Chapter 198: Gifts Sent By The Two Princes

【In the Imperial Palace, a major case of assassination and rebellion happened. Not only was Prince Yi assassinated, but several Young Ladies and Young Masters from aristocratic families who were in the palace were also disturbed. Several people were injured in their hands and feet. Fortunately, no one died, but even so, those high-ranking officials were frightened out of their wits.

『Those who entered the palace were all direct sons and direct daughters of various mansions, and they were completely different from those concubine-born sons and daughters. It was a significant matter if something happened in the palace to the next generation that had been cultivated with so much effort.

The high-ranking officials unanimously demanded that those assassins be punished, but those assassins died on the spot under Prince Yi’s hands. It was difficult to find anyone. The Emperor could only push the matter entirely onto Prince Yi, letting him handle this sudden incident in the palace. Thus, it stirred up another bloody storm.

』The Duke’s Mansion was the unluckiest of these mansions because both of the two direct daughters who attended the banquet and one direct son had something happen.

【Ning Huaiyuan was hit by an arrow that flew sideways, injuring his shoulder. Ning Qingshan was shocked and injured her foot. Ning Xueyan’s body was not good to begin with. Seeing the bloody scene, she fainted on the ground. It was the maidservants who half-supported and half-embraced her to bring her back. She started burning with fever that night. For a moment, doctors came and went, examining the wounded and treating the sick in the three courtyards.

】This was truly an unforeseen disaster. The Old Madam was so anxious that her mouth blistered. She specially went to the Buddha and stayed with Madam Ling for the night, reciting scriptures all night. Madam Ling, who had always been at odds with the Old Madam, had no objections this time and willingly accompanied the Old Madam in kowtowing and reciting scriptures. Her most cherished treasure of a son had also had something happen this time.

】What was good about the Duke’s Mansion? First, focus on Ning Huaiyuan’s situation. For a moment, Ning Huaiyuan’s courtyard had the most people coming and going.

【But then, the gifts sent by the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince in succession made Ning Qingshan’s situation like hot oil in a pan!

】The gifts sent by the Third Prince were considered fair, with one gift for each of the three people, expressing the royal family’s condolences and comforting. But according to well-informed people, the Duke’s Mansion’s gifts were at least half as precious as the gifts for the other injured mansions. In other words, the Third Prince paid for the Duke’s Mansion’s gifts himself.

】Why would he pay for it himself? Of course, it was because the Duke’s Mansion was different. Moreover, some said that on the day of the banquet, they were going to announce the good news of the Third Young Lady of the Duke’s Mansion and the Third Prince. But because something like this happened suddenly, the matter was postponed. But no matter what, Noble Consort Ya had already confirmed Third Young Lady Ning. Therefore, it was normal for the gifts to be more precious.

If the gifts sent by the Third Prince were because he wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Duke’s Mansion, what about the Fourth Prince?

The Third Prince’s people left, and the Fourth Prince’s people arrived right after, and they specifically wanted to give to the Third Young Lady of the Duke’s Mansion. The gifts sent were not few in weight, and most of them were sent to Ning Qingshan’s Luoyan Courtyard. Only a few items were sent to Ning Huaiyuan and Ning Xueyan.

「One look and you know the other two were just along for the ride!

】What did the Fourth Prince mean by this? Not only were the people of the Duke’s Mansion dazed, but so were others. Was this a clear indication that he had feelings for Third Young Lady Ning?

】Although the reason the Fourth Prince gave for sending gifts was also very grand, he only said that he saw Third Young Lady Ning injured in the palace that day, and he was right beside her. He was unable to provide treatment, and he felt guilty, so he sent some gifts to express his guilt.

】But anyone with a discerning eye knew that the Fourth Prince was talking nonsense. That day, the sudden assassin incident in the palace happened. The Third Prince and the Fourth Prince were together handling matters, and the scope of their coming and going was in the Plum Garden area, while Ning Qingshan was still in Noble Consort Ya’s palace. She only saw the assassins after she came out of Noble Consort Ya’s palace, and in a panic, she fled and bumped her leg.

The two could not have had any intersection, so how could he have seen Ning Qingshan injured and been unable to provide treatment!

】The Third Prince and the Fourth Prince sent gifts to Luoyan Courtyard one after another. This situation was really very subtle. At that time, the Old Madam, who was still in Ning Huaiyuan’s courtyard, thought about it and went to Ning Qingshan’s Luoyan Courtyard with Nurse Qin. She had been busy with Ning Huaiyuan’s affairs these past few days and had not yet seen Ning Qingshan.

“Third Young Lady, the Old Madam is here to see you.” Seeing the Old Madam and her party arrive, Nurse Luo greeted the Old Madam to come in, while she went to the bed to lift the curtain and help Ning Qingshan sit up.

“Grandmother!” The injured Ning Qingshan was increasingly timid and lovely.

“Does your leg still hurt? Can you get out of bed and walk? Are the medicinal herbs working well? If they’re not working well, tell Grandmother, and Grandmother will help you get better medicine.” The Old Madam sat down in front of the bed and pulled her hand, asking affectionately. Her face was full of concern, and anyone who saw it would think she was family.

“Thank you for Grandmother’s concern. The medicine is working very well, and my leg has improved a lot. I can occasionally get out of bed, but I can’t walk long.” Ning Qingshan softly said.

“That’s good, it’s good that you’re okay. A good Young Lady shouldn’t injure her leg, otherwise, how will you get married in the future?” The Old Madam smiled and said.

“Grandmother!” Ning Qingshan blushed and was full of shyness.

】“Are these all the gifts sent by the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince?” The Old Madam turned her head to look at the small table on the side. It was full of various silks, face powder, ornaments, and some medicinal herbs, and there was everything. Moreover, each item was extraordinary, and it could be seen that they were items from the palace.

“Yes, they were all sent by the two princes. I was just about to send them to Grandmother so that Grandmother could dispose of them!” A hint of pride flashed in Ning Qingshan’s eyes, but it was not revealed on her face. She spoke gently.

】In the palace, she was also puzzled by Consort Shu’s words. At that time, Noble Consort Ya was also very angry. So, she was determined not to have any entanglement with Ao Mingwan. But she didn’t expect that this time, when the Fourth Prince sent gifts, the Old Madam couldn’t sit still. She hadn’t seen anyone these past few days, but she immediately appeared. It seemed that the Fourth Prince’s actions had great benefits for her.

】Moreover, a woman could be favored by two princes, which was a great blessing.

】Thinking more deeply, she had always been unable to guess her aunt’s thoughts. Three years ago, she clearly said she wanted her to marry the Third Prince as the principal wife. But when she wasn’t around, her aunt married the Duke’s Mansion, and she still married Ning Yuling. If Ning Yuling didn’t have anything happen, wouldn’t she naturally be the Third Prince’s principal wife, and she herself would only be a concubine?

】How could Ning Qingshan, who had always been ambitious, bear it? She believed that the identity of Mother of the World in the future, if she didn’t get it, then no one else would!

】So if there was a backup for the Fourth Prince, and if her aunt wanted to go back on the marriage or just wanted her to be a concubine, she would marry the Fourth Prince at that time and wholeheartedly assist the Fourth Prince in becoming emperor. In the future, she would still not escape the status of an empress. Thinking like this, she immediately became enlightened. Previously, she had also specially asked Nurse Luo to prepare a return gift for the Fourth Prince.

It was a painting she drew herself, and it also represented her sincere intentions!

】Originally, it was extremely rude for a Young Lady in the inner chamber to do such a thing. How could objects from the inner chamber fall into the hands of an unrelated male? But because the Fourth Prince sent her gifts, she returned a gift, and no one knew, so no one knew that she had done this kind of thing that was against the rules of the inner chamber.

】Of course, Ning Qingshan wouldn’t tell the Old Madam about this!

“These gifts, Third Young Lady, you can keep them yourself. Since both princes value you so much, you should rest well and get your body healthy as soon as possible. Grandmother will invite the two princes together at that time and thank them properly.” The Old Madam smiled at her with a glance.

“Thank you, Grandmother!” Ning Qingshan said well-behaved, then flattered the Old Madam a few more times, making the Old Madam’s face full of smiles. Finally, she left Luoyan Courtyard with satisfaction.

Nurse Luo replaced Ning Qingshan and sent the Old Madam to the courtyard entrance before returning and having the other maidservants in the room leave and close the door.

“Did they say anything?” Ning Qingshan leaned on the pillow and asked with an indifferent expression.

That expression was completely different from the way she had flattered the Old Madam just now.

“They didn’t say anything. Young Lady, you…do you really want to invite the Fourth Prince to come to the mansion to thank him?” Nurse Luo asked uneasily, standing in front of the bed.

】“Yes, since Grandmother brought it up, of course, I’ll listen. Anyway, with Grandmother here, what others say has nothing to do with me!” Ning Qingshan’s face showed a proud smile. Although she didn’t know why Ao Mingwan suddenly took a fancy to her, this at least showed her charm. At the same time, it could also make the Third Prince and Noble Consort Ya feel the pressure, and she could also gain the attention of the entire Duke’s Mansion. It was a win-win situation.

】“If Noble Consort Ya finds out about this, Young Lady, you…” Nurse Luo squeezed the handkerchief in her hand and hesitated, Noble Consort Ya was not someone who could be easily fooled. If she really found out that the Young Lady deliberately got involved with the Fourth Prince, she would definitely not let the Young Lady go easily.

“Nurse, you can rest assured. I have my own sense of propriety. Think about my identity, and then think about my current situation. Nurse, don’t you think I’m wronged?” Ning Qingshan sighed, sat up straight, reached out and took Nurse Luo’s hand, looked at her, and spoke sincerely.

“Nurse, you are my only family. Only you are truly thinking about me. I know, so I won’t act rashly. I will also take care of you in your old age in the future and make you have a happy old age and gain the title of a Lady of Honor!”

】These words were extremely sincere, and she specifically mentioned that she would give her the title of Lady of Honor, which meant Lady of Honor. She, as someone who served others, actually had this kind of blessing. Nurse Luo’s nose became sore, and she took two steps forward and embraced Ning Qingshan. Her eyes were red.

“Young Lady, don’t say things like that first. As long as you are well, Nurse is better than anything. Young Lady is of noble status, and has always been knowledgeable. Nurse is just worried that the Young Lady will rise too high and something bad will happen.”

“It’s okay, Nurse, don’t worry. Tomorrow, you go to the brothel and redeem Xia’er’s younger sister. From now on, let her be a second-class maid in Luoyan Courtyard. She’s always Xia’er’s sister, so we should take care of her.” Ning Qingshan whispered in Nurse Luo’s arms.

“Yes… Young Lady is kind. Nurse will do her best.” Nurse Luo thought that Ning Qingshan truly remembered the old affection and was immediately excited. She nodded repeatedly with tears in her eyes. At the same time, she became more and more determined in her heart that she would go through fire and water for the Young Lady in the future.

Xia’er’s younger sister, Caifen, was bought into the brothel when she was a child and was a prostitute there. Xia’er found her not long ago. Ning Qingshan had seen her before. That woman was very clever, and her feelings for Xia’er were also deep…