Chapter 44: An Extra Phoenix Hairpin
Ning Yuling first heard that she and Ning Xueyan were in the same situation, her heart jumped. Now, hearing that she could still get a Phoenix Hairpin, she immediately looked up at Noble Consort Ya in surprise, her eyes raised, and joy was uncontained. Then, she turned her head and glanced at her with a proud look, feeling great joy in her heart.
A Phoenix Hairpin is not something that an ordinary person can wear!
Only women of the royal family can be called a phoenix. Since Noble Consort Ya has bestowed such a Phoenix Hairpin, she must be interested in herself, and wants to betroth herself to be the Third Prince’s Consort.
The Old Madam was also so happy that she couldn’t close her mouth. A big stone in her heart slowly landed. She hadn’t expected that regarding Ning Yuling’s matter, Noble Consort Ya didn’t even ask. How could this not make the Old Madam happy? Previously, she had specifically let Ning Yuling dress beautifully to give Noble Consort Ya a good impression.
The palace maids presented the jewelry, and the brocade was placed one by one on the tabletop, gorgeous and noble!
“Eh, why does she also have a Phoenix Hairpin?” Ning Yuling was gloating and looking at the reward on her side. Suddenly, she turned her head and saw that Ning Xueyan’s jewelry box also had a Golden Phoenix Hairpin. Although it couldn’t compare to hers, it was obvious at a glance that it was not an ordinary item, and she immediately couldn’t help but exclaim.
She felt hatred in her heart, that this little bitch was also worthy of getting a Phoenix Hairpin.
“I think the palace servants brought out an extra Phoenix Hairpin. Well, this Phoenix Hairpin will be given to the Fifth Miss!” Noble Consort Ya casually waved her hand, as if she didn’t care.
The palace servants gave out an extra Phoenix Hairpin. This kind of Phoenix Hairpin, how could you just give it out if you wanted to? Ning Xueyan secretly sneered in her heart, but didn’t show it on her face. She took two steps back, bent over and respectfully saluted: “Thank you, Noble Consort Ya, for the reward. However, this Phoenix Hairpin, your servant cannot accept it. I dare not accept it.”
She hadn’t been trying to be the Third Prince’s Concubine. Why should she accept this Phoenix Hairpin? This Phoenix Hairpin, at a glance, showed it was of a lower rank than Ning Yuling’s. One was the Principal Wife and the other was the Concubine. The status of the Phoenix Hairpin was thus determined. She hadn’t expected Noble Consort Ya to say nothing on the surface, but to bestow the Phoenix Hairpin. If she accepted the Phoenix Hairpin, then the words couldn’t be made clear!
She actually dared to refuse her mother’s Phoenix Hairpin, the Third Prince’s complexion was slightly displeased!
Although she had heard before that she didn’t want to marry into the royal family, when the opportunity was truly placed before her, she actually pushed it away. How could this not make the Third Prince, who had always been high and mighty, and was admired by countless girls in the inner chamber, his self-esteem greatly hurt? His complexion was somewhat not very good, and he lowered his head and played with the folding fan in his hand, without saying a word.
The Old Madam also understood at this time, and hurriedly followed suit to decline: “Noble Consort Ya is really looking up to this child. She wouldn’t dare to accept such a precious thing.”
Hearing this, Noble Consort Ya’s gaze turned slightly on the Golden Phoenix Hairpin before she suddenly remembered: “Oh, I was negligent. Come, change a Golden Hairpin for the Fifth Miss.”
The palace maid immediately took down that Phoenix Hairpin and replaced it with an ordinary Phoenix Hairpin.
Everything seemed to be just a misunderstanding, and the clouds dispersed.
Ning Xueyan knew that Noble Consort Ya had truly taken an interest in her. Ning Xueyan knew her own situation. With her sickly appearance now, no family would like to marry someone like her. Who knew if she wouldn’t be able to hold on for a few days? That would truly be an unlucky and inauspicious thing.
Moreover, even if she were a Concubine, the Third Prince’s Concubine was also an extremely noble status.
Why did Noble Consort Ya single out herself, this sickly person, and even repeatedly hint to the Old Madam? Was it because she was Madam Ming’s daughter, and Noble Consort Ya had secretly come to see her mother before? Was this private friendship good? If the private friendship was good, why, when her mother died, didn’t she send someone to pay respects? Could it be, she had other thoughts…
After rebirth, she habitually considered things from a bad perspective. The tragedy of the previous life told her that some things could originally find clues!
Noble Consort Ya and the Third Prince left not long after, Ning Yuling was also sent away by the Old Madam, and Ning Xueyan was left behind. Under the light, the Old Madam’s complexion flickered, bright one moment and dark the next, with more coldness. Ning Xueyan stood in place, eyes on the nose, nose on the heart, and lowered her head without speaking.
“Do you want to enter the Third Prince’s Mansion?” The Old Madam asked slowly, her eyes flashed with light and she glanced at Ning Xueyan, staring at her intently.
“Yan’er does not want to!” Ning Xueyan said with determination, and looked up respectfully at the Old Madam: “Grandmother, Yan’er just now heard the meaning of Noble Consort Ya, but Yan’er really does not want to marry the Third Prince.”
“Oh, why? Since ancient times, marrying into the royal family brings wealth and glory. Moreover, with the Third Prince’s identity, such glory is said to be even more, even if you’re a Concubine, it’s said that there will be great wealth in the future, are you really willing to give it up?” The Old Madam’s words were not clear, but Ning Xueyan understood.
If the Third Prince went further, that would be another world. Those who followed him before, whether Principal Wife or Concubine, even an unpresentable concubine, would all have a huge turnaround, and what they could enjoy wouldn’t just be a little bit of wealth and glory.
Ning Xueyan respectfully and softly said: “Grandmother, this matter is not something that a daughter should say, but since Grandmother specially left Yan’er to ask, Yan’er will not conceal it. The Third Prince and Second Sister had already made a marriage agreement, and Second Sister also favors the Third Prince, Yan’er does not want to be the stick that breaks up the mandarin ducks, and we sisters are both Direct Daughters of the Duke’s Mansion, and our status is not low either. If we both marry into the Prince’s Mansion, it will only weaken the Duke’s Mansion’s reputation. Moreover, if the Third Prince…this doesn’t necessarily have to be on the same tree!”
Ning Xueyan paused later, looking sincerely at the Old Madam, the words were unfinished, but in the end she nodded, every word and every sentence were for the sake of others, but it also showed that if the Third Prince’s affairs were not going well, the entire Duke’s Mansion might be dragged into the vortex. It was not easy to escape by marrying one Direct Daughter, marrying two was even more like being tied to the same boat.
In the struggle for the throne, before success, no one can say success. Moreover, now who holds power over the court is His Royal Highness, Prince Yi, who is ruthless and cold-blooded. That one is not easy to provoke.
The Old Madam was startled, and her sharp gaze looked at Ning Xueyan in astonishment. After a while, she was speechless, not expecting that this most inconspicuous Fifth Young Lady would actually have this kind of knowledge, how could this not shock the Old Madam’s heart? Her words were not clear, and Ning Xueyan’s words were also not clear, but everyone’s meaning was matched, and they stopped at the point.
“It’s hard for you to have such thoughts in the inner chamber.” After a long time, the Old Madam sighed, and the expression on her face became more gentle. Ning Xueyan’s misgivings were exactly the Old Madam’s misgivings. Before things were clear, she would never let her son put the entire Duke’s Mansion at stake.
“Yan’er doesn’t dare!” Ning Xueyan softly said, and there was no hint of impetuousness in her eyes. She was completely unlike those young ladies from aristocratic families who blushed and their hearts jumped when they saw the Third Prince. She was elegant and distant. Even when Noble Consort Ya bestowed the Phoenix Hairpin just now, she blocked it back with politeness. It seemed she really didn’t want to marry into the Third Prince’s Mansion with Ning Yuling.
“Alright, go back and rest! You are also tired today, your Second Sister’s temperament is impatient, some words are rash, but unintentional, you, as a younger sister, should also forgive her.” This time, the Old Madam’s face had more sincere smiles, waved her hand, and specially asked the maidservants and old women to send Ning Xueyan’s reward to her.
The material she got, although the material was very good, but the colors were all plain and elegant, it seemed to be taking care of her mother’s mourning.
The people brought by Noble Consort Ya were many, and they occupied three courtyards. Fortunately, they knew she was coming early, so the temple had already left these courtyards in the middle of the temple. The Third Prince didn’t go to his own courtyard, but followed Noble Consort Ya. After entering the room and sitting down, the Third Prince’s expression was very unhappy.
“Why? Do you really want that sickly person?” Noble Consort Ya saw that her son was unhappy, and suddenly smiled. She called for someone to serve tea, and then had them leave.
“Mother Consort, Ning Yuling is arrogant and overbearing, a complete hag. I don’t want her. You didn’t see what she did in the temple before. Not only did she beat and scold her own sister, but also called her a little bitch, and repeatedly cursed people, all of them are filthy words. Such a woman, how can she be worthy of being my Principal Wife.”
The Third Prince said with displeasure, took the tea and drank it, and inexplicably remembered how Ning Yuling beat and scolded Ning Xueyan. That woman, in a plain skirt and plain clothes, was still calm and composed, and it could be seen at a glance that her temperament was extremely virtuous, and she was a suitable candidate for the Principal Wife. She was a hundred times better than Ning Yuling’s hag-like appearance.
He had inquired before, and she was extremely disliked in the Duke’s Mansion. Could it be that the reason she refused was also because of the Duke’s Mansion’s meaning? Thinking of this, the Third Prince’s heart became hotter, thinking that her disposition was pure and kind, and she was so delicate and lovely, that it was really making people feel uneasy.
“Mother Consort, how about marrying Ning Xueyan as the Principal Wife?” He turned his head and said to Noble Consort Ya.
“No!” Noble Consort Ya’s face darkened, and she directly refused.
“Why?” The Third Prince couldn’t help but ask.
“Why, do I still need to say? You wouldn’t have really fallen in love with that girl, would you? Looking at her, she won’t have many years to live, maybe she won’t even have the chance to marry, how can such a woman continue your offspring? Moreover, she has nothing, what good is it for you to marry her?”
Noble Consort Ya said coldly.
Actually, the Third Prince understood all of this, and also understood that the possibility of marrying her as the Principal Wife was not high. A Direct Daughter born by a Concubine, being a Concubine was still possible, but if she were to be his Principal Wife, that would be too low. Marrying Ning Yuling was not only for the sake of the person, but also for the power behind her.
One was the favored daughter, and the other was the unfavored daughter. What was at stake was also Ning Zuan’s attitude. How could the Third Prince not be clear about the intricacies?
“Just now, the report came that the assassination failed again. You still have the mind to think about these love affairs at this time. Rest assured, if possible, Mother Consort will definitely arrange for Ning Xueyan to be your Concubine. Doesn’t the Duke’s Mansion not want to marry their two daughters to you? If this daughter of theirs really can’t get married, they wouldn’t be so proud.”
Noble Consort Ya said with a cold expression. The Old Madam’s repeated refusal of her just now had already made her angry. At this time, there were no outsiders present, and there was no need to conceal it anymore. She could see the Old Madam’s thoughts very clearly. With Ning Xueyan’s talent and appearance, she could indeed have married very well originally, but it was a pity that sickly body, and no support from her maternal family, was a hard injury.
Moreover, today she deliberately let Ning Xueyan come, and also said so many words, and also knew that the Old Madam wouldn’t agree, but she still did it. It was originally to make that hot-tempered Second Miss of the Duke’s Mansion mind. This Second Miss was definitely not an easy one, and there would definitely be actions, and she only needed to watch the show from the side.
Or she could give Ning Xueyan a helping hand when she was on the verge of despair…
Of course, these were not her main goals. The daughter-in-law she had chosen, how could it be these two people? It was just that the situation was not clear now, and it was just a transition.
“Mother Consort will make the decision on this matter. This child will go and handle the affairs first.” Upon hearing that the attempt failed again, the Third Prince rubbed his eyebrows, stood up, put Ning Xueyan’s matter aside for now. This was already the fifth wave of people he had sent out, and none of them had harmed Ao Chenyi in any way. If this continued, the personnel he had secretly trained would not be enough!
“See if there are any clues left, and handle everything cleanly!” Noble Consort Ya said coldly.
“This child knows.” The Third Prince turned and left with big steps. The room became quiet, and only Noble Consort Ya sat quietly under the lamp, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“Madam, would you like to bathe and rest?” A woman around thirty years old knocked on the door and walked in, asking.
“Okay.” Noble Consort Ya nodded, and seeing that it was already late, she would also be visited by the Madam early tomorrow morning, so she nodded.
A group of palace maids came in, holding the scented towels used for bathing. They went into the inside with Noble Consort Ya, where the water had already been prepared. Under the service of the palace maids, she took off her clothes and went into the water.
