Third Prince, Ao Mingyu was going to walk into a restaurant with several guards.
He had left the Lord Protector's Manor before supper. The gentle and kind girl who had left three years ago came back. Although she was not as perfect as he imagined, she was still a gentle, graceful and beautiful. What was more, she was much better than Ning Yuling. So Ao Mingyu was satisfied with Ning Qingshan.
He had become the emperor's favorite prince now and he was quite different from he used to be three years ago, so even he was satisfied with Ning Qingshan, he wouldn't pay too much attention on her. He had done everything her mother told him to do, and what he needed to do was wait and see how the Lord Protector's Manor would act to show its sincerity.
What he had to consider about was not only Ning Qingshan, but the whole situation as well. It would be his best choice to connect with Lord Protector by marriage, but unfortunately, Ning Qingshan's status
Ao Mingyu knew what happened in Cold Mountain Temple as well. He narrowed his eyes, anger flashing in them. He was only testing when he said that he wanted to marry Ning Xueyan. Although nobody of the Lord Protector's Manor had said anything about this, from many things happened later, he realized that Ning Xueyan was nothing important at all to Ning Zu'an, the Lord Protector. Plus he got the news that Ning Qingshan was going to come back from the nunnery, so he gradually gave up thinking about marrying Ning Xueyan. Ning Xueyan's status in Lord Protector's Manor was even lower than Ning Qingshan's! He was also reluctant to marry an unflavored and powerless woman to be his co-consort, but anyway, he had expressed his admiration for her in front of Ning Zu'an, so he thought people of Lord Protector's Manor would treat Ning Xueyan better for his sake. He guessed that her life would be easier after Madam Ling had been put into Budd
Since Yu Lian had become Concubine Xu, in order to distinguish her from the former Concubine Xu, Madam Dowager ordered everyone in the manor called them Senior Concubine Xu and Junior Concubine Xu. Of course Yu Lian was Junior Concubine Xu. Concubines of the manor were also women who had married Ning Zu'an, so Madam Dowager and Ning Zu'an decided to hold a simple wedding ceremony by setting up a few tables of banquet at noon the next day, then Yu Lian would become Ning Zu'an's concubine formally. They planned to have dinner only with some people of the manor, but to their surprise, many guests came at noon the next day. Since Ning Zu'an was a powerful general, the military department members had already heard the news and came to congratulate him. Moreover, they had taken their family members here, so the outer courtyard was immediately filled with greetings and laughter. Madam Dowager was honorable and she wouldn't greet Ning
In a flower hall of the Lord Protector's Manor's courtyard, there were a number of female guests. They chatted happily and burst into laughter occasionally. Ostensibly to congratulate Ning Zu'an's marrying a new concubine, but they all had other plans. Third Young Lady of the Lord Protector's Manor was no ordinary. She was not only beautiful, but gentle, graceful and decent as well. Everyone could tell that she had a bright future, and some well-informed person even said that Third Prince had already waited in the manor when Third Young Lady just returned yesterday. Who was Third Prince? He was the real imperial family member! Normally, only those young ladies from noble families waited for him, and he would never take the initiative to wait for them. It was said Third Prince's cousin who had grown up together with him returned to the capital yesterday. However, he didn't wait for her at Grand Tutor Ya's Manor, but went to the Lord Protector's Manor inste
Ning Qingshan cursed inwardly. Today was supposed to be her day. She had tactfully indicated to Madam Dowager that she wanted to greet the guests alone and Madam Dowager had acquiesced to her request. Her purpose in doing so was to show how graceful, generous and gentle she was. However, all her plans were ruined by a few words from Ning Xueyan. It was her first time to attend the banquet of the social circle after she had cultivated in the nunnery for three years, so today was very important for her. Ning Xueyan's sudden appearance made her passive and she couldn't act as calmly as she used to be. Even though her smile was still perfect, under the smiling gaze of several ladies, she showed some flaws. There were many smart people among the guests! Ning Xueyan didn't protest Ning Qingshan, but smiled quietly. Her jet-black eyes shone brightly and after glancing at all the guests, she finally fixed her eyes on Ning Qingshan. "Third Sister, gr
"Grandmother!" "Grandmother!" The moment they entered the room, Ning Xueyan and Ning Qingshan bowed to Madam Dowager. "Get up." The smile was back on Madam Dowage's face. She then introduced the old ladies beside her to Ning Xueyan and Ning Qingshan, and they bowed to these old ladies, with smiles. "Madam Dowager, are they the granddaughters you have hidden away? How beautiful they are! You're so lucky to have two such fairy-like granddaughters!" an old lady in a brown garment said in admiration. "Sure enough! Look at them! If I have just one granddaughter like them, she will surely be the apple of my eye. But you have two! Madam Dowager, you're really lucky!" another old lady in a blue garment with a slanting collar said in agreement. On the whole, Ning Qingshan looked more outstanding than Ning Xueyan. Women looked their best at sixteen. Ning Qingshan was gentle and graceful, and her face was as be
"Third Sister, since you are so smart, how can you know only a little? It so happens that there is something I do not understand in the account books, can you give me some advice?" Ning Xueyan asked, with a smile. She spoke naturally, and Ning Qingshan almost forgot to reply. She blinked, and then she was overjoyed. She was just thinking about how she could make Ning Xueyan bring out the account books here. To her surprise, Ning Xueyan had put her neck into the noose by asking her to check the account books! So it was no wonder she became so excited. "Fifth sister, if there is anything I can do for you, I will certainly do my best," she said with a smile, trying to suppress her excitement. "Lanning, bring the account books here," Ning Xueyan immediately ordered Lanning, who was standing behind her. Lanning already had preparations in mind. She nodded to Ning Xueyan, and after a short while, she brought out several account books
There was a touch of coldness in the depth of Ning Xueyan's eyes, and the faint smile on her lips gradually turned to a sneer. "Ning Qingshan is really not easy to deal with! She has even come up with such an idea to disentangle herself from me! Since Xia'er accused me like that, I have no chance to send the account books to Foggy Courtyard today," she thought. She knew that Xia'er was inspired after her master slapped her and knelt down in front of Madam Dowager for her mistake. That was why she banged her head so hard onto the ground. She wanted to arouse the other's sympathy and let them suspect Ning Xueyan by hinting Ning Xueyan was a vicious girl and she was trying to frame Ning Qingshan's maid. Seeing everyone watching herself, Ning Xueyan walked over calmly and knelt down as well. "Grandmother, don't be angry. I should be blamed. I just wanted to joke with Third Sister, but I didn't expect that she would have been implicate because of
With the picking up of the account books one by one, Ning Qingshan's breath sharpened unconsciously. It seemed she couldn't stay calm and maintain her perfect smile any longer. The maid picked up the first account book and shook the dust off. Both the top and the bottom cover were clean. Then she picked up the second one and shook off the dust as well, and there was no stain on it either. How could all of them be clean? Now four of the five account books had been found clean, so Ning Qingshan became nervous and sweat beamed from the tip of her nose. There was only one account book left. The last one must be the stained one! The maid picked up the last account book and shook the dust off it. She then piled all the account books up and held them firmly in her arms before turning to leave. "That's impossible! Why none of them was stained?" She was a hundred percent sure that the stained page would be exposed, but tha