Proofread by Prof Zhu Yuan
In the hall, Nangong Luo and Nangong Qingyao watch the limping figure of Nangong Ning and see her walking away. She has disappeared out of their sight faraway, and both of them instantly put on a grim expression.
"Yaoer, what do you think of her?" Nangong Luo feels that he cannot see through Nangong Ning now and can only ask his daughter.
Nangong Qingyao thinks for a moment, and then says with great certainty, “of course she feels it is unacceptable to obey her fate, so she is trying to regain her self-esteem."
"What do you mean?" Nangong Luo looks at his daughter with a puzzled expression.
With a smile on her face, Nangong Qingyao says, "I am now the crown prince's concubine, but her? She is the regent's fiancée. This identity is nothing but a warning sign. No doubt, she hates me, so it is reasonable for her to take advantage by words.”
Nangong Luo nods approvingly, but then asks, "And what do you mean by saying a warning sign? Do you mean to say that she became the regent’s fiancée and so someone wants to kill her?"
Nangong Qingyao nods affirmatively.
"The crown prince doesn't want her to be safe, and I'm sure of that."
Nangong Luo nods, saying, “she was the fiancee of the crown prince before, and now she is the fiancee of the uncle of the crown prince. Of course the crown prince is angry."
Nangong Qingyao sneers, feeling very happy and saying, “And there are those who stare at the crown of princess regent cannot stand Nangong Ning, a twerp, being the princess. How could she!”
"Indeed." Nangong Luo says viciously, "Then after we get our way, we'll find an excuse to get him out of our mansion, and let her live on her own."
Nangong Qingyao’s expression becomes grimmer and more somber. She wants to deal with Nangong Ning herself, but she has failed last time, and she must try to think of a better way.
Nangong Ning follows a familiar path to go forward and goes back to her residence in Nangong Mansion, Feihua Courtyard.
Feihua Courtyard is the largest and most beautiful courtyard in Nangong Mansion, although the Nangongs always try to play trick on her, on the surface, they are very good to her. She owns the best in food, clothing, shelter and transportation.
At this point, however unhappy Nangong Qingyao is, she has to endure it.
In fact, in Nangong Ning’s memory, Nangong Qingyao has been pretending to be a sweet sister in front of her until she is pushed down into the Abyss of Poison.
Walking into the Feihua Courtyard and looking at the totally same scenery as her memory, she relaxes a little.
“Miss, you are back!"
Several comely maids rush out together, watching her coming in with a look of joy.
She takes a glance at them, putting their names to their face in her mind and then giving an order, “Get some warm water for me. I want a bath."
"Yes Miss!"
The warm water is soon ready, and the maids thoughtfully sprinkled fresh petals on the surface of the water. Water and steam break them down all around her and the intoxicating scent of flowers appeals to her.
She comfortably bathes with maids serving her and changes her clothes.
It must be said that the Nangongs has done a good job on the surface. The materials of her clothes are the best and the quality is almost the same as the clothes she has worn in the Regent's Mansion.
After dressing herself, Nangong Ning asks a maid to bring her some snacks. She is a poison master, and with her bracelet in hand she can quickly determine whether or not the snacks are non-toxic and safe to eat.
As she eats her snacks, she tells the maid to bring out all her jewels, and set them all on the table before her.
The maid does not understand why she gives this order, but does as she is told.
The Nangong family is a rich family, and is not short of money. So as the Nangong family's eldest daughter, the owner of the phoenix bracelets, Nangong Ning has a considerable amount of jewelry. It can be said that in terms of the amount of jewelry, she is the first among all the noble women in the capital.
"Tidy up the jewels for me, and put the jewels together which belong to the same set." Nangong Ning says calmly.
The maids are more puzzled than before. They know that she has always been a amiable miss, but the maids do not dare to ask more questions, perhaps because of their guilty conscience or something else.
She is quite satisfied to see that all the jewels are organized and neatly put together at one side of the hall as she orders.
"Get me some young guards, preferably from the outer court." Nangong Ning thinks for a moment, and then orders.
Maids are all puzzled, and one of the older ones cannot help asking, “What are you going to do, miss?"
Nangong Ning glances at her and said coldly, "Do I need to report to you?"
"I dare not!” The maid falls on her knees and asks for forgiveness, “Please spare my life."
Nangong Ning stops smiling and says coldly “Look at you, was I violent before? Am I ready to kill anyone?"
“No, no, no, I just..." The maid only feels unable to keep up with Nangong Ning’s rhythm and secretly regrets that she has asked.
Nangong Ning snorts coldly, “It seems that you don't obey me. You don't have to stay in Feihua Courtyard anymore."
“Miss!” The maid is almost in tears. How come she is going to be turned out in just a few minutes. She was sent there with missions!
Nangong Ning’s beautiful face turns cold and she says, “You refuse to listen to me, don't you?"
The maid becomes alarmed and does not dare to say anything anymore. She gets up and hurries out.
She sneers again.
From all her memories she knows very well that no one in the Nangong Mansion is loyal to her. These maids obeys to Nangong Luo and his wife, and, like the Nangongs, they treat her as if she is a fool.
Nangong Luo must have had some purpose so he welcomes her back to the Nangong Mansion. But she also has her own purpose and she will turn his trick to her own use
But she is now alone, and her enemies are all the people in the Nangong Mansion That is why she cannot confront them face to face like diamond cutting diamond.
She suddenly shifts attitudes in the lobby, for she wants to disturb their mind. True or false, only when they cannot understand her, can she act according to circumstances.
And this maid, perhaps, is the leader of the maids. Even if she does not dismiss her, she will report her movements to the Nangongs. Now she turns her out on purpose so that they cannot get her plan.
Nangong Ning looks at the rest of the maids, saying with a cold voice, "Well, do you also not want to obey me?"
"We dare not," say the maids, quickly.
"Then go and send me some guards!"
Hearing her words, the maids run out as fast as they can.
She is a terrible woman! They have no choice.
Soon they get five guards from the outer court.
The guards from the outer court usually do not have the opportunity to enter the backyard and so, generally speaking, they have few chances to see her.
That is why she wants to choose one of them.
The people she is in constant contact with are absolutely loyal to Nangong Luo, and the guards in front of her, although she cannot be sure they disobey him, at least they are more likely not.
She says, "Come here."
The five guards come up.
The maids, as she has ordered, send her young guards. They line up, and her eyes flit from face to face.
Watching for a while, she points to one of the guards in the middle and asks, “What's your name?"
“Su Yuan,” says the young guard briefly.
Nangong Ning lifts the corners of her mouth and a beautiful light smile flits across her face. Her eyes are fixed on Su Yuan's handsome young face, and it seems that she truly admires his face.
Everyone is very upset because of her eyes, not knowing what she wants to do.
It is Su Yuan who is stared by Nangong Ning that looks calm and even, and his eyes show his disdain.
Yes! It is indeed disdain!
Nangong Ning snorts coldly and the smile fades from her lips. She says, "Su Yuan, how dare you!"
Suddenly seeing her anger, the maids think that Su Yuan is probably in big trouble, for just now she flared up and dismissed a maid.
But Nangong Ning suddenly changes her attitude, and a smile like flower blooms on her pretty face, sweet and charming.
"But I'm not angry with you, and I'm going to choose you and give you a big mission."
Not only the maids but also Su Yuan are dumb, and his expression shows that he is puzzled.
"Do you know why?" Nangong Ning asks with a smile, ignoring other’s astonishment.
Her face is beautiful and when she smiles it seems like flowers blooming in spring and dewdrops sparkling in the morning sun.
“Why?” Su Yuan can’t help but ask.
“Because you are the most handsome,” says Nangong Ning naturally.
Su Yuan is stunned and the maids all look at Nangong Ning in horror. How can she be so frank!
But he is indeed the most handsome man of all the guards, and if he changed his clothes he would look more like a noble youth.
“Since I am a face-judger, I will find the prettiest to work for me,” says Nangong Ning still naturally, not feeling at all that her words are vulgar.
Su Yuan does not know what a face-judger is, only feeling that Nangong Ning is not quite the same as he has imaged. An obscure light flashes in his eyes and then vanishes.
"Miss, what do you want me to do?"
"Do you see those?" Nangong Ning says, fixing her eyes on the neat pile of jewels.
Su Yuan glances at them, nodding silently.
"Go and find a carriage, and carry those to it, and then find a jewelry store, selling them all." Nangong Ning says coldly without stammering
Su Yuan cannot help saying, "What?"
The maids also turn dumb. She has asked them to organize jewels, for she is planning to sell them all! Is she serious?
Nangong Ning tilts her head, peers at Su Yuan and asks, “Do I make myself clear?"
Su Yuan does not avoid her eyes but looks at her searchingly for a while, then silently comes over and begins to move the jewelry box.
Nangong Ning smiles with satisfaction.
She cannot long stay in Nangong Mansion, for none there is loyal to her. So she needs to find a way for herself as quickly as possible.
Proofread by Prof Zhu Yuan
In the hall, Nangong Luo and Nangong Qingyao watch the limping figure of Nangong Ning and see her walking away. She has disappeared out of their sight faraway, and both of them instantly put on a grim expression.
"Yaoer, what do you think of her?" Nangong Luo feels that he cannot see through Nangong Ning now and can only ask his daughter.
Nangong Qingyao thinks for a moment, and then says with great certainty, “of course she feels it is unacceptable to obey her fate, so she is trying to regain her self-esteem."
"What do you mean?" Nangong Luo looks at his daughter with a puzzled expression.
With a smile on her face, Nangong Qingyao says, "I am now the crown prince's concubine, but her? She is the regent's fiancée. This identity is nothing but a warning sign. No doubt, she hates me, so it is reasonable for her to take advantage by words.”
Nangong Luo nods approvingly, but then asks, "And what do you mean by saying a warning sign? Do you mean to say that she became the regent’s fiancée and so someone wants to kill her?"
Nangong Qingyao nods affirmatively.
"The crown prince doesn't want her to be safe, and I'm sure of that."
Nangong Luo nods, saying, “she was the fiancee of the crown prince before, and now she is the fiancee of the uncle of the crown prince. Of course the crown prince is angry."
Nangong Qingyao sneers, feeling very happy and saying, “And there are those who stare at the crown of princess regent cannot stand Nangong Ning, a twerp, being the princess. How could she!”
"Indeed." Nangong Luo says viciously, "Then after we get our way, we'll find an excuse to get him out of our mansion, and let her live on her own."
Nangong Qingyao’s expression becomes grimmer and more somber. She wants to deal with Nangong Ning herself, but she has failed last time, and she must try to think of a better way.
Nangong Ning follows a familiar path to go forward and goes back to her residence in Nangong Mansion, Feihua Courtyard.
Feihua Courtyard is the largest and most beautiful courtyard in Nangong Mansion, although the Nangongs always try to play trick on her, on the surface, they are very good to her. She owns the best in food, clothing, shelter and transportation.
At this point, however unhappy Nangong Qingyao is, she has to endure it.
In fact, in Nangong Ning’s memory, Nangong Qingyao has been pretending to be a sweet sister in front of her until she is pushed down into the Abyss of Poison.
Walking into the Feihua Courtyard and looking at the totally same scenery as her memory, she relaxes a little.
“Miss, you are back!"
Several comely maids rush out together, watching her coming in with a look of joy.
She takes a glance at them, putting their names to their face in her mind and then giving an order, “Get some warm water for me. I want a bath."
"Yes Miss!"
The warm water is soon ready, and the maids thoughtfully sprinkled fresh petals on the surface of the water. Water and steam break them down all around her and the intoxicating scent of flowers appeals to her.
She comfortably bathes with maids serving her and changes her clothes.
It must be said that the Nangongs has done a good job on the surface. The materials of her clothes are the best and the quality is almost the same as the clothes she has worn in the Regent's Mansion.
After dressing herself, Nangong Ning asks a maid to bring her some snacks. She is a poison master, and with her bracelet in hand she can quickly determine whether or not the snacks are non-toxic and safe to eat.
As she eats her snacks, she tells the maid to bring out all her jewels, and set them all on the table before her.
The maid does not understand why she gives this order, but does as she is told.
The Nangong family is a rich family, and is not short of money. So as the Nangong family's eldest daughter, the owner of the phoenix bracelets, Nangong Ning has a considerable amount of jewelry. It can be said that in terms of the amount of jewelry, she is the first among all the noble women in the capital.
"Tidy up the jewels for me, and put the jewels together which belong to the same set." Nangong Ning says calmly.
The maids are more puzzled than before. They know that she has always been a amiable miss, but the maids do not dare to ask more questions, perhaps because of their guilty conscience or something else.
She is quite satisfied to see that all the jewels are organized and neatly put together at one side of the hall as she orders.
"Get me some young guards, preferably from the outer court." Nangong Ning thinks for a moment, and then orders.
Maids are all puzzled, and one of the older ones cannot help asking, “What are you going to do, miss?"
Nangong Ning glances at her and said coldly, "Do I need to report to you?"
"I dare not!” The maid falls on her knees and asks for forgiveness, “Please spare my life."
Nangong Ning stops smiling and says coldly “Look at you, was I violent before? Am I ready to kill anyone?"
“No, no, no, I just..." The maid only feels unable to keep up with Nangong Ning’s rhythm and secretly regrets that she has asked.
Nangong Ning snorts coldly, “It seems that you don't obey me. You don't have to stay in Feihua Courtyard anymore."
“Miss!” The maid is almost in tears. How come she is going to be turned out in just a few minutes. She was sent there with missions!
Nangong Ning’s beautiful face turns cold and she says, “You refuse to listen to me, don't you?"
The maid becomes alarmed and does not dare to say anything anymore. She gets up and hurries out.
She sneers again.
From all her memories she knows very well that no one in the Nangong Mansion is loyal to her. These maids obeys to Nangong Luo and his wife, and, like the Nangongs, they treat her as if she is a fool.
Nangong Luo must have had some purpose so he welcomes her back to the Nangong Mansion. But she also has her own purpose and she will turn his trick to her own use
But she is now alone, and her enemies are all the people in the Nangong Mansion That is why she cannot confront them face to face like diamond cutting diamond.
She suddenly shifts attitudes in the lobby, for she wants to disturb their mind. True or false, only when they cannot understand her, can she act according to circumstances.
And this maid, perhaps, is the leader of the maids. Even if she does not dismiss her, she will report her movements to the Nangongs. Now she turns her out on purpose so that they cannot get her plan.
Nangong Ning looks at the rest of the maids, saying with a cold voice, "Well, do you also not want to obey me?"
"We dare not," say the maids, quickly.
"Then go and send me some guards!"
Hearing her words, the maids run out as fast as they can.
She is a terrible woman! They have no choice.
Soon they get five guards from the outer court.
The guards from the outer court usually do not have the opportunity to enter the backyard and so, generally speaking, they have few chances to see her.
That is why she wants to choose one of them.
The people she is in constant contact with are absolutely loyal to Nangong Luo, and the guards in front of her, although she cannot be sure they disobey him, at least they are more likely not.
She says, "Come here."
The five guards come up.
The maids, as she has ordered, send her young guards. They line up, and her eyes flit from face to face.
Watching for a while, she points to one of the guards in the middle and asks, “What's your name?"
“Su Yuan,” says the young guard briefly.
Nangong Ning lifts the corners of her mouth and a beautiful light smile flits across her face. Her eyes are fixed on Su Yuan's handsome young face, and it seems that she truly admires his face.
Everyone is very upset because of her eyes, not knowing what she wants to do.
It is Su Yuan who is stared by Nangong Ning that looks calm and even, and his eyes show his disdain.
Yes! It is indeed disdain!
Nangong Ning snorts coldly and the smile fades from her lips. She says, "Su Yuan, how dare you!"
Suddenly seeing her anger, the maids think that Su Yuan is probably in big trouble, for just now she flared up and dismissed a maid.
But Nangong Ning suddenly changes her attitude, and a smile like flower blooms on her pretty face, sweet and charming.
"But I'm not angry with you, and I'm going to choose you and give you a big mission."
Not only the maids but also Su Yuan are dumb, and his expression shows that he is puzzled.
"Do you know why?" Nangong Ning asks with a smile, ignoring other’s astonishment.
Her face is beautiful and when she smiles it seems like flowers blooming in spring and dewdrops sparkling in the morning sun.
“Why?” Su Yuan can’t help but ask.
“Because you are the most handsome,” says Nangong Ning naturally.
Su Yuan is stunned and the maids all look at Nangong Ning in horror. How can she be so frank!
But he is indeed the most handsome man of all the guards, and if he changed his clothes he would look more like a noble youth.
“Since I am a face-judger, I will find the prettiest to work for me,” says Nangong Ning still naturally, not feeling at all that her words are vulgar.
Su Yuan does not know what a face-judger is, only feeling that Nangong Ning is not quite the same as he has imaged. An obscure light flashes in his eyes and then vanishes.
"Miss, what do you want me to do?"
"Do you see those?" Nangong Ning says, fixing her eyes on the neat pile of jewels.
Su Yuan glances at them, nodding silently.
"Go and find a carriage, and carry those to it, and then find a jewelry store, selling them all." Nangong Ning says coldly without stammering
Su Yuan cannot help saying, "What?"
The maids also turn dumb. She has asked them to organize jewels, for she is planning to sell them all! Is she serious?
Nangong Ning tilts her head, peers at Su Yuan and asks, “Do I make myself clear?"
Su Yuan does not avoid her eyes but looks at her searchingly for a while, then silently comes over and begins to move the jewelry box.
Nangong Ning smiles with satisfaction.
She cannot long stay in Nangong Mansion, for none there is loyal to her. So she needs to find a way for herself as quickly as possible.
