Outside the door stood a woman, a woman Ning Xueyan had never seen before. She was about 20 years old, wore a piece of white clothing, and was an elegant beauty. Upon seeing someone in the room, she still walked in with ease, although she was surprised.
She had a basket in her hand that was covered with a veil. Ning Xueyan could vaguely see that there was some fresh fruit in the basket.
But Ning Xueyan had not seen her before.
"Who are you?" Ning Xueyan frowned and asked vigilantly. Then she retreated, keeping a sharp lookout.
"I'm a worshipper." The woman put the basket on the table with an indifferent expression, put aside the veil, and replaced the fruit on the table with the fruit in the basket.
"You do not live here! How did you get in?"
"Why can't I come in? You also came in without permission. Fifth Young Lady, how much do you know about Ning Ziying?" the woman said with ridicule as she gave a
Lanning nodded and expressed her doubts. "Most of the things Mother Wang told me happened after Young Lady Ziying was three or four years old. It seemed that she had never mentioned those things that happened when Young Lady Ziying was younger. I felt strange at that time. She was Young Lady Ziying's wet nurse, how could she not know about Young Lady Ziying's childhood?" These words made Ning Xueyan silent for a while. In Ning Xueyan's memory, Mother Wang began to take care of her when she was a child. And Xiang'er was the personal maid her mother gave her when she was eight years old. Ning Xueyan could not recall her childhood clearly; after all, she was a child at that time, but Mother Wang was an adult. "How do you know that Mother Wang didn't know about what happened during Ning Ziying's childhood?" "I once asked about the burn mark on Young Lady Ziying's ankle. Mother Wang told me that Young Lady Ziying was s
Ning Xueyan carefully smeared the medicine powder on the Malus halliana Koehne petals. The smell of the medicine powder was light, and it couldn't be detected when it mixed with the fragrance of the flower. After smearing it, Ning Xueyan stretched out, washed her hands, and asked Qingyu to carry the flower back to the flower room. Ning Xueyan was able to make some medicine powder. Aunt Xiang gave her some prescriptions, which made her suddenly gain some insights. Some things that had been incomprehensible became clear at once. With not much change, the medicine powder made by Ning Xueyan with the original prescription would become odorless. "Young Lady, are you going to greet Madam Dowager now?" after dressing Ning Xueyan up, Lanning asked softly. In the past, Ning Xueyan didn't need to greet Madam Dowager every morning because Madam Dowager didn't want Ning Xueyan to greet her. However, Madam Dowager now needed to show her kindness to Ning
Hearing what Ling Yi said, Mother Chen smiled happily. She took the money that Ling Yi handed her and nodded vigorously. "Yes. Childe Ling, you may rest assured. I promise your wish will come true." Of course Mother Chen was happy. She not only completed what the First Madam had ordered, but also received a reward. Looking in the direction Ning Xueyan was leaving, Mother Chen praised the First Madam's wonderful foresight in her mind. Unlike the Second Young Lady, Ning Xueyan would not be protected by anyone if a scandal happened to her. At that time, she only would become someone's concubine. Furthermore, the Hostess of Vice Minister of Justice's Manor was not kind-hearted. Any woman who Ling Yi did not like anymore would be beaten to death or sold to the red-light district by the hostess. Thinking of this, Mother Chen felt proud inwardly and quietly left to arrange the next matter. Ning Xueyan walked around the garden with Nin
Of course, Ning Xueyan also knew that Prince Yi had never been reasonable. "Just this one." Seeing Ning Xueyan going out, Ao Chenyi hummed softly and knocked on the tea table while speaking. "Your Highness, I've used it!" Ning Xueyan was speechless. She turned around and spoke with a very sincere attitude. "I don't care!" Ao Chenyi said lazily. Looking at her delicate face and slightly depressed look, Ao Chenyi narrowed his eyes slightly and felt somewhat comfortable, his depression fading away. "But I care!" It was a pity that Ning Xueyan could only say that in her mind. Ao Chenyi would not listen to her words. Being stared at by him, Ning Xueyan could not say "no". After pausing, Ning Xueyan turned, went over to the table, and poured some water into the cup. Then, she put down the teapot, pushed the tea to Ao Chenyi, and watched him stretch out his slender hand with elegance and laziness as he pick
"Young Lady, Young Lady, we wouldn't dare! No guards came in. They're all outside." An older female servant hurried to say, even wanting to swear that they had not asked the guards to come in. "Did they really not come in?" Ning Xueyan seemed to relax, but she still looked out and asked incredulously. "Yes, yes, they really didn't come in. Fifth Young Lady, your hands have been injured by the scissors. They need to be treated first." Seeing that the situation had eased, the older female servant nodded her head vigorously to show her sincerity. On hearing that there was no guard coming in, Ning Xueyan relaxed her hold and the scissors were carefully taken away from her by Qingyu. On the other side, Lanning was finding supplies and medicine to cure Ning Xueyan's hands. There was a faint bloody smell in the room. "Since you want to search the room, just hurry up. Our Young Lady's hands are injured. I'll go ask for some medicine fr
Ling Yi felt restless and walked back and forth in the room, making the young male servant behind him feel dizzy. "Childe, don't worry. The Fifth Young Lady is coming soon. I almost feel dizzy due to your walking back and forth," the young male servant could not help saying. This was a house facing the water, lying on the way from Bright Frost Garden to Qingrong Courtyard. Ning Xueyan would surely pass through this remote place if she came from Bright Frost Garden. A maid of Ning Yuling was waiting in the road ahead. When Ning Xueyan arrived, the maid would tell her that Ning Yuling was here and trick her into coming. "Go and see if the Fifth Young Lady is here." On thinking that the beauty would soon belong to him, Ling Yi was so excited that he could not sit still. "Childe, the Fifth Young Lady is coming!" suddenly, the young male servant shouted excitedly and waved to Ling Yi while peeping through the door.
"So what? Can't I teach a maid a lesson?" Being offended repeatedly by Ning Xueyan, Madam Qian was furious. She pulled back her hand and pounded the table while speaking with great anger. The maids and older female servants saw she got angry and dared not raise their heads, trembling with fear. "Take this bitch away and give her a rough beating." Everyone was shocked by Madam Qian's words. Was she going to beat Lanning to death? Seeing Madam Qian's dominance over Ning Xueyan, Madam Ling showed a faint smile on her face, but still said, "Sister, forget it. Just flog her 50 times, or she'll die..." Lanning would certainly be disabled after the flogging. "No way. She spoke without evidence. If she isn't punished severely, everybody in Lord Protector's Manor will do the same as her." Madam Qian insisted on severely punishing Lanning. Madam Ling was seemingly embarrassed but was happy in her
"Show it to me!" Madam Dowager asked the servants to take the envelope to her with an unhappy expression before Ning Yuling could say anything. Immediately, the note in the envelope was delivered to Madam Dowager which said: "Come! It's urgent!" The signature on it said "Ling". People who were familiar with Ning Yuling knew that she normally signed "Ling" to represent herself. "It was found on Cousin Ling Yi, and the signature is..." Ning Xueyan smiled and said with a look of deep significance. On hearing that, Madam Dowager's expression changed greatly and her gaze became gloomy. "You arrived here first. Maybe you put that note on Yi'er. How can it be evidence?" Madam Ling became flustered, but she still made a good point. "Mother, everyone saw that the note was taken from Cousin Ling Yi just now. What's more, Cousin Ling Yi wasn't dead. Wouldn't he have stopped someone from putting a note on him?" Ning Xueyan ca
"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