"Marquis..." Madam Ling called out for her husband affectionately. But seeing Ning Zu'an 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 gift...
Madam Ling's actions prompted Madam Dowager to say sternly, "You're the First Madam of the Lord Protector's Manor. Do you think you're 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."
After signaling Mother Qin, she ignored Madam Ling and left while holding onto Ning Xueyan's hand.
"Grandmother, don't be mad anymore. What families don'
It was obvious that the tall, elegant ink-black carriage embedded with jade and gold carried an esteemed guest. The breeze swept the half-rolled pearl necklace, causing it the pearls to emit a crisp rustling sound. One could faintly see the man sitting on the soft couch covered in golden silk. Leaning on him was a woman with a slip of white silk covering her face. Prince Yi lay on the jade couch on his side. His face was so delicate and gorgeous that it looked like it was carved out of jade. There was a small smirk on his lips, making him look even more bewitching. Yet no one dared to look straight at him. His eyes were ice-cold. His jet-black pupils emanated a startlingly bloodthirsty air. In the spacious and empty courtyard, he appeared sly and frigid. No one dared to meet his eyes. His nefarious aura seemed capable of dragging a person down to the nine levels of hell. Everyone's faces looked stiff. Prince Yi had always been
Just because Prince Yi could be unbridled, it didn't mean that he would inherit the throne in the end. The Emperor wasn't happy, just as his princes were. The former Emperor's edict wasn't absolute sometimes. The frequent delivery of beauties represented the Emperor's fear of him. This didn't mean Ning Xueyan regretted her decision. Her purpose had always been revenge. The future wasn't within her scope of consideration. She calmly lifted her head. Under the veil, the beautiful lady's eyes were filled with startling coldness and tranquility. She looked nothing like a fourteen-year-old lady. She looked up at him icily. "If you don't abandon me, I'll never abandon you." She didn't want to ponder on what the future would bring. Her consideration right now was her immediate benefits. She wanted to take every step to ensure her survival and keep going on. To her, the future was too distant... Perhaps, she might not eve
"How dare you?" Swords and sabers flew out from eunuchs and guards who stood on their side. In an instant, the two sabers and two swords already lay across Ning Xueyan's throat. Of course, those people Ao Chenyi carried with him must be experts. Now with the killing intent permeating in the air, they pointed their swords at the vital spot of her throat and placed their sabers across her jade-like neck. Such a beauty like her would perish immediately if they pressed a little harder. "You really have guts!" Ao Chenyi instantly waved the swords and sabers away with the other bare hand. His pair of evil pupils that others dared not to look at was filled with dense dark bloody color, which fixed steadily at Ning Xueyan. He looked as if his next step was to break the slender neck of Ning Xueyan. His appearance was more like the bloody equinox flowers that bloomed in hell. He was now as mysteriously beautiful and glamorous as Xiuluo, who ate human
"It is true that when thinking of someone, she is sure to appear," Ling Xueyan thought to herself. After covering the trace of sarcasm in her eyes, Ning Xueyan raised her head. Wearing a faint smile, she looked at Ning Lingyun, who was standing at the front door of Splendid Pavilion, neither cringing nor arrogant. "Fourth Sister, why are you here? Do you also want to buy some jewelry here? Is the jewelry here expensive?" Ning Lingyun was used to treat her meanly. Just when they met, she sneered that Ning Xueyan had seen little of the world. She was utterly unlike the fawning Ning Lingyun when she met Madam Ling and her daughter. Some people were just like this. They were like dogs wagging its tail ingratiatingly before those people who were superior to them. However, when they faced those persons who were inferior to them, they would insult them in every possible way. Seeing that Ning Xueyan stayed calm and indifferent, Ning Lingyun went bla
Did Ning Xueyan and Ning Yuling have an agreement? Ning Lingyun didn't believe it because she knew how much Ning Yuling hated Ning Xueyan. Last time, she got beaten by Ning Yuling because of Ning Xueyan. How was it possible that they would make an appointment? "How dare you talk nonsense?" Ning Lingyun's face became cold. "It is real. I don't dare to lie to you, Fourth Young Lady. It was true that Second Young Lady don't like my lady. But in this case, she indeed benefited because of my lady. Hence, Second Young Lady had to compensate her. Otherwise, where could my lady get the money? In the past few years, if Bright Frost Garden had any money, it would all be used to buy medicine for Second Madam and Fifth Young Lady." Seeing that Ning Lingyun still didn't believe her, Qingyu argued excitedly, and her face turned red with anger. "Then, what happened? Tell me clearly." Seeing her act like that, Ning Lingyun could not help askin
"Xia'er, don't make troubles. Give the hairpin back to the Young Lady," the girl in the hat ordered in a low voice. Her voice was gentle and sweet, and from the way she spoke, everyone could tell that she was well-bred in a rich family. However, there seemed to be a domineering air about her. In a low voice, she properly expressed her displeasure. "Yes, miss!" The maid called Xia'er took the jade hairpin reluctantly and put it on the counter with a snort, as if she was giving something to a beggar. "You're just a maid. How dare you turn your nose up at others in front of your master? Didn't your master teach you to be polite?" A girl of about 15 years old snorted, looking at Xia'er from the corner of her eyes. She and her maid stood on the other side of Ning Xueyan. She was a beautiful girl with bushy eyebrows and big eyes; such an appearance was pleasing to people. The girl in the hat turned to her maid and order
"I... I knocked someone down." The coachman quivered with anxiety. "I'm fine. I'll go and check it out." Ning Xueyan stayed poised and gave Qingyu a knowing wink. Taking the hint, Qingyu got out of the carriage. The coachman was sure that there had been no one down the road before this happened. He really had no idea where the old lady sprang out from. How did his carriage hit the old lady in the twinkle of an eye, even leaving unconscious from the crash? At this, he jumped from the carriage to see if the old lady was hit hard. Fortunately, there was no blood around. Qingyu also came up around the old lay who lay on the ground, noticing that the old lady was clothed in plain rags, with a bale in her hand. She did not look like a local and she had a small stature and seemed to be about in her 50s. Lying there with a pale face, one could not tell if her fainting was caused by the crash or by her poor nerves.
Everyone had come back to the Lord Protector's Manor. Under the instruction of Ning Xueyan, Qingyu led several servants to carry Mother Wang into the Bright Frost Garden. Then Ning Xueyan went to the Lucky Garden to visit Madam Dowager. The two older female servants had reported Madam Dowager about Ning Xueyan's coming in advance. Nobody had expected that the injured old woman was Mother Wang, the wet nurse of Ning Ziying. Ning Ziying was the cousin of Ning Xueyan and she was already dead. "What? The wet nurse of Ning Ziying?" Madam Dowager was drinking tea while she heard the news. She was so astonished that the tea cup slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. "Yes. It's exactly her. We have seen her several times in our manor before," the two older female servants answered, trembling. "How could it be her?" Mother Qin was surprised as well. She asked a maid to clean the floor while asking the two older female servants about the detail
"What will you do now?" Ning Xueyan had to take two quick steps to catch up with Ao Chenyi's pace. "Destroy the nine barbarian states alongside Wen Xueran?""No." Ao Chenyi raised an eyebrow and smiled mysteriously. "I'll negotiate with Wen Xueran."Confused, she repeated, "Negotiate?""The people of the nine barbarian states have always been different from those of the central plains. They're valiant and barbaric. For many years, they have wanted to invade us. If it weren't for the princes of Annan holding down the front, the nine barbarian states would have attacked us a long time ago. Annan troops have fought the nine barbarian states more than our troops did, and they have a better chance of winning too."Ao Chenyi said calmly. He didn't like the nine barbarian states in the slightest. If it weren't his father forbidding him from going to the faraway hinterland of the nine barbarian states, where death was almost certain, he wo
It didn't take long for Qingyu to return from the Lord Protector's Manor with a new piece of news. It was said that there had been a haunting in the prayer hall of the manor.Rumor had it that an older maid became ill from the fright of seeing a ghost.A long time ago, the Cloud Reflection Courtyard was said to be haunted too. No one dared to come close at that time, not even during the day. Even though the rumors died down later on, a few people who were deeply affected by the events said that the situation was still grave then.Therefore, even though only a maid had seen the ghost, the rumors spread like wildfire in the manor.The prayer hall used to be Madam Dowager's favorite spot. It was later used to imprison Madam Ling for some time. Now that Madam Ling was dead, everyone feared that she was the ghost. It was said that Madam Ling was an evil woman when she was alive. Even in death, she might become a malicious ghost. The sit
Ao Chenyi was so close that his handsome face was all that Ning Xueyan could see, and he didn't look all that happy. Then, she realized that she had been holding tightly onto a strand of his black hair.She flung her hand and hastily released the strand of hair in her hand. She even caressed the hair on his temples with a wide smile. "Why are you here? When did you come? Why didn't you wake me up?"Ning Xueyan looked truly confused as if she really didn't know that she had grabbed Ao Chenyi's hair until it hurt."Playing dumb, huh?" he said coldly, frowning at her. His slender fingers reached out and lightly pinched the wing of her nose."Ouch!" Ning Xueyan held her nose pitifully. Her limpid eyes seemed glazed over as if brewing tears."Now you know it hurts!" Ao Chenyi's thin lips were curved into a smile. He was satisfied to see her not daring to voice her frustration.Ning Xueyan nodded firmly without
"Can you remember it now?" Ao Chenyi narrowed his eyes and knocked on their table with his slender fingers. His voice sounded a tad threatening."I… I really can't remember." Ning Xueyan felt like she had thought of all the possible answers but she was still coming up empty. She had no choice but to admit her fault."You really can't remember?" His beautiful eyes curved into a charming arc and his expression was sinister. Sure enough, this was a bad situation to be in. She didn't even hesitate to grab his hand with a bright smile on her tender face."Even if I can't remember, you can still remind me, right?" She knew it would pay well to cajole this man.Ao Chenyi wasn't polite with her either. He turned his hand over and pinched her soft face. His expression had improved considerably. There was a faint smile on his face as he asked, "If I tell you, can you really understand and remember what it is?""Of course I can!"
It seemed that at this point of the letter, the Empress couldn't continue anymore. There were only tear stains on the paper, followed by wide empty spaces.Then, the Empress said how reassured she was that Madam Ming would be taking care of her newborn. Madam Ming would be a fine mother. She had also asked someone to watch over Madam Ming and the newborn. Their statuses in the previous dynasty had vanished like smoke. Time was always moving forward and the changing of imperial dynasties was inevitable.The only tragedy was the eternal separation of her from her husband, and of her from her daughters.The only reason she had written the letter was that she couldn't help herself. If she never said anything, her child would never know the truth. That would have been for the best. Yet, she couldn't accept this, so she would hand the letter to the person who would be looking after Madam Ming. If Ning Ziying's identity was revealed to the world one d
The news of Ning Zu'an's death shocked everyone in the Lord Protector's Manor. Even though the title had been passed onto Ning Huaijing, Ning Zu'an was the patriarch of the family. Even without the title, he was still the most authoritative figure in the manor.Madam Dowager collapsed as soon as she heard the news of his death. She became ill and bedridden, unable to get up.Ning Xueyan couldn't leave the palace freely due to her status as the Empress. She sent Qingyu and Mother Han to the manor and had them inquire about Madam Dowager's health in her place. Mother Han returned to Prince Yi's Manor afterward while Qingyu entered the palace to report to Ning Xueyan.It was inconvenient for Mother Han to live in the palace because she had a son to take care of. Instead of entering the palace with Ning Xueyan, she stayed in Prince Yi's Manor as the housekeeper. Ning Xueyan was prepared to release her from the manor when the situation stabilized in
"The Empress discovered a secret tunnel under Chenyuan Palace by accident. She never told anyone about it. She even killed the maid that discovered the tunnel with her and accompanied her in walking through the tunnel. In other words, she was the only one who knew about it," Ning Xueyan explained.This was the Empress' secret. To prove it, she used Yun Luoluo's incident as an example. When Ning Xueyan was drugged in Chenyuan Palace, the Empress wanted to take her to a room. There, a man would sneak into the palace through the secret tunnel.If Ning Xueyan woke up and discovered herself in disheveled clothes in the presence of another man, she would surely panic. To protect her secret, she would surely agree with whatever the Empress wanted. The Empress wanted to use Ning Xueyan to force Ao Chenyi into accepting his "affair" with Yun Luoluo.Unfortunately, Ao Chenyi had appeared all of a sudden. She didn't dare to do anything with him around, so
Ao Chenyi didn't try to persuade her this time. This had bothered her for so long that she would continue to suffer for it if she didn't cry it out now. He held her tighter and allowed her to wet the front of his robe. She didn't brawl. All she did was close her eyes and let her tears stream down her face. When her tears finally dried, she sat quietly in Ao Chenyi's embrace for a long time.It was so quiet inside the room that she could finally calm down.Her hands were being held so tightly in Ao Chenyi's hand that she could feel the callus in his palm. He was Prince Yi, the late Emperor's beloved prince who grew up to be the infamous Demon King. Those who mentioned his name would often be frightened and alarmed. Only she knew how difficult his life had been.Ao Chenyi was still young when he drew his elder brother's jealousy and suspicion. He was framed, imprisoned, and nearly died. His fiancee abandoned him at his lowest point, sought shelte
"It was and wasn't an accident. He could only blame himself. No matter what, he was the one who forced my hand and cornered me to this state. He ruined my everything. Him dying in my hands could be considered as his retribution."The Empress began to look calm again. She turned her head and stared at Ning Xueyan with a trace of sadness in her eyes. "I invited you here to ask you to let go of my family. It's all my fault and has nothing to do with my family. They're just a small and useless noble family. In exchange for their safety, I'll tell you a secret."Her voice had lost her previous agitation and anger, leaving only a sense of helplessness. She had never put any hope in her family. She thought that she would be able to help her people after gaining power but now that she was in trouble, she was worried that her family would be implicated and sentenced to death.She had resented her family countless times for marrying her off to the Empero