The Devious First-Daughter

Madam Dowager and others did not expect Concubine Ma to commit suicide and failed to stop her in time. But Ning Zuʼan was a military officer and his reaction was much quicker than others. He moved quickly and stood in front of Concubine Ma who then directly fell into his arms.

If a concubine said something equivocal and then committed suicide, it would bring shame on Lord Protectorʼs Manor.

”Marquis... you, youʼd better let me die... in case that First Madam... canʼt rest assured!” Concubine Ma pulled Ning Zuʼanʼs clothes and wept while her shoulders shaking slightly. She cried so sadly, which made Ning Zuʼan pity on her.

Even heroes fall for beauties. Furthermore, the beauty was so affectionate. Which man would not like such a beauty? Even though he did not like, he also would be proud of that.

Ning Zuʼan asked while frowning, ”Why did you make trouble here instead of speaking out?”

Seeing that Madam Dowager, who was standing by, wanted to stop her, Concubine Ma spoke first.

”Marquis... you, youʼd better not ask!”

That was how curiosity worked. The less you let them ask, the more they wanted to know.

”Why canʼt I ask? Did you do something wrong to me?” Seeing that Concubine Ma refused to speak out, Ning Zuʼan began to suspect her. Suddenly, he remembered what Madam Ling had said to him yesterday, and his face turned cold.

On seeing his cold face, Concubine Ma knew her guess was right. ”Madam Ling really told him my secrets. She wants to dump shame on me and forces me to die.”

”Marquis, I was sick and lay in bed today. The First Madam asked servants to send me food before I had a meal. I was very happy. Because I was uncomfortable, I only ate a few. Fortunately, I only ate a few... otherwise, you, you wonʼt see me now!” Then Concubine Ma cried again.

The blood on her lips and tears fell down together. How pitiful she was!

”The First Madam wants to kill a concubine. Sheʼs so poor!”

”Isnʼt the marchioness said to be kind-hearted? Why canʼt she tolerate a concubine like that now?”

”Your news is out-of-date. The marchioness is malicious. Some time ago, the marchioness covered up the death of Second Madam and held a wedding ceremony for her daughter. I heard that the death of Second Madam was related to the marchioness. It was said she also poisoned the daughter of Second Madam...”

”How could there be such a vicious woman? The Lord Protector should have abandoned her long ago!”

”Nonsense! How could she harm you? Itʼs you...” Ning Zuʼan stared at Concubine Ma with anger and did not speak out her story in the end. No man was willing to say that he had been betrayed by a concubine in front of so many people.

”Marquis, what have I done? Did I do anything that First Madam misunderstood? So she sent me poison and wanted to kill me? Marquis, tell me what I did wrong. Iʼll go to die by eating up these dishes after you tell me what I did wrong.”

After hearing Concubine Maʼs words, they all looked at the ground and saw a hamper at Concubine Maʼs feet. There was blood on the top dish, beside which there was a silver needle whose tip was black. It was obvious that the food was poisonous.

Concubine Ma was clever. She did not ask why Madam Ling poisoned her. She just kept asking what she did wrong.

”What are you talking about?” Ning Zuʼan was angered by Concubine Maʼs question. He kicked over the hamper which flew towards the crowd. The food inside fell to the ground and was in a mess. A man took out a silver needle to test the food and it was found that all were poisonous.

”It was poisoned!”

”That woman is so malicious that she canʼt tolerate a concubine.”

”It is said that her two daughters are as ill-behaved as she is. The Second Young Lady had sex with her fiancé before getting married. It is said that she lost her baby yesterday. I wonder if her baby really is Childe Xiaʼs!”

The fact was in front of them. And their words became more and more unpleasant to hear.

”Concubine Ma, calm down. Letʼs get in and talk about it. Weʼll be a laughing stone to others if we go on talking here.” Ning Xueyan came out of the back of shivering Madam Dowager to hold Concubine Ma, and persuaded her with a smile on her face.

Her words comforted Madam Dowager who nodded at the moment and looked at Ning Xueyan satisfactorily. And her face also softened. ”Concubine Ma, letʼs get in to talk about it. If you are innocent, weʼll protect you.”