned by the

www.asianovel.com
 181 Report
way she came.

When she returned to Bright Frost Garden, Lanning and Qingyu,

who had not seen her for a long time, were about to go out to look
for her.

"Young Lady, where have you been? The First Madam called
you over," Qingyu approached her and said.

"What's the matter?" Ning Xueyan kept walking and went inside.

"I don't know. But it seems to be related to the Second

Young Lady's marriage." Qingyu frowned. "Lanning and I
thought it would not be good that the First Madam called you
over. So we said you were uncomfortable and already
asleep."

"Good. As a sister, how can I comment on Ning Yuling's

marriage? Moreover, others don't know the truth, but I do."
Ning Xueyan nodded and sat down. Then, Lanning came over to
loosen her hair. Ning Xueyan prepared to have a bath.

Madam Ling was not satisfied with Ning Yuling's marriage and was
unhappy now. So it was possible that Madam Ling called her over
with bad intentions at this time.

Today it was Lanning's turn to keep watch at night, so Qingyu

retreated first. Lanning helped cover Ning Xueyan in a quilt and was
about to blow out the candle before leaving.

"Lanning, can you tell me what kind of person Sister Ziying

was?" Ning Xueyan, who had closed her eyes, suddenly opened her
eyes and asked. Under the light, her dark, jade-like eyes were full of
coldness.

Hearing that, Lanning suddenly retracted her hands quickly and

knocked a cup to the ground, making a crisp cracking sound in the
silent room.

www.asianovel.com
 182 Report
"Lanning, can't you say?" Ning Xueyan coldly said, looking at
the flustered Lanning.

"Young Lady..." Lanning, who always was calm, said with

hesitancy. She squatted down and tried to pick up the debris from
the porcelain cup.

"I just went to Cloud Reflection Courtyard and saw a

woman, a very beautiful woman. She went into Cloud
Reflection Courtyard from the wall. And I've never seen her
before."

Ning Xueyan smiled insincerely.

When Lanning heard Ning Xueyan's words, her hands trembled and
the porcelain fragments cut her finger and blood rushed out
immediately. Lanning subconsciously looked up into Ning Xueyan's
cold eyes. to the quilt, Ning Xueyan's delicate, pale face was only as
small as one's palm. But because of the dim lights, her face made
Lanning feel familiar.

"Young Lady!" Lanning subconsciously screamed and felt pain in

her heart and had tears in her eyes.

"Ning Ziying lost her father at the age of 10 and mother at

the age of 13. Then she went to Lord Protector's Manor for
shelter with Mother Wang and Xiang'er. After that, she lived
in the back yard of Lord Protector's Manor the entire time.
Madam Ling gave you to her when you were 16. However, she
threw herself into the lake with Xiang'er on the eve of Ning
Ziyan's marriage." Ning Xueyan looked at Lanning and spoke
softly, but her gaze was cold.

This mood of Ning Xueyan made Lanning dare not look, and
Lanning came to her senses immediately.

She realized that Ning Xueyan was not her former gentle master,

www.asianovel.com
 183 Report
but her new wise and scheming master.

But what made Lanning nervous most was that Ning Xueyan knew
so much about Ning Ziying's life. The Fifth Young Lady used to live in
Bright Frost Garden and had never seen Ning Ziying before. How
could she know her so clearly? Lanning's face turned pale in an
instant and she could not help trembling.

"Lanning, others said that Ning Ziying died by throwing

herself into the lake." Seeing that Lanning's mood fluctuated, Ning
Xueyan continued to ask.

"Young... Young Lady..." Lanning opened her mouth, as if she

could only say those two words.

"Others say that Ning Ziying died by throwing herself into

the river. I think nobody knows that she was murdered. My
eldest brother-in-law, Xia Yuhang, was Ning Ziying's fiance.
Ning Ziyan not only stole her fiance, but also killed her."

Ning Xueyan looked down and smiled lightly. No one knew this
better than she did. After she was reborn, she had nightmares and
dreamed about the scene of her death every night. Now, this hatred
was deeply rooted in her heart.

If she had not been reborn, who would avenge her?

"Young... Young Lady... stop, stop talking, I... I... I..." Ning
Xueyan pressed step by step. And Lanning finally could not bear it
anymore, as she hid her face and cried.

These things also were painful to Lanning, who subconsciously

believed Ning Xueyan. Looking at those familiar dark, jade-like eyes
and thinking that her new master knew the truth, Lanning got the
idea that Young Lady Ziying had told the Fifth Young Lady those
things in the Fifth Young Lady's dream and wanted the Fifth Young
Lady to avenge her, so Lanning was unwilling to hide anything.

www.asianovel.com
 184 Report
"When did Xia Yuhang and Ning Ziyan start dating?" In her
previous life, Lanning told Ning Ziying that Xia Yuhang had an affair
with Ning Ziyan. But Ning Ziying did not believe that her best sister
and affectionate fiance would betray her. So she refused to listen to
Lanning's explanation.

"Sister Ziying and Childe Xia were betrothed when they

were children. Mother Wang said they had been betrothed for
at least 10 years. When Young Lady Ziying arrived at Lord
Protector's Manor, she decided to observe a mourning period
for her mother for three years here and then marry Childe
Xia. Before Young Lady Ziying arrived here, the Eldest Young
Lady and Childe Xia were not familiar with each other. But
when Young Lady Ziying had been here for about one year,
Eldest Young Lady and Childe Xia were familiar with each
other without ceremony. I once saw they hugged behind the
rockery."

Lanning wiped her tears with her handkerchief. She thought about
it for a while before answering.

Lanning had mentioned that matter to Ning Ziying, but Ning Ziying
had blamed her for misreading it.

One year ago, Ning Ziying was 14 years old and Ning Ziyan was 15.
At that time, Xia Yuhang was still very affectionate to Ning Ziying. It
turned out that he had already changed his mind.

A strange sadness hit Ning Xueyan's heart. No one would think that
the affectionate man had already ceased to be faithful. But she was
still kept in the dark. So, finally she came to such an end.

"Was there anything strange when Ning Ziying was alive?"

asked Ning Xueyan.

At that time, Ning Ziying devoted herself to Xia Yuhang and thus
neglected many things.

www.asianovel.com
 185 Report
"It's not very clear to me. But I had seen the woman you
mentioned a few days before Young Lady Ziying's death, and
I don't know whether or not it's the same person," Lanning
frowned and said.

"Who is she?"

"I don't know. Childe Xia also was there when I saw that
women. On that day, Young Lady Ziying went out with him.
Then they met Eldest Young Lady on the way. So the three of
them went to the garden together. I saw off Young Lady
Ziying in front of the courtyard gate and saw the women
when I got back to the room. She seemed to be looking for
something. When she saw me, she wasn't panicked at all, but
just opened the window and then disappeared quickly. I ran
after her, but she already had gone."

Lanning answered while recalling it.

She was shocked and worried at that time because Zing Ziying and
Xia Yuhang would be holding their wedding ceremony a few days
later. Who was this woman that appeared inexplicably?

Lanning was very upset and had a bad feeling. But when she saw
Ning Ziying's happy face, she did not want to tell Ning Ziying this
matter that would destroy her happy mood.

The next few days were very calm. So calm that Lanning felt that
she had misread it.

"Did Mother Wang and Xiang'er ever talk about Ning

Ziying? Or was there anything unusual about Ning Ziying's
childhood?" There was no mistake in Lanning's words, so Ning
Xueyan could not continue to interrogate Lanning at the moment.
The woman who appeared inexplicably had to be related to Ning
Ziying, but Lanning did not know anything.

www.asianovel.com
 186 Report
"Mother Wang and Xiang'er came here with Young Lady
Ziying. I didn't think there was anything wrong with them,
but there was one thing..." Lanning hesitated for a moment and
equivocated, "there was one thing I think..."

"Say it!" Ning Xueyan coldly said.

www.asianovel.com
 187 Report

Chapter 76
Source: TapRead

Lanning nodded and expressed her doubts. "Most of the things

Mother Wang told me happened after Young Lady Ziying was
three or four years old. It seemed that she had never
mentioned those things that happened when Young Lady
Ziying was younger. I felt strange at that time. She was
Young Lady Ziying's wet nurse, how could she not know
about Young Lady Ziying's childhood?"

These words made Ning Xueyan silent for a while.

In Ning Xueyan's memory, Mother Wang began to take care of her

when she was a child. And Xiang'er was the personal maid her
mother gave her when she was eight years old.

Ning Xueyan could not recall her childhood clearly; after all, she
was a child at that time, but Mother Wang was an adult.

"How do you know that Mother Wang didn't know about

what happened during Ning Ziying's childhood?"

"I once asked about the burn mark on Young Lady Ziying's
ankle. Mother Wang told me that Young Lady Ziying was
scalded when she was a child. But she didn't know the exact
time. She only said that Young Lady Ziying had been scalded
before she had arrived at the manor to serve Young Lady
Ziying. But when I asked her another time, she said that she
had been serving Young Lady Ziying since Young Lady Ziying
was born."

Such contradictory words made Lanning feel strange and doubtful.

So she tested Mother Wang from time to time. The result of the test

www.asianovel.com
 188 Report
was that Mother Wang was not Ning Ziying's wet nurse. For reasons
unknown, Ning Ziying's wet nurse was changed when she was still
young.

It was very strict when a big family chose a wet nurse. When the
Young Lady grew up, her wet nurse would stay with her to take care
of her. Generally speaking, the wet nurse would be more loyal to the
children she took care of personally than others would be. So if there
was no specific reason, it was impossible to change the wet nurse in
the middle of her service.

These things were always kept in Lanning's mind. Now, Lanning

trusted Ning Xueyan, who was lying in bed, so she told her
everything.

Lanning gradually calmed down. The girl on the bed closed her
eyes. Under the candlelight, she looked pale and emaciated, which
made her look dangerous. But somehow, she made Lanning feel at
ease.

"I heard that Ning Ziying's wet nurse happened to be

absent when she had an accident. Now she's come back?"
Ning Xueyan asked, opening her eyes.

"She has come back. But she felt strange when she heard
that it was the Eldest Young Lady who was marrying Childe
Xia, so she didn't come back to Lord Protector's Manor. When
we went to Cold Mountain Temple, I saw her outside the gate
of Lord Protector's Manor. So I went to see her. Now she lives
in a house on the east side of the city."

Lanning had kept this matter in mind for some time and already
wanted to tell Ning Xueyan. So when Ning Xueyan asked her now,
she relaxed and told her.

Seeing that Lanning became relaxed and replied naturally, Ning

Xueyan narrowed her eyes slightly. Lanning was a smart person. And

www.asianovel.com
 189 Report
Ning Xueyan now needed such a smart and loyal person to help her.
Lanning was a good candidate.

One reason was that Lanning was once Ning Ziying's maid. Ning
Xueyan knew that she was a loyal maid.

The other reason was that Lanning was calm in the face of an
accident. She was intelligent and not rash!

But she didn't want Lanning to disregard the present because of

her former master. Ning Ziying had become a thing from the past.
Now, it was Ning Xueyan who was alive. Lanning mustn't question
Ning Xueyan's decisions and had to firmly carry out any of her
orders.

So Ning Xueyan needed to shock Lanning and gain her trust.

Now, Lanning had told Ning Xueyan Mother Wang's story. So Ning
Xueyan believed that Lanning trusted her wholeheartedly.

"Lanning, don't alarm Mother Wang at first. Hire a smart

maid to take care of her. Pay attention to whether or not
Mother Wang associates with others and what she has done.
Let me know if there's anything. By the way, I'll pay the
maid's wages."

Ning Xueyan arranged Mother Wang well.

"Well, I needn't tell Mother Wang that it's you who asked
me to do those things?" Lanning nodded and asked.

Ning Xueyan looked at Lanning with admiration. Lanning was

indeed a wise woman. "I don't want her to know yet. I promised
you last time that I would avenge Ning Ziying. When the time
comes, Mother Wang will be needed."

Since Ning Xueyan and Lanning had talked about Ning Ziying,
Lanning no longer hesitated and told Ning Xueyan everything she

www.asianovel.com
 190 Report
knew. So the two talked for a while. Seeing that Ning Xueyan had to
rest, Lanning blew out the candle, went to the outside room, and was
about to sleep.

Bright Frost Garden was quiet all night.

But Madam Ling's Auspicious Clouds Courtyard wasn't quiet at all.

Ning Zu'an was in a rage there.

How could Ning Zu'an not be angry at such a scandal caused by his
favored daughter? Originally, the marriage between Ning Yuling and
the Third Prince was certain. Unexpectedly, so many things
happened during their trip to Cold Mountain Temple. Furthermore,
the daughter, who Ning Zu'an had always valued, didn't help him at
all, but would instead bring many things to Commandery Prince Li's
Manor when she got married.

Madam Ling, sitting to the side, wiped her tears with a

handkerchief with grievance on her face.

"You just know how to cry. Look at your daughters, all of

them are money-losing propositions!" The more Ning Zu'an
looked at Madam Ling, the more angry he became. He felt very upset
and threw the cup out of his hands, which greatly frightened Madam
Ling who then stopped crying.

"Marquis, this matter... isn't Ling'er's fault. Who knew that

Ning Xueyan would do such a thing? She knew that Ling'er
would marry the Third Prince. So she wanted to seduce the
Third Prince. Of course Ling'er had to go and see. Ling'er
didn't expect for such a thing to happen!" Madam Ling said with
grievance, her tears falling one by one. She wiped them with her
handkerchief and choked at the same time.

It seemed that she couldn't breathe because of sadness and

grievance.

www.asianovel.com
 191 Report
"She wanted to see? Who is she? What qualifications does
she have to interfere in the affairs of the Third Prince? And
why were she and the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li
in the same bed together and caught by others? I would like
to know the reason. Tell me! Why?" Ning Zu'an scolded, pointing
at Madam Ling.

"But... didn't we come to an agreement that Ling'er would

marry the Third Prince? Honored Consort Ya also agreed!"
Madam Ling avoided the question involving the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li, trying to exonerate Ning Yuling.

"She... she also wishes to marry the Third Prince?" Ning

Zu'an was extremely angry. "She misbehaved and even pledged
to marry a libertine without our permission. She wants to
marry the Third Prince? How can the royal family accept
her?"

Ning Zu'an was so angry that his words were very sarcastic. He
didn't save face for Ning Yuling at all and described her as a
prostitute, which also made Madam Ling flush.

Besides being ashamed and annoyed, Madam Ling hated Ning

Xueyan even more!

How could Madam Ling forget that she planned to send Ning
Xueyan's portrait to the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li? She
believed that it had to be Ning Xueyan's plot to replace the painting
with Ning Yuling's portrait. But Mother Chen's nephew, Chen Qing,
had already disappeared since that matter happened.

Now Madam Ling couldn't find anyone to vent her anger on, which
made her even more angry.

"Marquis, since the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li

consented to the marriage, at least you should pretend to be
happy," Madam Ling ate humble pie and said.

www.asianovel.com
 192 Report
"What's the meaning of supporting him? He's a useless
libertine. A few days ago, people saw that he fought with
others in the red-light district." Ning Zu'an was angry as soon as
he thought that the libertine would become part of his family. And
when he saw Madam Ling's face, he felt she was a hypocrite and he
hated her.

"Marquis... it's Ning Xueyan's fault. But for her, how could
Ling'er... My poor Ling'er, you should have been the consort
of the prince, but now..."

Madam Ling sadly cried and put the blame on Ning Xueyan.

"Don't just blame Yan'er. At least she is the daughter of

Madam Ming. When you married me and had your own
children, Madam Ming never treated your children unfairly.
How could you do such a vicious thing to her child?" Speaking
of this matter, Ning Zu'an raged again.

"Marquis, I have nothing to do with that matter. Concubine

Ma admitted that she poisoned Ning Xueyan. I have to
manage the whole family every day, how could I consider
everything? People in Bright Frost Garden seldom obey my
rules. So I seldom interfere with their affairs in case that
something bad would happen. Unexpectedly, someone dared
to poison the Fifth Young Lady."

Madam Ling spoke with grievance, her tears falling again. Her
voice was full of sadness, as if she really couldn't take care of
everyone in the manor.

"Did I blame you wrongly?" asked Ning Zu'an.

Madam Ling knew where the problem lay, and also knew that Ning
Zu'an wouldn't punish her. She had prepared well, so she was not
panicked now. She raised her head and looked at Ning Zu'an
sincerely.

www.asianovel.com
 193 Report
"Marquis, you are a man. So naturally you don't know how
complex our lives are. I really want Lord Protector's Manor to
be better. Don't you understand my mind? If Concubine Ma
weren't pregnant, she would have died for the Fifth Young
Lady, but... children are innocent, Marquis!"

This remark was really sincere. It seemed that she really took Lord
Protector's Manor into consideration. Furthermore, Ning Xueyan
looked to be healthy, so Ning Zu'an felt that Concubine Ma didn't
need to die for Ning Xueyan. Thinking of this, Ning Zu'an became less
angry.

But he still wasn't happy with what Madam Ling had done. Looking
at Madam Ling, Ning Zu'an said, "No matter what, Yan'er is my
daughter. Now it's impossible for Ling'er to marry the Third
Prince. You'd better see if Yan'er can marry the Third Prince
and be the Consort of the Prince. After all, she calls you
mother. She will certainly thank you when she achieves a
high position. Don't make trouble anymore!"

Ning Zu'an's words were stern. Although he didn't say what Madam
Ling had done, he already knew what she had done and what had
happened in Cold Mountain Temple.

Madam Ling took a look at Ning Zu'an's face and knew that he was
determined. So she was aware that she couldn't retort now. She also
knew that he was not concerned about Ning Xueyan. He just wanted
to form an alliance with the Third Prince by the marriage.

Madam Ling smiled coldly, malice flashing in her eyes, but said
gently, "Yes, Marquis. I'll arrange everything well to satisfy
the Third Prince."

Of course, she would find a "good" husband for Ning Xueyan.

www.asianovel.com
 194 Report

Chapter 77
Source: TapRead

Ning Xueyan carefully smeared the medicine powder on the Malus

halliana Koehne petals. The smell of the medicine powder was light,
and it couldn't be detected when it mixed with the fragrance of the
flower. After smearing it, Ning Xueyan stretched out, washed her
hands, and asked Qingyu to carry the flower back to the flower room.

Ning Xueyan was able to make some medicine powder. Aunt Xiang
gave her some prescriptions, which made her suddenly gain some
insights. Some things that had been incomprehensible became clear
at once. With not much change, the medicine powder made by Ning
Xueyan with the original prescription would become odorless.

"Young Lady, are you going to greet Madam Dowager

now?" after dressing Ning Xueyan up, Lanning asked softly.

In the past, Ning Xueyan didn't need to greet Madam Dowager

every morning because Madam Dowager didn't want Ning Xueyan to
greet her. However, Madam Dowager now needed to show her
kindness to Ning Xueyan in front of others because Ning Xueyan
might marry the Third Prince. She didn't want to be a biased
grandmother in other people's minds.

"I'll go after breakfast!" Ning Xueyan nodded.

Qingyu had already prepared breakfast. After taking a small bowl

of porridge, Ning Xueyan went to Auspicious Fortune Hall with
Lanning.

When Ning Xueyan arrived at Auspicious Fortune Hall, she found

that Madam Ling was already there. She was busy preparing Madam
Dowager's breakfast, just like a filial daughter-in-law. Madam
Dowager paid no attention to her and also didn't ask her to leave. It
www.asianovel.com
 195 Report
could be said that they got along with each other like this all the
time. However, Madam Dowager was more disgusted with Madam
Ling today. So she asked Madam Ling, the hostess of Lord Protector's
Manor, to serve her.

Ning Lingyun, the Fourth Young Lady, was also in the room and
was asked by Madam Dowager to have breakfast with her. Seeing
that Madam Ling was busy, Ning Lingyun felt upset and looked at
Madam Ling from time to time. When she saw Madam Ling's smiling
face, she was a little relieved and carefully had porridge.

Ning Xueyan entered the room and quickly looked at all the people
in the room. She smiled and saluted Madam Dowager, who was
sitting in the middle seat. "Good morning, grandmother."

"You're here. Sit down!" Madam Dowager smiled and waved to

Ning Xueyan, as if she hadn't proposed to sacrifice Ning Xueyan
yesterday.

"Xueyan, you've finally come. Just now, Madam Dowager

was worried that you hadn't arrived because you were feeling
unwell again. Now you've come. You look well today." Madam
Ling walked over to Ning Xueyan with enthusiasm and was about to
take Ning Xueyan's hands.

These people acted well, choosing to forget that they tried to

frame Ning Xueyan yesterday.

Madam Ling's words sounded pleasant, but they made Ning

Xueyan uncomfortable.

Ning Xueyan smiled slightly, avoided Madam Ling, and sat down
beside Madam Dowager. The maid hurried to take out a pair of
chopsticks and served Ning Xueyan half a bowl of porridge.

"The rice was given to us by His Majesty. There isn't much

in my Auspicious Fortune Hall. It just so happens that you

www.asianovel.com
 196 Report
two are here. Have a taste," Madam Dowager gently said.

"Thank you, grandmother." Ning Xueyan gently thanked her

with a smile on her face.

Ning Xueyan had already eaten breakfast, but since Madam

Dowager invited her to have a taste, she agreed.

"Xueyan, mother was busy cooking porridge for

grandmother this morning. We're lucky that we can also try
some. So we have to thank mother also," Ning Lingyun said,
flattering Madam Ling.

Hearing Ning Lingyun's words, Madam Ling, who was being ignored
just now, activated again. She took a look at Ning Lingyun with
satisfaction and said to Ning Xueyan with a smile on her face, "We're
family, don't be so polite. As long as you eat happily, I'm also
happy, even if I'm tired."

This meant that for the sake of Lord Protector's Manor, she was
willing to work wholeheartedly.

"Mother, thank you for all the hard work. Grandmother,

since the Fourth Sister said so, why not invite mother to sit
down and eat with us?" Ning Xueyan smiled and asked softly.

Ning Xueyan's words also meant that Madam Dowager had not
considered Madam Ling's hard work, and therefore, Ning Lingyun had
to speak for Madam Ling.

Hearing that, Madam Dowager hummed and looked at Ning

Lingyun unhappily. "Don't worry about her. She has already
finished her porridge. We should mind our own business."

Thinking of the matter that Madam Ling mixed her medicine with
other medicines, Madam Dowager couldn't be happy.

What happened afterward was more or less related to Madam Ling.

www.asianovel.com
 197 Report
Ning Lingyun dared to want Madam Ling to sit down and have
breakfast with them, which made Madam Dowager unhappy.

Madam Dowager said that in front of so many maids, which made

Madam Ling lose face. But Madam Ling dared not get angry. She
could only smile and pretend that she had not heard. Meanwhile, she
also dared not go near Ning Xueyan.

Ning Lingyun and Ning Xueyan had already eaten breakfast this
morning, so they only ate half a bowl of porridge with Madam
Dowager. Then they chatted with Madam Dowager for a while and
left.

When they went out of the courtyard gate, Ning Lingyun took two
steps forward quickly and walked out before Ning Xueyan. But Ning
Xueyan had already lifted her foot. Because of Ning Lingyun's sudden
advance, Ning Xueyan almost fell down and Lanning hurried to
support her.

"Xueyan, do you want to go to see the Second Sister? I

heard that she was ill since yesterday and can't get up now."
When they were outside the courtyard, Ning Lingyun no longer
pretended to be fragile and spoke to Ning Xueyan disdainfully.

She had always looked down upon the cowardly Ning Xueyan and
bullied her along with Ning Yuling.

"Fourth Sister, you go first. I'll come immediately after I get

the gift for the Second Sister," Ning Xueyan smiled and gently
said.

"The gift? You brought gifts from the remote Cold Mountain
Temple? Xueyan, did someone send them to Cold Mountain
Temple specifically?" Ning Lingyun spoke sarcastically. The
meaning of her words could make people blush. As a Young Lady of
Lord Protector's Manor, she shouldn't speak like that.

www.asianovel.com
 198 Report
Ning Xueyan looked at Ning Lingyun coldly, sneering in her mind.
Lord Protector's Manor was doomed to collapse. So many Young
Ladies misbehaved. The Eldest Young Lady stole her sister's fiance
and also killed her sister. The Second Young Lady was vicious and
selfish. And this Fourth Young Lady was arrogant and rude. There
was no need for such a Lord Protector's Manor to exist.

"It's some precious face powder that the Eldest Sister gave
me before. I don't need it now, so I want to bring it to the
Second Sister." After that, Ning Xueyan narrowed her eyes and
turned her back to Ning Lingyun. She turned and walked toward
Bright Frost Garden. It was useless to treat people like Ning Lingyun
mildly.

As soon as she heard that Ning Xueyan had precious face powder,
Ning Lingyun also wanted some. She thought for a moment and said
to Ning Xueyan with a big smile, "May I go with you to take a
look?"

Sure enough, Ning Lingyun was attracted by the face powder. Ning
Xueyan sneered in her mind, but smiled and nodded. "Of course
you can. I can't use it now. You can choose two boxes of face
powder and take them away."

"I really can take away two boxes?" Ning Lingyun was
surprised.

"Yes. Fourth Sister, come with me." Ning Xueyan looked at

Ning Lingyun, who had been attracted, and nodded.

Since Ning Lingyun was attracted by the face powder and also
wanted some, Ning Xueyan could send some to Ning Yuling with the
help of Ning Lingyun. In this way, others wouldn't suspect Ning
Xueyan in the future.

"Xueyan, let's take the way that connects to the garden.

There are some new beautiful Malus halliana Koehne there.

www.asianovel.com
 199 Report
We can go and see them." Seeing that Ning Xueyan heading for
the path, Ning Lingyun stopped her with an expression that she
wanted to make friendly contact with Ning Xueyan. If she could get
benefits from Ning Xueyan, Ning Lingyun didn't mind treating Ning
Xueyan kindly.

If she could help Madam Ling, Ning Lingyun thought it was

worthwhile to invite Ning Xueyan to the garden. As for Ning Xueyan,
she didn't care at all.

The path led to Bright Frost Garden and it was quicker to go this
way. Besides, the cobblestone path wasn't worse than the road over
there.

"Fourth Sister, we'd better take a shortcut back. We have

to visit the Second Sister later," Ning Xueyan suggested.

"Take it easy. Anyway, we'll take gifts with us later. The

Second Sister won't blame us. Let's go and see the flowers
first. I heard that they're very beautiful, but I didn't have
time before. It's rare that I have time today. Xueyan, let's see
them, please."

Ning Lingyun was overly enthusiastic today. Usually, she looked

down upon Ning Xueyan and bullied her when they met. Today, she
treated Ning Xueyan kindly.

"Fine, let's go." Ning Xueyan smiled and looked down. She
followed Ning Lingyun and sneered in her mind.

Ning Xueyan and Ning Lingyun, each with a maid, walked to the
garden one after the other with different intentions. Ning Lingyun did
most of the talking and Ning Xueyan only nodded with a smile from
time to time. They turned the corner of the courtyard and walked to
another garden.

In a concealed place in the garden, a foppish young man in pink

www.asianovel.com
 200 Report
clothes appeared. At first glance, one would know that he was a
libertine.

He was Madam Ling's nephew, Ling Yi. His father was the Vice
Minister of Justice, Ling Nianhua. He was the only son of Ling
Nianhua, so he was spoiled by all his elders and grew up with many
sisters. He had made no academic achievements. He was just a
playboy.

He got along very well with the Princely Heir of Commandery

Prince Li and flirted with women every day.

"Isn't our Fifth Young Lady beautiful?" Mother Chen, Madam

Ling's personal servant, appeared silently and said to him while
pointing at Ning Xueyan.

Ning Lingyun and Ning Xueyan stood together in the garden.

Although Ning Lingyun was beautiful, she was still inferior to Ning
Xueyan. So Ling Yi couldn't help staring at Ning Xueyan.

At first, Ling Yi didn't pay much attention to Ning Xueyan and

thought that she was just a little girl. Compared with the plump Ning
Lingyun, Ning Xueyan was inferior. But when he looked at her
carefully, he was stunned. Although Ning Xueyan was emaciated, she
was delicate and touching.

Unexpectedly, there was such a beautiful woman in Lord

Protector's Manor! Ling Yi couldn't move his gaze and didn't want to
leave.

Seeing his expression, Mother Chen smiled proudly. She pulled

Ling Yi's sleeve to bring him to his senses. "Isn't she a beauty?"

"Yes. Yes! Unexpectedly, she is the most beautiful one in

Lord Protector's Manor." Ling Yi was obsessed, looking at Ning
Xueyan's backside lustfully. He felt that the beauty in front of him
was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life.

www.asianovel.com
 201 Report
Ling Yi had seen many beautiful women, but he had never seen
such a beautiful woman. This beauty looked so tender, but her gaze
was cold and indifferent. Such a beauty gave people different
feelings. How could Ling Yi not be attracted by her?

"Childe, do you want to seduce the Fifth Young Lady?"

Mother Chen suddenly went up close to Ling Yi and asked him in a
low voice.

Ling Yi was frightened at first, but immediately after he was

overjoyed. "Mother Chen, do you have an idea?"

After that, he took some money out from his sleeve and handed it
over. "After it's successful, I'll thank you again!"

www.asianovel.com
 202 Report

Chapter 78
Source: TapRead

Hearing what Ling Yi said, Mother Chen smiled happily. She took
the money that Ling Yi handed her and nodded vigorously. "Yes.
Childe Ling, you may rest assured. I promise your wish will
come true."

Of course Mother Chen was happy. She not only completed what
the First Madam had ordered, but also received a reward. Looking in
the direction Ning Xueyan was leaving, Mother Chen praised the First
Madam's wonderful foresight in her mind. Unlike the Second Young
Lady, Ning Xueyan would not be protected by anyone if a scandal
happened to her. At that time, she only would become someone's
concubine.

Furthermore, the Hostess of Vice Minister of Justice's Manor was

not kind-hearted. Any woman who Ling Yi did not like anymore would
be beaten to death or sold to the red-light district by the hostess.

Thinking of this, Mother Chen felt proud inwardly and quietly left to
arrange the next matter.

Ning Xueyan walked around the garden with Ning Lingyun for a
while and then went to Bright Frost Garden.

Whey they arrived at Bright Frost Garden, Ning Xueyan took out
the face powders that Ning Ziyan gave her and opened them one by
one. All of them were precious, some in light colors and some in dark
colors. As soon as they were opened, a faint fragrance could be
smelled. At first glance, one could know that they all were treasures.

Ning Lingyun was just a concubine's daughter. Madam Ling was

mean to those children that she did not give birth to. So they did not
have enough pocket money every month. After buying daily
www.asianovel.com
 203 Report
necessities and rewarding servants, Ning Lingyun could not afford to
buy such a high-quality powder. So when she saw those good face
powders, she wanted them all, the greed showing in her eyes. She
stretched out her fingers and tried them on the back of her hand.

At the same time, she said, "These face powders look

beautiful, but the color isn't bright enough. The Second
Sister might not like them."

Everyone in Lord Protector's Manor knew that Ning Yuling liked

bright colors. Her clothes were gorgeous with exquisite decorations.

Qingyu, standing beside them, looked at Ning Lingyun and

complained in her mind. "Aren't the colors bright?"

Ning Xueyan chuckled and said casually, "They are not bright
enough, but there's nothing that I can give to the Second
Sister now. Fourth Sister, we'll just choose two boxes for her,
and you can take the rest if you like."

This suggestion satisfied Ning Lingyun. She liked them all and
wanted to take all of them, so she deliberately slighted them and
said that they were not very good. When Ning Xueyan said she could
take the rest, Ning Lingyuan immediately agreed and began to
choose happily.

But these face powders were so excellent, and the colors and
fragrances were all different. So it was difficult for Ning Lingyun to
choose. She felt that these face powders were better than any she
had seen before.

"If only I could take them all away," Ning Lingyun thought in
her mind.

When Ning Lingyun was selecting, Lanning came in a hurry, pale

and panicked. "Young Lady, a maid in the courtyard fainted."

"What's the matter?" Ning Xueyan seemed to be frightened as

www.asianovel.com
 204 Report
she turned around and asked urgently.

"I don't know. That maid suddenly fainted and fell to the
ground. Just now I asked people to take her to her room to
rest. Young Lady, would you like to ask the doctor to see
her?"

"There's no need to call a doctor. A maid merely fainted. I

thought something big had happened. Xueyan, it's not
important. Don't bother mother. I heard that the Second
Sister is sick now, so how can we ask a doctor to take a look
at a maid?" Ning Lingyun sneered and said with a strange smile.

"Yes, we can't disturb mother. She has a lot to do every

day. I'll go take a look." Ning Xueyan nodded and was going to
leave to see the maid.

Ning Xueyan went to the door and suddenly stopped as if thinking

of something and said to Ning Lingyun with embarrassment, "Fourth
Sister, I can't visit the Second Sister now. When you go see
her, can you bring my gifts to her and tell her that I'm busy
now and will visit her later?"

In Ning Lingyun's mind, Ning Xueyan was afraid of being scolded

by Ning Yuling so she sent her gifts first to please her!

Ning Lingyun nodded disdainfully with ridicule on her face. She

looked down on Ning Xueyan more in her mind. It was said that Ning
Xueyan had changed. But now, Ning Lingyun thought she was as
cowardly as before and believed that she would surely be much
stronger than Ning Xueyan if she had been born by the Legal Wife.

Ning Lingyun replied while quickly packing up all the face powders
on the table, "You can rest assured. I'll explain it to the Second
Sister."

Since it was Ning Lingyun who would take the face powders to Ning

www.asianovel.com
 205 Report
Yuling, she would choose the best ones for herself. Ning Lingyun
thought she just needed to take one to Ning Yuling. Anyway, no
matter how much face powder Ning Xueyan sent, Ning Yuling would
not spare her. So Ning Lingyun felt at ease when she took all the face
powders.

Looking at Ning Lingyun taking away all the face powders and
leaving with her maid, Ning Xueyan smiled coldly, standing at the
door. When Ning Lingyun could no longer be seen, Ning Xueyan
returned to the room and sat down.

"Young Lady, I just went to inquire about something for

you. Today, the madam and Childe Ling Yi of the Vice
Minister of Justice's Manor came. The madam talked with the
First Madam in the First Madam's place. But Childe Ling Yi
was also in the garden just now. I'm not sure whether he saw
you or not... However, when I left the garden, I saw Mother
Chen and Childe Ling Yi walking together, talking and
laughing."

After that, Lanning added another sentence.

When they went to the garden, Ning Xueyan asked Lanning to

inquire about it. Sure enough, some abnormalities were found.

This was not the first time that Ling Yi had come to Lord Protector's
Manor, so he didn't need to be accompanied by Madam Ling's
henchman, Mother Chen. It was clear that they were plotting
something. Ning Lingyun intentionally said she wanted to see the
flowers, so they went to the garden. Although Ning Xueyan said she
didn't want to see flowers in the end, Ning Lingyun said nothing.

It seemed that Ning Lingyun just wanted her to go into the garden!

The garden was the same as usual. The only difference was that
Ling Yi, the libertine, was there!

www.asianovel.com
 206 Report
After thinking it over carefully, Ning Xueyan understood Madam
Ling's plot. Ning Lingyun was indeed Madam Ling's lackey. Since they
liked scheming, Ning Xueyan would beat them at their own game.

Ning Xueyan was worried that there would be no opportunity to

drag the Vice Minister of Justice's Manor into the mire. But now, the
opportunity arrived!

There were two reasons why Madam Ling could be so powerful in

Lord Protector's Manor. One was that she had an outstanding son,
who was the only son of Ning Zu'an. The other was that she came
from the Vice Minister of Justice's Manor. Her brother, the Vice
Minister of Justice, had real power in the court.

So it was not easy to overthrow Madam Ling. However, if one of

her props were to collapse...

"Young Lady." Seeing Ning Xueyan's indifferent and cold

expression, Qingyu called her feeling scared and uneasy.

"Qingyu, where's the maid who fainted?" Ning Xueyan

suddenly asked.

"She just felt dizzy in the morning. It wasn't serious. I

asked her and she said that she's anemic and it's an old
problem. I let her rest in the room." Ning Xueyan had already
known about this matter before she went to greet Madam Dowager
this morning.

"She's a newcomer. When Mother Han chose the maids

before, the manager deliberately left out that she's anemic.
So she was chosen by Mother Han and came to Bright Frost
Garden," Qingyu indignantly said. There were fewer people in Bright
Frost Garden than in other places. Now the newcomer was sickly. It
was clear that those people were bullying them.

"Investigate that maid for me. You can chat with her when

www.asianovel.com
 207 Report
you have time. If she happens to be sick, you can go to visit
her." Ning Xueyan suddenly smiled.

In a word, this maid came to Bright Frost Garden by an improper

method. At that time, Madam Dowager was thoroughly investigating
Bright Frost Garden. Madam Ling was injured and had no time to care
about other things. So it wasn't Madam Ling who sent the maid to
Bright Frost Garden on purpose.

"Yes, we'll go to see her later." Lanning and Qingyu understood

Ning Xueyan's meaning and nodded.

"You go first." Suddenly, a cold chuckle sounded in Ning

Xueyan's ears. It was not loud, but it could be heard by Ning Xueyan
clearly. Ning Xueyan was stunned, and then she calmly asked
Lanning and Qingyu to leave first.

Lanning and Qingyu didn't understand why Ning Xueyan suddenly

asked them to leave, they just looked at each other doubtfully and
then left. Lanning walked behind Qingyu and deliberately closed the
door for Ning Xueyan.

"Your maid is smart." When the door was closed, a pleasant but
cold sound came from behind her.

Ning Xueyan sighed. She knew that Prince Yi, Ao Chenyi, had
appeared when she heard his chuckle just now. Ning Xueyan didn't
know why he quietly appeared here at this time, but that cold voice
made her know clearly that it was Prince Yi.

Ning Xueyan calmed down and then turned her head. Although she
had prepared well, she still couldn't help but be stunned when she
saw Prince Yi.

Today, Ao Chenyi was obviously different from before. He wore

ordinary black clothes instead of a luxurious black robe. There were
no bodyguards or eunuchs following him, but he still gave people a

www.asianovel.com
 208 Report
sense of a strong and powerful momentum.

Ning Xueyan had to admit that some people were born kings, such
as Ao Chenyi.

Ao Chenyi leaned lazily on her bed. The book she had just read and
had leisurely thrown aside was now in his hands. He coldly looked at
Ning Xueyan, which gave her the feeling of being stared at by a
poisonous snake.

There was no doubt that Prince Yi was handsome and beautiful.

But he also was cold and merciless. Although he wore ordinary
clothes now, he still made people feel scared.

"You're surprised to see me here?" seeing Ning Xueyan staring

at him, Ao Chenyi asked.

Ning Xueyan calmed down and answered softly, "Prince Yi, why
are you here at this time?"

"I can't be here?" Ao Chenyi elegantly waved to Ning Xueyan and

then pointed to the teapot on the table. It was clear that he wanted
Ning Xueyan to serve him tea. He regarded himself as a master of
this place.

Seeing his gestures, Ning Xueyan smiled, went over, and naturally
lifted the teapot. When she was about to pour tea, she found that
there was only one cup on the table. So she turned wanting to fetch
another cup from the outside room.

Ning Xueyan directly ignored his counter-question.

As Prince Yi, he had come to Lord Protector's Manor with such

clothes. Obviously, he had sneaked in and come to the place of the
womenfolk. Was it really proper?

Ning Xueyan really wanted to tell him that if he were to be

discovered, his reputation would be ruined.

www.asianovel.com
 209 Report

Chapter 79
Source: TapRead

Of course, Ning Xueyan also knew that Prince Yi had never been
reasonable.

"Just this one." Seeing Ning Xueyan going out, Ao Chenyi

hummed softly and knocked on the tea table while speaking.

"Your Highness, I've used it!" Ning Xueyan was speechless. She
turned around and spoke with a very sincere attitude.

"I don't care!" Ao Chenyi said lazily. Looking at her delicate face
and slightly depressed look, Ao Chenyi narrowed his eyes slightly and
felt somewhat comfortable, his depression fading away.

"But I care!" It was a pity that Ning Xueyan could only say that in
her mind. Ao Chenyi would not listen to her words.

Being stared at by him, Ning Xueyan could not say "no".

After pausing, Ning Xueyan turned, went over to the table, and
poured some water into the cup. Then, she put down the teapot,
pushed the tea to Ao Chenyi, and watched him stretch out his
slender hand with elegance and laziness as he picked up the cup,
drank the tea, and laid down the cup leisurely.

Suddenly, there was the sound of quick footsteps outside the door,
followed by Lanning's voice. "Young Lady, Young Lady!"

"What's going on?" Ning Xueyan asked calmly.

"Madam Dowager's several stewardesses, together with

some guards, are coming in at the door. They said they are
looking for a burglar. Young Lady, do you need to prepare for

www.asianovel.com
 210 Report
it?" Lanning asked carefully

Lanning was clever. Only when Ning Xueyan suddenly let them go
out did Lanning know something was bound to happen. So as soon as
she found the stewardesses coming, she left Qingyu there to deal
with them and returned to report it to Ning Xueyan immediately.

"They are looking for a burglar?" Ning Xueyan looked back, her
gaze falling on Ao Chenyi.

"They're looking for me? Or I'll go out to meet them now!"

Prince Yi seemed to be in a good mood and asked lazily while raising
his eyebrows.

"You wanna go out now? What a shameless thing to say!"

Ning Xueyan thought in her mind while gritting her teeth. He could
leave Ning Xueyan's room naturally and confidently, but Ning
Xueyan's reputation would be ruined after that!

"Lanning, will they check every room?" Ning Xueyan asked

Lanning calmly.

"Yes, they said that it was Madam Dowager's order. All of

us, including the Young Ladies, must be checked because it's
of great importance. They're afraid that the thief is hiding in
the house now and will leave at night," Lanning answered.
Although she had just come in a hurry, she still heard what the
stewardesses had said to Qingyu.

"Prince Yi, can you go back first?" Ning Xueyan felt

embarrassed while looking at Ao Chenyi, who still was lying on Ning
Xueyan's bed.

"I can't go out now. What if someone comes in and finds me

lying on your bed?" Ao Chenyi said with interest in his eyes, which
had always been cold. It seemed that he was very willing to give it a
try here.

www.asianovel.com
 211 Report
"In order to please Honored Consort Ya and the Third
Prince, Ning Zu'an and Madam Dowager might murder me
under the pretext of some special reasons," Ning Xueyan
thought.

If Ao Chenyi was not strong enough to kill her at will, Ning Xueyan
would like to kick him out directly. She raised her bright watery eyes,
just looking into Ao Chenyi's cold eyes.

It seemed like it had been a long time. Ning Xueyan stepped

forward, pushed Ao Chenyi onto the bed, and wrapped him up in the
quilt. Then she put down the bed-curtain. After that, she went to the
dressing table and pulled out the hairpin on her head at random, her
dark hair scattering in an instant.

At this time, Ning Xueyan could not hesitate. Since she could not
reason with Ao Chenyi, she could only save herself.

"Lanning, go back and tell those stewardesses that I've

been in discomfort since I got back from Madam Dowager's
place and I'm resting in bed. Tell them that they can come in,
but the guards are not allowed to come in. Otherwise, I'll
commit suicide if my reputation is ruined. At that time, they'll
also get into trouble."

After doing all that, Ning Xueyan resolutely got into bed. After
thinking for a moment, she took off her coat and threw it on the
screen, then she sat down on the bed and lay down.

No matter what Ao Chenyi did in Lord Protector's Manor, he could

not be found here at this time. Otherwise, Ning Xueyan's reputation
would be completely destroyed.

The reason Ning Xueyan ordered Lanning like that was that she
wanted the stewardesses to understand that if something happened
here, they would never be able to bear it. What happened to Ning
Xueyan before made the people in the manor realize that Ning

www.asianovel.com
 212 Report
Xueyan was not the weak and cowardly Fifth Young Lady.

Of course, the deeper reason was that she wanted to stop those
guards from entering her room. Compared with the stewardesses,
these guards were the most likely people to find Ao Chenyi.

"Yes, I know. I'll go right there." Lanning was a clever maid.

She immediately understood the meaning of Ning Xueyan's words.
She turned and walked toward the stewardesses, who were coming
over.

As soon as she lay down, Ning Xueyan found herself wrapped

around her waist. Then she heard a cold voice say with a smile,
"Yan'er, I'm sleeping with you in my arms."

Ning Xueyan could not help but flush and she took a deep breath
to suppress her anger. Suddenly, she smelled a faint fishy smell.
After thinking for a moment, Ning Xueyan understood. She suddenly
turned around and asked, "You're injured?"

"Yes, but it's not serious!" Ao Chenyi raised his head and
smiled unconcernedly. Looking at the girl's cold and angry face, he
chuckled in a good mood, as if he did not know he was in danger at
all.

Outside the door came footsteps and the voices of Lanning and
Qingyu, who were talking about something with two older female
servants. From the voices, Ning Xueyan knew that the two older
female servants wanted to break in with the guards, but were being
stopped by the two maids. It seemed that the people of Madam
Dowager's courtyard still did not take Ning Xueyan seriously. Of
course, Ning Xueyan also was sure that they would not dare to break
in with the guards.

Ning Xueyan glanced over at the embroidering area. Occasionally,

she would embroider some patterns. Now, her unfinished embroidery
was over there. Aside from that, there were needles and scissors.

www.asianovel.com
 213 Report
Judging by the voices outside the door, it seemed that they had
made a deal at this time. The sound of footsteps was getting closer
and closer, they had arrived at the outside room.

Ning Xueyan took a look at the teacup on the table beside the bed,
and then another look at the scissors. She had an idea in mind. She
pushed Ao Chenyi to the inside and covered his face with the quilt.
"Prince Yi, don't make a sound, unless you're not afraid of
the emperor's suspicion."

Ning Xueyan did not care what Ao Chenyi had come here for, but it
had to be of great concern; otherwise, Ao Chenyi would not have
come in person. Ning Xueyan could not guess what was in Lord
Protector's Manor that was worth Ao Chenyi coming for. But she
knew that if he were to be discovered, he would get into trouble,
even though he was Prince Yi.

Even if he could say that he went to Lord Protector's Manor to

privately meet with Ning Xueyan, it still would inevitably arouse the
suspicion of the emperor and even spoil his great affairs, which was
the reason why he was hiding here. He could not be discovered by
anyone.

If the private meeting with Ning Xueyan would not attract anyone's
attention, Ao Chenyi would certainly not hesitate to explain to others
that he had come here to privately meet with Ning Xueyan. As for
Ning Xueyan's reputation, he did not care at all.

Ao Chenyi did not expect that Ning Xueyan would dare to press his
head under the quilt or would not care that he was the powerful
Prince Yi. Therefore, he did not stop Ning Xueyan due to his sudden
astonishment. Although he still had his arms tightly wrapped around
her waist, he did not move anymore. Under the quilt, Ao Chenyi
slightly narrowed his eyes, which were full of interest.

Ning Xueyan resolutely picked up the scissors. When she retracted

her hands, she knocked over the teacup, which fell to the ground,

www.asianovel.com
 214 Report
making a breaking sound. Then there was Ning Xueyan's cry of pain.

Lanning and Qingyu, who had just arrived at the door, suddenly
changed their faces and rushed in when they heard the sound. The
two older female servants who followed them were also worried and
hurried to come in after Lanning and Qingyu. The two older female
servants had confronted Lanning and Qingyu outside the room just
now, trying to come in with the guards for inspection, but they dared
not ask the guards to come in the end.

If something really happened to the Fifth Young Lady, they would

die before they realized it.

In the room, the teacup was broken and the tea was splashed
around. Ning Xueyan was sitting on the bed with her long hair
scattered, holding the scissors tightly and staring coldly at the two
stewardesses, who had just come to the door. Due to her excitement,
her hands were punctured by the scissors with blood dripping down.

"Young Lady, Young Lady, what's... what's wrong with

you?" Lanning and Qingyu were shocked. They reached out their
hands, wanting to grab the scissors. But they were afraid they would
hurt her, so they dared not fully exert themselves.

"Didn't you say that the guards must come in for

inspection? Is it really grandmother's order? Or do you
intentionally want to pick fault with me and want to force me
to die?" Ning Xueyan stared at the two stewardesses coldly, gritting
her teeth. Obviously, she was very angry. She held the scissors firmly
and refused to let go, despite how the two maids grabbed and
persuaded.

"Fifth Young Lady... Fifth Young Lady, it's not true. We, we
didn't ask them to come in. They... they're all outside." The
two older female servants did not expect Ning Xueyan to react so
violently. They were so frightened that sweat broke out on their
foreheads and they shook their hands vigorously.

www.asianovel.com
 215 Report
The Fifth Young Lady was so excited that anything could happen.
At that time, neither of them could bear the responsibility. Now the
two older servants felt it was lucky that they had listened to the
words of Lanning and Qingyu and did not ask the guards to break in.
Otherwise, it was highly possible that the Fifth Young Lady would
directly hurt herself with the scissors before talking to them.

It was said that a thief had entered the manor, so the stewardesses
only needed to check the manor according to the rules. Whether the
thief could be found or not had nothing to do with them.

"Young Lady, they didn't come in. The guards are all
waiting outside. You may rest assured. Be careful, don't hurt
yourself. If you hurt yourself, we won't want to live." Lanning
went to snatch the scissors in Ning Xueyan's hands while screaming
out. Her words made the two older female servants feel more
frightened and sweat even more.

They regretted accepting this task and coming here. And they also
regretted accepting the suggestion of Madam Dowager's servants to
check the Young Lady's room with the guards. Madam Dowager had
asked them to check by themselves so as not to destroy Young
Lady's reputation. Had they known that the Fifth Young Lady was so
fierce, they would not have dared to let the guards search her room.

www.asianovel.com
 216 Report

Chapter 80
Source: TapRead

"Young Lady, Young Lady, we wouldn't dare! No guards

came in. They're all outside." An older female servant hurried to
say, even wanting to swear that they had not asked the guards to
come in.

"Did they really not come in?" Ning Xueyan seemed to relax,
but she still looked out and asked incredulously.

"Yes, yes, they really didn't come in. Fifth Young Lady, your
hands have been injured by the scissors. They need to be
treated first." Seeing that the situation had eased, the older female
servant nodded her head vigorously to show her sincerity.

On hearing that there was no guard coming in, Ning Xueyan

relaxed her hold and the scissors were carefully taken away from her
by Qingyu. On the other side, Lanning was finding supplies and
medicine to cure Ning Xueyan's hands. There was a faint bloody
smell in the room.

"Since you want to search the room, just hurry up. Our
Young Lady's hands are injured. I'll go ask for some medicine
from Madam Dowager if I can't find any here." Lanning did not
find the medicine right away and spoke impatiently when she saw
the two older female servants standing still.

It seemed that Lanning would report what happened here to

Madam Dowager. The two older female servants looked at each
other, shivering.

"You'd better hurry up. Don't let our Young Lady wait here,
or someone else will think that there really are thieves here,"
Qingyu pointed at the furniture in the room and said unhappily.
www.asianovel.com
 217 Report
Ning Xueyan's bedroom was very simple. There was a big bed that
was blocked by a bed curtain. It seemed that Ning Xueyan was taking
a rest just now. When she heard the quarrel between the two older
female servants and her two maids outside the room, she got angry
and pierced herself with the scissors to prove her innocence. And
that cup was knocked down when she took the scissors with
excitement.

In front of the bed was a screen on which Ning Xueyan's clothes

were hung. There was a table near the head of the bed, a soft couch
in front of the window, and a table beside the couch. Besides that,
there was nothing else. From the position of the two older female
servants, they could see that there was no place to hide anyone,
except for behind or underneath the big bed.

"Lanning, show them behind and underneath the bed," Ning

Xueyan looked at the two older female servants and said indifferently
with a pale face.

"Yes. Come with me. From here you can see if there is
anyone behind or under the bed." Hearing Ning Xueyan's order,
Lanning pointed to a place in the room and spoke to the two older
female servants.

The two older female servants looked at each other. They had
thought that they had to search carefully since they had come. But
after seeing what the Fifth Young Lady had done, how did they dare
to search the room now? So they quickly took a look behind and
under the bed. After finding nothing, they retreated while
apologizing.

On behalf of Ning Xueyan, Qingyu sent the two older female

servants to the gate of Bright Frost Garden and returned after they
left. When she arrived at the door of Ning Xueyan's bedroom, she
saw Lanning coming out. So she walked over to Lanning quickly and
wanted to ask something, but was stopped by Lanning.

www.asianovel.com
 218 Report
"Let the Young Lady rest for a while. I'll guard here. You go
ask Mother Han if she has the medicine for the injury."

"Fine. I'll go now." "Isn't the medicine in the Young Lady's

room? Why do I have to go to Mother Han's?" Although Qingyu
did not understand, she also knew that it had to be Ning Xueyan's
order. So she agreed and went to Mother Han's room.

Inside the room, Ning Xueyan was struggling to get the medicine
that Lanning had found and put on the table. The wounds on her
hands were not serious. The scissors had cut the skin between her
thumb and index finger. It seemed to be serious, but in fact, it was
not. It was only very painful. The reason why she had cut her hands
was to cover up the bloody smell caused by Ao Chenyi's wounds.

Although the two older female servants were not as vigilant as

those guards, they had to be shrewd since they could lead the
guards to search the manor. As long as a bloody smell was found
here, it would be hard to avoid causing other troubles. So Ning
Xueyan hurt herself to stop the bloody smell from being discovered.
Under the circumstances, the two older female servants would not
dare tell others even if there really was something wrong.

If Ning Xueyan had not shocked the two older female servants by
hurting herself, they would have searched her bed. Ao Chenyi was
thin, but he, a man, would inevitably be seen as long as someone got
closer to the bed. So Ning Xueyan made a split-second decision.
Using this method, she made the two older female servants dare not
search the room carefully or tell others.

"You are so cruel to yourself. Is the arm injury all right?" Ao

Chenyi got out from under the quilt and let go of Ning Xueyan's
waist, but he stretched out one hand and put it on Ning Xueyan's
shoulder naturally. He glanced at Ning Xueyan, smiled in a low voice,
and asked her.

"The arm wound?" Ning Xueyan was a little stunned. She turned

www.asianovel.com
 219 Report
her head and looked into Ao Chenyi's cold but smiling eyes. Then she
turned her head back and looked at Ao Chenyi's hand on her
shoulder. Now Ning Xueyan could clearly see a dark and wet place on
his arm, while a bloody smell rushed into her nose.

"Prince Yi, doesn't it hurt?" Ning Xueyan looked up and asked.

"Why don't you check it for me?" Ao Chenyi smiled and said
naturally, as if this was what Ning Xueyan was supposed to do.

"Well, put your hand down," Ning Xueyan took a look at his
hand and said. The smell of blood was very strong, so his injury had
to be serious. Ning Xueyan stretched out her hands and pulled his
hand off her shoulder. Then she took the scissors and cut his black
cuffs and sleeves to reveal his wounds inside.

The wound was really serious, which could not be seen from the
outside. It seemed that his arm had been penetrated by something.
But now, that thing was no longer there, leaving a semi-coagulated
wound.

If she had not seen the wound, Ning Xueyan could not have known
how badly he was hurt. She looked up at Ao Chenyi, who was still as
lethargic as usual. When Ning Xueyan accidentally touched the
wound on his arm, he still remained lethargic, as if he was not in
great pain. He was a tolerant man.

Ning Xueyan frowned and no longer said anything. She carefully

cleaned his wound and sprinkled medicinal powders on it. When
there was no bloodstain around the wound, she picked up the
handkerchief from before and wrapped the wound carefully for him.

Ao Chenyi said nothing, which was rare. He looked at his wound for
a while and finally laid his gaze on Ning Xueyan.

Her facial features were delicate. Only her profile made people feel
she was beautiful. Because she was pale and young, no one would

www.asianovel.com
 220 Report
think she was beautiful at first glance. But after carefully looking, one
would find that she was very charming. But her indifference made
people dare not get close to her.

But that feeling would disappear when one discovered her charm.
Her indifference and charm, two totally different temperaments,
combined together, attracting everyone's attention.

This ferocious wildcat-like woman was really different from other

women.

Ning Xueyan did not care about Prince Yi's scrutiny, but just
carefully bandaged Ao Chenyi's wound. After finishing, she raised her
head and said, "Now your wound has been treated, can you
leave now?"

"What if I don't go?" Ao Chenyi could not help laughing as he

looked at her.

It seemed like Ning Xueyan had pressed on his arm wound

unintentionally. As expected, Ao Chenyi's face turned pale and his
gaze became cold and bloodthirsty at once.

"Prince Yi, this is Lord Protector's Manor. The marquis is

absent right now. But when he comes back and searches the
manor by himself, I can't protect you at that time," Ning
Xueyan smiled and said softly.

"You dare to threaten me." Ao Chenyi's tone was extremely

cold and it could make people feel scared.

"I would not dare! I just believe that you don't want what I
said to be true!" Ning Xueyan did not look at Ao Chenyi's face. She
pushed his hands away, got out of bed, put on her coat naturally, and
then walked out of the bedroom.

As soon as Ning Xueyan reached the next room, she heard Lanning
knocking at the door. "Young Lady, someone is here with a

www.asianovel.com
 221 Report
letter. Do you want to see her?"

"Bring me the letter." Ning Xueyan sat down as she answered.

Hearing Ning Xueyan's reply, Lanning left to convey Ning Xueyan's
meaning. After a while, Qingyu arrived with a maid.

The snow-white letter was in a pink envelope. Ning Xueyan

narrowed her eyes when she saw the letter. But she still smiled with
coldness in her eyes. She held the letter in her hands but did not
open it, asking the maid who had sent the letter. "Where is this
letter from?"

"I encountered a maid of the Second Young Lady. This is

from the Second Young Lady," the maid, who was very young,
answered respectfully.

"Is the Second Young Lady still sick and lying in bed?" Ning
Xueyan asked calmly.

"That maid said yes. She also said that you need to go see
her, and if you don't visit the sick the Second Young Lady,
she will be very angry because you ignore your sisterhood,"
the maid replied naturally.

"I see, you may leave!" Ning Xueyan paused for a moment then
waved her hands.

Qingyu looked at Ning Xueyan's slightly cold look and anxiously

said, "Young Lady, what does the Second Young Lady want to
do?"

Ning Xueyan opened the note in her hands, on which there only
were just a few words: "Come on! It's urgent!"

The words on the note totally showed Ning Yuling's insolence. It

looked like Ning Yuling was displeased with Ning Xueyan's absence
and had gotten angry. So she wanted Ning Xueyan to go to her place
so she could humiliate her, which always happened in the past.
www.asianovel.com
 222 Report
"You met the Second Young Lady's maid at the gate of the
courtyard?" Ning Xueyan put away the note and asked faintly.

"Yes. When I was about to go out, I saw the maid coming

over. She asked me to give this letter to you. She also said
that you should hurry up and not let the Second Young Lady
wait too long, otherwise she'll lose her temper again," the
maid answered after thinking for a moment.

It would take at least one hour to get to Ning Yuling's courtyard

from Ning Xueyan's courtyard. Ning Lingyun just left. So it was
impossible that she had arrived at Ning Yuling's courtyard.

If Ning Lingyun had not said that, Ning Xueyan would not have
known that Ning Yuling was sick. But the maid who sent the letter
was sure that Ning Xueyan had known Ning Yuling was sick and did
not explain it at all.

Furthermore, this letter was not an ordinary note. It was very

popular among women in the brothel and was not liked by the Young
Ladies...

Additionally, why did Ning Yuling call her over?

Ning Xueyan carefully rubbed the paper in her hands. This paper
smelled good and had a different kind of odor than other paper. She
smiled and said to Lanning and Qingyu with sarcasm on her face,
"Call more servants to accompany me. Last time, Madam
Dowager said there should be more trees in my courtyard
and asked me to choose them in the garden when I have
time. Today, I happen to have time. Let's visit the Second
Young Lady together and incidentally choose the trees."

"Yes!" Seeing that Ning Xueyan was confident, Lanning made a

quick response and went outside to gather some people.

Qingyu was no longer upset. She nodded and asked the little maid

www.asianovel.com
 223 Report
to leave, saying nothing more.

After finishing everything, Ning Xueyan returned to the inner room.

As expected, Ao Chenyi was no longer there and a bottle of medicine
was left on the table...

www.asianovel.com
 224 Report

Chapter 81
Source: TapRead

Ling Yi felt restless and walked back and forth in the room, making
the young male servant behind him feel dizzy.

"Childe, don't worry. The Fifth Young Lady is coming soon. I

almost feel dizzy due to your walking back and forth," the
young male servant could not help saying.

This was a house facing the water, lying on the way from Bright
Frost Garden to Qingrong Courtyard.

Ning Xueyan would surely pass through this remote place if she
came from Bright Frost Garden. A maid of Ning Yuling was waiting in
the road ahead. When Ning Xueyan arrived, the maid would tell her
that Ning Yuling was here and trick her into coming.

"Go and see if the Fifth Young Lady is here." On thinking that
the beauty would soon belong to him, Ling Yi was so excited that he
could not sit still.

"Childe, the Fifth Young Lady is coming!" suddenly, the young

male servant shouted excitedly and waved to Ling Yi while peeping
through the door.

Hearing that, Ling Yi quickly went to the door and peeped through
it, immediately fixing his eyes on the woman on the road.

A girl dressed in plain white clothes came into Ling Yi's view. The
longer he looked, the more beautiful he thought she was. He could
not even look away. From now on, such a beautiful woman would
belong to him, which greatly excited him.

"Childe, we'd better hide first," the young male servant warned

www.asianovel.com
 225 Report
Ling Yi.

Ling Yi was almost dragged behind the screen by the young male
servant.

There was a small side door behind the screen. The young male
servant skillfully went out from the small side door and hid behind it
to eavesdrop.

The door opened. Lanning frowned and asked while looking at the
empty room, "Young Lady, the Second Young Lady had you
wait here?"

Ning Xueyan took a look at the room and walked in while Qingyu
guarded by the door vigilantly.

With a few steps, she walked over to the screen, which blocked
half of the layout in the house. It was an ordinary screen. Ning
Xueyan pushed it with her hands and found that it was not heavy.

Ning Xueyan tilted her head and hinted to Lanning. Then the two
forcefully pushed the screen together. The screen fell down,
revealing Ling Yi, who only wore underwear. He was frightened and
stepped backward, leaving the place where he had been hiding.

"Ah, there's a thief!" Before everyone could see clearly, Lanning

screamed while kicking a chair down on its side, which then hit Ling
Yi's feet. Ling Yi took two steps askew, fell to the ground, and could
not help letting out a cry of pain.

Ning Xueyan pulled down the curtain and threw it toward Ling Yi
while retreating.

Lanning tucked the letter that she had prepared into Ling Yi's
clothes before everybody outside came in.

Several older female servants who usually did unskilled work

rushed in when they heard the noise in the house.

www.asianovel.com
 226 Report
"Hurry up, there's a thief here," Ning Xueyan said while
pointing at Ling Yi, who was entangled by the curtain and could not
get free of it at the moment. "He dared to try to steal from Lord
Protector's Manor. Beat him!"

The maids and older female servants did not clearly see what had
happened and only heard the voice of a man. It was a great event for
a male burglar to appear in a courtyard of the womenfolk. So they all
rushed in, afraid of falling behind, and then caught Ling Yi and beat
him.

These older female servants and maids were strong. So Ling Yi was
beaten seriously while shouting loudly, "You bitches... stop! I am
Childe Ling Yi."

The older female servants stopped when they heard Ling Yi's
words and turned toward Ning Xueyan subconsciously.

"How could Childe Ling Yi dress like this and appear here?
Look at those things, aren't they the property of Lord
Protector's Manor?" Ning Xueyan coldly said while pointing at the
delicate jewelry box on the table.

Originally, Ling Yi had intended to tempt Ning Xueyan using that

jewelry box.

But at this time, no one could tell if that jewelry box belonged to
the Vice Minister of Justice's Manor or Lord Protector's Manor.
Besides, the Vice Minister of Justice's Manor used to be a poor family
and many things were taken from Lord Protector's Manor. An older
female servant even saw a small "Ning" on the jewelry box, so she
believed that he was a thief.

Therefore, she beat Ling Yi even harder at once. Ling Yi was beaten
half-dead and could not even speak a word.

"Stop! He's Childe Ling Yi!" At first, the young male servant,

www.asianovel.com
 227 Report
who had been squatting by the back door, thought it was nothing
serious. Because he had squatted a little far away, when he heard
the sounds, he thought that they were being caused by Ning
Xueyan's resistance. He tittered outside the house and believed that
the Fifth Young Lady would certainly give in because his master had
some tools they had gotten from the brothel.

Suddenly, he heard his Childe's screams and felt that something

was wrong. So he ran to the side door, opened it, and rushed in while
shouting.

He caught those older female servants' clothes and tried to pull

them away.

In Auspicious Clouds Courtyard

Madam Ling was talking to her sister-in-law, Madam Qian.

Everything that had happened to Ning Yuling, Madam Ling ascribed it
to Ning Xueyan, making Madam Qian share the same hatred toward
Ning Xueyan. So they were looking for ways to teach Ning Xueyan a
lesson. Madam Qian was giving advice to Madam Ling and repeatedly
said that she would teach Ning Xueyan a lesson when she met her.

Madam Ling was satisfied with Madam Qian's words and was
secretly happy in her mind.

Madam Ling believed that Madam Qian would certainly deal with
Ning Xueyan after listening to her words.

Suddenly, Honglian rushed in with a pale face. "First Madam,

something... something bad has happened!"

"What happened?" Madam Ling was not in a hurry at all.

Madam Ling thought that Ning Xueyan had been caught having the
affair with Ling Yi. She asked Honglian with a smile on her face
because this matter was part of her plan.

www.asianovel.com
 228 Report
But Madam Qian, sitting at the side, changed her looks.

"It's Childe Ling Yi... something bad happened to Childe

Ling Yi... in the house over there," Honglian gasped.

Honglian was in a great panic. The whole matter was arranged by

her. She asked a maid of Ning Yuling to send the letter to Ning
Xueyan and arranged the rest. But now something went wrong. She
had a feeling that the First Madam would seriously punish her.

"What happened to Yi'er?" Madam Qian could not sit still and
asked urgently when she heard that something had happened to her
son.

"Childe Ling Yi was resting in the house. Unexpectedly, the

Fifth Young Lady arrived and asked servants to beat him.
Now, he's... he's..."

"Ning Xueyan gave Ling Yi a beating?" Madam Ling was

shocked by that news and turned pale immediately. She could not
help asking, "Where is Ning Xueyan now?"

"The Fifth Young Lady, together with the maids and older
female servants, is there now, waiting for your arrival..."
Honglian was worried and her forehead was covered in sweat.

Madam Qian had already stood up and rushed out in spite of

talking to Madam Ling.

Madam Ling also looked very unpleasant. Finally, she stamped her
feet, gritted her teeth, closed her fists, and said with a ferocious
expression, "Let's go and take a look."

When Madam Ling and Madam Qian arrived, Ning Xueyan was
sitting on a chair in the middle of the room and the half-dead Ling Yi
was lying on the ground.

Hearing the tinkling sound of earrings and bracelets, Ning Xueyan

www.asianovel.com
 229 Report
turned her head and saw Madam Ling coming in with a woman in
similar gorgeous clothes. The woman was not very beautiful, but she
looked fierce. At first glance, one would know that it was difficult to
get along with her.

She rushed over to Ling Yi and hugged him as soon as she saw him
lying on the ground.

"Xueyan, what's going on?" Madam Ling came in and got angry
when she saw Ning Xueyan leisurely sitting in the chair, her face
darkening. "Come and pay respects to Madam Qian!"

Madam Qian was the wife of the Vice Minister of Justice, but Ning
Xueyan was the daughter of Lord Protector's Legal Wife. So Madam
Qian's position was inferior to Ning Xueyan's.

Madam Ling called her sister-in-law Madam Qian, which meant that
she was the wife of the Vice Minister of Justice. In this way, Ning
Xueyan did not need to pay respects to Madam Qian.

However, Ning Xueyan stood up, stepped back, and saluted

Madam Qian with a smile on her face. "Nice to meet you, Madam
Qian."

Seeing that her son had been beaten half-dead, Madam Qian was
very angry. She stood up and did not return the salute, but snorted
and sat down. Instead of talking to Ning Xueyan, Madam Qian asked
Madam Ling, "Who's this rude girl?"

Madam Ling smiled and replied, "She has been in Bright Frost
Garden the entire time for so many years and seldom meets
outsiders. So her etiquette has been neglected. Please
forgive her, my sister."

Madam Qian then said with a snort, "No wonder she's impolite.
Fine, I'll forgive you."

Ning Xueyan sneered in her mind and thought that Madam Qian

www.asianovel.com
 230 Report
was so powerful. Madam Qian really took this place as if it were her
own place, the Vice Minister of Justice's Manor, and psyched out Ning
Xueyan at the beginning. In this case, Ning Xueyan decided not to
treat her politely and straightened up.

"Did you ask these people to beat Yi'er?" Madam Qian raised
her chin and asked with disdain.

In recent years, His Majesty paid more and more attention to the
Vice Minister of Justice's Manor, so Madam Qian became more and
more arrogant. In addition, Ning Xueyan had always been bullied by
Madam Ling and her daughter before. Therefore, Madam Qian looked
down on Ning Xueyan.

"Madam, do you mean him? This is only a thief. I don't see

your son," Ning Xueyan answered calmly.

"A thief? He's the Eldest Childe of the Vice Minister of

Justice's Manor. You dare to insult my son!" Madam Qian was
furious. She pounded the table and spoke aggressively.

"Madam, I really don't know how this thief is Cousin Ling Yi.
Look, the jewelry box on the table belongs to Lord Protector's
Manor. Why does Cousin Ling Li have it?"

Ning Xueyan answered in neither a humble nor exalted way while

looking at the jewelry box on the table with sarcasm on her face.

Originally, items like this belonged to Lord Protector's Manor, but

many of them were transferred to the Vice Minister of Justice's Manor
by Madam Ling. In front of so many people, Ning Xueyan wondered if
Madam Qian and Madam Ling would dare to say that the jewelry box
belonged to the Vice Minister of Justice's Manor.

When Madam Qian saw the jewelry box, her face turned pale at
once. But then she said sharply, "I want to make some
decorations according to your mother's. This jewelry box is

www.asianovel.com
 231 Report
one of them. But you said that this was stolen by my son.
He's the Eldest Childe of Vice Minister of Justice's Manor,
does he need to steal these things?"

Madam Qian resorted to sophistry.

There was a small "Ning" on the jewelry box. How dare Madam
Qian say that she made it according to Madam Ling's jewelry box!

"What's going on?" Madam Ling turned her fierce gaze from Ning
Xueyan to the maids and older female servants and angrily asked.

Lanning stepped forward and reported, "The Second Young Lady

asked the Fifth Young Lady to come here to meet her. It
happened that our Young Lady wanted to transplant some
trees at Bright Frost Garden. So we came here together.
Unexpectedly, we found a person skulking here as soon as we
arrived here..."

"Does Yi'er need to skulk here?" Madam Qian was furious and
scolded Lanning while pointing at her.

"I'm not lying. I wasn't the only one present at that time.
Madam, if you don't believe me, you can ask the others."
Lanning had been prepared for it, so now she answered calmly.

Madam Qian was so angry that she was about to slap Lanning.

Ning Xueyan walked forward and took Madam Qian's hands. She
said with a cold smile on her face, "Madam, this is Lord
Protector's Manor!"

www.asianovel.com
 232 Report

Chapter 82
Source: TapRead

"So what? Can't I teach a maid a lesson?" Being offended

repeatedly by Ning Xueyan, Madam Qian was furious. She pulled
back her hand and pounded the table while speaking with great
anger.

The maids and older female servants saw she got angry and dared
not raise their heads, trembling with fear.

"Take this bitch away and give her a rough beating."

Everyone was shocked by Madam Qian's words. Was she going to

beat Lanning to death?

Seeing Madam Qian's dominance over Ning Xueyan, Madam Ling

showed a faint smile on her face, but still said, "Sister, forget it.
Just flog her 50 times, or she'll die..."

Lanning would certainly be disabled after the flogging.

"No way. She spoke without evidence. If she isn't punished

severely, everybody in Lord Protector's Manor will do the
same as her." Madam Qian insisted on severely punishing Lanning.

Madam Ling was seemingly embarrassed but was happy in her

mind. Anyway, she had persuaded Madam Qian. In fact, Madam Qian
insisting on punishing Lanning severely was exactly what Madam
Ling had wanted. That was because Lanning not only was Ning
Xueyan's maid and helper, but also had been Ning Ziying's maid. If
Lanning was dead, Ning Xueyan would lose one helper and Ning
Ziying's matter would not be known to others.

Several older female servants behind Madam Qian came over to

www.asianovel.com
 233 Report
grab Lanning.

Ning Xueyan stood in front of Lanning and stopped those older

female servants while coldly saying, "Madam Qian, this is Lord
Protector's Manor, not your Vice Minister of Justice's Manor.
You'd better think it over, or you'll pay a double penalty."

Having been disdained by Ning Xueyan, Madam Qian was very

angry. "How impolite you are! You're as ill-bred as your
natural mother. You, grab that maid. I don't believe that I
can't punish a maid of Lord Protector's Manor today."

"Madam Qian, I respect you because you're the sister-in-

law of my Mother, Madam Ling. But how dare you scold the
Second Madam of Lord Protector's Manor! Are you ill-bred
too?" Ning Xueyan asked with a serious expression.

Ning Xueyan said that Madam Qian was ill-bred in front of so many
servants, which made Madam Qian extremely angry. She could not
control her anger anymore and shouted angrily, "How dare you!
You're just an uncultured bitch. Your natural mother was a
misbehaving woman and her family is uncultured, so you're
so impolite."

On hearing that, Madam Ling went into a panic and hurried to stop
Madam Qian. "Sister!"

Unfortunately, it was too late. Then they heard someone angrily

say, "What do you mean that the Ming family had no
upbringing? You're a butcher's daughter. Are you well-bred?"

This remark was very harsh. They all turned back to see Madam
Dowager standing at the door with her maids, looking coldly into the
room.

"Grandmother!" Ning Xueyan stepped forward and saluted

Madam Dowager.

www.asianovel.com
 234 Report
Madam Qian came to her senses as soon as she encountered
Madam Dowager. She wanted to explain, but found that she did not
know how to say.

She could only salute her. "Madam Dowager!"

"Madam Qian, I didn't expect that the Young Lady of Lord

Protector's Manor would need to be taught a lesson by you.
It's my negligence." Madam Dowager, surrounded by the maids
and older female servants, came in and sat down in a chair in the
middle of the room. Then she coldly spoke to Madam Qian. Today,
accidents had happened not only in the place of the menfolk but also
in the womenfolk's, which made Madam Dowager unhappy.

Madam Qian was born into a humble family, which had been
exposed by Madam Dowager just now. Now she looked pale and
realized that she had gone too far before.

"Mother, it's the matter of Xueyan and Ling Yi. My sister

got angry and spoke without thinking because she suddenly
found that Xueyan was with Ling Yi. She doesn't want to
discipline the Young Lady for Lord Protector's Manor."

Madam Ling spoke up to break the ice. She knew that what Madam
Qian said had offended Madam Dowager, so she explained to Madam
Dowager, turning aside from the topic under discussion.

She only said that Ning Xueyan was with Ling Yi, as if the two were
caught doing something against the rules.

Madam Dowager narrowed her eyes and asked with displeasure,

"Since things like that happened, why did you argue over it
here instead of figuring it out through investigation?"

"Madam Dowager, we are here to visit my sister-in-law, but

now my son has been beaten half-dead. Madam Dowager,
you have to give us a satisfying explanation," Madam Qian said

www.asianovel.com
 235 Report
with grievance on her face.

"A satisfying explanation?" Madam Dowager frowned.

"Xueyan, look at what you've done. I can't help you now.

Bring Childe Ling Yi's servant over," Madam Ling sincerely said,
as if she really was giving thought to Ning Xueyan.

Hearing that, Madam Dowager turned her eyes toward Ning

Xueyan, who stood there with a calm look.

The young male servant soon arrived. He kneeled down and

kowtowed as soon as he saw the crowd in the hall.

"Why is your Childe here?" Madam Dowager asked coldly.

"Our Childe received an invitation from the Fifth Young

Lady, so he came here to wait for her. Unexpectedly, the
Fifth Young Lady refuses to admit it now," the young male
servant answered while pointing at Ning Xueyan.

"You mean Xueyan asked your Childe to come here?" Madam

Ling said, seeming to have realized it suddenly.

"Yes, Childe Ling Yi had an appointment with the Fifth

Young Lady here. Otherwise, why would he wait here?" the
young male servant answered decisively.

"Mother, what should we do? The... the love between a man

and woman is... is inevitable..." Madam Ling sighed and could not
go on. She turned to Ning Xueyan and said, "Xueyan, if you really
like Yi'er, your father and I will let him marry you. Why did
you make so many troubles and ruin your own reputation? Do
you think you can still marry him?"

"We won't accept such a woman. There's no way for her to

marry my son. Even though she agrees to be my son's
concubine, we have to think it over," Madam Ling raised her

www.asianovel.com
 236 Report
head and said with a snort, putting on an act.

"Sister, please don't do that. Anyway, Xueyan has always

been a Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor. If she can't
marry Yi'er and becomes his cohabiting partner, it will bring
shame to Lord Protector's Manor. For my sake, please accept
her and consent to their marriage."

Madam Ling pretended to sigh and persuade Madam Qian, as if she

really felt pity for Ning Xueyan and cared about Lord Protector's
Manor.

Madam Qian sneered and said, "She not only misbehaved, but
also beat Yi'er. No one will accept such a woman. Don't
persuade me. I won't consent to her marrying my son."

Madam Qian felt that Lord Protector's Manor had to beg her to
accept Ning Xueyan now, so of course she would not agree casually.

Madam Ling and Madam Qian spoke one after the other and acted
really well. Ning Xueyan said with a cold smile on her face while
looking at them, "I came here because the Second Sister asked
me to come. How did it become a private meeting between
me and Childe Ling Yi? If it was really a private meeting, why
didn't I come alone?"

"Moreover..." Ning Xueyan paused for a moment and continued,

smiling ironically, "Mother, I have never seen Childe Ling Yi
before, this is the first time. How could I have a love affair
with him? Or do you think that I had a love affair with him
years ago?"

In the past years, Ning Xueyan had stayed in Bright Frost Garden
all the time and seldom went out. Her first trip was to Cold Mountain
Temple. Besides that, she only showed up at the funeral of Madam
Ming while Madam Ling was absent and only sent a housekeeper to
come. This really was the first time Ning Xueyan had met Ling Yi.

www.asianovel.com
 237 Report
"Who knows? Maybe you fell in love with Cousin Ling Yi at
first sight. What's more, if you have never seen Cousin Ling
Yi before, why does his servant know you? Fifth Sister, did
you have a love affair with Cousin Ling Yi in private without
mother's and grandmother's knowledge?" said another voice,
which came from outside.

It was Ning Yuling in gorgeous clothes. She appeared at the door

with her maids and disdainfully looked at Ning Xueyan.

Ning Xueyan narrowed her eyes and hid the sneer in them. As Ning
Xueyan expected, Ning Yuling could not help coming. Yesterday, she
was caught having adultery and became a laughing stock. How dare
she show up today!

"Second Sister, are you mad at me because of what

happened yesterday? So you want to damage my reputation
today?" Ning Xueyan raised her eyebrows and calmly asked.

Ning Yuling could not stand Ning Xueyan's words anymore. But
before she counterattacked, Ning Xueyan added one more sentence,
"Or, it was you who invited him. If not, why did you come so
fast?"

"I... why would I ask him over?" Ning Yuling felt guilty from
Ning Xueyan's questions. She gritted her teeth and stared at Ning
Xueyan angrily.

She originally had come to watch Ning Xueyan be suppressed. But

she did not expect that Ning Xueyan had the gift of gab and would
shift the blame onto her. How could she not be angry?

"I heard that you are extremely dissatisfied with marrying

the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. Cousin Ling Yi and
you grew up together, so your relationship is naturally
different. This should have been... normal... But now you're
engaged!"

www.asianovel.com
 238 Report
Ning Xueyan's words were as sharp as a knife. She stared at Ning
Yuling, who hardly dared to look back. The deep darkness in Ning
Xueyan's eyes seemed to drag Ning Yuling into hell. Ning Yuling was
so frightened that she stammered, "I... I... I'd never do such a
thing!"

Her original intention was to denounce Ning Xueyan. However, she

lost her imposing manner in the face of Ning Xueyan and seemed to
be very guilty. Madam Dowager looked at Ning Yuling with suspicion.

"What you've done recently is not what the Second Young

Lady of Lord Protector's Manor should do. I didn't know you
felt so lonely..." Ning Xueyan smiled slightly, with an odd
expression. Her eyes were full of mockery, which made the arrogant
Ning Yuling extremely angry.

"Ning Xueyan, you're slinging mud at me!" Ning Yuling roared

loudly.

"We'll soon know if I am slinging mud at you!" Ning Xueyan

smiled slightly and looked at Ling Yi, who had fallen to the ground. At
this time, he leaned weakly in the chair with torn clothes.

A pink envelope peeked out from under his cuff.

"Second Sister, do you dare show us that envelope?" Ning

Xueyan raised her eyebrows and asked Ning Yuling while pointing at
the exposed envelope.

www.asianovel.com
 239 Report

Chapter 83
Source: TapRead

"Show it to me!" Madam Dowager asked the servants to take the

envelope to her with an unhappy expression before Ning Yuling could
say anything.

Immediately, the note in the envelope was delivered to Madam

Dowager which said: "Come! It's urgent!" The signature on it said
"Ling". People who were familiar with Ning Yuling knew that she
normally signed "Ling" to represent herself.

"It was found on Cousin Ling Yi, and the signature is..." Ning
Xueyan smiled and said with a look of deep significance.

On hearing that, Madam Dowager's expression changed greatly

and her gaze became gloomy.

"You arrived here first. Maybe you put that note on Yi'er.
How can it be evidence?" Madam Ling became flustered, but she
still made a good point.

"Mother, everyone saw that the note was taken from

Cousin Ling Yi just now. What's more, Cousin Ling Yi wasn't
dead. Wouldn't he have stopped someone from putting a
note on him?" Ning Xueyan calmly asked, her expression
unchanging.

"Enough! Today, Childe Ling Yi was drunk and took a rest

here, but was mistaken for a burglar by the servants. That's
what happened. Madam Qian, you can go back and treat your
son first. Yuan'er hasn't been at home recently. Therefore,
there's no male host in Lord Protector's Manor to entertain
our guests."

www.asianovel.com
 240 Report
Madam Dowager spoke coldly while looking at them with a fierce
gaze.

In the end, Ning Yuling was involved again. How could Madam
Dowager not get angry by her repeated failure? She even hated
Madam Qian and her son after this matter and wanted them to leave.
Domestic shame should not be made public. Ning Yuling would marry
the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li's Manor. If this matter was
exposed to others, her engagement might be cancelled.

Hearing that Madam Dowager drove her away, Madam Qian was
unhappy and disagreed with leaving now. She snorted and wanted to
say something, but was stopped by Madam Ling.

Now Madam Qian also realized that this matter had something to
do with Madam Ling. Seeing that her son had been beaten half-dead,
Madam Qian was also annoyed with Madam Ling. So she directly
ignored Madam Ling and left in a rage with her servants.

Behind her came the voice of Ning Yuling anxiously explaining.

"Grandma, I didn't do that. You must believe me. How could

I like Ling Yi? He's a libertine."

Hearing what Ning Yuling had said, Madam Qian became so angry
that she almost tore up the handkerchief in her hands. Being stared
at by Madam Ling with a fierce and gloomy gaze, the maids and older
female servants bowed their heads one by one.

"Let's go!" Now Madam Qian hated Ning Yuling as well.

Ning Yuling did not know that her words were heard by Madam
Qian and also provoked her anger. At this time, she arrogantly said
while pointing at Ning Xueyan, "Grandmother, it's clear that she
was caught having a private meeting with Cousin Ling Yi. But
she shifted the blame onto me."

Ning Yuling dared to loudly talk about such a big scandal in front of

www.asianovel.com
 241 Report
so many people, making Madam Dowager very angry.

"Mother Qin, have them leave!" Madam Dowager coldly said.

"Yes!" Mother Qin nodded her head in understanding. Then she

drove out all the servants and closed the door, only leaving several
henchmen.

"You... kneel down!" Madam Dowager shouted angrily while

pounding the ground with her walking stick.

Ning Yuling had always been spoiled and had never been abused
by Madam Dowager in her life. She was stunned on the spot when
Madam Dowager scolded her and reacted until Madam Ling pushed
her down onto her knees.

"Mother, Ling'er is innocent. She didn't know about this at

all. Someone deliberately framed her. It was chaotic just now
and someone put that envelope into Ling Yi's clothes while
we were not paying attention." Madam Ling stood at one side
and pleaded for Ning Yuling while shooting Ning Yuling a warning
glance.

"If she is innocent, who is not?" Madam Dowager angrily said,

"I remember you said this morning that she was ill. Look at
her face, does she look sick? Today I have to teach her a
lesson, otherwise others will really think that there are no
rules in Lord Protector's Manor!"

Ning Yuling could not clearly explain the matter of the note. There
was no evidence to prove that the note was not written by her.
Furthermore, it had her signature on it. Madam Ling also could not
explain it for her. What happened yesterday as well as today made
Madam Dowager unhappy with Madam Ling. She thought that
Madam Ling had not taught Ning Yuling well.

In Madam Dowager's opinion, how could Madam Ling manage the

www.asianovel.com
 242 Report
whole family well if she could not teach her own daughter well?

"Mother, it's all my fault, please punish me alone. Ling'er

will marry the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li.
Nothing can happen to her. Xueyan is really not sensible and
has caused us so much trouble."

Realizing that Madam Dowager would punish Ning Yuling, Madam

Ling knelt down and pleaded for her daughter, her voice full of
grievance.

She reminded Madam Dowager that Ning Yuling was getting

married soon.

"Xueyan, persuade your grandmother. Do you really want

to see Lord Protector's Manor lose face because of you?"
Madam Ling finished her words and turned to look at Ning Xueyan
fiercely.

Suddenly, there was silence in the room.

Madam Dowager, who was sitting on the chair, took a look at them
all and finally looked at Ning Xueyan. But Ning Xueyan was looking
down with a calm look, which surprised Madam Dowager.

Ning Xueyan was very timid when she was a little girl. Neither Ning
Zu'an nor Madam Dowager liked her. Madam Dowager even thought
she was inferior to a maid and did not want to see her. So she asked
Ning Xueyan not to greet her every morning. In recent years, nobody
paid attention to Bright Frost Garden.

A girl who did not dare to leave Bright Frost Garden for several
years did not attract anyone's attention.

Unexpectedly, Madam Dowager found that Ning Xueyan was no

longer cowardly when she saw her again. She felt that Ning Xueyan
was calm and graceful and was better than Ning Yuling, who had
been carefully cultivated by her.

www.asianovel.com
 243 Report
Madam Dowager was not sure whether such a granddaughter was
good. At this time, she frowned and waited for Ning Xueyan's answer.

"Grandmother, please punish me." Feeling the attention of the

public, Ning Xueyan looked up without hurrying.

"What did you do wrong?" The silence of the room was broken.
Madam Dowager looked thoughtfully at Ning Xueyan.

"If I hadn't listened to my Second Sister and come here,

this would not have happened, and you would not have
gotten angry. It was my fault," Ning Xueyan said with gentleness
on her face.

What did Ning Xueyan do wrong? Her mistake was to listen to Ning
Yuling and come here, on which everything that followed was based.
It could be said that the cause of this matter was Ning Yuling. In
other words, Ning Yuling had framed Ning Xueyan and deliberately
asked her to come here.

Maybe that note was the evidence of Ning Yuling's conspiracy with
Ling Yi.

Madam Ling looked terrible and could not say a word!

Ning Yuling was furious. She did not expect Ning Xueyan to have
the gift of gab. Ning Yuling had a very bad life these days because
everything that had happened recently involved her. But she could
not explain it clearly. At this time, she shouted, while staring at
Madam Dowager with anger in her eyes, "Grandmother, you are
too biased! She framed me. Why don't you punish her?"

After that, she struggled to try and stand up, but two older female
servants immediately came and held her down.

"Take the Second Young Lady to Ancestral Hall. She can't

leave without my permission." Madam Dowager was extremely
furious. At this point, Ning Yuling dared to offend Madam Dowager.

www.asianovel.com
 244 Report
She was really spoiled at ordinary times.

"Mother, Commandery Prince Li's Manor..." Looking at the

struggling Ning Yuling, Madam Ling felt distressed and could not help
speaking.

"If they knew what has happened today, there would be no

future marriage," Madam Dowager said unhappily. And the more
she looked at Madam Ling, the less satisfied she was with her. Ning
Yuling was not well educated by Madam Ling. Fortunately, her
grandson was not brought up by Madam Ling, and otherwise Lord
Protector's Manor would be screwed up by her.

At Madam Dowager's command, Mother Qin and several servants

took Ning Yuling to Ancestral Hall.

Madam Dowager talked with Ning Xueyan for a while and then left
with her, leaving Madam Ling kneeling there. As the hostess of Lord
Protector's Manor, Madam Ling was directly ignored by them and
greatly lost face.

Madam Ling held Mother Chen's hands and stood up while looking
at Ning Xueyan with a gloomy and fierce gaze.

"First Madam..." Mother Chen called Madam Ling carefully.

All of sudden, Madam Ling fiercely slapped Mother Chen, who then
covered her mouth subconsciously.

"What did you do? I asked you to keep watch here. How did
this happen?" Madam Ling gloomily stared at Mother Chen, who
could not help lowering her head before explaining cautiously, "I... I
didn't know how this happened either. It was not until Childe
Ling Yi told me that everything was okay that I left. I didn't
expect the Fifth Young Lady to be so shrewd."

"Didn't you know that she's shrewd?" Madam Ling viciously

cursed.

www.asianovel.com
 245 Report
They had planned to frame Ning Xueyan in Cold Mountain Temple,
but in the end, it was Ning Yuling who was involved. Although there
was no evidence that Ning Xueyan did it, Madam Ling believed it had
to be related to Ning Xueyan. Madam Ling intended to figure the
whole matter out, but Mother Chen's nephew escaped.

"First Madam, it's... it's my fault..." Faced with such a gloomy

Madam Ling, Mother Chen had to bow her head and take the
responsibility. "But, First Madam, what about the Second
Young Lady? She has never been punished before. How can
she survive? Does Madam Dowager mean that the Second
Young Lady should kneel in Ancestral Hall all the time..."

Speaking of Ning Yuling, Madam Ling was sad and worried. She
loved her little daughter very much. Ning Yuling was beautiful and
distinguished. She was expected to marry into the royal family and
be the empress in the future. So everyone in Lord Protector's Manor
spoiled her very much.

But now, she could not marry the Third Prince. Furthermore, she
could marry the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li on the
condition that Ning Zu'an promised he would help the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li in the future. Even though, the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Li was now the only one Ning Yuling could
marry. Thinking of this, Madam Ling became extremely furious.

She almost vomited blood because of anger.

Her beautiful girl's bright future was destroyed. How could she be
satisfied?

"How is Concubine Ma?" Madam Ling asked coldly.

"You may rest assured, First Madam. I'll arrange everything

well. Since Concubine Ma admitted to poisoning the Fifth
Young Lady, she can not get rid of this matter. Now, she and
the Fifth Young Lady have become enemies. What will

www.asianovel.com
 246 Report
happen to Concubine Ma next will have nothing to do with us.
She poisoned the Fifth Young Lady, so it's normal that the
Fifth Young Lady wants revenge." Mother Chen curried favor with
Madan Ling as she replied.

"Will there be any mistakes this time?" Madam Ling looked at

Mother Chen coldly.

"First Madam, I promise that I won't make any mistakes

this time. No matter how shrewd the Fifth Young Lady is, she
won't know about Concubine Ma. You can rest assured,"
answered Mother Chen.

"Good. I don't want things to change again." After Madam

Ling said that, her expression became fierce and bloodthirsty, as if
she were going to eat somebody. Seeing Madam Ling's face, Mother
Chen was so frightened that she lowered her head and did not dare
look at her again while she nodded.

"Yes, ma'am."

www.asianovel.com
 247 Report

Chapter 84
Source: TapRead

When Ming Feiyong came to visit Lord Protector's Manor, Ning

Zu'an met him at the door.

He went down the steps and welcomed Ming Feiyong with great
enthusiasm. "Brother, I knew you were back, but I'm so sorry
that I had no time to visit you."

Ming Feiyong took a cold look at the smiling Ning Zu'an and
snorted, "Do you still know that I am your brother?"

"How could I not know? Brother, you're my lifesaver. If it

weren't for you, I would already have died." Ning Zu'an ushered
Ming Feiyong into the house while smiling and talking.

Ning Zu'an was raised in the Ming family when he was a child and
had a good relationship with Ming Feiyong. When he was about 10
years old, Ning Zu'an climbed a tree and fell into the river. At that
time, no one was around him. It was Ming Feiyong who saw that and
rescued him. So Ning Zu'an said that Ming Feiyong was his lifesaver.

"If I had known what was going to happen, I wouldn't have

saved you at that time!" looking at that hypocritical face, Ming
Feiyong coldly said.

At Ming Feiyong's words, Ning Zu'an almost could not maintain his
smile. But he still was able to do so as he ushered Ming Feiyong into
the hall, then they sat down together.

"How did my sister die?" Ming Feiyong directly asked.

"Brother, she had been unhappy ever since she was

downgraded to the co-wife on her own initiative and seldom

www.asianovel.com
 248 Report
left Bright Frost Garden with Yan'er. I was shut out every
time I went to see her. She would only say that she was in a
bad mood and didn't want to see anyone. She also stopped
contacting you, brother. She died because of depression. We
couldn't help her."

Ning Zu'an sighed and answered with sadness in his eyes while
forcing a smile.

Although Madam Ming was poisoned to death, the servants

concerned either were dead or had left Lord Protector's Manor. Ning
Zu'an believed that he had left no trace. Ming Feiyong also knew that
his sister was stubborn and never changed her mind. If it were not for
that, Madam Ming would not have been out of touch with him for so
many years.

Zing Zu'an believed that Ming Feiyong would never find out the
truth.

"My little sister died, but that woman became the

marchioness. Ning Zu'an, do you need to give me an
explanation?" Ming Feiyong put the cup in his hands on the table
heavily, making a loud sound.

"Brother, it... it has nothing to do with her!" Ning Zu'an

coughed to clear his throat before explaining.

"It has nothing to do with her? My sister wouldn't have

been so angry if you hadn't had an affair with that woman
and had an illegitimate son and an illegitimate daughter with
her. If that woman hadn't knelt outside the door with her two
children when she was pregnant, my sister wouldn't have
been so disappointed with you. Ning Zu'an, if it hadn't been
for our Ming family, you wouldn't have everything you have
today!"

Ming Feiyong spoke coldly.

www.asianovel.com
 249 Report
The murderous look of Ming Feiyong fell on Zing Zu'an, making him
uncomfortable all over.

"Brother, things were not just like that. You also know what
happened. Madam Ming felt sorry for me and was voluntarily
downgraded. It was not Madam Ling and I who forced her to
do that." Being satirized by Ming Feiyong repeatedly, Ning Zu'an
also got angry. But when he looked at Ming Feiyong's face, he felt
guilty again.

"Speaking of that, I still don't understand what happened.

How could such a thing happen to my little sister? And that
woman benefited the most from the whole thing. Shall we
make a further investigation into what happened?" asked Ming
Feiyong. In fact, how could they find out what had after so many
years?

It sounded like he was joking, but there was no smile in Ming

Feiyong's eyes.

"Brother, you're too humorous. Those things are

disgraceful and Madam Ming is dead. So we'd better not
bother her anymore! Just forget about it!" A fierceness flashed
through Ning Zu'an's face as he spoke. But facing the aggressive
Ming Feiyong, Ning Zu'an had no imposing manner at all.

If someone else was there, it would be beyond their expectation

that this weak person in front of them was the powerful official Ning
Zu'an.

"Didn't that woman frame my little sister?" Ming Feiyong

reluctantly asked, ignoring what Ning Zu'an said.

"How could she frame Madam Ming? If she did, I would be

the first to deal with her." Ning Zu'an promised him.

Madam Ming's death was weird. But Madam Ling had explained

www.asianovel.com
 250 Report
that she had nothing to do with Madam Ming's death. So Ning Zu'an
directly made several maids pay for Madam Ming's death to protect
Madam Ling. No matter what, Zing Zu'an would never admit that
Madam Ling had any connection with Madam Ming's death.

"What if she killed my little sister?" asked Ming Feiyong.

"If, if she framed Madam Ming... I'll directly kill her." Ning
Zu'an swore with a serious expression. At this time, he just wanted
Ming Feiyong to leave. In his opinion, the matter of Madam Ming
having a private affair with a man had been solved, and she had
already died, so Ming Feiyong could not find anything out.

"Ning Zu'an, remember what you said today." Ming Feiyong

grinned coldly. All of a sudden, he asked, "Is that man still here?"

Ming Feiyong did not believe that it had happened this way. How
could his younger sister have an illicit relationship with a man? They
were found to have been in correspondence with each other all the
time and those letters fell into the hands of Ning Zu'an. Because the
Ming family had helped him, Ning Zu'an did not punish Madam Ming.
But Madam Ming felt sorry for Ning Zu'an and gave up her position as
the Legal Wife on her own initiative.

This matter was really weird. But Madam Ming did not allow him to
investigate and admitted that she had a personal relationship with
that man.

Ming Feiyong was so angry when he learned what his sister had
done that he left the capital. It had been 10 years since he left the
capital. During the past 10 years, he had not written a letter to
Madam Ming. Unexpectedly, he found that the lovely little girl had
died when he came back. Ming Feiyong's eyes were full of tears as
soon as he thought of that.

If Ming Feiyong had known what was going to happen, he would

not have agreed with his sister to marry Ning Zu'an in any case.

www.asianovel.com
 251 Report
"No, he's not here. When their relationship was exposed, I
also tried to find him. But I didn't find him. Maybe he ran
away as soon as their amour came to light." Speaking of this,
Ning Zu'an was embarrassed. In any case, it was not a pleasure to
talk about his wife's betrayal with others.

"Give me the information of that year, and I'll have it

checked out," Ming Feiyong indifferently said.

"Okay, I'll give it to you later." Ning Zu'an nodded his head
while feeling relieved. At that time, he increasingly liked the delicate
Madam Ling and disliked Madam Ming, who always ignored him.
However, although he disliked Madam Ming, he still could not stand
her betrayal.

He almost killed Madam Ming when he learned of her betrayal. But

Madam Ling begged him to forgive Madam Ming. Madam Ling said
that Madam Ming was his wife and they also had a child. After
comparing the gentle and considerate Madam Ling to Madam Ming,
who betrayed him, Ning Zu'an liked Madam Ling more.

And he also increasingly disliked Madam Ming's child, Ning Xueyan.

Later on, Madam Dowager learned of this matter and intervened.

Madam Ming volunteered to become the co-wife and Madam Ling
became the Legal Wife. Everything went on naturally. To others, they
declared that Madam Ming felt sorry for Ning Zu'an because she did
not give birth to a son for Ning Zu'an, so she volunteered to be the
co-wife and suggested that Madam Ling should be the Legal Wife so
that Ning Huaiyuan would no longer be an illegitimate son.

This result was also compensation for Ning Zu'an because his son,
Ning Huaiyuan, would always be an illegitimate son even though
Madam Ling was the co-wife.

Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Ming Feiyong stood up and
said, "I'm going to visit Madam Dowager."

www.asianovel.com
 252 Report
"Okay. Knowing that you're coming, mother has been
waiting for you in the backyard." Seeing that Ming Feiyong
stopped questioning him, Ning Zu'an was relieved and ushered him
into the backyard.

Madam Dowager's family name was Ming, and she was Ming
Feiyong's aunt.

After speaking with Madam Dowager in Lucky Garden for a while,

Ming Feiyong went to Bright Frost Garden.

Ning Xueyan had already received Ming Feiyong's letter, so she

had been waiting for Ming Feiyong at the gate of Bright Frost Garden
for a while. When she met Ming Feiyong, she was very sad and
almost cried. Then she ushered him into the hall and asked the other
servants to leave. Only Qingyu was asked to stay to serve them.

After offering tea to Ming Feiyong, Ning Xueyan sat down and
asked calmly, "Uncle, did you find out what happened?"

Madam Ming was found to have been passing ambiguous letters

with a man, which was the key reason she was downgraded. Then,
Madam Ling became the Legal Wife and her children's status became
known to others. The greatest beneficiary here was Madam Ling.

Therefore, Ning Xueyan could almost be sure that Madam Ling

must have been involved in framing Madam Ming!

So she wrote to Ming Feiyong before to discuss this matter!

In order to defeat Madam Ling, they had to investigate how Madam

Ming died.

"At that time, your mother didn't allow me to investigate

and also said a lot of harsh words to me. I was very angry
with what she had done to me. So I left the capital. It can be
said that I barely looked into what happened. Therefore, I'm
here today to ask your father for information. No matter

www.asianovel.com
 253 Report
what happened, he must give me an explanation. So he must
be keeping something," said Ming Feiyong.

666

"How are you doing in Lord Protector's Manor? Do you need

me to take you to my house?" Looking at the emaciated Ning
Xueyan, Ming Feiyong felt distressed and spoke in a soft voice.

"Not yet. I will ask you to help me when you are needed.
Uncle, you just need to concentrate on investigating what
happened to my mother." Ning Xueyan shook her head while
smiling.

At this time, how could Ning Xueyan leave Lord Protector's Manor?
The peace of Lord Protector's Manor had been broken by her, and
more things would surface then. If she did not take this opportunity
to get revenge now, when would she? Furthermore, she needed to
restore Madam Ming's innocence. How could Madam Ming, a proud
woman, have an affair with others?

"Uncle, you investigate outside Lord Protector's Manor and

I investigate inside. Although many years have passed, there
certainly must be some traces as long as Madam Ling
participated. If I leave, no one will be able to find out what
happened in Lord Protector's Manor. What's more, the dowry
of my mother has been taken away by them."

She certainly would not let her enemies go!

She would take back what belonged to her.

"Okay. Now that you have decided, I won't force you to

leave with me. But, you have to be careful in Lord Protector's
Manor." Ming Feiyong also knew that there might be no clues
outside. After all, many years had passed. It would be better to
investigate in Lord Protector's Manor. Then it would be easier for

www.asianovel.com
 254 Report
them to find out the truth when they united.

But he was worried about the safety of Ning Xueyan. Fortunately,

her place was remote but quiet. After thinking about it, Ming Feiyong
agreed that Ning Xueyan should stay.

The two talked for a while and set a place to meet later. Then Ming
Feiyong left.

After Ming Feiyong left, Lanning went over to Ning Xueyan and said
to her in a low voice, "Young Lady, Mother Han is back!"

Mother Han had been out for three days. In order to investigate
Concubine Ma, she took three days off on the pretext of her son's
accident. It seemed that Mother Han had learned something since
she came back now. Thinking of this, Ning Xueyan smiled coldly. It
looked like it was time to expose Concubine Ma's lie.

www.asianovel.com
 255 Report

Chapter 85
Source: TapRead

Ning Xueyan unexpectedly encountered Concubine Ma on the road.

Looking at the delicate Concubine Ma saluting her, Ning Xueyan
stepped back with a cold smile on her face and said, "Is this the
Concubine Ma who poisoned me? She looks quite delicate!"

Mother Qin, who accompanied Ning Xueyan to Bright Frost Garden

to fetch some things, also stepped back carefully while frowning.

Ning Xueyan's words were harsh and made Concubine Ma feel

humiliated. She looked up at Ning Xueyan in disbelief. Concubine Ma
had never met Ning Xueyan before. But, she had seen Ning Xueyan
twice from afar by chance and felt that Ning Xueyan was an
emaciated girl. She did not expect Ning Xueyan to humiliate her
directly as soon as they met.

"Fifth Young Lady, I made a mistake with your medicine so

that... Please forgive me." Concubine Ma stood up while holding
her maids and saluted Ning Xueyan again, keeping a low profile.

"I dare not receive your apology. Because of a

misunderstanding, you dared to put poison into my medicine,
which almost killed me. If I carelessly offend you next time,
you may poison the entire Bright Frost Garden."

Ning Xueyan showed sarcasm on her face and her eyes fell on
Concubine Ma's beautiful face. Being stared at by Ning Xueyan,
Concubine Ma felt that she was almost drowned in the endless
darkness, and immediately looked away subconsciously.

"Fifth Young Lady, it's... it's my fault. Please forgive me. If

you do not forgive me, I... I'll kneel here forever." Concubine
Ma suddenly threw herself down on her knees, bowed her head in
www.asianovel.com
 256 Report
tears, and knocked her head on the ground heavily.

Anyway, everybody would think that Ning Xueyan had gone too far
if they saw the pregnant Concubine Ma kneeling here with her head
bowed and sincerely asking for Ning Xueyan's forgiveness.

Seeing that, Mother Qin slightly frowned.

Ning Xueyan hid the coldness and indifference on her face. She
went up to support Concubine Ma with a slight smile on her face.
"Concubine Ma, what are you doing? You overwhelmed me
with more than I deserve."

Although Ning Xueyan said this with a smile, Concubine Ma dared

not regard her words as a joke. She stood up, grabbed Ning Xueyan's
hands, and said with tears in her eyes, "Fifth Young Lady, I... I
was a fool. How... how could I think that you asked servants
to humiliate me? I..."

Concubine Ma was very sad and sobbed while covering her face
with her handkerchief.

"Concubine Ma, take care of yourself. No matter what

you've done, now your body is the most important." Mother
Qin could not help coming over and supporting Concubine Ma while
comforting her.

Ning Zu'an only had one son, so Madam Dowager paid great
attention to the pregnant Concubine Ma and even pardoned
Concubine Ma for murdering the Young Lady of Lord Protector's
Manor. It showed that Madam Dowager was eager to have another
grandson.

"Concubine Ma, your health is very important. Take care of

yourself and don't run around. If something happens, who
can afford it?" Ning Xueyan showed her concern to Concubine Ma
while quietly pulling her sleeves away from Concubine Ma's hands.

www.asianovel.com
 257 Report
"Fifth Young Lady, my birthday is in five days. First Madam
will hold a birthday party for me. I hope to see you then."
Concubine Ma stopped crying, put down her handkerchief, and
sincerely invited Ning Xueyan, as if she really wanted to dispel her
former enmity with Ning Xueyan.

"Oh, mother will celebrate your birthday. No wonder a

stage is being set up in the garden recently. Is a theatrical
troupe going to sing there?" Ning Xueyan asked with a smile.

Ning Xueyan encountered some outsiders along the way and

deliberately avoided them. The maid told her that they were setting
up a stage. Ning Xueyan did not remember the happy event that
they were going to celebrate, but now she knew that they were going
to celebrate Concubine Ma's birthday. A concubine's birthday should
be celebrated like that. It seemed that Concubine Ma was valued by
the whole manor.

"Yes. The First Madam said I should be happy every day

because I'm pregnant and forget the unhappy things of the
past. So she invited a theatrical troupe to make me happy,"
Concubine Ma explained softly while looking at Ning Xueyan through
her watery eyes. Concubine Ma was really beautiful. No wonder Ning
Zu'an was so fond of her recently and stayed in her courtyard almost
every day.

And he even directly ignored the fact that Concubine Ma had

poisoned his daughter.

"Has the Spring Theatrical Troupe been invited? I've heard

that some actors of that theatrical troupe are very good at
singing," Ning Xueyan asked casually.

Concubine Ma's smile suddenly became stiff and her hands

unconsciously shuddered as she held her handkerchief. And there
was panic in her eyes. But then she said while moving to hide her
mistake, "Yes... You also know the Spring Theatrical Troupe."

www.asianovel.com
 258 Report
"I didn't know them. But Mother Han went to the
countryside and found out some interesting things about the
Spring Theatrical Troupe. I didn't know it was anything
interesting until she told me..." Ning Xueyan said in a soft voice
while looking at Concubine Ma's face. "If you're free one day, we
can have a talk."

Since Concubine Ma wanted to bury the hatchet, it was normal that

they would have a talk one day.

But instead of being happy, Concubine Ma became scared and her

face turned pale. She hurried to say, "Fifth Young Lady, I'm going
to thank Madam Dowager now. So I don't have time to
accompany you. In five days, I'll invite you to come and have
a talk with me."

"My mother is so kind to you. In this manor, no one gets

the same treatment as you. Not only does my father like you,
but also my mother likes you very much." Ning Xueyan slightly
smiled. She did not stop Concubine Ma from leaving, but took two
steps back and said those meaningful words.

Hearing that as she was going to leave, Concubine Ma stumbled

and almost fell.

"What's wrong with you?" Mother Qin urgently asked. Madam

Dowager attached great importance to the baby that Concubine Ma
was about to give birth to. So nothing was allowed to happen to
Concubine Ma.

"Nothing. I just tripped. Fifth Young Lady, I'll leave first!"

Concubine Ma explained. Then she hurried to Bright Clouds Garden
with her maids, as if there were people chasing after her. Seeing
Concubine Ma walking so fast, Mother Qin worried that she would fall.

Looking at Concubine Ma's back, Mother Qin asked with doubt,

"What's wrong with Concubine Ma?"

www.asianovel.com
 259 Report
"I don't know. Maybe she thought of something important
and wants to tell my mother, so she's in a hurry. Alas, how
can she walk so fast now? What if she runs into someone by
chance?"

Ning Xueyan smiled casually and went to her Bright Frost Garden
with Mother Qin.

A few days prior, Ming Feiyong had asked for some old objects of
Madam Ming. So today, when Ning Xueyan greeted Madam Dowager
in the morning, Madam Dowager remembered and asked Mother Qin
to fetch some from Bright Frost Garden.

"Yes, Concubine Ma is indeed a reckless person. Otherwise,

how could she make so much trouble? Fortunately, you're all
right. The doctor said that you'll recover as long as you rest
more and take in more nourishing food." Mother Qin smiled
wide and spoke good words for Concubine Ma.

But was Ning Xueyan all right? If this Ning Xueyan had been the
former Ning Xueyan, she would have already died!

Madam Dowager and her henchmen were getting better and better
at lying through their teeth.

Fortunately, she was not in a hurry now. Since Madam Ling wanted
to show her importance to Concubine Ma, Ning Ziyan should return
home on Concubine Ma's birthday. Were Madam Ling and Concubine
Ma trying to frame Ning Xueyan in five days?

Unfortunately, there was no perfect plan and Madam Ling's

mistake was right in front of her eyes.

"Madam Ling, I hope you can bear what's going to happen,"

Ning Xueyan thought in her mind.

"Yes, Concubine Ma seems to be straightforward. It's not

unreasonable that my mother likes her so much. People will

www.asianovel.com
 260 Report
think they are sisters if they don't know their relationship!"
Ning Xueyan said with a smile on her face.

Seeing that Ning Xueyan smiled when she talked about Concubine
Ma, Mother Qin thought that Ning Xueyan had forgiven Concubine
Ma. "Yes. But anyway, she did something wrong and hurt you.
After she gives birth to the child, she will be asked to
apologize to you. We can't slight you."

Mother Qin saw what Ning Xueyan had done recently, and clearly
knew that the girl in front of her was no longer the submissive Fifth
Young Lady. Mother Qin used to be Madam Dowager's maid and
came here when Madam Dowager married into Lord Protector's
Manor. Later on, she became one of the stewardesses. Mother Qin
had been here for many years, so she knew Ming Feiyong well. Now
Ming Feiyong had returned to the capital, and the Fifth Young Lady
was no longer helpless.

So she began to curry favor with Ning Xueyan.

"There's no need to punish her. It's just a

misunderstanding," Ning Xueyan said with a smile on her face
while waving her hand.

A few moments later, they arrived at Bright Frost Garden. Ning

Xueyan asked Mother Han to pack up some old jewelry and clothes of
Madam Ming and then asked Mother Qin to bring them to Ming
Feiyong.

When Mother Qin left, Mother Han could not help crying while
holding the open jewelry box.

Only a few pieces of jewelry were left in the jewelry box, and most
of them were silver. Who could believe that Madam Ming, who was
born into a noble and rich family, did not leave any precious jewelry?

"Young Lady, it used to be full of jewelry ornaments.

www.asianovel.com
 261 Report
Later... some were taken away by Madam Ling and some
were exchanged for medicine for you."

Mother Han spoke sadly while stretching out her hands to wipe
away the tears on her face.

How could she not get angry when her respectable and
magnificent Young Lady came to such an end?

"Mother Han, don't cry. They'll return everything they took

away. It's not the right time yet." Standing in front of the window
and looking at the cloudy sky, Ning Xueyan spoke calmly. But no one
saw the coldness and blood-thirst in her ink-like eyes.

Looking at Ning Xueyan's thin back, Mother Han suddenly felt

sorrowful. Who would have thought that the Fifth Young Lady was the
only daughter of the Legal Wife, and that the Eldest Young Lady and
Eldest Childe just were illegitimate children?

"Mother Han, don't feel aggrieved. They'll give back

everything soon!" Ning Xueyan chuckled and comforted Mother
Han, as if she could see Mother Han's expression.

www.asianovel.com
 262 Report

Chapter 86
Source: TapRead

"Young lady, is the First Madam planning a grand feast for

Concubine Ma's birthday because she wants to return that
concubine's favour?" Mother Han said anxiously.

"No!" Ning Xueyan said that with a smile. Then she turned around
and sat by the table. Having poured a cup of tea for herself, she took
a sip and said thoughtfully, "If she wants to give thanks to
Concubine Ma, she will do it secretly and won't plan so many
things."

Mother Han spoke out her guess, "Young lady, I think it is not
that simple."

Of course it was not that simple. It was actually a series of plots

which targeted at her. These women had really regarded her as a
weak girl by setting her up with insidious tricks over and over again.

"Lanning, how's your relationship with the maid of

Concubine Ma?" Ning Xueyan asked Lanning who stood by her side.

Lanning's acquaintances in the manor were much more than

Qingyu.

Lanning pondered for a while, then she said, "I have worked with
Qiufang who works for Concubine Ma. We are quite familiar
with each other."

Ning Xueyan nodded. Then she called Lanning over and whispered
to her ears. Lanning nodded while giving a smile on her face.

In the evening, Lanning ran into Qiufang at the door of the kitchen.
They held hands intimately and went to the corner of the kitchen to

www.asianovel.com
 263 Report
chat.

"Qiufang, did Concubine Ma go out today?" As they were

talking about daily events, Lanning suddenly pulled Qiufang over and
put a piece of sliver in her hand with a smile.

Qiufang was stunned. Then she understood Lanning's intention

right away. With her eyes staring at Lanning, she said hesitantly,
"Lanning, that's... not appropriate!"

Having sensed Qiufang's struggle, Lanning smiled and put another

piece of silver in her hand. She knew that Qiufang had a poor family.
With her mother being ill at home, Qiufang always lived on a tight
budget.

"I won't ask you too many things. It's only about the
Concubine Ma. Our young lady heard that Concubine Ma had
some misunderstandings with her and got a bit depressed
about that. So she wanted to know who do Concubine always
meet and what have they talked about?" Lanning said that with
a smile.

"I, I still feel uncomfortable to tell, tell you things about my

mistress." Qiufang hesitated.

"We are just chatting. It's not like our Young Lady would
really do something to Concubine Ma. Your mistress is the
favoured one in the Lord Protector's Manor. So our Young
Lady won't provoke her," Lanning said that and put another two
pieces of silver in Qiufang's hand.

Those silver that Lanning had presented were nearly equal to six
months' wages of Qiufang. Then Qiufang made up her mind while
stamping her feet, saying, "Fine. I'll tell the Fifth Young Lady
everything about Concubine Ma... in the future."

"Does Concubine Ma go to see the First Madam very often

www.asianovel.com
 264 Report
lately?" After Qiufang had agreed to her, Lanning got relieved
secretly while asking a seemingly casual question.

The thing she had just asked was not a secret. All the people could
see that.

"Yeah, I know that Concubine Ma has always tried to curry

favour with the First Madam, but their relationship was even
closer than before. These days, the First Lady is always
happy to see our mistress, unlike before," Qiufang said.

Before, Concubine Ma always had often got sneered by the maids

and older female servants of the First Madam when she had fawned
on the First Madam. Also, the First Madam had also given the cold
shoulder to Concubine Ma. And a maid like Qiufang could only stay in
the lowest status in Auspicious Clouds Courtyard where anyone was
able to command her.

However, things were completely different right now. The First

Madam was really kind to Concubine Ma right now, which made the
maids and older female servants in the Auspicious Clouds Courtyard
changed their attitude toward Qiufang and became politely. But this
only made the maids of Concubine Ma get nervous because they felt
insecure about the change.

The people who stayed in the Lord Protector's Manor for a while all
knew what kind of a person the First Madam was and why she
treated a concubine so nicely.

That was another reason for Qiufang to risk everything to work for
Ning Xueyan.

"I heard Concubine Ma was pregnant. Have you heard her

talk about it before?" Lanning asked.

"We are quite surprised about her pregnancy actually.

There was no sign of her getting pregnant, but..."Qiufang

www.asianovel.com
 265 Report
paused, looking around to see if there was anyone near them. Then
she approached Lanning and said in a low voice, "Our mistress
always has an irregular period. She has taken the medicines
before. But lately she stopped the medications."

Irregular period and the sustained medication?

Lanning already got what she wanted while nodding. After having a
chitchat, they came back to their own places.

The manor was very lively on the day of Concubine Ma's birthday.

As the new favoured one in the Lord Protector's Manor who was
appreciated by the First Madam and got pregnant, Concubine Ma
really had reached the peak of her life. And now there was a huge
feast in the Lord Protector's Manor being held for her.

Although a concubine didn't have a noble status, the people still

came to congratulate her birthday since the Lord Protector and
Madam Ling had already given orders.

The feast was held in the eastern garden where there was a stage
being set up.

Of course, this kind of invitation was not qualified enough to be

sent to the Prince Yi's Manor. Luckily, Prince Yi was never used to
turning down these invitations.

Therefore, after the invitation had been sent to him, he took it over
in his hands while looking at the words on it with interest. Then he
smiled and said, "Should I go to congratulate to the Lord
Protector?"

His words made the eunuch who waited upon trembled. Even the
birthday of Madam Dowager might not be able to get the Prince Yi
there, today it was just a concubine's birthday. It was so strange that
the prince was willing to go.

www.asianovel.com
 266 Report
"Prince, if you send someone there to congratulate, that
concubine of the Lord Protector's Manor might have the
equal position as the First Madam." The eunuch advised
carefully, not knowing if the prince was meant for real or thinking of
something else.

A concubine like that would be so grateful even if the prince sent

someone there to congratulate her birthday instead of himself.

With his eyes squinted, Ao Chenyi held the tea up gracefully and
took a sip, saying, "I heard this new concubine of Lord
Protector had some issues with that girl. That girl was so
lucky to still be alive after being poisoned a lot. Since she's
not dead, I feel that I need to give her a present."

"Prince, do you want to use giving present to the concubine

of the Lord Protector as an excuse to send the gift directly to
the Fifth Young Lady?" The eunuch who stood by Ao Chenyi's side
was his henchman. Thus the eunuch did know some details about the
prince and Ning Xueyan. However, he was still not able to get what
the prince really meant, so he couldn't help asking that.

"No, I don't want to give her a gift on someone else's

birthday! I won't do it. Ask that girl tomorrow if she needs my
help to raise this concubine's position to a madam," Ao Chenyi
said that lazily, with a mysterious smile in his cold eyes.

Co-wife, that was a madam indeed!

Then his eyesight fell on his arm which was hurt before. He was
surprised about that the effect of that little cat's medicine. Though it
still couldn't compare to the medicine he had left there, the wound
still healed faster than he thought. He hadn't planned to take
anything from Ning Zu'an's study at that time when he had broken in
there, he had merely wanted to test the defense there.

Actually, he didn't need to do these kinds of things by himself.

www.asianovel.com
 267 Report
However, he had suddenly been in the mood of bringing two secret
guards there. After getting injured, he hadn't walked out of the
manor. Instead, he had headed straightly toward the inner yard,
which made the two secret guards helpless. Nevertheless, the two
secret guards had been confident that they were able to bring the
prince out of there even if they were discovered by somebody else.
So the secret guards had decided to let Prince Yi do whatever he
wanted.

"Yes, prince, I'll send someone to ask early in the morning

tomorrow." They had that conversation so fluently as if going to find
a lady straightly was not an inappropriate thing for them.

"Those women who have been sent here, have you finished
the investigation of them?" Ao Chenyi said that in a slight but
scary voice, with the corner of his bloody red mouth hanged up.

"We are still investigating the ones which were sent by the
Third Prince. There are so many things that need to be dug
out. And the words from the regions south of the Yangtze
River are still on the way." The eunuch said that reverently in a
low voice. It was not that he didn't want to speed up the investigating
process, he just couldn't. It was not easy to dig out a person who had
shown up dozens of years ago in a short period.

What was more, the thing he was looking into was very secret. So
the people who knew about this was very few.

"Since it's hard to figure it out in a short time, just stop the
investigation and send someone to get rid of those women. It
doesn't deserve our manpower. I need my guys to do
something else." Ao Chenyi said that, with a gruesome smile on his
gorgeous face. He uttered those words in a fierce tone as if he was
about to get rid of some flowers of plants instead of human lives.

"Prince, if it is real..." The eunuch asked that raucously.

www.asianovel.com
 268 Report
"The reason why Ao Mingyu sent so many people to me is
that he was sure that I'll look into it. If he finds anything
wrong, he will come to take these people back. But, I'm not a
fool. If I have time, I'll do the investigation. If I don't, I'll just
kill those people. Remember to give those people back to Ao
Mingyu after you killed them in case he keeps thinking about
them."

Ao Chenyi crooked his fingers at ease, with coldness and gloom in

his eyes.

"Yes, prince!" The eunuch understood the prince right away, then
he asked, "What if the Third Prince keeps sending people to
us?"

"Just let him! Since they are so eager to send people here
to amuse me, I'll have to make some new inventions. Use
some body parts to make some articles. It's better than
sending the corpses alone." Ao Chenyi leaned on his chair after
giving this order. Under the light, his beautiful and bloody red lips
made him look like a powerful monster which was stepping forward
on the blood.

No one dared to doubt the possibility of his words.

"Yes, I'll tell them at night to make delicate articles. I can't

let your reputation be ruined, Your Highness."

"Fine, just go. Work hard on it." Ao Chenyi waved his hand
while the smile on the corner of his mouth turning to a murderous
look. Some people had really considered his place as some kind of
waste treatment plant. They wanted him to deal with the fake ones
and take away the real ones. However, no one who was sent here
could walk out of his place alive.

Of course, since that was his nephew, Ao Chenyi wouldn't treat Ao

Mingyu randomly. That was why he would send some body parts to

www.asianovel.com
 269 Report
Ao Mingyu in case his nephew would complain him for bullying the
younger ones and disgracing the royal family. Thinking of this, Ao
Chenyi flashed a deep sneer in his deep eyes.

"Yes, Your Highness," the eunuch answered and planned to

leave.

"Wait, I also have a letter for that girl. Don't wait until
tomorrow, tell someone to throw this letter into the yard
where she lives tonight. Don't all the people choose to do
those things such as meeting in private, writing letters
secretly or eloping at night when nobody's watching?!"

As the eunuch was about to leave, something suddenly popped in

Ao Chenyi's mind and he stopped the eunuch.

Meeting in private, writing secretly, eloping? The eunuch showed a

reluctant look on his face and thought, "Are you really talking
about yourself, my prince? When did you have this kind of
interests? You can have anyone you want by simply asking.
Why do you bother to do these sneaky things?"

"Prince, well... I did have heard of that." The eunuch

murmured that. But how much did he know about dating a woman as
a eunuch.

www.asianovel.com
 270 Report

Chapter 87
Source: TapRead

As soon as Ning Xueyan went to bed, Lanning woke her up. Seeing
the letter in Lanning's hand, Ning Xueyan got speechless for the
moment.

It was just an anonymous letter. After Ning Xueyan had opened the
delicate envelope and taken out the letter, she only saw the beautiful
handwriting, "Make the concubine become madam."

Make the concubine a madam, make the concubine a madam?

Ning Xueyan frowned and folded the letter in her hand, with a
meaningful expression in her eyes.

"Lanning, where did you find this?"

"I was planning to have a rest in my room after I had

cleaned up everything on the outside, then this letter laid on
my bed straightly." As Lanning was talking about this, she gave
another small note to Ning Xueyan.

The handwriting of the note was different from the one on the
letter. And there were more words on it, "Please write back
quickly. Tie your young lady's letter with stone and throw
them out of the wall."

And that was everything on the note!

Tonight Ning Xueyan got a strange letter and a strange note.

However, she still managed to figure out the hints inside those
words. The only person she knew who was able to do this was none
other than that bloodthirsty monster, Prince Yi. What was more, if he
wanted to know the issues between Concubine Ma and Ning Xueyan,
the secret guards under his command could easily get that

www.asianovel.com
 271 Report
information for him.

However, Ning Xueyan only felt weird that Prince Yi would mind
other people's business.

"Lanning, pass me the paper and the writing brush."

Although she didn't know why this prince was doing this, Ning
Xueyan still asked Lanning to prepare the ink and paper for her.
Lanning moved quickly and brought her the thing she needed.
Having lifted the writing brush, she thought for a moment and wrote
something down. Then she folded the paper and put it into the
envelope which had been sent to her while asking Lanning to tie the
letter to a stone and throw it out of the wall.

She already had a plan to deal with Concubine Ma, so she wouldn't
like anyone else to step in her business. She was pretty confident of
herself when coping with the dirty tricks of other women. As for this
moody Prince Yi, she didn't dare to get too close to him. After all,
there was a great identity gap between them.

It was just business between them. Ning Xueyan didn't even know
if she could still be alive at last. However, that was enough for her.
Having him as her backup force would definitely make her revenge
plan succeed. She didn't care about her own destiny.

As long as she could have her revenge and protect the people
around her. She did not mind dying again.

So she had to be strong and took care of her personal affairs

calmly.

Only by doing that could she revenge for herself.

Ning Xueyan didn't think that this ruthless Prince Yi would make a
deal with her if she couldn't even handle a minor issue like this.
Moreover, she also didn't believe that Ao Chenyi would help her for
nothing. Therefore, she wouldn't ask him for help when she was

www.asianovel.com
 272 Report
capable of dealing with the issues right now. But she also wouldn't
hesitate to get to him when she had no other options.

When she had closed her eyes and died in that beautiful lotus
pond, she had broken off all her relations with all the weakness in her
previous life. She had believed and trusted Xia Yuhang with all her
heart. And what was the outcome? She had only pushed her self in
the misery.

On the day of the birthday of Concubine Ma, the Lord Protector's

Manor got bustling early in the morning. There were carriages
stopping in front of the door constantly. After the carriage had
stopped, the young male servants who wanted to curry favor with the
big shot would run out of the manor and serve. Some led the horse,
some pulled the cart. The lively scene made the passengers think
that it was the birthday of the madam in the manor.

Ning Zu'an entertained the guests in the front yard while Madam
Ling greeted them in the back yard.

Ning Xueyan got up early on purpose. After giving her regards to

Madam Dowager, she was sent back by the old lady.

"Young lady, Eldest Young Lady was here." Lanning came in

to announce that right as Ning Xueyan just sat on the chair.

Ning Ziyan, you were quick!

Ning Xueyan snorted. Then with her eyes squinted, she nodded
and said, "Let my eldest sister in."

The maid passed her word. Then Ning Ziyan walked in shyly with
the support of a maid. She wore a red dress which had some floral
design at the bottom. Her dress looked elegant, just like her
appearance, which always let people have a good impression on her.

That was why Ning Xueyan had been fooled by Ning Ziyan until her
death. She had believed that Ning Ziyan really regarded her as a

www.asianovel.com
 273 Report
sister. It had never occurred to Ning Xueyan that this sisterhood
would kill her.

"Sister Ying, we are like real sisters. You can regard this
place as your own home. Everything you want to eat or do,
just tell me. Even if I don't have them, I'll figure out a way to
find them for you."

"Sister, let's go out together with Brother Xia, all right? I'm
familiar with the capital city."

"Sister Ying, do you know that all the girls in the capital
city envy you? They all think that you have married a perfect
guy who is from a decent family and loves you so much. You
are so lucky."

Those words were still echoing in Ning Ziyan's head. However, Ning
Ziying's body had already vanished. Her 'good husband' and her
'sister' had plotted together to murder her. Come to think about it,
when she had heard Ning Ziyan praising Xia Yuhang, she had been
really joyful and expected to have a happy life with Xia Yuhang
forever.

Unfortunately, that was only her innocent thought. She had only
died in the lotus pond forever. She clenched her hands. All of her
sharp fingernails stuck into her palm fiercely, which brought a stab of
pain. Then her eyes turned red.

"Eldest Sister." Seeing Ning Ziyan coming in, Ning Xueyan stood
up and hid the bloodiness and coldness in her eyes. She smiled and
saluted Ning Ziyan. Of course, she would welcome Ning Ziyan. How
hard it was to pretend to be nice?

Ning Ziyan still wore a simple white dress today. However, there
were some tiny yellow flowers being embroidered on the collar of her
dress. With her slender waistline and her fancy hairstyle, she looked
graceful and charming in that dress. After being dressed up, her

www.asianovel.com
 274 Report
pretty face now looked even more attractive and enchanting.

'Since when did Ning Xueyan become so beautiful?'

Ning Ziyan considered that while staring at Ning Xueyan's face.

She found that Ning Xueyan had turned more and more beautiful,
even more beautiful than her sister. No wonder why her mother
couldn't stand Ning Xueyan. Ning Ziyan had heard that the troubles
her mother and her sister had during this period were all because of
Ning Xueyan.

But after today, she would grind Ning Xueyan beneath her knees
once again.

"How dare you want to compete with me and Ning Yuling?

Don't you remember your menial identity," Ning Ziyan thought.

Ning Ziyan already forgot about her identity as an illegitimate

daughter when she had been a child. Now she believed that she was
superior to Ning Xueyan in every way. When she heard from her
mother that her father planned to marry Ning Xueyan to the Third
Prince, she got so jealous. She felt so unfair that a girl in a low status
could marry a finer man than her husband. She had also wished to
marry the Third Prince before.

However, at that time, her mother had told her that her father and
her grandmother all intended to let Ning Yuling marry the Third
Prince.

Ning Ziyan was not able to change the decisions of the elders.

While Ning Xueyan was standing there, she didn't miss any of the
jealousy in Ning Ziyan's eyes. With a trace of smile on the corner of
her mouth, she fell her eyesights on the maid beside Ning Ziyan.

That was a sweet girl. She had a delicate appearance which looked
even more delicate than her mistress!

www.asianovel.com
 275 Report
She was Chen Hexiang. The one who had come back to the manor
with Ning Ziyan last time.

The lover of Xia Yuhang.

Ning Ziyan only brought this maid with her everywhere in order to
prevent the maid from meeting Xia Yuhang privately.

It seemed that Ning Ziyan had disciplined her maid well these
days. Chen Hexiang stood tamely by Ning Ziyan's side, looking
obedient. However, after dealing with Chen Hexiang for a few times,
Ning Xueyan knew that she must have illicit relations with Xia
Yuhang. Ning Xueyan could sense that judging from that expensive
vest that Chen Hexiang was wearing now.

She didn't believe Chen Hexiang could afford that.

"I have heard that the design in your room is delicate. So I

come here today deliberately to have a look. Actually, it's
even elegant than I thought." After getting into Ning Xueyan's
room, Ning Ziyan said that gently while looking around the room
randomly.

Ning Ziyan was really good at flattering people by calling her room
which were full of simple and crude decorations a delicate place. The
people of the Bright Frost Garden had been out of sight for a long
time. No one ever got any new pieces of furniture. So the furniture
Ning Xueyan had right now were all the old ones which had been
used by Madam Ming.

Some of the furniture even had one part missing from the legs. So
she had placed something under the short legs and kept them.

"That's so nice of you to say that. I only have the things my

mother has left for me. It's a pity to throw them away. Those
things remind me of her." Ning Xueyan drank the soup beside her
while saying that smilingly. Then she acted as if something echoed in

www.asianovel.com
 276 Report
her mind and said to Qingyu who stood beside her, "Qingyu,
prepare a bowl of soup for my Eldest Sister."

The soup smelt really good which gave people appetite. Qingyu
served the soup to Ning Ziyan. However, Ning Ziyan only glanced at
it and didn't touch it at all.

The lite soup had some oil blooms and a few chopped green onions
on it, which looked tasty.

"Sister, what is this?" Ning Ziyan asked that with doubt.

"This is the soup was made in our kitchen. I heard that they
had stewed it for a night. It can maintain beauty and keep
young. They said it's perfect for women's health. Qingyu has
taken it from the kitchen. She said that lunch would be late
so it is better for me to eat something first. I actually like the
flavour. Do you want to have a taste, sister?" Ning Xueyan
wiped her mouth with her towel and said that.

"I'll pass. Not that hungry now. I'll let someone serve me
the soup when I am starving. You can have it all for yourself."
Although Ning Ziyan was interested in the effect of maintaining
beauty, keeping young and recovering women's health, she still
pushed away the bowl in front of her while giving out an even gentler
smile.

Madam Ling had already told the things that had taken place in the
Lord Protector's Manor to her. From the description of her mother,
Ning Ziyan had already known that Ning Xueyan was not that
cowardly girl who never fought back. Now even Ning Yuling's
marriage was about to be ruined by Ning Xueyan. "What an
insidious b*tch!" Ning Ziyan thought.

So Ning Ziyan didn't have the gut to drink anything from the Bright
Frost Garden.

www.asianovel.com
 277 Report
She touched her belly subconsciously. Although she didn't look
pregnant, she had already had some symptoms of pregnancy. So she
had to be very careful of the things that would come into her mouth.

"Since you don't want to have it, I'll let Qingyu take it
away." Ning Xueyan said that with a slight smile and stopped
insisting. She knew that Ning Ziyan wouldn't eat anything that was
given by her now. However, what if Concubine Ma who was also
pregnant drank the soup afterwards and was perfectly fine...

After Qingyu had taken away the bowl, Ning Xueyan looked at
Chen Hexiang with her eyebrows knitted.

"Sister, your maid looks familiar to me. Is she the one who
used to serve you before? She does dress up decently. Look
at the high-quality cloth on her. Now I see the difference
between the Minister of Justice's Manor and our manor, even
the maids at your place dress up more properly than the
maids of ours."

As she mentioned Chen Hexiang, Ning Ziyan also pay attention to

the clothes that Chen Hexiang was wearing. Then Ning Ziyan got
sulky right away...

"That b*tch, how dare she wears clothes of that material..."

Ning Ziyan finally realized that.

www.asianovel.com
 278 Report

Chapter 88
Source: TapRead

The vest on Chen Hexiang looked no different from the green ones
on other maids if someone didn't watch it carefully. However, after
taking a good look at the material of the green vest, Ning Ziyan
found that it was actually made by silk. Although it wouldn't need too
much cloth to make a vest, it was still luxury for a maid to wear
something made by silk. Even Ning Ziyan only had two pieces of the
silk cloth.

And she had already used them up after making only two pieces of
clothes.

That silk cloth was a gift from one of Xia Yuhang's friends. He had
told her that this rare cloth was a tribute to the royal family, which
was even hardly to be seen in the palace.

So why was this maid's vest made of silk?

Ning Ziyan clenched the handkerchief in her hand and then loosen
it up. Then with the stiff smile on her face easing, she said breezily,
pretending not to care, "I got the extra cloth and gave it to her
to make a vest. I didn't realize that she would wear it today.
Don't ridicule me for that, sister."

Although there were still smile on Ning Ziyan's face, the

malevolence in her eyes was not able to be hidden. Ning Ziyan
determined to torture her maid when she came bakc to her manor.
"You b*tch, you have seduced Xia Yuhang all day long. And
you still claimed there's nothing between the two of you? I'll
marry you to the ugliest and the most disgusting old night
watchman. Let's see how you are going to lure my husband,"
Ning Ziyan thought.

www.asianovel.com
 279 Report
Meanwhile, Chen Hexiang was also having a bad feeling. So she
raised her head to look at Ning Ziyan with fear, then she lowered her
head timidly, looking cowardly. However, she was thinking that she
couldn't wait anymore and she had to let Xia Yuhang admit her
position. Today was a perfect day to accomplish her plan. So Chen
Hexiang had worn this vest on purpose today.

Seeing Chen Hexiang's delicate look and the craft expression that
was flashed in her eyes, Ning Xueyan snorted secretly. It seemed
that so many people were plotting something on today's feast. That
was even better, the more chaotic the situation became, the more
likely her enemies would make mistakes. Ning Xueyan was
wondering if Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan would be able to extricate
themselves this time.

"Sister, your makeup today is too simple. After all, it's

Concubine Ma's birthday, you should at least add some
powder on your face. Don't let Concubine Ma think that we
look down on her." Ning Ziyan said that with a grin.

"My, my mom had just died for..." Ning Xueyan said that with a
reluctant look on her face.

"Although your mom were dead, it has already been a

month. Concubine Ma seldom has the chance to have a
birthday feast like this and all the people in the manor now
are having a good time now. Don't have the guests' spirits
dampened. "Ning Ziyan said that as if she was really being
thoughful for Ning Xueyan. Then she took out a ruby tassels hairpin,
which was particularly pretty.

When Chen Hexiang saw Ning Ziyan taking out the hairpin, she
couldn't help raising his head while looking at the hairpin with a
greedy look. Then she lowered her head instantly. If Ning Xueyan
hadn't been observing Chen Hexiang the whole time, she wouldn't
notice this maid's facial expression.

www.asianovel.com
 280 Report
"Sister, this hairpin will look so beautiful on you. Just look
at the color, it suits you perfectly. You are the daughter of
the Lord Protector, don't let other people sneeze at you. You
should wear this hairpin! This one belongs to me, I'll give it
to you!" Ning Ziyan said that generously. Then she took over the
hairpin and tried to put it on Ning Xueyan's hair.

"Thanks a lot, sister. But I don't think my outfit could

match such a pretty hairpin!" Ning Xueyan declined that with a
troubled expression while holding Ning Ziyan's hand to let her sit
down. Then Ning Xueyan stared at the ruby hairpin with light flashing
in her eyes, showing great interest.

"What are you talking about? Sister, you are so beautiful to

fit all the nice things. Have you just said those things
deliberately because you dislike my hairpin?" Being rejected by
Ning Xueyan, Ning Ziyan showed a sullen look on her face.

"Sister, you misunderstood me. Look at the color of my

face, I can't wear something so bright..." Ning Xueyan
pretended to be hesitating, with her eyes fixed on the hairpin. After
that, she still pushed the hairpin toward Ning Ziyan.

Her acts made Ning Ziyan believe that she really liked the hairpin
but she had to push it away.

Then Ning Ziyan looked at Ning Xueyan's face doubtfully and found
that it was true that Ning Xueyan had a paler face than ordinary
people. That bright-colored hairpin was surely not suitable for her. It
would be a huge mistake for a woman to wear a piece of jewelry
which had a brighter color than her face.

However, Ning Ziyan had to give this hairpin to Ning Xueyan today!

Then Ning Ziyan found a perfect reason to give the hairpin away.

She found that Ning Xueyan was quite fond of the hairpin, so she

www.asianovel.com
 281 Report
said, "Sister, I see your pale face. It doesn't matter. Don't you
remember that I have presented you some powder and
blusher? Come here, I'll do the makeup on you. Then you can
wear the hairpin. Trust me, you'll look like a fairy by then."

Hearing her words, Ning Xueyan was persuaded. Then she stopped
pushing the hairpin away.

Ning Ziyan put on an even brighter smile after seeing that Ning
Xueyan's hesitation. Then Ning Ziyan said, "Sister, what are you
waiting for? Half of the guests who came here today haven't
seen you before. I'll take you to greet them afterwards. You
just have to dress up to see those people. Come on, it's not
like I am asking to wear red or green colored clothes. No one
will care about a little hairpin."

"But Fourth Sister said that she liked the powder and
blusher and has taken them all away!" Ning Xueyan said that
with her eyebrows knitted.

"That's OK. I have some with me. You can use these," Ning
Ziyan said while showing her generosity. Then she told Chen Hexiang
who was standing behind her to take out the powder.

Now Ning Ziyan was very careful with her body. So she always
brought the powder and blusher with her in order to refine her
makeup anytime she wanted.

Chen Hexiang then came over instantly, pulling out the powder
and blusher from the bag.

"Eldest Young Lady, thank you. I'll do the make up for our
Young Lady then." Lanning took over the powder in Chen
Hexiang's hands and said that politely.

Since Lanning already said that, Ning Ziyan couldn't insist on

letting Chen Hexiang doing the make-up. Having nodded, Ning Ziyan

www.asianovel.com
 282 Report
sat behind Ning Xueyan and watched Lanning primping Ning Xueyan.
However, it seemed that Lanning was not very familiar with the make
up procedure according to her slow movements. After Ning Ziyan had
sat there for a while, she only saw Lanning finished the foundation for
Ning Xueyan.

Since Ning Ziyan was pregnant, she always felt uncomfortable with
her body. She already felt a bit tired now after sitting there for a
short while. She leaned to the left at first then she leaned to the
right. However, no matter what kind of posture she had, she only felt
more and more exhausted and couldn't bear to stay there anymore.

So she held Chen Hexiang's hand to get up, saying, "Sister, I'll go
to the garden to see who has come. Then I'll introduce them
to you afterwards."

"Fine, you can go first, sister. I'll be there in a minute." Ning

Xueyan nodded while saying that smilingly, with darkness flashing in
her eyes. What she had guessed was right, Ning Ziyan had already
colluded with Madam Ling to set her up.

"I hope you won't cry so hard afterwards!" Ning Xueyan

thought that.

"Young Lady, what are we going to do about this hairpin?"

Lanning stopped doing make-up for Ning Xueyan right after Ning
Ziyan had left. Having walked to the table, she picked up the ruby
hairpin and asked Ning Xueyan that.

Although Lanning couldn't see what was wrong with the hairpin,
she still knew that it must be something that could hurt Ning Xueyan
according to Ning Ziyan's willingness for Ning Xueyan to have it. Back
to the old days, the Eldest Young Lady had also treated Young Lady
Ziying with the same attitude. And what had happened next only
showed the Ning Ziyan's evil intentions toward Young Lady Ziying.
However, all the evil intentions had been hidden behind that smiling
face of Ning Ziyan.

www.asianovel.com
 283 Report
And Young Lady Ziying never managed to see Ning Ziyan's true
colors. That was why she had died in the lotus pond strangely.

Ning Xueyan had already smelt the fragrance on the hairpin. The
smell was easy to be ignored because it was too light. If it had not
been for her knowledge about the drug, she would never realize that
this hairpin had drug on it. And the kind of drug was...

Ning Ziyan and Madam Ling were both malicious women. They had
tried everything to destroy Ning Xueyan. However, Ning Xueyan
would only disappoint them. "How desperate are you two that
you already made a move before I have done anything!" Ning
Xueyan sneered inwardly.

"Lanning, find a way to drop the hairpin in front of Chen

Hexiang." Ning Xueyan curved her lips and smiled coldly while
staring herself in the mirror. She knew that Chen Hexiang had worn
that vest today for a reason. Then Ning Xueyan felt obliged to give
Chen Hexiang a hand. When she had seen Chen Hexiang's greedy
eyes on the ruby hairpin just now,

she knew that Chen Hexiang must be eager to have this hairpin.
Perfect, then she would give Chen Hexiang the thing she wanted.

When Ning Xueyan arrived at the garden, she was totally dressed
up. With the light make-up on her, her face looked brighter. Now she
looked even more beautiful. The ruby hairpin with wobbling tassels
made her look like an impeccable jade.

The feast was set in the garden. The male guests were all seated
on the left while the females were on the right. There was a gauze
curtain between them. So the males and the females could hear each
others voices but couldn't see each others figures clearly.

A drama stage had been set up and there were already some
people performing opera on it. The audiences were giving applause
and there were waves of laughter coming from the crowd from time

www.asianovel.com
 284 Report
to time.

Most of the people who had been invited already arrived before the
feast began. However, the Lord Protector still had to wait until all the
guests came here in order to show courtesy.

Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan sat in the crowd with a bunch of
madams and ladies around them. They were chatting and laughing.

Suddenly, Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan saw Ning Xueyan coming
over with the ruby hairpin on her hair. Then they looked at each
other and smiled evilly. After that, they both turned their head and
stopped paying attention to Ning Xueyan.

Meanwhile, Ning Xueyan found a chair in the corner and sat, not
intending to come over to them.

This was a perfect spot for her to observe everyone without being
noticed.

Concubine Ma came here hastily. It seemed that she was in a hurry

because she was wiping the sweats on her forehead. When she
arrived at the place, she looked around and found nobody noticed
her. Then she let out a sigh of relief. After pushing away Qiufang who
was beside her, Concubine Ma walked quickly toward Madam Ling.

Seeing Concubine Ma coming over, Madam Ling glanced at her

with disdainful expression in her eyes. However, Madam Ling still
showed a genial smile on her face and pulled Concubine Ma over
favorably, saying, "Where have you been? How come you just
show up? I almost tell the maid to look for you."

Hearing that Madam Ling had planned to look for her, Concubine
Ma trembled subconsciously. But she gave out a smile at once and
answered, "I was in the kitchen just now. I heard that they had
made delicious soup there. I thought that the lunch would be
late and I might get hungry by then. So I drank the soup

www.asianovel.com
 285 Report
first."

Concubine Ma had actually been to the opera troupe just now. But
she had no guts to tell Madam Ling that. Then something popped in
her mind. She remembered two older female servants had told her
about the soup on her way there. So she had chosen to use a story to
cover for herself. She had even gone to the kitchen to taste the soup
in order to have a perfect excuse.

"Soup. I'm a bit hungry as well. Do you still have some,

Concubine Ma?" Ning Ziyan had a good appetite these days. Now
she really was starved. She hadn't dared to drink the soup at Ning
Xueyan's place. Since Ning Ziyan saw that Concubine Ma was fine,
she really wanted to have a taste of that soup now.

"Of course. I was thinking that you should try this delicious
soup. Then I have let someone bring a large bowl of it on
purpose. Eldest Young Lady, if you want to have a taste, I can
take you to the room there to have a rest and drink it." Seeing
that Madam Ling didn't find anything wrong with her story,
Concubine Ma breathed a sigh of relief while pointing at a room out
of the crowd.

She had let someone served the soup to that room in order to
make her story sound more believable and fawn upon Madam Ling.

"Fine. You can lead the way." Ning Ziyan stood up. She had sat
there for too long and became a little tired. So she wanted to relax
her body by walking for a short while.

Madam Ling knew about her daughter's condition, so she didn't

suspect anything else. Then she nodded...

www.asianovel.com
 286 Report

Chapter 89
Source: TapRead

Concubine Ma went out of the room soon. Now she was wiping her
mouth with a handkerchief. And there was only one maid following
her. Meanwhile, Ning Ziyan was still staying in the room. It seemed
that she wanted to have a rest in the room after drinking the soup.

In the meantime, Chen Hexiang, the maid of Ning Ziyan, sneaked

out from the room. After looking around for a while and finding
nobody seeing her, she walked straightly toward her left. This path
she was walking on could lead her to the male guests. She had
already acknowledged that the path was very long because the Lord
Protector had wanted to separate the male guests and the female
guests completely.

Seeing Chen Hexiang's move, Ning Xueyan winked at Lanning.

Having understood her mistress's intention, Lanning followed Chen
Hexiang right away.

After Ning Ziyan finished drinking the soup, she commanded Chen
Hexiang to massage her legs. Then she took a nap on the bed.
Pregnant women always got sleepy, not to mention that Ning Ziyan
had got up very early this morning. And there had been people
coming around to chat with her. So she fell right into asleep when
she finally got a chance to relax.

When Chen Hexiang found that Ning Ziyan was asleep, she
stopped massaging her legs. Then she stood up and looked at Ning
Ziyan viciously. Then she turned around and walked outside quietly.
She was determined to let Xia Yuhang marry her no matter what. She
couldn't bear being a menial maid anymore. Otherwise, she would
definitely die in the hands of Ning Ziyan who always plotted
something behind someone's back.

www.asianovel.com
 287 Report
Chen Hexiang had been Ning Ziyan's puppet the moment she had
entered the Xia Manor! How could a proud girl like her live with that!

Before when Xia Yuhang had come to her place, they had made
out freely with passion. Now with Ning Ziyan keeping a close eye on
her, Chen Hexiang couldn't even wink at Xia Yuhang.

She was pregnant. So she couldn't wait anymore!

If Xia Yuhang couldn't take her as his concubine, she was not able
to keep the baby.

She had already felt something wrong about her at the Cold
Mountain Temple. However, her period had only delayed for a day or
two. So she hadn't been certain about that. What was more, she had
planned to become a co-wife of Xia Yuhang by giving birth to his
baby. After all, the woman who had been engaged with Xia Yuhang
before Ning Ziyan was a weak person.

And she had thought that Xia Yuhang would agree to give her a
position as a co-wife for the sake of the baby in her belly as long as
she begged him.

She had planned to let Xia Yuhang repudiate that stupid woman
after her baby was born. Then she would find an opportunity to kill
the woman or destroy her reputation. Then she could be the only
wife of Xia Yuhang!

However, her plan was not able to keep up with changes. It never
occurred to her that Xia Yuhang didn't marry that stupid woman.
Instead, it was Ning Ziyan who married him. Chen Hexiang had
known that Ning Ziyan was the same person like her who looked
gentle on the surface and acted evilly on the sly from the first glance
at Ning Ziyan. That was why Chen Hexiang was anxious right now.

She would definitely be murdered once Ning Ziyan found out about
her pregnancy.

www.asianovel.com
 288 Report
Nevertheless, she didn't even have a chance to talk with Xia
Yuhang in Xia Manor. Everywhere she went, there was a maid
following her. She couldn't run away with that. If she still failed to
speak to Xia Yuhang and let him marry her as his concubine, she
would end up with a miserable life.

So she took a detour from the left in a hurry when Ning Ziyan was
sleeping. She had noticed clearly that there were young male
servants sending things from there.

However, she had to stop at an intersection, not knowing which

path led to the male guests.

She didn't have much time. The longer she waited, the more
dangerous she would become.

"Are you heading somewhere?" As she was hesitating there,

she heard someone asking her from behind.

She looked back in fright and found that it was not the maid of
Ning Ziyan. Then she couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief with lots
of sweats already on her back.

"Are you lost? Do you want to find where the female guests
are?" The pretty maid walked toward Chen Hexiang while saying
that with a grin. Chen Hexiang found the maid look familiar. Then she
watched the maid's face carefully and found that it was the maid of
the Fifth Young Lady who she had just visited.

"I wasn't planning to go to the female guests' seats. Our

lady has told me to find our master. But I was lost when I got
here. Sister, do you know which way I should go?" Chen
Hexiang smiled and explained that with awkwardness.

"Do you need me to send the message for you to your

master? There are so many people here and you might bump
into someone else!" Lanning said that politely.

www.asianovel.com
 289 Report
"No, no, our mistress has urged me to do it by myself.
Don't bother, sister!" Hearing that Lanning wanted to help her,
Chen Hexiang got restless immediately. Then she waved her hands
and refused Lanning.

"Don't worry. I happen to be free right now. I'll have to go

there anyway afterwards. I'll do it for you, sister!" Lanning
insisted while stepping on the path on her right. It looked like she
was really intending to send the message for Chen Hexiang.

"It really is not necessary, sister. Our mistress will punish

me for being lazy." Chen Hexiang pulled Lanning subconsciously in
a moment desperation while still explaining that.

Then Lanning staggered about and almost tumbled. After standing

still, Lanning showed a sullen face and said, "Walk this way. You'll
see the female guests after a short while. If you can not find
your master momentarily, just ask a young male servant.
There were lots of guests there. Be careful not to offend any
important guests."

"Yes, yes, yes. I won't offend anyone there. Don't worry,

sister." Chen Hexiang nodded without a break while saying that.

"All right, I'll leave now!" Lanning nodded while walking toward
another path.

Seeing Lanning being out of sight, Chen Hexiang was overjoyed.

She had just learned a few helpful information from Lanning. Not only
did she know the way to the male guests, she also learned that the
young male servant would help her to find Xia Yuhang. What was
more, Lanning had also told her that there would be important guests
in the front.

That was awesome for her. As long as those important guests saw
Xia Yuhang admit her as his concubine, Ning Ziyan then couldn't do
anything about it after waking up. With a crowd of people staring,

www.asianovel.com
 290 Report
even Madam Ling couldn't ruin her plan. Then Chen Hexiang felt
assured completely and planned to head there.

However, her eyes were caught by a sparkling red object.

When she looked closer, she found a ruby hairpin in the grass.
Then she squatted down and picked it up, feeling extremely happy.

That was the ruby hairpin she had coveted just now. Without
thinking too much, she looked around and found nobody nearby.
Then she put the hairpin in her arms and walked on the path on her
right.

This hairpin must have been dropped from the maid who she had
met during their tugging back and forth.

As far as she denied having taken the hairpin, no one would know
that she was the one who had it.

As Chen Hexiang was rushing to the male guests with joy, Lanning
had already come back to Ning Xueyan. There were also a few young
ladies having a pleasant talk with Ning Xueyan now.

Lanning nodded to Ning Xueyan while Ning Xueyan also gave a nod
implying that she knew that Lanning had done her job successfully.
Now it was up to Chen Hexiang if Ning Xueyan's plan could be
successful. She believed that clever woman Chen Hexiang could
absolutely find Xia Yuhang.

After that, Ning Xueyan could watch the fun.

"What are you doing here, Fifth Young Lady? Our mistress
has been looking for you. She has wanted to ask you how's
the soup taste. But she couldn't see you anywhere. It took
me a long while to find you."

An older female servant in the crowd saw Ning Xueyan and

laughed right away.

www.asianovel.com
 291 Report
That older female servant was the servant of Concubine Ma.

"Our Young Lady is kind of busy now. Please tell Concubine

Ma that the soup tastes great. Thank the concubine for
making soup deliberately for our Young Lady." Qingyu stopped
the older female servant with a grin and pulled her out of the crowd.
Then Qingyu pointed at Ning Xueyan who was among the ladies,
saying, "It's unnecessary to call our Young Lady over there
because of such a small thing! She is talking with other
Young Ladies right now and doesn't have the time."

"Qingyu, it's not me who has insisted to invite Fifth Young

Lady. It's Concubine Ma who has said that the Fifth Young
Lady has a fragile body and has to be fed well. She also
claimed that Fifth Young Lady must be clear about what
should be eaten and what shouldn't. Now she really wants to
know what has Fifth Young Lady thought of the soup. So she
has sent me to ask."

The old female servant said that humbly, with a friendly look.

Qingyu was a bit moved by her genial posture. What was more, it
seemed that Concubine Ma now looked upon on Ning Xueyan and
tried to show a friendly gesture. After all, due to what had happened
before, it was reasonable for Concubine Ma to want to flatter Ning
Xueyan.

"All right. Give thanks to Concubine Ma for our Young Lady.

Tell her it's unnecessary, our Young Lady doesn't mind about
these things." Qingyu declined with a smile.

"But Concubine Ma was waiting for Fifth Young Lady. She

will absolutely scold me if I can't bring Fifth Young Lady
there. Qingyu, please help me. It won't take long. And Fifth
Young Lady can come back right away. Fifth Young Lady
won't miss anything here. Please, otherwise Concubine Ma
may get angry, and I, I can't take the responsibility." The older

www.asianovel.com
 292 Report
female servant begged Qingyu persistently.

Due to her pregnancy, Concubine Ma was being spoiled right now.

If she was irritated right now, even Ning Xueyan couldn't handle the
consequences.

"Where is Concubine Ma?" Qingyu appeared to be persuaded.

So she frowned and asked that.

"There's a rockery by the kitchen which has a pavilion on it.

The place is near the lake and is very quiet. Our mistress
assumed that Fifth Young Lady should like a tranquil place
like that. So she went there." Hearing Qingyu's words, the older
female servant pointed a direction for her affably.

Everyone in the manor knew about the rockery by the kitchen.

That was a place which was deadly quiet, with lake on the one side
and mountain on the other side. It was also a 'good' place where
someone could do anything without being noticed.

"Our mistress has already told the servants to prepare a

hot stove there. Fifth Young Lady can chat and enjoy the
view with our mistress. It is warm in the pavilion now. Also,
our mistress has also prepared a few dishes. Fifth Young
Lady has a delicate body so she could eat something first. It's
good for the stomach."

The old female servant said those words with an expressive look.
She tried her best to let her words sound persuasive after seeing
Qingyu being influenced by her.

"Then you come back first. I'll bring Fifth Young Lady there.
Tell Concubine Ma not to worry." Qingyu nodded and agreed to
her.

"Fine, I'll tell Concubine Ma." The older female servant was
overloaded with joy. Hearing Qingyu's answer, she came back to

www.asianovel.com
 293 Report
inform Concubine Ma at once.

Ning Xueyan who was in the crowd had paid close attention to
them the whole time. Seeing the older female servant disappeared,
she excused herself to those ladies and left with Lanning.

"Young Lady, Concubine Ma has sent someone to pass her

words as you have expected!" Qingyu said that with anger.

"Lanning, go to Mother Han. Tell her to invite the people."

Ning Xueyan remained calm. She looked at Madam Ling who was
standing not far away from her and snorted. Then she clenched her
fists. "You did have a thorough plan, Madam Ling. However,
it's still a waste of time," she thought cynically.

She expected to see how Madam Ling would make up for what
would happen today...

www.asianovel.com
 294 Report

Chapter 90
Source: TapRead

There were already a few plates of sunflower seeds, some

preserved fruit and tea being prepared in the pavilion. The windows
on both sides were closed. With a burning stove in the center, this
was surely a perfect place for chatting. What was more, the pavilion
faced the lake and was situated on the rockery, which made it a fairly
tranquil place. People who didn't live in the manor wouldn't even find
such a secluded place.

Right now, there were only Concubine Ma and a maid in the room.

Concubine Ma was feeling like sitting on pin and needles. She

walked to the door from time to time, then she stopped out of fidget.
She had already made a thorough plan. However, she just felt
restless for no reason while having a bad feeling for what was about
to happen.

Suddenly, she heard someone talking on the outside. However, the

expression on her face was not joyful but scared.

"Mistress, you need to drink the tea now. Or the effect

won't be shown in a short while." The maid who stood by the
table pushed the tea on the table toward Concubine Ma and said
that.

"I..." Concubine Ma hesitated a bit.

"Concubine Ma, do you want the marquis to know that you

are not pregnant at all?" The maid looked at Concubine Ma with a
cold expression in her eyes.

Concubine Ma was frightened by the maid's eye sight. Then with

her teeth gritted, she walked over and drank off the tea in the cup.

www.asianovel.com
 295 Report
Then she started to cough because she had drunk too fast.

Right at this moment, someone knocked on the door lightly with

hesitation. And Concubine Ma finally stopped coughing. She used her
towel to cover her mouth.

Meanwhile the maid took a few steps back and stood in the shadow
of the corner of the pavilion.

"Come in!" Having sat down on her seat, Concubine Ma cleared

her throat and said that. She gritted her teeth secretly and thought,
"Since I've already drunk the drug in the tea, I shouldn't think
anything else now. After all, I have drugged Ning Xueyan.
And that thing has to come to a close. Fifth Young Lady was
not an easy one to handle too."

Concubine Ma was regretting right now. She shouldn't have

married to Lord Protector. All the high position and great wealth she
had expected to have were at the cost of being other's puppet. Now
she had no way to back down. Since she had already agreed that she
would help set up Ning Xueyan in order to curry favor with First
Madam, she had to play along with this false pregnancy thing!

After ten months of pregnancy, she wouldn't give birth to anything

because she was not pregnant at now. By then she would definitely
be punished severely!

So she had to abort the baby who she had never had. And the
'baby' had to die because of Ning Xueyan. She had drugged Ning
Xueyan before, so people might find it reasonable for Ning Xueyan to
drug her and kill her baby!

It was the scheme which was plotted by First Madam and

Concubine Ma. Now Concubine Ma had already drunk the tea with the
drug in it. The drug only had one effect, which was to bring forward
the date of her period. However, Concubine Ma suddenly had a sense
of foreboding when she saw the door open slightly.

www.asianovel.com
 296 Report
Until now, everything went so smoothly, even too smoothly.

But Concubine Ma still felt perturbed now! And her forehead was
covered with sweats.

Would A girl who was able to make First Madam scared walk into
the trap so easily?

"Caiyun!" A cheerful voice came through from the door. The

familiar voice drew Concubine Ma back to the earth. She stood up
abruptly, showing a frightened rather than delighted look on her
face. She pointed at the fair-skinned man in front of her with terror,
saying,

"You, you... what are you doing here?" She couldn't even
stand still due to her panic while still feeling vague pain from her
belly as if it was drooping.

"What? You didn't call me over here? Caiyun, how are you
doing... Have you missed me?" The young man was stunned at
first. Then with a sad look on his face, he didn't go out. Instead, he
closed the door and looked at Concubine Ma while asking that.

"I'm fine. How can I not be? You should go now, now!" The
pain from her belly kept welling up, which made Concubine Ma hardly
able to utter a word. Cold sweats were covering her forehead right
now. She bore the pain very reluctantly and walked toward the man
to push him out of the room.

The person who came here was not Ning Xueyan. It was the man
from the opera troupe, also her past lover, whom she had tried so
hard to cover up. And now he just stood right in front of her. No
wonder Concubine Ma would be overspread with cold sweats and
nearly faint.

"What happened to you? Are you sick... What's wrong?"

However, that man has already born Concubine Ma in his mind. When

www.asianovel.com
 297 Report
he saw Concubine Ma turned her face pale and stood unsteadily with
sweats on her forehead, he really thought that she was ill.

Then he stepped forward and supported Concubine Ma who

seemed groggy.

"Stay away." Before he stood still, someone pushed him violently

from the side of him. The man who was holding Concubine Ma's hand
tightly didn't pay attention to other people, so he backed up while
falling down to the ground along with Concubine Ma.

They both rolled on the ground and neither could stand up at the
moment.

"Go away!" The maid got into a flap, knowing that something
must be wrong. So she dragged Concubine Ma in a hurry and tried to
pull Concubine Ma out of that man's arms. However, that man
wouldn't let go of his hands. And Concubine Ma was back to the
ground due to his powerful tug.

As the three of them were in a complete tangle, the door was

opened suddenly. Ning Xueyan along with a few maids and older
female servants stood at the door, watching what was happening in
the room in a shock.

Concubine Ma was holding hands with a man on the ground. What

was the story?

Deadly silence filled in the space inside and outside the door.

"Blood, blood, Concubine Ma is bleeding?" A sharp-eyed maid

shouted that while pointing at the bottom of Concubine Ma's dress,
from where red blood was flowing out.

Concubine Ma almost pushed away the man beside her

subconsciously in no time. Then she started to hold her belly and
shouted miserably, with cold sweats on her forehead.

www.asianovel.com
 298 Report
"My belly, my belly!"

"Go find a doctor. Tell him there's something wrong with

Concubine Ma." Ning Xueyan ordered that to Qingyu.

"Sure. I'll go right away." Having nodded, Qingyu ran away from
there in a flash.

At the same time, Ning Xueyan told the maid to hold Concubine Ma
up while sending someone to inform Madam Dowager and First
Madam. Now the pavilion became a scene of chaos. No one paid
attention to that man who had run away secretly under the hint of
Concubine Ma except Ning Xueyan.

The maids and older female servants who had guided Ning Xueyan
there were startled by the accidents.

Madam Dowager and Madam Ling came here fast. Lanning was the
one who had invited Madam Ling and they came a bit later than
Madam Dowager. So Madam Ling thought that everything went as
she had planned. When she entered the room, she saw Madam
Dowager sitting there with a sullen face. Meanwhile, Concubine Ma
was lying on the bed, holding her belly and rolling back and forth due
to the pain. And Ning Xueyan was standing there with her head
lowered and the expression on her face unable to see.

"Ning Xueyan falls into the trap," Madam Ling thought.

"Mom, what happened?" Though Madam Ling was complacent

about herself secretly, she didn't show any sign of it. Instead, she
asked with concern.

"Mom, don't ask first. We should call a doctor to check on

Concubine Ma at once." Ning Xueyan raised her head with terror in
her eyes. It seemed that she was shocked by what had happened.

"What do you mean by telling me no to ask? How can I keep

silent now? Xueyan, what are you doing here? Don't tell me

www.asianovel.com
 299 Report
you are the one who has hurt Concubine Ma!" Madam Ling
looked at Ning Xueyan with a doubtful look.

"Mother, I, I didn't!"

Hearing that, Madam Ling found Ning Xueyan's explanation quite

feeble. And she saw Madam Dowager remaining silent with a gloomy
face. Then Madam Ling was even more certain that her plan had
worked out.

Come to think about it, when Madam Dowager found that her
granddaughter had killed her grandson, she must have been heart-
broken. Nevertheless, she couldn't tell others about this. Otherwise,
she would only bring embarrassment to the Lord Protector's Manor.

But Madam Ling had no intention to let Ning Xueyan get away with
this. She wanted to blow up the affair. The more significant this
matter became, the better Madam Ling felt. By then, even Madam
Dowager was not able to protect Ning Xueyan.

Then Madam Ling raised her voice as if she got a huge fright. "Oh
my gosh, my Fifth Young Lady, you are... Even if Concubine
Ma has misunderstood you and drugged you, you are
completely fine now. How can you murder the child in her
belly! That is your brother!"

Madam Ling put on a deep grieved look on her face while scolding
Ning Xueyan.

Madam Ling was standing at the door right now, and she had
raised her voice on purpose because she wanted to draw people's
attention. As expected, there were several madams who just passed
by this place looking up to this place and finding Madam Ling who
was standing at the door. They all stopped and looked over, wanting
to know what had happened!

"Mother, it's not like that..." With her face turning pale, Ning

www.asianovel.com
 300 Report
Xueyan explained hastily. However, she paused a bit when she had
tried to explain. And Madam Ling caught the chance and continued.

"Not like that. Are there any other possibilities? "That was a
little human being. However, how can you be so ruthless to a child as
his sister? That is my son whom you have just killed. Xueyan... how
can you be so malicious at such a young age!"

Madam Ling said that loudly with righteous words as if she really
wanted to uphold justice for Concubine Ma.

And she just kept claiming that Ning Xueyan was the one who
killed Concubine Ma's child on purpose.

In the meantime, Concubine Ma who was lying on the bed kept

winking at Madam Ling regardless of the terrible pain from her belly.
However, Ning Xueyan stepped forward and block Concubine Ma's
eyesight along with the maid which had been in the room with
Concubine Ma.

"Mother, how can you be so sure that it is me who has done

that?" Ning Xueyan, having wiped off her scared look, said that
calmly.

"It... isn't it obvious? You are the only person who was
here. That makes you the most possible one to have done
that... Xueyan, have you forgotten what I had told you
before? Why are you becoming so vicious now?" Madam Ling
still pestered Ning Xueyan in a loud voice.

Those madams who were at the bottom of the rockery could hear
clearly of Madam Ling's words because the rockery was not high
even if they didn't come up. They looked at each other with their
eyes flickered. According to the voice they had heard, the people
who were on the rockery now were First Madam and Fifth Young Lady
of the Lord Protector's Manor. And they concluded from the
conversation that Fifth Young Lady was a malicious girl who had just

www.asianovel.com
 301 Report
killed someone. Then they all got a bit curious.

So they simply decided to stand at the bottom of the rockery,

waiting for the follow-up of what was happening above.

"Mother, you call me a malicious person only because I am

standing here. What if my Eldest Sister or my Second Sister
is in my place right now. Will you still charge them straightly
without even asking?" Ning Xueyan refuted Madam Ling with a
sneer on the corner of her mouth.

"I, I... Your sister would never do something like this."

Madam Ling was startled by Ning Xueyan's words, but she retorted
reflexively at once.

"My sisters wouldn't do something like this, and I would?

Mother, am I really that vicious in your eyes that I would kill
someone without blinking? Or maybe you have already
known what would happen in the beginning?"

As she was saying this, Ning Xueyan smiled and approached

Madam Ling who was already speechless due to Ning Xueyan's
words.

Madam Dowager looked at Madam Ling with a sullen look, with a

spooky smile on the corner of her mouth, saying, "Madam Ling,
aren't you the one who's gonna benefit the most if Concubine
Ma lost her child? Why are you blaming Xueyan right now?
She was just trying to help Concubine Ma. Why are you
calling her a malicious girl? What if she hasn't done the thing
you just said?"

Hot steam was rising in the pavilion. Ning Xueyan had opened the
window deliberately in order to let Concubine Ma have some fresh air
just now. So what Madam Dowager had said reached to the ears of
those madams from the window.

www.asianovel.com
 302 Report
"It's, it's not Xueyan who did this?" Madam Ling was
completely confused right now. Then she blinked her eyes and asked
that.

www.asianovel.com
 303 Report

Chapter 91
Source: TapRead

"Grandma, Concubine Ma told someone to invite me here.

She said that I must tell her if the soup I had drunk was
delicious or not. She also said that she didn't want to let me
be wronged and had to ask my opinion. I didn't want to come
at first. But the older female servant who came to invite me
just pestered me unceasingly. So I agreed to come here."

"I was caught up by something else on the way here.

However, when I got here, I saw Concubine Ma sitting on the
ground covered with blood. Now come to think about it, if I
came earlier, I would be regarded as a malicious girl like
what mother said for sure!" Ning Xueyan said that orderly with a
smile.

Though she was stating the truth, she still managed to hide the
fact that there had been a man in the room at that time.

Mixed feelings filled in Concubine Ma's heart at the moment, and

she didn't know what to do next!

She never thought that Ning Xueyan would make no mention of

that man as if she had never seen him. If Ning Zu'an knew about this,
Concubine Ma would be doomed. Though Ning Zu'an favored her a
lot, he still wouldn't tolerate this kind of thing. And her end would be
miserable.

Thinking of this with fear, Concubine Ma couldn't help but rest her
eyes on Ning Xueyan. She didn't know why Ning Xueyan had helped
her to cover this up!

Then she suddenly looked right into Ning Xueyan's dark jade-like
eyes intentionally. That girl was even smiling to her, which made
www.asianovel.com
 304 Report
Concubine Ma's heart tremble. She lowered her head subconsciously,
not daring to look right into Ning Xueyan's eyes. Now she only felt
the skinny girl in front of her was so unfathomable. Without the
protection of her mom, Ning Xueyan still managed to fight Madam
Ling. What a tough girl!

Since things had already come to this point, Concubine Ma was

totally helpless now.

She wondered if she should keep framing Ning Xueyan with Madam
Ling...

As they were talking, a doctor over his fifties showed up at the

door with a medical kit. It was clear to see that he was not an
ordinary doctor.

"Wait, you are not the doctor from our manor." Madam Ling
reacted fast this time and held the doctor back.

Although she didn't know where this doctor came from, she was
still aware that she couldn't let anyone find out about the false
pregnancy of Concubine Ma, let alone the real effect of the drug.
Therefore, she didn't care about the fact that she had already failed
to set Ning Xueyan up. The more important thing for her was to
prevent people from knowing that Concubine Ma had not been
pregnant at all.

Since she had failed this time, she would still come up with
something new. "I will destroy you, you little b*tch!" Madam
Ling thought that.

"What, you don't want me to see the patient?" The doctor

snorted while raised his head to glared at Madam Ling's hands,
saying that in anger.

"First Madam, just let him check on Concubine Ma. When I

looked for the doctors in our manors, they were all rushing

www.asianovel.com
 305 Report
toward the place where Eldest Young Lady stayed. They said
that Eldest Young Lady also didn't feel well. When I was in
anxiety, someone told me that this doctor was very skillful.
So I invited him here specially." Qingyu showed up from the
doctor's back and explained fretfully.

"You stupid maid. How dare you invite this quack into our
family! You think you could take the responsibility if anything
happens?" Under no circumstance would Madam Ling let the doctor
pass. So she didn't let go of her hands which were holding the door
while curing Qingyu with her eyebrows knitted.

"A quack?" The doctor roared that with an imposing manner on

his face. Then he leered at Madam Ling and continued, "No one has
ever called me that. I have even treated the emperor. Tell me
why I can't treat a concubine in your manor and couldn't take
the responsibility!"

When they had quarreled, Madam Dowager finally recognized that

the doctor was the imperial physician from the royal palace. So she
glared at Madam Ling fiercely and came over with a smile on her
face, saying, "Imperial physician Wang, you are here. I'm
terribly sorry that my daughter-in-law hasn't recognized you.
Excuse her ignorance. Please come here and take a look at
the concubine. Is the child in her belly still alive?"

After Madam Dowager had said that, Madam Ling's face went
completely stiff and turned green. She couldn't believe the man in
front of her was an imperial physician! And she finally released her
hand.

"I don't know if I am qualified to be an imperial physician.

Just don't regard me as a quack! Madam Dowager, I only
didn't leave just now for the sake of the marquis." Imperial
Physician Wang snorted at Madam Ling and then turned his head to
talk to Madam Dowager.

www.asianovel.com
 306 Report
"Yes, yes, yes, she is too inexperienced to know your face,
imperial physician Wang. Please have a look now!" Madam
Dowager knew that imperial Wang was best at gynecology and it
never occurred to her that he would agree to come at this critical
moment. Being overjoyed right now, she cast a complimentary
glance at Qingyu and leading imperial Wang toward Concubine Ma's
bed in a hurry.

Now Madam Ling had no choice but to wait there. She felt in a
state of feverish like ants on the hot pan. "Why did Ziyan call all
the doctors in the manor over at this moment!" she thought.

How terrified was Madam Ling right now!

Seeing Concubine Ma whose face turned pale and lost all the color
due to the pain, imperial physician stopped talking and sat down
right away. After that, he took Concubine Ma's pulse with his
eyebrows wrinkled. He seemed to be hesitating about something.
Madam Dowager who was looking at him became even more
nervous. Her reaction was quite understandable. After all, Ning Zu'an
had never had a son for all these years. And finally, Concubine Ma
was pregnant with a boy this time. Madam Dowager really didn't
want to lose this grandson.

All the people became quiet all of a sudden. There's only the sound
of groan from Concubine Ma.

Imperial physician Wang put down one hand of Concubine Ma and

took the pulse of the other one. Then his eyebrows knitted tighter
and tighter. He looked at the Concubine Ma's pale face with a light
sneer flashing in his eyes. Being surprised by the things she had
done to strive for her husband's favor, imperial physician Wang only
felt that this woman was too bold to risk her own body. "Won't she
regret this?" he thought.

"Madam Dowager, this concubine in your manor was not

pregnant at all! I haven't sensed any sign of pregnancy from

www.asianovel.com
 307 Report
her pulse." After putting Concubine Ma's hand, the imperial
physician said that coldly.

Concubine Ma was not pregnant!

He said that lightly. However, his words were like a clap of thunder
which stroked all the people in the room.

Madam Dowager wobbled and couldn't even stand still. Then she
pointed at Concubine Ma with her trembling finger in extreme anger.

"Doctor, maybe you have got it wrong. Concubine Ma was

in great pain now and looked exactly like being suffered from
abortion. Is possible that you didn't find her pregnant
because the child had already been dead?" Madam Ling was
anxious now. So she stepped forward and offered an explanation with
sweats on her forehead.

"Madam, please be responsible for your words. I have

practiced medicine for so many years. Do you think I could be
an imperial physician for so long if I am not able to diagnose
whether a woman is pregnant or not?" With light flashing in his
eyes, imperial physician Wang looked Madam Ling up and down.
Then he said that slowly while twiddling his mustache.

His words were very sharp. He tried to tell them that he was the
superior imperial physician who could even treat the queen in the
royal palace. Now there was someone who dared to question him. So,
was Madam Ling trying to imply that a concubine in the manor was
even more delicate than the queen?

"Doctor... I didn't mean that. I just want to ask if her pulse

appears a bit different from other pregnant women because
she has just suffered the abortion." Seeing imperial physician
Wang getting angry, Madam Ling also realized she had said
something inappropriate. Then she apologized and explained for
herself immediately.

www.asianovel.com
 308 Report
After she had admitted her mistake, imperial physician Wang
finally softened the expression on his face.

"Doctor, then why does Concubine Ma in such great pain. Is

she going to be all right?" Ning Xueyan said that and managed to
draw everyone's attention back to Concubine Ma who was trembling
due to the ache and couldn't spit a single word.

Sweats were keeping dropping from the forehead of Concubine Ma.

If it were not for imperial physician Wang who was from the royal
palace, no one would suspect that she had an abortion.

Her reaction was just like miscarrying.

"The pain is not a big deal. She will be fine after that.
However, afterwards..." Imperial physician Wang stopped there
and looked at Concubine Ma pitifully.

"Afterwards... What will happen? Doctor, please finish your

words!" Concubine Ma gritted her teeth and asked word by word.

At this moment, Concubine Ma clenched the corner of the quilt

with terror in her eyes, having a bad feeling in her heart.

"Mistress... You can not be pregnant anymore. The drug

you have used has such a strong effect..." The imperial
physician shook his head and said that with a meaningful look.

"Drug? Strong effect?" Concubine Ma almost fainted. Without

any scruple, she struggled to get up with the support of the maid.
After that, she knelt down on the bed heavily, crying out, "Doctor,
please save me. As long as you can cure me, I'll pay you
everything I have!"

She was only a concubine. If she didn't have a child, the adoration
her husband had for her meant nothing. After she got older, she
would definitely be forgotten and lived even poorer than a maid.

www.asianovel.com
 309 Report
"The drug..." Imperial physician Wang still shook his head under
the hopeful stare from Concubine Ma. He sighed and said, "It's not
that I don't want to save you. But the drug is too poisonous.
I'm sorry that you can not have any child in your lifetime. I'm
powerless about that."

"Doctor, there really is no way to cure her? If Concubine Ma

couldn't give birth to a child, her life... in the future..." Ning
Xueyan asked the doctor for Concubine Ma with faintly discernible
sadness in her eyes, showing a strong pity for the woman who had
drugged her before.

Imperial physician Wang didn't say anything but only shook his
head firmly. Having stood up and packed up his medicine kit, he left
there.

Ning Xueyan's words hit the sour spot of Concubine Ma. Moreover,
the imperial physician had kept shaking his head and given an
affirmative answer. By then Concubine Ma knew that there was no
hope for her. She covered her face and began to weep bitterly.

"Concubine Ma, stop crying. What have you drunk to

sterilize yourself?" Ning Xueyan comforted her softly.

What she had said shocked everyone in the room. Since Concubine
Ma had faked her own pregnancy, why had she taken the drug which
prevented her from having a child ever again? It just did not make
sense!

Now seeing Concubine Ma's distraught state, everyone was even

more certain that this woman had no intention to cut off her own
retreat!

Madam Ling was worrying now. As the conversation getting deeper

and deeper, people in the room already ignored Concubine Ma's false
pregnancy and shifted their focus to the tea that Concubine Ma had
drunk. She knew exactly what was inside that cup of tea. Because

www.asianovel.com
 310 Report
she was the one who used the drug to sterilize Concubine Ma.
Madam Ling had envied Concubine Ma for a long time because of
Ning Zu'an's preference toward her. So Madam Ling had decided to
destroy Concubine Ma's ability to have children.

No matter how much Ning Zu'an favored Concubine Ma, he would

still find a new sweetheart. By that moment, Concubine Ma would die
very miserably.

Little did she know that her plot would be exposed at the critical
moment. What was more, the one who had said that Concubine Ma
couldn't pregnant again was an imperial physician, which made her
hard to deny. She saw Concubine Ma looking at her because of Ning
Xueyan's words, then she came over to comfort Concubine Ma with
her towel at once, saying, "Sister, don't worry. Maybe it's
because of something you have eaten. Actually, we have an
opera troupe here. And the manor is bustling. Sometimes we
might be careless when everything is in a mess. We can find
a way to nurse your health latter."

She brought up the opera troupe on purpose in order to warn

Concubine Ma. After all, Madam Ling had something on Concubine
Ma. Moreover, after threatening her, Madam Ling also coaxed
Concubine Ma that she would cure Concubine Ma in the future.

After saying that, Madam Ling let out a sigh of relief. She believed
that Concubine Ma was clever enough to understand the meaning of
her words. As long as Concubine Ma didn't give her away, Madam
Ling would definitely figure out a way to reverse the situation!

She wouldn't let herself be involved in this!

www.asianovel.com
 311 Report

Chapter 92
Source: TapRead

However, Madam Ling was too optimistic. If the man in the opera
troupe hadn't been here and Ning Xueyan hadn't found out about his
existence, Concubine Ma wouldn't dare to say anything no matter
how much she hated Madam Ling!

But the problem was there had been more than one person who
had seen that man. Perhaps Ning Xueyan was planning something
else by keeping quiet about this thing.

At this moment, Concubine Ma could risk anything as long as she

could get her revenge.

She rested her eyes on the teacup on the table with the corner of
her eyes turning red and went mad. Then she, having pointed at
Madam Ling, suddenly pounced on Madam Ling and shouted,
"Madam Ling, you evil woman. You will rot in hell!"

The direction Concubine Ma rushed at was Madam Ling's face. So

Madam Ling turned her head to dodge, which presented her ear right
in front of Concubine Ma. Meanwhile, the embittered Concubine Ma
who saw Madam Ling's ear approach bit down without any hesitation.
Then Madam Ling uttered a heartrending cry and the people in the
room all freaked out.

They all came forward to separate them. Concubine Ma was frail

now so she was pulled back easily. But she was too weak to stand
still, only a single pull already made her faint.

Then the maids and older female servants all got panicky again.

Someone went to look after Concubine Ma, others checked on

Madam Ling's wound. Though Concubine Ma was weak now, she still

www.asianovel.com
 312 Report
managed to bite off a piece of flesh from Madam Ling's ear. Madam
Ling's face was covered with blood right away, which made her look
like a demon. There were someone screaming and someone getting
flustered. Meanwhile, there was also someone who wanted to fawn
on Madam Ling and pressed the wound for her. However, Madam
Ling was hurt again due to the pressing, so she slapped the person
who tried to please her...

Seeing the absurd scene in front of her, Madam Dowager was

trembling all over out of anger. She was clear that what was
happening now must be caused by Madam Ling again. She pounded
the teacup toward Madam Ling violently. Suddenly, Madam Ling who
was screaming due to the pain was startled and didn't have the guts
to make any sound.

"You, you wicked woman!" Madam Dowager almost hit Madam

Ling with her walking stick.

"First Madam, Madam Dowager, something bad happened,

happened to Eldest Young Lady!" An older female servant
dashed in totteringly before the thing happened in the pavilion
finished.

"Eldest Young Lady, what, what have happened to her?"

After the constant strike today, Madam Dowager also felt shortness
of breath. But she had to ask the situation of Ning Ziyan after seeing
Madam Ling's crumpled shape.

"Eldest Young Lady, Eldest Young Lady is losing her baby

now!" After catching her breath, the older female servant shouted
that.

Losing her baby?

"Go, let's go have a look now." Madam Dowager couldn't give

any thoughts to Madam Ling and Concubine Ma right now. After
giving the order, she rushed over to where Ning Ziyan stayed along

www.asianovel.com
 313 Report
with all the people. Meanwhile, Madam Ling who heard that
something had happened to her daughter was unable to take care of
her wound. She followed Madam Dowager with one hand covering
her ear and went to the garden.

Those madams who had been waiting at the bottom of the rockery
felt embarrassed to go up there but they never left the place either.
They had almost heard all of the conversations. Though they were
still puzzled about what had happened before, now they had heard
clearly of the thing about Eldest Young Lady. So, the Eldest Young
Lady, who had insisted on getting married regardless of one of her
father's concubine's death?

They stared speechlessly at each other and couldn't get what was
really happening right now. Seeing Madam Dowager and Madam Ling
getting out, those madams also followed after them.

Ning Xueyan walked by Madam Dowager's side. She looked

worried on the appearance; however, she was actually snorted
secretly. "Madam Ling, Ning Ziyan, you two think you can set
me up? Now you just become the victim of your own
cleverness," she thought.

That imperial physician Wang who was good at gynecology was

sent by Ao Chenyi to give birthday congratulations after she had
written a letter to him deliberately.

Ning Xueyan knew that Ning Ziyan would occupy the doctor in the
manor if she felt uncomfortable. Since the doctors in the manor were
all unavailable, they would have to find a doctor outside the manor.
And imperial physician Wang who was in the feast was the best
choice. As long as Qingyu mentioned Concubine Ma's condition to
Ning Zu'an in a panic, he would invite imperial physician Wang to
treat Concubine Ma for sure.

Then Concubine Ma's false pregnancy would be revealed!

www.asianovel.com
 314 Report
Also, Ning Ziyan had already foreseen that Madam Ling would drug
Concubine Ma. For all these years, there were too many concubines
in the Lord Protector's Manor, and none of them had given birth to a
child. Those who had been favored by Ning Zu'an had rather died at
a young age or fallen into disfavor without a child.

Since Concubine Ma was becoming more and more dominant and

Ning Zu'an favored her a lot, Madam Ling would definitely grab the
chance to eliminate this threat!

The Spring Theatrical Troupe had used to perform in the area

where Concubine Ma's family lived for a long while. Concubine Ma
had been a frequent visitor of their show. As time went by, she fell in
love with the actor of the Spring Theatrical Troupe. They had even
pledged to marry without parental consent and already slept
together. The two young adults had thought that they would be with
each other happily forever.

However, one day, Ning Zu'an had seen Concubine Ma on the

street and got tempted. So he had sent someone to her home to
inquire about her marital status. Being fancied by Lord Protector was
such a great honor. Concubine Ma's parents had been intrigued, as
well as Concubine Ma. So she had gone back on her previous words
with that actor. After packing up her simple luggage, she was sent to
the Lord Protector's Manor that night.

The relationship Concubine Ma had with that actor should have

ended after that. However, Ning Zu'an was no longer a young man,
which made Concubine Ma miss her previous young lover again. So
she had sent letters and some silvers to the actor from time to time.
In the course of their contact, not only hadn't broken up with each
other, they had even become closer.

Their affair had been known by Madam Ling. So she had decided to
use this to threat Concubine Ma.

As for the matters with her cousins was actually a little dispute

www.asianovel.com
 315 Report
between Han Dazhuang (Mother Han's son) and the Spring Theatrical
Troupe and was not a bit deal. But Madam Ling had managed to
make this thing bigger, which had given a motive for Concubine Ma
to drug Ning Xueyan. And of course, the false pregnancy of
Concubine Ma had been plotted by Madam Ling.

Ning Xueyan had asked Mother Han to inquire who Han Dazhuang
had argued with. Then she found the existence of the Spring
Theatrical Troupe. At last, she had followed up the clue and found
Concubine Ma's affair. The reason why Ning Xueyan had found out
about that so easily might because Concubine Ma had been
unguarded because Madam Ling had already learned this.

So Concubine Ma had even written the letters more frequently than

before. Her maid Chunfang who had paid close attention to her
discovered that easily.

"Mother, mother!" Seeing Madam Dowager and Madam Ling

coming in, Ning Ziyan screamed to Madam Ling. She was covering
her belly with one hand while crying loudly.

Madam Dowager saw that with her face turning sullen. With her
displeased expression replacing her worried look on her face, she
went back to the chair next to her and sat tight.

The reason why Madam Dowager became unhappy was that when
Madam Dowager and Madam Ling had entered the room together,
Ning Ziyan had simply ignored her grandma and kept calling Madam
Ling.

"Ziyan, what happened? Are you all right? What's the

matter with her? Why has the servant said that she lost her
baby?" Madam Ling rushed to Ning Ziyan immediately. Her ear had
been bound up hastily, so she looked better than before although she
was still in a mess. After that, she shouted to the doctor of the manor
angrily.

www.asianovel.com
 316 Report
She blamed the doctor of the manor for what had happened to her
today. So she scolded him on purpose.

"Eldest Young Lady... has eaten something cold. She, she

shouldn't have eaten that when she's pregnant!" The doctor of
the manor jabbered that with his head lowered under Madam Ling's
glower.

"You b*stard. What you have prepared for Ziyan? How can
she have a miscarriage!" Madam Ling got furious and slapped the
maid who was standing by the bed fiercely. She had lost all of her
impatience right now and only felt her chest moving up and down
with anger welling up.

Madam Ling now looked at everyone with a ferocious look! Her

brutal nature showed out completely!

"I, I have never prepared anything cold to the Young Lady."

The maid fell on the ground while explaining for herself.

"You haven't? Then why would Ziyan lose her baby? I know
she has a strong body!" Madam Ling got even angrier. She
pointed at that maid and started to curse.

"Grandma, why has my Eldest Sister had a miscarriage? Is

there anything wrong with the diagnose?" Ning Xueyan asked
Madam Dowager in a low voice.

Her words enlightened Madam Dowager and the other madams

who were there.

Ning Ziyan had just been married for only a month. Even if she had
been pregnant, it would be hard to diagnose. So it was unreasonable
for her to lose a baby. Now judging from the expression on Ning
Ziyan and Madam Ling's faces, they seemed to have already known
about her pregnancy.

Madam Ling who had also heard of Ning Xueyan's seemingly

www.asianovel.com
 317 Report
unintentional words flew into a rage immediately. She considered
Ning Xueyan's words a provocation. "What did she mean by there
is something wrong with the diagnose? Was this little b*tch
trying to imply that Ziyan also pretended to be pregnant like
Concubine Ma? She must have said that to irritate me!" After
thinking of that, Madam Ling just couldn't get a hold of herself
anymore.

She was caught unprepared by all the things that had happened
today. Even Concubine Ma had changed sides and bitten her. Madam
Ling was already in a muddled state. And now that Ning Xueyan still
provoked her and doubted if Ning Ziyan's pregnancy was fake. So
Madam Ling glared at the doctor of the manor with her teeth gritted,
saying,

"Have you made a mistake? Was Ziyan pregnant or not?"

There was no doctor who would like to be questioned about their

expertise. Although the doctor of the manor was afraid of Madam
Ling, he still refuted with his head raised, "First Madam, although I
am not the best doctor, I can still tell if a girl is pregnant or
not. What's more, Eldest Young Lady has already been
pregnant for two or three months, you think I wouldn't find
out?"

For two or three months?

Ning Ziyan had only been married for a month but had already
been pregnant for two or three months! After learning about that, all
the people in the room were shocked.

"Hasn't she just been married for a month?" Madam Dowager

asked that doubtfully.

When all those women had rushed across the garden in a hurry
including the wounded Madam Ling, they managed to draw more
people's attention. So right now there were even more people

www.asianovel.com
 318 Report
coming to watch the fun.

"Being pregnant before getting married. What about the

rules in the Lord Protector's Manor? That is so..."

"No wonder why she was so eager to get married. It turned

out that she was pregnant. What have her parents taught
her?"

"She must have a love affair stealthily. After all, the reason
why she was born was because of her mother's affair. That
might be the tradition of her family." A madam sneered that
while laughed with her hand covering her mouth.

Now everyone was looking at Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan cynically
with a bit taunt in their eyes.

Madam Ling had already had a sinking feeling when she had
listened to the doctor of the manor talking. Before she was able to
stop him, the doctor had already told everything. And she got
flustered right away. She and Ning Ziyan had tried so hard to cover
this up. It never occurred to her that it had still been exposed in front
of everyone. No wonder Madam Ling would be panic-stricken.

"Madam, my Eldest Sister was a self-disciplined girl and

would never do anything that would humiliate our family.
Every time her husband was here, my Eldest Sister went to
see him with Sister Ziying. So they have never had a chance
to meet privately." Ning Xueyan explained to those madams who
were gossiping there politely.

With her pleasant voice and elegant behavior, Ning Xueyan

showed an imposing manner when she talked, which made people
admire deeply. She was still defending Ning Ziyan at this moment. It
must because she had a close relationship with her sister. Those
madams had already heard that Madam Ling had tried to set her up
all the time. However, Ning Xueyan didn't take advantage of Madam

www.asianovel.com
 319 Report
Ling's perilous state. She was surely a virtuous girl!

Those madams all thought that in their hearts!

www.asianovel.com
 320 Report

Chapter 93
Source: TapRead

Meanwhile, Madam Ling was gritting her teeth and got chilled in
her heart. She was unable to argue anything now. What Ning Xueyan
had said had already declared Ning Ziyan's guilty. What was more,
Ning Xueyan had also mentioned Ning Ziying who had already been
dead. There might be someone who began to doubt about the cause
of Ning Ziying's death. What was worse, if anyone wanted to dig out
the truth of that girl's death, Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan would be
doomed.

So Madam Ling had to keep her mouth shut. Otherwise she would
sound more suspicious!

A few madams looked at Ning Ziyan with a doubtful look. Xia

Yuhang always had a good reputation of being a decent man. It was
true that he didn't seem like a shameless person.

"Since she didn't have a love affair with Xia Yuhang, is it

possible that the baby's father was not him?"

"Anyway, it is true that she was pregnant. Has she cheated

on her husband?"

Ning Ziyan was in great pain right now. Those women's talks made
her also feel ashamed and angry. They said that as if she was a
dissolute woman. Then with a fit of extreme anger rushed to her
brain, she struggled to get up and stormed Ning Xueyan, "What the
hell do you mean? This child's father is none other than Xia
Yuhang! If he followed all the rules, then who do you think
my child's father is!"

After losing the baby and being suspected of cheating on Xia

Yuhang, Ning Ziyan couldn't keep calm and gentle like the ordinary
www.asianovel.com
 321 Report
times anymore with thunder rage. So she uttered those words with a
vile visage.

Madam Ling was overwhelmed with sudden accidents right now.

No one in the room had expected that Ning Ziyan would have raked
up her own fault except Ning Xueyan.

Ning Xueyan knew Ning Ziyan so well. After being suspected of

cheating on Xia Yuhang, that poor woman would definitely let rage
alter her mind.

"Ziyan, what are you talking about!" Xia Yuhang who had been
informed of what had happened by the servant spoke angrily after
hearing Ning Ziyan's curse.

He was going to take the imperial competitive examination. So his

reputation was the most important thing for him right now!

People who were blocking the door stood aside at one. Then Xia
Yuhang, having shown up at the door with Chen Hexiang, winked to
Ning Ziyan to tell her not to speak randomly.

"Nice to meet you, my eldest brother-in-law. Isn't she the

personal maid of my Eldest Sister? Why isn't she serving my
sister and staying by your side? Don't you know what has
happened to my Eldest Sister?" After saluting Xia Yuhang, Ning
Xueyan watched Chen Hexiang who was standing beside Xia Yuhang
with her eyebrows wrinkled and said sullenly.

Hearing her words, Ning Ziyan also rested her eyes on Chen
Hexiang and found the latter following Xia Yuhang closely. Then Ning
Ziyan was steamed up. Now she realized why Chen Hexiang had not
been here before. It turned out her maid had left here to seduce her
husband when she had been sick.

Seeing her ferocious eyesight falling on Chen Hexiang, Xia Yuhang

pulled his lover to his back gently. However, this movement just was

www.asianovel.com
 322 Report
like adding fuel to the fire, Ning Ziyan now was simmering with rage.

"I didn't say anything wrong. It is the truth. What now, you
want to deny that you are the father? And what are you doing
with that b*tch! Is she trying to lure you again?!"

Ning Ziyan was filled with anger and hatred right now. When she
saw Xia Yuhang having no intention to defend her but protecting her
maid as if he was afraid that she would hurt Chen Hexiang, she just
couldn't bear it. As a result, she threw the thing in her hands without
knowing what it was.

The china was smashed on the ground in front of Chen Hexiang

heavily and broke into pieces immediately. Then she, as shocked as
she was, took a few steps and stood behind Xia Yuhang tremblingly.
At the same time, she also looked at Ning Ziyan with terror, saying,
"Mistress, I, I just happened to meet Master Xia. I wasn't
intended to find, find him in the front."

"Hey! Isn't this the maid who was looking for Master Xia
just now? She has also asked me the way to the male guests'
seats. She told me that Eldest Young Lady had told her to
find Master Xia because of something important. So... she
was telling a lie?"

Chen Hexiang and Lanning were speaking at the same time.

Although Lanning was merely murmuring to herself in a low voice, all
the people still focused their eyes on this maid who wore showy
clothes. Some of the madams already found that the material of the
clothes on this maid was quite expensive.

How could the clothes of a maid be made of such expensive

material? Unless there really was something stealthy between her
master and her.

Moreover, what Chen Hexiang had said to explain for herself

contradicted what Lanning had said. Seeing Chen Hexiang blushing

www.asianovel.com
 323 Report
right away and Xia Yuhang showing an awkward face, all the people
there realized instantly that this maid really had some bad intentions
by having abandoned her own mistress and meeting her master
secretly at her master's father-in-law's manor.

So, was this Xia Yuhang really a gentle and cultivated person as
what people had said?

"How come I don't know about asking you to find him!

Anyone! Drag her out and beat her to death!" How Ning Ziyan
wished to tear Chen Hexiang apart right now! Since she had just
suffered the miscarriage and felt ashamed now, she then vented all
her anger to Chen Hexiang due to Lanning's words.

She said that severely while patting the bed board.

Though she hadn't brought any older female servant with her,
there were still two older female servants who had received the order
from Madam Ling showing up right away and dragged Chen Hexiang.
After all, this was the Lord Protector's Manor where servants were
everywhere.

It was beyond Chen Hexiang's expectation that Ning Ziyan would

lose control in front of everyone! She pulled Xia Yuhang's robe with
fright, begging for help pitifully, "Master, help me!"

"Ziyan, just forget about it. We'll discuss this maid after we
got home. Don't make a scene in the Lord Protector's Manor."
Having given a nervous cough, Xia Yuhang approached Ning Ziyan
and said that in a low and displeased voice.

What he meant was talking about this in front of everyone at this

moment was clearly inappropriate!

"Eldest Sister, just let it pass. I believe my brother-in-law

didn't try to defend her on purpose. You two should discuss it
until you go back home. Anyhow, it is just about a maid. Do

www.asianovel.com
 324 Report
you think my brother-in-law will let her tread on you?" Ning
Xueyan comforted Ning Ziyan gently.

However, those words hit the sour spot of Ning Ziyan again.
Judging from Xia Yuhang's attitude, he was determined to protect
Chen Hexiang. After all the things she had been through today
including losing her baby, not only did Xia Yuhang refuse to comfort
her, he even showed an intimacy to her maid.

Ning Ziyan felt like she was stabbed right into the heart.

"Beat her. Beat her to death!" She thumped the bed with full
hit and ignored Xia Yuhang. Now both her eyes turned red and the
blue veins in her forehead kept jumping. And she nearly uttered
those words with her teeth crunched.

"Ziyan, don't act recklessly! Let go of Hexiang!" Xia Yuhang

saw that there were more older female servant pulling Chen Hexiang
while the latter was screaming and struggling, he couldn't restrain
the anger either. Then the expression on his face turned cold.

"Recklessly? I did have been reckless. Otherwise, this kind

of thing would never happen. How could I let a maid climb on
the top of me! I could turn a blind eye when I was in the Xia
Manor. Now we are in the Lord Protector's Manor! And this
barefaced maid just couldn't wait a second to sneak out and
meet you secretly! Do you know how humiliated I feel right
now?!"

It seemed Ning Ziyan had gained some power from her extreme
anger. She suddenly sat up straightly and pointed at Chen Hexiang
while cursing in rage.

Those harsh words also pointed at Xia Yuhang. Now everyone knew
that not only had this man flirted with his wife's maid in his own
manor, he also couldn't control himself in his father-in-law's manor. It
seemed that Xia Yuhang's moral character was not as good as they

www.asianovel.com
 325 Report
had heard.

Some madams who had doubted the father of Ning Ziyan's child all
came to realize that this couple must have had an illicit sexual
relationship before their marriage. And they had only got married
because Ning Ziyan had been pregnant. No wonder why they had
even covered Second Madam's death. Because they had to, due to
the disgraceful thing they had done.

What a scandal it was! And now even the cause of hiding the
Second Madam's death was exposed!

The Eldest Young Lady and the Childe of the Xia Manor had
claimed that they knew nothing about Second Madam's death. But
actually, it was clear that they had illicit intercourse at first and
hidden the Second Madam's death in order to get married. And they
had shown others that they had been kept in the dark. How
hypocritical and dishonest they were!

The color of Madam Dowager's face had turned from green to

purple, then green again. Now she really couldn't stand sitting there.
She stood up abruptly and said to Xia Yuhang with a gloomy look,
"We won't step in the affairs of your home. Go back to your
own manor please."

She had just ordered Xia Yuhang and Ning Ziyan to leave!

"Mother, how could Ziyan move being like this! We should

let her rest for a while. She can leave after she got better!"
Madam Ling was anxious about Madam Dowager's order. Ning Ziyan
couldn't move a bit right now. After taking the medicine which was
prescribed by the doctor of the manor, she finally got a little better.
However, the doctor had also instructed that she couldn't make any
movements right now.

"Grandma..." Seeing Madam Dowager really got mad, Ning Ziyan

stared at her grandma and said that.

www.asianovel.com
 326 Report
"Servants, take this coarse maid away first." Madam
Dowager looked at Ning Ziyan's face and found her granddaughter in
a weak state indeed. So she waved her hand depressingly and
ordered the older female servants that.

As long as this maid was here, the situation would only get worse.
The reason why Ning Ziyan hadn't been able to control herself was
because of this maid. And that Xia Yuhang was totally senseless by
defending that maid till this time. What Madam Dowager planned
was dragging the maid down and kill her secretly.

After all, that was just a maid who had slept with her master. This
kind of maid could be seen in every manor. When Madam Dowager
had been young, she had dealt with more than one of these maids.
She had always managed to get rid of these girls before things went
bigger.

There was no need to be held to ridicule as it was now.

"Yes!" Two older female servants came up to drag Chen Hexiang

down.

As Chen Hexiang saw Madam Dowager's scary face, she knew that
she was done. Now those older female servants were really trying to
drag her down, so she could only grasp Xia Yuhang's robe and said,
"Master, you cannot let them take me away... I, I am
pregnant with your child now. My death is not to be
regretted. But what about the child?"

Her words caused a great disturbance in the room...

So this maid was also pregnant...

This, this childe of the Xia Manor who was famous for his high
morality was actually a libertine. Those madams who had wanted to
marry their daughter to him before because of his good reputation all
felt lucky now.

www.asianovel.com
 327 Report
Fortunately, it was not their own daughter that Xia Yuhang had
married. He had already had an affair with his wife's maid within a
month of his marriage and even got the maid pregnant. What a mess
in the Xia Manor! The madam and the maid both got pregnant from
adultery!

"So you two have already had an affair with each other
behind my back. How many times have you two slept with
each other?! And you, Xia Yuhang told me that she only
stayed in our home for a while and let me take care of her."
Ning Ziyan thought that bitterly.

"You, you two have already..." Ning Ziyan was trembling due to
the anger with her face turning green. She said that while pointing
her finger to Xia Yuhang's embarrassed face, then to Chen Hexiang.
After that, she swayed and fainted...

www.asianovel.com
 328 Report

Chapter 94
Source: TapRead

After Ning Ziyan fainted, she attracted everyone's attention.

Ning Ziyan's current situation was not very good. Everyone in the
house was sent out; only Madam Ling and Madam Dowager were left.
Basins of blood were taken out one after another and many female
servants shuttled in and out in a flurry. Ning Xueyan stayed outside
and could not help pulling an older female servant and asking her
about it.

The older female servant only said that the Eldest Young Lady
would lose her baby and was in danger now!

After that, she ran back in a hurry.

Chen Hexiang was frightened pale. She held Xia Yuhang's clothes
tightly with panic on her face. Although she wanted Ning Ziyan to
lose her baby, she did not want to be involved with it. Even though
she was scheming, she was still in a great panic now.

"Eldest Brother-in-law, couldn't you talk about that when

you go back? Did you have to stimulate my Eldest Sister at
this time?" Ning Xueyan turned around and coldly spoke to Xia
Yuhang while looking at Chen Hexiang's hands, which were holding
Xia Yuhang tightly.

As Ning Ziyan's sister, Ning Xueyan could defend Ning Ziyan

against this injustice!

Hearing Ning Xueyan's words, all the madams turned their eyes to
Xia Yuhang and saw Chen Hexiang holding Xia Yuhang tightly. They
could not help sighing in their minds that Xia Yuhang was really not
good!

www.asianovel.com
 329 Report
In their view, Xia Yuhang still flirted with a maid while his wife was
in danger, and such a person did not deserve to be an official!

Xia Yuhang already felt disgraced when his amour with Chen
Hehiang was exposed in front of so many people. At this time, after
listening to Ning Xueyan, Xia Yuhang pushed the sobbing Chen
Hexiang aside and said coldly, "My child? Is there any
relationship between your child and me? I've only taken you
in for half a month. How can this child be mine?"

"Childe, you..." Chen Hexiang was pushed to the ground and felt
a pain in her stomach. She could not help raising her head and
looking at Xia Yuhang in disbelief. She could not believe that he had
gone back on his word. Xia Yuhang had promised that he would
marry her and cherish her and her child from then on, and would also
protect them from being bullied by Ning Ziyan.

But he had gone back on his word after just a short time!

"Take her down and give her some money, and then see
her off!" Xia Yuehang was no longer tender, and he waved his hands
with a look of indifference on his face.

It meant that she would be driven out of the Xia Manor, which Chen
Hexiang could not bear. In order to become the hostess of the Xia
Manor, she racked her brains in scheming. To achieve her goal, she
had framed Ning Ziying before and told Xia Yuhang about the baby in
front of Ning Ziyan today.

But she did not expect that Xia Yuhang, who had always been
gentle to her, would drive her away.

"Childe, you... you can't abandon me. I'm pregnant! It's

yours! We spent so much time together in Cold Mountain
Temple. How could we only know each other for half a
month..."

www.asianovel.com
 330 Report
Thinking that she would lose everything, Chen Hexiang was
unwilling to give up. She rushed over to Xia Yuhang, held his legs,
and started crying.

The two had had sex in the temple, which greatly shocked
everyone, but Xia Yuhang looked sanctimonious. Unexpectedly, he
dared to have sex in a temple. Wasn't he afraid of offending the
Buddha?

"Cold Mountain Temple? The Cold Mountain Temple that

Sister Ziying had visited before?" Ning Xueyan raised her head
and asked while frowning, as if she really had been shocked.

Ning Xueyan's words reminded Chen Hexiang of the past. At this

time, she would tightly grab onto it, even if there was only one life-
saving straw there. Xia Yuhang did not admit to their amour. But
Ning Ziying knew that she had been taken in by Xia Yuhang at Cold
Mountain Temple.

"Yes. Young Lady Ziying can prove that I didn't lie. She
became aware of me when she came to see you at Cold
Mountain Temple... Young Lady Ziying..."

Before she had finished, Chen Hexiang suddenly felt a pain in her
waist and found that she was being kicked out by Xia Yuhang. Chen
Hexiang flew out and hit a tree so hard that she spit out blood as she
fell down.

"Take this bitch away! She dares to slander me!"

Now Xia Yuhang was not gentle at all. He shouted with a gloomy
and angry look and regretted that he had not asked the older female
servants to take Chen Hexiang away and beat her to death just now.

Chen Hexiang not only irritated Ning Ziyan, but also destroyed Xia
Yuhang's reputation. Now, she even dared to talk about Ning Ziying.
If the secrets about Ning Ziying were exposed, the Xia Manor could

www.asianovel.com
 331 Report
not afford the consequences.

"She... she seems to be bleeding!" One madam was shocked

by Xia Yuhang's sudden brutality and shouted while pointing at Chen
Hexiang's skirt.

Needless to say, she would lose her baby as well!

But she used to be the maid of the Xia Manor, and the Eldest
Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor fell into danger because of her,
so no one stood up to take care of her. In the end, Xia Yuhang asked
two older female servants to take her away. The fainted Chen
Hexiang was dragged away, leaving a trail of blood on the ground.

Those madams standing aside covered their mouths and noses

with their handkerchiefs while looking at Xia Yuhang with disdain,
ridicule, and suspicion, while thinking in minds, "Who is Ning
Ziying? It seems that she also comes from Lord Protector's
Manor. When did Xia Yuhang have a relationship with
another Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor?"

Ning Xueyan looked down with her head hanging low. Her ink-like
eyes were full of tranquility and coldness, as if they were filled with
darkness.

This was Xia Yuehang. He would listen to you and was willing to do
anything for you when you had a good relationship with him. But
when it came to his own interests, he would be fierce and merciless.
Chen Hexiang had thought that she was Xia Yuhang's beloved and
believed that Xia Yuhang would listen to her, so she was so indulgent
today.

Xia Yuhang was extremely good to Chen Hexiang before, so she

dared to say that she was pregnant in public. However, this man was
unreliable. Maybe now at the end of her life, she would understand
that Xia Yuhang could give up anything for his own future.

www.asianovel.com
 332 Report
Would he marry a powerless orphan girl instead of a Young Lady of
Lord Protector's Manor?

For his own fame and future, it was almost inevitable that Xia
Yuhang would abandon Chen Hexiang.

Unfortunately, he was caught up in such a scandal. After today,

how could he keep his reputation? And his rich knowledge would be
useless!

With a bad reputation, how could Xia Yuhang become an official

and achieve his career success?

Ning Xueyan lowered her head and coldly smiled.

The birthday banquet hosted in Lord Protector's Manor for the

concubine of Lord Protector became a farce in the end, the news of
which was soon spread out.

First, it was found out that the concubine of Lord Protector was not
pregnant. Then, it was discovered that the concubine had been
poisoned with acyeterion. After that, the Eldest Young Lady of Lord
Protector's Manor, who had married into the Xia Manor, had a
miscarriage. And it was found out that she had been pregnant for
about three months, which meant she was pregnant before she had
gotten married.

They also knew that the Eldest Young Lady of Lord Protector's
Manor and Xia Yuhang had premarital sex, so that the Eldest Young
Lady was pregnant and Lord Protector's Manor concealed the Second
Madam's death from others in order to hold a wedding for the Eldest
Young Lady and Xia Yuhang.

Later, it was exposed that Xia Yuhang had carried on a clandestine

love affair with a maid in Cold Mountain Temple before he married
Ning Ziyan. It was also rumored that Childe Xia had a close
relationship with a female relative who had lived in Lord Protector's

www.asianovel.com
 333 Report
Manor and they met in both Lord Protector's Manor and Cold
Mountain Temple.

After that, it was said that the Young Lady had died on the eve of
Xia Yuhang's marriage. How could it not be suspicious?

It was chaos in Lord Protector's Manor and the host had no time to
entertain the guests. Therefore, the guests gathered in twos and
threes to gossip.

Ning Xueyan was not married yet and this was the first time that
she showed up in front of others, so she could not make any
judgment. A few moments later, Madam Dowager asked her to return
to her own courtyard.

Mother Han had already returned to Bright Frost Garden. When she
saw Ning Xueyan coming back, she immediately reported to Ning
Xueyan in a low voice, "Young Lady, Madam Dowager invited a
doctor to treat that woman. She has stopped bleeding. But
she will lose her child. One reason is that she was kicked. The
other reason is that she has been poisoned. The poison was
smeared on her hairpin and will lead to an abortion."

"Ning Ziyan will never show mercy when she poisons

others!" Ning Xueyan sneered as she turned to the bookcase. She
picked up a brush pen and started drawing. She liked drawing and
her pictures were quite different from those of ordinary women,
which was due to her mother's cultivation.

Ning Ziyan put the hairpin on her head because Concubine Ma had
asked her out. If something happened, the first person to be checked
was her. As long as the hairpin was found on her, she would not be
able to clarify even if she had more mouths.

Madam Ling made the plan and Ning Ziyan carried out the place.
They fit together perfectly as usual. They had conspired together to
kill Ning Ziying beside the lotus pond before and they tried to frame

www.asianovel.com
 334 Report
Ning Xueyan now. But Ning Xueyan was no longer cowardly!

She would not only save Chen Hexiang, but also make her hate
Ning Ziyan. Actually, Chen Hexiang was a scheming and cruel
woman. She failed today because she did not realize her weight in
Xia Yuhang's heart. Ning Xueyan hoped that Chen Hexiang could give
her a bigger surprise the next time.

Why was there poison on that hairpin? Why did it fall into her
hands? Ning Xueyan could figure it out easily!

At lunchtime, Madam Dowager organized in the inner courtyard

while Ning Zu'an organized in the outer courtyard. But no one was in
the mood for dinner. So they finished lunch quickly and left!

Such things happened in Lord Protector's Manor one after another,

so nobody had the mind to take care of Bright Frost Garden.
Originally, no one paid attention to Bright Frost Garden. So at this
time, no one cared about Ning Xueyan. She secretly changed into a
young male servant's costume and went out of Lord Protector's
Manor alone.

Today, there was still one last important step to go!

Otherwise, what she had done would all have been in vain!

In other people's opinions, Ning Xueyan was an emaciated girl who

never went out. But Ning Ziying was not. She was a guest in Lord
Protector's Manor, so they seldom stopped her from going out.
Therefore, she went out many times when she was Ning Ziying and
knew the layout of the street outside.

And now she was about to look for that man!

www.asianovel.com
 335 Report

Chapter 95
Source: TapRead

Ning Xueyan went through the gate of Lord Protector's Manor,

turned left toward the main street, and then passed by the most
prosperous street in the capital. Finally, she went to a capacious
intersection, where eight horses could pass side by side. She turned
at this intersection and arrived at a street where all of the buildings
on both sides were owned by one person.

That was Prince Yi, Ao Chenyi!

Standing in front of the gate of Prince Yi's Manor, Ning Xueyan

frowned. She had passed through this intersection before, but she
had never been to Prince Yi's Manor. Only then did she find that she
could not enter Prince Yi's Manor! Ning Xueyan was in a hurry when
she got here and did not think about it, so now she could only stand
outside in despair.

While Ning Xueyan was trying to find a way to enter, several

horses suddenly rushed out of the manor. The guards at the door
almost unconsciously flashed away and respectfully knelt on the
ground.

Did Ao Chenyi happen to come out?

However, before Ning Xueyan could move, the one who rushed out
first wielded a long whip in his hand and then she was pulled toward
him before she could respond.

Anyone would be frightened if they suddenly experienced that.

Ning Xueyan subconsciously held Ao Chenyi's waist to prevent
herself from falling down from the horse. The horse kept running
rapidly and did not stop. If Ning Xueyan had not reacted quickly, she
would have flown out and died when Ao Chenyi took the whip back!
www.asianovel.com
 336 Report
The wind blew so furiously that her hat was blown away.
Immediately, her long black hair was scattered. Several strands of
her hair slapped her on the face and it was painful.

Ning Xueyan heard Ao Chenyi's malicious and cold laughter, which

made her very angry and firmly believe that he had done that on
purpose!

Suddenly, the horse stopped. Ning Xueyan could hardly hold onto
Ao Chenyi and was about to fly off due to inertia. Ao Chenyi wielded
his whip again and looped it around her waist to hold her in his arms.

"Uncle, she is?" Suddenly, Ning Xueyan heard a surprised voice.

It was the Third Prince!

How did they encounter the Third Prince?

Ning Xueyan did not dare to move at this time. She hugged Ao
Chenyi motionlessly and buried her head deep in his arms. At this
time, her face could never be seen by the Third Prince.

"She's my girl. She's very naughty. I don't know how she

got such an outfit. She usually stays in the manor and seldom
comes out. So today I especially took her out. But she is too
timid. Turn around and salute the Third Prince," Ao Chenyi said
drowsily while tapping Ning Xueyan on her back with his whip.

So Ning Xueyan had to turn around. She slightly tilted her head
while not looking at the Third Prince on the opposite horse, bent
slightly on the horse to salute the Third Prince, and said delicately,
"Your Highness!"

Ning Xueyan's long hair was scattered, covering a large part of her
face, so the Third Prince only saw a little of her face and lips.
Although he could not see clearly, he also realized that the woman in
front of him should be very beautiful. So the Third Prince could not
help but say with a smile on his face, "I didn't expect there to be

www.asianovel.com
 337 Report
such a beauty in your manor. My father worries about your
emotional life every day. It seems that all his worrying is in
vain!"

"She is not exceedingly beautiful, but just happens to be

my type. As for other beauties, they're not my cup of tea." Ao
Chenyi stretched out his hands to touch Ning Xueyan's long hair and
held her closer while laughing.

Ao Chenyi had never been so tender to a woman before. Therefore,

all of them were shocked and widened their eyes when they saw the
gentle Ao Chenyi. They wanted to know how beautiful this woman
was so that Ao Chenyi was attracted by her and brought her to this
important occasion.

"My father would be sad if he heard what you said. Uncle,

you're Prince Yi. Ordinary women do not deserve you. The
hostess of Prince Yi's Manor must come from a noble and
exalted family." Once again, the elegant voice of the Third Prince
came to Ning Xueyan's ears. It sounded like he was very concerned
about Ao Chenyi and wanted him to marry a suitable woman.

The Third Prince was really hypocritical. In his mind, he wished that
Prince Yi would marry an ordinary woman. However, in front of Prince
Yi's concubine, he deliberately said that Prince Yi should marry an
exalted woman. This was to make Prince Yi's concubine jealous and
cause Prince Yi trouble. After all, if Ao Chenyi's Legal Wife came from
a powerful family, the pressure on the Third Prince would be greater.

If Ning Xueyan really was Ao Chenyi's beloved concubine, she

would be jealous and cause him trouble. Unfortunately, Ning Xueyan
was not. Ning Xueyan unconsciously smiled and appreciated the
performance of Third Prince while leaning into Prince Yi's arms.

Anyway, it looked like she would not be able to leave now!

The two groups slowed down, headed by Prince Yi, and ran all the

www.asianovel.com
 338 Report
way to the Third Prince's manor outside the city.

The wind was very strong, Ning Xueyan felt cold in her flimsy
dress. So she subconsciously got closer to Ao Chenyi. Ning Xueyan
was in poor health. She would be seriously ill if she were to be blown
by the strong wind the entire way.

But now, she had a wolf by the ears and could not leave.

Suddenly, Ning Xueyan felt warm, as if she had been wrapped in

something. She got a glimpse of the pure-white fox-furred edge.
Unexpectedly, it was Ao Chenyi's cloak.

It seemed that he was afraid that Ning Xueyan could not pretend to
be his favorite concubine due to being frozen!

Since it was beneficial to both of them, Ning Xueyan did not refuse
Ao Cheyi's cloak. She tucked into the cloak and was wrapped in his
chest and cloak. It was really warm, and she unconsciously relaxed.

Then she began to think about where they were going!

Ning Xueyan raised her head, pulled Ao Chenyi's clothes on his

chest, and asked in a low voice, "Where are we going, Prince Yi?
What should I do?"

She did not believe that Ao Chenyi had taken her without a
purpose.

Feeling that she was talking to him, Ao Chenyi looked down and
saw a small head peeking out above the snow-white fox-furred cloak.
Her dark hair fell back, making her look charming. Ao Chenyi
answered with a smile on his face, "You don't need to do
anything, just dress up as my favorite concubine."

"But the Third Prince knows me!" Ning Xueyan hesitated and
said.

www.asianovel.com
 339 Report
The Third Prince did not recognize her just now because she was
on a horse and her face was half-covered by her flying hair. However,
when she got off the horse later, she would be clearly seen by the
Third Prince and might be recognized.

"Don't worry, I have my own way. You just have to lie in my

arms." Ao Chenyi slightly narrowed his eyes and smiled, but Ning
Xueyan could hardly feel his warmth.

The man was completely indifferent. He showed no warmth even

when he was smiling and always made people feel like they were in
the cold. Ning Xueyan sighed and said nothing more. She closed her
eyes and rested in the cloak.

Fortunately, his body was warm and she did not feel cold.

Not knowing how long the horse had been running, Ning Xueyan
became sleepy on the horse. Suddenly, she felt the horse stop. She
opened her eyes and blinked. Ning Xueyan raised her head
unconsciously and looked into a pair of cold eyes. Then she blinked
more before she remembered where she was.

"Prince Yi, here we are?" Ning Xueyan wanted to sit up.

"Hmm!" Ao Chenyi drew back his gaze, tossed away the whip in
his hands, and got off the horse while holding Ning Xueyan by one
hand. Ning Xueyan was still half wrapped in the fox-furred cloak, with
the top of her head exposed in the air. Her eyes were bright and
beautiful, making Ning Xueyan look enchanting.

Since she could fascinate Prince Yi, how could she not be a
stunner?

Those who followed Ao Chenyi also got off their horses. Ning

Xueyan secretly scrutinized them while still leaning into Ao Chenyi's
arms. Besides the Third Prince, they also seemed to be
extraordinary. But they were totally unrelated with Ao Chenyi. Why

www.asianovel.com
 340 Report
were they together?

Ning Xueyan frowned and had a feeling that something unusual

would happen!

Suddenly, Ning Xueyan looked into a pair of smiling eyes, whose

owner deliberately winked at her. It was the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Min, Wen Xueran. "Why is he here?" Ning
Xueyan was very surprised. She always felt that Wen Xueran was
dangerous.

Ning Xueyan tried to calm down and quietly turned to another

person. Then she turned back and buried her head in Ao Chenyi's
arms. Compared with the Third Prince, the Princely Heir of
Commandery Prince Min was more difficult to fool. Ning Xueyan did
not want to see him.

"Uncle, please come in!" The Third Prince jumped off the horse,
took two steps forward, and made an invitation gesture at the door!

Ao Cheyi nodded and strode in while holding Ning Xueyan!

The rest of them followed, only Wen Xueran stopped in place and
thoughtfully looked at Ao Chenyi with a faint smile on his face.

"She is Prince Yi's favorite concubine? When did Prince Yi

have a favorite concubine? This is a piece of news that's
worth looking forward to," Wen Xueran thought.

"Don't they say that Prince Yi has no concubine? Where does this
woman come from? She should dress in a young male servant's
clothes. As Prince Yi said, she is naughty.

"It's interesting that the cold-blooded Prince Yi would allow

a woman to be mischievous and doesn't punish her."

"Xueran, why don't you come in?" A childe of a noble family

ahead looked back and cried when he saw that Wen Xueran had not

www.asianovel.com
 341 Report
moved.

"I'm coming!" Wen Xueran responded and entered the house

after them with a smile on his face while spinning the folding fan in
his hands.

Out of fear of being recognized by the Third Prince, Ning Xueyan

was more careful in peeking this time. She grasped the fox-furred
cloak and secretly peeked while the Third Prince and Ao Chenyi were
talking.

This courtyard was a richly ornamented building. Carved beams

and painted rafters were everywhere. Lord Protector's Manor was
well-known in the capital for its grandness. But it still was inferior to
this building.

Surrounded by the crowd, Ao Chenyi, holding Ning Xueyan, walked

through the corridor and stopped at a waterside pavilion.

One could see the rockery in the lake and the gurgling water. The
view was open and excellent!

Ao Chenyi sat on the first couch in the middle, while the Third
Prince and the others sat on both sides. Ning Xueyan sat on the
couch near Ao Chenyi. Her face was still half-covered by the cloak.
The cloak, along with her scattered long hair, made her face
indistinct.

Everyone sat down and began to drink while talking and enjoying
the scenery. All of a sudden, the Third Prince came to the center and
clapped three times. Then the door was opened and two teams came
in...

www.asianovel.com
 342 Report

Chapter 96
Source: TapRead

It was two groups of female dancers in flowing dresses. They

entered the house in two teams and then started dancing face to
face.

The team on the left was led by a beauty in a pink dress, who was
slender and adorable.

The team on the right was led by a beauty in a green dress, who
was sexy and enchanting!

Both of them were stunners!

The two beauties moved to the center as they danced. Then they
bent down in front of Ao Chenyi and looked at him with shyness.

"Prince Yi, you are looking at... dancing?" The singing and
dancing were still going on. Those beauties took a look at Ao Chenyi
from time to time. But he was not moved. He held a glazed glass that
was full of blood-like wine and indifferently looked at those beauties.
Ning Xueyan felt uneasy and asked him in a low voice.

For fear of being recognized by the others, Ning Xueyan had to

stick tightly to Ao Chenyi. The strong masculine atmosphere rushed
at Ning Xueyan from all directions, making her blush. And because of
the blush, she looked even more enchanting than usual.

Ao Chenyi looked down at her while supporting his chin with one
hand and touching her earring with the other hand, and vaguely said,
"Hmm."

Suddenly, he asked Ning Xueyan while looking at her with a faint

smile on his face, "Do they dance well?"

www.asianovel.com
 343 Report
"Yes!" Ning Xueyan nodded sincerely. They feasted their eyes on
the flying ribbons and dancing beauties. Furthermore, these dancers
did their best to dance. It was cold and they wore thin clothes, but
none of them felt cold and their faces became red due to being so
hot.

"Then keep watching." Hearing Ning Xueyan's answer, Ao

Chenyi smiled and said a meaningful word.

While they were talking, the music was no longer soft and had
become fast. The dancers also moved fast, looking a little bit fierce.
From the place where she was, Ning Xueyan could see several
dancers looking at her with tears in their eyes when they passed by
her.

Yes, there were pleading. Their eyes were full of entreaty!

No man could bear the plea of a poor beauty. However, the one
beside her was not moved at all. He still watched them dancing while
holding the glass, as if he knew nothing. It was him who was so
gloomy and cold-blooded!

It was easier to ask him to directly kill someone than hope that he
could have compassion for women.

"Prince Yi, you don't like any of them? All of them are well-
known beauties and were carefully selected, especially the
leading ones. They are more charming than the others." A
man sitting on Ao Chenyi's right could not help speaking first.

He said those harsh words while looking at Ning Xueyan, who was
held tightly by Ao Chenyi, with disdain.

Ao Chenyi drank the bloody wine and then looked sideways at the
man who just spoke with a slight smile on his face. Instead of paying
attention to him, he turned to the Third Prince and said, "Mingyu
carefully chose these beauties for me. They are indeed

www.asianovel.com
 344 Report
beautiful, but not my cup of tea. So, kill them all."

Hearing what Ao Chenyi said, Ning Xueyan sighed helplessly in her

mind! Sure enough, he could easily determine those dancers'
destinies.

And those dancers became disordered and their faces turned pale
immediately.

Obviously, Ao Chenyi turned his nose up at these beauties, or at

anyone else here. He glanced over the crowd and stopped when he
saw the smiling Wen Xueran, and then he showed a strange and
gloomy smile.

From her position, Ning Xueyan found that Ao Chenyi's smile was
more like a ghost hand that silently caught her neck!

It was creepy!

The childe who had been directly ignored like dust by Ao Chenyi
did not dare to say a word. Ning Xueyan even saw his cup-holding
hand unconsciously trembling. The wine in the cup spilled onto his
hand, as red as blood.

The others who did not speak also turned pale and lowered their
heads.

The Third Prince clenched his fists in his sleeve and felt a sharp
pain in his fingertips. He could almost not keep his elegant smile at
this time. He looked down to hide the murderous look in his eyes.

He was the favorite son of the emperor, and his status was enough
to become the Heir Apparent. If not for Ao Chenyi, he would not have
been the Third Prince at this moment and a powerless Imperial Prince
in the future.

It was not clear to the Third Prince how binding the last words of
the former emperor were, but he felt that it was a great shame that

www.asianovel.com
 345 Report
his father did not confer the title of Heir Apparent onto him and let Ao
Chenyi take control of the court.

He even controlled the emperor's...

Someone had opposed that, but they and their families had been
decapitated!

Today, those childes who came here with the Third Prince were not
only exalted, but also arrogant. However, Ao Chenyi's simple words
frightened them all.

"Uncle, these are excellent beauties. Even though you don't

like them, you needn't kill them all. For this dance, I searched
many places to assemble them."

The Third Prince regained his elegance when he looked up again.

He advised Ao Chenyi not to kill them while looking at those dancers
with a gentle smile on his face.

Hearing the Third Prince's words, those dancers looked at him

gratefully with tears in their eyes.

"Since Mingyu said so, I'll let you off. Guards, bring them all
to my manor where there is a shortage of women." Ao Chenyi
leaned back lazily and nodded his head as if he were very satisfied
with what the Third Prince had said. "After hearing what you said,
I find they are indeed beautiful when looking again. Since
they dared to seduce me, I have to give them a chance to try
it!"

What he said was very flippant. He described the noble Third

Prince as a procurer of a brothel, making all the people present bow
their heads in shame and indignation.

They all followed the Third Prince's head!

Blue veins stood out on the Third Prince's cup-holding hand, but he

www.asianovel.com
 346 Report
still gently smiled, as if he did not feel there was anything wrong in
Ao Chenyi's words.

Ning Xueyan had been secretly paying attention to the Third Prince
the entire time. Seeing his behavior, she could not help think that the
Third Prince was quite tolerant!

"Prince Yi, since you like Lianyue and Xiyue, how about
marrying them? There is no such a beautiful woman in the
world. I'm afraid that they are much better than the one in
your arms! Moreover, the two girls come from a scholarly
family. I think they deserve to be your co-consorts."

There always were people in the world who were not afraid of
death. When they got the Third Prince's hint, another childe stood out
and suggested that Ao Chenyi should marry the two leading
beauties. Although his face was pale, his behavior was normal.

How dare the Third Prince suggest that Ao Chenyi marry the two
dancers! Ning Xueyan frowned when she heard what the man said.
The Third Prince should not have done such a silly thing!

As the powerful Prince Yi, what kind of beauty had he never seen?
How could he fall in love with a beauty given by the Third Prince?

"Want to see how my girl looks?" Ao Chenyi suddenly looked

askance at the young man. His deep eyes, like the eyes of a ghost,
were full of gloom and fierceness, making people feel chilly and cold.

He was both extremely beautiful and gruesome!

The two images were contradictory, but could be seen in Ao Chenyi

simultaneously, forming a unique effect. The childe who tried to be
calm turned pale as if he saw a ghost and teetered.

"Unfortunately, you don't deserve to see her!" Ao Chenyi

coldly said while staring at that man.

www.asianovel.com
 347 Report
As soon as Ao Chenyi finished, the man fell heavily to the ground
and trembled. The wine in the cup was all splattered on him. Those
with sharp eyes saw that the hem of his clothes had been wet.

He pissed his pants in horror!

The Third Prince's face clouded over at once.

Ning Xueyan did not expect that the man who was arrogant and
spoke as raised his head would suddenly become like this. It really
made people feel humiliated.

"Mingyu, this is the man you invited." Ao Chenyi chuckled as

he tossed away the cup in his hands. The cup pounded on the man's
head and the wine inside it spilled on him. The wine stain on his body
looked like peach blossoms. The man immediately lost his breath
before he could say more.

Was that how he died?

Ning Xueyan subconsciously bit her lips, and forcefully resisted the
coldness and fear gushing from the bottom of her heart!

There was nothing to be afraid of. Ao Chenyi and the Third Prince
were destined to be enemies and they would confront each other
sooner or later. Although the two people seemed to be in harmony,
this must have happened many times before.

Of course Ning Xueyan had seen blood. After her rebirth, she
understood many things. At most, death was the worst!

So what she had to do was not be afraid, but stay close to the man.
Anyway, she was on the same team as him now!

The Third Prince was very angry. He was angry not only with his
useless people, but also with Ao Chenyi's direct killing of his man!

His hands inside his sleeve shivered slightly!

www.asianovel.com
 348 Report
However, he had no ability or confidence to overthrow Ao Chenyi.
He had to submit to Ao Chenyi before his father made a clear
decision.

"Uncle, later I'll ask people to send these beauties to your

manor." The Third Prince smiled and changed the subject as he
swallowed his anger. "Uncle, do you want to see the next?"

"Do you want to have a look?" Ao Chenyi nodded, but did not
directly answer the Third Prince's question. He turned his head and
looked at Ning Xueyan's half-hidden face with interest. Ning Xueyan
was no longer blushing. Her face was still a little pale but her eyes
were calm.

She looked as if she hadn't seen death here!

"She's quite interesting!" Ao Chenyi thought.

"The next? How many beauties has the Third Prince

prepared for you? I don't want you to look at them!" Ning
Xueyan said as she moved closer to Ao Chenyi. Since she was Prince
Yi's concubine now, Ning Xueyan pretended to be jealous even
though she did not know what Ao Chenyi wanted to do. Although her
voice was gentle, others could tell that she was unhappy now.

"Are you unhappy?" Ao Chenyi burst into laughter, stretched out

his hand, and patted her on the back. In front of those surprised
people, he coaxed Ning Xueyan as if there were no one around them.
"Since you don't like it, I won't see them!"

The last sentence was for the Third Prince! After that, Ao Chenyi
waved his hands lazily.

Then, the waterside pavilion suddenly quieted down and the

atmosphere became strange...

www.asianovel.com
 349 Report

Chapter 97
Source: TapRead

Ao Chenyi refused the Third Prince's suggestion because of his

concubine, which clearly showed Ao Chenyi's disdain for the Third
Prince.

Ning Xueyan suddenly became nervous. Although she could not

see their expressions, she could sense the tense atmosphere. And
what made her more nervous was that Ao Chenyi had called her
Yan'er just now. Would Ao Mingyu recognize her by the name?

"Uncle, you must be joking. Since you don't want to see

them today, we'll talk about it next time!" After a long time,
Ning Xueyan heard the gentle laughter of the Third Prince.

This man could not be underestimated!

Unexpectedly, he could endure it being despised like that. He

deserved to be Ao Chenyi's opponent!

"Fine, let's go. I have something to do," Ao Chenyi said with a

faint smile on his face while looking at those depressed childes.

Immediately, theirs faces turned pale and stiff!

"Uncle, you haven't chosen the right beauty yet. Why are
you going back so soon? There still are some beauties from
the regions south of the Yangtze River who are 16 years old.
Uncle, you really don't want to see them?" the Third Prince
asked again. He did not believe that Ao Chenyi would not like those
beauties.

In his opinion, Ao Chenyi was playing cat and mouse with him and
the woman in his arms was his prop!

www.asianovel.com
 350 Report
"No, I don't want to see them. I already have a beauty. As
for any other beauties, we'll talk about it later." Ao Chenyi
stood up, wrapped Ning Xueyan with the cloak, and was about to
leave.

"Goodbye, uncle. Later, I'll ask my people to send Lianyue

and Xiyue to your manor." The Third Prince stood up with respect
and bowed with his hands folded in front of his chest.

Ao Chenyi nodded, and then left the waterside pavilion while

holding Ning Xueyan.

Behind him, the Third Prince turned gloomy and veins bulged on
his cup-holding hand. He was a prince, but had been slighted like
that. How could he not be angry?

"Your Highness, those two beauties..." A man came up and

whispered to the Third Prince. Seeing all the people look at him, the
Third Prince concealed the coldness in his eyes and changed the
topic with a smile on his face.

"My uncle seldom accepts beauty. Since they're accepted,

they can't be too shabby. Later on, send all their luggage
along with the clothes and jewelry I have prepared for them
to my uncle's manor. Then send more jewelry to them. Tell
them it's the dowry I give them."

"Your Highness, remember to send along their family

information to Prince Yi, so that Prince Yi can learn about
their origins. Otherwise, you may get in trouble when
something happens," said Wen Xueran, who came over while
shaking the folding fan in his hand.

The Third Prince nodded with an unhappy expression. "Xueran, I'll

leave that to you. Make sure that there's nothing left. I don't
want to be hurry-scurry one day."

www.asianovel.com
 351 Report
"Your Highness, rest assured. Nothing will happen. Prince
Yi has the ability to learn everything about the two beauties.
We needn't bother!"

Wen Xueran spoke with a smile on his face as he shook the folding
fan in his hands, the peony pattern on the folding fan flickering.

"But, their origins are still unknown to us, if they are..." The
Third Prince hesitated. He looked in the direction Ao Chenyi
disappeared and suddenly remembered something.

It took him a long time and so much effort to find them. If they
were really found by him, but fell into Ao Chenyi's hands in the end, it
would be too late to regret it.

Knowing what the Third Prince was worried about, Wen Xueran
smiled and comforted him. "Your Highness, don't worry.
Although they're about the same age as the person we're
looking for and also come from the regions south of the
Yangtze River, they're not necessarily the ones we're looking
for. We have checked that there's nothing wrong them!"

"But this is the first time that he has accepted a beauty.

Maybe they are..." The Third Prince felt uneasy. And the more he
thought about it, the more doubtful he felt. Ao Chenyi had never
accepted any beauty he had sent before, so why did he accept the
two today?

Of course, the Third Prince did not believe that Ao Chenyi accepted
them because of their beauty!

"Your Highness, even if they're the people we're looking

for, we needn't be afraid. Aren't those people they care about
under your control? If they really are, maybe we'll have
unexpected harvest then." Wen Xueran shook his head and
rejected the Third Prince's guess. And the smile on his face was as
warm as a spring breeze.

www.asianovel.com
 352 Report
After listening to Wen Xueran's explanation, the Third Prince
relaxed. He thought about it and felt what Wen Xueran said was
reasonable, and nodded at the moment.

Outside the manor, Ning Xueyan got on the horse with Ao Chenyi.
Although there was no one around them, Ning Xueyan still hid herself
in Ao Chenyi's arms cautiously.

"What's wrong? You think that someone is keeping an eye

on me?" Ao Chenyi reached out a hand and gracefully touched the
top of her head.

Ning Xueyan subconsciously avoided his hand. Anything he said or

did gave people a sense of great oppression.

"Prince Yi, I'm looking for you because of Xia Yuhang. I

believe that you already know what happened in Lord
Protector's Manor today." Ning Xueyan raised her head in his
arms and directly spoke with a serious look on her face. She had
been out for a period of time, and it would be terrible if she was
discovered.

Madam Ling was worried that she had no chance to deal with Ning
Xueyan. If she knew that Ning Xueyan had sneaked out and had the
suspicion of having a private meeting with a man, she would
immediately deal with Ning Xueyan.

Ao Chenyi lazily picked the hair from Ning Xueyan's face and said
with a faint smile on his face, "Yan'er, do you have a grudge
against Xia Yuhang?"

He already knew what had happened in Lord Protector's Manor

today. He did not expect such a little girl to be so scheming and
expose what had happened in the past. Meanwhile, he also found
something interesting, which was that this girl seemed to pay too
much attention to Xia Yuhang.

www.asianovel.com
 353 Report
As far as he knew, Ning Xueyan had never seen Xia Yuhang before.
Why did she hate Xia Yuhang so much and want to destroy him? It
could be seen that her eyes were full of fierceness when he
mentioned Xia Yuhang, which made Ao Chenyi feel a little
uncomfortable. What kind of man was Xia Yuhang to make her care
so much about him?

"Prince Yi, if I said that I wish I could eat his flesh and drink
his blood, would you believe it?" said Ning Xueyan. The hatred in
her eyes was too much to be concealed.

"I believe it. Why wouldn't I believe it? Do you want me to

have him captured and kill him directly?" Ao Chenyi said
naturally, as if he had just said that he would take her to look at
flowers.

"Thank you, Prince Yi. But I don't want him to die.

Sometimes, living is more painful than dying. I want him to
stay alive and suffer from pain!" Ning Xueyan smiled insincerely.
She showed a cold smile on her face and her eyes were full of hatred.

She just looked up at Ao Chenyi without shyness on her face. Ning

Xueyan's face was delicate and beautiful, but she said such cruel
words coldly, which made her attractive!

She was a Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor and was so young.
Unexpectedly, she was so vicious!

Unexpectedly, Ao Chenyi did not ask why Ning Xueyan hated Xia
Yuhang so much. Instead, he nodded and said with interest in his
eyes, "I can stop Xia Yuhang from taking the imperial
examination and becoming an official. But you and I only had
one deal. Now it seems that you owe me one. Why should I
help you?"

In this way, Ning Xueyan was in the wrong!

www.asianovel.com
 354 Report
Ao Chenyi indeed had helped her several times. But she had not
stolen what she should have. So he meant that he suffered a loss and
did not like the deal, and he was unwilling to help Ning Xueyan this
time even though he had the ability to do so.

Hearing that, Ning Xueyan said without hurry, "Prince Yi, I

helped you once today. Shouldn't you express your gratitude
to me?" Ning Xueyan did not think that the matter she had helped
Ao Chenyi with in Lord Protector's Manor that night could be used as
a bargaining chip. At that time, he didn't look like he couldn't escape.

Ao Chenyi raised his eyebrows and said, "I don't think you
helped me today."

He refused to admit it!

Fortunately, she had strung together what happened just now and
figured out the whole thing.

But she felt uncomfortable being stared at by him. What did he

mean?

Ning Xueyan seemed to be interested and asked, "Prince Yi, did

you gamble with the Third Prince today? If I hadn't been
there, would you intend to finish or not?" She was held tight by
Ao Chenyi and clung to his chest, which almost made it unable for
her to breathe. But Ning Xueyan was quite aware of the situation and
did not struggle.

"Gamble? What did Ao Mingyu and I gamble on?" Ao Chenyi

smiled and loosened his grip, letting her be able to breathe.

"I don't know exactly what you and the Third Prince
gambled on, but it must be related to the beauties. It seems
that the Third Prince is unwilling to give you the two
beauties. Prince Yi, why don't you return them to the Third
Prince? In this way, he won't suffer a lot when he misses the

www.asianovel.com
 355 Report
two beauties."

Just now, she had been secretly observing the Third Prince when
she hid in Ao Chenyi's arms.

The expression of the Third Prince had been mild the entire time
and he kept smiling. It seemed that there was no change to his
expression. But Ning Xueyan had observed him very carefully. She
saw his clenched fists in his sleeves and bulged veins on his cup-
holding hand. The Third Prince had been trying his best to control
himself.

After the dancers appeared, the Third Prince had been paying
attention to Ao Chenyi's expression the entire time. When Ao Chenyi
wanted to kill the dancers, the Third Prince became very nervous. It
could be seen that he cared about those dancers. Then when Ao
Chenyi accepted the two beauties, the Third Prince's expression
became strange again.

It seemed that he did not want to give the two beauties to Ao

Chenyi.

All in all, his expression was vivid!

Ning Xueyan of course knew that it had a great deal to do with Ao

Chenyi's acceptance of the two women.

Ao Chenyi did not answer Ning Xueyan's question, but asked with a
treacherous look in his eyes, "Does Ao Mingyu like the two
women?"

"The Third Prince does not like those two women. But from
my point of view, there must be something that the Third
Prince wants to know from them. In the past, you never
accept any woman. But today, you suddenly accepted the
two beauties. How can Third Prince not suspect it?"

Ning Xueyan strung together what had happened and roughly

www.asianovel.com
 356 Report
understood the psychological process of the Third Prince.

"Prince Yi, you never accepted a woman before. You

accepted them today just because I was there!" Ning Xueyan
summarized in the end and expressed her point again. She smiled
happily and her pale face became ruddy instantly. She was full of
confidence, as if everything was under her control.

"So, I helped you today!"

www.asianovel.com
 357 Report

Chapter 98
Source: TapRead

"So, I helped you today!"

What she stated was a fact!

Facing the fierce Ao Chenyi, Ning Xueyan was still confident. No

one would think that she was only a young girl who used to stay in
her own courtyard all the time.

However, Ning Xueyan also had her own plans. She believed that
her guess was right!

Ao Chenyi's attitude was quite different from what it was before.

That was why the Third Prince felt unprepared today.

Maybe the Third Prince had not thought about whether or not to
give the two beauties to Ao Chenyi when he suggested to Ao Chenyi
that he should accept them. That was because it was impossible for
Ao Chenyi to accept the two beauties according to his past behavior.

That was what Ning Xueyan wanted to say. From this point of view,
Ning Xueyan was useful to Ao Chenyi, at least she helped him this
time.

What secret did the two beauties from the regions south of the
Yangtze River have?

"You're a clever girl. I'll help you this time." Ao Chenyi agreed
to help Ning Xueyan then suddenly burst into laughter with a cunning
look in his eyes.

Ning Xueyan responded quickly, and thanked him immediately.

"Thanks a lot, Prince Yi!"

www.asianovel.com
 358 Report
"Don't thank me, I have a condition." There was coldness in Ao
Chenyi's beautiful eyes. "Yan'er, since you're my favorite
concubine, you have to come to Prince Yi's Manor to play the
role from time to time. Don't let my favorite concubine lose
my favor!"

He was threatening Ning Xueyan with a condition!

But Ning Xueyan had to accept the condition!

Sure enough, Ao Chenyi did not allow himself to suffer losses!

"Prince Yi, as long as you need me, I'll surely help you."
Ning Xueyan promised without hesitation.

Hearing what Ning Xueyan said, Ao Chenyi nodded and showed a

satisfied smile on his handsome face.

Suddenly, Ning Xueyan said with embarrassment on her face,

"But, I'm the Fifth Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor. If I
leave the manor frequently, I will be discovered."

Ao Chenyi said with a snort, "Don't worry, I won't let you be

found. Later on, I'll send you a person to help you."

"Your person?" Ning Xueyan was stunned by Ao Chenyi's words.

She raised her head and blinked while looking at Ao Chenyi.

Her confused look made him smile. Immediately, his eyes became
as enchanting as equinox flowers opening in the River Lethe.
Suddenly, the horse stopped and raised its two front hoofs while
neighing. Because of that, Ning Xueyan almost fell off!

"Get off!"

Ning Xueyan was directly pulled down by Ao Chenyi. The sudden

change made her involuntarily stagger. Then she stabilized herself by
pulling on the corner of the saddle.

www.asianovel.com
 359 Report
She raised her head and looked at Ao Chenyi, who was on the
horse. His black clothes and beautiful face made him appear noble
and beautiful.

He stood high and overlooked all living beings!

Looking at the surroundings, Ning Xueyan frowned and couldn't

help asking, "Where are we?"

In front of Ning Xueyan was a courtyard, which was not big. It could
never be Prince Yi's Manor, which occupied a whole street. Ning
Xueyan had not been paying attention to the road, so now she did
not know where they were.

Ao Chenyi did not get off the horse and suddenly laughed while
looking at Ning Xueyan. "This is my courtyard. You can come
here to see me in the future."

This could prevent them from being found by others. Ning Xueyan
agreed and asked, "Prince Yi, how long does it take me to get
to Lord Protector's Manor from here?"

"Two hours!" Ao Chenyi looked at Ning Xueyan and suddenly

laughed.

Two hours! This courtyard was farther away than Prince Yi's Manor.
It was not easy for Ning Xueyan to leave Lord Protector's Manor
every time. How could she stay out for so long?

Hearing that, Ning Xueyan asked while frowning, "Prince Yi, do

you know what will happen if I leave Lord Protector's Manor
for more than two hours?"

"So what? That's for you to think about!" Ao Chenyi said

sarcastically with a smile on his face, "Who do you think you are?"

His extremely ruthless words, in line with his lofty attitude, made
her feel embarrassed and humiliated.

www.asianovel.com
 360 Report
She had so gotten dizzy with success that she said that.

Ning Xueyan thought their deal was equal. However, in Ao Chenyi's

mind, Ning Xueyan was just a pawn, a pawn that could be used. Who
would care about the safety of a pawn?

"I'm just a dispensable pawn."

Ning Xueyan took two steps back, respectfully saluted, and said
with a calm face, "You're right. I overstepped my bounds!"

Ao Chenyi seemed to find her attitude interesting. He smiled and

said lazily while looking at her, "I'll help you deal with Xia
Yuhang. You also have to remember your duty. You needn't
come to my place every day. You just need to show up when I
need you."

Then he bent slightly, lifted her chin with his slender fingers, and
looked down at her face. "If you are useful, I won't give up you!"

After that, he smiled and left.

That flying black dress, along with the flickering manjusaka on it,
made him look extraordinary. The clothes flew with the wind from
time to time, looking like the clouds in the sky. No one could read his
mind!

He warned her against talking too much!

Ning Xueyan looked at his back thoughtfully and lost her mind for a
moment.

"Young Lady, please come with me." Hearing the voice of a

woman behind her, Ning Xueyan turned her head in dismay and saw
a maid standing at the gate of the courtyard. The maid was 16 or 17
years old, wore an ordinary maid's dress, and was looking at Ning
Xueyan with a smile on her face.

www.asianovel.com
 361 Report
"You work for Prince Yi?" After hiding the surprise in her eyes,
Ning Xueyan calmly turned back and walked toward the half-open
door.

There had to be a reason Ao Chenyi had brought her here. The

courtyard in front of her and the maid had to be the reason.

"Young Lady, my name is Xinmei. I'll serve you in the

future." Xinmei had a sweet smile and two dimples. She looked
harmless.

Ning Xueyan did not believe that the people left by Ao Chenyi
would be so harmless. After scrutinizing her for a few minutes, Ning
Xueyan nodded with a slight smile and said, "Xinmei, I wanna
sneak back now. Do you have any idea how?"

Ning Xueyan had been gone for a period of time. If she did not go
back now, something bad would happen in Bright Frost Garden.

Xinmei was not worried about Ning Xueyan's problem. She

answered without hurry while leading the way ahead, "Young Lady,
don't worry. I've got a carriage ready. It's at the backdoor.
You can leave after changing your clothes."

Knowing that it had been arranged, Ning Xueyan breathed a sigh of

relief.

The whole courtyard was not very big. It consisted of three rows of
rooms, and there also were not too many rooms in each row. But
after she entered it, Ning Xueyan found that everything inside was
exquisite. The exquisite embroidery on the chair could only be used
in the palace. Maybe none of the consorts in the palace could have
as much luxury as this.

They entered the main room and opened the wardrobe inside it.
Ning Xueyan found that most of the clothes were black robes. They
had to be Ao Chenyi's. Ning Xueyan hurried to change into a plain

www.asianovel.com
 362 Report
dress that Xinmei found in the corner of the wardrobe. Then she was
brought to the carriage, having no time to ask why there were
woman's clothes here.

After a short time, the carriage stopped. It took Ning Xueyan less
time to get back than she had expected.

Xinmei and Ning Xueyan got out of the carriage. There was a high
wall in front of them. Seeing that there was no one around them,
Xinmei jumped over the wall while holding Ning Xueyan.

After looking around carefully, Ning Xueyan found they were in the
small forest outside of Bright Frost Garden. At this time, there was no
one in the forest. Looking far in the distance, Ning Xueyan saw there
were several people at the gate of Bright Frost Garden and it was in
chaos.

Had something happened?

After saying goodbye to Xinmei, Ning Xueyan went back while

frowning.

Before Ning Xueyan got to the door, she heard a maid's loud voice.
"Lanning, you said the Fifth Young Lady is not comfortable
and has been resting. Do you think she can get away with it?
Our Second Young Lady said that the Fifth Young Lady has to
go to explain. Is the Fifth Young Lady hiding because she is
afraid of being discovered that she had framed others?"

"Madam Dowager doesn't allow the Second Young Lady to

leave the Ancestor Hall. What does she want to do? Today,
many things happened. And my Young Lady is uncomfortable
due to those things and is having a rest now. If there's
anything wrong, the Second Young Lady can tell Madam
Dowager. Whether my Young Lady has framed someone or
not is not up to the Second Young Lady."

www.asianovel.com
 363 Report
Lanning stopped the maid from entering the house at the door
while staring at her with anger. But she was very anxious now.
Lanning had thought that no one would pay attention to Ning Xueyan
since many things had happened today. Unexpectedly, the Second
Young Lady had targeted her Young Lady and wanted to see her now.
How could she not be anxious at this time?

Lanning was just a maid. She could not stop the Second Young
Lady if the Second Young Lady insisted on breaking into the house.

"Lanning, you dare to disobey the Second Young Lady!" The

maid opposite Lanning scolded her while standing akimbo. Ning
Yuling's maids were as high-handed as Ning Yuling. In Lord
Protector's Manor, everybody knew that the Second Young Lady was
the most favorite Young Lady and they all fawned over her.

If Ning Yuling had not been involved with many things and lost her
two First Maids, the maid would not have talked to Lanning now and
would already have rushed in directly.

"My master is the Fifth Young Lady!" Although Lanning's

words were polite, the meaning of the words was not polite at all.

Ning Yuling was not her master. So Lanning's behavior was not
disobeying.

"You..." Ning Yuling's maid had never been despised like that. She
roared with anger and was about to slap Lanning.

"What happened?" Suddenly, a soft and cold voice came from

the courtyard, and the quarrel at the door ended immediately. Ning
Xueyan came slowly with a maid and stood at the gate of the
courtyard, coldly looking at the maid who was about to slap Lanning.

Being stared at by Ning Xueyan coldly, the maid became afraid

and did not dare to raise her hands, feeling that the Fifth Young Lady
was imposing.

www.asianovel.com
 364 Report

Chapter 99
Source: TapRead

"Young Lady, she's the Second Young Lady's maid. She said
that the Second Young Lady wants you to go and see her
immediately." Seeing Ning Xueyan coming out of the inner
courtyard, Lanning breathed a sigh of relief and told her what had
happened.

Ning Xueyan glanced at the maid and said, "So many things
have happened today. What does the Second Sister want to
do? I'm going to see Madam Dowager now. If the Second
Sister wants to come, she can come along with me."

Then, she went to Auspicious Fortune Hall with Lanning.

The maids and older female servants who were looking on stepped
backward and lowered their heads when they saw Ning Xueyan
coming out and then dispersed after Ning Xueyan had left. The Fifth
Young Lady was obviously not the same Fifth Young Lady from
before.

Was Ning Xueyan going to Madam Dowager's place?

Ning Yuling's maid did not dare to follow them. She turned pale
and felt bad. So she rushed back to Qingrong Courtyard to report to
Ning Yuling.

The atmosphere in Auspicious Fortune Hall was serious. Before

Ning Xueyan reached the gate of the courtyard, she heard loud
sounds coming from the room. It seemed that something had been
smashed. Then a cry of pain came out from the room. The voice from
Madam Ling's. Hearing that, Ning Xueyan coldly smiled.

Then she raised her head and concealed her smile, regaining her

www.asianovel.com
 365 Report
calmness.

The maid guarding at the door saw Ning Xueyan coming and
reported to Madam Dowager with caution.

After a moment, Mother Qin came out and said to Ning Xueyan,
"Fifth Young Lady, please go back first. Madam Dowager is
busy now. I'm afraid she won't have time to see you."

It seemed that Ning Xueyan did not expect that she would not be
allowed to enter the room. She was stunned and softly asked, "What
happened in there?"

"Nothing. Many things happened today, so Madam Dowager

has to deal with them." Mother Qin frowned. One thing after
another had happened in the manor today. And all were scandals
regarding Lord Protector's Manor. It would have been strange if
Madam Dowager had not gotten angry.

It was the marchioness who was kneeling on the ground and being
scolded. Besides that, she was an elder. It was not suitable for juniors
to see that.

That was why Ning Xueyan was stopped at the door.

"Is grandmother dealing with what happened today? The

Second Sister asked a maid to tell me that it has something
to do with me, so I rushed over. Please tell my grandmother
that it's regarding my innocence and I must make it clear to
her face to face."

Ning Xueyan spoke with a serious look on her face.

Ning Xueyan was afraid that she might not get in. Unexpectedly,
what Ning Yuling had done provided an excuse. After Ning Xueyan
jumped over the wall and heard the quarrel at the door, she felt that
she came back just in time.

www.asianovel.com
 366 Report
Mother Qin was speechless due to Ning Xueyan's words. Then she
uncomfortably said, "Er... Fifth Young Lady, the Second Young
Lady spoke nonsense. Don't mind what she said."

"Please tell my grandmother that there are many doubts

about today's affairs. And the matter about Concubine Ma is
also strange. Moreover, we knew that Concubine Ma was
pregnant because I was poisoned!" Ning Xueyan said implicitly.
But the meaning made Mother Qin unable to refuse.

As a matter of fact, Concubine Ma owed Ning Xueyan a statement.

"Er, Fifth Young Lady, wait a minute. I'll ask Madam

Dowager first!"

After that, Mother Qi turned around and went back into the room
helplessly and then whispered in Madam Dowager's ear.

Madam Dowager's face became gloomier after she listened to

Mother Qin. She nodded and said, "Since Yuling asked her to
come, let her come in and listen to it together. We have to
give her an explanation about the matter of her being
poisoned."

Madam Ling, who stood aside, changed her face greatly when she
heard Madam Dowager's words.

It was Ning Yuling who put the cat among the pigeons again. At
this time, Ning Zu'an wished that he could slap her.

Ning Xueyan followed Mother Qin in. First, she saluted Madam
Dowager, who was sitting in the middle. Then she saluted Ning Zu'an
and Madam Ling, who were standing on one side respectively.
Finally, she stood near Madam Dowager's right hand and looked
down.

Madam Dowager was satisfied with Ning Xueyan's cleverness and

politeness. She hummed to her as a greeting.

www.asianovel.com
 367 Report
Ning Xueyan also knew that Madam Dowager had no time to care
about her. Anyway, her aim was Madam Ling.

"Tell me what happened to Ziyan. When did she and Xia

Yuhang do such a thing?" Madam Dowager was so angry today
that she almost fainted. At this time, she angrily scolded Madan Ling
while pointing at her even though Ning Xueyan was also there.

"Mother, this... er... Yan'er... I..." Madam Ling could not say a
word and sweat broke out on her forehead. Suddenly, she calmed
down and said, "Mother, do you remember what happened at
the banquet that day? Yuhang was drunk, and you
specifically asked Yan'er to go to see him..."

Madam Dowager wanted to get rid of this matter and put the
blame on Madam Ling. However, she also approved of Ning Ziyan's
marriage. Once, Madam Dowager had told Madam Ling that Ning
Ziying did not deserve Xia Yuhang, which showed that Madam
Dowager was satisfied with the Xia family.

Since then, Madam Dowager also facilitated the marriage. Would

she now put the blame on Madam Ling?

"What?" Madam Dowager seemed to understand something and

her face changed greatly.

Ning Xueyan's eyes became cold when she clearly saw Madam
Dowager's face. Sure enough, Madam Dowager knew how Ning
Ziying died.

How could the scheming Madam Dowager know nothing about

something that had happened in Lord Protector's Manor?

"It happened two or three months ago. Mother, have you

forgotten?" Madam Ling became confident and her words became
more and more fluent. She even said to Madam Dowager with pride,
"Mother, that day, they... I also couldn't do anything about it.

www.asianovel.com
 368 Report
Originally, I thought this matter couldn't be exposed and I
had to maintain the reputation of Lord Protector's Manor."

Madam Ling spoke with grievance on her face while wiping her
tears with her handkerchief.

Ning Zu'an frowned and said in a deep voice, "Mother, forget it.
Yan'er and Xia Yuhang love each other and they also got
engaged before Yan'er got pregnant. They just made a
mistake after drinking before marriage. It's no big deal."

Ning Zu'an tried to cover up the big scandal with the excuse that
they were drunk. Hearing that, Ning Xueyan sneered in her mind.

Ning Zu'an actually said that Ning Ziyan and Xia Yuhang had been
engaged before Ning Ziyan got pregnant and they had made a
mistake after drinking. He was so biased!

Ning Xueyan's natural mother was murdered. But he did not care
about the truth and only punished several maids to avenge her.

Ning Xueyan had been poisoned. But when he heard that the
concubine who poisoned Ning Xueyan was pregnant, he immediately
forgave the concubine and did not care about his daughter's safety.
No wonder Mother Han said that her mother had made the wrong
choice.

In his heart, Ning Xueyan and her mother were inferior to a single
hair of Ning Ziyan or Madam Ling.

Such a man did not deserve to be a husband and a father.

In Ning Xueyan's memories, her mother always sat alone by a lamp

and made clothes for her while coughing. Who could believe that a
Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor had not gotten any new clothes
in a few years?

Those people in front of Ning Xueyan also lived in Lord Protector's

www.asianovel.com
 369 Report
Manor. It was impossible for them to not know that Madam Ling had
treated Madam Ming and Ning Xueyan badly.

Now they wanted to cover up the scandal again!

Ning Xueyan's gaze became as cold as ice.

She would not let them succeed!

Hearing what Ning Zu'an said, Madam Ling became ecstatic. She
turned her head and affectionately looked at Ning Zu'an with a
blushed face, and delicately said, "Marquis!"

"Grandmother, let bygones be bygones. Let's not talk about

these past events. Today, there were many people present.
Maybe someone will impeach father in the court tomorrow
morning. We have to think about countermeasures."

Ning Xueyan turned around and spoke to Madam Dowager in a

gentle voice.

Ning Xueyan's words not only warned Madam Dowager, but also
warned Ning Zu'an. Immediately, their faces changed suddenly.

All the people present at the banquet today were dignitaries. What
happened today would inevitably be known by the emperor. If the
emperor asked about it tomorrow, it would not be easy to answer.

There had to be an outcome to this matter, otherwise Ning Zu'an

would greatly lose face in court.

Madam Dowager immediately made a decision and said in a deep

voice, "Take the First Madam to the Buddha Hall to kneel. No
one can let her out without my permission."

"Mother, I..." Madam Ling was anxious at once.

Ning Zu'an stared at Madam Ling with his bloodthirsty eyes and

www.asianovel.com
 370 Report
coldly said, "Don't talk nonsense. Take the First Madam to the
Buddha Hall so that she can calm down there."

It was the first time that Ning Zu'an was so fierce to Madam Ling.
She was frightened and knew that he was really angry!

Knowing that she could not oppose him directly, Madam Ling
immediately changed her expression to a delicate one. Madam Ling
was beautiful. At this time, her beautiful face and aggrieved look
made her pitiable.

"Yes, marquis... I won't say more. As long as you and Lord

Protector's Manor won't be blamed by others, I'm willing to
shoulder the responsibility."

It seemed that she took the responsibility for the sake of Ning
Zu'an and Lord Protector's Manor.

Looking at her aggrieved expression, Ning Zu'an felt that she really
cared about Lord Protector's Manor. His face softened and he said as
he nodded, "Cultivate yourself in the Buddha Hall in order to
avoid such things from happening again."

This was telling her that she would leave the Buddha Hall one day,
which reassured Madam Ling.

Immediately, Madam Ling smiled and nodded vigorously. Then she

respectfully saluted Madam Dowager before she turned around to
leave.

However, both Ning Zu'an and Madam Ling neglected Ning

Xueyan, the victim. Madam Ling did not mention her intentionally,
and Ning Zu'an did not care about her at all. A daughter who was
disliked by him was certainly less important than his lover.

Both of them were disgusting!

"Xueyan, this matter has passed. Last time, your mother

www.asianovel.com
 371 Report
was punished by the empress and couldn't get up for a period
of time. We can't punish her twice for one thing.
Furthermore, she's the hostess of Lord Protector's Manor,"
Madam Dowager had adjusted her mind and kindly said to Ning
Xueyan.

"Grandmother, it's up to you!" Ning Xueyan nodded her head

obediently, as if she would agree with whatever Madam Dowager
decided.

"You're indeed sensible. Look at your dress, it's too plain.

Fetch my jewelry box and select some accessories for the
Fifth Young Lady. The young girl should be beautiful in her
manner of dressing."

Madam Dowager spoke with a smile on her face.

"Madam Dowager is really good at implementing the stick and the

carrot. In your opinion, my life is less valuable than a few pieces of
jewelry!

"Madam Ling, don't think that you can escape this time
with the support of Madam Dowager and Ning Zu'an..."

www.asianovel.com
 372 Report

Chapter 100
Source: TapRead

In the study of Xia Manor, Xia Yuhang said while going in circles
impatiently with a gloomy face, "Father, what should I do now?"
He was not as gentle as usual.

Xia Tian, the Minister of Justice, did not expect such a thing to
happen. He frowned and asked, "Can her child survive?"

"Of course the child won't survive. Father, will my scholarly

honour be taken away after such a thing?" Xia Yuhang
concerned his scholarly honour most, so that he felt ill at ease. This
matter upset all his plans, which made him very angry. After years of
effort, he was about to succeed, but failed at the last moment.

Xia Yuhang wished he had killed the baby in Ning Ziyan's belly as
soon as he thought that the child made him like a drowned mouse. If
it hadn't been for this child at that time...

After this matter, Xia Yuhang could imagine that there inevitably
would be some people attending the court tomorrow impeached him.
The Spring Metropolitan Examination would be held a few months
later, and Xia Yuhang was very sure that he would succeed in this
examination.

One reason why Xia Yuhang had never taken the exam before was
that he felt that he was not ready, and the other reason was his
marriage with Ning Ziying. Now everything was ready, and his official
career would be smooth with the help of his father and Ning Zu'an as
long as he succeeded in the Spring Metropolitan Examination.
Unexpectedly, such a thing happened at this time.

How could Xia Yuhang not be angry?

www.asianovel.com
 373 Report
Xia Yuhang bit his teeth and cruelly said, "Father, how about
telling others that Ning Ziyan seduced me when I was
drunk?"

Ning Ziyan was worried that she would not marry Xia Yuhang, so
she deliberately entered Xia Yuhang's room after drinking. Then the
two had sex at that night.

"No." Xia Tian was a crafty man and much calmer than Xia
Yuhang. "Hang'er, you're smart all the time, how can you put
forward such a foolish suggestion at this time? If you say so,
you will surely irritate Ning Zu'an. Ning Ziyan is already your
wife, can she be downgraded to a concubine?"

The words warned Xia Yuhang and sobered him!

Usually Xia Yuhang was calm and confident. This time, he could not
keep calm because all the things were related to him and happened
suddenly.

As a matter of fact, he had no way to get rid of these things. The

matter that he had premartial sex with Ning Ziyan was wrong. And
the matter that he had carried on a clandestine love affair with Chen
Hexiang also was wrong. The two matters were exposed together,
which greatly influenced his reputation. He could not explain well by
himself. Furthermore, the Lord Protector's Manor was also be
involved.

The amour with Chen Hexiang had already upset the people of
Lord Protector's Manor. If Xia Yuhang dumped the blame on Ning
Ziyan, Ning Zu'an would stand in opposition. Then things would be
totally different from Xia Yuhang's original intention. He would never
do such a foolish thing.

"Father, who is going to deal with us?" After thinking about

this, Xia Yuhang calmed down.

www.asianovel.com
 374 Report
He did not believe that the two unrelated things would suddenly be
exposed together. It was impossible to be so coincident. There must
be someone who did that on purpose.

"I can't reason it out yet. I asked the maids who

accompanied Ning Ziyan all the time. They all said that Ning
Ziyan had visited her mother and the Fifth Young Lady before
she showed up at the party. After that, the Concubine Ma of
Lord Protector's Manor appeared and talked about the soup
with her. Then she drank some and rested. Finally, she
miscarried."

Xia Tian had interrogated the maids and summarized what Ning
Ziyan had done the whole day.

The one who poisoned Ning Ziyan must be someone she had seen
on that day. But it was a secret that Ning Ziyan was pregnant. In Lord
Protector's Manor, only Madam Ling knew Ning Ziyan was pregnant.
Who poisoned her step by step?

"It won't be marchioness. She's Ning Ziyan's biological

mother. The Fifth Young Lady was a young girl and I heard
that she's cowardly. Is it Concubine Ma?"

Xia Tian thought and guessed.

Concubine Ma took Ning Ziyan to drink the soup, and then Ning
Ziyan had an accident. It seemed logical. But Xia Yuhang felt there
was something strange. Suddenly, he remembered the dark jade-like
cold eyes. Was the Fifth Young Lady really cowardly and
incompetent?

Xia Yuhang coldly said with a gloomy face, "Father, we have to

ask someone to investigate the Fifth Young Lady of Lord
Protector's Manor and Concubine Ma. Anyway, it must be one
of them."

www.asianovel.com
 375 Report
How could he not be angry that he had suffered such a big loss this
time?

Xia Tian nodded and asked, "What about tomorrow?"

"Father, you'll talk about it with Lord Protector later and

then contact some old friends. Tomorrow, there will be
someone impeach me. As long as you and Lord Protector
insist that I was drunk at that time and Ziyan was asked to
take care of me by her mother, then this problem will be
solved."

Xia Yuhang had had an idea and said to his father with a serious
look.

He and Ning Ziyan had been engaged. And it was normal that Ning
Ziyan took care of him when he was drunk in Lord Protector's Manor.
In this way, it was reasonable that they had sex that night. At most, it
was a mistake they made after drinking.

A mistake was much better than immorality!

Now only this explanation made sense, so Xia Tian nodded and
agreed. Suddenly, he remembered another woman and asked while
frowning, "But what about that woman?"

At this time, Xia Yuhang had calmed down. He calmly said with a
smile on his face, "Father, don't worry. She'll change her mind."

Although Chen Hexiang was also a trouble, only Xia Yuhang and
she knew what had happened between them. As long as Chen
Hexiang changed her mind, no one would know.

Didn't Chen Hexiang always want to be his concubine? He would

fulfill her wish!

Seeing that Xia Tian was about to leave, Xia Yuhang, who had
already regained his calmness, specifically warned his father again,

www.asianovel.com
 376 Report
"Father, remember to tell the Lord Protector to block the
whole Lord Protector's Manor and decontrol it after
tomorrow's morning meeting."

Since Xia Tian could become the Minister of Justice, he was not
foolish. He immediately understood the meaning of his son and
nodded before leaving. They must block the Lord Protector's Manor
before the news was spread.

If this was not a coincidence, there must be something to come.

Xia Yuhang did not care who wanted to deal with Lord Protector's
Manor and Xia Manor. Now what he had to do was to control the
spread of the events happened in Lord Protector's Manor. Although
he was very angry before, he still remembered to ask people to keep
watch on Lord Protector's Manor. His subordinates had reported to
him that no suspicious people came in or out.

But Xia Yuhang still felt that there was something wrong...

Qingyu came back from the outside with anger and stamped her
feet as soon as she entered the door. She took a cup of cold water
and hurried to drink. Ning Xueyan looked at her and asked with a
smile on her face. "What's wrong? You can't go out?"

"Young Lady, I told them I have to go out to buy medicine

for you, but the doorkeepers didn't let me go out. What's
more, they said that you only care about yourself and are
indifferent to Lord Protector's Manor."

Qingyu angrily said.

"What can we do then? The woman asked us to fetch some

important things from Cold Mountain Temple. What if we
can't get out?" Lanning always was calm, but also was in a hurry at
this time.

"If the doctor hadn't left just now, he wouldn't be able to

www.asianovel.com
 377 Report
leave now. The older female servant who guards the gate
said that it's Madam Dowager's order that no one is allowed
to go out. If someone wants to go out, they must be
permitted by Madam Dowager." Qingyu almost stamped her feet
in a hurry.

Ning Xueyan was quite unmindful. She took the handkerchief and
saw the embroidered flowers on it by the light while casually asking,
"Did Madam Dowager order after someone of Xia Manor
arrived?"

"Yes. I inquired about it deliberately. It was said that no

one can go out and come in at will since someone of Xia
Manor came. Those who purchase daily necessities every day
are not allowed to go out, either."

Qingyu had asked just now. She had thought that the doorkeeper
only did not allow her to go out. Then she went to other gates and
found that no one was allowed to go out.

"Unexpectedly, Xia Yuhang was so fast!"

"I had seen that he became very angry and lost his mind.
Unexpectedly, he became sober after such a short time."

"Sure enough, he's not as honest as he looks!"

"I have been engaged with him for ten years and we have
been together for three years. But I still didn't know what
kind of person he is. I trusted him so much and finally came
to such an end."

Ning Xueyan faintly said to them, "Lanning, bring Xinmei to

Cloud Reflection Courtyard. Xinmei, you can go out there.
You'll go to Cold Mountain Temple to take things out and
then send them to Xia Manor at night with your mask on.
Remember, don't tell Chen Hexiang who you are. You just say

www.asianovel.com
 378 Report
that you're a passer-by and happened to hear what she said
to the old female servants, and you want to defend her
against the injustice."

Ning Xueyan did not want to be so cautious, but she could not trust
Chen Hexiang. Fortunately, she did not ask her servants to invite the
doctor for Chen Hexiang. She only asked people to gossip that Chen
Hexiang was going to die. Then it happened to be heard by Madam
Dowager who then asked people to invite a doctor for Chen Hexiang.
The doctor of Lord Protector's Manor was busy treating Ning Ziyan
and had no time to treat Chen Hexiang, so Madam Dowager's
servants had to go outside to invite a doctor.

The doctor Ning Xueyan prepared was waiting at the back door.
Sure enough, he was invited to treat Chen Hexiang. Then he
deliberately exaggerated Chen Hexiang's injury when he treated her.
Chen Hexiang was weak because she was pregnant. Besides, she
carried a hairpin which was poisoned by Ning Ziyan and kicked by Xia
Yuhang. It was not strange that she was seriously injured.

Xia Yuhang could never know that how terrible the blow that she
would never be pregnant was to a woman.

Chen Hexiang had nothing left now, so she could only risk danger
in desperation.

After the doctor left, Mother Han went in to comfort Chen Hexiang.
She brought Chen Hexiang a bowl of porridge and asked her to have
some first with concern. Then she deliberately said to Chen Hexiang
that Xia Yuhang had almost killed Ning Ziyan's maids when he knew
that Ning Ziyan's child could not survive and promised that he would
give a satisfying explanation to Lord Protector's Manor.

Chen Hexiang immediately understood what kind of explanation

Xia Yuhang would give to Lord Protector's Manor. Ning Ziyan lost her
child because she knew the amour between Xia Yuhang and Chen
Hexiang.

www.asianovel.com
 379 Report
So, Ning Ziyan would not let her go. Therefore, Chen Hexiang
would be killed by either Xia Yuhang or Ning Ziyan!

Although Chen Hexiang was willing to compromise and give up,

Ning Ziyan would not forgive her and would murder her. It would be
easy for Ning Ziyan to cover up the fact that a concubine died in Xia
Manor.

When Mother Han enlightened Chen Hexiang, she also gave an

example which could help Chen Hexiang make a decision.

They forced Chen Hexiang to make a decision...

"What Chen Hexiang hid in Cold Mountain Temple may be

related to Ning Ziying. If Chen Xexiang carries that with
herself, I can use it when I need."

"Love can make people pay for everything!"

"And hate can destroy everything..."

"Xia Yuhang, Ning Ziyan, and Chen Hexiang, I'll let you hurt
each other."

www.asianovel.com
 380 Report

Chapter 101
Source: TapRead

The hall was magnificent and could accommodate hundreds of

people. A large red and gold carpet covered the ground and dragons
were carved on walls and pillars.

The emperor was sitting in the middle of the hall and Ao Chenyi
was sitting on another chair near the emperor. He still wore a black
robe, on which bloody equinox flowers were embroidered. Ao Chenyi
was looking at Xia Tian and Ning Zu'an who were kneeling with a
faint smile on his face. He was looking forward to what was about to
happen.

"Your Majesty, my son and daughter-in-law had already

been engaged. And the date of their marriage had been
fixed. So they were allowed to meet, so that they made a
mistake after drinking. It's my duty. Your Majesty, please
punish me!" Xia Tian explained in a natural tone while kneeling
there and lowering his head with respect.

Xia Tian did not pass the buck, but said that Xia Yuhang and Ning
Ziyan made a mistake because they were drunk and it was not a big
deal because they had been engaged.

"Your Majesty, my mother saw Childe Xia was drunk that

day and asked my daughter, his fiance, to take care of him.
Unexpectedly, they... I'm also responsible for that. Your
Majesty, please punish me."

Ning Zu'an also confessed his fault and did not pass the buck.

Their words made the emperor and others feel that both of them
were responsible. Many people also felt that this was really not a big
deal. Since they were going to get married, such a mistake could be
www.asianovel.com
 381 Report
understood.

It had nothing to do with immorality.

"Your Majesty, Childe Xia and the Eldest Young Lady of

Lord Protector's Manor misbehaved after drinking. Then the
First Madam of Lord Protector's Manor concealed the death
of Second Madam of Lord Protector's Manor. I think the
reason is the misbehavior of Childe Xia and the Eldest Young
Lady. According to what Lord Protector said just now, he
knows this matter. But I remember that Lord Protector said
he didn't know before."

An official who had a bad relationship with Ning Zu'an at ordinary

times stood out and said.

This official directly contradicted what Ning Zu'an said both just
now and before. Immediately, the whole hall became quiet. The
emperor sitting on the hall coldly looked at Ning Zu'an with a
dignified look.

"Your Majesty, I really don't know. My wife was afraid that

this matter would be known to many people, so she even
didn't tell me." Ning Zu'an paused for a moment and then said
what he had already prepared. "This is all my fault. Please
punish me."

Ning Zu'an and Xia Tian had discussed this matter yesterday. They
made an agreement that they had to say that they didn't know this
matter. Anyway, Madam Ling had been punished last time and would
not be punished for the same thing.

Ao Chenyi, sitting on one side, suddenly turned his head elegantly

and asked curiously, "Lord Protector, are you really the host of
Lord Protector's Manor?"

His question made Ning Zu'an blush and sweat!

www.asianovel.com
 382 Report
Would others believe that the Lord Protector knew nothing about
such a big matter happened in his manor?

As the saying goes, to regulate the country and the world rightly,
one must regulate his family first. How could Lord Protector regulate
the country and the world rightly when he could not regulate his
family?

Ning Zu'an had thought that the emperor could not do anything
with him as long as he insisted that he did not know this matter. But
now he realized that something was wrong. He raised his head and
looked at the emperor who was sitting in front of them and coldly
looking at him. But before he explained, the emperor spoke directly.

"Ning Zu'an, since you're too busy with family affairs, I

think you should deal with your own family affairs first. Is a
three-month vacation enough for you?"

The emperor was going to suspend Ning Zu'an from his duties,
which was unexpected to Ning Zu'an. Hearing that, he became
anxious and hurried to say, "Your, Your Majesty, I do not dare to
bother you with my family affairs. I will do my best to deal
with this matter."

Ning Zu'an was an official with real power. Suspension of three

months was equivalent to being demoted. How would Ning Zu'an
accept?

Ao Chenyi asked with interest while putting his one hand on the
armrest and resting his head on it, "Lord Protector, your family
affairs are not troublesome. I heard that the Second Young
Lady is also quite special."

What happened to Ning Yuling in Cold Mountain Temple had

already been spread. At least half of the people in the court knew
that she had misbehaved and seduced other men in the
chrysanthemum appreciation grand meeting where some Princes and

www.asianovel.com
 383 Report
Princely Heirs showed up. No matter how the people of Lord
Protector's Manor explained, it still was humiliating.

Although people of Lord Protector's Manor explained that it was

caused by a maid and Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li was
willing to marry Ning Yuling, people of the influential and privileged
families already knew the real truth.

The Eldest Young Lady of Lord Protector's Manor misbehaved, and

the Second Young Lady misbehaved, too. Many people wondered if
Lord Protector's Manor really was okay?

"Enough!" The emperor who was sitting in front of them was

reluctant to say anything anymore.

Ning Zu'an dared not say a word. He stood up and stood aside in
disgrace. Ning Zu'an also felt aggrieved. His daughter had made a
mistake, and he was punished together.

"Official Xia, I heard that not only the Eldest Young Lady of
Lord Protector's Manor was pregnant, but also an orphan girl.
Instead of marrying the orphan girl, Childe Xia regarded her
as a maid. Yesterday, Childe Xia kicked her so that she lost
her baby. Does such a fierce and immoral man deserve to be
an official?"

Huai Yuming, the Regional Investigating Censor which was

admisnistered by Left Censor-in-chief, stood up and asked Xia Tian
with a serious look. He asked that for emperor, so Xia Tian did not
dare to slight.

Censor-in-chief was in charge of supervision, impeachment and

suggestions. Censor-in-chief supervised all officials and could
impeach anyone. There were Left Censor-in-chief and Right Censor-
in-chief. And the lower positions were Regional Investigating Censor
and Chief Investigating Censor.

www.asianovel.com
 384 Report
"Official Huai, it's a misunderstanding. That maid is indeed
an orphan girl. She came here and sought refuge with her
relatives. When she was at the end of her rope, my son met
her and brought her to my manor to help her. My son said
she would be sent to her relatives' place when he found her
relatives for her. Unexpectedly, she has already been
pregnant. My son didn't know that and got angry when she
talked irresponsibly. Therefore he kicked her so that she lost
her baby."

Hearing Xia Tian's explanation, Huai Yuming asked with a smile on

his face, "You mean her child isn't Childe Xia's?"

"Yes. My son has only known her for a few months. How
can her baby be my son's? Official Huai, if you don't believe
it, you can go to my manor to inquire about it. Everyone in
the manor knows her and how she came to my Xia Manor."

Xia Tian stated positively.

Ao Chenyi sitting on the side coldly looked at Xia Tian. People in

the court knew that those who were targeted by Prince Yi almost
would come to a bad end.

Ao Chenyi's gaze made Xia Tian panic. Although he knew that his
explanation was watertight, he still felt nervous!

This should have nothing to do with Prince Yi.

Xia Yuhang had promised Chen Hexiang that she would become his
concubine as long as she helped Xia Manor successfully settle this
matter. Chen Hexiang agreed with that. And there was nothing
unusual.

"Official Xia, that's your explanation, but what I heard is

different. This is the letter I received last night. Your
Majesty, please make a judgment!" Huai Yuming took a letter

www.asianovel.com
 385 Report
from his arms and presented it respectfully.

An eunuch came, took away the letter, and placed it on the

emperor's table.

After reading the letter, the emperor immediately changed his

face. He shouted at Xia Tian with great anger, "Xia Tian, your son
dared to disrespect the Buddha. Show him this letter! I
wonder how he can explain this time."

Before the letter was shown to him, Xia Tian had already felt bad.
He picked up the letter and read it while his hands were trembling.

It was Chen Hexiang's statement. She clearly said how she and Xia
Yuhang knew each other. She and Xia Yuhang had sex in the Buddha
Hall, then she got pregnant. After that, Ning Ziyan met them when
they were together. In order to separate them, she was deliberately
brought to Xia Manor by Ning Ziyan and became Ning Ziyan's
personal maid.

The letter was very detailed. Chen Hexiang also specifically

mentioned the monks in Cold Mountain Temple, and the specific days
when Xia Yuhang spent the night with her.

These matters mentioned in the letter could not be concealed from

others. They could be easily checked out.

"Official Xia, I went to Cold Mountain Temple on purpose

after I received the letter. And I found that everything is
true. Official Xia, how do you explain for that?" Huai Yuming
asked, "Do you need to confront that woman now?"

Although Xia Tian had prepared well, his words were based on
Chen Hexiang's cooperation. At this time, Huai Yuming asked him
one question after another, which was unexpected to Xia Tian. So he
could not say a word and sweat broke out on his head immediately.

It seemed that Huai Yuming was asking Xia Tian, but in fact he was

www.asianovel.com
 386 Report
stating facts. Was there any need for confrontation?

Now that this woman had sent her letter to Huai Yuming, it meant
that she had decided to tell the truth. If Xia Tian chose to confront
with her, it would bring shame on himself!

Looking at the silent Xia Tian, the emperor who was sitting there
realized the problem and his face darkened immediately.

"What else do you want to say, Official Xia?" Huai Yuming

gave him a heavy blow.

"Your Majesty, the woman deliberately frames my son. It's

true that it has been some time since my son saved her. She
was allowed to stay in the temple because she was poor and
had no place to go. The temple is a sacred place. If my son
really had a relationship with her, why did he place her
there? Why didn't he place her in a secret place?"

Xia Tian showed resourcefulness in an emergency and explained

loudly.

Huai Yuming asked while frowning, "Official Xia, do you mean

that the woman deliberately frames your son?"

"Yes. The Spring Metropolitan Examinations is coming

soon. And my son has scholarly honour. In order to
concentrate on study, he usually goes to Cold Mountain
Temple to study. This is not a secret. Why did the woman
happen to appear in Cold Mountain Temple? Why did she
happen to be saved by my son and was placed in Cold
Mountain Temple? And why did she happen to be pregnant?
Your Majesty, my son wasn't the only one in Cold Mountain
Temple!"

Xia Tian not only defended his son, but also hinted that someone
had framed Xia Yuhang.

www.asianovel.com
 387 Report
Ao Yun, the present emperor, ascended the throne by many foul
means. So he was the most suspicious one. After listening to Xia
Tian, he started to suspect the whole thing and gloomily looked at
several officials with anger on his face.

The hall was so silent that the gasp could be heard.

Suddenly, a cold voice came to their ears. Ao Chenyi lazily said,

"Your Majesty, do you want to investigate this matter
thoroughly? I happen to be free these days. I'm willing to
help you investigate this matter."

His slightly narrowed eyes were bloodthirsty. He showed a faint

smile on his face, but the smile was not warm at all.

Xia Tian who was kneeling suddenly felt cold from the bottom of
his heart and his face instantly turned pale.

In the past, Prince Yi had brought casualties when he investigated

every case!

And a few families were exterminated in the end. So neither

XiaTian nor Ning Zu'ang wanted Prince Yi to interfere in this matter?

Xia Tian said with an embarrassed smile on his face, "I don't dare
to trouble you, Prince Yi!"

www.asianovel.com
 388 Report

Disclaimer
There is no guarantee the translation is 100% correct.

ASIANOVEL.COM wishes to emphasize that this translation is for

review purposes only. We do not claim this intellectual property or
any rights whatsoever.

Under no circumstances would you be allowed to take this work for

commercial activities or for personal gain. ASIANOVEL.COM does not
and will not condone any activities of such, including but not limited
to rent, sell, print, auction.

www.asianovel.com