Chapter 481   The Secret Affairs in the Study

It was really quiet during the next few days. Apart from the fact that the servants gossiped among themselves for a long time because the things in Foggy Courtyard were moved away, there was really nothing much happening.

Foggy Courtyard’s furniture had been rearranged, but everyone knew that the new ones were of a lower quality than the original ones. The original ones had been taken out from Madam Ming’s inventory and used to decorate Foggy Courtyard; however, they were all removed. No one had any information about the quality or value of the new furniture that was sent over.

All of a sudden, the servants who had originally been optimistic about Ning Qingshan became more and more attentive to the affairs in Bright Frost Garden. It was whispered that Fifth Young Lady was still Marquis’s biological daughter even though she had a bad time before, while Third Young Lady was not his biological daughter, even though she was very strong.

The one who was biologically related was naturally different from the one who was not.

Of course, these were all secretly spread by the servants in the manor. Ning Xueyan led a leisurely life now and went to Cold Mountain Temple again for the last day of performing a Taoist rite for Madam Ming. She had not been there at the opening sacrificial ceremony, so she went there to make up for it and then returned to the manor.

The dowry had all been settled. Maybe Ning Qingshan behaved badly before, so Madam Dowager put all the things she took from Ning Qingshan into Ning Xueyan’s dowry. With that, her dowry had an additional two more loads, but she was a Co-consort after all and her dowry could not exceed that of the actual consort.

Ning Xueyan had Madam Ming’s dowry and naturally, all of them were added into the dowry list. It was not that Ning Zu’an and Madam Dowager were out to embezzle the items, but Prince Yi, Ao Chenyi was the one who saw to it. It was enough to make them think it over. How could they afford to offend Ao Chenyi? It was not worth doing that just for a few loads of property.

“If I lose my life, I will not have any money!” Madam Dowager was clear about that.

Maybe Ao Chenyi’s warning had worked. In the following days, almost no one dared to embarrass her over anything and all was peaceful in the Lord Protector’s Manor. Besides helping her to prepare her dowry, Madam Dowager also prepared for Ning Qingshan. After all, Ning Qingshan was going to marry Third Prince and could not appear too shabby.

For this reason, Madam Dowager had to subsidize a large amount, which could be regarded as paving the way to be on good terms with Third Prince.

When a Young Lady was about to get married, several sets of clothes were required to be sewn for her. Although she was not the principal wife, the marriage partner was from the royal family after all, so they had to prepare everything suitable enough for a principal wife in an ordinary family. Although Ning Qingshan had at least half a year’s time to prepare, she still needed to do it now.

Therefore, Ning Qingshan would go out from time to time and buy some suitable material back.

Since what had happened in Lucky Garden was exposed, Ning Qingshan seemed to have forgotten about it and sometimes, she would go to Bright Frost Garden. Her legs were almost healed, but because her medical treatment was delayed and she got injured again later, she walked with a slight limp. Of course, only her trusted subordinates knew about it.

If she took her time to walk, it was hardly discernible.

After greeting Madam Dowager, Ning Qingshan came back, but her gentle smiling face immediately darkened as soon as she entered the door. It was a rapid reversal of expression and any ordinary person could not have done that. Feilian supported her carefully and helped her to sit down.

She frowned and took the tea from Feilian. She narrowed her eyes, put down the teacup in her hand and said coldly, “Go and see my eldest brother.”

Ning Huaiyuan was not in his own courtyard, but in the study room of the outer courtyard. After getting the news, Ning Qingshan went out with Caifen. Compared with Feilian, she trusted Caifen more. So many days had gone by and although Caifen’s injury had not healed completely, at least she was alive and able to walk.

The door of Ning Huaiyuan’s study was half open. The moment the young servant saw Ning Qingshan coming from afar, he hurried in to report it. When Ning Qingshan arrived at the door, he came out to welcome her. “Third Young Lady, please. Eldest Young Master is reading inside.”

There were still three or four days before the Spring Metropolitan Examination. Ning Huaiyuan would be taking part this time, so he had been spending his days reading in the study.

Ning Qingshan asked Caifen to stay outside and then went into Ning Huaiyuan’s study alone.

The lighting of the study was very good and its back window faced a pond of lotus flowers. Although it was not in season, a pond filled with greenery was pleasant and beautiful. Ning Huaiyuan sat at the desk under the window. There were two thick stacks of books on the table and one of them was laid open in front of him. When Ning Huaiyuan heard Ning Qingshan coming in, he looked up at her calmly.

“Brother, you are really hard working. But even if you try so hard, the title of marquis may not necessarily belong to you. Brother, can you really stand it?” Ning Qingshan walked to the chair opposite him with a smile and sat down. With that, she tilted her head and looked at him with a playful look as she said this meaningfully.

Looking at Ning Qingshan, Ning Huaiyuan frowned slightly and said unhappily, “Third Sister, I am very busy these days. Maybe I have no time to talk to you about matters of the inner courtyard.”

Ning Qingshan did not seem to see Ning Huaiyuan’s cold face, and her smile was like a flower in bloom. She observed his face carefully and asked, “Brother, do you really not want it anymore? Or is it because you have no time at the moment? Perhaps I can help you, or are you reluctant to do it?”

She did not believe that Ning Huaiyuan could really put it aside. At that time, Ning Huaiyuan had schemed against Ning Xueyan and pushed her into the hillside together with the carriage. Even if Ning Huaiyuan really did not want to do so, she still had something on him.

With a “Pa”, he slammed his pen heavily to the other side. Ning Huaiyuan looked at Ning Qingshan coldly. It was unbelievable for such an extremely sinister expression to appear on his face.

“Third Sister, what are you trying to say?”

“Brother, don’t deny it. Whether you admit it or not, I know perfectly well what is on your mind. That day, when you saw me from the back in a dress similar to Fifth Sister’s, you called out so affectionately. Unfortunately, you are deeply in love with her, but Fifth Sister is heartless. She is not soft-hearted toward Madam Ling at all. Up till now, have you not woken up to reality, brother?”

Ning Qingshan sighed sadly and her smile disappeared. She put on another sad look and said with mournful eyes, “Brother, have you forgotten? I am your young sister, but Fifth Sister, she is nothing!”

Ning Qingshan’s words sounded sad and aggrieved. In addition, her eyes were red, so it showed that she was really sad. The beauty was as pretty as a piece of jade and also seemed to be affectionate, which really made people feel sorry for her. In this way, she wanted to arouse Ning Huaiyuan’s childhood memories.

Ning Huaiyuan narrowed his eyes and said, “Both Third Sister and Fifth Sister are my younger sisters, so it is unnecessary to talk about this. Third Sister, you are going to get married soon. You’d better start to embroider some wedding clothes, so as not to be looked down upon and seized by others in Third Prince’s Manor later.”

Third Prince just stood by and watched what happened to Ning Qingshan that day, which revealed his attitude. Ning Huaiyuan and Third Prince were familiar with each other. When he saw Third Prince turning a blind eye to it and leaving directly, he already sensed his displeasure. Otherwise, Third Prince would have intervened even for the sake of showing face.

After all, Ning Qingshan was his Co-consort to be and what was discovered that day was all because of Foggy Courtyard. But from beginning to end, Third Prince had not stepped up to defend Ning Qingshan at all. This implied that Third Prince had lost his enthusiasm for Ning Qingshan.

“Brother, you... how can you say that to me?” Ning Qingshan could not hold back her tears anymore. Her tears began to fall one by one and she wiped them with her handkerchief.

When she heard Ning Huaiyuan’s words, Ning Qingshan burst into tears and started to sob. Originally, she was delicate and beautiful, but now she became a weeping beauty. It made her look even more charming and adorable!

Ning Huaiyuan looked at her quietly and gave a bitter smile suddenly. “What are you planning again? Third Sister, don’t you want to marry Third Prince?”

“I am not!” Ning Qingshan quickly looked up and said.

“Since you did not, don’t act like that. If Third Prince sees you crying like this in front of another man, maybe he will really consider if he should marry you or he will go to the emperor and ask to break off your engagement like Prince Yi,” Ning Huaiyuan said mercilessly.

As for his Third Sister, the beautiful figure in his memory had already changed. He did not care about her when she was beautiful, let alone now. Ning Qingshan and he were not related by blood. To be honest, even if they were brother and sister, it was also inconvenient for them to meet frequently. However, Ning Qingshan came to him more often these days.

In view that she was the Co-consort conferred by the emperor, Ning Huaiyuan thought it was necessary for him to stay away from her. However, Ning Qingshan did not seem to feel his alienation and kept trying to get closer to him, which made Ning Huaiyuan feel even more unhappy. Besides, his heart’s secret was revealed in Ning Qingshan’s words.

Under the plum tree, it was not only Fourth Prince, Ao Mingwan, but Ning Huaiyuan who loved her at first sight. At that time, he had thought that it was Ning Qingshan. He had no blood relationship with her. Moreover, she had shown her affection for him on several occasions before going to the nunnery.

He did not want others to make idle talk, so he deliberately stayed away from Ning Qingshan. Unexpectedly, he fell in love with her when they met again under the plum tree that day.

What happened later was beyond his expectation. The beauty under the plum tree was not Ning Qingshan, who had no blood relationship with him, but his younger sister, Ning Xueyan. It made him feel embarrassed, so he had to keep this unbearable secret to himself. However, he was in a bad mood and drank some wine that day and then happened to see Ning Xueyan’s figure.

Ning Huaiyuan could not help pouring out some of his feelings, but he did not expect that it was actually Ning Qingshan who turned around. Therefore, Ning Qingshan knew the unconventional secret, which made Ning Huaiyuan feel angry and embarrassed because his secret had been exposed.

“Brother, how can you say that to me? I came here to see you and I am your young sister!” Ning Qingshan did not expect Ning Huaiyuan to say that and was so stricken that she forgot to wipe away her tears. She stared blankly at Ning Huaiyuan.

“I think so, but will the others or Third Prince think so? Third Sister, please go back. It is not good for your reputation or my forthcoming imperial exam. Please forgive me for having no time to receive you these days. Please go back, Third Sister!”

Ning Huaiyuan did not want to talk to Ning Qingshan anymore. After maintaining frequent contacts with Ning Qingshan these days, he knew that Ning Qingshan was absolutely not as weak and innocent as she looked. It was Ning Qingshan who provoked him to push Ning Xueyan down the hillside. Besides, he could not be distracted to deal with Ning Xueyan now.

Looking at Ning Qingshan’s back, he made himself calm down and could not help narrowing his evil eyes. Besides, there was still Prince Yi’s warning. Of course, he would not neglect Lord Protector’s Manor and act rashly.

Ning Qingshan wanted him to deal with Ning Xueyan, but he did not want to do that for the time being.