The Devious First-Daughter

“Zu’an was going to request the emperor to bestow on him the title of Princely Heir. How could it be possible now? It is Madam Ling, that bi*ch, who harmed Yuan’er,” Madam Dowager said with hatred. She had always looked down on Madam Ling’s background, so since Madam Ling came to the manor, she had kept Ning Huaiyuan by her side. She had gone through a lot of trouble for Ning Huaiyuan. She always gave him the best because he was the next master of the Lord Protector’s Manor.

Now that such a thing had happened, Ning Huaiyuan’s status was not even equal to that of Ning Huaijing’s. How could Madam Dowager not be angry? Her words were full of anger and directed at Madam Ling. Of course, her anger was because she blamed Madam Ling for being a disappointment. She did not blame Madam Ling for doing such a thing, but only that she did not do it discreetly enough so that it would not implicate her grandson.

“Madam Dowager, what should we do now? It is not appropriate to ask the marquis to request the emperor to ennoble the Eldest Young Master now.” Mother Qin asked cautiously. As a servant, she should not have brought up this topic. But since Madam Dowager asked, she had to answer. As for the other meaning to Madam Dowager’s words, she could only pretend that she did not hear them.

“Yuan’er’s current status has become like this because of that evil woman. So, it is indeed not the best time.” Madam Dowager frowned and raised her eyelids. She was speechless for a moment.

“Do you want to ask Madam Dowager Liu? I think it has been a long time since Madam Dowager went to Madam Dowager Liu’s place. Maybe she might have a good idea.” Mother Qin suggested in a low voice.

Her words reminded Madam Dowager. Her furrowed brows relaxed a little, then she nodded and stood up. “Let us go and see her. She has not been out for a long time.”

Mother Qin helped Madam Dowager and said with a smile, “Madam Dowager Liu’s place is getting quieter and quieter. A few days ago, I sent fresh fruit to her per your order. The whole courtyard was quiet. A few older female servants were tiptoeing around because they did not want to disturb Madam Dowager Liu’s cultivation.”

“She is becoming quieter. She used to come out and talk to me from time to time, but now…” Madam Dowager sighed. Madam Dowager Liu seldom appeared in public, since she was taken into the manor by Ning Zu’an. Even when there were banquets in the mansion, she would not attend any, as far as possible.

Therefore, few people outside the manor knew that there was such a Madam Dowager in the Lord Protector’s Manor. Recently, Madam Dowager Liu did not like crowds. Therefore, even though so many things happened in the manor recently, Madam Dowager Liu knew nothing about it. She was immersed in her cultivation. Usually, she chanted and prayed her Buddhist mantras. Her cultivation was much quieter than when she was cultivating in the nunnery.

Madam Dowager initially thought that she had gone too far. Sometimes, she wanted to send someone to look for her, but out of a period of ten occasions, it was rare for her to come even once or twice. Madam Dowager knew that she had made up her mind to undergo cultivation, so she did not bother her anymore. But today, she really could not find anyone to discuss the matter about Ning Huaiyuan. After thinking for a while, she decided to talk to Madam Dowager Liu.

In the Bright Frost Garden, when Ning Xueyan heard that Madam Dowager had gone to Madam Dowager Liu’s courtyard, her lips curved into a smile, and her long eyelashes flickered. There was a trace of darkness in her jet-black jade-like eyes, but it disappeared in a flash.

Madam Dowager was not just going over to chat with Madam Dowager Liu at this time. Usually, Madam Dowager would invite Madam Dowager Liu to talk to her, because she heard that Madam Dowager thought that Madam Dowager Liu lived in a quiet courtyard. This time however, she went directly to see Madam Dowager Liu.

Compared with the hustle and bustle in Madam Dowager’s courtyard, Madam Dowager Liu’s was quiet. However, the quiet place had its benefits. Without any outsiders coming in, it was a good place to talk.

“Young Lady, do you want me to look in on Madam Dowager Liu, as well?” Qingyu asked.

“You don’t have to do that. If you go there now, you will be discovered. Then we can’t give a clear explanation.” Ning Xueyan shook her head. If it were Madam Dowager’s Lucky Garden, where many people came and went, one would not be easily noticed from the outside. However, there were few maids and older female servants in Madam Dowager Liu’s courtyard. Usually, no one could be seen there daily. If Qingyu went there, she would inevitably be under suspicion. Madam Dowager had never trusted Ning Xueyan.

“What are Madam Dowager and Madam Dowager Liu going to discuss about this time? Will they harm you?” Qingyu asked uneasily. She was very sharp now. If Madam Dowager went out at this time, it must have something to do with her Young Lady. But she could not hear anything.

“You don’t have to go. It must be about Ning Huaiyuan. Ning Huaiyuan is not qualified to be a Princely Heir now!” Ning Xueyan smiled and waved her hand.

“Young Lady, Madam Dowager won’t let it go so easily.” Lanning interrupted. Everyone there knew that Madam Dowager attached great importance to Ning Huaiyuan.

“So what if Madam Dowager does not want to let it go? It is all Madam Ling’s fault. Can Madam Dowager suppress what Madam Ling has done?” Thinking of her own Young Lady and Madam Ming’s suffering, Qingyu said this angrily. Madam Ling was treacherous and malicious. Ning Yuling had almost put her Young Lady to death several times. In the Lord Protector’s Manor, there was only one person who spoke up for her Young Lady.

“It is impossible. Madam Ling’s incident was judged by the Ministry of Justice,” Ning Xueyan said lightly. “Lanning, how is Concubine Yu doing?”

The matter about Madam Ling could not be suppressed. Moreover, Madam Ling was able to survive this time, because Ning Zu’an and the Vice Minister of Justice’s Manor had come to an agreement.

“Concubine Yu even sent me to thank Young Lady. She said that it was lucky that you discovered it early. Otherwise, her brother would have died this time. He will be imprisoned for several years, but it would be better than death. She said that she is grateful to you. There are also two pairs of shoes she made for you. She came to give them to me in the morning.”

Lanning took out two exquisite pairs of shoes from the sewing basket, and showed them to Ning Xueyan.

“Be it so. Please thank Concubine Yu for me. If she wants to see my Second Brother, you can deliver a message for her.” Ning Xueyan looked at the shoes, with a faint smile on her lips. Concubine Yu’s elder brother was willing to confess everything directly for two reasons. On the one hand, it was because of Concubine Yu. On the other hand, it was because Madam Ling almost killed him.

As a servant, he worked with Madam Ling to frame the then hostess. Thus, he would be put in jail. Fortunately, he had a good attitude toward the admission of guilt. And, he took the initiative to confess everything. Madam Ling, the main culprit, was not dead. As an accomplice, he would be sentenced for a few years. What would happen next had nothing to do with him.

“Yes, I know.” Lanning always understood Ning Xueyan’s order. At this time, she certainly understood Ning Xueyan’s meaning. She nodded and agreed. It could be said that the case of Concubine Yu and Ning Xueyan had been solved.

“What will Madam Dowager do? Will she vent her anger on Young Lady because the Eldest Young Master could not be ennobled as Princely Heir?” Qingyu thought of Madam Dowager’s behavior before and asked uneasily. Madam Dowager did not seem to be the kind of person who would accept her fate. The Lord Protector’s Manor had lost a successor. For Madam Dowager, it was a great blow. She did not believe Madam Dowager would be so calm.

“Qingyu, Lanning, prepare the sacrificial offerings for me. Tomorrow, we will go to Cold Mountain Temple to pray for my mom. After all, my mother has been vindicated. Thus, I should comfort her in heaven to show my filial piety, before I enter Prince Yi’s Manor.” Ning Xueyan had made up her mind at this time and suddenly said this. Since Madam Ling’s matters were now known to the public, it was reasonable for her to perform a sacrificial ceremony. Even if Madam Dowager wanted to stop her, she had no reason to do that.

This kind of thing should have been done randomly, but it seemed that Lord Protector’s Manor did not want to do it. Madam Dowager and Ning Zu’an did not say anything about it, as if they had forgotten about it. They wanted to deliberately reduce the bad effect of this matter, so that peoples’ attention would be diverted from Madam Ling’s plot against Madam Ming.

But now, she wanted to conduct a religious rite for Madam Ming, before she married into Prince Yi’s Manor. Madam Dowager could not refuse her. So if Madam Dowager had any objections, she would purposely make things difficult for her tomorrow morning. No matter how Madam Dowager and Madam Dowager Liu discussed about this, they just wanted Ning Xueyan to agree.

“Don’t worry, Young Lady. We will start the preparations soon.” Qingyu and Lanning nodded and were about to leave when they were stopped by Ning Xueyan.

“You two wait for a while. Xinmei, go to my uncle’s mansion immediately and ask them to go to the Cold Mountain Temple today. Tomorrow, I will ask them to invite me to the Cold Mountain Temple to worship my mother. It is better to ask the emperor for a favor.”

Anyway, she was still a member of the Lord Protector’s Manor, so it was not appropriate for her to offend Madam Dowager openly. If her uncle and cousin invited her, Madam Dowager and Ning Zu’an could not refuse. Anyway, the Lord Protector Manor owed the Ming Manor a lot now. It was generous of the Ming Manor to spare Madam Ling.

Ning Xueyan’s persuasion and negotiation were involved in this matter. Madam Ling had killed so many people, so it was too easy for her to die easily…

“Okay, I will leave now.” Xinmei knew that it was better not to delay. The later the people in Lord Protector’s Manor knew about the preparations, the harder it would be to guard against. So, she nodded and left.

The next morning, Ning Xueyan did not have breakfast, so she went to Madam Dowager’s Lucky Garden first. She usually went there at this time and paid her respects to Madam Dowager. After a few greetings, she came back to have breakfast again. However, today was different from ordinary days.

First of all, she did not see Ning Qingshan and Ning Lingyun. Usually, at this time, one of them would be there.

Secondly, when she went in, Madam Dowager was having her meal. Xiangmiao, who served her, moved a chair for her and invited her to sit down. Then, she accompanied Madam Dowager to have some porridge.

The imperial palace gave them this fragrant rice. It was said that it was from Annan City, and was also rare there. Ning Zu’an received some, so he gave all of it to Madam Dowager’s Lucky Garden. Because there was not much, it was only enough for Madam Dowager to have porridge in the morning. However, Madam Dowager seldom asked the young ladies to drink with her. Ning Huaiyuan would have breakfast with her from time to time.

“Grandmother, thank you. I had better go back and eat!” Ning Xueyan refused with a smile.

“Fifth Young Lady, you don’t have to be so polite. Madam Dowager was just talking about you. After all, you are the closest one to Madam Dowager now, and you will leave the Lord Protector’s Manor soon. Madam Dowager really does not want you to leave.” Xiangmiao was good at talking. She gently pressed Ning Xueyan’s shoulder, and smiled. She seemed to imply that Madam Dowager loved Ning Xueyan most and treated her as the apple of her eye.