Chapter 483 - Going on a Tour and Their Sisters Get along Well
Chapter 483 Going on a Tour and Their Sisters Get along Well
“Third Sister, thanks for your concern. I am rather unlucky. I did not expect that I would slide down the slope and at the same time you were almost involved in an accident, because you were rushing over to check on me.” Ning Xueyan did not look as if she was in high spirits, but her smile was much softer than before.
Seeing that her explanation worked, Ning Qingshan immediately smiled widely and said, “We can’t blame anyone else and it is always because of our sisters’ bad luck. Fifth Sister, you are going to get married soon and the gate of a noble manor is as inaccessible as the ocean. Besides, now that Fifth Sister is going to enter Prince Yi’s Manor, I am afraid that it will be not easy to meet even if I want to see Fifth Sister in the future.”
As she said the last sentence, she sighed deeply, as if she was really sorry about that. As for what she said previously, she did not dig any further. It was inconvenient to further speculate on what Third Prince had done in Cold Mountain Temple. Otherwise, it was illogical for Ning Qingshan to say that she became dizzy and did not know what was going on. If she did not know, then what was wrong with Mammy Luo?
“Third Sister, you are going to marry into Third Prince’s manor in the future!” Speaking about her marriage plans, Ning Xueyan suddenly became very coy.
“Fifth Sister, how about going out for a walk today? Since I came back from the nunnery, we sisters have not had a good reunion yet. Fifth Sister, you rarely have time, so why don’t we ask Fourth Sister to come along as well?” Ning Qingshan suggested with a smile. She asked Ning Lingyun to tag along because she was afraid that Ning Xueyan would be too cautious and did not want to go out with her.
Anyway, Ning Lingyun was so useless and it did not really matter if she did it with or without her. If something bad happened, she could be used as a scapegoat. So why not enjoy doing it?
“Er, I’m going to get married soon, so I’m afraid…” Ning Xueyan said with embarrassment.
“Fifth Sister, it is because you are going to get married and it will not be so easy for us to get together in the future that you have to go out with Fourth Sister and me today. Even though there were some unpleasant incidents that happened between us sisters, we will each lead our respective lives later. Even if you want to be as ignorant as before, you will not be able to do it.”
Ning Xueyan was in a dilemma, but she did not refuse her directly. Seeing this, Ning Qingshan immediately continued to persuade her with sorrow and sincerity. Even what had happened between them was said as if it were just trifling matters between sisters and her enthusiasm appeared boundless.
“Well, okay. Maybe Fourth Sister does not want to go? And a few days ago, Grandmother told me that I should just stay in my courtyard and not to go anywhere else.” Ning Xueyan seemed to be swayed by her insistence, but she was still a little hesitant.
“It is not a big deal. Once Grandmother knows that we are in such a good relationship, she will definitely let us out, let alone Fourth Sister. She has been staying in the manor for a long time and must be bored. Today, it is rare for the three of us to go out together, so Fourth Sister is bound to be happy.”
Ning Qingshan immediately stood up and said with a smile. Before Ning Xueyan could refuse her, she asked Caifen to consult Madam Dowager and inform Ning Lingyun to dress up for going out later. She then said she would go back to Foggy Courtyard to change first and then go out together.
And she repeatedly reminded Ning Xueyan to dress more beautifully. The sisters rarely had a chance to go out together, so they should put on beautiful clothes for this outing. Of course, for the sake of travel convenience, they had to bring veiled caps and other things.
Ning Xueyan agreed with a smile and walked her to the door. After seeing Ning Qingshan walking off far away with Caifen, she turned back.
“Young Lady, there’s something strange about Third Young Lady’s visit today. Recently, her Foggy Courtyard has little interaction with our Bright Frost Garden, so why is she so enthusiastic today? You just nodded slightly, but she seemed to be afraid that you would not go and immediately arranged everything.”
When Ning Xueyan came back to the room, Lanning asked her anxiously with a frown on her face.
A cold smile appeared on Ning Xueyan’s pale lips. She picked up the book again, flipped through two pages and then said casually, “When someone is courteous toward another, she must be asking for something. But as for her, I’m sure what she wants will not be good for me.”
“What should we do? Young Lady, you’d better not go. I’ll tell Third Young Lady later that you are not feeling well and cannot go out,” Qingyu said anxiously.
“No. Let’s go and see first.” Ning Xueyan shook her head and a trace of confusion flashed in her eyes. She knew that Ning Qingshan had only ill-intentions when she tried to coax her out now, but she could not figure out what Ning Qingshan was going to do to her. Ao Chenyi had warned the Lord Protector’s Manor before, so she believed that Madam Dowager had already conveyed this message to others.
In the past, Madam Dowager might not have said anything directly to Ning Qingshan. But Madam Dowager must have known what happened before and that her relationship with Ning Qingshan was definitely unharmonious, so she must have given Ning Qingshan a warning.
With Ning Qingshan’s character, she would not dare to think up of any wicked ideas to plot against her in such a short time.
Although Ning Qingshan had other ideas and also an unusual identity, she was still the Young Lady of the Lord Protector’s Manor on the surface. Therefore, she could not blatantly disobey Madam Dowager’s order. Besides, if Ao Chenyi transferred his anger to the Lord Protector’s Manor, Ning Qingshan being the one who brought her out would be in trouble.
Even if Ning Qingshan wanted to harm her, she could not do it in this way. So it was safe for her to go for an outing this time.
“But if nothing is going to happen, why did Ning Qingshan do her utmost to please me?” she wondered.
“Or I might think that Ning Qingshan will never let me meet with an accident openly, but what about discreetly? There could be something bad happening secretly and it would be inconvenient for me to tell the others about it, once it happens? Thinking more deeply, I feel that Ao Chenyi will definitely not know about it.” Ning Xueyan thought.
So by then, no one would blame Ning Qingshan even if it was exposed to the public.
“Qingyu, is the veiled cap that I wore last time still available?” Ning Xueyan suddenly thought of something and looked up at Qingyu beside her.
“Of course, Young Lady’s hat is still here. I have kept it carefully, is there anything wrong?” Qingyu was in charge of keeping Ning Xueyan’s things. Hearing her question, Qingyu asked in confusion. That hat was an ordinary one, which was bought from outside before.
All the noble young ladies wore this kind of cap for an outing and its veil was beautiful. Ning Xueyan usually went out with this veiled cap, but it also had a flaw. Although the hat was big enough, its edges were not stitched up.
In other words, if the wind was a little strong, the veil might be lifted up to reveal the woman’s face. It was spring now. The spring breeze was not strong, but it was also possible for it to cause the veil to fly up if one was standing in a high place.
“There is nothing wrong. Take my veiled hat over and sew up the veil edges for me, so that it will not be lifted up by the wind.” Ning Xueyan smiled slightly. Anyway, she should not be appearing in front of others now. She was about to get married, but she still ventured outside. If others saw her, they would likely say something bad about her.
“Yes, I’ll do it right away.” Although Qingyu did not know why Ning Xueyan suddenly asked for it, she still obeyed and left. It was an easy task to stitch up the veil edges and Qingyu brought it over in a short time.
The long hanging veil did not seem to be stitched up at all. Looking from the outside, others could only see the hat’s veil below and no one could see the location where the veil had been carefully stitched up.
As soon as she dealt with the veiled hat, Madam Dowager sent an older female servant with a message. She allowed them to go out for leisure, but they could not be frivolous and should not be home late. Ning Xueyan agreed to it.
Of course, Ning Xueyan understood what Madam Dowager meant. She and Ning Qingshan were going to marry into Prince Yi’s Manor and Third Prince’s Manor soon. Madam Dowager certainly hoped that their sisters could get along well with each other. In this way, it would be more helpful to Lord Protector’s Manor. Or it would be more convenient to make some sacrifices for the benefit of Lord Protector’s Manor.
However, something happened between Ning Qingshan and her in the past and Madam Dowager was aware of it. These were all the things that Madam Dowager did not want to see. Now that Ning Qingshan promised to make peace with her, Madam Dowager would definitely agree even if it was inconvenient for her to go out now.
Madam Dowager was delighted to hear and see that the sisters could get along with each other before they got married.
Lanning ushered Ning Xueyan to the mirror and dressed her. Ning Xueyan tapped her fingers on the table and pointed at a light-colored dress.
Lanning picked up the clothes that were left at the side, shook it out and said, “Young Lady, let Xinmei go with you, then I will feel more assured at home.”
Xinmei always escorted Ning Huaiyuan these days since something happened at the Cold Mountain Temple.
“No. This time, I will not encounter any obvious danger and Ning Qingshan will not dare to do that, so I will be fine. Lanning can come with me.” Ning Xueyan stood up as she put on her clothes. Xinmei’s skills were indeed the best among the maids, but she was a secret guard. She could protect Ning Xueyan well, but she was not sensitive to other things.
When there was no potential safety hazard, it was not necessary to take Xinmei with her. Moreover, it would attract others’ attention if she went out with Xinmei.
Ning Xueyan preferred to keep Xinmei hidden so that she could play a key role at unexpected junctures. Besides, Lanning was more suitable than Xinmei in other aspects, except in martial arts skills.
Lanning had no objection to such an arrangement. Originally, she did not feel relieved and thought it would be better for her to go together, so she nodded at once.
When she was done with her dressing, Ning Qingshan already sent someone to hurry them. The servant said that Ning Lingyun was also ready and they were all waiting for Ning Xueyan.
When Ning Xueyan arrived at the door, Ning Qingshan and Ning Lingyun were already waiting there.
Ning Qingshan had changed into an ordinary pinkish-purple dress. What was more surprising was that Ning Lingyun who had always liked to show off in public, was dressed in a simple but elegant dress. It was white and the only embroidery were plum blossoms at the edges, which looked very light.
Ning Xueyan glanced at Ning Lingyun thoughtfully and a slight profound look flashed across her eyes. It seemed that Ning Lingyun had changed a lot not only in her behavioral habits, but also her taste in clothes as well. In the past, Ning Lingyun would never have worn this color that could almost be regarded as “pale”.