Chapter 479: The Maidservant, Talking Nonsense

If it was at ordinary times, Old Madam would never have let Manager Ruan come in, but now she was heartbroken and particularly sensitive to porcelain. Without even thinking, she waved her hand and said, “Go, let her in. What’s the matter with the porcelain? Are there any other porcelain items in the mansion that were smashed by a cat?”

After saying this, she realized that the Third Prince was also present, but now she took back her words. It was really too obvious and she felt quite embarrassed.

Ao Mingyu smiled amiably and said, “Old Madam, just ask what’s going on. I have nothing to do anyway.”

Originally, he didn’t want to go to Ning Qingshan’s Courtyard. After passing Hanshan Temple and being slapped by Ao Chenyi, Ning Qingshan was in the room at the time and must have seen it all clearly. Thinking that he not only lost face in front of Ning Xueyan, but also let Ning Qingshan see it all, he also developed a bit of a grudge against Ning Qingshan.

Seeing her, it was as if he was reminded of this matter that made him lose face. Thinking back to that day, the reason why he made such a decision was also because of the meaning of Ning Qingshan’s words, saying that he wanted to take advantage of Ning Xueyan’s faults, so that after Ning Xueyan entered Prince Yi’s Mansion, she would have to do things for him.

At that time, he might have had some other thoughts that he couldn’t tell others, but now, thinking about it, he felt that it was all Ning Qingshan’s fault. If she hadn’t told him the benefits of doing so, how could he have lost face to such an extent, being slapped by Ao Chenyi and being scolded by Father Emperor in the Palace?

Even Mother Consort had criticized him a few words. When he arrived at the Duke’s Mansion, he heard that Ao Chenyi humiliated Ning Qingshan, but unfortunately, he couldn’t do anything. Not only couldn’t he do anything, but he also had to help Ao Chenyi cover up the lie, saying that those ornaments were what he wanted to give to Ning Qingshan. Being so miserable, Ao Mingyu’s anger kept surging up and down.

He knew that he couldn’t fall out with Ao Chenyi now, and moreover, he did make a mistake in this matter. If he really fell out because of this, would he still need the reputation he had worked hard to build? How could he still ascend to the throne of the Emperor in the future?

Therefore, he could only endure it, but this endurance was of course also for Ao Chenyi. Remembering the cause of the matter was entirely Ning Qingshan’s fault, the more he looked at Ning Qingshan, the more uncomfortable he felt. On that day, what Ning Qingshan said seemed to be all for him, now, thinking about it, was it really this meaning? Was Ning Qingshan really such a selfless person?

So, at this moment, he just sat still on one side, without saying a word.

Manager Ruan came in, first saluting the Third Prince, and then, after the masters saluted in order, she stood beside Old Madam and reported, “Previously, the maidservant of Luoyan Courtyard came to report that a wildcat had come to the Third Miss’s room, and several maidservants chased the wildcat and smashed the porcelain. I want the old servant to prepare some extreme porcelain for the Third Miss again.”

“The old servant really doesn’t dare to make the decision on this matter, so I came to ask Old Madam for instructions. The porcelain was all smashed, and the quantity was not small. As for those extreme porcelain, Old Madam previously let the Fifth Miss choose some porcelain, which should be in the Fifth Miss’s hands, or else the Fifth Miss would have to change the dowry list.”

Manager Ruan didn’t say much, but she was very orderly, especially pointing out that it was also a last resort to come to Old Madam’s Xiangfu Garden at this time, and she also said that Ning Qingshan wanted to let Ning Xueyan take porcelain from her dowry to give to her. The dowry was indeed not yet delivered, but the dowry list had already been drawn up, how could it be changed casually.

Ning Qingshan was so angry that she almost vomited blood. Old Madam was just saying that she wanted to move things from her place, and now she was saying that she also wanted to move Ning Xueyan’s dowry. Although this was indeed her original intention, she just wanted to take advantage of the Third Prince’s power to suppress Ning Xueyan and make Ning Xueyan suffer a silent loss.

How did she expect that this matter would actually break out? The previous matters could still be explained as an accident, but what about now! This was not only going to ruin her business, but also ruin her reputation!

Thoughts flashed through her mind. She didn’t bother to pretend to be pitiful, wiped away her tears, and hurriedly looked up and asked, “Manager Ruan, who said this? Who said that I wanted to change the Fifth Sister’s dowry?”

“It’s… it’s the maidservant Caifen from the Third Miss’s side who told the old servant. At the time, there were also other maidservants and old women in the room. If the Third Miss doesn’t believe it, you can ask.” Manager Ruan heard the question and hurriedly replied, and pointed to Caifen who was standing beside Ning Qingshan.

Ning Xueyan slightly frowned, and looked at Manager Ruan with some uncertainty.

“Third Older Sister’s maidservant is really amazing!” Ning Lingyun muttered in a low voice, as if she didn’t want others to hear, but at this time, the room became quiet, and this muttered remark became very conspicuous.

How dare a maidservant want things from the master’s dowry? Thinking of Ning Qingshan and Ning Xueyan’s private discord, Old Madam was trembling with anger. She was angry, hateful, and heartbroken. A surge of anger rushed up. She stared at Ning Qingshan fiercely, but couldn’t say anything.

But since she was angry now, she also had to consider the Third Prince sitting above, so this breath fell on Caifen on the side: “Come, pull this nonsense-talking maidservant out and give her ten more strokes.”

Ning Qingshan’s heart lurched, and she hurriedly pleaded with Old Madam, “Grandmother, perhaps this maidservant misunderstood my meaning. I just wanted to change a batch of porcelain casually. Please, Grandmother, forgive this insensible maidservant.”

Ning Qingshan looked kind and generous, although she said that the maidservant was insensible and had spread the wrong words, it was just a small mistake, she had forgiven her.

She didn’t have many people to use around her now, Nurse Luo was one, and Caifen was also considered one. Even Feilian was not considered a wholeheartedly devoted confidante. She couldn’t hurt another one because of this, and moreover, if something happened to the people around her, it would also chill the hearts of those who followed her.

So this plea, Ning Qingshan must make.

Caifen was so scared that she had already “thud” and knelt down. Hearing Ning Qingshan plead for her, she slightly relaxed, wiped the sweat on her forehead, and secretly looked at the Fifth Miss who was slightly frowning. She felt much more confident. In her feeling, the Third Miss was capable, the Third Miss was smart. Moreover, the Third Prince was here now, and she would certainly be able to preserve herself.

Moreover, she didn’t feel that many people had heard what she said. This time, with Ning Qingshan’s backing, she immediately relaxed, turned her head to Manager Ruan, and her voice became bright, “Manager Ruan, it’s not said like that either. That wildcat jumped in and ran around, we accidentally broke the porcelain. I asked Manager Ruan if there were any fine porcelain to replace them all for our young lady. As for other things, how dare I say it!”

She felt that there was nothing to it. She was just hinting at Manager Ruan, and she didn’t really speak directly. Generally speaking, this couldn’t be considered her crime. The evidence was clearly insufficient, but with the Third Prince here now, she didn’t believe that Old Madam would not give the Third Prince face and really make the young lady lose face.

As for the Fifth Miss, she was just a pretense. With the Third Miss and the Third Prince here, she couldn’t possibly get into trouble today no matter what.

Ning Zuan stood to the side, looking at Caifen with disgust. He had never paid attention to the maidservants in Ning Qingshan’s courtyard before, so he hadn’t noticed that there was such an arrogant and independent maidservant around Ning Qingshan. Although he didn’t particularly care about that purple-gold jade glaze, but he thought that if that room was indeed all the fine goods from Madam Ming’s dowry.

At the very least, it was worth tens of thousands of silver, and these tens of thousands of silver, in the mouth of a maidservant, were so light and airy. When did a maidservant actually dare to say such things, and still wanted to replace them with a room full of fine porcelain? He really thought that he had too much money to use, and could casually smash out tens of thousands of taels of silver.

For this adopted daughter, Ning Zuan actually didn’t have too much feeling, he just felt that she was intelligent and obedient. Her reputation outside was also good, and she was also respectful to him in the mansion. In addition, Old Madam repeatedly told him that Ning Qingshan was promising, and the Duke’s Mansion might have to rely on her in the future, so he paid a little attention to her.

Whatever was good, his biological daughter had it, and he didn’t forget her.

But now, he was increasingly feeling that this daughter he had adopted at the time had a problem. That incident in the study before had pricked him. No matter how he looked at it, it felt strange, and he always felt that there was a problem in it, but for a moment, he couldn’t find out what the problem was, as if he was really over-suspicious.

Ning Qingshan was still the gentle and charming Third Miss of the Duke’s Mansion, and there was no place where she was at odds.

But what was going on now? If he remembered correctly, this cunning servant was still Ning Qingshan herself who had found her from outside, and hadn’t even gone through the backyard, but was directly included in her courtyard.

For a moment, the disgust towards the maidservant, combined with the bad memories of the past, Ning Zuan’s face was ashen.

“Is this what you said to Manager Ruan at the time? So much porcelain was broken, and you just said these few words?” Ning Xueyan asked, as if Caifen should have echoed Manager Ruan even more, and been more direct.

How could Caifen admit this? Thinking that she had indeed said so much at the time, she immediately spoke even more righteously, “Yes, this is what your servant said to Manager Ruan at the time. Your servant really didn’t say anything else, just that the porcelain was broken, and wanted to replace it with a new batch, and let Manager Ruan hurry and change it for the Third Miss, for fear that if someone came to the Third Miss’s courtyard, they wouldn’t see a decent porcelain decoration and would lose the Duke’s Mansion’s face.”

Caifen’s words here were specially looking at the Third Prince, and the meaning was clear at a glance.

Thinking that the Third Prince had a fondness for his own young lady, he would certainly not let his own young lady be sad. At this time, he would certainly find an opportunity to stand up for his own young lady.

Ning Qingshan felt that it was not good as soon as she saw Caifen’s appearance, but before she could open her mouth to stop, Ning Zuan on the other side could not bear it any longer.

Hearing this maidservant talking so eloquently and talking nonsense, and also not knowing the severity of the situation and glancing at the Third Prince, Ning Zuan’s lungs were about to explode with anger, and the rage in his heart surged upwards. He slapped the table heavily: “The servant dares to bully the master, it is truly the servant bullying the master. Your young lady’s face is going to be completely lost by you all. Come, someone, pull this lowly girl down.”