Chapter 359 - Plotting, Reluctance One by One
Chapter 359 Plotting, Reluctance One by One
After she fell into the river and was fished out, Ning Ziyan looked like a drowned rat. Ning Xueyan had been asked to go on the boat by Prince Yi. No one dared to go over to Prince Yi’s boat to call her, so Ning Yuling accompanied Ning Ziyan back.
Although the older female servants rescued Ning Ziyan, the women from the inner courtyard were not the only ones present at that time. So, Ning Ziyan had been humiliated and disgraced. She was sent to the carriage, in a daze. She did not wake up until she got into the carriage. Her clothes were soaked through, and she wore a cloak given by the Lord Peace’s Manor. She held a corner of the cloak, dark hatred filling her eyes.
“Eldest Sister, are you really willing to share Eldest Brother-in-law with her? It took you so much effort to get him back then.” Ning Yuling looked calm as she sat beside her. She smiled mockingly. She knew everything about Ning Ziyan, and she gave her a dirty look.
If she had not bullied Ning Ziying repeatedly, Ning Ziyan would not have taken Ning Ziying’s lover so quickly. Until she died, the stupid woman had not expected that Xia Yuhang was the one that her mother wanted to arrange a marriage for her Eldest Sister. However, her mother heard that he had been engaged since childhood. And, the woman who was engaged to him was Ning Ziying. How could she leave the matter at that?
However, Ning Ziying, the idiot, did not know about it at all. She and Xia Yuhang loved each other so much and acted so intimately. She was courting death. Ning Yuling certainly knew what happened that night. If Madam Ling had not forbidden her to go there, she would have had a good laugh at Ning Ziying.
Ning Yuling thought that the little orphan girl, who was friendless and helpless, was courting for death, by looking forward to marrying into Minister Xia’s Manor. If she was smart enough, she would ask to cancel the marriage.
“Second Sister, will you do me a favor?” Ning Ziyan asked angrily, gritting her teeth when Ning Yuling touched a raw nerve.
“Eldest Sister, I can’t help you with these things. Look at me now. What else can I do?” Ning Yuling sneered and said this grimly. She was more than willing to watch the fun now. If her mother and Eldest Sister were ready to help her, she would not have fallen into such a situation. How could the Eldest Sister ask whether she would help or not?
She was so miserable now. Her mother and the Eldest Sister should take on some responsibilities.
She forgot that it was nobody’s fault but her own, when things had come to such a point.
“Second Sister, don’t you want to marry the Third Prince? Are you willing to be suppressed by a little bitch? Do you want to spend your whole life like this and let her trample all over you? Don’t you remember who did this to you?” Ning Ziyan knew Ning Yuling very well, so she knew where her explosion points were.
Her words struck a chord in Ning Yuling’s heart.
Ning Xueyan, who she despised the most in the past, would trample her underfoot and suppress her. At the thought of that, Ning Yuling suddenly became vicious and her eyes immediately turned red. She clenched her fists and gnashed her teeth in anger.
How could she forget? She would never forget. She had returned to the capital this time specially to take revenge.
In any case, she hated Ning Xueyan. However, she was not powerful at the moment. So, she was willing to wait and would not be as reckless as before.
“What do you want me to do?” Although Ning Yuling lowered her voice, it was hard to hide the sharp meaning in it. If there was a chance, she would let Ning Xueyan live a life worse than death. Since Ning Ziyan wanted her help, she was happy to do so, if she could put Ning Xueyan to death with just a little effort.
“Tomorrow, I will send out a message about my illness. Then, you and Mother only need to…”
In the dark carriage, they leaned closely toward each other. They had different looks, but they were equally vicious.
The quiet courtyard was neither big nor small. One was considered rich to be able to own three courtyards in the capital city, where an acre of land cost a lot. Moreover, this courtyard was next to the Imperior Tutor’s Manor. It was said that those who lived here were related to the Grand Tutor Ya’s family.
Therefore, although the people living here were not nobles, no one dared to offend them.
In the small garden, Ning Qingshan was sitting with a 30-year-old beauty. If Ning Xueyan was here, she would find that this beauty’s voice was very similar to Ya Moqin’s. If she did not see her, she would think that it was Ya Moqin herself.
“Aunt Wu, what does Grandfather think? Is it…” Ning Qingshan asked reluctantly. It was inconvenient for her to come in and out of the Grand Tutor Ya’s Manor, so she often came here. Aunt Wu was the owner of this courtyard and was also responsible for entertaining her. In order to avoid suspicion, Ning Qingshan did not come over often.
However, she was not reconciled to what had happened this time. She went from being the Third Prince’s wife to the position of co-consort, instead. How could she bear that all the years of planning had come to nothing? Although the Honored Consort Ya had made it clear, she still wanted to ask the Grand Tutor Ya’s opinion. After all, the Grand Tutor Ya was her grandfather “in-law”.
Didn’t he always say they would be doubly related? How could he watch her becoming only a co-consort?
“Third Young Lady, he can’t help you. In front of so many people, you behaved unruly and played terribly. Moreover, it happened before the emperor and the empress. No matter what the reason is, the emperor will not choose you as a consort.”
Aunt Wu comforted her with a gentle smile. She poured a cup of tea for Ning Qingshan and behaved in a gracious manner.
“But, but grandpa, is he going to leave it at that?”
“Fortunately, the Grand Tutor has devised some strategies under these circumstances. Otherwise, you can’t even be a co-consort. Third Young Lady, you should know that the Eldest Young Lady Ya should be the co-consort. Since she and the Third Prince were childhood sweethearts, the Grand Tutor has acquiesced in this matter. But now, we have to ensure that Eldest Young Lady Ya is wronged.”
Ya Moqin liked Third Prince, which was not a secret. The consort that the Grand Tutor Ya arranged for the Third Prince was indeed Ning Qingshan. Meanwhile, he arranged for Ya Moqin to be the co-consort. Both were the Grand Tutor Ya’s granddaughters. After they married to the Third Prince, no matter who gave birth to a baby, the Grand Tutor Ya’s Manor would enjoy a high position and great wealth.
Hearing Aunt Wu’s words, Ning Qingshan was still angry, but she calmed down a little. Thinking of Ya Moqin’s current face, Ning Qingshan smiled. “At least I can marry the Third Prince now. Ya Moqin has been thinking about it for so long, but she does not have anything. She’s much unluckier than me.”
“The Grand Tutor asked you to stay in the manor. It will take more than half a year before you can get married. It will take a long time for the Prince to marry the main wife. Third Young Lady, stay and be at ease in the manor. Don’t quarrel with the Fifth Young Lady in your manor. Otherwise, you’ll lose the greater for the less.”
Aunt Wu reminded Ning Qingshan again.
“Why can’t I do anything to Ning Xueyan?” Although Ning Qingshan’s face was gentle, there was a trace of resentment in her eyes. It was Ning Xueyan who had caused her to end up like this. She would never let her off so easily.
“She is Prince Yi’s co-consort. If you offend her, you may offend Prince Yi.” Aunt Wu explained with a smile.
“What? She’s Prince Yi’s co-consort?” Ning Qingshan’s face underwent a great change.
“Yes, the decree should come out with yours. The Grand Tutor was afraid that you might lose a great deal through trying to save a little. You should get along well with the Fifth Young Lady. You’re sisters, and you’ll still be sisters after you get married.” Seeing the resentment in Ning Qingshan’s eyes, Aunt Wu did not think that what the Grand Tutor Ya said was of any use. So, she said with a smile.
The Grand Tutor Ya wanted Ning Qingshan to get along with Ning Xueyan. After Ning Xueyan married into the Prince Yi’s Manor, they might take advantage of Ning Xueyan’s position. The Grand Tutor Ya had specially sent word to Ning Qingshan. Compared with Ya Moqin, the Grand Tutor Ya believed that Ning Qingshan was more outstanding.
Otherwise, Ya Moqin would not have given up her position as the co-consort. Instead, he promoted Ning Qingshan. After all, Ning Qingshan was much better than Ya Moqin in all aspects.
“Got it. Please tell my grandfather that I won’t hold things up,” Ning Qingshan said in a gentle voice, yet with cold hatred on her lips.
She would not delay things, otherwise her own affairs would be delayed as well. She would offend Prince Yi if she offended Ning Xueyan. Why would Prince Yi like a little girl who had not grown up yet? It was said that he killed the ladies, who were exquisitely dainty and ravishingly beautiful, sent by the palace, if he felt like it. He had no compassion for women.
Even if she killed Ning Xueyan, she did not believe that the Prince Yi would deal with the Lord Protector’s Manor. Besides, since she was not only supported by the Lord Protector’s Manor, she would definitely “develop a good relationship” with Ning Xueyan.
When Ning Xueyan returned to the Lord Protector’s Manor, it was not early. At least, Ning Yuling had been back for some time already. After asking at the door, she was about to go to Madam Dowager’s Lucky Garden. Coincidentally, she saw Ning Qingshan getting out of the carriage. It was a rare sight, because Ning Qingshan did not go out too much, recently.
They traded a few compliments and then left. Ning Xueyan went to the Lucky Garden.
As soon as she arrived at the gate of Lucky Garden, she saw Mother Qin guarding the gate to Madam Dowager’s courtyard. When she saw Ning Xueyan coming over, she greeted her with a smile. “Fifth Young Lady, you’re finally back. Madam Dowager was just asking about you. The Eldest Young Lady accidentally fell into the lake, and the Second Young Lady had to come back as well. Madam Dowager does not know what happened and she wanted to ask you about it. Coincidentally, you are back.”
“Has Second Sister reported to Grandmother?” Ning Xueyan asked with a smile. Mother Qin seemed overly enthusiastic today. It seemed that Madam Dowager had heard something.
“The Second Young Lady was frightened by what happened to the First Young Lady. She did not tell Madam Dowager the details when she came back. She only sent a maid to let her know, but the maid’s version was not clear. Madam Dowager missed you, and she was worried.” Mother Qin led the way with a smile. She did not ask a maid to inform Madam Dowager, so it was likely that Madam Dowager had been waiting for Ning Xueyan.
It did not seem as if Ning Yuling had not made it clear.