Chapter 273 - The Affectionate Third Prince Ao Mingyu

Chapter 273 The Affectionate Third Prince Ao Mingyu

At this point, there was no need to say too much. The meaning was all inside it.

Ning Huaiyuan and Ning Qingshan chatted warmly with each other for a while. Then they came to Ning Xueyan. They normally weren’t so kind to her, but now both of them came here. It seemed that they came with evil intention.

Anyway, it was impossible that Ning Xueyan first mentioned Ning Yuling.

Madam Dowager was also old and experienced. She looked at Ning Huaiyuan indifferently and showed some disapproval. Ning Xueyan was no longer who she used to be. If everything went well, she would marry into the imperial family. No matter which family she married into, what Ning Xueyan represented was the same as Ning Qingshan, so she could not be offended.

Seeing the sadness in her grandmother’s eyes, Ning Huaiyuan reacted quickly. He pressed his hand against his nose with malicious intent and bowed to Ning Xueyan, saying apologetically, “Fifth Sister, I’m sorry. Maybe I misunderstood you just now. I came a little late and heard you talking about Second Sister. I thought you mentioned it. Please forgive me.”

Hearing his words, Ning Qingshan couldn’t stop crying. She was ashamed and angry. She didn’t expect that Ning Huaiyuan would suddenly change his statement. So it was she who deliberately mentioned Ning Yuling and broke Madam Dowager’s heart?

Ning Xueyan didn’t expect that Ning Huaiyuan would apologize to her openly. People who didn’t know the story would think that he was a modest gentleman. But from the surprise on Madam Dowager’s face and the satisfaction on Ning Zu’an’s face, it showed that Ning Huaiyuan was a man who knew when to eat humble pie and when to hold his head high.

For a moment, there was a hint of sarcasm in her eyes, but then it was hidden at the bottom of her eyes.

Ning Xueyan shifted her eyes and silently looked at Ning Huaiyuan. Ning Qingshan was overwhelmed with shame and rage. She raised her lips slightly and stretched out her hand to hold Ning Huaiyuan. “Eldest brother, we are biological brother and sister. Don’t act like a stranger.”

A misunderstanding? That was OK, but it depended on who misunderstood!

She deliberately added the words “biological” brother and sister, so that Ning Qingshan gnashed her teeth with hatred. She clenched her fists tightly inside her sleeves, and her face became stiff. That damn Ning Huaiyuan, how could he say such words at this time, to put her at such a disadvantage?

“All right, you are brother and sister. Why are you arguing? Third Young Lady, you’re a big girl now. You should watch your mouth in the future. Don’t always think confusedly. As long as the Lord Protector’s Manor is there, you’ll have a family behind you. Don’t think too much.”

Madam Dowager’s words were very harsh, which was equivalent to hitting Ning Qingshan in the face and even faintly threatening her. The corners of Ning Qingshan’s eyes twitched twice, and she only felt that the air coming out of her nose was frozen. “That damn Ning Xueyan, she only said a few words and Madam Dowager’s impression of me is getting worse.”

She gritted her teeth to suppress the hatred in her heart. She lowered her head shyly and had to admit it. “Yes, Grandmother. I didn’t hear clearly. I thought that Fifth Sister mentioned it.”

“Come here and see it. Yuan’er, go over to Zu’an. Don’t huddle together,” Madam Dowager looked at them indifferently, opened her mouth slightly, and ordered.

Everyone could see that Ning Qingshan was making excuses. Except for these masters, everyone else was a servant. Who would dare to talk about Ning Yuling here and make Madam Dowager unhappy? Of course, Madam Dowager wouldn’t expose her at this time. She still needed to save the Third Prince’s face.

The Lord Protector’s Manor and the Third Prince’s Manor had to be close to each other, so Ning Qingshan was indispensable. If Ning Qingshan became estranged from the Lord Protector’s Manor, it would not be good for the Lord Protector’s Manor.

After thinking about this, Madam Dowager didn’t want to pursue this matter anymore. But in her mind, she was secretly more vigilant of Ning Qingshan. She could not trust her because Ning Qingshan was not a daughter of her own family. Moreover, she was full of nonsense and finally put her grandson in trouble.

In Madam Dowager’s opinion, Ning Huaiyuan was a good person and had performed well. At most, he was confused by Ning Qingshan for a while. It seemed that she wanted Yuan’er to stay away from Ning Qingshan in the future. Since they were not biological siblings, it would not be good for them to be so close to each other.

This was just a small fight, and everyone had evil intentions. Then they went back to watch the dragon boats.

By this time, the dragon boats below were already visible in the distance. The people on both sides cheered. Some young men even popped their heads out from the windowsill and shouted. The crowd was passionate and excited. Even the emperor sitting in the dragon chair could not help raising his head and looking into the distance.

Several dragon boats flew over from afar. Each dragon boat had 10 strong young men in it, each rowing on one side. Like flying boats, the boats were in front of them in an instant. Several young princes in the middle of the platform couldn’t help jumping and shouting, cheering for their favorite team.

The shouts from both sides were earsplitting, and then came cheers, louder and louder.

Ning Xueyan found that except for Prince Yi, Ao Chenyi, who was still lazily leaning on the other side, even those imperial concubines couldn’t help showing an exciting look. He was the only one looking at the lake in boredom, and his eyes were deep and peaceful. The shouts and jumping for joy seemed to be from a painting. However, he was outside the picture, which was somewhat inconsistent with the pattern.

Or, there was no coordination at all, which moved her!

Wasn’t she the same…

They were lively outside, but she was not. She was full of doubts and resentment in her heart after she was reborn from the blood.

She was unhappy because she was ruthlessly abandoned by Xia Yuhang and killed by Madam Ling and her daughter. But why did Ao Chenyi do this? Wasn’t he the most powerful Prince Yi? Wasn’t he the emperor’s younger brother, and even the emperor couldn’t do anything to him? What was the reason that he couldn’t see the joy and excitement in ordinary people’s faces?

“Look, Young Lady.” Xinmei walked over to Ning Xueyan and pointed down.

Ning Xueyan composed herself and saw the Third Prince, Ao Mingyu, smiling at her gently. He fixed his eyes on the window in front of him, where Ning Qingshan was.

Ning Xueyan narrowed her eyes slightly. In this case, Ao Mingyu seemed to be affectionate toward Ning Qingshan. He was making trouble for Ning Qingshan. On both sides, many people saw him doing this. Many noble families targeted the two princes. So what if they said that Ning Qingshan was the predetermined Third Prince’s concubine?

Some of the noble young ladies from noble families were unconvinced. Looking at Ya Moqin, who was standing beside Ao Mingyu, from where Ning Xueyan was standing, one could see Ya Moqin’s jealous eyes. She followed Ao Mingyu’s gaze and stared at him. She was Ao Mingyu’s first cousin.

At the thought of this, something flashed through his mind. Elder male cousin, younger female cousin?

Ning Qingshan also addressed Ao Mingyu as her cousin in private. She didn’t know what her relationship with Ya Moqin was, so she had to take advantage of today’s matter to check it out.

The Third Prince must have planned Ning Qingshan’s disappearance and the servant who was waiting for her at the door. Ning Qingshan was vicious, but she didn’t expect that Ao Mingyu, who was affectionate to her, didn’t intend to marry her as his consort. Ao Mingyu had hinted that she would be the co-consort.

It was late at night. It was not good to make people suspicious!

These specious words were what Ao Mingyu meant. If people suspected that she was ill-behaved, Ning Qingshan would not be the consort. Of course, it was Ning Qingshan’s fault and it had nothing to do with the Third Prince.

But when Ya Moqin held Ao Mingyu to say a few words, Ao Mingyu looked up at Ning Qingshan. It showed that he attached importance to Ning Qingshan in his heart.

Ya Moqin pulled him several times before he seemed to realize it. He lowered his head and gently said something to her. Then, he turned to the other people behind him and said something. However, he always fixed his eyes on Ning Qingshan, who was upstairs. Seeing that, Ning Qingshan was delighted and held her handkerchief shyly. Her beautiful eyes were sparkling.

At this time, the Dragon Boat Race outside had ended. The emperor brought the empress and concubines back to the palace. However, everyone else returned to their original compartments. It was still early. It was said that there would be fireworks in the capital today. Everyone chatted and waited for the firework feast.

At the door of the private room, someone knocked. It was a clever maid. Seeing Madam Dowager, she said respectfully, “Madam Dowager, I’m from the Grand Tutor Ya’s Mansion. My Young Lady is upstairs. She wants to invite several Young Ladies of the Lord Protector’s Manor to chat with her.”

Grand Tutor Ya’s Manor? Ya Moqin? Ning Xueyan realized something. The Third Prince had been distracted while talking to her. She had met Ya Moqin before and knew that she was unruly and loved Ao Mingyu. However, she was not like a person who wanted to talk nicely with Ning Qingshan on this occasion.

“Is she the First Lady of the Ya’s Mansion?” With Madam Dowager’s approval, Ning Qingshan came forward and asked with a smile.

“Is Ya Moqin looking for me now? She doesn’t know me. Could it be that the Third Prince deliberately said so in order to avoid others’ attention? As for inviting Ning Lingyun and Ning Xueyan, of course, it’s to avoid gossip”. She became ecstatic and blushed.

“Yes, it’s our Eldest Young Lady. Third Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady, and Fifth Young Lady, please come with me,” the maid respectfully answered.

Madam Dowager was happy to see that the maid of Grand Tutor Ya respected Ning Qingshan so much. Ning Qingshan had a better relationship with Honored Consort Ya’s family, which would be more beneficial to her. So, she happily said that they would all go there.

“Fourth Sister, Fifth Sister, since Miss Ya has invited us, let’s go together!” Ning Qingshan held back her pride, turned her head, and said to Ning Xueyan and Ning Lingyun gently.

Of course, Ning Lingyun was willing to have such an opportunity to chat with the daughter of a powerful family. Everyone knew that Ya Moqin was the most difficult aristocratic lady to chat with. Even Ning Yuling had suffered a loss from her before. Moreover, she might meet the Third Prince. Now that Ning Lingyun had lost the engagement, she couldn’t stop her wishful thinking of Ao Mingyu.

“Grandma, I’m not going. I left in a hurry just now and sprained my foot slightly.” Ning Xueyan pretended that she didn’t see Ning Qingshan’s complacency. She smiled and refused in a soft voice. Ao Mingyu was not kind, so she didn’t want to be part of Ning Qingshan’s business.