Chapter 329 - Who Schemed Against Whom?
Chapter 329 Who Schemed Against Whom?
“Tell me, what’s going on?” Ao Chenyi said sternly. His cold eyes turned from the maid to the County Princess Yuanyun, who was trembling and clearly shaken. The words that came from his mouth became more and more violent. “Otherwise, I’ll kill your whole clan.”
If this threat had been said by someone else, the maid might not believe it. However, when she heard it directly from the most famous bloodthirsty devil in the capital, she believed it more than 10,000 times over.
“County Princess, save me, save me.” She was so frightened that she could only turn to the County Princess Yuanyun for help.
“I, this… this is my maid…” The County Princess Yuanyun tried her best to calm down and spoke to Ao Chenyi. However, when she saw his eyes which looked as cold as that of a poisonous snake, she stopped talking.
“She’s the County Princess’s maid, so she’s at my disposal.” Ao Chenyi smiled sinisterly. “Send her away.”
Two tall and sturdy guards came to drag the maid away, with vicious smiles. Their hands, which were as big as cattail leaf fans, reached out for her, like an eagle catching a chicken. Seeing that her County Princess showed no intention of protecting her, the maid was so scared that she broke down.
“It’s the County Princess. It’s the County Princess who made me do this. It’s the County Princess who asked me to hand the hairpin to her, so that she will stab the County Princess accidentally. It’s all… it’s all the County Princess’s idea. It has nothing to do with me. Please forgive me, Your Highness!”
If she did not confess, all the nine generations of her whole family would be implicated. No matter how loyal the maid was, she could not keep quiet now. She screamed and struggled hard. She clung on to the ground and refused to leave.
“You… you’re talking nonsense. You’re just a lowly maid who is trying to frame your master.” Seeing Ao Chenyi’s cold gaze falling on her, the County Princess Yuanyun County suddenly came to her senses. She rushed over, kicked the maid hard, and shouted angrily.
“Is that the County Princess’s order?” He asked in a gloomy voice.
“It’s… it’s the County Princess’s order. It has nothing to do with me.” The maid only wanted to stay alive, so she responded frankly.
“You’re talking nonsense. You’re talking nonsense.” The County Princess Yuanyun screamed hysterically, as she kicked the maid continuously. She only hoped that she would stop talking at this time. She wanted to explain that it had nothing to do with her. It was just a quarrel between the maid and the woman, and it had nothing to do with her.
“Why does the County Princess want to kill my concubine?”
“Your Highness, the County Princess… the County Princess is about to marry you, and does not want any woman to be favored by you.” The hand that was holding on to the maid released its grip, but the maid could not stand up, because the County Princess Yuanyun continued kicking her. Seeing that the County Princess Yuanyun was going berserk, the maid naturally spilled the beans.
“Good, good… So I am going to marry the County Princess Yuanyun? That’s great.” Ao Chenyi suddenly laughed coldly and turned to look at Ao Mingyu. “My good nephew, when did your father find such a good match for me? Such a vicious woman will only harm my harem.”
His words were very ruthless. Ao Mingyu’s face turned blue, then white. It took him a long time to calm down. Before he could say anything, a guard from the Prince Yi’s Manor picked up a hairpin from the ground. It was the hairpin that Ning Xueyan had dropped before.
Ao Chenyi picked up the hairpin and looked at the maid indifferently. Then, he went over to County Princess Yuanyun, who was still kicking away at the maid. He kicked her hard and sent her flying into a big vat behind her, which was filled with water and there were even some fish in it. She spat out a mouthful of blood, and the water in the vat was immediately stained with blood.
The County Princess Yuanyun fainted in the vat before she could even utter a single word.
Ao Chenyi then left with Ning Xueyan in his arms, not bothering to check if the County Princess was alive or dead. The two guards knocked out the maid and took her away.
Ao Mingyu had no choice but to send someone to bring out the body of County Princess Yuanyun. Princess Xianyun watched the scene from a distance with two maids. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, then immediately drooped. She spoke gently to Commandery Princess Mingya, who was standing aside, and did not know what had happened, “Come on, let’s go and see if Sister Yuanyun has had an accident.”
Although they were far away just now, they could hear some vague sounds. It seemed as if some woman was screaming hysterically, and it sounded like Yuanyun. As a distinguished County Princess, how could she scream like that? Commandery Princess Mingya could not figure it out. When she saw Xianyun going over, she hurriedly followed behind.
Ao Chenyi held Ning Xueyan in his arms and came out, with a cold expression. He strode into his carriage, lifted his leg and kicked the wagon, indicating that they should leave. As the coachman hurriedly swung the whip, the carriage sped away. Ao Mingyu, who was chasing after him, only had time to see the dust behind the wagon.
The anxiety on his face slowly disappeared, and a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes. He did not expect that the favorite concubine held such a crucial place in Ao Chenyi’s heart. He used to think that Ao Chenyi used her as a shield. Now, it seemed that Ao Chenyi truly cared about this woman.
Ao Chenyi had rushed in and brought the woman out hurriedly. The anxiety in his eyes could not be concealed.
Ao Mingyu did not know what his weak point was, but now he found one. Just now, Ao Chenyi hesitated only for a while, which was evident enough. There was a pang in his heart, even though his favorite concubine had a low status.
In the past, this concubine might be wholeheartedly loyal to Ao Chenyi. But now, it was impossible. No woman, who was almost exchanged as a cargo, would stay with a man wholeheartedly.
What’s more, Ao Mingyu felt relieved after seeing this woman today. She could not be Ning Qingshan. Just now, he saw that the woman’s hands were white and tender, but Ning Qingshan’s hands had suffered some injuries.
In the carriage, Ao Chenyi put Ning Xueyan on the couch and pulled off the veil off Ning Xueyan’s face. As expected, he saw a bruise on Ning Xueyan’s forehead. “I told you to act according to circumstances. How could you hurt your head?”
“Prince Yi, if not, how would the County Princess Yuanyun be willing to leave the matter at that?” Ning Xueyan touched her forehead and felt a twinge of pain. She had located the position, but she did not expect that the wood would fall on her. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and shielded herself with her hands. Otherwise, her forehead might have been seriously injured.
“Stupid!” Ao Chenyi reached for the cabinet in the carriage and took out an exquisite jade bottle. He opened it, picked up some transparent ointment with his finger, and applied it on Ning Xueyan’s forehead. His handsome face was gloomy. “Why did you not stab her with that hairpin? You could have done it. Even if you stabbed her to death, you will not need to die.”
Ning Xueyan knew what he meant. Her identity was unknown. Ao Chenyi was the only one who knew who the so-called “favorite concubine.” was No one knew who she was when she was hidden by her veil. As long as Ao Chenyi said that the person was “her,” the person would be accused of the crime, and it would have nothing to do with her.
“If I stabbed her to death, it would be more difficult to deal with it. In this case, you’re in an active position. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do!” From his gloomy face, Ning Xueyan could see that he was unhappy. Although he was applying medicine to her, he was not gentle.
After applying the ointment, Ning Xueyan pressed her prominent forehead forcibly. Feeling the pain, Ning Xueyan cried out softly, and her watery eyes were hazy.
“I’m always in an active position. I don’t need you to get injured.” Ao Chenyi closed the jade bottle and threw the ointment aside. Then he cleaned his hand with a handkerchief and pulled Ning Xueyan roughly into his arms. Ning Xueyan’s nose was sore and painful, so she nearly burst into tears.
“Prince Yi, can you be gentler? It is painful.” Ning Xueyan covered her nose helplessly. She blinked her black jade-like eyes and almost shed tears. Didn’t she do her best to help him? When she entered the courtyard and saw those noble ladies, Ning Xueyan knew that he brought her there, not only because of Ao Mingyu.
“It hurts. You know it hurts. It’s strange. Were you not calm when the flower stand dropped earlier?” Ao Chenyi snorted and drawled. His evil eyes were cold.
Ning Xueyan did not know what was wrong with him. Hearing him talking about the collapse of the flower stand, she sighed helplessly.
“Prince Yi, I was wrong!” She looked up with her watery eyes. Under her long eyelashes was a pair of beautiful, shimmery eyes. She looked sincerely at Ao Chenyi. Although she felt that this was the best situation, at least Ao Chenyi had taken the initiative, no matter what his purpose was. That was why she had intentionally bumped into the flower shed, taking advantage of County Princess Yuanyun’s strength. However, Ao Chenyi did not look happy at all.
“What’s wrong?” Ao Chenyi looked at her, unmovingly. He leaned against the couch behind him and pushed Ning Xueyan backward. Then, Ning Xueyan was on top of him, but she could not move. The big hand on her waist held her slender waist tightly and she was pinned to his body.
This posture looked ambiguous. Ning Xueyan blushed slightly and bit her lips, but she did not struggle. “Prince Yi, do you want to frighten the other noble ladies so that they will not dare to marry you again?”
After thinking for a while, he found that this was the only reasonable reason. Ao Chenyi was not married yet, largely because he needed the emperor to approve his marriage. As Prince Yi and the emperor’s brother, it was reasonable that the emperor was in charge of his marriage plans. However, he did not want the emperor to interfere with his family affairs.
Before, Ning Xueyan thought that the emperor had arranged a consort for him, and she was to be the co-consort. Now, it seemed that the emperor had arranged a consort and co-consort for him. Ao Chenyi was reluctant, so he deliberately brought an unknown favorite concubine to the hall, and flaunted her in front of the future princess and co-consort.
What’s more, this woman acted so coquettishly in front of everyone. In this way, no woman would be able to bear it.
The conflict was inevitable. However, Commandery Princess Xianyun looked natural and behaved so elegantly. When she saw Ning Xueyan, she did not have any reaction. Ning Xueyan did not know if she really did not seem to care, and appeared dignified and virtuous, as everyone said. Or, she was shrewd and deep but stayed calm and collected. Now, she could not tell.
“Humph, remember it next time!” Ao Chenyi snorted and reached out his hand to flick her forehead heavily, which made Ning Xueyan cry in pain. She did not know why he was dissatisfied, even though she had tried her best to help him.