Concubine Ma went out of the room soon. Now she was wiping her mouth with a handkerchief. And there was only one maid following her. Meanwhile, Ning Ziyan was still staying in the room. It seemed that she wanted to have a rest in the room after drinking the soup.
In the meantime, Chen Hexiang, the maid of Ning Ziyan, sneaked out from the room. After looking around for a while and finding nobody seeing her, she walked straightly toward her left. This path she was walking on could lead her to the male guests. She had already acknowledged that the path was very long because the Lord Protector had wanted to separate the male guests and the female guests completely.
Seeing Chen Hexiang's move, Ning Xueyan winked at Lanning. Having understood her mistress's intention, Lanning followed Chen Hexiang right away.
After Ning Ziyan finished drinking the soup, she commanded Chen Hexiang to massage her legs. Then she took a nap on the bed. Pregnant women
There were already a few plates of sunflower seeds, some preserved fruit and tea being prepared in the pavilion. The windows on both sides were closed. With a burning stove in the center, this was surely a perfect place for chatting. What was more, the pavilion faced the lake and was situated on the rockery, which made it a fairly tranquil place. People who didn't live in the manor wouldn't even find such a secluded place. Right now, there were only Concubine Ma and a maid in the room. Concubine Ma was feeling like sitting on pin and needles. She walked to the door from time to time, then she stopped out of fidget. She had already made a thorough plan. However, she just felt restless for no reason while having a bad feeling for what was about to happen. Suddenly, she heard someone talking on the outside. However, the expression on her face was not joyful but scared. "Mistress, you need to drink the tea now. Or the effect won't
"Grandma, Concubine Ma told someone to invite me here. She said that I must tell her if the soup I had drunk was delicious or not. She also said that she didn't want to let me be wronged and had to ask my opinion. I didn't want to come at first. But the older female servant who came to invite me just pestered me unceasingly. So I agreed to come here." "I was caught up by something else on the way here. However, when I got here, I saw Concubine Ma sitting on the ground covered with blood. Now come to think about it, if I came earlier, I would be regarded as a malicious girl like what mother said for sure!" Ning Xueyan said that orderly with a smile. Though she was stating the truth, she still managed to hide the fact that there had been a man in the room at that time. Mixed feelings filled in Concubine Ma's heart at the moment, and she didn't know what to do next! She never thought that Ning Xueyan would make no mention of that
However, Madam Ling was too optimistic. If the man in the opera troupe hadn't been here and Ning Xueyan hadn't found out about his existence, Concubine Ma wouldn't dare to say anything no matter how much she hated Madam Ling! But the problem was there had been more than one person who had seen that man. Perhaps Ning Xueyan was planning something else by keeping quiet about this thing. At this moment, Concubine Ma could risk anything as long as she could get her revenge. She rested her eyes on the teacup on the table with the corner of her eyes turning red and went mad. Then she, having pointed at Madam Ling, suddenly pounced on Madam Ling and shouted, "Madam Ling, you evil woman. You will rot in hell!" The direction Concubine Ma rushed at was Madam Ling's face. So Madam Ling turned her head to dodge, which presented her ear right in front of Concubine Ma. Meanwhile, the embittered Concubine Ma who saw Madam Ling's ear approach
Meanwhile, Madam Ling was gritting her teeth and got chilled in her heart. She was unable to argue anything now. What Ning Xueyan had said had already declared Ning Ziyan's guilty. What was more, Ning Xueyan had also mentioned Ning Ziying who had already been dead. There might be someone who began to doubt about the cause of Ning Ziying's death. What was worse, if anyone wanted to dig out the truth of that girl's death, Madam Ling and Ning Ziyan would be doomed. So Madam Ling had to keep her mouth shut. Otherwise she would sound more suspicious! A few madams looked at Ning Ziyan with a doubtful look. Xia Yuhang always had a good reputation of being a decent man. It was true that he didn't seem like a shameless person. "Since she didn't have a love affair with Xia Yuhang, is it possible that the baby's father was not him?" "Anyway, it is true that she was pregnant. Has she cheated on her husband?" Ning Ziyan was in
After Ning Ziyan fainted, she attracted everyone's attention. Ning Ziyan's current situation was not very good. Everyone in the house was sent out; only Madam Ling and Madam Dowager were left. Basins of blood were taken out one after another and many female servants shuttled in and out in a flurry. Ning Xueyan stayed outside and could not help pulling an older female servant and asking her about it. The older female servant only said that the Eldest Young Lady would lose her baby and was in danger now! After that, she ran back in a hurry. Chen Hexiang was frightened pale. She held Xia Yuhang's clothes tightly with panic on her face. Although she wanted Ning Ziyan to lose her baby, she did not want to be involved with it. Even though she was scheming, she was still in a great panic now. "Eldest Brother-in-law, couldn't you talk about that when you go back? Did you have to stimulate my Eldest Sister at this time?" N
Ning Xueyan went through the gate of Lord Protector's Manor, turned left toward the main street, and then passed by the most prosperous street in the capital. Finally, she went to a capacious intersection, where eight horses could pass side by side. She turned at this intersection and arrived at a street where all of the buildings on both sides were owned by one person. That was Prince Yi, Ao Chenyi! Standing in front of the gate of Prince Yi's Manor, Ning Xueyan frowned. She had passed through this intersection before, but she had never been to Prince Yi's Manor. Only then did she find that she could not enter Prince Yi's Manor! Ning Xueyan was in a hurry when she got here and did not think about it, so now she could only stand outside in despair. While Ning Xueyan was trying to find a way to enter, several horses suddenly rushed out of the manor. The guards at the door almost unconsciously flashed away and respectfully knelt on the ground.
It was two groups of female dancers in flowing dresses. They entered the house in two teams and then started dancing face to face. The team on the left was led by a beauty in a pink dress, who was slender and adorable. The team on the right was led by a beauty in a green dress, who was sexy and enchanting! Both of them were stunners! The two beauties moved to the center as they danced. Then they bent down in front of Ao Chenyi and looked at him with shyness. "Prince Yi, you are looking at... dancing?" The singing and dancing were still going on. Those beauties took a look at Ao Chenyi from time to time. But he was not moved. He held a glazed glass that was full of blood-like wine and indifferently looked at those beauties. Ning Xueyan felt uneasy and asked him in a low voice. For fear of being recognized by the others, Ning Xueyan had to stick tightly to Ao Chenyi. The strong masculine atmosphere rus
Ao Chenyi refused the Third Prince's suggestion because of his concubine, which clearly showed Ao Chenyi's disdain for the Third Prince. Ning Xueyan suddenly became nervous. Although she could not see their expressions, she could sense the tense atmosphere. And what made her more nervous was that Ao Chenyi had called her Yan'er just now. Would Ao Mingyu recognize her by the name? "Uncle, you must be joking. Since you don't want to see them today, we'll talk about it next time!" After a long time, Ning Xueyan heard the gentle laughter of the Third Prince. This man could not be underestimated! Unexpectedly, he could endure it being despised like that. He deserved to be Ao Chenyi's opponent! "Fine, let's go. I have something to do," Ao Chenyi said with a faint smile on his face while looking at those depressed childes. Immediately, theirs faces turned pale and stiff! "Uncle, you haven't ch
"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