Chapter 257: A Banquet At Duke Ning’s Mansion

“The matters of the Duke’s Mansion are truly a shocking joke. That Second Madam just had to die on the Eldest Young Lady’s wedding banquet, stirring up so much gossip; it’s truly interesting.” Yun Luoluo mocked with a smile.

This was extremely rude, and used the deceased Madam Ming as a pretext. Ning Xueyan’s complexion darkened, and a trace of coldness flashed in her eyes. When her memories merged with Ning Xueyan’s, she had long regarded Madam Ming as her own birth mother. Hearing Yun Luoluo defame her, she naturally felt anger.

A hint of a cold smile at the corner of her mouth: “The Emperor has already made a conclusion on this matter. Second Miss Yun, to say such things at this time, are you not satisfied with the Emperor’s judgment? It seems that the Second Miss’s courage is stronger than that of the ministers in the court, even daring to openly oppose the Emperor’s intentions.”

Although the Duke’s Mansion is the Empress Dowager’s maternal family, the Empress Dowager is no longer here. The nobility all know that the Duke’s Mansion is already on a downward slope. There are few outstanding nephews and nieces, almost unable to shoulder the responsibilities of the Duke’s Mansion. Except for this Princess Xianyun, the Yun Clan is simply not comparable to the Duke’s Mansion.

Having cultivation doesn’t mean one has to endure everything. Moreover, for someone who speaks ill of one’s birth mother, Ning Xueyan doesn’t feel the need to be tolerant. If she were to endure someone like Yun Luoluo’s behavior, it wouldn’t just be a hidden loss; it would also cause the Young Ladies of those aristocratic clans to look down upon her.

“You…” Sure enough, being rebuked so coldly and indifferently by Ning Xueyan, Yun Luoluo’s face suddenly flushed red and she couldn’t speak anymore.

The matter of the Duke’s Mansion, the Emperor’s punishment had already made a conclusion. Madam Ling’s beating wasn’t in vain, and there was also her Duchess’s Imperial Decree. This was something everyone knew. If Yun Luoluo were to bring this matter up again, it would be intentionally defying the Emperor’s will.

“Fifth Miss Ning, do you know who you are talking to? Our Young Lady is Princess Xianyun’s own sister, the direct daughter of the Duke’s Mansion. Do you know which family the Empress Dowager comes from? It’s our Duke’s Mansion!” The maidservant standing behind Yun Luoluo jumped out and pointed at Ning Xueyan in a rude manner, specially raising her head and pointing at Princess Xianyun on the side.

The hint of this, no matter where it starts, and specially pointing out the Duke’s Mansion is the Empress Dowager’s maternal family, makes Ning Xueyan’s status a bit lower.

Princess Xianyun on the side seemed to be talking to a Young Lady beside her, not noticing the quarrel on their side.

“Our Young Lady is talking to your Young Lady, what business is it of yours, a maidservant? Could it be the upbringing of the Duke’s Mansion is like this?” Lan Ning, following Ning Xueyan’s hint, stepped forward, facing the maidservant, and asked with a faint smile, her face showing surprise.

Lan Ning has always been the most capable person beside Ning Xueyan, naturally clever and quick-witted. She had already seen a trace of anger in Ning Xueyan from Ning Xueyan’s intention, so of course she wouldn’t be polite. Seeing the maidservant’s face turn red and her neck thick from being rebuked, and that she wanted to speak again, she continued, “The Empress Dowager comes from the Yun family, and everyone here knows it. There’s no need for a maidservant to remind all the Young Ladies. Who doesn’t know that the Duke’s Mansion is the Empress Dowager’s maternal family, and the Mother of the World, naturally, has propriety in every aspect? The whole Capital City has heard that the Young Ladies of the Duke’s Mansion are the most like the Mother of the World.”

“Then you still dare…” The maidservant reflexively retorted.

“How dare we? Mother of the World? Could it be the Duke’s Mansion has truly produced such a Young Lady?” A look of shock appeared on Lan Ning’s face.

“Arrogant, step back.” Princess Xianyun obviously noticed the situation here, raised her head and scolded the maidservant.

Mother of the World, that is the status of the Empress of a country. Now that the current Empress is still in power, it’s not appropriate to talk about Mother of the World, that’s a taboo topic. Even though the Yun family was once the Empress Dowager’s maternal family, they dare not say such words casually.

“Hmph, you dog servant with a sharp tongue.” Yun Luoluo hated it so much that her teeth itched, but under Princess Xianyun’s scolding, she dared not say anything more to Ning Xueyan, only angrily suppressed her voice and said.

“After all, they are not comparable to the people around the Second Miss.” Ning Xueyan smiled, unconcerned.

Looking at her face, which was both lovely and revealed a few points of allure, Yun Luoluo was truly angry, gritting her teeth to endure. Although she was reckless, she wasn’t stupid. This matter, if it involves Mother of the World, and is spread to the Emperor and the Empress’s ears, a big mess would occur. Now, even the next Emperor has not been decided, so how could they say who has the appearance of an Empress, the Mother of the World.

Unless the Duke’s Mansion has another idea, a scheme!

The Duke’s Mansion couldn’t possibly bear such a crime.

“Fifth Miss Ning, my younger sister is rude. I hope Fifth Miss can be tolerant.” Princess Xianyun smiled gently, and took the initiative to apologize to Ning Xueyan. Her behavior was generous and appropriate, taking action to mediate the conflict, without bias. Compared to Yun Luoluo’s petty behavior, it was better by more than a bit.

“Princess Xianyun, you are too modest. It’s really the Second Miss who spoke disrespectfully and defiled my mother, so I had to fight back.” Ning Xueyan smiled slightly, neither haughty nor humble, and said. There was no difficulty in her response, and compared to the noble Princess Xianyun, she was not at a disadvantage at all.

“Princess, Xueyan, let’s go and sit over there, drink tea, and talk.” Heng Yuqing is the hostess today, of course, she came over to smooth things over, made a gesture to Princess Xianyun, and pulled Ning Xueyan to sit aside.

The table had already been set, arranged in a circle, with a large fire stove in the middle, steaming and emanating heat, which was extremely warm.

Behind the long table, each place had fruits and pastries, and also tea. Everyone was gathered around the fire stove, talking and chatting in a lively manner, and were happy too.

Sitting in the first place was not Heng Yuwan, but Princess Xianyun. Beside her sat Heng Yuwan, and on the other side sat Yun Luoluo. As for Heng Yuqing, she was pushed to Ning Xueyan’s side. That place was away from the main seat, and also slightly farther from the fire stove, but luckily, there were enough small warm stoves in the entire room, so it wasn’t cold.

Yun Luoluo, who was sitting above, looked at Ning Xueyan and Heng Yuqing sitting in the corner and immediately glanced at them with contempt, and disdainfully said: “Birds of a feather flock together, people are divided into groups. Those who are not presentable will stay together with those who are not presentable.”

Although this wasn’t directed at Ning Xueyan, but looking at the direction of her gaze, wasn’t it Ning Xueyan and Heng Yuqing?

Heng Yuqing was furious when she heard this, and reached out to slap the table. Her temperament had always been straightforward. Today, it was because her own mother told her not to cause trouble that she was enduring it. Now seeing Yun Luoluo provoking again and again, how could she bear it any longer, and was about to stand up in anger.

Ning Xueyan reached out and grabbed her sleeve, pulling her back down. She smiled gently, saying: “Yuqing, what’s the matter with you? Are you going to bite back just because a dog bit you?”

She said this for Heng Yuqing to hear, but her voice was neither too high nor too low, and yet everyone could hear it, but it wasn’t directly at Yun Luoluo. Yun Luoluo could only grit her teeth in hatred, but couldn’t reply, because she couldn’t say she was talking about Ning Xueyan just now.

Fortunately, Princess Xianyun was more worldly, and pretended not to hear anything, chatting with Yun Luoluo and the Young Ladies around her, talking about daily life. For a moment, she relieved this tense atmosphere, and everyone’s attention was also drawn away, and they didn’t pay attention to the disharmony between Ning Xueyan and Yun Luoluo.

Seeing that everyone wasn’t paying attention to them, Ning Xueyan picked up the tea and took a sip, and asked in a low voice: “Does Princess Xianyun often associate with your second younger sister?”

“They don’t usually associate. Before, I only heard Heng Yuwan mention this, saying her concubine was a distant branch of the Yun family, and could be considered a relative of the Empress Dowager. However, the Duke’s Mansion had never sent anyone over, of course, they wouldn’t acknowledge this.” Heng Yuqing calmed down and also felt something was strange.

Every family has several distant branches, and they may be very impoverished. However, generally, the head of the family won’t acknowledge these relatives, and it is inevitable that the status of the head of the family will be lowered. With Princess Xianyun’s identity, it is of course even more impossible to be proud of being a concubine’s maternal family.

Then her goal for coming today may need further consideration.

“At this time, why did your father still hold such a big birthday banquet for your younger sister?” Ning Xueyan frowned slightly, looked at the faces of the Young Ladies, and the Young Ladies who came today were all direct daughters of aristocratic families, and not a single concubine-born daughter. Could it be that this Heng Yuwan has always been associated with direct daughters?

How could a concubine-born daughter gain recognition from so many direct daughters?

Speaking of this, Heng Yuqing was very indignant, and coldly snorted through her nose, and angrily said: “Father also doesn’t know what’s going on. Mother is so ill, but he listens to her concubine’s words and holds a birthday banquet for her. If it wasn’t because Mother said, ‘Family harmony is everything,’ I would never come with her.”

Speaking of this, Heng Yuqing became extremely angry. A hint of redness flashed in her eyes. Mother’s illness was due to worries. The reason was of course because Father favored Heng Yuwan and that wench. But Father was so obsessed and single-mindedly ignored his own mother and daughter, and yet he held up a concubine-born daughter as a direct daughter.

Thinking that the doctor said her mother might not have much time left, Heng Yuqing couldn’t wait to slap Heng Yuwan twice.

Today’s banquet is indeed strange. The Head Wife is ill, but they hold a birthday for a concubine-born daughter, and invite only direct daughters. Does this mean they really want to treat the concubine-born daughter as a direct daughter? They want to make Heng Yuwan’s concubine the Head Wife? That’s why Princess Xianyun came to recognize the relationship.

After all, acknowledging a proper marriage from a Duke’s Mansion is still of great benefit to the Duke’s Mansion.

But Ning Xueyan also felt sensitively that this matter wasn’t that simple. Heng Yuqing’s maternal family also seemed to be powerful. How could the Duke’s Mansion be certain that Duke Ning would definitely make this Concubine Yun the legal wife? If according to the normal situation, even if they wanted to raise her up, they would have to wait for half a year, so what’s the reason to make a scene at this time?

“Eldest Young Lady, the Second Miss is asking you to go over there to talk, to ask about some things.” A maidservant came over and whispered in Heng Yuqing’s ear. Ning Xueyan had been paying attention to Heng Yuqing, of course she heard what really happened.

“What does she want with me!” Heng Yuqing angrily stood up, and indignantly said, looked up and saw Heng Yuwan heading towards the small door on the side.

“It just so happens that I’m also feeling depressed, let’s go take a look together!” At this moment, many Young Ladies were tired of sitting and also stood up in twos and threes, and stood in front of the window to look at the scenery, and relax.