The Devious First-Daughter

Concubine Yu’s courtyard was not far away from Ning Xueyan’s Bright Frost Garden. It was also at the edge, and it was smaller than an ordinary yard. When Concubine Yu first came to the manor, Madam Ling said that there was no vacant space for her, so she cleaned up a utility room for her. Therefore, the courtyard was not big.

Hearing that Ning Xueyan was coming, Concubine Yu immediately went to the gate of the courtyard. Although Ning Xueyan had not officially married into Prince Yi’s Manor yet, it was already confirmed, because the imperial edict had been issued. How could a concubine of the Lord Protector’s Manor neglect someone with such a high status?

Seeing Ning Xueyan, Concubine Yu welcomed her into the room. She asked the maids to leave and then came back.

Ning Xueyan looked around with a smile. It seemed that Concubine Yu was a cautious person. She had only been in the manor for a few days, and the people around her had been arranged by Madam Ling. How could they be her henchmen? It would be nice if they did not betray her.

“Fifth Young Lady, thank you for taking care of Jing’er and me.” Concubine Yu came over with tears in her eyes and bowed deeply to Ning Xueyan.

Although her status was low, Concubine Yu was still Ning Xueyan’s elder. There was no need for her to make such a big bow.

Ning Xueyan did not refuse her greeting. She accepted her bow and then asked Lanning to hold her. She asked gracefully and gently, “Concubine Yu, you don’t have to do this. I did not spend much money. Maybe I will rely on my second brother in future. The Lord Protector’s Manor is my parental family. How can I ever let my family fail?”

Concubine Yu picked up the handkerchief, wiped the tears from her eyes, and looked at Ning Xueyan gratefully. Concubine Yu had expected that she would have a hard time in the Lord Protector’s Manor. But since she had come to this point, she had to endure it. Therefore, she did not complain, no matter how much Madam Ling humiliated her.

She always hoped that the First Madam would recognize her status. At least, she was the Marquis’s woman, and Jing’er was also his son. She hoped that the First Madam would recognize both Jing’er and her identities.

“Thank you, Fifth Young Lady. I’m sorry. But now… I have to ask you to help me.” Concubine Yu’s tears suddenly fell copiously. She wiped her tears away with her handkerchief. When she reached out, her wide cuffs dropped, and a scar on her wrist was clearly visible.

“Concubine Yu, what’s this?” Ning Xueyan did not answer her. Instead, she held her hand in surprise, refusing to let her hide it.

“Fifth Young Lady, nothing… nothing, I accidentally hit my hand against something.” Being pulled by Ning Xueyan, Concubine Yu was shocked. She suddenly withdrew her hand and explained hurriedly.

It seemed that Ning Xueyan believed what she said. Ning Xueyan put her hand down and said lightly, “How coincidental! I heard that my second brother also burnt his hand a few days ago.”

“Jing’er’s hand was burnt. What happened?” Concubine Yu was not aware of it, so she hurriedly looked up and asked. Since she entered the manor, she had not seen Ning Huaijing, unless he came in. So, she did not know anything about the happenings outside. In the mansion, no one would tell her anything about Ning Huaijing.

“I don’t know either. It seemed that when the young male servant served tea to the Second Brother, he accidentally spilt the hot tea on Second Brother’s hand, and it was scalded. Auntie, don’t worry. Fortunately, Second Brother’s stuff fell to the ground, and he was picking it up. If it were not for his sharp eyes, the servant would have poured a teapot of boiling water over his head. That would have disfigured his face.”

Ning Xueyan said gratefully.

“All the water would have been poured over his head?” Concubine Yu was so frightened that her face turned pale. She murmured to herself and stared blankly.

“Yes. He was very lucky! The water was really hot. If a little bit of water touched him, the Second Young Master’s hand would be scalded. If all the water was dumped over his head, even if he did not get scalded to death, I’m afraid that he will not be able to be an official. I’ve heard that the officials have to pay great attention to their appearances.”

Lanning who was standing at the side, walked forward and continued talking to Ning Xueyan.

Although officials did not need to look good, they had to have a basic pleasant appearance. If someone’s face was burned and disfigured, his career as an official would be over. Ning Huaijing studied by a cold window for ten years in order to be successful in the imperial examination and have a meteoric rise. If he became disfigured, there would be no way out for him.

The head and face were still the vulnerable parts of one’s body. In severe cases, one’s life might even be in danger.

Concubine Yu’s face turned blue and then pale. In the end, hatred appeared on her gentle face. She pointed to the Auspicious Clouds Courtyard and growled, “I don’t want anything from her. Jing’er does not want anything either. Why can’t she let us go?”

He almost poured hot water over his master’s face and ruined his face. How could a servant who had been used to serving him make such a mistake? Someone must be plotting against him. After returning to the Lord Protector’s Manor, Ning Huaijing was the biggest threat to Madam Ling and Ning Huaiyuan.

In the manor, except for Madam Ling, who could not tolerate Ning Huaijing, no one else could be so malicious toward Ning Huaijing. When Concubine Yu came to the mansion, she was already psychologically prepared. For Ning Huaiyuan’s sake, she did not fight back or curse at her fate. She wanted to find a place to settle down for her son, so that he could focus on his studies.

Since the Marquis was willing to accept Ning Huaijing, how could Concubine Yu not be grateful? No matter how Madam Ling insulted her, she fought for nothing and said nothing for Ning Huaijing’s sake. However, when she heard that her tolerance did not earn her Madam Ling’s forgiveness, but instead further intensified her hatred, Concubine Yu was furious.

“Auntie, don’t worry. Second Brother is fine. It’s said that he has replaced the young male servant. It won’t happen again in the future.” Ning Xueyan soothed her softly.

The more she told her, the more frightened and angry Concubine Yu became. All the people in the manor were Madam Ling’s servants. If this one were replaced, there would be another one. It was hard to be on their guard against them. Who knew what would happen to Jing’er the next time? For so many years, Concubine Yu and her son had relied on each other. Concubine Yu thought more of her son than any ordinary mother.

When she thought that her son would not be able to enjoy any wealth, but might even lose his life after he entered the manor with her, how could she not be anxious?

After thinking for a while, she made up her mind. She came over and took Ning Xueyan’s hand, begging with tears in her eyes, “Fifth Young Lady, please save Jing’er.”

Concubine Yu was smart. Since she came to the Lord Protector’s Manor, she had been forbearing, but she could see that the Bright Frost Garden and the Auspicious Clouds Courtyard were not easy to deal with. Although Madam Ming in the Bright Frost Garden was dead, the Fifth Young Lady was not such a simple person. Otherwise, she could not be better off in the Lord Protector’s Manor under Madam Ling’s control.

Moreover, the Fifth Young Lady was good to Ning Huaijing and her. Ning Xueyan would become Prince Yi’s co-consort. In any case, it was the most advantageous thing to have a good relationship with this future Princess Yi. This was also what Concubine Yu had planned before. Therefore, she invited Ning Xueyan to come today. On the one hand, she wanted to thank Ning Xueyan. On the other hand, she wanted to be on good terms with Ning Xueyan. For Ning Huaijing and her, it was a good thing.

She even felt that in order to show her kindness to Ning Xueyan, she planned to clear up some affairs. She also wanted to express her regret. She had a hand in Madam Ming’s affair. In a word, she had misunderstood Madam Ming and felt sorry for her.

By saying that, she wanted to express her goodwill toward Ning Xueyan. She tried to tell Ning Xueyan about the incident involving Madam Ming. She also wanted to tell Ning Xueyan that Madam Ling had framed Madam Ming, and that Madam Ming was innocent. It was different from what Madam Dowager had told her. Madam Ming had always been a person of integrity.

But that was all. She did not dare to testify against Madam Ling, because she was afraid that Madam Ling would then not tolerate Ning Huaijing anymore.

But now, she realized that even if she did well, Madam Ling might not let Jing’er go. No matter what she did, Madam Ling would not let Jing’er go so easily. This idea occupied her mind constantly. As a mother, she could not bear to see her son get into trouble.

“Concubine Yu, what’s wrong with you? Why are you asking me to save my second brother? Didn’t my second brother always study in that study?” Ning Xueyan laughed. She pulled Concubine Yu over and led her to the chair at the side. “Now, my second brother is back. In the future, the Lord Protector’s Manor belongs to my eldest brother and my second brother. Maybe I’ll rely on my second brother, when I’m at my parental family.”

“No… Fifth Young Lady, please save Jing’er. Please.” Hearing this, Concubine Yu became more and more scared. She trembled and held Ning Xueyan’s hand, unwilling to let go. She looked at her imploringly. Initially, she thought if she did not ask for anything, others would not disturb her. But now, she realized that everyone still had these malicious thoughts after she entered the manor.

The Eldest Young Master was no longer the only son in the Lord Protector’s Manor. Even if she did not do anything, others would think likewise, and so would the First Madam.

Looking at Concubine Yu, who was crying in a panic, Ning Xueyan slowly cooled down. With a faint smile appearing on her inky eyebrows, Ning Xueyan said indifferently, “Auntie, my mother is a co-wife, whose status is inferior to the First Madam. Even if she is still alive, she can only be humble in front of the First Madam. How can I have such a great ability to save my second brother? You’d better not say that.”

Concubine Yu clenched her hand tightly. Ning Xueyan exerted some force, but she could not get free her hand. So, she let her grip her hand so tightly that there was an intense pain on her wrist. It could be seen that Concubine Yu was holding her hand in a tight grip. Her exquisite facial features had not totally developed yet, but there was already an imposing manner in them. Raising her long eyelashes, she looked at Concubine Yu quietly.

Under such circumstances, Concubine Yu could not help but release her hand, and burst into tears, with her hands covering her face. Ning Xueyan sat quietly aside and did not say anything. She waited for her to stop crying, and a trace of a sneer appeared on her lips. Concubine Yu only wanted to take advantage of the power of others, but she did not think about giving anything back. She had even once framed Madam Ming.

Ning Xueyan did not like this kind of person at all. She still had some real brother-sister relationship with Ning Huaijing. At least, Ning Huaijing wanted to get along with her sincerely, and had not taken advantage of her. However, Concubine Yu was not. She wanted to exchange her kindness by paying nothing or only a small price.

Concubine Yu’s plan was so good. She wanted to find a compromise between herself and Madam Ling. Concubine Yu would not offend Madam Ling, but she could also make friends with Ning Xueyan. Unfortunately, there was no such thing in the world that could satisfy both sides.