"No one has sent me any message. I went to see Heng Yuqing. She was very anxious. Her father's concubine had no good intentions." Thinking of Heng Yuqing's situation, Ning Xueyan sighed. She was in the same situation that she used to be in. At least, her mother was ill, but she could protect her. What happened in the Lord Protector's Manor was more terrible.
"It seems that Xianyun is really anxious!" Ao Chenyi said with a faint look in his eyes, "If it were not for Xianyun stirring up trouble behind our backs, how could a concubine dare to mention such a thing?"
Ning Xueyan poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip. Her long eyelashes fluttered and she asked in confusion, "Why is the Empress so kind to Commandery Princess Xianyun? Why did she help her with such a thing?"
The competition between a wife and a concubine was a taboo for all families. As the Empress, who had no children, she should be dignified and self-respected. A motherly model
Ning Xueyan leaned against his chest, listening to his powerful heartbeats and feeling his hands gently stroking her hair, and then she had an uncontrollable smile on her lips.People always have greedy hearts. In her previous life, she died so miserably, so she didn't want to mention love anymore.But when he loved so passionately that she had to respond, she then realized that he was not doing this attentively alone.She said that if he lived, she lived!He said that he would not leave her in life or death!Both of them understood the meaning of it. They just cuddled together like this silently for a long time. A wind came inside through the window, making some of her hair fall. He extended his thin long hand over, gently rolling up her…This lasted for a long time, and then there was a knock on the door, which finally brought the two hugging people back to reality.Eunuch Zhu stood at the d
"What? Consort Ning will invite several good young ladies having close relationships with her to a banquet held in the mansion tomorrow?" Commandery Princess Xianyun hardly believed what she heard. She suddenly put down the handkerchief in her hand and glared at Qingyu in front of her, shocked.She only had one thing in her mind. "Ning Xueyan is crazy. She was reprimanded by Ao Chenyi when she went to the Moon-embracing Tower, but she even dared to do this. This is really crazy!""Outsiders do not know about the situation of Prince Yi's newly married princess and consort, but don't we know about it ourselves?"All the people in the mansion know that the prince really doesn't have much interest in me, his princess, and Ning Xueyan, his consort. Besides, we have just been in the mansion for a few days. Before she gets familiar with all the people here, she even wants to think about holding banquets. What on earth does she want to do?
She remembered how she had been scolded when she tried to stop Concubine Yun from letting Heng Yuqing marry into Prince Yi's Manor. Concubine Yun said that a man of Prince Yi's temper would never fall for Heng Yuqing. Now that she had seen what great beauties Commandery Princess Xianyun and Consort Ning were, it was obvious that Heng Yuqing was far inferior to them.If even such charming and beautiful women failed to win Prince Yi's heart, Heng Yuqing wouldn't stand a chance.Still, she was worried. Lord Guardian's Manor was a great example. Heng Yuqing's mother was much prettier than Concubine Yun, but the latter still won Lord Guardian's favor. She had once overheard her nanny secretly telling others that appearances were important when it came to liking someone, but other factors were too.Who knew if Heng Yuqing would somehow get Prince Yi to fall for her?Thus, upon receiving Concubine Yun's order to follow Heng Yuqing to the
Ning Xueyan and Heng Yuqing took the left road, where the flower garden was. The road to the right led to the Princess' courtyard while the middle road led to the Prince's study.Heng Yuwan's forehead was sweating again.She stared squarely at the middle road. For a moment, she couldn't move her feet."Second Young Lady, let's go. We don't want to let my master and the First Young Lady wait for too long," Lanning said politely, smiling."You all can go ahead. I need to take a break. My feet hurt." Unexpectedly, Heng Yuwan shook her head and held onto a nearby tree to stand still."I'll stay here and accompany you then, Young Lady." Seeing that Heng Yuwan couldn't walk anymore, it went without saying that her maid would stay with her."It's all right. You can go first. I'll join you after a short break." Heng Yuwan shook her head, rejecting the maid's offer. She didn't want anyone to follow her.
"Consort Ning brought you here, right?" A thought sparked in Commandery Princess Xianyun's mind as she immediately caught the key message in her words."Yes. After she brought me here and vanished, I accidentally came in here," Heng Yuwan insisted.Regardless of what Ning Xueyan and Heng Yuqing's maids would say, she was convinced that her maid would eventually side with her and corroborate her testimony once she was out. They could insist that Ning Xueyan and Heng Yuqing had tricked her into coming here."Straighten your clothes first. I'll go inform His Highness." The Princess nodded after hearing the certainty in Heng Yuwan's words and led Xiangrong out of the room.Appearing before Ao Chenyi once again, the Princess saluted and said, "Your Highness, it was Consort Ning who invited Second Young Lady Heng to the manor today. According to Second Young Lady Heng, she came here with Consort Ning earlier but Consort Ning and First Yo
"Very well. Men, go invite Lord Guardian. Tell him to come and take his daughter away. As for our next step... Mingyu, look. My princess thinks that the man should take full responsibility," Ao Chenyi said leisurely, casting a sidelong glance at the Third Prince with a languid expression.Not only did Commandery Princess Xianyun hear her name mentioned, but she also heard Ao Chenyi using her words earlier to force the Third Prince. She felt a bad premonition and yet there was nothing she could say."We'll go with the Princess' suggestion." Ao Mingyu was also looking at the Princess. His emotions were finally under his control, making his face expressionless as he bowed to her."Princess, Yun Li is already there. I'll have to trouble you to take Yun Li away later. Look at what a mess my study turned out. Mingyu, don't just bring anyone to my manor anymore. You're lucky that it was just some other woman this time. It'd be troublesome if it were o
"You're here, Your Highness." Qingyu's eyes lit up when she saw the tall figure walking in from the gate of the courtyard. She immediately went over to greet him. It was currently Ning Xueyan's nap time."Where's your master?" Ao Chenyi asked lazily."She's taking a nap. Please wait for a moment, Your Highness. I'll wake her immediately," Qingyu said, respectfully saluting him."It's all right. I'm feeling pretty tired myself." Ao Chenyi shook his hand, indicating for Eunuch Zhu to wait outside. He entered Ning Xueyan's room by himself.Qingyu hesitated briefly, not knowing if she should go in with him."Don't go in. His Highness needs neither tea nor a servant right now," Eunuch Zhu said gently, smiling at Qingyu. As the prince's personal attendant, he understood very well who the prince liked. It was obvious judging by how the prince had rushed to the Pear Flower Garden straight after returning from the palace.
Ning Xueyan's watery eyes glinted with intelligence as she pulled the lapel of his clothes. "Didn't you say you'll leave the inner courtyard matters to me? Why won't you let me step in now?"She understood his intention but she didn't want him to intervene in this kind of thing. After all, if she were involved, it would be at most a dispute between the wife and consort. But if he were to do it, he might cause other problems. There was no shortage of spies among the many nameless concubines living here.It was apparent from the incident on their wedding night that the inner courtyard of the Prince Yi's Manor was an unsteady one. The only reason why those people didn't even dare to take action was Ao Chenyi's ruthlessness. However, the inner courtyard was ultimately still a harem. If Ao Chenyi were to intervene, it might give the Emperor an excuse to do the same.Since she married him with the intention of helping him solve his problems, she woul