The Devious First-Daughter

Ning Xueyan walked up to the table and opened one of the boxes. She used her sharp fingernail to scrap the powder and placed them near her nose for a sniff. It was a light, natural fragrance. It was the type of face powder most popular among young ladies, whether in terms of texture or fragrance. She smirked. ”Keep this and put it in the drawer. We can talk about it after I return.”

The face powder was a top-notch product and exactly what she needed right now. Her monthly allowance wasnʼt even enough to pay for a box of it. Ning Ziyanʼs present had come at just the right timing.

This could be considered as a case of preparation averting peril. She would strike Madam Ling where it hurts at the right timing and use the face powder that her eldest daughter sent to ruin her second daughter. She wondered if Madam Ling would go mad over this.

”Young Lady, you must refrain from using cosmetics now or people will talk.” Mother Han thought that Han Ziyue was nursing a womanʼs sense of vanity. After thinking about it, she pitied her master for never having the chance to use such face powder since young. Thus, she merely warned her instead of stopping her.

”Relax, Mother Han. I understand. Just put it away for now.” Ning Xueyan nodded. Since she didnʼt plan to use the face powder herself, she naturally wasnʼt concerned.

”Iʼm glad you understand.” Mother Han was relieved.

”Mother Han, do you know when Uncle is arriving in the capital?” Ning Xueyan took a seat at a nearby table. Under the light, her palm-sized face appeared contemplative. She didnʼt look like a carefree 14-year-old girl at all. This upset Mother Han even further. Without Second Madam sheltering her in the future, her days would be even harder.

Simultaneously, she also vowed to protect Ning Xueyan from now on!

”We just delivered the letter the night before yesterday. It will reach him 10 days later at the soonest.”

Madam Ming never exchanged letters with her Eldest Brother stationed in the border army. It was Ning Xueyan who wrote the letter. However, she couldnʼt remember her maternal uncle very well and her mom didnʼt seem to have a good relationship with him. It had been more than 10 years since they met and Madam Ning never wrote to him during that time. If not for Mother Han mentioning his name in a moment of desperation, she would have forgotten that her mom had a brother.

Mother Han stammered through a vague explanation of past events and concealed quite a few details but when it came to her uncleʼs adoration for her, she wasnʼt at all ambiguous. She was very sure that he would rush over if Ning Xueyan wrote him a letter, prompting the latter to draft one on the spot and ask her to send it that very night.

Regardless of when this uncle of hers shows up, she could tell from Ning Zuʼanʼs reaction that day that the former had quite the influence over him. She hoped that her uncle truly cared for her and would be able to return to the capital in a month.

”Mother Han, are the servants from Eldest Sisterʼs manor still here?”

”They were here moments ago. Do you have a need for them, Young Lady?” Mother Han stopped in her tracks.

”Tell them to relay my gratitude to Eldest Sister and tell her that she doesnʼt have to hurry to the temple. Iʼm fine with having Qingyu and Lanning for company.”

Lanning was a maid that the Lord Protectorʼs Manor assigned her. The day Madam Ling barged into the Cloud Reflection Courtyard with her people, Lanning happened to be away. Ning Ziyan said that Lanning was the one who claimed that Ning Ziying was having an affair with a man. She never believed this! Even if she had her reservations, she became convinced after seeing Lanning remaining in the Cloud Reflection Courtyard alone and Madam Lingʼs intention to kill her.

She wondered if Ning Ziyan would feel pressured when she sees Lanning again.

Auspicious Clouds Courtyard.

Mother Chen frantically pushed open the door to a bedroom. ”First Madam! I went over with a group of servants but no one is there. The Cloud Reflection Courtyard is deserted and I canʼt find Old Servant Ling anywhere. I asked around at the Bright Frost Garden and heard that Lanning has returned with Fifth Young Lady, safe and sound.”

”Crash!” The teacup in Madam Lingʼs hand crashed into a nearby small side table. Her exquisite, pale face was contorted into an ugly expression. ”That damned old servant actually failed her task. Give her a good beating when you see her.”