Chapter 425   Implacable Hatred, and Madam Ling Made a Plan Again

Before they had gone much farther, they met Qingyu, who had brought Mother Chen to look for Ning Xueyan. Seeing that Ning Xueyan and Ning Zu’an were together, Mother Chen hesitated for a moment. She and Madam Ling planned to lure Ning Xueyan in first, and then let Ning Zu’an witness Madam Ling’s miscarriage. Then, whether she did it or not, Ning Xueyan would not be able to explain it.

“Qingyu, the Fifth Young Lady is talking with Marquis. Let us wait for a while, so we will not interfere with the affairs of the masters.” Mother Chen reached out to stop Qingyu, who was about to go over. Mother Chen said this with a smile.

“Mother Chen, didn’t you come to see my Young Lady? Is this not important? Did Madam Ling ask you to come here to tease my Young Lady?” Qingyu said coldly, as her face darkened.

Mother Chen was struck dumb by her question. Moreover, the undisguised disdain on Qingyu’s face and the lack of respect she had for Madam Ling, were like a slap in Mother Chen’s face. She had always been Madam Ling’s trusted subordinate and was one of the most influential people in the inner courtyard. She had never been mocked like this by a maid.

She forced a smile and said, “What are you talking about, Miss Qingyu? My Madam will not slight the Fifth Young Lady. She really wants to apologize to the Fifth Young Lady.”

“Since you sincerely want to apologize, you do not need to worry about getting in their way. And Mother Chen, remember that Madam Ling is not the Marchioness now. She is just a maid in name and a concubine in reality, so she does not deserve to be called a madam. You are doited, so you should remember it next time. Otherwise, if someone else finds out, they will think that our Marquis is dissatisfied with His Majesty’s order.”

After being scolded, Mother Chen’s face changed color, and became both spiteful and angry.

Qingyu rebuked her impolitely. She intentionally raised her voice, which attracted Ning Zu’an’s attention. He frowned and his face darkened. He walked toward them. He was dissatisfied with the emperor’s order; this was something that could not be said casually.

Ning Xueyan walked over with him.

“Marquis and Young Lady.” Qingyu, who had taken note of their arrival, hurriedly greeted them, when she saw Ning Zu’an and Ning Xueyan coming over. Only then did Mother Chen come to her senses and bowed to them.

“What is the matter?” Ning Zu’an asked, with a gloomy face. Ning Xueyan stood behind him and looked at Mother Chen. Although she kept her head low, Ning Xueyan could tell that she was anxious, as she kept kneading her hands. Ning Xueyan wore a cold sneer on her face. “So Madam Ling is trying to frame me again.”

“Marquis, Mother Chen said that Madam Ling is the Marchioness. I told Mother Chen that she should be careful about what she said. Otherwise, she will arouse others’ suspicions,” Qingyu said archly. She was no longer the timid little maid who had followed Ning Xueyan and shivered, because she was being bullied by others.

“If you address Madam Ling as such next time, you will be punished!” Ning Zu’an’s voice suddenly became sharper as he stared at Mother Chen coldly.

When Madam Ling’s scandal was exposed, the Lord Protector’s Manor had been rebuked again. Ning Zu’an put all the blame on Madam Ling and even disliked the people around Madam Ling. If Madam Ling had not been pregnant now, he would have sent her away and forbidden her to come back.

“Yes... yes, I know.” Being stared at by Ning Zu’an, Mother Chen immediately nodded, as her body trembled. She only hoped that Ning Zu’an would let her go now, and then leave first, so that she could talk to the Fifth Young Lady and try to trick her.

However, she was not as good as Ning Xueyan at scheming. Seeing Mother Chen gritting her teeth and not revealing her intention, Ning Xueyan, who stood behind Ning Zu’an, took the initiative to ask softly.

“Mother Chen, did you come here with Qingyu to look for me?”

Mother Chen thought that if she did not mention it, she would not ask about it!

“Yes... yes. Madam... Madam Ling wants to see the Fifth Young Lady to apologize to her. Madam Ling sincerely regrets what she did this time, and is asking the Fifth Young Lady to give her a chance. Otherwise, she will go to the Bright Frost Garden and kneel to apologize to the Fifth Young Lady.” Mother Chen stammered.

She did not mention Ning Zu’an at all. It seemed to concern Madam Ling and Ning Xueyan, and had nothing to do with Ning Zu’an at all. Ning Zu’an did not want to interfere with Madam Ling’s affairs now. He looked at Mother Chen and wanted to leave. But the next moment, he stopped.

“Father, shall we go and visit Madam Ling together? I heard that she has always been in poor health, and she is pregnant. If something bad happens to her, my grandmother will feel distressed.”

Ning Xueyan said this tactfully. She only mentioned Madam Dowager, instead of Ning Zu’an. Everyone in the manor knew how much Madam Dowager valued the offsprings. Now, Madam Dowager was in poor health, but if she knew that something had happened to the child in Madam Ling’s belly, it would be worse. So Ning Zu’an could not help, but stop.

“Let us go together!” Hearing this, Mother Chen lifted her face in shock and looked at Ning Xueyan in surprise. The two of them were going there together, and how could Madam Ling act?

“Father, shall we take this doctor with us? Maybe something bad could have happened to Madam Ling, because she has moved to another place,” Ning Xueyan asked lightly. She did not show too much intimacy or hatred, as if she was just suggesting this to Ning Zu’an, without any subjective emotion.

If one knew that Madam Ling had harmed his or her biological mother, they would not be happy. What Ning Xueyan did was the best.

Looking at Ning Xueyan, Ning Zu’an felt guilty for no reason. Although he did not say anything, he noticed the kindness in Ning Xueyan’s eyes. Madam Ming did not do him any harm, but he... was annoyed. He nodded to the doctor standing by the side, and then looked coldly at Mother Chen and said, “Lead the way.”

Madam Ling was in disgrace now, and the people around her were responsible too. Madam Ling’s affairs made Ning Zu’an feel ashamed to go out, and even His Majesty had rebuked him. He vented all his anger on Madam Ling, feeling that it was Madam Ling, the idiot, who brought about this situation.

So, Ning Zu’an did not ask where Madam Ling was locked up. It was Madam Dowager who had asked her people to move her there directly.

Hearing that the Marquis would go over with the Fifth Young Lady, Mother Chen was so anxious that she broke out in a cold sweat. How would it end if they went there together? Thinking of this, she stopped and opened her mouth. It seemed that Mother Chen wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Ning Xueyan.

“Mother Chen, why are you still waiting? Are you not in a hurry now?”

“Yes. I will show you the way.” Under the gaze of Ning Xueyan’s jet-black eyes, Mother Chen could not play any tricks. She only felt that Ning Xueyan seemed to be able to penetrate people’s hearts with her eyes. Her eyes were cold and looked a bit stern, which scared Mother Chen so much that she broke out in a cold sweat. She did not dare to say anything and hurriedly left.

“At best, I can act according to circumstances. Anyway, there will be a next time. Marquis can’t always be with Fifth Young Lady,” She thought. She did not dare to stop walking. She walked past Ning Zu’an and led the way, with fear. Qingyu nimbly followed Ning Xueyan.

Madam Ling lived in a remote place now. Madam Dowager hated her so much that she did not want to see her at all. So, she only sent someone to clean up a courtyard, which had been used to store miscellaneous items. Madam Ling lived there now. Except for Mother Chen, she did not ask anyone in Auspicious Clouds Courtyard to come over and serve her.

Therefore, the place looked desolate and decadent. When the wind blew, the sound of the branches rustling could be heard. It was so deserted that there was not a single person to be seen. Only the footsteps of Ning Zu’an and the others could be heard.

The askew courtyard door was in front of her. Mother Chen wanted to jump in through the door to send a message to Madam Ling first. She wanted to say that the Fifth Young Lady and Marquis were here together, and wanted to tell Madam Ling to be careful. However, when she was about to go inside, Qingyu, who was standing beside her, suddenly tripped on some debris and fell over.

Subconsciously, Mother Chen reached out her hand to break her fall. However, how could she stop a person from falling? Qingyu and Ning Xueyan fell toward the side of the broken door together, and the wood from the broken door scattered on one side. Mother Chen was at the bottom of the pile.

She was so old, and Qingyu was sitting directly on her waist, so she could not get up. She covered her waist with her hands, and her face turned pale, because of the pain.

“Qingyu, help Mother Chen up.” Ning Xueyan took two steps forward and instructed her. Ning Zu’an did not enter immediately. He stopped and looked at the ruined courtyard, with his hands clasped behind his back. He was speechless.

“Yes, I will get up right away.” Qingyu stood up in a flurry. She stepped on something again, and then she, who had just stood up, fell heavily again. Mother Chen, who tried hard to get up, fell to the ground again.

“Mother Chen, are you all right? Hurry up. Get up and sit over there. Don’t hurt your waist. Otherwise, you will be paralyzed.” Qingyu went to pull her up hurriedly. Hearing that she might be paralyzed, Mother Chen did not care about anything else. She tried her best to hold Qingyu’s hand and stand up. She covered her waist with one hand and began to moan, afraid that there was something wrong with her. Then, the rest of her life would be over.

Lanning took advantage of this opportunity to walk into the house with Ning Xueyan.

Since Mother Chen left, Madam Ling had been listening carefully, in the room. At this time, she seemed to hear something being knocked down outside, followed by a maid’s clear voice. Although she could not hear clearly, she thought that no one else would be here at this time, except for Ning Xueyan. So, she was immediately in high spirits.

She sat up suddenly from the bed and exerted too much strength. There was a pain in her stomach. Cold sweat immediately appeared on her forehead. She usually sat up and lay down carefully, afraid of inducing a miscarriage.

Footsteps could be heard by Madam Ling. Madam Ling got out of bed, clutching her belly with one hand, and walked to the door with a hint of ferocity in her slanting eyes. As long as Ning Xueyan stepped into this door, she would not be able to escape from this disaster...