Ch 118: Careless Words, Step By Step Into The Game

“Yan’er, the Ping’an Duke’s Mansion came to the Mansion today to propose marriage!” Upon hearing Ning Xueyan’s question, the Old Madam immediately responded.

“Propose marriage? Is it for Third Older Sister or Fourth Older Sister?” Ning Xueyan asked naively, her face completely dazed.

The Old Madam was taken aback by this question, and couldn’t continue the conversation. Ning Xueyan had a Third Young Lady and a Fourth Young Lady above her, and this marriage proposal didn’t seem to have anything to do with her.

“Fifth Miss, if it were for Third Young Lady and Fourth Young Lady, the Old Madam wouldn’t be so troubled. But it just so happens that the Marquis of Ping’an has taken a liking to you, and the Old Madam is thinking that you are too young, and is really reluctant,” Nurse Qin immediately took over the topic and said with a giggle.

She only wanted to keep her, as for the Marquis of Ping’an being so old, whose age could completely be her own grandfather, they actually wanted her to marry an old man as a second wife.

Moreover, the Marquis of Ping’an was someone who frequented the flower beds. These things that should have been made clear to her were never mentioned, completely treating her as a secluded, weak woman in the deep chamber to deceive. This was still her biological Grandmother, yet how much bloodline affection had she ever shown her? The Duke’s Mansion had never given her any warmth of a home, only letting her smell a smell of decay…

“Why does the Marquis of Ping’an want to marry me?” Eventually unable to restrain herself, Ning Xueyan’s face showed a trace of confusion as she blinked her big eyes and asked the Old Madam.

This question again made the Old Madam unable to answer: “Perhaps they heard that you have a virtuous reputation!”

“Yan’er hasn’t left the Mingshuang Courtyard in these past few years, and even the people of the Duke’s Mansion don’t know me. I didn’t expect that people outside the Mansion would still know my ‘virtuous reputation’!” Ning Xueyan’s manner became increasingly surprised, looking greatly shocked.

The Old Madam, who usually kept an impassive face, was even flushed with a little red!

Ning Xueyan had always been in the Mingshuang Courtyard. People outside even didn’t know that there was a Fifth Young Lady in this Mansion. How could any good reputation spread? The prominent aristocratic families in this city only knew that the Duke had four daughters. Except for the Fourth Daughter, who was a concubine, the others were all legitimate, and each one was beautiful, and the Third Daughter was the most filial and had good talent.

As for the Fifth Young Lady Ning Xueyan, if this matter hadn’t come up, even the Old Madam herself would have forgotten that there was another one of her in the Mingshuang Courtyard!

“Perhaps the Marquis of Ping’an heard that you cried and fainted in front of Madam Ming’s spirit, and knew that you were a filial daughter, so he came to propose marriage.” The Old Madam was also someone who had seen the world, and in a few words, she turned the conversation back, and explained with a thick face and a calm expression.

“The matter of the mourning hall?” Ning Xueyan didn’t continue to ask, but instead repeated it.

“Yes, it must have been at that time. The old servant was still thinking why the Marquis of Ping’an would mention Fifth Miss, looking as if he wouldn’t marry anyone but Fifth Miss. It turned out that he had taken a liking to Fifth Miss at that time. If the two Dukes’ Mansions formed a marriage alliance, after Fifth Miss marries, she will be a proper Duchess.”

Nurse Qin looked as if she had suddenly realized, and clapped her hands hard, and smiled.

“Yan’er, although the Marquis of Ping’an is a bit older, he is genuinely fond of you. After you marry, you will be the mistress of the house, a Duchess with rank, and your days in the future will definitely not be bad.” The Old Madam also smiled, saying the words smoothly, as if Ning Xueyan was going to enjoy happiness.

Ning Xueyan lowered her eyes, concealing the chilling mockery in her eyes. She was really shameless to say such words, marrying a fourteen-year-old young girl to an old man in his seventies or eighties, and it was still for her own good, it was truly bullying too much.

But she just wanted to make her say it now. The better and more infatuated she described the Marquis of Ping’an, the more embarrassing the situation would be later! The more difficult it would be to justify. What was the origin of that jade pendant, she was also very curious…

Hearing the Old Madam’s description of the scene of marrying into the Ping’an Duke’s Mansion, Ning Xueyan even cooperated, deliberately revealing a few points of shy joy on her face, and specifically glanced at Ning Yuling with her eyes, looking proud.

“The Marquis of Ping’an is more…than Heir of Prince Li…” When Ning Xueyan said this, a faint blush appeared on her jade white face. Although these words were not spoken, the meaning of the words, the people in the hall all understood the general idea.

A trace of displeasure clearly flashed in the Old Madam’s eyes. Whether it was the Marquis of Ping’an or the Heir of Prince Li, neither was the best candidate for her son-in-law in her heart. Ning Yuling was originally betrothed to the Third Prince. Climbing onto the noble Third Prince could bring so much benefit to the Duke’s Mansion.

As for Ning Xueyan, the Old Madam’s gaze fell on Ning Xueyan’s face. Today’s Ning Xueyan’s makeup was not outstanding, especially those heavy bangs, which almost blocked half of her jade white small face. But how could the Old Madam not know that the face under the bangs was the most beautiful among the several young ladies in the Mansion.

When Madam Ming had just died, Ning Xueyan came out to see people looking thin and weak, with a pale, wan complexion, and her figure was almost that of a child who hadn’t grown up. After a month or so of conditioning, she had greatly improved. Although her complexion was still slightly pale, anyone could see that Ning Xueyan would definitely be an exquisite beauty in the future.

Such a beauty, if she could be sent to the mansions of the powerful, could certainly win people’s hearts, but unfortunately, the Marquis of Ping’an had taken a liking to her. The Old Madam felt such pity, it was like it was a treasure worth a fortune, but unfortunately, it could only be sold as a fake, and the Old Madam’s hidden worries went without saying.

The Old Madam felt a sense of annoyance here, but it was all kept in her heart, but someone was angry upon hearing it!

Ning Yuling had long been unable to restrain herself on the side. In Xiangfu Garden, she had always been the center, but today she was pushed aside, only letting Ning Xueyan speak, and also constantly saying that Ning Xueyan would become a Duchess after marrying, plus the occasional glances Ning Xueyan cast over, no matter how she looked at it, she felt like she was being provoked.

Now Ning Xueyan even mentioned the Heir of Prince Li, which was clearly to show off to herself. Immediately, rage surged up, and she had long forgotten the scolding she received from the Old Madam just now. She stepped forward and, pointing at Ning Xueyan, cursed loudly: “Isn’t he just an useless old man who only knows how to eat, drink, and be merry? What’s there to praise? The Marquis of Ping’an, from top to bottom, men and women, there isn’t one that’s clean. When you marry, you don’t even know whether you’ll be serving the old or the young, or perhaps both together, it’s hard to say.”

The words Madam Ling had said to her, at this moment, came out of her mouth, only wanting to humiliate Ning Xueyan, and never thought of the consequences of saying these words.

The shy look on Ning Xueyan’s face disappeared, her face was pale, looking as if she was shocked, and she trembled: “Second Older Sister… this… isn’t this talking about the Heir of Prince Li?”

“You’re talking nonsense. The Heir of Prince Li’s Mansion is at least clean, unlike the Ping’an Duke’s Mansion. I heard that his previous second wife had done indecent things with his several sons, and you’re going to marry…” Looking at Ning Xueyan’s face, Ning Yuling became more and more excited, and felt that she wanted to make Ning Xueyan ashamed and want to die.

“You’re being arrogant!” The Old Madam’s hand heavily patted the table, her face ashen. Hearing Ning Yuling’s words becoming more and more excessive, she couldn’t help but speak angrily, “What are you saying? Aren’t you going to apologize to your Fifth Younger Sister!”

“Grandmother, this is originally true. Mother said that after marrying into that Mansion, no one would be clean, and in this household, those who are clean cannot survive, and those who survive are not clean!” Ning Yuling, at this moment, had long been stimulated by the real panic on Ning Xueyan’s face, and had forgotten she was speaking to the Old Madam.

Pointing at Ning Xueyan, she cursed vigorously. She had been feeling wronged lately, and hadn’t been able to go to the Outer Courtyard to see the Third Prince just now. She felt that it was all because of Ning Xueyan’s framing. Seeing Ning Xueyan’s pale face now, she felt even more relieved.

“Come, come, take her up, take her to the Buddha Hall and be with her mother!” The Old Madam was so angry that she kept tapping her walking stick.

“Grandmother, don’t, don’t take Second Older Sister to the Buddha Hall. It’s just a dispute between sisters, it’s not a big deal, and that… I heard that it’s extremely cold there now, and Second Older Sister’s body can’t take it.” Ning Xueyan, on the side, timidly advised, looking extremely worried.

She didn’t see, in her long eyelashes’s black eyes, there were no tears at all, only a chilling smile.

Now Ning Yuling was cursing herself, and the Old Madam said it was a dispute between sisters, and the punishment would never be too severe. If things went wrong, Madam Ling and Ning Yuling would turn around and accuse her of deliberately provoking trouble, so now Ning Xueyan must first remove herself from this matter, and the necessary advice was a must.

Two maidservants were about to pull Ning Yuling down. Ning Yuling was unwilling to stop, and stomped her feet angrily, her eyes were red: “Grandmother, you’re biased, you’re actually favoring this little bitch. Mother said that after she marries into the Ping’an Duke’s Mansion, she’ll just be a plaything. Grandmother, why do you have to favor her?”

If she didn’t continue to curse, at most, she would be pulled down by the maidservants and taken to Madam Ling, who was her birth mother and had always loved her, and wouldn’t do anything to her at all, but now, she was facing the Old Madam’s dignity, challenging the Old Madam’s authority, and in front of all the servants in this room, she dared not listen to the Old Madam’s words.

How could the Old Madam not be angry? Moreover, Ning Yuling was so stupid that she still couldn’t see the rage that was bursting from the Old Madam’s eyes, and pushed away the two maidservants, stomping her feet while glaring at the Old Madam and saying, “Grandmother, you’re biased, you’re biased, I’m going to tell Mother!”

Ning Yuling had always been spoiled and loved by Madam Ling. She always walked sideways in the Mansion. The Old Madam and Madam Ling both protected her. This time, seeing the Old Madam not protecting her, she subconsciously turned to Madam Ling, and only felt that Madam Ling would certainly wholeheartedly stand by her side to deal with Ning Xueyan.

These words undoubtedly ignited the Old Madam’s rage. It turned out that in her heart, she was still inferior to Madam Ling, who came from a low birth. How could this be tolerated by the Old Madam, who had always regarded herself as of noble birth? She was almost half-dead with anger, pushed away Nurse Qin, who was supporting her, and glared at Ning Yuling.

“Come, take this disobedient and unfilial girl to the Buddha Hall. I want Madam Ling to tell me clearly what kind of upbringing she gave her daughter!”

She was really half-dead with anger this time, and vented all her rage on Madam Ling. Ning Yuling kept saying that it was Madam Ling who said it. The Old Madam originally didn’t like this marriage of the Marquis of Ping’an. If it wasn’t for Madam Ling arranging it, and also that jade pendant, how could the Old Madam have agreed to this matter.

Now, she hadn’t even coaxed Ning Xueyan, and Ning Yuling unexpectedly jumped out to stir up trouble again. All of the Old Madam’s evil fire was directed at Madam Ling, and she only felt that it was all Madam Ling who had taught Ning Yuling to become such a lawless person.

Seeing that the Old Madam was really angry, two old women came over at this moment and grabbed Ning Yuling’s arms. No matter how she jumped, it was useless. Someone else came over and whispered a warning in Ning Yuling’s ear. Only then did Ning Yuling’s face turn red and she reluctantly stopped, Ning Xueyan sneered in her heart. It seemed that in this Xiangfu Garden, Madam Ling’s henchmen were not just one!

Unfortunately, they were all low-ranking servants, and couldn’t say a word in front of the Old Madam, so they could only watch the Old Madam leaning on her walking stick, letting the servants take Ning Yuling, and the group of people went to the Buddha Hall in a mighty manner!

Ning Xueyan smiled slightly, and followed with her maidservants!