Chapter 400: Those Account Books Sent To Ling Manor

“Cousin, rest assured, I won’t act rashly. But these things, I’ll have to trouble Cousin to give to Uncle.” Ning Xueyan opened the small bundle in her hand, took out a few old papers from it, and handed them to Ming Yuanhua. A trace of sharp hatred flashed in her eyes; this was the real reason she specifically sought out Ming Yuanhua today.

“What is this?” Ming Yuanhua asked as he opened the paper. A smile immediately froze on his face, and his eyes twitched. He looked much more stern, reading it at a glance. When he saw it clearly, he clenched his teeth: “That vixen, Madam Ling.”

Here was a paper from Madam Yu’s brother, agreeing to frame Madam Ming, leaving behind a life-saving method, a silver note with Madam Ling’s signature and fingerprint. The silver money on it was exactly a thousand taels. The date of Madam Ling’s signature was also written on it, which was the day before the framing of Madam Ming.

Looking at another piece of paper, it was Madam Yu’s brother’s own written confession, from Madam Ling asking Nurse Yun to call him, to Madam Ling asking him to frame Madam Ming, putting him and Madam Ming, who had been drugged, together on the bed, being seen by Ning Zuan, as well as Madam Ling’s guarantee and the silver note at the time, saying it clearly. In the end, Madam Yu’s brother also specially made a fingerprint on it.

It could be said that this was also conclusive evidence.

Ming Yuanhua examined it carefully, the killing intent on his face becoming even heavier. The veins on his eye corners twitched violently. He stood up abruptly: “I’ll go give this to Father now, and let him seek justice for Aunt.”

Seeing him furiously walk away, Ning Xueyan quickly reached out and held Ming Yuanhua’s hand, and softly said: “Cousin, wait a moment. Having these isn’t enough. After all, there is only evidence, and there is a lack of witnesses. Madam Ling might bite back then, and we won’t be able to explain it clearly, which would instead make people doubt Mother’s reputation.”

Either not turn over the matter of Madam Ming, or make a big deal out of it. So Ning Xueyan would rather wait, wait until there was more guarantee. They’d waited for so many years, she wouldn’t mind waiting again, and then make a hit, so that Madam Ling would have no possibility of turning over.

“Witnesses? Where are the witnesses in this? Father couldn’t find that person no matter how he looked, and that person hasn’t shown up for so many years, maybe they’re already dead. Moreover, even if this person is found, will they testify for Aunt? After all, they also participated in this matter, and if Madam Ling admits her guilt, they will also be unable to escape responsibility.”

Ming Yuanhua also knew that these two pieces of paper alone couldn’t explain all the problems, just like the matter of Cloud Shadow Courtyard. Everyone suspected it, but they couldn’t produce credible evidence. That vixen would still be at large. It was said that after a year or two, when everyone had almost forgotten it, Madam Ling would still be unharmed as the Duchess.

Just thinking about this, Ming Yuanhua’s mood couldn’t calm down. The injustices suffered by Aunt, Father’s departure, which lasted for more than ten years, and the injustices his cousin sister suffered in the Duke’s Mansion, the cold treatment of his cousin sister by the people in the Duke’s Mansion, all of which made him feel anger.

“Cousin, don’t worry. Madam Yu has already promised me to find her brother as soon as possible. If her brother comes back, she will let him agree to testify for Mother.” Ning Xueyan said calmly. A light blue icy cold gauze dress made her look even more delicate, but this delicate young girl gave off a sense of calmness and audible breath, with a touch of steadiness that was completely different from her age.

Looking at the exquisite and beautiful facial features of the young girl before her, the color of glass, and the slight smile on her beautiful face, Ming Yuanhua’s mood slowly calmed down. He sat back in his chair. He even felt a kind of pride. The young girl before him was not the kind of ordinary woman who was raised in a deep chamber and only knew how to lament spring and autumn. She was intelligent.

But because of this, a few points of sadness arose. Her eyelashes drooped, concealing a trace of complexity in her eyes. She calmed her emotions and sorted out what Ning Xueyan had just said before raising her head again: “Cousin’s meaning is that the person back then, is still in contact now, and is also willing to testify.”

“Yes, not only this, but there is also another person who is willing to testify. Therefore, Cousin and Uncle don’t have to worry about the witnesses. The only thing is that we have to wait a little while now. Madam Yu’s brother can’t come over immediately. At least there is still about a month. During this period, we can’t alert the enemy and let Madam Ling discover.”

Ning Xueyan smiled calmly, a trace of icy cold mockery flashing in her eyes. Of course, Madam Ling at this time couldn’t be as shrewd as before. Although the matter of Cloud Shadow Courtyard couldn’t really accuse her of anything, the matter was so big that it caught her completely off guard. Even though Madam Ling was now intent on staring at herself, she wouldn’t discover the abnormality on her side.

For this point, Ning Xueyan was very certain, which was also the reason she came out so openly today. Madam Ling was now unable to care for herself, or was still busy scheming against Ning Zuan. She was powerless against herself now, and even the people in Cloud Mist Courtyard were now polite to the people in her Mingshuang Courtyard.

This was, of course, Madam Ling’s delaying tactic. After the attention of Cloud Shadow Courtyard had passed, the first person Madam Ling would deal with would definitely be herself. Madam Ning Yuling’s matter, Madam Ling and daughter, must have blamed the matter on themselves. In their concept, only they could harm others, and it was wrong for others not to surrender!

Unfortunately, Madam Ling could never free up her hands again to deal with herself wholeheartedly.

Madam Ling had harmed so many people. Now, it was just a step-by-step debt collection. Then, let’s see if Madam Ling can withstand all the blows. Sometimes, not dying, might represent another kind of torture.

“Alright, since Yan’er has already decided, I and Father will follow your meaning and wait for your news. As long as you say it’s okay, Father will directly go to the Golden Hall to complain, and see how they Ning Residence will give our Ming Residence an explanation.” Ming Yuanhua said with viciousness.

The Ming Residence was indeed left over from the previous dynasty, and could not compare to the new nobility Duke’s Mansion, but there were not few people like the Ming Residence who were left over from the previous dynasty. Most of these people still held official positions, and the flow of those connections was also quite a lot in the new dynasty. If the current Emperor really favored the Duke’s Mansion, it would not work.

If the Emperor did not judge this matter fairly, then it would not be just the matter of the Duke’s Mansion and its family. It was believed that the Emperor should be very clear about who was more important and who was less important.

“Okay, Cousin, then it’s settled.” Ning Xueyan slightly smiled, nodded, and then slowly said, “Cousin, there’s also another matter that needs to trouble Cousin.”

These words sounded lightly dismissed, but Ming Yuanhua saw from Ning Xueyan’s solemn deep affection for the matter that it was not small. He quickly nodded in agreement.

“Family, what is there to trouble or not trouble? Cousin, just say it!”

“Cousin, the account books of Mother’s dowry shops back then are all in Madam Ling’s hands, and they were later delivered to the Ling Manor. If we can find these things, it will be even more able to show that Madam Ling deliberately poisoned and framed Mother in order to plot to seize Mother’s position and property. Moreover, with these things in hand, Madam Ling can’t escape either.”

Ning Xueyan casually picked up the teacup and gently stroked the patterns on it with her fingers. A smile was cold on her lips.

Those account books, Madam Ling secretly sent to the Ling Manor that day in a carriage. If this batch of account books was discovered from the Ling Manor, it would mean that Madam Ling framed Madam Ming, the intervention of the Ling Manor. Madam Ling relied on Ning Huaiyuan and the Ling Manor. The Ling Manor was also the Minister of Personnel’s Mansion now. If because of these account books, the Ling Manor was dragged down, that would be the best.

Moreover, in these account books, there were not only the few shops now in her hands, but also a few that became Ning Ziyan’s dowry. When the time comes, Ning Ziyan will once again fall into Madam Ling’s scandal. Slow-cooked frog, even if it’s slow, the final end would still be the same.

“I’ll send someone to investigate and first explore where Madam Ling’s batch of account books are placed. The Ling Manor isn’t the Ning Residence. It’s impossible for anyone to keep a close eye on that batch of account books. At most, they’ll be placed in some place and left empty. It won’t be hidden as tightly as in the Ning Residence.” Ming Yuanhua immediately understood Ning Xueyan’s meaning and nodded.

Since it’s not advisable to alert the enemy now, they can only investigate secretly. It was said that the Ling Manor was arranging a betrothal for their son these days, and it was a busy time. Mixing someone in there should be no problem.

“Then I’ll trouble Cousin.” Ning Xueyan knew that Ming Yuanhua understood her meaning, and a gentle and soft smile appeared on her face.

Next, Ning Xueyan asked about Uncle and Maternal Aunt’s health. Because Old Madam and Ning Zuan didn’t allow her to befriend the Ming Residence openly, she couldn’t defy their meaning, but only had the opportunity to greet them privately when she saw Ming Yuanhua. Of course, Ming Feiyong and the others also understood.

But this was also good. When they complained then, they could let Ning Xueyan be out of the matter. So Ming Feiyong didn’t care about this, and even if there was nothing, he would never come to find Ning Xueyan, creating the appearance of an ordinary relationship with Ning Xueyan. After all, he was a grandson uncle who hadn’t seen each other in ten years, and also the difference between men and women. The relationship was of course not as deep as Ming Feiyong and the late Madam Ming’s brother and sister, and others would think so then.

And this was what Ming Feiyong needed. Therefore, even if Ning Xueyan wanted to see him, she usually let her son take her place. After all, Ming Yuanhua had no official position, and his actions wouldn’t be as obvious as his.

After the two of them chatted for a while, seeing that it was getting late, Ning Xueyan was about to leave. She would also go see the address of the new shop later. Before she was in the mansion, Nurse Han had provided two. This time, she came out on this reason, so she had to go and take a look.

“Yan’er, are you… really going to marry into… Prince Yi’s Mansion?” Seeing Ning Xueyan put on her veiled hat and prepare to leave, Ming Yuanhua stood up, opened his mouth, and said with difficulty, a trace of hesitation flashing in his handsome eyes.

“Cousin, rest assured, it’s alright.” Seeing Ming Yuanhua’s worry, Ning Xueyan softly smiled, “This is the best, otherwise, how can I have the opportunity to come out now, and my actions can’t be so convenient.”

There were some reasons Ning Xueyan didn’t say. If it weren’t for Ao Chenyi, or if she’d lost in the first round of confrontation with Madam Ling, then she wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of his power to counterattack again and again, so she had no bit of estrangement to marry into Prince Yi’s Mansion now.

“Do you… really want to?” Ming Yuanhua seemed to have not heard Ning Xueyan’s words, staring at Ning Xueyan and asking again, his complexion slightly flushed.

“I do!” This time, Ning Xueyan did not hesitate. A smile was soft and determined on the corner of her mouth, and her gaze fell into Ming Yuanhua’s complex and deep black eyes.

“Alright, that’s good!” Ming Yuanhua clenched his fist forcefully, hearing the sound of his own smile that was almost a murmur, so faint that it was almost impossible to hear any affection, a smile showing on the corner of his mouth that expressed a meaning that was difficult to describe, there was a trace of relaxation, and also an uncontrollable soreness…