Chapter 471: Ning Xueyan Returns To The Duke’s Mansion

Ning Xueyan originally wanted to go to Nurse Wang to ask, but unexpectedly, as soon as she went down the hillside, she met Ming Yuanhua bringing people over, saying that there were things from the palace to reward her, and asked her to return for a bit.

Hurriedly returning to the Ming Residence, the eunuch from the palace, in the Empress’ name, rewarded her with some things, and then left politely.

For a mysterious reward, not to mention that Ning Xueyan hadn’t done any good deeds recently, just look at the current situation of the Duke’s Mansion; it was already good that they hadn’t scolded her.

Moreover, even if there were to be a reward, this reward should have gone to the Duke’s Mansion; no matter what, Ning Xueyan was also the Duke’s Mansion’s young lady, so how did it get sent to the Ming Residence?

“Aunt, what do you think this means?” Ning Xueyan frowned, asking in confusion.

Madam Ming was helping to check the rewards from the palace on the side; there were indeed quite a few. She put down the bolt of fine satin in her hand: “Maybe the palace feels that your mansion has had so many troublesome matters, and is afraid that your marriage with Prince Yi will be ruined, so they are giving you face.” 【】

These words have a deep meaning; the conflict between Prince Yi and the Emperor, everyone could see it. If Prince Yi was not doing well, the Emperor would of course be the most willing. The Duke’s Mansion had already become a burden for Ning Xueyan; with a burdened Ning Xueyan marrying Prince Yi, was something the Emperor would be most delighted to see.

“You also don’t need to have any burden. Anyway, you, a woman, can’t make any decisions. Since the palace has rewarded you, then just accept it. It’s always good for you anyway.” Madam Ming sighed softly, reached out her hand and gently touched Ning Xueyan’s head, asking worriedly, “Didn’t you really hurt your body this time? Do you need to condition it? For girls, the body is the most important.”

“Aunt, rest assured, I’m really fine, I just got caught on a small tree branch, nothing else happened. Of course, the injury to the internal organs is also to avoid people’s eyes and ears.” Ning Xueyan liked this gentle and soft-spoken Aunt very much, and feeling the warmth of her palm, her heart also felt warm.

“The Imperial Physician from Prince Yi’s side, really said that at Prince Yi’s instruction?” Madam Ming asked again.

“Yes, Yan’er and Prince Yi discussed and decided on this, Aunt, just rest assured!” Ning Xueyan nodded, affirming it again and again.

Seeing Ning Xueyan so certain, the expression on Madam Ming’s face relaxed slightly: “Two Wives Simultaneously, although it is an honor, it actually puts you on the fire, but since Prince Yi could think of letting you show weakness with this method, it shows that Prince Yi is not as cold-blooded and ruthless as rumored, and is always protecting you.”

Madam Ming was truly worried about Ning Xueyan; for her, the so-called honor didn’t have too many benefits for Ning Xueyan. Instead, it made Ning Xueyan, before she even entered the Mansion, become a thorn in the side of Princess Xianyun. Princess Xianyun was the Principal Wife, and also someone from the Empress Dowager’s family. She also had a relationship with the Royal Family, with a distinguished identity. If they really confronted each other, Madam Ming was worried that Ning Xueyan would suffer losses.

Two Wives Simultaneously, the Duke’s Mansion’s Old Madam on that side was single-mindedly delighted, feeling that it gave the Duke’s Mansion the greatest face, but didn’t think about the hidden dangers below. It’s not that the Old Madam didn’t understand what was going on, it’s just that the Old Madam didn’t really care about her, and only treated her as a pawn to advance herself.

“Aunt, it’s alright now. I have internal injuries, and it’s possible to affect offspring. Princess Xianyun’s side will certainly be relieved.” Holding Madam Ming’s hand, Ning Xueyan smiled with implied meaning.

Madam Ming held her hand back and patted it, saying with comfort: “This is the best. Now the palace is rewarding you with things, probably because of this. You can rest assured and accept it. You’re about to get married. You can stay here for two more days and then go back. You are always the Duke’s Mansion’s daughter. It was already against the rules to stay here without Old Madam’s permission this time. If you stay any longer, it’s really not good.”

Originally, it was wrong for Ning Xueyan to stay in another mansion before getting married, but because of what happened at Hanshan Temple, for a moment everyone was on Ning Xueyan’s side, feeling that the Duke’s Mansion was coercing this Fifth Miss too much. It was also appropriate to go out and stay for two days, but if she stayed any longer, it would really not be very good.

“Aunt, I know, I will go back tomorrow.” Ning Xueyan also knew this principle, and moreover, she really had many things to do, some things with embroidery work, as well as other things. The days to come would be very busy. The reason why she deliberately pretended to faint and came to the Ming Residence was to let people see the Old Madam’s lack of kindness and deliberately make the impact of this matter bigger.

Now the goal was achieved, of course she had to return to the Mansion; too much is as bad as too little, it’s time to stop.

The matter at Hanshan Temple would be ending soon, the following matters would all be hosted by Ming Yuanhua. Ning Xueyan only needed to go up the mountain to worship on the last day.

For the next period of time, she could no longer leave the mansion; she had to devote herself to preparing for marriage.

So before returning to the Duke’s Mansion, Ning Xueyan specially went outside to look at the shop she had chosen. The shop had already been renovated almost completely. Apart from a small part of the goods made by Ning Xueyan herself, the rest had all been delivered, and they were waiting for the grand opening in a few days.

Ning Xueyan took a look, felt very satisfied, and then still entrusted Nurse Han to manage it. She then returned to the Duke’s Mansion after lunch the next day.

As soon as she arrived at the Mansion Gate, she found Nurse Qin already standing there. Seeing the Ming Residence’s carriage coming over, she hurried over to lift the curtain and asked Ning Xueyan to get out of the carriage.

“Fifth Miss, you’re back! The Old Madam has been waiting for you for a long time. These two days, the Old Madam hasn’t slept well, just worried about the Fifth Miss. Now it’s good, the Fifth Miss is finally back!” Nurse Qin smiled, calling her “Old Madam” in every sentence, as if Ning Xueyan was the Old Madam’s most cherished granddaughter, with a face full of enthusiasm.

“How is Grandmother’s health? That day I fainted, when I woke up I was at Uncle’s Mansion. Today I’m finally feeling a little better. I heard that Grandmother’s health was not good, so I immediately came back to see Grandmother.” This was at the Main Entrance, Nurse Qin was expressing the Old Madam’s care, Ning Xueyan naturally couldn’t let her succeed.

These two days, the Old Madam would send people over every day to ask her to return, saying that the Old Madam’s health was not good.

Everyone knew that this so-called discomfort was just an excuse, especially yesterday when the reward from the palace was sent to the Ming Residence, it was even like slapping the Duke’s Mansion’s face. The Old Madam immediately sent two or three old women over, and told the meaning to Ning Xueyan, making her understand that it was wrong to stay in the Ming Residence at this time.

Of course, Ning Xueyan didn’t plan to conceal this matter for the Old Madam. On one hand, the Old Madam was coercing Ning Xueyan to come back from the Ming Residence, and on the other hand, she wanted to put on a show, expressing her care.

Sure enough, Nurse Qin’s complexion became embarrassed, and she didn’t dare to show off the Old Madam’s kindness at the doorway anymore, immediately smiled and invited Ning Xueyan inside.

The group went together to the Old Madam’s Xiangfu Garden.

Arriving at the Old Madam’s place, the Old Madam, of course, put on another act, with red eyes expressing that Ning Xueyan had been wronged, and repeatedly stated that the future matters of Ning Ziyan and Ning Yuling had nothing to do with the Duke’s Mansion. Even if they were married to the Xia Mansion, then they were people of the Xia Mansion, and they were not allowed to return to the Duke’s Mansion even if nothing was wrong.

And she also specially said that Ning Ziyan was now only Xia Yuhang’s Concubine, also to let Ning Xueyan vent her anger. The matter at Hanshan Temple, the Old Madam connected it in this way, and naturally thought that Ning Ziyan and Ning Yuling should have plotted against Ning Xueyan. The middle-aged woman’s mouth was not tight, and it was known after one question.

But the Old Madam couldn’t publicize this matter either. Ning Xueyan’s surname was Ning, and Ning Yuling’s and their surnames were also Ning. The same surname couldn’t be written twice. Others all knew that they were the Duke’s Mansion’s young ladies. Although everyone now felt that Ning Yuling was arrogant and coercive, it was still better than her setting a trap and harming Ning Xueyan.

So, saying this, also meant that the Duke’s Mansion was not standing on Ning Ziyan’s side.

Some things everyone knew in their hearts, Ning Xueyan also expressed on the surface that she would no longer pursue the matter. After saying a few words, she claimed that her body was not well, and the Old Madam of course let her return to Mingshuang Courtyard to rest.

Returning to Mingshuang Courtyard, Qingyu had already been waiting there. Seeing Ning Xueyan, there was another round of sadness and grief. Like Ning Xueyan, Qingyu’s injuries weren’t serious, and moreover, Qingyu’s body was better than Ning Xueyan’s. She had long since recovered this time. Seeing with her own eyes that Ning Xueyan was also safe, Qingyu’s heart finally relaxed.

After washing and resting in Mingshuang Courtyard, an old woman came, saying that Ning Zuan asked the Fifth Miss to go to the study to speak.

Although Ning Xueyan didn’t know why Ning Zuan was looking for her at this time, she still nodded, and followed Lan Ning to go to Ning Zuan’s study with the old woman.

The boy servant at the study doorway saw that it was Ning Xueyan, and asked her to go straight in. Ning Xueyan paused slightly at the doorway, and then looked at another boy servant standing at the courtyard entrance, not speaking, and looked at the window of the inner chamber with unclear meaning, before stepping in.

In the study, Ning Zuan frowned, watching his fifth daughter slowly enter, his eyes complex, flickering and uncertain.

This daughter, since the time she was born, he hadn’t liked her very much, and then he had even more neglected her. But unexpectedly, she still had the opportunity to soar, and the other two daughters, who were originally raised with such gentleness, had instead fallen to such a state, which was something he had never thought of.

Ning Xueyan entered, performing a respectful salute: “Greetings, Father!”

“Sit!” Ning Zuan waved his hand, and said with a solemn face, his manner unclear.

Ning Xueyan nodded, and sat down on a chair below him. Before, when she was at the Ming Residence, this “Father” hadn’t asked any questions, of course, he hadn’t inquired about any injuries either. Unexpectedly, as soon as she returned to the Mansion, he had news here, and immediately called her over.

The meaning of this, wasn’t what a father should do to care for his own daughter.

“How is your body? Are you alright?” Ning Zuan sized up Ning Xueyan’s face for a moment, and seeing her complexion as pale as ever, he couldn’t help but frown. This body, since childhood, had a poor foundation, and now it was said that she had injured her internal organs again. After entering Prince Yi’s Mansion, he was afraid that it would be difficult to give birth to offspring.

“Thank you for Father’s concern, Yan’er’s injuries are not a problem anymore, it’s just that I need to recuperate for a period of time.” Ning Xueyan spoke gently, her long and thick eyelashes blinked, bringing a faint, cold mockery. If these words were spoken by another “father”, it would certainly be sincere care for his children.

But these words were spoken by Ning Zuan, and moreover, the object of his words was her. Ning Xueyan couldn’t help but feel mockery. Ning Zuan had always been the loving father of Ning Ziyan and Ning Yuling. When had she ever been worthy of his greetings?

Ning Zuan would care about her, this made her feel ridiculous from the bottom of her heart. Offering kindness without reason, there must be a plot.