Ch 125: Remember, There Won’t Be A Next Time
“Bold!” Swords and blades emerged from the eunuch and guards standing to the side. Instantly, two blades, two swords, were across Ning Xueyan’s throat.
The people Ao Chenyi brought with them were naturally experts. Under the pervading killing intent, the sword pointed at the throat, and the blade was across the white jade neck. As long as they exerted a little force, she would perish.
“How bold you are!” Ao Chenyi’s other empty hand waved away the few swords and blades. In that pair of wicked, charming pupils that people dared not look directly at, the thick, dark, bloody aura tightly locked onto Ning Xueyan, as if the next step was to snap Ning Xueyan’s slender neck.
That looked more like a blood-colored flower of the other shore blooming in hell, eerily beautiful and alluring, like a soul-sucking Asura…
Several guards looked at each other. Although they retreated, they vigilantly stared at Ning Xueyan, for fear that Ning Xueyan would injure their noble master again.
Ning Xueyan raised her mouth, and a touch of crimson color appeared at the veil at the corner of her mouth, slowly falling from the corner of her mouth. It had a feeling of eerie desolation, reflecting her black jade-like eyes, making them even more clear. As if she didn’t see the bloodlust in Ao Chenyi’s eyes, she smiled sweetly, neither haughty nor humble, and looked at Ao Chenyi.
“Didn’t Your Highness ask me how I should conduct myself next? I think this is the best way!”
“You dare to injure me?” Ao Chenyi’s thin corner of his mouth curled up, containing a cold sneer of viciousness, as if a ghost shadow was hidden in his eyes.
“If Your Highness doesn’t want people to be injured, then who in this world can injure Your Highness!” Ning Xueyan was, however, calm, she stretched out her fair and tender hand and wiped the veil at the corner of her mouth, and the blood color condensed between her fair and tender fingers.
“If Your Highness’s favored concubine injures Your Highness, with Your Highness’s temperament, it will certainly be done. Then, it is normal to injure the favored concubine.” Ning Xueyan said, picking up a porcelain vase and, without even looking, smashed it hard on the ground.
In the crisp and loud sound, the expressions of the two guards and eunuch all became surprised.
“You guessed that This King would certainly do so!” Ao Chenyi looked at the wound on the back of his hand that was still bleeding, his slender eyes were faint like glass.
“It doesn’t matter whether Your Highness will do this or not, as long as others think Your Highness will do this!” Ning Xueyan implied meaning, and then smashed another white jade bottle, which was also pure white jade, on the ground without any emotion.
So, her meaning was that Ao Chenyi wanted others to see this scene, so he would certainly tolerate her behavior.
She knew that doing this was very dangerous. Unexpectedly, when Ao Chenyi hadn’t made up his mind, she made up his mind for him. But not doing so was even more dangerous. This was self-rescue, not wanting to be a target in plain sight, otherwise, she really wouldn’t know how she died, but this was her only opportunity!
Everyone knew that Prince Yi was bloodthirsty and brutal, capricious. Even if he had a favored concubine who had his heart, if she relied on his favor to be arrogant and injured him, she would not have a good end…
The sound of porcelain being smashed one after another came out from inside the room, and even the servants who passed by outside the courtyard gate heard it clearly. One by one, they shrank their necks, trembling with fear, and walked past the courtyard entrance lightly and carefully, not even daring to look back.
The coldness on Ao Chenyi’s face suddenly revealed a meaningful expression. His thin corner of the mouth curled: “Young girl, you are really bold. Remember, there is no next time.”
I didn’t expect that the “plaything” I accidentally encountered was so courageous and insightful, it was really more and more interesting, and I was looking forward to her growth!
Because of the Emperor sending Prince Yi several beauties, Prince Yi’s favored concubine relied on his favor to be arrogant, and she cried and made a scene in the courtyard, and also bit Prince Yi’s hand, angering Prince Yi. Prince Yi furiously left that place called Zhilan Residence, and had people seal off the courtyard, not allowing the people inside to come out, sending only one meal a day, it seemed like he was really angry.
“Unexpectedly, that favored concubine was locked up?” The Third Prince stood in the study, admiring a peony painting he had drawn, and when he heard the guard’s report, he frowned, sat down at the side of the chair, and asked.
“Yes, Your Highness, I heard that Prince Yi had obvious bite marks on his hand. Prince Yi, as soon as he left the courtyard, called for someone to apply medicine, and then had people come over to lock the door.” The guard respectfully reported. He was the Third Prince’s confidante and knew that the Third Prince, Ao Mingyu, was currently concerned about this matter.
“Bitten the Uncle’s hand? She is really a bold woman. I didn’t expect her not to die yet, it seems that Uncle really cares.” Ao Mingyu’s usually gentle face revealed a trace of gloom, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he sneered, “Continue to pay attention to the affairs of Zhilan Residence, but do not take any action, so as not to be noticed by Uncle.”
The Third Prince was increasingly curious about that woman. Although he hadn’t seen her face the last time he saw her, judging from her bearing, she should be a beauty no matter what. He had also sent Prince Yi two teams of beauties at that time. The two leading ones were still in Prince Yi’s Mansion. At that time, that woman didn’t say anything at all and seemed very proper.
But what was the reason now that provoked her to great anger and even bit Uncle’s hand? What exactly did this mean!
“When you go down, send the jade ointment bestowed by the Palace to Uncle’s Mansion.”
It was extremely difficult to place a nail in Prince Yi’s Mansion, and he did not dare to instruct too many things. He simply had someone go and see if the wound on Uncle’s hand was real!
“Yes!” The guard responded and stepped back, but halfway there he suddenly turned back and respectfully reported: “Your Highness, it is said that the Duke’s Mansion wants to form a marriage alliance with the Ping’an Duke’s Mansion. It was said before that the Fifth Young Lady of the Duke’s Mansion was betrothed, but later, for some reason, it was changed to the Fourth Young Lady of the Duke’s Mansion.”
The Duke’s Mansion’s Fifth Young Lady? The Third Prince’s eyes flashed with surprise, as if he saw an elegant and peerless face, that kind of indifferent gaze. Was Ning Zuan crazy or stupid to marry such a noble direct daughter to the notorious Marquis of Peace? He didn’t know what he was after.
Under the initially covered forehead hair, he looked wooden and dull; at Hanshan Temple, he was agile but indifferent; which one was the real her!
For the first time, he felt curious about a woman. He wanted to see which expression she would show next.
“Were the invitations for the plum blossom banquet in the Palace sent to the Duke’s Mansion?” The Third Prince’s handsome face showed a faint smile, and his fingers tapped on the tabletop.
“It was sent to the Noble Consort long ago. I heard that the Noble Consort specially sent three invitations this time.” Although the guard did not understand the Third Prince’s meaning, he still reported the truth.
Three invitations. The Duke’s Mansion’s Eldest Young Lady was already married, so these three invitations were sent to the Second Miss, the Third Young Lady, and the Fifth Miss. The banquet in the Palace was naturally for the direct daughters. Mother Consort was indeed thoughtful. But would she really come?
A face with a sweet smile flashed in his mind, gentle and endearing. When he was most sad, she would be gentle and like water beside him, making him always recall.
So many years have passed, she should be doing well!
Ning Xueyan left Prince Yi’s Mansion from a hidden side gate. When she saw Xinmei waiting in the carriage outside, she finally relaxed. Sitting quietly in front of the window, the carriage and horses slowly started moving. She vaguely heard the screaming of the two beauties before they died. Although it seemed on the surface that Prince Yi was using her, the favored concubine, to kill the two beauties who were clearly ill-intentioned.
Ning Xueyan, of course, would not think that without herself, Prince Yi would not kill the two beauties.
There were many beauties sent from the Imperial Palace before, and there were even more who died at his hands. Prince Yi did not care, and the reason for needing herself to come forward was just to have such a favored concubine in Prince Yi’s Mansion.
Just now, she also bet correctly, so she could leave Prince Yi’s Mansion unharmed!
“Young Lady, did Master not do anything for you?” Xinmei asked in a low and concerned voice. Since she followed this Fifth Young Lady, even she had to be won over by this young girl’s intelligence. Of course, she didn’t want to see her die in the hands of the previous master, so she was very worried since Ning Xueyan went in.
Seeing Xinmei’s genuine concern, Ning Xueyan’s face showed a faint smile, and shook her head: “It’s nothing, Prince now still needs me, this favored concubine.”
Ao Chenyi set up herself as a shield, or target, of course, not just to deal with the beauties in the back courtyard of the mansion. That person had been in a high position for a long time, mastered people’s hearts, was good at manipulating power, and was not someone who could be easily understood. If she had hesitated a little when answering just now, the two beauties would have been her end.
“Young Lady, in a moment, shall we go back to the residence directly or go to Huacai Pavilion?” Seeing her natural expression, Xinmei breathed a sigh of relief and asked.
Huacai Pavilion was one of the largest jewelry and ornament shops in the capital city, and it was located on the most prosperous street in the capital city. Several shops on that street were all occupied by it. The young ladies and noble ladies of the capital city, who came and went every day, all liked to come here to order or purchase ornaments because the designs here were exquisite and the patterns were diverse, but the prices were also not cheap. Many noble ladies of aristocratic families were proud to own the ornaments from Huacai Pavilion.
This was also the place that Ning Lingyun loved the most.
Ning Lingyun was a concubine-born daughter herself, so of course she couldn’t afford to buy ornaments here, but even if she couldn’t buy them, it was good to take a look. So Ning Lingyun would come to Huacai Pavilion to take a look every now and then, to see the new varieties and patterns here, so that when she saw other young ladies wearing them, she would also seem knowledgeable and have face.
And this morning, Ning Xueyan knew that Ning Lingyun had gone out again, and the destination was naturally Huacai Pavilion. The Duke’s Mansion had been in trouble again and again, and the curfew had also relaxed during this time. Furthermore, Concubine Xu was in charge of the Duke’s Mansion. Ning Lingyun was no longer like before, and it was very convenient for her to go out.
“After returning to the Duke’s Mansion, go to Huacai Pavilion.” Ning Xueyan’s lip corners raised a slight smile, and she faintly instructed.
Originally, she had planned to follow Ning Lingyun, so why wouldn’t she go this time!
The marriage of the Marquis of Peace, Madam Ling had agreed to Concubine Xu, but now it fell on Ning Lingyun. Whether it was Ning Lingyun or Concubine Xu, they would definitely not be willing. Ning Lingyun was especially concerned about face, so it was really a coincidence…
“Okay, this servant will arrange it now.” Xinmei nodded, knowing that Ning Xueyan was someone who had ideas, and leaned out to say a few words to the coachman.
The carriage stopped at the side gate of the previous courtyard. Xinmei helped Ning Xueyan down from the carriage. After changing into another set of clothes in the main courtyard, she got on another carriage waiting at the back door. The carriage went smoothly all the way, arriving at the side wall of the Duke’s Mansion. Xinmei took Ning Xueyan and flipped over the wall.
After changing clothes in Mingshuang Garden and resting slightly, she had someone tell Concubine Xu, and then took Xinmei and Qingyu and got on the Duke’s Mansion’s carriage, and went towards the street.
On the other side, Lan Ning also used the excuse of visiting her sick aunt and left the Duke’s Mansion.
The carriage traveled on the road for not long, and then arrived at Huacai Pavilion.
Qingyu handed Ning Xueyan a veiled hat. Xinmei helped Ning Xueyan down from the carriage. Before they could stand still, they heard a mocking voice from the front: “Oh, isn’t this the Fifth Miss? Why is it so rare today that you have come to such a luxurious place?”
