Chapter 431: This Matter Can’t Be Rushed

【 Moreover, there is Prince Yi, whose attitude is unclear. Since the matter of exchanging the jade scepters, Old Madam dares not say that Prince Yi doesn’t care about Ning Xueyan at all.

But if Ning Huaiyuan is not registered under Madam Ming’s name, he will not be able to get the position of Young Master of the Duke’s Mansion, which is what Old Madam had long felt was prepared for Ning Huaiyuan.

Madam Ming is already dead. If Ning Huaiyuan wants to be registered under Madam Ming’s name, he certainly needs to get Ning Xueyan’s approval, letting Ning Xueyan act as her mother’s representative. Drinking the tea offered by Ning Huaiyuan is considered formally recognizing Ning Huaiyuan, and then using the identity of Madam Ming’s son, the eldest son, to obtain the status of the Duke’s heir, and the matter will naturally be taken for granted.

Originally, Old Madam felt this was not difficult. As long as she slightly showed some meaning, Ning Xueyan would dare not disobey. 】 But, unfortunately, the current facts are completely different from what she thought. Old Madam even felt that Ning Xueyan knew her own idea, so she would always mention the key points.

Her attitude was neither soft nor hard, which rather made her unable to figure out if Ning Xueyan really understood her meaning, and she was temporarily in a state of suspicion and couldn’t make up her mind.

“Old Madam, a note from Ming Residence has come, asking Fifth Miss to go to Hanshan Temple to open the ceremony for Madam Ming.” An old woman suddenly ran in from outside and respectfully presented a note.

“What?” Old Madam’s complexion changed, and she asked urgently, her gloomy complexion suddenly looking difficult.

The old woman was startled and dared not conceal it. She quickly replied, “Old Madam, it’s a note from Ming Residence. They said they have held a religious ceremony for Madam Ming at Hanshan Temple and are now specially inviting Fifth Miss to open the ceremony for Madam Ming.”

This kind of opening ceremony naturally requires one’s own biological flesh and blood. Madam Ming had no other flesh and blood besides Ning Xueyan.

Old Madam’s hand softened, and the walking stick in her hand almost couldn’t support her. Her body fell forward. Ning Xueyan was on the side, and hurriedly reached out to support Old Madam, and then Old Madam’s body stabilized.

“You… your mother wants to open the ceremony?” Old Madam’s complexion was almost equivalent to the bottom of a pot, and her eyes were almost as if they were poisoned, staring at Ning Xueyan. This word almost jumped out of her mouth word by word. If she knew that this matter was caused by Ning Xueyan’s involvement, she would not forgive Ning Xueyan.

Originally, Old Madam had the intention to minimize Madam Ling’s matter. Madam Ling had committed a crime and was demoted to concubine. This matter could be a fact, but it was best to spread it as little as possible. The goal was to suppress the scandal within the smallest scope. This was of course for Ning Huaiyuan. As long as the matter didn’t become known to everyone, Ning Huaiyuan would be registered under Madam Ming’s name.

Then Ning Huaiyuan would be considered Madam Ming’s son. As for the mistakes committed by Madam Ling, since Ning Xueyan could admit Ning Huaiyuan on behalf of Madam Ming, it showed that Madam Ling’s matter had nothing to do with Ning Huaiyuan. Ning Huaiyuan must be a good one, otherwise Ning Xueyan wouldn’t have accepted him on behalf of Madam Ming.

Since he is good, and he inherits Madam Ming’s incense, no matter which aspect is considered, this heir’s position can’t be avoided. The Palace also can’t bring this up again. Since the aggrieved party didn’t say anything, and they all felt that Ning Huaiyuan was good, then it must be good. Moreover, when Madam Ling framed Madam Ming, Ning Huaiyuan was still a child who didn’t understand anything and couldn’t possibly get involved.

Therefore, Old Madam would be anxious to call Ning Xueyan over, using both soft and hard tactics to make Ning Xueyan admit this matter. Unfortunately, Ning Xueyan unexpectedly didn’t yield to either soft or hard tactics, and moreover, she mentioned that Madam Ling not only framed Madam Ming but also harmed Madam Ming’s life. Moreover, not only Ning Xueyan knows these things.

When Old Madam was at a loss, she heard that Ming Residence unexpectedly made this matter public. How could she not be annoyed? At this moment, she naturally put the blame on Ning Xueyan. As long as Ning Xueyan dared to say the word “no”, she would definitely not let her have any benefits. If Ning Xueyan really didn’t care about the Duke’s Mansion at all, then after marrying into Prince Yi’s Mansion, the Duke’s Mansion would not only not have any benefits, but perhaps there would be harm.

For people who harm the Duke’s Mansion, Old Madam will never be soft-hearted.

“Why did Uncle and the others suddenly do a religious ceremony for Mother?” Ning Xueyan, as if she hadn’t seen Old Madam’s grim gaze, turned to the maidservant on the side and asked. This meant, of course, that she didn’t know at all. For someone like Old Madam, of course, she couldn’t be pushed too hard, otherwise she would really be desperate.

“This servant doesn’t know either. It seems, it seems like they said it was an Imperial Decree or something.” The maidservant was scared by Old Madam’s pale face and trembled as she answered.

The Imperial Decree, it was unexpectedly an Imperial Decree. Old Madam’s whole body softened, and the viciousness in her eyes disappeared completely. She only felt that she had no strength in her whole body, her head was splitting with a headache. She weakly waved her hand at Ning Xueyan, “Go, go and do a good religious ceremony for your mother.”

Since this matter has now obtained the Imperial Decree, how could Old Madam dare to defy the Emperor’s meaning? Moreover, since the Emperor has also come forward, the matter of registering Ning Huaiyuan under Madam Ming’s name must certainly be impossible. Otherwise, this crime of deceiving the Emperor would not be avoided. Thinking carefully about this so-called sacrifice, this meaning is truly extraordinary.

“Grandmother, I will help you go in to rest first, your complexion doesn’t look so good, but have you been tired lately? Do you want Yan’er to ask a doctor to come and see you? Now that the Duke’s Mansion is like this, if Grandmother is also sick, how worried will Father be?”

Ning Xueyan was of course not in a hurry to leave at this time. She supported Old Madam’s elbow with one hand and pretended to help her to the inner room to rest.

“No need, Fifth Young Lady, offer a stick of incense for Grandmother to your mother. It was always because I didn’t discover Madam Ling’s viciousness at the time that your mother was bullied, causing your mother to die of sorrow.” Old Madam said weakly. Of course, she still avoided talking about Madam Ling’s poisoning. Thinking that Ming Feiyong, at least still cared about his aunt, didn’t reveal everything, and her tone relaxed a few points.

Seeing Fifth Young Lady like this, she is not without affection for the Duke’s Mansion, but for Madam Ling, it seems there is no room for relaxation. However, Madam Ling killed someone’s mother, and it also seems that they are really not on speaking terms. Thinking about it, it’s still Madam Ling’s stupidity. Why does she make it obvious? Now it has become this state.

When she knew that the one who entered the door was a bad omen, she would never let that bitch into the mansion. Now the Duke’s Mansion is no longer human, inside and out. Old Madam at this time really hated Madam Ling, and she felt that everything was caused by Madam Ling. She couldn’t wait to trample Madam Ling to death under her feet right now.

“Grandmother, are you really okay?” Ning Xueyan asked with concern when she saw that Old Madam persisted.

“It’s okay, go.” Old Madam waved her hand again. Her body leaned back weakly, and her eyes closed, looking like she didn’t want to speak. Xiangmiao, who was on the side, quickly took out a cushion and placed it under her.

Ning Xueyan saw that Old Madam closed her eyes, knowing that she really didn’t want to speak, smiled at Xiangmiao who was standing on the side, and then quietly retreated. She left with Lan Ning, and in her heart she admired her own uncle. Her uncle’s actions were indeed quick, and he had even obtained an Imperial Decree. Regardless of whether this decree was verbal, but as long as the Emperor spoke, it was an Imperial Decree.

The things on her side were also already packed. Of course, at this time, she couldn’t show any signs of urgency, so she told the maidservant to reply to the people from Ming Residence outside. She pretended to go back to Mingshuang Courtyard first, and prepared to pack up and then go to Hanshan Temple. No matter what idea Old Madam wanted to have about her mother, with this performance, Ning Huaiyuan would wish in vain to be registered under her mother’s name.

Old Madam had experienced many things, and two dynasties. How could she not know the crime of deceiving the Emperor? This crime is unforgivable, and it would affect the entire family, with nine generations suffering the aftermath. The conflict between Madam Ming and Madam Ling was no longer just a conflict in the backyard of the Duke’s Mansion. However, seeing Ning Zuan being punished from the Imperial Court, Old Madam knew that she had originally wanted to exploit the loopholes, but now she found that there were no loopholes to exploit.

“Grandmother, are you well? Is your body alright? My matter… my matter is really not important, as long as Grandmother is well, even if I have nothing, I won’t care.” The beaded curtain in the inner room was lifted, and Ning Huaiyuan walked out, and fell to his knees behind Old Madam, holding Old Madam’s hands with both hands, with a look of despair on his face.

“Yuan’er!” Looking at his most beloved grandson in such a miserable state, Old Madam’s nose ached, her eye sockets turned red, and she embraced Ning Huaiyuan and cried, “It’s all your vicious mother. So stupid, why did she cause such a thing? How can Grandmother and your father do?”

Old Madam said this, on the one hand, of course, for the future of the Duke’s Mansion, and on the other hand, it was also because of Ning Huaiyuan himself. Speaking of which, Ning Huaiyuan was not some rake. He was intelligent and clever, and he also studied well. Until now, he didn’t have any concubines around him, and he was clean. In the Imperial Capital, he was considered a truly promising Young Master of a Noble Family. Moreover, he had grown up in front of Old Madam since childhood, and his feelings for Old Madam were also special.

It can be said that Old Madam was very satisfied with Ning Huaiyuan. Although Ning Huaijing was also a descendant of the Duke’s Mansion, in Old Madam’s eyes, how could a person raised by a concubine compare to a graceful Young Master raised in front of her? They were not at the same level at all. Therefore, even after Ning Huaijing entered the mansion, Old Madam and Ning Zuan never thought of letting Ning Huaijing inherit the position.

But unfortunately, now, this most satisfying candidate has lost all opportunities. Old Madam, seeing Ning Huaiyuan at this moment, was filled with sorrow and wept loudly.

Although he was a man, Ning Huaiyuan’s eyes also turned red.

“Grandmother, you can’t cry so much, it will hurt your body. If Big Brother doesn’t have the opportunity now, it doesn’t mean he won’t have it later, Grandmother, this matter can’t be rushed.” The beaded curtain was lifted again, and Ning Qingshan came out from inside, went to Old Madam’s side, and began to persuade Old Madam.

Xiangmiao was a person who knew how to read people’s eyes. Seeing that the Eldest Young Master and the Third Young Lady had both come out, she immediately retreated. Although she was also Old Madam’s confidante, but she was different from Nurse Qin. She had not gone through many things together with Old Madam, so at this time, she carefully retreated outside the door and closed the door for them, and then she guarded the door outside.

When Fifth Young Lady came just now, the Eldest Young Master and the Third Young Lady hid in the inner room, and then hid inside and eavesdropped on the conversations between Fifth Young Lady and Old Madam. This kind of thing is, after all, not glorious. This is not something that a graceful Aristocratic Young Master and a Young Lady from a Good Family should do, but unfortunately, Old Madam didn’t say anything, and the Eldest Young Master and the Third Young Lady also looked as if it was only natural.

Xiangmiao felt that she was a maidservant, and this kind of thing, really was not something she should think about.