The Devious First-Daughter

She meant that since Madam Ling had done a lot of work in managing the shops, even she should not be credited, she should not be blamed. In other words, she was interceding for her, hinting Ning Xueyan not to ask back the profits of the past few years.

Until now, Madam Dowager was still reluctant to give back the money! Ning Xueyan sneered inwardly. “What a mean and shameless woman!” she really wished that she had nothing to do with the manor in the future.

Taking a deep breath, she said calmly, “Grandmother, I will follow your words.”

Of course she would not spare Madam Ling and let the Lord Protector’s Manor take advantage of her. However, she could not be openly hostile towards people of the manor now. When the time was right, she would definitely bring Madam Ling down completely. Madam Ling must give back everything she had taken from Madam Ming, Ning Xueyan and Ning Ziying!

Bright Frost Garden was full of things. In addition to the shops, Madam Ming had brought some other precious items to the manor as her dowry, and now they had been searched out one by one from Madam Ling’s courtyard. However, at least half of Madam Ming’s dowry was missing, and after searching, people still could not find them. Madam Dowager said that those items had lost in the war, and nobody could tell where they were.

Fortunately, Ning Xueyan did not want to search thoroughly for the moment. If they gave back those items now, she could take this matter as a misunderstanding, but if she searched out them in the future, she could accuse those people of pocketing those things on purpose. As far as she knew, part of Ning Ziyan’s dowry was Madam Ming’s property and Madam Dowager also kept some in her private coffer. Since they did not want to give them back, just let it be.

Ning Xueyan knew when it was necessary, she could take advantage of it.

Ming Feiyong was monitoring the process in person at Bright Frost Garden. With a darkened face, he crossed off the items in the list one by one after the real things had been found. Finally, he asked Madam Dowager and Ning Zu’an to sign on the paper with those missing items. Since they could not be found, Madam Dowager and Ning Zu’an could argue that these items were lost in the war, but it was necessary to have them sign on the paper as the evidence.

Madam Ling had been Ning Zu’an’s mistress before coming to the manor, so she did not have much private property. Besides, she did not get on well with Madam Dowager and the latter had rarely given her anything. Therefore, after moving those things out from her courtyard, most of the valuable decorations in her room were missing, and even her big bed made of machilus had been removed.

Since Ming Feiyong did not argue with them for the ten years’ income of those shops, Madam Dowager and Ning Zu’an knew that they should not go against his wish for such a trifle. Anyway, it was only a bed. Besides, Madam Ling was still at the Buddha Hall now. When she was released, she could buy a new bed. Thinking about this, they agreed with Ming Feiyong’s request and asked people to remove the bed.

Now the whole Auspicious Clouds Courtyard was in chaos, as if someone had come and confiscated most things of it.

Madam Ling got the news at the Buddha Hall. She then dispatched Mother Chen to come back to her courtyard and have a look. After Mother Chen told what she had seen, Madam Ling was so angry that she almost passed out. After all, she was the First Madam of the manor and she deserved respect. Now since even her residence had been made a mess, everyone would look down upon her in the future. If the rumors spread out, the outsiders would think that she had embezzled all Madam Ming’s dowry. However, she knew the best of the dowry was in that old woman’s hands!

Seeing Madam Ling’s darkened face, Mother Chen knew that she was in a rage. She immediately pulled her dress and made her sit down. “First Madam, calm down. Eldest Young Master said that Madam Dowager would release you soon. Let’s get even with Fifth Young Lady after we are released from here,” she said anxiously. Eldest Young Master had repeatedly reminded her to watch First Madam and prevent her from making trouble.

Because of this, Madam Ling had been keeping a low-key recently. Even when Ning Qingshan had asked someone to tell her that she needed her help, Madam Ling had asked her to discuss it with Ning Ziyan and asked Ning Ziyan to find a person to help her. That was all because her son had told her that if she did not make any trouble again, he would get her out from the Buddha Hall soon.

Madam Ling was so angry that the veins on her forehead swelled. “That little b*tch even took all my things away! They are all mine! They are all Yuan’er’s!” she said resentfully, word by word.

She took it for granted the things that had been moved to Ning Xueyan’s courtyard were hers. She had a hard time to accumulate these little by little and planned to leave them to her son in the future. She could not bear to watch Ning Xueyan, the little b*tch, take all of them from her.

At the thought that Ning Xueyan was moving out her things from her courtyard, she felt a stab in the heart. Those were all her property!

Of course it also had something to do with her dignity. If others knew that the powerful Marchioness had embezzled a co-wife’s dowry, she could no longer raise her head high in front of people. That old b*tch had disentangled herself with this matter and shifted all the blame on her! Why had not she refuse when she gave the best of the Madam Ming’s dowry to her?

“First Madam, don’t worry. After all, we have Eldest Young Master back us up. Everything of the manor will belong to Eldest Young Master in the future. Do you think that Madam Dowager will leave her things to Third Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady and Fifth Young Lady? Madam Dowager is very clear who her grandson in our manor is. She will definitely leave everything to Eldest Young Master.”

Mother Chen knew that Madam Ling did not get on well with Madam Dowager, so she immediately persuaded her.

That was she thought. No matter how much money Madam Dowager had, she would leave it to Eldest Young Master. Since even the whole manor would belong to Eldest Young Master in the future, how could Madam Dowager leave her property to anyone else?

Although Third Young Lady was favored by Madam Dowager, she was not related to her by blood. Fourth Young Lady was only a concubine’s daughter. Fifth Young Lady’s status was even lowered than all the other Young Lady’s and Madam Dowager had never treated her as her own granddaughter. Therefore, it seemed that Madam Dowager treated Eldest Young Lady, Second Young Lady and Eldest Young Master better. They were all First Madam’s children.

Hearing what Mother Chen said, Madam Ling felt relieved a little, but she still could not help cursing, “That old b*tch! That old b*tch…”

“That old b*tch flattered the Mings for her own interest and she even agreed with them to remove my big bed! Has she ever considered about my dignity?” At the thought of this, Madam Ling was so angry that she almost coughed a mouth of blood.

She managed to hold back her anger and asked, gritting her teeth, “Was the little b*tch again who stirred up the trouble?”

“I heard it was… Third Young Lady… It was Third Young Lady who found something wrong in the account book and caused the trouble. After that, Fifth Young Lady and General Ming associated it with the dowry list of Madam Ming.” Mother Chen had found out everything about the whole story when she was out just now. She hesitated for a while and told Madam Ling the truth.

“First Madam, calm down. Maybe Third Young Lady did this because she fell into Fifth Young Lady’s trap. Fifth Young Lady is very cunning. I’m sure she had set a trap for Third Young Lady!” After telling Madam Ling what had happened, Mother Chen did not forget to explain for Ning Qingshan. She believed that Ning Qingshan would not have deliberately gone against First Madam. Besides, Third Young Lady would be adopted as First Madam’s daughter soon, so she had no reason to get First Madam in trouble on purpose at such a moment.

“Humph! That b*tch is also a scheming girl! She dared to poison Madam Ming when she was Madam Ming’s adopted daughter, so she is very likely to set me up after I adopt her as my daughter!” Madam Ling said coldly.

Ning Qingshan had been so vicious when she was only a kid. Since she had dared to murder people for her own interest, Madam Ling thought that she would do everything to get what she wanted. If not because she also needed a daughter with a good reputation, she would not have been so easy to compromise and agree to adopt the poisonous snake as her daughter.

It reminded her of her own daughter, Ning Yuling. Madam Ling had put a lot of effort into training her second daughter. However, she had never heard any news about Ning Yuling after she was sent to the remote place. Moreover, she should be blamed for Ning Yuling’s face injury, so Ning Yuling must hate her. At the thought of this, Madam Ling could not help feeling sad.

Her eyes turned reddish and tears streamed down. “Ling’er, my poor Ling’er! If Ling’er is still here, why should I adopt that b*tch as my daughter?”

Her Ling’er had been chosen as Third Prince’s principal wife, and the two families had reached an agreement for it. But now, why was everyone saying that Third Prince was waiting for Ning Qingshan and Ning Qingshan would be Third Prince’s principal wife? Everyone was talking about Ning Qingshan. Who still remembered her poor Ling’er?

Because of this, Ning Qingshan became an eyesore of Madam Ling. She thought that Ning Qingshan had robbed Third Prince away from her daughter.

“First Madam, you shouldn’t think in this way. Maybe Eldest Young Master will need Third Young Lady to back him up in the future.” Hearing Madam Ling’s words of grief and anger, Mother Chen immediately stopped her.

“I know. That was why I have agreed to adopt that b*tch as my daughter. When she becomes Third Prince’s principal wife, I will bring Ling’er back to the manor and cure her face. At least, she is good enough to be Third Prince’s co-consort. Ling’er is so beautiful. That vicious b*tch can’t be compared with her at all!”

Madam Ling said fiercely, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

Of course she was clear that she should adopt Ning Qingshan for the moment. She had never trusted Ning Qingshan. Ning Qingshan had said that she agreed to let Ning Yuling marry Third Prince in the future, but Madam Ling would rather trust herself more. She believed that if Ling’er’s face could be cured, Third Prince would definitely marry her.

“First Madam, Madam Dowager’s servant, Mother Qin, also told me that you would be released after a few days. After all, the lunar New Year is coming and the manor needs a Hostess.” Seeing that Madam Ling was so emotional that she was losing her temper, Mother Chen immediately told her the good news she had just heard.

“Hostess? The lunar New Year? The old b*tch is good at fooling people with such words. Why didn’t she tell me that she would release me soon?” Madam Ling said with a sneer, her eyes reddish.

“She said that she was going to let me out because the lunar New Year was coming. It is just an excuse! In fact, she just wanted me to become that b*tch’s adopted mother! The Beauty Contest of the imperial palace is going to start soon. If that b*tch wants to be Third Prince’s principal wife, her status can’t be too low. It’s impossible for her to marry Third Prince as his principal wife as an adopted daughter of a co-wife!” Madam Ling said coldly.

The old b*tch had given a reasonable reason, but actually, she would release her because she had no other choice. Ning Qingshan would attend the Beauty Contest soon and before going to the imperial palace, her identity would be registered and confirmed again. The information Ning Qingshan had submitted to the imperial palace showed that she was only a co-wife’s daughter, so she was not qualified to compete for the role of Third Prince’s principal wife if she did not re-registered.

“First Madam, since Madam Dowager needs your help and you also need a daughter with a good reputation, it will be good for both of you to adopt Third Young Lady as your daughter. It is too cold in the Buddha Hall and you cannot even visit Eldest Young Master at will. After leaving here, you can go everywhere you want. Besides, since you are the principal wife of Lord Protector, all the Young Ladies will have to be respectful to you.”

Mother Chen persuaded Madam Ling, passing her a cup of tea. For Mother Chen, it was not worth for Madam Ling to go against Madam Dowager. No matter how capable Madam Dowager was, everything in the manor would belong to Eldest Young Master in the future. Besides, First Madam had done this for Eldest Young Master’s own good. Therefore, it was unnecessary for Madam Ling to take Madam Dowager as her enemy.

“Fine! I will put up with her. But after I get out of the Buddha Hall, I will definitely let that little b*tch die in her boots!” Madam Ling took a sip of tea and said, gritting her teeth.

Madam Ling was planning to teach Ning Xueyan a good lesson after her release. However, she had never thought that Madam Dowager had signed up Ning Xueyan for the Beauty Contest, trying to marry her to the imperial family as well.

For Madam Dowager, Ning Xueyan could become a prince’s co-consort at least. When she saw how well Fourth Prince had treated Ning Xueyan on the other day, Madam Dowager believed that Fourth Prince would definitely like to marry Ning Xueyan as his co-consort.