The Devious First-Daughter

Thinking of this, Mother Han was a bit angry. She had agreed to send some people for the Young Lady to choose from, but a few good ones had been sent to the Foggy Courtyard. What’s more, among the remaining people, some were sent to Junior Concubine Xu. However, she managed to send her sick sister to the Bright Frost Garden, using another method.

Initially, only a few people were selected for Bright Frost Garden. With the addition of a sick person, they were even more shorthanded. So, they were unable to finish their tasks.

Ning Xueyan’s face changed slightly when she saw the maid sent to her, and who was later sent to Foggy Courtyard. This matter not only revealed Ning Qingshan’s plot against her, but also the extent of Ning Qingshan’s power. When Ning Qingshan was still in the nunnery, her trusted subordinate had been sent in.

How could she have done it so discreetly? What kind of person was Ning Qingshan? And what was the relationship between her and Senior Grand Tutor Ya? Were the maids at the gate of the manor and the ambitious maids in the study sent by Grand Tutor Ya? What did Grand Tutor Ya want to do? Or did Grand Tutor Ya know that Ning Zu’an had a military medallion from the previous dynasty?

Since it was the military medallion from the previous dynasty, it was undoubtedly of no use. Why would so many people keep it in mind?

Both Ao Chenyi and Grand Tutor Ya were fighting for this military medallion. Since everyone knew that Ning Zu’an had this military medallion, how could he keep it safe? Although he had some power, Grand Tutor Ya was superior to him, not to mention Ao Chenyi. How could they not force Ning Zu’an to take it out?

However, both of them were acting very furtively. What was the meaning of this military talisman?

“Young Lady, Young Lady…” Hearing Lanning’s voice, Ning Xueyan roused herself from her reverie. She reached out and touched her eyebrows. Her dark jade-like eyes were dark and deep.

“Lanning, was Qing’er ill the day before yesterday? Go and see her later. Maybe she will check out this group of maids in the manor. Reveal the inside story to her.”

She would cope with any difficulties in a tactful manner. Since Ning Qingshan wanted to take advantage of the maids sent to the manor, she had to be prepared. No matter where Ning Qingshan had come from, she would not let her go, because she had murdered Madam Ming viciously, and framed her for abusing her.

In Ning Zu’an’s study, he paced about in frustration. After thinking for a while, he strode out.

A young male servant trotted behind him and asked, “Marquis, where are you going?”

“I am going to the Lucky Garden!” Ning Zu’an said coldly. This time, he was full of doubts about Ning Qingshan. He was not sure about Ning Qingshan’s pearl flower, so he asked the servant to pick the crushed pearl flower up, and put it in a small box, ready to show it to Madam Dowager.

Although the pearl flower had lost its shape, and even the winter jasmine on it had rotted, it still had the form of a pearl flower. If he could not figure it out, Ning Zu’an could not calm down. He felt as if there was a vague feeling of great danger, like someone was watching in the dark.

If Ning Qingshan’s actions were questionable, then the person who sent her to him, would also be under suspicion. He had deliberately sent Ning Qingshan to himself. Was there something that he was not aware of?

Everyone knew that Prince Yi was the most influential person in the court. However, the emperor thought otherwise. He was loyal to the emperor, so he wholeheartedly followed the emperor’s will. He wanted to find a backer for his son. Recently, he thought that everything would go well. If his two daughters were sent to the two manors respectively, he would have nothing more to worry about.

However, Ning Qingshan’s scandal had happened at this time. If she had other plans to marry into the Lord Protector’s Manor, he had to be more careful.

Along the way, he gradually calmed down and slowed down a little. Anyway, this matter still needed to be investigated into carefully, so he should not be so anxious at this moment.

While he was pondering on this, he heard someone whispering behind the bushes. It was a woman’s voice. In the past, he would not have stopped, when he heard a woman’s whisper. But today, when he remembered the maid in his study, he could not help but stop and ask coldly, “Who is there? Why are you sneaking around?”

“Is that you… father? I’m sorry, I did not that know that you would be here at this time, and I have inadvertently disturbed you.” Ning Xueyan held Lanning’s hand and appeared from behind a big tree. She never looked very robust, so people always felt that she was delicate. However, the coldness in her eyes made gave her an elegant and calm demeanor.

“Why are you here?” Ning Zu’an looked at her, showing his bad mood.

“I was about to send Third Sister two books. Just now, she heard that I took a few books from the study. When she was about to come over, something unexpected happened,” Ning Xueyan said gracefully and calmly. Her voice was gentle and soothing.

“What happened?” Ning Zu’an glanced sideways at her, and asked.

“I heard that a maid broke a piece of jade left by Third Sister’s mother, due to carelessness. Third Sister was sad and went back to Foggy Courtyard. I don’t know how that careless maid can break such an important item. It’s no wonder that Third Sister was shocked.”

Ning Xueyan explained in a soft tone.

“Jade?” Ning Zu’an frowned. He did not remember that when he brought the girl over, there was a jade piece left by her biological mother. In the manor, Ning Qingshan did not tell him that she had a certificate from her birth mother. He remembered that when she came to the Lord Protector’s Manor, she replied that she had a tremendous shock at a young age, and could not remember anything about her biological parents, when Madam Dowager asked her.

“When did this piece of jade left by her mother appear? What does it mean to be shocked again?” Ning Zu’an’s eyes flashed with a trace of suspicion, and he could not help frowning.

The circumstances regarding Ning Qingshan was getting more and more suspicious!

“There are only two books. Let a maid send them over.” Looking at Ning Xueyan’s pale face, Ning Zu’an felt pity for her and said gently.

“It’s not a big deal, but I need to check it out. I don’t know what happened to Third Sister. Just now, she sent her personal mammy to fetch the books. But because of my sprained ankle, she brought my maid out to look for a doctor and to buy medicine as well. Now, she has not returned yet. Third Sister must be worried, so I will go and check it out.”

Ning Xueyan explained casually as if she did not understand what he meant.

“Since the master is feeling sad, the older female servant is still busy with other people’s business?” Ning Zu’an’s face turned cold. “Can there anything more odd than this?”

“Your foot is injured. Go and have a good rest. Why don’t you go to Foggy Courtyard? Go back. I have some books, and I’ll ask someone to send her some.” Ning Zu’an’s eyes fell on Lanning’s hands, which were holding the books, and then on Ning Xueyan’s raised left foot. There was a little warmth in his look.

“Yes, father. Then… I’ll go back first!” Ning Xueyan did not expect Ning Zu’an to speak so caringly. She was stunned at first, but then she bowed her head and said respectfully.

“You go first.” Ning Zu’an waved his hand, indicating that she should leave first.

“Yes, Father!” Ning Xueyan nodded, turned around to hold Lanning’s hand, and walked forward, with difficulty. She moved her left foot a little slowly as she stepped forward. Fortunately, she moved slowly. The left half of her body was supported by Lanning, so people who were not aware of her injury, could not tell that she had been hurt.

It seemed that she deliberately did not want anyone to see her sprained ankle.

“Yan’er…” Seeing that Ning Xueyan was about to disappear behind the tree, Ning Zu’an suddenly called out to her.

Ning Xueyan turned around in astonishment, and looked at Ning Zu’an in surprise.

Although it was winter, there was a faint trace of sweat on her pale forehead. She gave a forced smile. Her weak body shivered in the cold wind. However, she drew herself up, without showing any signs of timidness or inferiority.

Although she was in pain, Ning Xueyan tried her best to maintain the dignity of a noble young lady. Ning Zu’an’s face became even more gentle and he even showed a rare display of kindness that Ning Xueyan had never seen before. “Yan’er, be careful. You’ll enter the palace in a few days. Don’t miss out on any important events because of your injury. If you need anything, send someone here and don’t do anything by yourself.”

Hearing this, Ning Xueyan sneered in her mind, but she gave him a grateful look. “Thank you, father. I don’t need anything.”

“Go!” With a gleam in his eyes, Ning Zu’an nodded to show that she could leave.

This time, Ning Xueyan held Lanning’s hand and walked all the way. He did not stop her again. When he saw Ning Xueyan’s figure disappear, he stood for a while and went straight to Lucky Garden.

“Young Lady, the Marquis is gone!” Seeing Ning Zu’an leave, Lanning whispered to Ning Xueyan. She pulled out the handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from Ning Xueyan’s head.

Of course, it was true, but it was not due to the pain on her feet, but that of her hand. Just now, when Ning Zu’an wanted her to turn back, Ning Xueyan pinched herself hard with one hand. Her sharp nails dug into her flesh, causing cold sweat to break out on her forehead. Then, she turned her head. If not, Ning Zu’an would suspect her.

In Ning Zu’an’s mind, she was not the suspect.

The so-called blood relationship and the relationship between father and daughter was nothing but a joke. Ning Zu’an never showed any love for her. Now the reason why he treated her more kindly was that she would be useful to the Lord Protector’s Manor. Fortunately, she never had any feelings for the manor.

She could have a mother-daughter relationship with Madam Ming, but she hated Ning Zu’an and everything that he represented. In the vast Lord Protector’s Manor, she could not feel any warmth.

Fortunately, she did not want to talk to them of warmth at all, because there were a lot of blood debts. The poor, timid but kind Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protector’s Manor, Ning Xueyan, had already died. The one that survived was Ning Ziying, who was born to be bloodthirsty and was full of hatred…

“Let’s go back now and see how the Lord Protector’s Manor will celebrate the Spring Festival!” Ning Xueyan took Lanning’s handkerchief, wiped the cold sweat on her forehead, and chuckled.

Today, it should be New Year’s Eve. However, everyone in the Lord Protector’s Manor was full of suspicion. How interesting!

Lanning looked at the smile at the corners of Ning Xueyan’s mouth. It was a gentle smile, but somehow, it gave her a strange and weird feeling…