The Devious First-Daughter

Ning Xueyan did not stay out for too long. She was just taking a look today. After all, she had to ask Han Dazhuang to recheck the location of the shop. She had chosen some streets that looked good, but she would have to inquire if there were any suitable shops there. Such things did not happen by chance. It was better to choose a suitable one.

After she explored the surroundings for a while, Ning Xueyan’s carriage returned to the manor. When she got off the carriage, she suddenly saw another carriage at the side. She looked at it carefully and found that the carriage was not from the manor. She winked at Lanning, who was standing beside her. Lanning understood and went out to make some enquiries. Then, she caught up with Ning Xueyan.

“Young Lady, I heard that Childe Yueming from the regions south of the Yangtze River, came to visit the Marquis. He is now at the Marquis’s place.” Lanning took a breath, walked to Ning Xueyan, and whispered to her.

“Childe Yueming? Hua Yunheng?” Ning Xueyan stopped for a while, but then she went on. She really did not know what had happened that year. Hua Yunheng had stayed and then left her family for no explicable reasons. It seemed that everything was complicated and confusing. But no matter what, Hua Yunheng was only Childe Yueming, and he had nothing to do with her previous life. So, he could not directly intervene in the affairs of the Cloud Reflection Courtyard.

So what if Brother Hua knew that she was dead? Perhaps he still remembered his younger sister. He came especially to visit and inquire about her. She had been a loser in her previous life. She neither knew who her biological parents were, nor what went on in her foster parents’ minds. She did not even know about her brother, who had appeared so suddenly out of nowhere, in their family.

In the past, she had gone along with this elder brother wholeheartedly. She had even been sad for a long while after his departure. In her heart, she had blamed him. Even if he had to leave in a hurry, he should have written a letter to explain it to her. However, he had been gone for so many years, and it was as if she did not exist.

In this life, she knew that this was not all she was not aware of. Childe Yueming was a man of talent and came from a wealthy family. Why did he live in an ordinary mansion for two years? Could it be because of her real identity in her previous life, the Great Elder Princess of the previous dynasty?

Seeing that Ning Xueyan’s expression changed a little, Lanning suggested, “Young Lady, do you want me to see what Childe Yueming is doing here?”

“Don’t bother. It has nothing to do with us.” After taking a deep breath, Ning Xueyan smiled faintly and felt a little bitter. Anyway, she had died in her previous life. No matter how many people were pursuing the Great Elder Princess, it had come to an end. People died as the lights went out. So, she should cut off all the karmas from her previous life.

She was the Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protector’s Manor now, not Ning Ziying, who had a mysterious identity and had been plotted against, by many people.

“Young Lady, that childe is looking at you.” Xinmei suddenly reached out and pulled Ning Xueyan’s sleeve, alerting her as a handsome young master came out from a moon gate on the right side. He was dressed in a snow-white robe, which made him look handsome and tall. There was a sash the color of jade tied around his waist. His starry eyes were slightly narrowed, and he exuded an air of elegance and nobility.

He was really from a millennium family with a profound background in the regions south of the Yangtze River City. He could be compared to an actual member of the royal family.

Two beautiful ladies accompanied him. One was gentle, while the other was charming, and they greatly enhanced the gentle and elegant image of the young master. The gentle maid was Fenglian, whom Ning Xueyan knew. When they were in her manor, she was the one who served Hua Yunheng, and she was the only one. As for the other one behind him, she must be one of Hua Yunheng’s four maids. Ning Xueyan suddenly remembered what had happened on Peach Blossom Island.

She bowed to Hua Yunheng, who was still some distance away, and went inside. Lanning and Xinmei followed closely behind her.

“Are you the Fifth Young Lady? Our childe asks to see you.” After walking a few steps, she heard someone chasing after her and speaking in a gentle voice.

Ning Xueyan had to stop. She turned her head and saw Fenglian panting, and greeting her with a smile. Somewhere in the distance, Hua Yunheng was strolling toward her, as if he had something to tell her.

“What can I do for your Childe?” Ning Xueyan asked. She did not think that she had any connection with Hua Yunheng in this life. Besides, they had not seen each other officially.

“Yes. Fifth Young Lady, when you came to Peach Blossom Island that day, Childe was there as well, but he came back a little later. Later, he spoke with the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Min for a while, but he did not see you.” Fenglian explained with a smile.

Ning Xueyan was unhappy that she had been observed by so many people, when she went to admire the flowers that day. A trace of anger flashed in her dark jade-like eyes. Since she had died in her previous life, she did not think it was necessary for her to meet Hua Yunheng. After the excitement she experienced after seeing him for the first time that day, now she only felt unhappy and upset.

After all, she sincerely regarded Hua Yunheng as her big brother. Except for her parents, he was the one who was closest to her at that time. He was not an adult, so she could tell him everything. Sometimes when he was reading under the tree, she would have an afternoon nap, next to him.

But now, Ning Ziying was dead. Whether it was right or wrong, or if there was a conspiracy, shouldn’t it be over?

“I just visited the garden with Eldest Young Lady Heng that day. I did not expect that I disturbed your master. It’s really our fault,” Ning Xueyan said politely, but Fenglian looked uneasy.

“Fifth Young Lady, you’re too polite. That day, I wanted you to do me a favor, so I am here to disturb you again. If there is something I did wrong, please forgive me.” He said this in a gentle voice, followed by an elegant smile. When she looked up, Hua Yunheng had already come over and was looking at her with a smile.

Since he was already here, what else could she say?

They greeted each other again. After Hua Yunheng returned her greeting, they began to talk again. “Fifth Young Lady, did the Second Young Master pick up something that belonged to me that day?” Hua Yunheng asked with a smile. He did not beat around the bush, but went straight to the point.

Ning Xueyan subconsciously wanted to avoid this question, but when she saw Hua Yunheng’s faint smile, she knew that it was useless to cover it up. Maybe Hua Yunheng was already aware of her identity that day, so she no longer tried to cover it up and said frankly, “Is it a sachet?”

“Yes.” Hua Yunheng had a dazzling smile on his face, and his tone was soft and gentle. “Someone who meant a lot to me, gave it to me. So, I searched for it for a long time that day. Later, I thought that maybe it could have fallen into you and your brother’s hands. I happened to see you coming over, so I came to ask you.”

“Did Childe Yueming visit my second brother?” Since he mentioned about herself and her brother, it seemed that Hua Yunheng had seen through her disguise at that time. Ning Xueyan did not hide anymore, but asked with a smile. Her beautiful eyes met with Hua Yunheng’s nice eyes, without any hesitation.

Hua Yunheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, but then he shook his head and said, “I just asked the servants in your manor. They said the Second Young Master had gone out, so they don’t know the exact whereabouts of the sachet. When I saw you, I came to ask you. I’m sorry if I was impolite.”

“My second brother is not here today?” Ning Xueyan really did not know about it. At first, she wanted Xinmei to go to Ning Huaijing’s place to get the stuff, but now Ning Huaijing was not there. “When my second brother comes back, I’ll tell him to make another appointment and return the sachet to you.”

“Thank you very much, Young Lady.” Hua Yunheng bowed deeply to Ning Xueyan, with a hint of gratitude in his eyes. He had greeted her like this several times in her memory. He did it whenever she was angry. When he apologized to her, he gave her a sincere bow, which felt as warm as jade. Then, he tried to amuse her.

He had never been angry and impatient, as if he was always the elder brother. However, she was always the one to create problems.

As if she was in a trance, Ning Xueyan then asked, “Who gave you the sachet? That sachet should have been quite old, but you still can’t forget about it.”

Her question was abrupt, and there was a trace of surprise in Hua Yunheng’s eyes. Even Lanning and Xinmei, who were standing aside, stole glances at her.

“I was rude. I was just a little curious, so you don’t have to tell me.” Ning Xueyan came to her senses and gently explained. As a Young Lady from a respectable family, she should not have asked that kind of question, not to mention that they were not even familiar with each other. Even if she was a Young Lady from a noble family, she should not have asked that question.

It was obvious that this sachet was a woman’s personal item. It was rude to ask a strange man this sort of question, so she immediately changed the topic.

“There is nothing that I can’t tell you. My fiancée gave it to me, so I kept it by my side. This time I lost it, so I was anxious.” A trace of sadness flashed through Heng Yunheng’s eyes. Ning Xueyan, who was standing opposite him, could see the pain in his gentle and elegant eyes.

“Oh, you should keep it well, then.” Ning Xueyan said dryly, unconsciously clenching her fists. If she could, she really wanted to ask Hua Yunheng, “Aren’t you my elder brother? When did you become my fiancé? Xia Yuhang has always been my only fiancé. When did I become your fiancée?”

She knew that this was not what she should ask at the moment. She was not in the position to ask about the relationship between Hua Yunheng and Ning Ziying.

Hua Yunheng could not have been her fiancé in her previous life. But why did he say that? With Hua Yunheng’s personality, he did not seem the type to utter an untruth. Even if he had evidence, Ning Xueyan did not believe it. Her mother had never told her anything.

When her mother was about to die, she asked her to go to the Lord Protector’s Manor. She did not talk about Hua Yunheng, who had been missing for several years. It was if he had never appeared in their manor.

After exchanging a few conventional remarks with Hua Yunheng, they separated. Ning Xueyan went inside with a slight frown, feeling that there might be something she was not aware of. She took two steps forward and decisively told Lanning, “During these days, try to find an opportunity to get Mother Wang sneak into the manor. You tell her that I want to ask about Sister Ziying.”

Mother Wang might not know her real identity in her previous life, but she should know what had happened afterwards!