As she opened her eyes and looked at the strange surroundings, Ning Ziying was full of doubts.
She knew she’d been drowned in the lotus pond. So, where was she now? And how had she gotten here?
Seeing the white clothes on her body and the simple arrangement of a funeral in the house, Ning Ziying suddenly felt dizzy, and a lot of strange memories poured into her mind.
Ning Xueyan was the cowardly, 14-year-old Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protector's Manor. Her natural mother was the unfavored co-wife of the Lord Protector, Madam Ming, who had died the day before. Ning Xueyan had died at her mother's funeral due to grief, and no one had yet noticed.
And Ning Ziying was reborn in Ning Xueyan's body! She had all of her new body’s memories, as well as her own.
The sound of joy and laughter in the front yard made her feel that it was a dream...
According to Ning Xueyan's memories, Xia Yuhang and Ning Ziyan were married now.
Every dog has its day. This time, it was her turn to send them to hell...
"Fifth Young Lady, Fifth Young Lady." Mother Han's voice came from the door.
"Mother Han, I'm here." Ning Xueyan’s voice was hoarse.
Mother Han rushed over and said, "Fifth Young Lady, I brought you some water. Have a drink and rest for a while."
"Mother Han, has madam arranged someone to send me food yet?" After drinking some water, Ning Ziying did not feel any pain in her throat. She slightly recovered her original voice and her gaze became serious. At this time, the bride had left, but the guests were still there according to noise outside.
"Everyone will see if I go out now and make trouble for them," Ning Xueyan thought.
"I have asked them, and they said..." Mother Han swallowed hard as she looked at Ning Xueyan, "They said that the First Madam would ask someone to send food to you soon."
"Mother Han, let's go and get it ourselves!" Ning Xueyan stood up suddenly with a mocking smile on her lips. If she remembered correctly, aside from the Madam Dowager, who very much valued face, there was a Madam Dowager Liu in the Lord Protector's Manor, and both were extremely respectful of the rules.
Madam Dowager Liu was the aunt of Ning Zu'an, the Lord Protector. Her late husband was a famous scholar in the regions south of the Yangtze River, and she only had a daughter. After her husband died and her daughter was married, she lived alone, so Ning Zu'an had gone to her home to bring her to the Lord Protector's Manor to take care of her. At that time, everyone in the court said that Ning Zu'an was filial.
"What? We... we'll get it ourselves?" Mother Han widened her eyes in shock and looked incredulously at the Fifth Young Lady.
"Yes, we'll get it ourselves. They said that I’m unlucky, because my mother has died, so they won't allow me to go to the front yard. I'll go, anyway!" Ning Xueyan spoke coldly, with hatred in her eyes!
She thought, "Ning Ziyan, don't think everything is okay because you’ve married into Xia's Manor – I'll mess it up. Besides, the Lord Protector's Manor has never been peaceful."
"Fifth Young Lady, you can't go. The Madam Dowager and First Madam will punish you if they find out." Mother Han was shocked by Ning Xueyan's sudden decision. She grabbed Ning Xueyan's sleeve tightly for fear that she would recklessly rush out.
"Mother Han, don't worry. I won't be rash." Ning Xueyan's eyes were indescribably deep.
Seeing that the Fifth Young Lady was persistent, Mother Han could only pick up the lantern on the ground and hold her hand.
Ning Xueyan walked toward the bustling front yard. Everything was full of happiness, and her white linen clothes were more dazzling than the others.
Most of the servants in the manor did not know that someone had passed away. Ning Xueyan had not been out of her Bright Frost Garden for many years, and the new servants did not know who she was.
"Who is she? How does she dress like this? It looks as if someone died."
"It's the Fifth Young Lady. Look at her, she doesn't look like a lady of the Lord Protector's Manor."
"She has no manners. She is dressed like this on the First Young Lady’s wedding day? What is she up to?"
Suddenly, a woman rushed out of the crowd and reached out to stop her, saying rudely, "Fifth Young Lady, why did you come here? You're not in good health. You needn't come out. The First Madam asked you to go back to rest."
Everyone in the Lord Protector's Manor called Madam Ning "First Madam" while they called co-wife Madam Ming "Second Madam," but this was Madam Ming's trusted Mother Yun. Ning Xueyan recognized that she was one of the villains who had drowned Ning Ziying the night before, and could not help looking at her with great hatred.
"Mother Yun, the Fifth Young Lady hasn't eaten for a day. Why hasn't anyone sent her food yet?" asked Mother Han.
"We are busy serving the guests. Madame and Madam Dowager haven't eaten yet. Why are you in a hurry? When everything is done, we'll send a meal to the Fifth Young Lady," Mother Yun said impatiently.
Hiding the hatred in her eyes, Ning Xueyan raised her head and asked, "When everything is done? When will that be? Mother and grandmother also haven't eaten for a day?"
Mother Yun was stunned – the Fifth Young Lady never refuted her! She raised her head and looked up at the cold eyes of Ning Xueyan and felt afraid.
"Mother Yun, I heard that you are in charge of the kitchen today. Why didn't the masters have dinner, yet all the servants have eaten?" Ning Xueyan stretched out her hand and pointed at the greasy corner of Mother Han's mouth, smiling ironically.Mother Yun was shocked to see that Ning Xueyan was so fierce today. But when she remembered that it was madam's order to neglect the Fifth Young Lady, she was perfunctory again."Fifth Young Lady, you're the daughter of the Lord Protector's co-wife. It's very disgraceful of you to argue with us. You'd better go back first, and when we're not busy, we'll send it to you."After that, without waiting for Ning Xueyan to answer, Mother Yun turned to the two women following her and said, "Take the Fifth Young Lady back to her yard!"Mother Yun was Madam Ling's trusted servant, so she knew that she had to prevent Ning Xueyan from going to the front yard and destroying the wedding ceremony.
The surrounding maids and women reacted because the Fifth Young Lady still was a mistress of the manor, even though she was not favored. If something bad were to happen to her, all of them would be punished. They were overwhelmed, trying to wake Ning Xueyan up and calling for a doctor.The shouts in the garden passed to the front yard, where the madams were having a banquet. They looked at each other, not knowing what had happened.A blood-stained female servant hurriedly walked by, but was stopped by a madam in splendid clothes. "What happened in the backyard?"Mother Han was confused when Ning Xueyan had asked her to go to the front yard before she fainted, but now she understood. The Fifth Young Lady wanted all these madams to go to the garden!She said to the madam, "A servant stunned the Fifth Young Lady in the garden. I'm going to fetch the doctor!"Mother Han's words shocked all the madams. A servant dared to hi
Ning Xueyan stood up unsteadily, holding onto Mother Han's hand, and said, "Grandma , please spare Mother Yun. Maybe we were too impulsive."All the madams were stunned by Ning Xueyan's unexpected pleading for Mother Yun. Ning Xueyan was still young, but she behaved elegantly. They had not known there was such a girl in the Lord Protector's Manor; they had only heard how gentle and elegant the First Young Lady was.Looking at the gentle and graceful Ning Xueyan, Madam Dowager Liu felt happy and spoke with a soft smile on her face. "Xueyan, why did you plead for her? She hurt you and doesn't respect you. She's an evil servant.""Grandmother, I agree she has to be punished for hurting me, but I think today is important, and it's not suitable to kill her. She has been working in the Lord Protector's Manor for many years. How about asking her to go to the backyard? It seems like suitable punishment for her negligence as a servant." Ning Xueyan smil
"Find out where Mother Yun will be locked up," Ning Xueyan said quietly."But..." Qingyu said hesitantly."Go!" Ning Xueyan said and gave her a push.This time, Qingyu turned and ran away.Looking at the back of Qingyu, Ning Xueyan smiled.Mother Yun was Madam Ling's accomplice and must know a lot about the Madam’s schemes. How could she let her die so simply?***The Lord Protector's Manor was holding a wedding ceremony and the banquet was arranged near the second door. But the backyard was in chaos, and nobody noticed that somebody was watching them in a loft near the second door .In a vast, luxurious living room, a handsome man sat against the railing. His clothes had a pattern of bloody flowers on a black background. He was beautiful, but also daunting. Several guards stood far away, at the entrance of the stairs, not daring to move. The temperature around him was di
Hearing the Madam Dowager's inquiry, Madam Ling hurried to cry out her grievances!"Mother, I arranged for food to be sent. Maybe the servants were too busy to serve the Fifth Miss — there were so many guests, and I can't always be with the Fifth Miss! It really has nothing to do with me."Madam Dowager looked at Madam Ling unhappily for a while, then said in a deep voice, "You've been in charge of this manor for some time. How can these servants deceive and bully their masters? Although Xueyan lives in a remote house, she is also a mistress of the Lord Protector's Manor. Later, you will arrange for more servants in her Bright Frost Garden. She can't be slighted any further.""Yes, Mother. I was too busy and neglected Xueyan. Xueyan, it's my fault. I am sorry." Madam Ling made an apology quickly, then turned to Ning Xueyan and began a formal bow of apology.Ning Xueyan saw this and knew that if she were to accept Madam Ling's bow,
When Ning Xueyan finished, everyone fell silent."Who... no one will tell His Majesty!" Madam Ling struggled to speak.Madam Dowager Liu pounded the desk heavily and stood up. She pointed at Madam Ling, then turned to stare at Ning Zu'an. She knew the Madam Dowager's decision was not proper and understood the consequences if it was discovered. She disliked people who behaved improperly, and now she saw that Madam Ling wanted Madam Ming to take responsibility for her own mistake. It might bring disaster to the Lord Protector's Manor!Madam Dowager Liu was so angry that she could not speak for a moment. After a while, she said angrily, "Madam Ming has died, but you still want to humiliate her. Madam Ling, you have replaced her — aren't you satisfied? Why do you make trouble? Zu'an, how could you let this happen? Did you hate your wife that much?""Aunt, I..." Ning Zu'an trailed off, frowning slightly. He gave a look to Ning Xueyan an
The next day, the scandal of the Lord Protector's Manor shocked the court!Many officials impeached Ning Zu'an in court. They said that Ning Zu'an had hidden the news of his co-wife's death and dared to hold a wedding ceremony with no regard for ritual or principle. Such a vicious act was abhorrent!In the end, it was proved that Madam Ling was to blame, but Ning Zu'an was the Marquis bore some responsibility, as well. If he had valued his co-wife, he would have been aware of her death, and this scandal would not have happened.His Majesty was so angry that he threw the memorial to the throne to Ning Zu'an and asked him to read it while kneeling. As for Madam Ling, if not for Ning Zu'an's entreaty, and that she was the mother of Ning Zu'an's only son, she would have been killed directly."Young Miss, Madam Ling has been taken to the palace by the Empress’ people. I heard that she will be stripped of the title of First-class Marchio
Ning Xueyan looked out and saw that Qingrui was back. Technically, she was a first maid of Ning Xueyan, but in fact, she was one of Madam Ling's people. She usually relied on Madam Ling's influence and had bullied Ning Xueyan often. Qingrui was trying to curry favor with Madam Ling and told her people everything that happened in Bright Frost Garden.She likely had something to do with Madam Ming's death.Qingrui, dressed in a beautiful new satin dress, looked disdainfully and sneered at Mother Han, who was covered in coarse linen and white cloth. "I had something to do. The wedding was important, and I had to help First Miss. You’re lucky — you can rely on the Second Madam to be lazy.""Qingrui, how dare you say that!" Mother Han shouted, trembling with anger.With Madam Ling backing her, she was not afraid of Mother Han."Give your fire a rest, old woman! What kind of temper do you have so early in the morning? The Fi