The Devious First-Daughter

“Yes, Fifth Sister, your dress is a bit old. Fortunately, Grandmother made new clothes for us. You can choose a new suit of clothes. Anyway, I’ll choose one. It’s shows grandmother’s love for us, and I like those clothes very much.” Ning Yuling said with a smile.

Her words were subtle. If she did not wear it, it seemed that she had failed to live up to Madam Dowager’s good intentions. So, Ning Xueyan had to wear it.

Ning Xueyan smiled slightly and rubbed her handkerchief with her fingers. Then she covered her mouth to hide a trace of sarcasm. As expected, there was something wrong with the clothes, and it was also related to Ning Yuling. Ning Yuling was afraid that she would not wear the clothes, so she put pressure on her intentionally.

Since it was so, Ning Xueyan would set her mind at rest for the time being. So what if Ning Yuling was satisfied?

Putting the handkerchief at the corner of her mouth, Ning Xueyan smiled slightly and said, “Don’t worry, Second Sister. I will choose one of those clothes sent by Grandmother.”

It was getting dark as night fell. The surroundings around the Lord Protector’s Manor seemed to be quiet. Even the servants in the manor did not dare to go out. Even if something happened, they had to be careful. Although they did not talk about the matter concerning Junior Concubine Xu the day before yesterday, it did not mean that they were not aware of it. Those little cloth dolls were very weird.

Some servants could not sleep well in the middle of the night after they saw the bloody Vudu Dolls. Their screams scared the people next door, as they shivered under their quilts. Then, Junior Concubine Xu died; the First Young Master got kicked; the Marquis left in anger; the First Madam passed out after Madam Dowager punished her by forcing her to kneel. Everything seemed to be weird.

How could the Marquis beat up the Eldest Young Master? And why did Madam Dowager want to strangle the First Madam? Maybe it was because the Lord Protector’s Manor was haunted. Some people thought of the incident at the Cloud Reflection Courtyard. It seemed that the Young Lady had died due to unknown reasons. What was worse, Concubine Ma had also disappeared without a trace.

This kind of thing should not be given too much thought. The more she thought about it, the more terrified she felt. It seemed that something was hanging over the Lord Protector’s Manor. All the servants were trembling with fear. No one wanted to go out after night fell.

Someone knocked lightly on the door in the Qingrong Courtyard, and the back door opened silently. The pretty maid holding the lantern saw Ling Yi, who was standing outside the door, came out hurriedly to greet him, “Childe, you’re finally here. Please come in!”

“Well, are you missing me?” Ling Yi reached out and pinched Yanyue’s face. He was a man who indulged in wine and women, and there was a hint of lasciviousness on his face.

“Childe Ling Yi, please go in quickly. The Second Young Lady has been waiting for you for a long time.” Yanyue’s face turned red, but she dared not disobey his order. She pointed to the inside and said in a low voice, with a tinge of apprehension on her face. If the Second Young Lady saw this, she might get into trouble. The maid shivered at the thought of Ning Yuling’s means.

“Well, I’ll satisfy your Young Lady first, and then I’ll satisfy you. I can’t let you miss me too much!” Ling Yi mistook the timidness on the maid’s face for shyness. Ling Yi said this with a proud look on his face. Then, he pinched her face again and walked in proudly. Thinking that he was going to see Ning Yuling, he felt excited.

In the past, he did not dare to think that. But now, it was different. She had already had an affair with Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, so it did not matter if she had an affair with him. As for whether Ning Yuling agreed or not, Ling Yi did not care at all. After all, she was making demands on him, and he stopped his father for her.

“Look, you’re asking me for help now. You want me to do something for you. I can’t do it without getting some real benefits.”

In the past, Ning Yuling might have stood high above the masses, as the Consort of Prince-to-be. He dared not dream of her. If he dared to provoke her, his father would, needless to say, break his legs. However, it was different now. She was the one who asked him for help. If he let such a great opportunity go, he would not be Ling Yi.

His cousin’s face was as beautiful as a flower. Compared with those top courtesans, she was not inferior at all. From an early age, he wanted to approach his Second Younger Female Cousin, but he had never been so bold. Now the opportunity was here...

In the early morning of the next day, Ning Xueyan had already got up. Yesterday, she had made an appointment with Ning Yuling to go to the Xia Manor, so she could not be late today. Madam Dowager also told them not to pay their respects to her today. So, she sat in front of the dressing table. Lanning picked up the comb and combed Ning Xueyan’s jet black long hair. She asked, “Young Lady, what kind of bun do you want today?”

Lanning had always managed Ning Xueyan’s long hair. Lanning, who was clever and deft, could comb many different kinds of styles of hair buns. Now, the most popular bun in the capital was the Horse-falling bun. This kind of bun was a little bit crooked, which showed a woman’s femininity.

The noble ladies of the capital loved this style because some of their hair would be drooping sideways, strands hanging that looked like it needed to be brushed up, and a general loose style. So, most of the girls who reached the hairpin stage would choose to have this hairstyle. Furthermore, nine out of ten noble ladies did so. However, with this hairstyle, she had to be more careful in her movements. Otherwise, her hair would be disheveled.

“No. Just make a double bun and make it a bit firmer.” Ning Xueyan smiled slightly. In the mirror, the girl’s beautiful black hair, like a black waterfall, slipped down from her head, which was beautiful. In daily life, she looked beautiful with a Horse-falling bun because of the hair quality and hair color. But today, it was inconvenient.

There was a bun on each side. Although it was less charming, it was tightly wrapped. Even if it shook, it would not fall down. Moreover, Ning Xueyan had not reached the hairpin age, so it was not strange.

“Got it. I’ll comb it for you right away.” Lanning nodded, with an amiable look on her face. Then, she used a comb to separate her hair and skillfully combed it.

Qingyu came in with two sets of clothes. One of them was the only elegant and presentable one among the new-made spring clothes yesterday. The weather was good today, so it was not suitable for her to wear thick clothes.

“Young Lady, shall I go with you later?” Qingyu put down the clothes in her hands, bit her lips, and said uneasily.

Through the mirror, Ning Xueyan could see Qingyu’s scowl. She could not help but laugh and said, “Qingyu, I’m going to visit a patient, so we don’t need to go in pomp. It’s enough that Xinmei comes with me. Or, you, in place of Xinmei, can go with me?”

“Young Lady, why are you joking with me now?” Qingyu heard the sarcasm in Ning Xueyan’s words. She stamped her feet in anger and said, “I’m afraid...”

“There’s nothing to be alarmed about. Take it easy. I won’t flaunt my superiority.” Ning Xueyan knew that Qingyu was worried about her, so she smiled softly. She looked at the two sets of clothes that Qingyu put on the bed, and a hint of coldness flashed through her eyes.

At the gate of the manor, Ning Xueyan and Ning Yuling arrived almost at the same time. Ning Yuling’s clothes were simpler than usual. She looked at Ning Xueyan’s clothes first. She smiled jealously when she saw the familiar color and pattern.

But then, it turned into a trace of resentment. She would never forgive that b*tch Ning Xueyan this time. For her, she even had an affair with Ling Yi. This time, she would never give this b*tch any chance. Thinking that she had to ask Ling Yi for help in this matter, and that Ling Yi even dared to threaten her, she could not wait to rush up and tear Ning Xueyan into pieces.

It was all because of Ning Xueyan, the bi*ch, that she had to make a deal with Ling Yi, whom she despised most. She hated Ning Xueyan. Ning Xueyan, the bi*ch who caused her misfortune. It used to be like this, and now it was the same.

They could only talk for a while in front of Madam Dowager, so Ning Yuling ignored Ning Xueyan and went to the carriage she had taken two days ago.

The carriages of the Lord Protector’s Manor were given to anyone who needed them, instead of specific persons. However, when she went to the Commandery Princess Xianyun’s Manor that day, Madam Dowager asked her to take the inferior carriage so as to keep Ning Yuling’s profile low. Compared with the carriage in front, the carriage was inferior both in appearance and design.

However, sometimes Ning Zu’an also used the carriage in front, which was more magnificent. The latter carriage had always been used by the inner female guests, because it was relatively smaller.

“Second Sister, you’re still my elder sister. Will you use the carriage in front?” Ning Xueyan asked politely. She reached out to stop Ning Yuling.

“No, I’m still using the same one.” Ning Yuling refused, with a forced smile. “My grandmother chose this one for you. If I use that one, it will be hard for me to explain to my grandmother.”

After saying that, she pushed Ning Xueyan’s hand away and took the initiative to get into the carriage behind. She did not give Ning Xueyan a chance to refuse at all.

Before they passed by each other, Ning Xueyan saw a bruise on Ning Yuling’s delicate neck, and then there was a slight smile on her face. She saw Ning Yuling entering the carriage before she got into the other carriage.

“Bi*ch!” Ning Yuling cursed as soon as she got on the carriage. She looked through the curtain with bleak eyes, and she looked at Ning Xueyan, who was getting into the carriage, with hatred.

Seeing that the two Young Ladies and their maids had already entered the carriages, the cart drivers raised the long whips in their hands and turned around to head for the Xia Manor.

Minister Xia’s Manor was only two streets away from the Lord Protector’s Manor, so it was not far. It would be faster if they took a shortcut. However, there was nothing urgent today. Besides, the two Young Ladies were with them. The coachmen drove on the main road. In order to have a smooth ride, they chose to drive on the main road of the capital.

This main road was usually the place where the princes and childes of the capital travelled most frequently. From time to time, groups of people came and went. Carriages came one after another, and laughter could be heard from outside, from time to time. It was very lively.

As soon as they got into the carriage, Ning Xueyan took off her outer clothes, and there was another coat inside...