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 asking her, half seriously and half skeptically.
"Fourth Young Lady, do you know the thing about Marquis of Ping"an? He originally planned to marry the daughter of the princ.i.p.al wife in Lord Protector"s Manor." After taking a brief break, Qingyu asked.
"The daughter of the princ.i.p.al wife in Lord Protector"s Manor, if there is one, it will be Ning Xueyan." Ning Lingyun nodded, signaling for Qingyu to continue.
"At the beginning, First Madam prepared to marry my lady to Marquis of Ping"an. However, it turned out that Marquis of Ping"an took a fancy to Second Young Lady and he told others that he must marry Second Young Lady. But at that time, Second Young Lady had already engaged with Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li. Marquis of Ping"an was an unreasonable man. If he really wanted to do something wild and spread the thing about Second Young Lady throughout the capital, it would ruin the reputation of Second Young Lady. If that happened, Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li would break off his engagement to her."
More than half of what Qingyu said was the fact, which was almost the same with what Ning Lingyun already knew. Hence, she somewhat believed it. The fact was there, even if she didn"t believe it. Although Ning Lingyun was rather confident about her appearance, she was not as pretty as Ning Yuling. Marquis of Ping"an was the most sensual of all lechers. After he saw Ning Yuling, he would probably announce that he must marry Ning Yuling.
Marquis of Ping"an"s Manor was a s.h.i.t hole. Even Ning Lingyun was reluctant to marry Marquis of Ping"an, how would Ning Yuling be willing to marry him?
"But so what?" asked Ning Lingyun, puzzled.
"First Madam wanted to marry my lady to Marquis of Ping"an, but he refused because he only wanted to marry Second Young Lady. The most important thing was that Marquis of Ping"an held something important in his hand so that First Madam had no choice but to a.s.sent to their marriage. But how could Second Young Lady agree? Of course, she went to argue with First Madam. First Madam felt helpless, so she, she, she specifically asked my lady for help..." Speaking of which, Qingyu cast a timid look at Ning Lingyun.
The look of Qingyu made Ning Lingyun felt so nervous that even her hairs stood up. She thought that it must have something to do with her, and then she p.r.i.c.ked up her ears to listen.
"That day, First Madam invited Marquis of Ping"an to come to the manor. At that time, you were all dressed up, but my lady was dressed in a stupid manner. With my lady served as a contrast, you instantly looked as pretty as a fairy in the eyes of Marquis of Ping"an. Therefore, he decided to marry you later."
"My lady dressed up like that only because Second Young Lady told her to do so. After that, Second Young Lady just needed to wait until the date of the wedding was set and sent you to the bridal sedan chair. During this waiting period, she also was afraid that my lady would tell you something and you might trouble them again, so she gave my lady a sum of money in order to let her keep it a secret. But Second Young Lady just said it was the reward money from Madam Dowager."
Lowering her head, Qingyu timidly told her almost everything without a break. Sitting at the table, Ning Lingyun was trembling all over. She only felt that her hands and feet were as cold as ice as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. Ning Lingyun bit her lips so hard with her white teeth that her lips were nearly bleeding. She had thought that the thing that happened that day was an accident. But she had never thought that it was a trap set by Madam Ling and her daughter. No wonder the servant would secretly tell her that Third Prince would come to their manor that day.
"Madam Ling is in charge of all the things in Lord Protector"s Manor. If she didn"t want to reveal the information to me, how could I possibly know that? I would not dress up so nice, either."
After Ning Lingyun had suspected one of the things, she started to doubt all the other things. Once again, Ning Lingyun remembered that day. In order to dress beautifully, she especially went to the garden and picked a few flowers. The maid there specially chose several flowers that Ning Yuling usually didn"t allow others to touch. So obviously, it was Ning Yuling who told the maid to do so.
Now, she fully believed the words of Qingyu. Grinding her teeth, Ning Lingyun hated Madam Ling and Ning Yuling so much that she was very anxious to tear them to pieces. "And that explains why they sent me the message that Third Prince would come and let me dressed up to meet him. Clearly, they asked Marquis of Ping"an to our manor instead. In order to make that old goat choose me, they were even willing to let go of their resentments to Ning Xueyan and let her dress up that ugly to serve as a foil to me."
At this time, the more she recalled the past things, the more clues and evidence she found among them. Tightly clenching her teeth, Ning Lingyun felt that her hatred was growing.
"Concubine Xu also told me that Madam Ling wanted Ning Xueyan to marry into Marquis of Ping"an"s Manor. She also told me not to worry or cause any trouble, which was obviously a stalling tactic. If I followed her words, I would possibly not see the trap until I was in the bridal sedan chair. Poor Concubine Xu must still have been kept in the dark up until now."
"Fourth Sister, what"s wrong with you?" When Ning Lingyun hated them so much that she was going to spit blood, someone knocked at the door lightly, and Ning Xueyan appeared at the door with a gentle smile.
Ning Xueyan changed her hair to the usual style, and she had combed her thick forelock aside long before. Just as Ning Lingyun had expected, Ning Xueyan did the ugly hairstyle that day especially to make Ning Lingyun look better.
Ning Lingyun stood up abruptly and stared viciously at Ning Xueyan. Pointing right to her, Ning Lingyun said with hatred, "Ning Xueyan, you are so... You actually dealt with me together with Ning Yuling. "
"Fourth Sister, what were you talking about? Why I could not understand?" Ning Xueyan fluttered her long eyelashes and looked at Ning Lingyun blankly. But Ning Lingyun felt that there was a touch of sarcasm on her face, and she didn"t know why she would have such a feeling.
"You b*tch, don"t you understand? I will beat you until you understand." Ning Lingyun had spit out some blood, and her eyes became all red. Rushing up to Ning Xueyan fiercely, she was about to blow Ning Xueyan direct in her face. She was going to vent all her resentments toward Madam Ling and her daughter upon Ning Xueyan because she had secretly helped them to do harmful things to her.
Unexpectedly, just when she rushed forward, someone grabbed her and rolled her over. Ning Lingyun could not stand still while going forward, and then her stomach hit right on the tea table aside. In great pain, covering her stomach, she bent down and could not utter even a word.
After she completed the series of actions fluently, Xinmei neatly clapped her hands and went to stand by Ning Xueyan"s side while looking at Ning Lingyun coldly.
Ning Xueyan"s face had cooled down. A trace of deep and dark cold light flashed across her dark-jade like eyes and the gentle smile her lips formed became sharp. "Fourth Sister, you are not in Lord Protector"s Manor. Please consider taking care of the dignity of Lord Protector"s Manor, Fourth Sister. If you annoyed Grandmother, perhaps you would get into your bridal sedan chair and marry Marquis of Ping"an tomorrow."
"You, you..." While covering her stomach, Ning Lingyun pointed to Ning Xueyan, but she was unable to say a word. She only felt that right after Ning Xueyan"s eyes swept across her, a chill feeling popped up in her heart. She didn"t dare to look at the pair of deep dark eyes of Ning Xueyan. Nervously, she swallowed her saliva and didn"t know what she should do next.
And now, she also completely realized that she was in Splendid Pavilion where there were many ladies from official families. If they spread the news that she made a scene in public, how could she behave herself in the future?
"What happened to me? Since you have already known everything, I will just make a clear statement here. It was not me who set your marriage with Marquis of Ping"an. If you cannot figure out a way, the bridal sedan chair will come to get you soon." Ning Xueyan looked at Ning Lingyun with a sneer hanging at her mouth corners.
Ning Lingyun, who liked bullying the weak but feared the strong, definitely didn"t dare to make a big scene outside.
"I, I... What should I do?" Being overwhelmed by Ning Xueyan"s imposing manner, Ning Lingyun said drily.
"Fourth Sister, how can I know what you should do? Now Second Sister is unhappy about her engagement, and so do you. How about changing your fiancé? Perhaps, both of you will feel satisfied!" Ning Xueyan curved her lips and said meaningfully. After that, she put on a serious look. "Fourth Sister, it"s getting late. You"d better go back earlier!"
Without waiting for Ning Lingyun, Ning Xueyan took the curtained hat Qingyu gave her and turned to go downstairs after she finished the talk. Ning Lingyun, who lost her wits, was left alone upstairs.
"Young Lady, how are you?" Just now, Ning Xueyan also frightened Caiyun a lot. She had never thought that Fifth Young Lady, who was little and always been amicable, would have such an imposing manner. Caiyun didn"t even dare to get a bit more breath. She came to support Ning Lingyun after she saw Ning Xueyan go out.
"I am fine. Go back to the manor!" Clinching her teeth, Ning Lingyun dropped the words one by one.
At this moment, Ning Lingyun hated Ning Xueyan very much, but she hated Madam Ling and her daughter even more. On the one hand, they told Concubine Xu that Ning Xueyan must be the one who would marry into Marquis of Ping"an"s Manor in the end. On the other hand, they laid the trap for her together with Ning Xueyan. What was worse, they even sent her banknotes to appease her right after they set her marriage with Marquis of Ping"an.
But what she was thinking about now was another thing: the last words Ning Xueyan said enlightened her. Although the marriages with Commandery Prince Li"s Manor and Marquis of Ping"an"s Manor were wholly inappropriate, the marriage with Commandery Prince Li"s Manor would be much better. Ning Lingyun thought that she still got a chance...
Ning Lingyun sat in the carriage, and her eyes looked vicious. In a hurry, she went back to discuss with Concubine Xu in the manor!
"Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady has gone!" Xinmei regained her gaze that fell outside and lowered her voice to say to Ning Xueyan.
"Humph." Ning Xueyan nodded and said, not to say yes or no. "Ning Lingyun"s response was normal. She tried hard to please Madam Ling because she wanted Madam Ling to marry her into a good family. But now, instead of finding a good family for her, Madam Ling is going to marry her to the notorious Marquis of Ping"an. According to Ning Lingyun"s temper, how can she accept that? I have mentioned Ning Yuling"s marriage just now. I believe that she will understand as long as she is not hopelessly stupid."
While speaking, Ning Xueyan walked up to a counter filled with jade ornaments with Xinmei. In this counter were all ornaments made of jade. Since she was here already, she could buy two pieces. As for the money, she didn"t have much money, but it was enough for her to buy two pieces. Ming Feiyong left her the money when he came to visit her last time.
"Young Lady, look at this hairpin. It is light and elegant, which goes very well with you." A shop a.s.sistant came over to greet her. He could not see Ning Xueyan"s appearance under the curtained hat, but he was sure that she could not be someone from a poor and humble family because she took two maids with her outside.
The hairpin was indeed very nice and was engraved with a white lotus. It looked crystal clear in an elegant style, which happened to hit her fancy. When Ning Xueyan was about to take it, a hand flashed out sideways and grabbed the hairpin all of a sudden.
"Young Lady, look at this hairpin. It looks clean and elegant and it is just right for you. There will be no better match hairpin here for you!" A maid chirped. Ning Xueyan and others tilted their heads and saw a woman wearing the same curtained hat with Ning Xueyan standing on the other side of her. Now, she was holding the same hairpin that Ning Xueyan looked just now.
A pretty maid followed her.
"It is the hairpin that we first found." Qingyu was not happy. "They are robbing openly," she thought.
"You found it, but have you paid for it? If you haven"t, how can it be yours? Look at you, do you deserve such a beautiful hairpin?" It turned out that the pretty maid was a rude and unreasonable person. She turned around, cast a disdainful glance at Ning Xueyan and others, and argued with her hands against her sides.
Their voices attracted other guests who were looking at the jewelry in the house. The maid not only grabbed the jewelry in front of so many people, but she behaved so aggressively and extremely insolently. Ning Xueyan slightly frowned. The face of the maid"s master was behind the curtained hat, so Ning Xueyan could not clearly see her face. But Ning Xueyan could tell that she was a young lady.