Chapter 406: The Third Prince’s Intentions

Third Prince Ao Mingyu indeed came in a hurry. He did have an urgent matter, and it was about asking the family members of the Duke’s Mansion’s Inner Courtyard, so after saying a few words to Ning Zuan, he asked to go to the Inner Courtyard to ask the Old Madam.

Ning Zuan saw that the Third Prince’s expression was still peaceful, but there were a few points of impatience in his eyes. Knowing that he was really anxious, he was no longer polite. While letting the boy servant run in to report, he followed the Third Prince directly to the Backyard. The Third Prince had come to the Duke’s Mansion’s Backyard many times, and since Ning Qingshan was about to marry into the Third Prince’s Mansion, they were always a bit closer than others.

Therefore, although there was a slight deficiency in the etiquette, Ning Zuan didn’t care, as they would be a family sooner or later.

Ao Mingyu followed Ning Zuan in and, upon seeing the colorful gifts, was first astonished. Suddenly, he remembered that today was Prince Yi Ao Chenyi’s betrothal day. His eye color turned Icy Cold for a moment, and then he entered the courtyard without even looking, walked up the steps, and pulled Ning Zuan, who had originally wanted to explain, to the back.

For a moment, Ning Zuan thought that Ao Mingyu was really in a hurry, so he didn’t say much and followed him into the Old Madam’s room.

The Old Madam had already received the news and, with the Ning Qingshan sisters who couldn’t avoid it, welcomed them in the room.

After everyone had performed the greeting, they sat down as guests and hosts, and the maidservants brewed fragrant tea.

“The Third Prince has matters with Grandmother, and my sisters and I will take our leave first.” Ning Xueyan bowed gently to Ao Mingyu, speaking politely. From Ao Mingyu’s appearance, it was clear that he had business. It was better for them, the several Young Ladies, not to be here. Originally, this was what Ning Qingshan should have said, but seeing Ning Qingshan smiling sweetly at Ao Mingyu, she knew that if she didn’t speak, Ning Qingshan would definitely not speak.

And although Ning Lingyun wasn’t as direct as before, looking at the Third Prince without any reservations, revealing an air of Obsession, but seeing her always secretly looking at him, she knew that her heart couldn’t die for a moment, even though she had stayed in the Buddha Hall for that period of time, Ning Lingyun didn’t seem to have changed her mind from the root.

Helplessly, she could only stand up and speak herself. No matter what Ao Mingyu came for, he would certainly be talking about serious matters, and it was indeed inappropriate for them to be here.

The Old Madam also thought so, and seeing that Ning Xueyan was sensible, she smiled and wanted to nod in agreement, but she was stopped by Ao Mingyu.

“Fifth Miss, please wait a moment. In a moment, I still have some matters to trouble several Young Ladies, and I may need to ask the three Young Ladies to solve my doubts.”

“Third Prince, is there anything that requires their help?” The Old Madam was also stunned for a moment and asked after a pause. She also didn’t think that Ao Mingyu had any serious matters related to Ning Xueyan and the others.

“Old Madam, don’t be in a hurry. Look at this first. Do you recognize it?” Ao Mingyu shook his hand, unhurriedly took out a piece of paper from his arms, unfolded it, and passed it to the Old Madam. Then he turned to Ning Xueyan and the others and said politely, “Several Young Ladies, also help to identify it. Have you seen this object?”

Seeming to fear that they wouldn’t understand for a moment, Ao Mingyu specifically added, “Just talk about that Young Lady from Cloud Shadow Courtyard, whether you have seen this.”

The Old Madam’s complexion turned white with a single sentence. She knew what happened in Cloud Shadow Courtyard; how could she not know? This was clearly the doing of Madam Ling, and the reason she stood by and watched was also because she favored the Xia Mansion’s good marriage. So she let Madam Ling mess around in the Backyard.

A Bitter Smile appeared on her face: “Third Prince, about the matter of Cloud Shadow Courtyard, it can be said that Ziying’s fate was bitter. First, she lost her father, then she lost her mother, and then she even lost herself. It’s also that our Duke’s Mansion didn’t discover it, which caused such a Disaster. Who could have imagined that a good Young Lady would die mysteriously in the courtyard.”

“At first, it was only said that she jumped into the lake and committed suicide. We originally thought that the mansion wasn’t unkind to her. Why would she be so unwilling to live? Now we know that she was harmed. A good Young Lady, how could she just die?” The Old Madam’s complexion revealed a bit of Sadness, and she wiped her eye corner with a handkerchief.

“Old Madam, please don’t say that. When Miss Ziying was here, our Duke’s Mansion treated her as a true Duke’s Mansion Young Lady. She had what other Young Ladies had. The Old Madam also said before that when she was a little older, she would find her a good marriage, and marry her with great Splendor. But who would have thought that such a thing would happen? I don’t know what kind of people Miss Ziying went outside to offend…Old Madam, don’t be so Sad. Because of this matter, your body has been Ill, and you can’t shed any more tears.”

Nurse Qin spoke cleverly from the side, directly portraying the Old Madam as a kind-hearted noblewoman, as if the reason Ning Ziying ended up in Death was entirely due to her own Improper Behavior. Ning Xueyan coldly watched, and a hint of Viciousness flashed in her Black Jade-like eyes.

The people of the Duke’s Mansion really treat her as one of their own, speaking as if it were a fact, as if the Duke’s Mansion was supporting her. She remembered that when she first came, the Steward clearly said that a large sum of money was directly sent into the Duke’s Mansion. The Steward also told her that with this money, the Duke’s Mansion would definitely treat her as a true Young Lady of the family.

If the Duke’s Mansion could accept her, that money would certainly not be a Few. But even so, after she came to the Mansion, in terms of food, clothing, and things Used, it was clearly not comparable to Ning Yuling and the others. Many times, she paid for it herself. Fortunately, her luggage was still abundant, and nothing bad happened.

But the servants in the Mansion, privately, all felt that her food and things Used were from the Duke’s Mansion. No one knew that what she ate and used were all her own, thinking that she was living under others’ roofs, relying on the Duke’s Mansion to give her alms. Therefore, she couldn’t even order someone to do something on Normal Days. And as the actual Controller of the Inner Courtyard of the Duke’s Mansion, the Old Madam was also Indifferent.

It further confirmed these Rumors. And now, after her death, they came to tell others that they treated her as a Young Lady of the Duke’s Mansion, which was truly a Disgraceful.

“That Miss Ziying really likes to go out?” The paper in Ao Mingyu’s hand didn’t completely reach the Old Madam’s hand after all, but instead stopped halfway.

“That’s not the case. It’s just that a young Young Lady might also feel Lonely for a moment. It’s also possible to sneak out to play. Originally, she came over after her mother’s Death, and she had been observing mourning. I heard that her mother had made an Agreement for her to observe mourning for three years, so she didn’t Participate in any banquets.”

The Old Madam’s hand had already reached out. At this time, Ao Mingyu didn’t pass the note over, which was rather Embarrassing for a moment, but immediately pretended to reach for the tea and, with a smile, glossed over the awkwardness just now.

“This Miss Ziying would also sneak out? Doesn’t the Old Madam ever care?” Ao Mingyu asked impassively, unable to tell what he meant.

“It’s not that I don’t care, but it’s not easy to care. After all, she’s a young Girl, and she’s from someone else’s family. Orphaned, it’s really Pitiful to see. Occasionally going out once, I just turn a blind eye.” The Old Madam sighed and said, “Originally, she was also a Gentle Girl, not the type to cause trouble, so I also let it go. Who knew that I had still Misunderstood…”

“Does Ning Ziying Miss look Beautiful?” Ao Chenyi’s fingers tapped on the Tabletop, and then he looked up and asked with a Meaningless Tone.

When this question was asked, before the Old Madam could answer, a hint of Wronged and Sadness had already appeared on Ning Qingshan’s face. She looked up with a pair of Watery Eyes, looking at Ao Mingyu. A hint of Tearful was faintly visible in her intention. Her Fiancé, in front of her face, asked about another woman’s beauty. Anyone would Feel Sad and Sad.

And Ning Qingshan’s feeling of Wronged and Endurance would even trigger a man’s Pity, but seeing Ao Mingyu’s Gentle gaze on Ning Qingshan’s face, she knew.

The Old Madam also didn’t expect Ao Mingyu to suddenly ask such a question. After a moment of daze, she immediately said, “That Ziying, she’s very Beautiful, and her Temperament is also very Good, she never disputes with others.”

Among the Old Madam’s three sentences, there were always a few sentences praising Ning Ziying, but soon after, she would turn the topic and lead other people’s thoughts to bad thoughts. This Meaning was easy to Understand: Ning Ziying was a woman who was one thing in front of others and another behind their backs, and she was not content with being at home. Although the Duke’s Mansion had taken great care of her, she still didn’t know how to be grateful and ran out of the Mansion, not knowing what she did.

Moreover, the saying of being Beautiful makes it even more difficult to explain.

A surge of Rage burned in Ning Xueyan’s Cold and Clear eyes. Her hands were tightly clenched into Fists. If she hadn’t suppressed herself, she would have almost raised her head to directly dispute with the Old Madam. She spoke more nicely than singing. All the Good was the Duke’s Mansion’s, and all the bad was her own. As for her final Death, in the Old Madam’s mouth, it was also Self-Inflicted.

It might also have something to do with her Complexion. In these words, there was a hint of Slander. A hint of Icy Cold Sneer welled up in her Watery Eyes. The Old Madam was of one mind with Madam Ling. One destroyed her Reputation behind her back, and the other continued to destroy her Reputation after her Death. These vicious and Selfish mother and daughter-in-law, if they weren’t from the same family, they wouldn’t enter the same gate.

“Several Young Ladies, do you know anything about this Ning Ziying Miss?” Ao Mingyu no longer looked at the Old Madam. His eyes flashed for a moment, and instead, he turned to Ning Qingshan and the others.

“Third Prince, when I went to the Nun’s Abbey, this Miss Ziying hadn’t yet entered the Mansion. I went for three years. Her arrival was also three years, which happened to be missed.” Ning Qingshan also heard some Problems at this moment. Hearing the question, she hurriedly replied in a Soft Voice, indicating that she had no Entanglement with this Ning Ziying, and also explained to Ao Mingyu that she had been in the Nun’s Abbey for three years.

As soon as she finished speaking, Ao Mingyu’s gaze towards her became increasingly Gentle.

“Third Prince, I rarely go out of Mingshuang Courtyard these few years. Speaking of it, Sister Ziying and you, we really haven’t met. After my mother’s Death, I came out of Mingshuang Courtyard. It seemed that at that time, Sister Ziying was already Dead.” Ning Xueyan had already restrained the Excited Anger in her Heart. She looked up. With a faint Sadness in her Beautiful Eyes, this was originally a Fact. Moreover, before she figured out Ao Mingyu’s reason for coming, she didn’t think it was necessary to say much.

It was just that Ao Mingyu’s thoughtful gaze fell on her face. What was the Meaning of this?

“Third Prince, I… I have seen Sister Ziying.” The Timidly sound naturally came from Ning Lingyun, but what she said seemed to be of little interest to Ao Mingyu. He didn’t respond to her words, but instead, he passed the paper in his hand to the Old Madam and pointed at a Mark on it.

“Old Madam, all of you, take a good look. Have you seen this?”

Seeing everyone crowding up to look, Ning Xueyan also crowded up. When she saw the Mark clearly, her eyes blurred, and her whole head went boom… Dazed!