Ch 292: A Specially Prepared Maidservant

“What, you said the pearl flower? That pearl flower with the winter jasmine pinned on it?” Old Madam was greatly shocked.

“Yes, Mother, look, is it this one?” Ning Zu’an opened the small box in his hand, and a pearl flower that had been trampled on appeared before Old Madam’s eyes. The pearl flower was very ruined, and the winter jasmine pinned on it only had a little bit of residual powder and the calyx, and one could no longer see the original color.

Old Madam took the box, flipped through it slightly, and then answered very affirmatively: “It is indeed this one from the Third Young Lady. Are you saying you found it at the doorway of your study?”

“The boy servant said that there was a maidservant wearing a pearl flower who led him away. That maid in the Luoyan Courtyard took advantage of this time to enter the study. When I went in, I saw her rummaging through it, the books that were still not tidied up on the bookshelf.”

Ning Zu’an said in a deep voice. When he confirmed that this flower belonged to Ning Qingshan, he felt that she had a problem. Some problems that he didn’t pay attention to when he was a child also all surfaced, such as the birth mother that Ning Qingshan mentioned.

“Mother, has Shan’er ever mentioned her biological father and birth mother to you?”

“Never mentioned it. When the Third Young Lady came, she was still young. I had also asked her about her biological father and birth mother before, and she said she had a headache and couldn’t remember. After that, I never asked again.” Old Madam thought for a moment, slowly said, looked at the pearl flower in her hand again, and then put it aside.

“Mother, you said… Could it be the Third Young Lady is…” Ning Zu’an hesitated, his complexion heavy.

Old Madam was shocked, her hand softened, and she almost didn’t hold her walking stick, her hand bumped heavily on the table on the side: “No…it’s not possible, I saw that child once, she doesn’t look like this.”

These words at first didn’t sound confident enough, and after that, there were even more doubts, very much giving a feeling of trying to hide something. The cold wind outside the window blew, and Old Madam’s complexion was a little pale.

“Mother, the time you saw her then should have been only two or three years old, right? It must be a little different from when she was five or six years old. Did you feel between her eyebrows or…somewhat similar?” Ning Zu’an was persistent and asked another question. He really hadn’t seen her at the time, so even now, even if he doubted, he couldn’t guess whether it was true or not.

“It’s impossible. If that’s the case, Noble Consort Ya would definitely not allow her to marry into the Third Prince’s Mansion.” Old Madam’s expression suddenly became determined like never before, touching her sore hand, gently rubbing it twice, and her eyes shot out a deep coldness.

With the character of Noble Consort Ya, it was impossible for her son to marry the one after the rebellion, which would provoke the Emperor’s anger and make the Third Prince and that high throne become isolated.

Hearing Old Madam’s so determined words, Ning Zu’an also hesitated: “But if not, then what is this performance of Shan’er, a secluded weak woman like her, what is she doing in my study?”

“Could it be a coincidence, an accident, or that this maidservant isn’t her person, and someone deliberately framed her?” Old Madam asked uncertainly. In her heart, she trusted Ning Qingshan. She watched Ning Qingshan grow from a little child into a Peerless Grace Young Lady, and now she was about to become the Third Prince’s Consort.

“Coincidence, this is too coincidental, right? I know my boy servant well, he never lies. This time he has repeatedly affirmed that it was because a maidservant lured him away. If it was just a maidservant accidentally barging in, I wouldn’t say anything, but what does it mean to lure the boy servant away?”

Ning Zu’an was not like Old Madam. He was always a man and looked at things more rationally. After Ning Xueyan left, he asked the boy servant several times, and the answers were the same each time, so he couldn’t help but believe it.

“Zu’an, could this matter be related to the Fifth Young Lady?” Old Madam suddenly asked this way.

“It’s not very likely to be related to her. Didn’t Mother say that she went to get books, and it was also your idea.” Ning Zu’an shook his head. Just now, during the moment that Ning Xueyan turned her head, in order to cover up the wound on her face, the way she walked was forcedly light, and the way she was sweating from the pain, he saw it clearly in his eyes.

Now it seemed that everything that Ning Xueyan said was true, while what Ning Qingshan said was too mysterious, no matter how you looked at it, you felt doubtful.

“Old Madam, the Third Young Lady has arrived.” While speaking, Nurse Qin reported at the doorway. Just now, when Ning Zu’an came in and spoke with Old Madam, Nurse Qin had consciously walked outside the door to guard the door for them.

“Let her in.” Old Madam looked at Ning Zu’an, sat up straight, and a faint smile appeared on her face. Ning Zu’an also picked up the teacup, used the tea lid to wipe away the tea foam on it, slowly took a sip, and looked relaxed.

Ning Qingshan walked in behind Nurse Qin. Seeing that Ning Zu’an was also there, she first respectfully bowed to Old Madam, then bowed to Zu’an, and then stood in front of Old Madam with a calm expression.

“Third Young Lady, why have you come at this time? Didn’t you say you still want to go to Hanshan Temple to burn the first incense in a moment? Why aren’t you resting at this time?”

There is a saying of burning the first incense in the aristocratic circle of Chu Kingdom. The unmarried Noble Ladies often depart to the temple after dinner the night before to wait for the first incense at dawn to pray for blessings for their family. For the safety of those Noble Ladies, those Young Masters of a Noble Family often escorted their sisters to go.

Then there will be staying up all night and gatherings!

Counting it up, this is also a disguised way for young people to gather. Noble Ladies usually have many restrictions in various aspects. It is rare to have such a time when their parents relax, so of course, everyone is very enthusiastic about this matter. This time, the temple that Duke’s Mansion had booked was Hanshan Temple.

So they had already booked three side rooms at Hanshan Temple. After dinner, Ning Huaiyuan would escort Ning Xueyan and Ning Qingshan to Hanshan Temple.

“Grandmother, Shan’er has not burned the first incense with other Young Ladies for a long time, so I came to ask if there have been any changes in these three years. If there is anything wrong, Grandmother can also teach Shan’er.” Ning Qingshan obediently stood behind Old Madam, and knocked on her back for her.

“What different places can there be in these years? It’s nothing more than letting you young people avoid us older people and have fun.” Old Madam said with a smile, reaching out to pull Ning Qingshan in front of her, patted the stool on the side, and motioned for her to sit down.

“Really no changes? That’s great, Shan’er wants to go with Caifen and Feilian this time.” Ning Qingshan said with a look of joy.

These words reminded Old Madam that Ning Qingshan only has one head maidservant now. The one who is following her now seems to be only a second-class maid.

“Third Young Lady, does your courtyard still lack people? Do you want to have someone from the human trafficker send you a few more? It’s just a coincidence, a few days ago, Nurse Qin also told me that there were a few very clever ones. It’s just a coincidence that your courtyard has few people, send a few more over to pick. One head maidservant is always too few.”

Ning Qingshan’s previous two maidservants were both sent by Old Madam, but Feiyue died for a crime, leaving only Feilian. Ning Qingshan is about to enter the palace and can bring two personal maids in. If she is only accompanied by a second-class maid, it will make people laugh.

Ning Zu’an on the side was raising a smiling face, and impassively watched the two of them, the grandmother and granddaughter, chatting.

“This, okay, thank you, Grandmother!” Ning Qingshan didn’t act coy or decline, thought about it, and agreed. Her eyes were full of joy, looking grateful. She bit her lip, lowered her head slightly, and almost could see a trace of gratitude in the corner of her eye, and her expression became even more gentle.

Seeing that Ning Qingshan agreed, Old Madam told someone to ask Old Woman Xing to come over.

“Shan’er, did you have someone go to my study to get books today?” Ning Zu’an put down the teacup in his hand and asked.

“Get books? No, I didn’t. However, I heard that the Fifth Sister got a few from Father’s study, could there be a problem?” Ning Qingshan looked dazed, looked at Ning Zu’an, and was completely in a state of not knowing what had happened. Ning Zu’an had not let anyone publicize the matter of punishing the maidservant.

“Your Fifth Sister took a few books from your father, you don’t want them?” Ning Zu’an asked impassively.

“No need, I will go to Fifth Sister to get them if I need to, anyway, Fifth Sister is going to enter the palace with me.” Ning Qingshan gently shook her head, indicating that she didn’t need them.

She doesn’t want to have any relationship with “study” now, and she will avoid everything that mentions “books”.

Seeing her denial, Ning Zu’an didn’t ask again, but instead chatted with her. Old Madam also chimed in from time to time, and it looked harmonious.

Not long after, Old Woman Xing came. She brought more than a dozen maidservants, and let these maidservants wait outside. She went into Old Madam’s room, bowed to Old Madam, Ning Zu’an, and Ning Qingshan. Then she began to compliment Old Madam, making Old Madam’s face full of smiles.

“Old Madam, the ones I brought this time are all clever and well-behaved, not a single one is bad. The Third Young Lady should do her best to select some good ones in a moment. This time is not like last time, guaranteeing that the ones the Third Young Lady chooses will all be good.”

“The ones from last time, aren’t the ones at the Third Young Lady’s all good?” Old Madam asked casually with a smile.

Old Woman Xing’s complexion slightly changed, and she became a little unnatural, casually stuttering a few words: “Last time, it was mainly for the Fifth Young Lady to choose. The people selected were all specially for the Fifth Young Lady.”

These words sounded very forced, and Old Madam’s complexion darkened: “What do you mean by all prepared for the Fifth Young Lady?”

“Old Madam, I… that’s not what I meant,” Old Woman Xing saw that Old Madam’s complexion was not good, and immediately stuttered and couldn’t continue speaking, staring with eyes full of panic.

Ning Zu’an snorted coldly on the side, his face cold and dark like water, his gaze fell on Old Woman Xing like a cold sword.

Seeing that Ning Zu’an and Old Madam were both angry, Old Woman Xing trembled, and immediately explained to them urgently: “Old Madam, Duke, some of the maidservants sent over last time for the Fifth Young Lady to choose were originally prepared for the Fifth Young Lady’s courtyard. Actually, it’s not a big deal, it’s just that the person who sent those maidservants over specifically instructed me to let them go to the Fifth Young Lady’s side.”

“Someone specifically wants to send people to the Fifth Young Lady’s side?” Old Madam was furious, not expecting such a thing to happen under her very eyes.