The Devious First-Daughter

“What happened to Ning Huaijing?” Ning Xueyan sat down and asked.

“Miss, Childe Ning is very popular in the Qingyun Academy, but he got into a fight with someone and knocked him out! That person’s family is very powerful, so Childe Ning was put into prison before he could defend himself,” Mother Han answered anxiously.

It had happened suddenly, so when she got the news from Han Dazhuang, Childe Ning had already been taken away.

“Ning Huaijing fought with someone? He doesn’t look like a person who knows how to fight!” Ning Xueyan thought.

“Who was that guy that got slapped?”

“It’s said he came from a rich family. As his family is wealth and power, he always bullies people. Actually, they didn’t fight for anything big. That person deliberately provoked Childe Ning, calling him a b*stard, so Childe Ning beat him out of anger. Then somehow that person hit the wall and fainted.”

Mother Han wiped her sweat and explained in more detail.

“A b*stard?” Ning Xueyan’s heart skipped a beat. She frowned slightly with a trace of enlightening flashing in her jet-black eyes. It seemed that someone began to doubt his parentage. It was no wonder that Madam Ling was so quiet these days, and she did not even meddle with the revenge of her beloved daughter. Now Ning Xueyan knew that Madam Ling had put her efforts into dealing with Ning Huaijing.

“Mother Han, send someone to the village outside the Eastern City, tell Ning Huaijing’s mother that Ning Huaijing got into trouble and ask her to find a way to help him out.”

“Ah? Miss, you don’t intend to save him? Mother Han was surprised that Ning Xueyan did not try to save Ning Huaijing, but kicked the ball to someone else. She froze for a while, wondering what she meant.

“Mother Han, Ning Huaijing only injured someone, so it’s not a big deal. Although he was in jail now, he will be okay. I’m sure his mother will find a way to save him,” Ning Xueyan said with a slight smile. She then took the teacup from Lanning gracefully, lifted the lid and removed the tea foam.

“You mean we should have Madam Yu ask the marquis for help? But you’ll lose an opportunity to have him owe you one.” Mother Han did not understand what Ning Xueyan was doing. Ning Xueyan had asked her to keep an eye on Ning Huaijing and said she would help him out when he was in trouble. Now she finally got a chance, so Mother Han was so confused as to why she had given it up.

“Mother Han, go ahead and inform Childe Ning’s mother first. Things won’t be so simple,” Ning Xueyan said meaningfully with a faint smile.

It was just a beginning and would not end so soon. With Madam Ling’s characteristics, she would rather kill a hundred by mistake than to spare one enemy. It seemed she had not known the fact that Ning Huaijing was Ning Zu’an’s son. Otherwise, she would have done more than this.

Maybe she was suspicious just because of Ning Huaijing’s name, and obviously, she had no evidence now. Or the person who was beaten by Ning Huaijing would not only faint. Of course, there would be a follow-up of this matter. Madam Ling was just guessing and testing now. Once she got any evidence, she would show no mercy and immediately get rid of Ning Huaijing.

If Ning Xueyan meddled in at this moment, she would expose herself. Then Madam Ling and Ning Huaiyuan would be more alert and much more difficult to deal with.

Ning Xueyan was interested in Madam Yu’s identity as well. Since Mother Wang made friends with Madam Yu, she had passed on all the messages Madam Yu told her to Ning Xueyan. Ning Xueyan was shocked when she heard the news after coming back from the imperial palace. She did not expect that there were so many secrets behind it. Ning Xueyan and her uncle had looked into the matter about Madam Ming for a long time but did not make much headway.

After all, it had been a long time, and there were no clues left at all.

It seemed that she could use some special means to deal with the problem.

Now Madam Ling was investigating if Ning Huaijing was Ning Zu’an’s illegitimate child and Ning Xueyan had her own plan. It was really a coincidence.

“Yes. I’ll go right now.” Mother Han was smart. Otherwise, she would not have protected Bright Frost Garden under that circumstance. Obviously, Ning Xueyan was implying something. She thought for a while and figured out her intention. Then she turned to leave with a nod, feeling much relieved.

Ning Zu’an rode back from the court at noon. After getting off the horse at the gate, he threw the reins to a young male servant. However, when he was about to walk in, the servant who stood beside him pulled the hem of his clothes. He looked in the direction the servant pointing at and saw a woman’s pale face. A hint of disgust immediately crossed his eyes.

The servant was Ning Zu’an’s henchman. “Marquis?” he called Ning Zu’an in a low voice.

“Bring her to my study.” Although Ning Zu’an was unwilling, he still ordered the servant to bring that woman in. The woman did not seem to be a trouble maker, so without anything important, she would not come to him. “Could that because someone deducted her money again? Even so, not much money. Ning Xueyan had investigated this matter before, but after I explained to her, she didn’t mention it anymore. What this woman came here for this time?” Ning Zu’an wondered.

He was upset at the thought of this. Then he shook his sleeve and strode into the manor without even looking back.

A servant followed him while another one walked to Madam Yu, who was hiding in a corner.

“Why are you here again? The Marquis is not in a good mood these days. You can’t get a penny this time,” the servant said in a low voice. It was true that Ning Zu’an was in low spirits recently as two Young Ladies of his manor had lost in the contest. It upset all his plans, so he was not in the mood to talk to Madam Yu at all.

The servant told Madam Yu about this for her own good. From Ning Zu’an’s attitude, he could tell he was very upset.

Madam Yu had rushed here and waited anxiously for a long time. “Please! Please bring me to the manor. I… I have something important to tell the marquis.” She begged with tears in her eyes.

At the thought that her son was being tortured in the prison, Madam Yu came to the Lord Protector’s Manor without any hesitation following the person from the academy who took the message to her. She had been waiting for a long time before Ning Zu’an coming back.

“Alright, are these vegetables in your basket?” the servant asked, pointing at the basket on Madam Yu’s back.

“Yes, I brought some vegetables here.” Madam Yu nodded. Although she was in a hurry, she knew she had to find an excuse if she wanted to enter the Lord Protector’s Manor. Therefore, she picked some vegetables from the field and brought them here. Whenever she had something urgent for Ning Zu’an in the past, she would have pretended that she came to send vegetables. She used the same way this time.

“Then follow me!” The servant nodded. He then turned and walked to the side gate. Madam Yu wiped her tears, following him.

The servant said that the marquis found the woman’s vegetables were good when he saw her selling vegetables in the street, so he asked her to send them to the manor. Since the servant was the marquis henchman, the doorman immediately let them in after hearing what he said.

Ning Zu’an’s study was not far from the front gate, so they arrived after a few turns. The servant took the vegetable basket for Madam Yu. Seeing her walking into the courtyard, he put the basket in the corner and then sat down by the door, bathing in the sun. When he saw a maid passing by, he asked her to take the vegetables away and left the basket there.

In the study, Ning Zu’an was sitting behind the table sullenly. He looked at Madam Yu and said impatiently, “I told you not to come. I can ask people to bring you what you need.”

“Marquis, I didn’t want to bother you, but… something bad happened to Jing’er. He was caught!” Madam Yu burst into tears as soon as she saw Ning Zu’an. She was so sad that she almost collapsed onto the floor.

“Ning Huaijing?” Ning Zu’an had never raised this illegitimate child, so he had no much affection for him. But anyway, he was his son. Besides, on the surface, Ning Huaiyuan was his only son. Ning Zu’an also hoped that he could have more sons, so he never stingy in giving Madam Yu money.

“Isn’t he studying in the academy? Why did they catch him? Didn’t you teach him to behave himself?” Ning Huaijing was not only an illegitimate child but also related to another matter, so his identity was bound to remain secret. Ning Zu’an was particularly upset when he heard that Ning Huaijing made trouble.

“Marquis, Jing’er shouldn’t be blamed. He has always been gentle and never stirs troubles. If that person hadn’t provoked him on purpose, he wouldn’t have fought with him. Marquis, please save Jing’er. He, he is my only hope.” Seeing that Ning Zu’an did not want to help, Madam Yu knelt down and begged him, looking up with tearful eyes.

The person who sent the message from the academy said the consequence might be serious. The injured hadn’t woken up yet. If he died, her son would be sentenced to death. At the thought of this, Madam Yu could not stay calm anymore. All she could do was kneel down and beg.

“Well, get up first. I got it. Who caught him?” Ning Zu’an had a headache. Everything was not going well recently. Now Ning Huaijing was also in trouble, so it was impossible for him to be in a good mood.

“He was taken away by Lord Mayor’s men. They, they didn’t even allow Jing’er to explain. It’s said he was beaten up as soon as he was put into jail. Jing’er… Marquis, please save Jing’er’s life, please!” Madam Yu fell to the ground with tears in her eyes. Mother and son are closely related by nature, especially Madam Yu had brought up her son alone, and so Ning Huaijing meant everything to her. She could not bear anything bad happen to him.

Ning Zu’an became even more impatient. “Well, I got it. You can leave now,” he waved his hand and said coldly.

Obviously, Ning Zu’an’s patience had worn off. Madam Yu was not stupid. Now Ning Zu’an had agreed, she then stood up, wiped her tears and bowed to him respectfully before leaving.

Since the marquis had agreed to help, her son might have a chance to be rescued.

“I have asked someone to send the vegetables to the kitchen. You can go back now,” seeing her coming out, the servant said, pointing to the empty basket.

Madam Yu nodded and picked up the basket. She wiped tears off her cheeks and then walked out with the basket on her back. She was familiar with the courtyard, so she did not need the servant to lead the way.

She had just turned a corner when she suddenly stumbled and tripped over something. With an “ouch”, she fell to the ground. It seemed that the basket on her back hit somebody and another “ouch” rang beside her.

The servant who stood not far away turned around warily and strode to the intersection. He happened to see a sneaky older female servant who got up and ran away in a hurry without even say anything to Madam Yu when she looked up and saw the young male servant’s face.

Although it was only a glance, the young male servant saw her face clearly as well. She was First Madam’s servant. “The marquis had never told First Madam about this woman. Did First Madam find out something?” Thinking of this, he could not help but frown. He walked over and pulled Madam Yu up before picking up the basket for her and asking her to leave as soon as possible.

It would lead to a disaster if First Madam found it out!