The Devious First-Daughter

The semi-slanting door of the courtyard was ajar. No sign of life could be found inside. Even though this place used to be isolated in the past, there was at least the sound of an old female servant keeping watch by the door drinking tea. To keep up appearances, Madam Ling designated quite a few maids and old female servants to work in this courtyard. When Ning Xueyan first arrived in the Lord Protectorʼs Manor, she truly believed that Madam Ling was a magnanimous woman. Otherwise, she would have listened to her wet nurseʼs advice to wait and see instead of directly moving her dowries into the manor.

Ning Xueyan couldnʼt bring herself to feel anything while looking at the familiar courtyardʼs door. When she got close to the courtyard, she saw a little maid looking around at the door. The maid must have missed her earlier due to the wall. When the maid finally saw her, she looked frightened. Thinking that she was running out of time, she opened her mouth in preparation to scream.

Ning Xueyan stepped forward, raised her hand high, and landed a tight slap on the maidʼs face. She used so much force that the maid took two steps backward and fell to the ground. The startled cry in her throat turned into a quiet, pained groan. She clutched her mouth. For a moment, she was knocked dizzy.

Qingyu reacted just as quickly and stepped forward to block the little maidʼs mouth. She pressed so hard that the maidʼs eyes were rolling to the back of her head.

Ignoring the maid, Ning Xueyan hastily walked to the second room to the right of the wing of the building on the slopping side of the courtyard. That was Lanningʼs bedroom.

The doors were closed but not locked. They gave away with a slight push. The table and chairs inside the room were overturned. She instantly knew that something had happened. An older female servant was forcing Lanning to kneel by the bed and tried to pour a dark medicinal concoction into her mouth. Lanning desperately struggled but failed to get out of the servantʼs clutches.

Ning Xueyan flared up in anger. She stepped forward, grabbed the servantʼs coiled hair, and tugged it backward. Pain stabbed the servant and she dropped the bowl of medicine, spilling it all over her and Lanning. Lanning forcefully shoved the servant aside and took advantage of the moment to break out of the latterʼs hold.

The servant wiped the medicinal concoction off her face and started yelling before taking a good look at who it was. ”Whoʼs so foolish as to hinder Madamʼs business?”

Ning Xueyan instantly understood what was going on. Madam Ling truly despised her. Had she came a little later, Lanning would surely die by their hands and her death would be blamed on her when she arrives afterward. She was sure that Madam Ling had made preparations to seal her fate.

”Fifth Young Lady, please let go of me. Itʼs First Madam who sent me here. This girl is the one who harmed Lady Ning Ziying. First Madam sent me here to execute this maid who harmed her master. You must not ruin her plans.” This servant was pretty slick. When she saw that it was Ning Xueyan, an idea immediately struck her and she started spinning lies.

She truly believed that Ning Xueyan couldnʼt do anything to her. Thus, she spoke brazenly and self-righteously. She shoved Ning Xueyanʼs hand aside and stood up. She even straightened her neck smugly. Then, looking as if she recalled something, she pointed to Ning Xueyan and sneered.

”Fifth Young Lady, didnʼt you say you will be coming two hours later? ”Iʼm going to report this to First Madam and the Marquis. I canʼt believe youʼre so cunning! Everything you do is premeditated. Letʼs see if First Madam will let you off!”

She then haughtily made her way out.

Even though Madam Ling had her suspicions about everything that had happened, she ultimately believed it was all an accident. If she found out that it was all part of Ning Xueyanʼs plans and the latter was feigning ignorance, she would surely kill her.

The sound of a dying yelp followed the sound of a crash. The servant fell to the ground with her head and face drenched with blood. Ning Xueyan stood nearby with a cool expression. The only thing left of the flower vase in her hand was a base dyed with blood. The fragments were scattered across the floor amid a pool of vibrantly red blood.

Lanning recovered her senses and calmed down. She lowered her body and checked the servantʼs breathing. In a trembling voice, she said, ”She... Sheʼs dead!”