Chapter 122 Madam Ling Isnât an Easy Opponent
âMarquisâŠâ Madam Ling called out for her husband affectionately. But seeing Ning Zuâan leave without paying her any heed, her heart sank into a pool of icy water. Knowing that she was in deep trouble this time, she glared at Ning Xueyan in resentment. The most suspicious person in this sudden affair was her.
Ning Xueyan wore a little frown, but her gaze was filled with aloof mockery. Madam Ling had always wanted to tear her apart. Since that was the case, she must give Madam Ling a great giftâŠ
Madam Lingâs actions prompted Madam Dowager to say sternly, âYouâre the First Madam of the Lord Protectorâs Manor. Do you think youâre a concubine, to be making so much noise? Which madam in this capital acts like you, to dare seduce her man after an episode like this? What a wench.â
After signaling Mother Qin, she ignored Madam Ling and left while holding onto Ning Xueyanâs hand.
âGrandmother, donât be mad anymore. What families donât have worries in this capital? We should try and preserve peace in our family whenever possible,â Ning Xueyan said, trying to comfort Madam Dowager as she walked.
There was a faint smirk on her face. Never mind Madam Dowager, even Ning Zuâan would despise Madam Ling following this incident. No man would be able to stay above this. Even knowing that nothing had happened between the two, it was still a fact that they had embraced each other in the bed in the light of the day.
The biggest factor for Madam Lingâs rise from a concubine to First Madam was Ning Zuâanâs affection for her. Now that this affection had changed, how much longer could she keep her position?
Perhaps Madam Ling would never imagine that Ning Xueyan wasnât trying to make it look she had an affair with the Marquis of Pingâan, but to make Ning Zuâan and Madam Dowager doubt her. Even without evidence, some things could linger in oneâs consciousness. Moreover, Ning Xueyanâs biggest goal was having Madam Ling confined in the Buddha Hall.
Sure enough, Mother Qin stayed behind to warn the older female servant guarding the door. She even arranged for a few more servants to make sure Madam Dowagerâs order that no one was to see First Madam would be well-executed. Only then did she left, walking behind Madam Dowager.
When Ning Xueyan returned to the Bright Frost Garden, she found Mother Han welcoming her with a bright smile. Her joyous expression dimmed when she sensed Ning Xueyanâs cold gaze, and she immediately shed away her grin. Then, she led Ning Xueyan into the house with the proper conduct of a servant.
âYouâre right, Young Lady. The Marquis wouldnât forgive First Madam so easily in a matter like this. Even if Eldest Young Lady and Second Young Lady plead with the Marquis, itâll be some time before First Madam is released. Moreover, sheâll have lost the Marquisâ favor. It wonât be as easy for her to harm you in the future.â
With quick steps, Qingyu served Ning Xueyan a cup of tea. Ning Xueyan picked up the cup and took a sip. She said with a faint smile, âMother Han, itâs too early to celebrate. Madam Ling isnât an easy opponent.â
Ning Ziyan had her own troubles to sort out while Ning Yuling had lost Madam Dowagerâs favor. However, there was still Madam Lingâs son, Ning Huaiyuan.
He was the hope of the entire manor. In her memories, this older brother of his had always been very cold to her. When he saw Ning Yuling bullying Ning Xueyan in the distance, he would turn around and walk away as if he saw nothing. In several instances where Ning Yuling ordered the servants to beat and scold her, and he happened to pass by, she had looked at him hoping he would save her. Yet he had simply ignored her each time.
Never mind any brother-sister affection. Like Madam Ling and her daughters, Ning Huaiyuan considered her even less important than a maid.
However, she couldnât deny that the Eldest Young Master of the Lord Protectorâs Manor was quite the character. He studied abroad with his teacher, a great scholar, at a young age and had quite the reputation in the capital. Now that the year-end was closing in, he ought to be home soon. He wouldnât just leave it be once he learns that Madam Ling was confined in the Buddha Hall.
Upon second thought, Mother Han found Ning Xueyanâs words to be reasonable. Her smile faltered, and she started frowning instead. She asked anxiously, âIs First Madam still targeting us? Should we do something?â
Madam Ling had been managing the household for so many years. It wouldnât take more than a few instructions from her to deal with a young lady with so few servants. This made Mother Han deeply worried.
âThat wonât be necessary. She wonât have the time to deal with us when someone elseâs targeting her!â Ning Xueyan chuckled. Concubine Xu might be obedient to Madam Ling as her former maid, but now that her only daughter was going to marry an old pervert because of Madam Ling, how could she bear no resentmentâŠ?
Ning Lingyun was sharp-tongued and mean. Concubine Xu schemed with Madam Ling to sabotage her marriage. How could she let them have their way? So, she decided to select a good match for Ning Lingyun and turn them against each other.
Sunlight filtered through the window to land on her pale face, and yet was incapable of melting the coldness in her eyes. Mother Han, Qingyu, and the rest were stunned to see her. It was as if they were staring at a demonic flower, a bewitchingly beautiful flower that would gradually devour the preys that dare to infringe on her. Nothing would be able to escape her clutchesâŠ
They ought to fear her, and yet she made them feel at ease instead. Only a young lady like her could protect everyone here in the dog-eat-dog environment of the inner courtyard.
Even the strong-willed Xinmei couldnât help wondering just what kind of experience had shaped Ning Xueyanâs coldness and apathy. It was as if the previously childish Fifth Young Lady had crawled out of the hell itself.
Fifth Young Lady wasnât unlike an ordinary person. It was no wonder that her Master left her with Ning Xueyan!
In the end, no word about Madam Ling and Marquis of Pingâan leaked. The servants who saw them received stern warnings to keep their mouth shut. The marriage between the Lord Protectorâs Manor and Marquis of Pingâanâs Manor was also nailed down, with the bride being the concubine-born Ning Lingyun. However, as Ning Lingyun had unmarried elder sisters, the two families did no more than the exchange of betrothal gifts. The official wedding would be held at a later date.
This time, the Marquis of Pingâan had essentially tied himself to the fate of the Lord Protectorâs Manor. Ning Zuâan thought it was a worthwhile deal to buy his silence with a concubine-born daughter. It was just a concubine-born daughter anyway.
Ning Lingyunâs position had always been lower compared to Ning Yuling, who bore a far heavier responsibility.
Marquis of Pingâan was, of course, delighted to marry the beautiful lady of his dreams. He had already tossed the matter about the jade pendant to the back of his mind; it was something Madam Ling instructed him to say, anyway. He was grateful enough that he achieved his goal without suffering consequences from the incident with Madam Ling. On the other hand, Ning Zuâan felt frustrated to be addressed as âfather-in-lawâ. Looking at such a plump face, he couldnât bring himself to feel happy.
With a wave of his hand, he sent the Marquis of Pingâan away.
That night, Ning Lingyunâs courtyard was noisy with commotion, so much so that it nearly alerted Madam Dowager. Concubine Xu had to spend the night there to placate her daughter.
Ning Xueyan went to bed as soon as the lamps were lit for the evening. Lanning stared at the bulging quilt inside the house and closed the doors helplessly. After informing the other servants that their Young Lady had fallen asleep, she returned to the house, closed the doors, and slept outside the room.
Her eyes were closed, but she remained awake. That was because the one sleeping inside wasnât Ning Xueyan but a bundled quilt.
Ning Xueyan had followed Xinmei to sneak out of the Lord Protectorâs Manor. This was what she had promised Prince Yi.
Tonight, Prince Yi had some affairs that required Ning Xueyanâs presence. Lanning didnât know if it was a good thing for her Fifth Young Lady to get involved with Prince Yi. However, Ning Xueyan had so few supporters that her path was still treacherous despite her intelligence. Todayâs incident was a good example. If Xinmei wasnât around, the Marquis of Pingâan wouldnât have fallen for their trap so easily.
If it was someone else, they would be discovered even if they were able to lure the Marquis of Pingâan over.
Ning Xueyan was a smart one; she must have her reasons to get involved with Prince Yi. This thought made Lanning feel a little calmer. Compared to Ning Ziying, Ning Xueyan appeared even smaller and frailer. The truth was that she was even more formidable, enough to make Lanning trust her. Her Young Lady would surely have her reasons; all she had to do was trust her.
Even so, she was still worried, and it kept her awake. She carefully listened to the sound of activity inside the courtyardâŠ
This time, Ning Xueyan was dressed as a maid. Instead of leading her in through the front door, Xinmei jumped over the wall while carrying her. The Bright Frost Garden was located in a remote corner of the manor, so jumping across the wall would directly take them outside. Outside, a horse carriage was waiting. Ning Xueyan entered the carriage with Xinmei following suit behind her.
In the cover of the night, the carriage made several turns down the road before arriving at the courtyard from before. They entered through the backdoor. Once she closed the doors, Xinmei stood there and carefully listened for any noise. Ning Xueyan stood beside her quietly, looking indifferent. Her calmness made Xinmei nod to herself. This Fifth Young Lady might be young, but she was garnering more and more of her respect.
âYoung Lady, allow me to dress you in a new set of clothes!â They entered a room, where a lamp was illuminating a set of ornate clothing made of snow-white cotton yarn. It was a gorgeous piece with an elegant design of blood-red butterflies and looked even better with a jadeite head ornament. With her cool expression, Ning Xueyan looked even more bewitching dressed in it.
Xinmei combed Ning Xueyanâs fringe once again. Even though it was a little on the short side, she still managed to press it down with a butterfly hairpin. It was rather astonishing how alluring her delicate brows and eyes could look if she put a little effort into her appearance. With such temperament, behavior, and appearance, she would fully blossom in just two years.
Xinmei couldnât help complimenting this girl inside her mind. Her Master was the most bewitchingly beautiful person that she knew, but the Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protectorâs Manor wasnât inferior to him by any means.
âXinmei, is the Prince going somewhere? Or is he receiving a guest?â Ning Xueyan asked placidly, as she took in the calm expression of the gorgeous lady in the mirror.
âIâm in the dark myself. The Princeâs letter only says that you must come here tonight. Iâm thinking that perhaps the Prince is putting on a show to meet a few people,â Xinmei answered as she combed Ning Xueyanâs hair. Since she was away from Prince Yi recently, she wasnât sure about the exact details.
Ning Xueyan frowned and asked confusedly, âDoesnât the Prince have concubines?â Considering his status, Prince Yi could have any woman that he wanted. Why did he ask her to pretend to be his favored concubine?
âThere are concubines in the manor, but theyâre all bestowed by the Emperor and the royal consorts. The Prince doesnât like any of them and settles them in some corner of the inner courtyard. He forbids them from leaving on most days,â Xinmei explained, seeing as this couldnât be considered a secret.
Everyone knew that the Emperor and Prince Yi didnât get along. There was no way Prince Yi would want anything to do with the concubines that the Emperor sent. Moreover, all those women tend to shiver when they saw him. They couldnât even get proper sentences out of their mouth. It was incredibly displeasing to him.
She didnât mention the reason was also Ao Chenyiâs bloodthirstiness. Several of his concubines were beaten to death just days after entering his manor. Who wouldnât be obedient after seeing this?
âWhatâs the matter with the Third Prince and Prince Yiâs fight?â Ning Xueyan asked calmly. That day, the Prince had sent over his people as if he couldnât be bothered it. It was truly strange!
Xinmei didnât dare to answer that question, so she carefully explained, âIâm not so sure myself. If youâre curious, youâll have to ask the Prince.â
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