The Devious First-Daughter

The two maids and a young male servant were very efficient, so they prepared the feast in a short time. There were not many dishes, only three. The peach blossom wine was sweet, but not intoxicating. Moreover, Wen Xueran’s young male servant had prepared some fresh fruits for them, which won over Ning Xueyan and Heng Yuqing’s hearts.

Peach blossoms, flowing water and fat crucian carps were all ideal and in addition, fresh fruits and fragrant wine, only added on to the good atmosphere.

Sitting in a pavilion of falling petals, they had their fill of the red peach blossoms. A breeze blew from time to time and the flowers gave off a faint fragrance. The whole peach forest was a fairyland in this world, fascinating people, and intoxicating their souls.

“Come on, ladies, I’m here to propose a toast to you.” Wen Xueran’s gown fluttered in the breeze, and his drawling voice sounded in the pavilion.

“Thank you, Princely Heir.”

“You’re too polite, Princely Heir!” The two of them picked up their cups and took a sip of the sweet and moist peach blossom wine. The faint aroma of wine was slightly intoxicating.

“Fifth Young Lady, I heard that Brother Huaiyuan is ill. I don’t know what kind of sickness he has. How did he suddenly get ill?” After putting down his cup, Wen Xueran turned his beautiful eyes to Ning Xueyan and asked casually.

Ning Zu’an had kicked Ning Huaiyuan. This matter was related to the scandal involving Junior Concubine Xu. So, they could not tell it to outsiders. They only said that Ning Huaiyuan was ill. To prevent others from learning about it, they even stopped those who came to visit him, using the excuse of the severity of the illness. Wen Xueran seemed to have been prevented from visiting him as well.

“After the study tour, my brother was not in good health. He suddenly became ill at that time.” Ning Xueyan said calmly. She felt that Wen Xueran was a dangerous person. In her memory from her last life, he was not the gentle and elegant Childe in front of her.

Moreover, she remembered that at that time, he was also looking for Senior Nun Jing Kong. She had searched for Senior Nun Jing Kong to check on her origins. Why was Wen Xueran looking for Senior Nun Jing Kong, as well? Did he have some secrets that Senior Nun Jing Kong was aware of? Or, was he asking Senior Nun Jing Kong for information about his origins too.

Thinking of this, Ning Xueyan became more vigilant.

“Is Brother Huaiyuan feeling better now? I’ll visit him in a few days. I used to drink and chat with him, but now I’m alone. I feel lonely.” Wen Xueran said with a smile. He waved the fan in his hand as he spoke affectionately, but he did not seem lonely at all.

He was not as lonely as what he made himself out to be.

“Thank you, Princely Heir. When I get back, I’ll pass your message to my Eldest Brother,” Ning Xueyan said calmly. There was a faint smile in her shimmery eyes, which had a trace of alienation. Her words were polite, but seemed to put a distance between herself and him.

“Fifth Young Lady, are you not happy to see me?” Wen Xueran shook his folding fan, when he heard that. He turned his head and stared at Ning Xueyan for a while. Then, he frowned and asked, with a distressed look.

Ning Xueyan was stunned by Wen Xueran’s straightforward question. She did want to say that, but she could not say it out loud. She did not expect that Wen Xueran would ask so directly, which rendered her speechless for a while. She said softly, “Princely Heir, you’re overthinking. How could I?”

“It’s best if you don’t think so. It would hurt my heart if you, such a gentle and beautiful young lady, have been avoiding me time and again, especially when our two families are talking about marriage. Maybe the Fifth Young Lady and I…” Wen Xueran’s distress disappeared, and as the sun shone through the peach tree, it illuminated his eyes, which looked breathtaking.

“Talking about marriage?” Ning Xueyan subconsciously looked up and asked in surprise.

“Yes, Fifth Young Lady, what are your thoughts on that?” Wen Xueran showed a trace of an evil smile on his face, and looked at Ning Xueyan affectionately. Both his words and his expression seemed to be stating a fact.

Heng Yuqing’s face changed. She looked at Ning Xueyan and Wen Xueran. She bit her lip, lowered her head, and the cup in her hand suddenly felt heavier.

“You’re wrong, Princely Heir. This kind of thing is up to the elders of the Lord Protector’s Manor and the Commandery Prince Min’s Manor. As a younger generation, I can’t say anything about it. Therefore, whether or not we can become relatives, is not up to me. If you’re observant and conscientious, you’d better ask your elders.”

Ning Xueyan raised her eyes as the corners of her mouth lifted, and there was a smile in her dark jade eyes. She was no longer surprised and was not lured away by Wen Xueran’s plausible words.

Discussion of marriage? Now it was only herself, Ning Qingshan, and Ning Lingyun, who were unmarried in the Lord Protector’s Manor. With Wen Xueran’s status, Ning Lingyun could not marry him. Only she and Ning Qingshan were left. Although she and Ning Qingshan had not been explicitly instructed by the imperial palace, what Ao Chenyi said was true.

Moreover, it was related to Commandery Princess Xianyun, so it did not seem to be groundless. Ning Xueyan did not believe that Wen Xueran, an idle Princely Heir, did not know anything about this. Therefore, it was impossible for the Commandery Prince Min’s Manor to negotiate Wen Xueran’s marriage with the Lord Protector’s Manor right now.

Thinking about Wen Xueran’s ambiguous words, she felt that he was referring to something else. She instantly figured out what Wen Xueran meant.

After hearing what Ning Xueyan said, Heng Yuqing’s color returned immediately. She looked at Wen Xueran and asked with a smile, “Relatives? Who in the Commandery Prince Min’s Manor is going to get married to the people of the Lord Protector’s Manor?”

Seeing that Ning Xueyan had figured it out in an instant, Wen Xueran smiled with appreciation. He leaned back lazily and shook the fan in his hand, twice. He said politely, “This matter is about my sister and Brother Huaiyuan. The Lord Protector’s Manor has long been interested about it. I heard that Brother Huaiyuan seems to have someone else in mind, so the plans were laid aside. Fifth Young Lady, can you tell me?”

The Commandery Prince Min’s Manor and the Lord Protector’s Manor Ning Huaiyuan’s marriage? Ning Xueyan had never heard of this, but it was possible when she thought about it. Madam Dowager had not arranged a marriage for Ning Huaiyuan because she wanted to arrange an alliance with a noble lady from a wealthy family for him. If he could marry a lady from the Commandery Prince Min’s household, Madam Dowager would definitely seek a marriage alliance.

Wen Xueran was now inquiring about Ning Huaiyuan. Ning Xueyan did not want to provoke him. Maybe there was something else, so she did not want to get into trouble.

“It’s not true.” Ning Xueyan told him firmly.

“How could it be possible? I heard that there was another Young Lady who has been staying in your back courtyard for several years. Isn’t she Brother Huaiyuan’s wife?”

Wen Xueran stared at Ning Xueyan’s beautiful face with his amorous peach blossom eyes. His lips curved into a faint smile.

“Young Lady? Did you get the wrong information?” Ning Xueyan’s eyes flashed unconsciously. She clenched her hands under the table, and a trace of doubt and vigilance flashed in her beautiful eyes.

“How could I get the wrong information? The Young Lady, who lived in your mansion, is surnamed Ning. Since she came in, she has been very close to Brother Huaiyuan. When Brother Huaiyuan came back from his study tour, she died. And now Brother Huaiyuan is ill. Is there…”

The corners of Wen Xueran’s red lips curved slightly. With a faint smile on his face, he stood up and poured a glass of wine for Ning Xueyan.

Only the people in Lord Protector’s Manor knew about Ning Ziying’s death. Moreover, Ning Ziying had been a recluse and had kept a low profile in the past three years. Many people in the Lord Protector’s Manor had never even seen this Young Lady who lived there. Moreover, Madam Dowager and Madam Ling had blocked the news of Ning Ziying’s death.

But now, she got the news about Ning Ziying from Wen Xueran. How could Ning Xueyan not be surprised? Moreover, from Wen Xueran’s words, she felt that it had something to do with Ning Huaiyuan. Did Wen Xueran figure it out, or did he mean something else? What was the connection between them?

“Princely Heir, are you talking about Sister Ziying? Where did you hear about Sister Ziying?” In the twinkling of an eye, Ning Xueyan had made up her mind and decided not to hide this matter anymore. She bit her lips and picked up the cup in her hand uneasily. She took a sip, calmed down, and asked gently.

No matter if Wen Xueran’s purpose was to investigate Ning Ziying, he happened to have the same target as her. So, she would do as he wished. She tried to satisfy him, and she wanted to see what he was going to do next! A trace of craftiness flashed across her eyes.

Now she only knew about her origin in the previous life, and there were still many things to be investigated. But because she had no contact with Ning Ziying, it was not convenient for her to investigate into this. As for what she said about her dream, she could only tell Mother Wang and Lanning about it. She could not tell the others on the street about this, and make Xia Yuhang and others suspicious.

“Xueyan, is there really another Young Lady living in your manor? Why have I never heard of her?” Heng Yuqing could not help asking.

“Sister Ziying’s matter… is also a taboo subject in the manor…” Ning Xueyan said vaguely, and even showed a hint of uneasiness on her face. It seemed that some things were hard to tell, and it was inconvenient for her to say this to others.

“Fifth Young Lady, I heard that you have been living with your mother in your own courtyard for a few years. I don’t know if you have ever seen this Young Lady Ziying. I heard that this Young Lady was a rare beauty, and she was more beautiful than all those famous beauties in the capital city.” Wen Xueran asked curiously. His peach blossom eyes were even more seductive than before, and he was waving the fan in his hand, in an exceedingly fascinating and charming way.

One could tell that he was really interested in this issue!

She had heard that the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Min was a very romantic person. He was very well-versed when it came to the topic of beauty. It was said that he had an ambiguous relationship with several noble young ladies in the capital city in private. Looking at his excited look, everyone could see that this was exactly what he liked.

Maybe the reason why he took a roundabout way was because he wanted to talk about this matter.