flstandardbreds Chapter 152: Concubine
Chapter 152: Concubine
This was Ning Xianyun's first time to Northern Qi, and she was sent here for a wedding. She was sent to a courtyard called Lanyue Pavilion. The location was not too remote, the environment was decent, and she had several maids serving her.
Xue Yuan lowered her head and helped her wash and dress. When no one was around, she said, "Master, you have been wronged."
"It's just temporary, it won't matter."
"Can……"
Ning Xianyun shook her head. Her current identity was the Ning family's legitimate daughter who was fostered outside. She had just returned to Beijing not long ago. The Ning family had many daughters, six in total, not counting those who were fostered outside.
Bu Yan said that he had some connections with the Ning family and made this happen.
She changed out of her pink wedding gown and looked at her pretty face in the mirror. In order to come to Northern Qi, she had put on makeup to cover her appearance. She had simple hair and wore very few red hairpins and jewelry. She looked pure and unselfish, and she often held beads in her hands. Even her clothes were scented with sandalwood.
Various Buddhist scriptures were placed in the room.
She stayed indoors for two consecutive days, chanting sutras and praying in the morning, and copying scriptures in the afternoon. She didn't even go out.
Until Liu Xiangling came, she looked around, saw the pure and simple Ning Xianyun, and saw her happily copying scriptures. She picked one up and took a look. The handwriting was neat and neither arrogant nor impatient.
Originally Liu Xiangling wanted to find fault, but she had no chance. She sat down and looked at Ning Xianyun: "Concubine Ning has a connection with Buddhism."
Ning Xianyun blinked and gently turned the beads in her hand, pretending not to understand what Liu Xiangling said, stumbling and unable to continue the conversation.
After several confrontations, Liu Xiangling saw that she was plain-looking and quiet, and the big stone in her heart slowly fell to the ground. She walked forward and took Ning Xianyun's hand affectionately: "Your Highness woke up, and you deserve half of the credit. Tomorrow is your return banquet. Your Highness is not in good health, so I prepared something for you."
Ning Xianyun looked open-minded and allowed the other party to look at her without being humble or overbearing: "Thank you, Third Prince's Consort."
Liu Xiangling was very satisfied with Ning Xianyun's performance.
If it wasn't for saving the third prince, she would never easily take a concubine. After all, she saved the third prince, but she couldn't really send her away or kill her.
If Ning Xianyun had always been so well-behaved and sensible, she wouldn't mind having a freeloader in her house.
The next day, Ning Xianyun returned home and said goodbye to Liu Xiangling before leaving. When the maid took her there, Liu Xiangling happened to be in the third prince's courtyard.
The third prince sat under the porch basking in the sun.
Liu Xiangling chatted and laughed along.
Seeing Ning Xianyun coming, Liu Xiangling's smile stopped, and she raised her eyebrows and looked at Ning Xianyun's every move.
"Greetings to His Highness and the Crown Princess." Ning Xianyun lowered her eyes without even raising her head.
"Your Highness, thanks to Concubine Ning..."
The Third Prince glanced at her and then withdrew his gaze, his eyes still calm: "It's just a coincidence. Even if she really has merit, it was you who decided to let her in. Your merit is greater than hers."
Liu Xiangling was very surprised that the Third Prince would say that. She was delighted and generously bought some more gifts for Ning Xianyun. She did not make things difficult for him and let her go.
Ning Xianyun didn't come back until the evening.
After coming back, he went to Liu Xiangling's yard and waited for a meeting.
"What is she here for again?" Liu Xiangling rubbed his brows. He was a little tired from serving her these days, so he took a nap and squinted his eyes due to sleepiness.
Unconsciously, I slept for more than an hour. When I opened my eyes, the maid reminded me, "Master, Concubine Ning is still outside."
"Haven't you left yet?" Liu Xiangling's eyes were filled with surprise. She sat up and asked the maid to call Ning Xianyun in. She raised her eyebrows and said, "It's so late. What does Concubine Ning want to see me about?"
Ning Xianyun looked around and looked at the maids, seeming to want to say something but stopped herself.
Liu Xiangling frowned, and seeing that the other party was obedient, she waved her hand and asked him to leave, and said in a deep voice: "Can you tell me now?"
"Princess, I heard some gossip when I returned home today."
"Since you know it's just gossip, you shouldn't bring it up in front of me. You are no longer the legitimate daughter of a sixth-rank official, but the consort of the third prince!" Liu Xiangling was displeased and scolded Ning Xianyun.
Ning Xianyun looked aggrieved: "Princess, I am worried that if this matter gets out, it will be bad for you."
When he heard that it was about himself, Liu Xiangling changed his sitting posture, raised his chin and signaled the other party to listen.
"I heard that someone said you were born with the destiny of a phoenix, and that the third prince survived this disaster because of your blessing."
The word "Phoenix Fate" caught Liu Xiangling's attention.
She pretended to be annoyed: "Concubine Ning! You can't talk nonsense about this kind of thing."
Ning Xianyun raised her head and looked at her innocently and confusedly. She nervously fiddled with the beads in her hand and said anxiously, "Princess Consort, I really heard people talking about it on the street. I was worried that someone would harm the Prince's Mansion. I couldn't make up my mind and came to report. Amitabha, I...I won't lie."
Seeing this, Liu Xiangling had already believed it for the most part. Thinking of her aunt, the Queen, she sat up nervously and said to her, "I know about this matter. You can go back first."
"Yes."
As soon as the person left, Liu Xiangling immediately sent someone out to inquire about the news.
The man finally came back in the middle of the night.
"After leaving the Prince's Mansion today, Concubine Ning went straight back to the Ning Family without stopping on the way. I have also inquired about it. Concubine Ning only met Madam Ning and Master Ning, and no one else. There are indeed people on the street who spread news about you."
Liu Xiangling frowned and planned to go back after dawn.
"There's no need to keep an eye on Concubine Ning for now. She's too brave to do anything reckless." Liu Xiangling had completely let down her guard against Concubine Ning.
Compared to those charming concubines in the room, Concubine Ning is really too honest.
At dawn the next day, Liu Xiangling went to visit the Third Prince first. Seeing that he looked much better and could walk around, she couldn't hide the smile on her face and said delicately, "I am so happy to see your health getting better day by day."
The Third Prince's eyes were as gloomy as water: "If I don't get better, someone will plot to kill me."
"Your Highness?" Liu Xiangling exclaimed.
"I left the capital for Xijing because I didn't want to fight, but I never thought I would still be hunted down." The third prince said gritting his teeth, veins throbbing on his forehead and his breathing rapid.
Liu Xiangling was shocked. "Your Highness, do you mean my aunt?"
"Who else could it be other than her?" The third prince's eyes were red with excitement. "I have endured everything for these years, ruining my own reputation, just to stay alive, but what did I get in the end?"
Queen Liu adopted the third prince and became pregnant soon after. After giving birth to a son, she did her utmost to cultivate him and finally named the fourth prince as the crown prince when he was fifteen years old.
On the surface, Queen Liu was devoted to her adopted son, the Third Prince, but only he himself knew the reality.
After calming the Third Prince down, Liu Xiangling immediately returned to the Liu family.