Chapter 271 - Families Should Huddle Together to Have a Jolly Time
Chapter 271 Families Should Huddle Together to Have a Jolly Time
Ning Qingshan was unlucky to the extreme!
This time, it was jolly hard luck on her!
After saying goodbye to the Third Prince, she came out in a hurry, for she also knew that she could not stay outside for too long. Or, others would suspect her. But she was knocked to the ground by someone just as she was out of the alley hurriedly. What was worse, she happened to fall into a small puddle. Though the maid quickly went to support her, she still stumbled for a couple of paces and stepped into the puddle when she moved back. Because of this, even the lower hem of her dress got dirty.
But it was too late for her to change the clothes at this time. Thus, she had to wipe the dirty corners of her dress and went straight to Linjiang Restaurant with her maids. But to her great surprise, just when she turned a corner, she saw Ning Zu’an coming with some servants. Ning Zu’an was stunned as he spotted Ning Qingshan before him and then became a little angry. After taking a glance at her, he directly turned around and went back.
Earlier, some servants had come here to report to Ning Zu’an that the other two Young Ladies had returned to Linjiang Restaurant unharmed and were now with Madam Dowager.
“Third Young Lady, what’s going on with you? How did you end up like this?”
Seeing that Ning Qingshan was in such an embarrassing manner, Madam Dowager was first startled and then asked angrily with a sullen face, “Where on earth did you go?”
“Grandmother, someone hit me just now, and there was a puddle behind you. Thus, I accidentally stepped into it and damped my dress.” A little hopelessly, Ning Qingshan replied, feeling aggrieved. She didn’t know why the incident would happen to her when she was going on her perfect plan. Moreover, as she entered Linjiang Restaurant, she felt that others were looking at her with strange looks.
“But why would you get into the alley when nothing bad happened on the street?” In an overbearing manner, Ning Zu’an took the seat. His severe eyes swept across Ning Qingshan’s face, and he asked in a deep voice.
“How did Ning Zu’an know that I crossed the alley to date with the Third Prince secretly?” As Ning Qingshan thought of this, her heart missed a beat. However, she didn’t show her mental activity on her face. Wearing an apologetic smile, she hurriedly said, “Father, I have been staying with my two sisters the whole time. Originally, everything appeared fine. But all of a sudden, my two sisters disappeared. In haste, I had to go to the dark alley to look for them because I was afraid that my sisters might get lost.”
The explanation that Ning Qingshan offered sounded pretty reasonable. However, once people started to suspect someone, it would be very easy for them to doubt about everything that person said. That was how Ning Zu’an felt at this moment. Eyes blazing like torches, he glanced at Ning Qingshan. Then, his eyes slightly wrinkled. Though Ning Zu’an didn’t make detailed inquiries about the facts, there was doubt in his heart.
Just now, when he found Ning Qingshan, he saw a man following behind Ning Qingshan from the distance. However, once the man saw Ning Zu’an rushing to them with some people, he suddenly disappeared into the crowd. At that time, there were many people around, so Ning Zu’an could not keep his eyes on him. Besides, he didn’t see the man’s appearance for that moment, Ning Zu’an only felt that it was a young man.
“Did she really take a fancy to the Minster Xia’s second son, who is merely a concubine’s son? Perhaps, what the housekeeper said is true!”
As Ning Zu’an thought this, he would get a terrible headache. The marriage between Ning Qingshan and the Third Prince was almost a sure thing. At this time, if rumors about Ning Qingshan’s affair with another man came out, the Third Prince would inevitably argue with the Lord Protector’s Manor. Then, his perfect plan, which could benefit his manor both ways, would crash.
Therefore, he must let others watch Ning Qingshan’s moves, for he would never allow this unmarried daughter to do anything inappropriate.
“Be careful next time. Those alleys are normally very dark. How could a Young Lady from Lord Protector’s Manor like you go there?” Although Madam Dowager was not clear about the specific situation, she could tell from her son’s angry look and Ning Qingshan’s miserable appearance that Ning Qingshan must have done some bad things.
“Yes, I won’t do it again.” Ning Qingshan was readily to accept Ning Zu’an’s reproach and promised quickly. Looking up, she saw Ning Xueyan. With a slightly angry look, she blamed. “Fifth Sister, when did you come back? Why didn’t you wait for me?”
“By doing this, she wanted to draw the attention of both Madam Dowager and a few other people to me.” Sure enough, Madam Dowager turned to look at Ning Xueyan, a little discontentedly. Ning Xueyan slightly sneered in her heart. Ning Qingshan’s words showed that Ning Xueyan had no affection for her sisters. “It looks like that Ning Qingshan is increasingly good at transferring her trouble to others. By inferring that I ignored her when she needed my help, she intended to make me a cold-hearted sister.”
“Third Sister, I have been back for a while. There were so many people before, and the crowds tore me apart from all the people that I knew around me. Luckily, my two maids managed to find me. Then, I checked around but did not see you. Thinking that Grandmother and father would get anxious if they knew that all three of us were missing, I finally chose to hurry back to Linjiang Restaurant first.”
Ning Xueyan appeared to feel a little aggrieved and explained with a soft voice. By the way, she showed that she left that time only because she cared about the feelings of Madam Dowager and Ning Zu’an.
“Yes, Third Sister, I also came back for the same reason.” Ning Lingyun also hurried to respond. For whatever the reasons that Ning Qingshan left for a period, Ning Qingshan surely would not allow others to know it. Therefore, she also disagreed with Ning Qingshan’s accusation to them. Ning Qingshan secretly blamed Ning Xueyan and her, for they treated their sister indifferently. But by mentioning her concern toward Grandmother and father, Ning Xueyan retorted.
Upon hearing Ning Xueyan’s words, Madam Dowager nodded in her heart.
Compared with Ning Xueyan, Ning Qingshan obviously didn’t pay attention to the interests of the whole family and acted a little too frivolous. The reputation of an unmarried girl should not be damaged even a bit. Although nothing happened to Ning Qingshan today, she just entered with a terrible appearance. Merely such a scene was enough to cause many topics, which was not what Madam Dowager would like to see.
“Grandmother, father, did something bad happen to my sisters?” The box door was reopened, and Ning Huaiyuan walked in with a smile.
He came just at the right point!
“Your Third Sister slipped and made herself a mess.” Madam Dowager sighed and told him.
“Oh, nothing serious. It was merely a fall. Just ask a maid to fetch the clean clothes in the carriage downstairs for her to change. A lot of people are enjoying the lanterns on the streets, and many of them fell. When I came over just now, I also encountered a few Young Ladies packed shoulder to shoulder, appearing in a mess. Grandmother, today is a big holiday. It is originally a time for everyone to have fun. Who would care about such a small incident?”
After going a circle around Ning Qingshan, Ning Huaiyuan joked.
“Huaiyuan, you are always a sweet talker…” exclaimed Madam Dowager thought what he said was right. She loved his words. As so many people were walking down the streets today, some incidents were quite normal. Thus, Madam Dowager was immediately relieved and smiled. Seeing Madam Dowager’s smile, Ning Zu’an thought it was improper to pursue this matter further. So, lifting his mouth corners, he also put up a smiling face on the spot to please Madam Dowager. A furious interrogation triggered by Ning Qingshan immediately dissolved into nothing.
When Young Ladies went on a trip outside, servants would always prepare some clothes for them and packed their clothes in the carriages. Thus, Madam Dowager asked some people to drive the carriages that the three Young Ladies were in over and told Ning Qingshan to change her clothes when the carriages arrived.
Looking at the loving father and the filial son, Ning Xueyan disdained in her heart. It was evident that Ning Zu’an had become suspicious about Ning Qingshan. However, he appeared as if he cared nothing about this case. Of course, Ning Huaiyuan popped up precisely at the right time. Ning Xueyan noticed that the maid named Caifen came in right now. She was not behind Ning Qingshan before, but now she was standing at Ning Qingshan’s back. Clearly, she went out to call for Ning Huaiyuan’s help just now.
At first, Ning Xueyan thought that there were some conflicts between Ning Huaiyuan and Ning Qingshan. But to her surprise, they joined the alliance so soon. Ning Xueyan felt that she had to act more carefully next.
When everyone was here, attendants started to serve dishes to the table. After finishing eating, their carriages arrived downstairs. Ning Qingshan went downstairs and found a place to change her clothes. Then the dragon boat race began. One after another, everyone went up to the window to watch the match below. Standing before the window at the farthest corner, Ning Xueyan bowed her head, looking down.
At this time, the lake’s surface was brightly lit. Also, the emperor had arrived. Sitting under the yellow canopy, the emperor didn’t look young between his forty and fifty. The woman who sat next to him should be the empress, who had neither sons nor daughters. Thus, she wasn’t so fond of lively activities. Usually, she did not attend big banquets, but unexpectedly, she came here today.
Behind the emperor and the empress, there were at least eight or nine beautiful and charming concubines of the emperor.
With her sharp eyes, Ning Xueyan soon saw both Honored Consort Ya and Honored Consort Shu were there.
On the side of the emperor, a chair was placed sideways. There sat Prince Yi, who was the most powerful person in the imperial court except for the emperor. Not caring about his public image, he leaned against the chair and was watching the race with his elbows bent, his chin in his hands. Prince Yi’s face was exceedingly beautiful, but it looked as cold as Asura’s face. However, today, the light of lanterns added softness to his usually hostile look.
His appearance attracted some noble Young Ladies who usually did not dare to have any improper fancy thought toward him. At this time, they either frequently landed their eyes on him with shy looks or talked to people nearby prettily.
All of the Young Ladies who could present there were either closely related to the royal family or very close relatives to the emperor’s favored concubines.
Both the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince were also present.
However, compared with Ao Chenyi, the two of them looked less imposing and handsome. Thus, those Young Ladies paid much less attention to them.
When Ning Xueyan was examining the scene below, she suddenly felt that someone was looking at her. Involuntarily, she turned around and happened to catch Ao Chenyi’s evil but enchanting eyes. There were lights above the lake and a moon in the sky. But none of them looked as bright as his eyes. All of a sudden, he slightly curved his thin lips and showed a faint smile on his face.
Without batting an eyelid, Ning Xueyan’s eyes turned away from him. Prince Yi, who had a gorgeous appearance, still gave her an intense pressure that could almost make her feel breathless even when they were so far apart. Prince Yi’s bloodthirsty aura, which seemed to be brought from the hell full of blood, had already reached his bones. But apparently, such a face of him had fascinated some of the Young Ladies sitting below.
Beyond their control, a few of them forgot Ao Chenyi’s viciousness and looked at him with fixed eyes.
“Fifth Sister, what are you looking at?” Suddenly, Ning Huaiyuan’s clear voice sounded in Ning Xueyan’s ears. Only then did Ning Xueyan find out that Ning Huaiyuan and Ning Qingshan had already walked up to her sometime.
A moment ago, they were by the window at the forefront to watch the scene of bustle. But now, it was evident that Ning Huaiyuan and Ning Qingshan didn’t come to Ning Xueyan together by accident. They seemed to have something to say to her. Judging by their looks, Ning Xueyan knew they came to her with ill intent.
In previous, Ning Huaiyuan came to Ning Qingshan’s rescue. Now, it looked like that Ning Qingshan wanted to help Ning Huaiyuan to do something which was related to Ning Xueyan…
Lifting her lips a little, she slightly moved away and saluted them politely. “Eldest brother, Third Sister, cannot you see clearly at the front?”
The window in the front was in a perfect position. It directly faced the people below, from which people could watch more closely. However, the place around the window was not large. Just now, Ning Huaiyuan and Ning Qingshan had occupied this place, and so others had to give up the place and go to some other places to watch. Thus, with very few people around, this place was very convenient for them to discuss something.
“We gave that place to Grandmother. She can enjoy the best scene there.” Smiling, Ning Huaiyuan pointed to the place.
Now Ning Xueyan saw that Madam Dowager had been sitting there comfortably and enjoyed the scene below, full of joy. At this time, the dragon boats for the match had not yet arrived. But only looking at the crowd below was interesting and fun enough. After all, it was a rare opportunity to sit up there and watch the lively scene within which the emperor was in.
“Since both of you don’t think my place is crowded, you can watch the scene together with me.” The corners of Ning Xueyan’s lips lifted, and Ning Xueyan showed them a gentle smile. Then, she slightly moved back to avoid touching them and flashed her long eyelashes to cover the touch of sarcasm in her eyes. It was true that Ning Qingshan and Ning Huaiyuan came here with ill intent. Now they even took Madam Dowager as an excuse.
“Your place is never small for us. We families should huddle together to have a jolly time.” Affectionately, Ning Qingshan stretched out to hold Ning Xueyan’s hand with a smile and leaned against her. Then Ning Huaiyuan also squeezed in. This place was exactly suitable for them to pack together.
Seeing that the three of them crowded tight against one another, other people there had to go to other windows. Then, others might not hear the words that they were going to say next…