Chapter 164 Have You Really Forgiven Me?
âBrother, I was too young and I said something stupid. I hope you can forgive me.â Ning Qingshan greeted Ning Huaiyuan with a bow, looking calm and graceful.
âSisterâŠâ Ning Huaiyuan looked at her thoughtfully, a strange look flashing in his eyes. He assumed a posture to hold her up, and he found it was difficult for him to call her so intimately like before. He paused for a while and then continued, âThird Sister, letâs bygones be bygones. We have grown up, so we should be mature.â
His previous naive âsisterâ had disappeared before she went for the nunnery, and the âsisterâ he saw recently was not Ning Qingshan at all!
Until now, Ning Huaiyuan still couldnât believe that the slim figure under the plum tree was Ning Xueyan, the Fifth Young Lady who had never walked out Bright Frost Garden! He paid much attention to Ning Xueyan today and he looked at her carefully a few times, but it was hard for him to associate her with that shy, unremarkable little girl.
She didnât look frightened at all whether it was answering Madam Dowager or arguing with Ning Qingshan.
Since his mind was on Ning Xueyan, he paid less attention to Ning Qingshan. He agreed to come to Ning Qingshanâs residence without hesitation, because he had let go of the past. He had been so annoyed that he hoped Ning Qingshan would never come back. Now when he recalled the past, there was nothing stirring in his heart.
But, did he really let go of the past?
Feeling a little bit scared, Ning Huaiyuan picked up the tea cup at hand and took a sip of tea uneasily.
âBrother, have you really forgiven me?â Ning Qingshanâs eyes brightened up and she looked excited, as if she became vigorous because of Ning Huaiyuanâs forgiveness. She then said in a sweet voice, âBrother, if you have forgiven me, just call me sister like before. It reminds me of the moments when we read books together secretly.â
She mentioned the past on purpose because she wanted to know Ning Huaiyuanâs reaction.
âThird Sister, weâre not kids anymore, so itâs improper to call you like that,â Ning Huaiyuan said with a polite smile. He didnât follow her request, but was reasoning her like an elder brother.
âIs he estranged from me?â Ning Qingshan wondered, a frustrated look crossing her eyes, but she was smart and she immediately shifted the topic with a smile. âBrother, Third Prince said that he came here every year to ask about my information. Is that true?â
Her face was as beautiful as a flower when she smiled. She flushed, as if she were shy while talking about the person she cared so much.
âOf course itâs true. Third Prince has always had a crush on you. If you can win his heart, father and Grandmother would like to marry you to him as the daughter of my mother. That means you will be taken as the daughter of Lord Protectorâs principle wife,â Ning Huaiyuan said with a smile. He thought of what Madam Dowager told him, so he stopped thinking about the bygones between Ning Qingshan and him.
He kept a good relationship with Forth Prince, but it didnât mean that he could ignore Third Prince. Ning Zuâan and Madam Dowager had decided to marry Ning Qingshan to Third Prince. At beginning, he didnât take it seriously. Anyway, one of his sisters would be married to Third Prince, but if this person was Ning Qingshan, it would be the best choice in terms of every aspect.
Ning Qingshanâs status would be higher if she was taken as the daughter of Madam Ling, instead of Madam Ming, and that was she had been hoping for. That was why she suppressed Bright Frost Garden on purpose as soon as she came back to the manor. She did this for Madam Ling, hoping that Madam Ling to raise her status because she treated her with more respect than Madam Ming.
Then she could be worthy of Third Prince and became his wife.
With her current status, she could marry Third Prince as well, but as a co-consort at most. Ning Qingshan had determined to be Third Princeâs wife, so she was extremely excited at the good news Ning Huaiyuan told her.
âBrother, I wonât let you down. If I can⊠I will try my best to protect the Lord Protectorâs Manor,â hearing what Ning Huaiyuan said, she immediately answered in a gentle voice. Ning Qingshan was not only flexible but also knew she should return the favor of others. Otherwise, she wouldnât have been so popular in the manor.
If she had the opportunity to be the empress, she would try all her efforts to protect the manor. That was her promise to the Lord Protectorâs Manor!
That was also what Madam Dowager and Ning Zuâan wanted!
âTwo days later, Honored Consort Ya will attend the party as well. I hope you can take this opportunity to get her to settle the marriage between you and Third Prince. After all, Third Prince is old enough to marry!â Ning Huaiyuan smiled and hinted.
The Lord Protectorâs Manor had something to do with Third Princeâs marriage being still up in the air. In the beginning, Ning Yuling had been supposed to marry him, but because Ning Ziyan hadnât gotten married yet, the Lord Protectorâs Manor postponed the marriage. Later, Ning Ziyan got married, but Ning Yuling got into trouble at Cold Mountain Temple, so the engagement between her and Third Prince was canceled. Now in any case, Third Princeâs marriage couldnât be delayed any longer.
His marriage would be settled in a year at most.
The previous emperor had appointed Prince Yi, Ao Chenyi as the heir to the throne. However, the current emperor preferred his own son. So both the current emperor and Honored Consort Ya hoped Third Prince to have a son as soon as possible. Then he would be more certain of winning the throne. Of course, Third Princeâs wife must come from a powerful and influential family.
It was the best time for Ning Qingshan to come back!
âBrother, thank you for your reminding. I wonât let you down,â Ning Qingshan said with a smile, her eyes full of joy and determination. She hadnât seen Third Prince for three years, but she had kept an eye on the news about him. Besides, she also asked someone to release the news that she was cultivating delicately in the nunnery and spread several poems she wrote among people.
The poems revealed her nostalgia for something that happened between her and Third Prince three years ago.
It seemed that Third Prince could always receive some information about her without knowing it in the three years, and from the information, he could feel her deep affection about him. Otherwise, Honored Consort Ya wouldnât have remembered her, and Third Prince wouldnât have taken her seriously. Who would take a promise made three years ago seriously?
âThird Sister, if you need anything, just let Grandmother know.â Both of Ning Huaiyuan and Ning Qingshan were satisfied with their conversation. Now Ning Huaiyuan stood up and was about to leave. Although they were brother and sister, they were not related by blood. Since it was getting late, it was improper for him to stay here too long.
âBrother, why is mother in the Buddha Hall?â Ning Qingshan stood up as well and it seemed she asked about Madam Ling casually while seeing Ning Huaiyuan off. In the afternoon, she had deliberately said that she wanted to visit Madam Ling, but Madam Dowager didnât approve her request, saying that Madam Ling would chant Buddhist scripture for a few more days. Ning Huaiyuan had been there when they talked about it.
âThird Sister, Mother hasnât been in a good mood recently because of Second Sister. I hope you wonât mind.â Ning Huaiyuan was a little annoyed, because he could tell that Ning Qingshan had figured out that his mother was in the Buddha Hall because grandmother was punishing her.
Sensing that Ning Huaiyuan didnât want to talk about that, Ning Qinshan shifted the topic smartly. She said with a smile, âElder brother, Fifth Sisterâs change is really surprising! Everything is changing. No one had expected that the talented and beautiful Second Sister ended up like this and the weak and humble Fifth Sister rose so quickly.â
She spoke very skillfully. It sounded like Ning Xueyan was raising her own status by suppressing Ning Yuling.
A chill appeared in Ning Huaiyuan eyes. He shook his sleeve and left without saying anything more. Except for Ning Qingshan, Ning Ziyan and his motherâs servant, Mother Chen, also said that to everyoneâs surprise, Ning Xueyan was the most competent one.
Since she had framed his mother and sister in a row within two month, how could Ning Huaiyuan let go of her?
âYoung Lady, is Eldest Young Master annoyed again?â Xiaâer, who stood behind Ning Qingshan asked in confusion. It was quite like what had happened three years ago.
Ning Qingshan sneered and answered, âHe is annoyed, but not because of me!â
She knew that Ning Huaiyuan would deal with Ning Xueyan to take revenge for his mother and sister. If she added fuel to the fire, it would be easy to end Ning Xueyanâs life.
Ning Xueyan didnât know that Ning Qingshan was planning to get rid of her after they had just met. At this point, she wasnât in the manor. After having the supper, she had sneaked out of the manor. Xinmei was good at martial arts, so with her by the side, it wasnât difficult for Ning Xueyan to leave the Lord Protectorâs Manor.
She put on the young male servantâs clothes and climbed over the wall with the help of Xinmei. This time, there was no carriage waiting outside, because Ao Chenyi had nothing to do with her sneaking out.
âMiss, will that be okay for us to go out like this?â Xinmei looked around nervously. She needed to protect Ning Xueyan, so she should be extremely cautious.
Although it was evening, there were many people walking on the way they took and the street was illuminated as if it were day. It was the most prosperous section of the capital and there were many shops and different kinds of people.
âThat will be okay. Donât worry. Nobody will pay attention to us. Donât get too close to me and just follow behind me in distance.â Ning Xueyan straightened the young male servantâs hat she wore and joked with Xinmei, âItâs easy to cause attention if a young male servant and a maid walk side by side on the street in the evening.â
âMiss, why didnât you put on a maidâs clothes? In this way, at least I can walk together with you without causing any suspicion.â Xinmei hesitated for a while after hearing what Ning Xueyan said, but she couldnât help asking why her master especially liked to dress up as a young male servant. Lanning told her that Ning Xueyan used to dress up the same way at Cold Mountain Temple, and almost got into trouble.
âBecause the person Iâm going to meet is a man. If I dressed up like a maid, other people may think that it must be an unruly Young Lady who dressed in this way to date with a man privately,â Ning Xueyan explained, narrowing her eyes.
âDating with a man privately?â Xinmei was scared and her heart thumped. She widened her eyes and looked at Ning Xueyan with disbelief. âMiss, you, youâll meet a man privately? What if⊠Prince Yi finds out?â she asked.
âIâm not going to date with that person. I have something important to discuss with him. I donât think it has anything to do with Prince Yi!â Ning Xueyan said.
âBut, but you have agreed to act as the favorite concubine of Prince Yi!â Xinmei reminded.
âIâm just pretending! He wonât care about this, me too. I made a deal with Prince Yi that I would only show up when he needed me.â Looking at Xinmeiâs nervous face, Ning Xueyan smiled slightly. She looked at her from the corner of her eyes and said disapprovingly, âRelax! Prince Yi wonât bother for such kind of trifles!â
âAre you sure?â Xinmei agreed with Ning Xueyan, but she still felt not assured.
âIâm sure. Donât worry!â Ning Xueyan blinked to her naughtily. Before she could continue, she suddenly saw Xinmei widen her eyes and looked in the direction of her in shock.
Sensing something wrong, Ning Xueyan couldnât stop immediately. When she turned around, she felt she was hit by something. Losing her balance, she took several steps backward.
On a tall building opposite them, a handsome man narrowed his eyes coldly, standing in front of the window.