Chapter 277 The Carriages Moving Forward, It’s Dangerous

“What’s the matter, Third Prince?” Ning Xueyan handed the ointment to Ning Lingyun, and asked her to apply the medication on Ning Qingshan. No one noticed the alertness in her eyes. She did not think Ao Mingyu would notice it in such a situation.

“Fifth Young Lady… Could you do me a favor?” Ao Mingyu hesitated for a moment, as if he was too embarra.s.sed to speak.

Ning Xueyan did not say anything and waited quietly for Ao Mingyu to speak. Her jet-black eyes were cold and indifferent. She did not want to have anything to do with Ao Mingyu, but it was evident that the Third Prince was not of the same mind. Although he did not turn his head, Ning Xueyan knew his eyes had a trace of jealousy in them.

Ao Mingyu used to feel rancor for Ning Qingshan because he wanted to pull Ning Qingshan down from the position of the first wife. At the same time, he also wanted to remove Ya Moqin, who was arrogant and domineering, from the position of the first wife. Killing two birds with one stone would be an ideal move, but she did not think it had anything to do with her.

So, she did not say anything and waited for Ao Mingyu to speak.

“Fifth Young Lady, could you go downstairs with me? I want to talk about Third Young Lady and apologize to the marquis.” Ao Mingyu asked gently.

The gazes directed at her, from behind him, were even colder. The two ladies, who were applying the medication, were looking at her with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

It seemed that Ao Mingyu had done Ning Xueyan a favor. As the most promising Third Prince, he had invited Ning Xueyan to accompany him downstairs and explain to the Lord Protector’s Manor. Of course, he did this for the sake of the Lord Protector’s Manor and that of the Grand Tutor Ya’s Manor, and even for the sake of friends.h.i.+p between liegemen.

Anyway, both Grand Tutor Ya and Ning Zu’an said that they would support Ao Mingyu. The relations.h.i.+p between them was harmonious, and they could not have some conflicts due to their little sisters. It was reasonable for Ao Mingyu to do something like this.

“But why her?”

Outside, many people were staring at them. If she was with Ao Mingyu, it would set a lot of tongues wagging and lead to a lot of rumors.

“Your Highness, please go ahead. I’ll help Third Sister to take a look before coming over.” Ning Xueyan refused directly.

The smile froze on Ao Mingyu’s face. Ao Mingyu narrowed his eyes slightly, but he did not say anything more. He turned around and walked out.

Seeing that Ning Xueyan refused Ao Mingyu without any hesitation and was indifferent, with Ao Mingyu’s warning, Ya Moqin did not do anything to Ning Xueyan. She asked the maid to apply the medication on her, meekly. This time, she and Ning Qingshan were both injured. Both of them had slapped each other. It seemed that neither of them lost out.

After waiting for a while, Ning Xueyan thought it was about time, so she opened the door and went out. Anyway, she had to give face to Third Prince, Ao Mingyu. Now that she had promised him, she had to show her face.

When she returned to the private room, she found that Ao Mingyu was still there. After greeting Ao Mingyu, Madam Dowager asked a few questions about Ning Qingshan’s current situation and knew that she was fine. So she asked her to accompany Ning Qingshan. Ao Mingyu must have said something before, so Madam Dowager did not appear to be angry.

“Is the thing between Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li and Third Young Lady of the Lord Protector’s Manor, true?”

“Maybe. Otherwise, why did First Young Lady Ya make such a fuss? Moreover, when First Young Lady Ya bullied Third Young Lady just now, the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Yi came out and slapped her. If it had nothing to do with her, he would not have done this for Third Young Lady.”

“But didn’t the Third Prince and the others say that the maid had something to do with the Princely Heir?”

“It’s not like there’s no such thing as a maid taking her master’s place.”

“The First Young Lady of the Honored Consort Ya’s Mansion is arrogant. She is also rude. If someone marries her and she becomes the first wife, the backyard will be in trouble…”

Some people were whispering at the corner of the building. Ning Xueyan did not see who they were, but she knew what it meant. They were insinuating about the relations.h.i.+p between Ning Qingshan and Ao Xian. Besides, they held Ya Moqin in disdain. As the Hostess, she should be generous and dignified.

If Ya Moqin were the Hostess, she would have to deal with all the concubines in the backyard.

It was difficult to guess what the Third Prince was thinking about. Maybe he had another suitable candidate for the position of the legal wife, so he demoted the two n.o.ble, legitimate daughters.

When she went upstairs again, Ya Moqin had already left. She felt that it was not suitable for her to stay with Ning Qingshan.

The slap on Ning Qingshan’s face came from Ya Moqin. After all, she was a woman. After putting some medication on the imprint, her face was still a little swollen. There were no other traces of any other injuries. At this time, it seemed that Ning Lingyun was talking with her, so her face returned to its usual gentle demeanor.

From her appearance, no one could not see anything.

However, Ning Qingshan was a hypocritical sort. She knew when and how to put on a mask.

“Fifth Sister, what did Grandma and Father say?” Seeing Ning Xueyan pus.h.i.+ng the door open and coming in, Ning Qingshan suppressed the resentment in her eyes, and asked softly.

“Third Prince said that he would send us back later. Grandma and Father knows about it and asked Third Sister to go back and rest early.” Ning Xueyan smiled gracefully. She stood three steps away from Ning Qingshan, and had a faint smile on her face.

It was not difficult to guess what was going on in Madam Dowager and Ning Zu’an’ minds. They would not miss any chance to get close to Third Prince, Ao Mingyu. Since the Third Prince had asked them to do so, they had to do it.

While they were talking, Third Prince had come back. Seeing that Ning Qingshan was ready, he took them downstairs. It happened in his private room, so it was normal for him to send Ning Qingshan and others back.

Perhaps as an apology, he had called for three carriages, one for each of them. The Third Prince ordered several guards to send them to the Lord Protector’s Manor, and then went upstairs.

As a prince. he was considerate and kind enough to do this.

“Fifth Young Lady, please get in this carriage.” When Ning Xueyan was about to get in a carriage, a guard beside her suddenly pointed at the last carriage and said.

This carriage was slightly different from the previous two carriages. Regardless of the material or the decoration, it was somewhat more luxurious than the first two carriages. However, it was not that obvious. If the guard had not pointed it out, she would not have noticed it in the dark.

Ning Qingshan was walking to the first one. Hearing this, she suddenly stopped and turned to look at the last one with a frown, and had a trace of suspicion in her eyes.

Ning Lingyun’s face darkened.

“It turns out that the Third Prince has given me a special one. Thank you, Your Highness.” Ning Xueyan bowed to the guard with a smile as if she had not noticed anything. She seemed to be in a good mood and was about to enter the carriage.

“Fifth Sister, how can you let Fourth Sister go in the last carriage? There is always a difference between the legal wife’s daughter and the concubine’s.” Ning Qingshan covered her mouth with her hand, and gently stopped her.

The ranking could be from young to old or from the legitimate daughter to the daughter of a concubine. If it was based on a child to a child, Ning Xueyan would get into the last carriage. If it was from the legitimate daughter to the daughter of a concubine, Ning Xueyan should get into the second one. However, people would not be too particular about that on a regular trip, as long as they were agreeable.

But since Ning Qingshan mentioned it deliberately, she could not say that she was wrong. The guard standing by the carriage opened his mouth, but had no reason to say no. They looked at the second one and the third one, which were all behind, so he did not say anything.

“Oh, then I’ll take the second one.” Ning Xueyan looked at the third one reluctantly, but she went along with Ning Qingshan’s words and got into the second one.

At this time, Ning Qingshan had already got into the first carriage, and Ning Lingyun naturally went to the last one, happily.

As soon as she got in the car, Ning Xueyan’s face darkened. She lifted the curtain and peeked out of the window. Then, she whispered to Xinmei, “Xinmei, do you have any idea that if I am able to get into the first car and sit with Ning Qingshan?”

The guard’s insistence gave her a bad feeling. At this time, she felt even more uneasy when she saw that the carriage was about to move.

“Young Lady, if you want to go ahead, I have an idea.” Looking at Ning Xueyan’s serious face, Xinmei thought for a while and said.

“Young Lady, if this carriage breaks down while you are on the road, then you have to get on to another carriage. The guard who followed you can’t say anything.” Xinmei looked around, opened the curtains to look outside, and whispered.

Qingyu sat in front of the curtain and stared cautiously at the driver.

“How about that guard’s martial arts skill? Will he know that you have tricked him?” There was a flash of uncertainty in Ning Xueyan’s eyes. She just felt that something was not right, but she did not know what was going to happen. If Xinmei was discovered to have martial arts skills, maybe the loss would outweigh the gain. Ao Mingyu’s guard was not the mediocre sort.

“Don’t worry, Young Lady. In terms of martial arts, that guard is not as good as me. If I’m careful, he will not be able to spot the flaw.” Xinmei’s eyes fell again on the guard who was riding on the carriage. At this time, the carriages had already moved forward. He was riding a horse not far away from them, with nothing exceptional going on.

Ning Xueyan said nothing and frowned slightly. This was the last resort. She should not let others know that she had a maid who was skilled in martial arts. As the light flashed by, the scenery outside the window pa.s.sed slowly by. After turning at a crossing, it went to another road.

Ning Xueyan knew that this road would lead to the Lord Protector’s Manor. In fact, it was closer to the Lord Protector’s Manor because it could bypa.s.s the crowded streets. However, this road was a side road, so a section of the road was remote. She usually did not go this way. In her last life, Ning Ziying secretly came out with Xia Yuhang, and walked through this road.

“Xinmei, don’t damage the wheel, as long as you can frighten the horse slightly.” Immediately, Ning Xueyan made up her mind.

The carriage was now at a junction of three roads. Ning Qingshan’s carriage was turning a corner, so her carriage slowed down. After Ning Qingshan’s carriage had turned the corner, it was her turn. If they went straight there, there were still some streets. If they went off course, there were some remote places…