“Young Lady, what shall we do now?” Caifen held Ning Qingshan’s arm and walked very slowly. After leaving Ning Huaiyuan’s study, Caifen could not help but ask.
Caifen had accidentally caused Ning Qingshan to fall down and become a laughing stock in front of Third Prince, so she felt very guilty about the incident. When she recovered and was able to move slightly, she immediately came to serve Ning Qingshan and stayed at Ning Qingshan’s side all the time.
“Humph! Ning Huaiyuan, you are really thinking about that bad girl!” Ning Qingshan stood still under a tree and snorted coldly. Then she turned to look at the study room and cursed bitterly. Her eyes were full of jealousy and hatred. She pulled down a branch hanging before her, tugging it so hard that a few green leaves fluttered to the ground.
“Let’s go to Bright Frost Garden. It is a nice day today, so I will have a walk with my good sister,” Ning Qingshan collected herself and strolled slowly. Luckily, she was not expecting any help from Ning Huaiyuan and had just gone to sound him out. It turned out that her guess was right.
If such a thing was made known, she wanted to see how Ning Huaiyuan would react! Of course, it was also unwise to do so because both of them would incur a loss. Compared to Ning Xueyan, it was easier for the others to suspect her. After all, she was Ning Huaiyuan’s younger sister and had no blood relationship with him. Otherwise, Ning Qingshan would have revealed all this long ago.
“Young Lady, you want to ask Fifth Young Lady to go for an outing together. Would you like to inform Second Young Master of Xia’s Manor?” Caifen immediately understood what Ning Qingshan meant. When she looked around and found that no one paid any attention to them, she asked in a low voice.
“Inform him? Why not do that? There is always someone who loves Fifth Sister at first sight and then finds it hard to forget her when they meet again. As her elder sister, I have to come up with a good idea to give her a hand,” Ning Qingshan said with a sarcastic and evil smile on her face.
She did not dare to deal with Ning Xueyan openly. Madam Dowager had already warned her and repeatedly said that if anything happened to Ning Xueyan, Prince Yi would never spare the Lord Protector’s Manor. And if the Lord Protector’s Manor was in trouble, her marriage might go up in smoke. God only knew what the arrogant and domineering Prince Yi would do.
Madam Dowager specially called Ning Qingshan over and told her these words. What Madam Dowager meant was enough to make Ning Qingshan feel humiliated and angry, but she had to promise that she would not stir up any trouble during this period of time. Although there were not many people present at that time, she was forced to commit herself in front of Madam Dowager.
Yet it was also a great shame for Ning Qingshan because it showed that Madam Dowager doubted and did not trust her.
She really had difficulty in walking, so she endured it silently for the past few days. Of course, she was also looking for opportunities, and definitely would not cause Ning Xueyan to have an accident openly. At this time, as long as something happened to Ning Xueyan, Madam Dowager would suspect her.
She could not meet with an accident openly, but what if it was something in her heart? What if Ning Xueyan was still in love with another man after marrying into Prince Yi’s Manor? If such a thing was in her heart, it was impossible to find anything wrong with Ning Xueyan seemingly. Even if Prince Yi wanted to investigate, he could not do it.
As for the future… After Ning Xueyan married into Prince Yi’s Manor, as long as she revealed a little of it to Prince Yi, Ning Xueyan would be finished. At that time, Ning Xueyan had already entered Prince Yi’s Manor and even if she had an accident, it would have nothing to do with the Lord Protector’s Manor and herself. According to Prince Yi’s character, even if he liked Ning Xueyan, she would still be cut to pieces and suffer a fate worse than death once she dared to betray him.
In the past, Ning Qingshan had already secretly inquired about the kind of person Ning Xueyan liked. She first thought of Xia Yudong, but she found that it did not work at all later, because Xia Yudong was not Ning Xueyan’s type. And now since the imperial examination was fast approaching, all the talents in the world would be coming to the capital.
Ning Qingshan had not taken any action previously because she could not find a suitable talent, but now she found them all.
Xia Yudong, as a former partner, had plotted against Ning Xueyan together with her, but failed. As an unsuitable candidate, Xia Yudong had to give up his pursuit of Ning Xueyan and instead became Ning Qingshan’s agent outside. They planned this together in private and the mastermind was certainly Ning Qingshan.
As for finding suitable candidates and all the other peripheral matters, Ning Qingshan entrusted these to Xia Yudong.
Xia Yudong had always been a low-status concubine’s son in the Xia family. No matter how aggressive he was, he was just a concubine’s son. Even if something bad happened to Xia Yuhang and he could not even participate in the imperial examination this year, Minister Xia still thought that Xia Yuhang was his most promising legitimate son. He did not pay much attention to his other sons in the manor.
If Xia Yudong wanted to be promising and become successful, he had to find another way. As for the imperial examination, Xia Yudong knew himself well. Although he was good, it was far from enough. Minister Xia also had no interest in him, but if Xia Yuhang had the opportunity to participate in the imperial examination this time, it would be different.
Xia Yudong wanted to be promising and make himself successful. Now that there was a chance for him to play up to Third Prince’s Consort, he definitely would not let this opportunity go. Besides, Ning Qingshan needed a person who could deal with the peripheral matters, so the two of them hit it off instantly.
Ning Qingshan was in charge of inquiring about Ning Xueyan’s preferences and then Xia Yudong would look for a candidate who could meet the requirements. Now whether it was time or candidates, everything was ready.
When Ning Qingshan arrived at Bright Frost Garden, Ning Xueyan had just returned from Madam Dowager’s Lucky Garden after her morning greeting. Ning Xueyan just finished her breakfast, while Lanning and Qingyu were clearing away the dishes. Ning Xueyan sat aside, washed her hands and then casually picked up a book to read.
The dowry was ready and the wedding gown that Ao Chenyi had asked for had also been secretly sent over. These days Ning Xueyan had a lot of leisure time and would read books whenever she was free. Moreover, no one from the Lord Protector’s Manor came to bother her, so she was much more at ease than before.
As soon as Ning Xueyan heard Ning Qingshan coming, she sat up from the couch and a strange feeling rose in her heart. Ning Qingshan had been very well-behaved these days and had hardly made trouble for her. They even had no chance to meet each other in their daily lives. Even when Ning Qingshan went to greet Madam Dowager, she usually went earlier to greet her and then went back.
As for the scandal that happened on the day in Third Prince’s presence, she did not seem to care about it. Later, she asked someone to move Madam Ming’s things and specially arranged some new ones for her. Those new ones were not as good as the original ones, but no one at Foggy Courtyard came to say anything, as if Ning Qingshan really accepted it.
Was Ning Qingshan that kind of person? Of course, the answer was no. Since Ning Qingshan came back to the Lord Protector’s Manor from the nunnery, she had been fighting fiercely with the others. How could she have such a weak character? Unless she did so to let others see! Why would she do that for the others? She must have an axe to grind.
Ning Xueyan was very sure that Ning Qingshan must hate her, but of course, she was not afraid of that. Since Ning Qingshan repeatedly targeted her reputation and life, they had become enemies. Whether it was due to Ning Qingshan poisoning and framing Madam Ming at a young age, or now that she was trying to frame her, Ning Xueyan did not think that she would let her go.
If she thought this way, then Ning Qingshan’s visit would not be so simple today!
“Quick, invite Third Sister in and have a seat,” Ning Xueyan said softly. Since Ning Qingshan came here, she certainly had to do the honors. No matter what Ning Qingshan had in mind today, she needed to find out slowly.
Lanning hurriedly opened the curtain, while Qingyu brought the food basket with dishes to one side and quickly tidied up the table.
“Fifth Sister, do you feel better now?” Ning Qingshan walked in with a smile and waved a round fan in her hand. She looked composed and comfortable and walked slowly. Her action was even a little more dignified and steady because of her slow pace.
“I am much better now. What about Third Sister?” Ning Xueyan asked laughingly. Seeing that Ning Qingshan walked slower than before, she gave a thoughtful smile. Now that there was no one else here, Ning Qingshan did not have to show her modesty and steadiness. Neither of them brought up the subject, but it did not mean that they had forgotten about it.
However, both of them had other thoughts, but they let it rest for the time being.
“My foot is totally healed, but I still cannot walk fast. I am afraid that my bones have not mended well and I easily get injured. There is nothing else.” Ning Qingshan seemed to be in a good mood. She specially turned around in front of Ning Xueyan so that Ning Xueyan could see her clearly.
“Third Sister, you made a quick recovery! The imperial physician from the imperial palace really has excellent medical skills.” Ning Xueyan sincerely praised.
“Yes. Luckily, Third Prince asked the imperial physician to come in time. Otherwise, I may have some problems later on. I never expected such a thing to happen on the way to Cold Mountain Temple. First it happened to Fifth Sister and then to me. Maybe no one will dare to go to Cold Mountain Temple in the future,” Ning Qingshan sat down at one side and kept complaining. Ning Xueyan could tell that she was in a good mood because her legs had almost recovered. Although she was complaining, there was a smile on her face.
“That’s true. Last time I went to Cold Mountain Temple, I saw some people widening and repairing the road,” Ning Xueyan spoke about the same topic with a calm smile. She wanted to know what Ning Qingshan had up her sleeves.
“Yes, it should be repaired. That such a thing happened on the road leading to the mountain is terrible! As soon as I heard that Fifth Sister had an accident at that time, I immediately went up to the mountain with our Grandmother. But who knew that I had to lie down in the Cold Mountain Temple. For some time, I felt dizzy and had to take medicine all day long. With that, I was in low spirits.”
Ning Qingshan sighed with emotion as she said this. Of course, her words also showed her concern for Ning Xueyan. She even explained why Third Prince bullied Ning Xueyan in her courtyard. Because she was dizzy and listless at that time, she did not know what had happened between Third Prince and Ning Xueyan.
“Is Ning Qingshan coming to bury the hatchet with me? It’s so strange. Our relationship is almost like walking on a tight rope, but Ning Qingshan is actually here to explain things to me at this time. It is really not like her usual behavior ” Ning Xueyan thought and narrowed her eyes. There was a touch of coldness and sarcasm in her eyes, hidden under her long eyelashes.
Maybe others did not know what kind of person Ning Qingshan was, but Ning Xueyan was very clear about her. She was a person who never got up early if there were no benefits. Besides, she was mean, malicious and would never flog a dead horse. In this way, she really came to please herself today, or maybe she came to bury the hatchet with her, temporarily.
Ning Qingshan should not be able to bear it, or it could be said that Ning Qingshan had everything in place!
It seemed that Ning Qingshan was going to take action today!
