Chapter 464: A Maid in Two Coats

“Young Madam, don’t be angry. The Second Young Lady is really not sensible.” The maid came to coax her. She was the maid who accompanied Ning Ziyan when she married into the Xia Manor, so she was used to calling Ning Yuling Second Young Lady.

With a “Clap”, the maid received a hard slap and staggered two steps back. She hurriedly covered her face and looked at Ning Ziyan with tears in her eyes.

Ning Ziyan screamed, “Do not address her as Second Young Lady! She is only a concubine!”

“Yes, she’s… Concubine Ning. Young Madam, don’t be angry. You are the principal wife and Concubine Ning already lost her reputation when she came to the manor, so how can she compare with you?” The maid knew where the problem lay merely by seeing Ning Xueyan’s look. She put down her hand covering her face and hurriedly echoed Ning Ziyan’s words.

Others were not aware about the previous scandal between Ning Yuling and Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, but many people in the Lord Protector’s Manor knew about it. Naturally, Ning Ziyan and her trusted subordinates were also very clear about it. Everyone knew that Ning Yuling had already lost her virginity when she came to the Xia Manor. But if the maid talked about it in front of Ning Yuling, Ning Yuling would never let her go.

But now there was only Ning Ziyan here. When she heard this, Ning Ziyan felt relieved. Ning Yuling was a bitch, because she had an affair with Ao Xian. Moreover, it was said that she and the Marquis of Ping’an were not fully dressed when they were hugging each other. Even if they failed to do anything, Ning Yuling could not prove her innocence. Thinking of this, Ning Ziyan was going to tell Yuhang about this matter later and let him know how disgusting his Concubine Ning was.

Madam Ling had told Ning Ziyan about it in private before, but considering that the family shame should not be made public, she did not tell Xia Yuhang. However, if she did not mention it now, Ning Yuling would become more arrogant and try to climb over her head. Ning Yuling really thought that they allowed her to marry into the Xia Manor and wanted her to be the principal wife.

“Let’s go!” Ning Ziyan calmed down, let out a long sigh and recovered her equanimity. It was not the right time for her to fight for this. After going back, she would fix Ning Yuling properly.

“Young Madam, shall I clean up here?” She was the only maid around and had to clean up such a large place. Looking at the debris on the ground, she knew she could not get it clean in such a short time.

Ning Ziyan frowned at the sight of the broken teacup. She was angry with Ning Yuling and had not taken the broken teacup into account. If it was not cleared away, it would be a flaw after the disclosure of the plot later. Now she was acting as she had deep feelings for her sister, so what was the point of smashing the teacup?

“You clean up here and come over as soon as you finish.” Ning Ziyan looked at the time and found that she could not wait any longer. She asked the maid to stay and then walked outside. She had to catch the adulterers on the scene. In a short while, someone would come to the garden. A hundred-year-old peach tree was blooming over there. It was a scenic spot in the temple, so a lot of people came to enjoy it.

But if one went through from the back door, it would be extremely quiet and no one would discover it.

At this time, she went in through the front door. As long as she gave a shout, the large group of people who were enjoying the flowers in front would certainly be drawn here.

At the thought of this, she did not have time to wait for her maid. Therefore, she ordered the maid to clean up the place and then went out to the pavilion alone. Anyway, after things were blown up later, the maid would have finished cleaning up and would come to her.

She was afraid that the situation would change, so she had no time to bother about the fact that she did not have a maid with her, even if she was a madam. On the way, several madams looked at her and frowned disapprovingly. Judging by her attire, she did not seem to be from a family who could not afford a maid. However, there was no maid behind her.

Ning Ziyan never expected that this wrong move would lead to a direct consequence. It was because she would not be able to explain clearly and the evidence would be certain.

Mother Han did not leave with Ning Xueyan and guarded the yard gate with two of Prince Yi’s guards. After a while, she saw a maid beside Ning Ziyan sneaking out. The maid looked around furtively as she walked. When she arrived at the gate, she knocked on the door lightly.

A servant immediately popped his head out from the door and saw the familiar face of the maid. Then they lowered their heads and whispered together. After a while, the servant nodded and the maid left. The guards looked at Mother Han, but she waved to indicate that they did not have to follow. The most important person was inside.

A few moments later, a young man dressed in an azure gown showed up at the door. He was tidying his clothes while walking out, with a folding fan in his hand. Just as he walked forward hastily, the servant hurried to catch up with him.

Mother Han pointed at the young man in front and made a knocking gesture to alert the guards. Hence, one guard was left to follow that young man, while Mother Han turned to the other side with the other guard. That place was the back door of the temple. During the weekdays, some local ruffians and lechers would show up and conducted their affairs with women here.

Ning Xueyan, with Lanning and Xinmei, followed the maid from the Ming Manor. They were hurrying to see Ming Yuanhua, but the road became more and more secluded and they seemed to be entering from the back.

“Sister, why is this road so remote?” Lanning clutched her stomach. She seemed to sense that the situation was not good and slowed down subconsciously.

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“This road is nearer. Sister, what’s wrong with you? There are beads of sweat on your forehead, are you feeling unwell?” The maid turned and said. Seeing the sweat on Lanning’s forehead, she seemed to be scared, then stopped and asked anxiously.

“Lanning, what’s wrong with you?” Hearing what she said, Ning Xueyan also turned to look at Lanning and saw that beads of sweat stood out on her pale forehead and she looked very weak.

“My lady, I… I have a stomachache.” Lanning seemed unable to bear it anymore. She held on to the wall and whispered. It was obvious she was in a bad condition from her looks. Ning Xueyan frowned slightly.

“My lady, you go first. I will send Lanning back and then come back to you,” Xinmei stood nearby, also with a pale face and said.

Under the current situation, Lanning could not walk anymore. Then she looked at Xinmei. Although there was no sweat on her forehead, her face was pale as well. Ning Xueyan nodded helplessly and said, “Xinmei, you help Lanning back and come to me in the hall later. I’ll meet you after visiting my cousin.”

“Yes, I see,” Xinmei and Lanning answered together. After that, Xinmei held Lanning’s hand and left in a hurry.

“Fifth Young Lady, follow me and let’s go through from here. After another yard, we will arrive there.” Seeing the two maids supporting each other and walking far away, the maid of the Ming Manor immediately became complacent, turned to Ning Xueyan and said worriedly, “Our childe is badly hurt. There were outsiders just now, so I did not tell you in detail. Fifth Young Lady, you had better go and have a look!”

“Well, let’s hurry then.” Ning Xueyan nodded and followed the maid to walk forward. Because they took such a deserted road, they did not meet anyone on the way. When they arrived at a back door, the maid stopped, pointed to the door and said, “Fifth Young Lady, our childe is in the room. You go in first and I will go and make tea for you.”

Ning Xueyan nodded and was about to walk in. Just as the maid behind her smirked, she suddenly felt a pain in her head, blacked out and then fell. Xinmei came up from behind the maid and caught her in her arms silently, while Ning Xueyan no longer stepped forward but retreated to the side.

A guard silently appeared behind the yard gate. He carried a woman, took two steps forward to push the door open and then sent her in. After a while, he retreated quietly and so did Ning Xueyan and Xinmei.

Xinmei lowered her voice, pointed at the maid in her arms and whispered, “My lady, what shall we do with her?”

This maid was now a problem. Wearing the clothes of the Ming Manor, it was easy for others to think of her as a maid from the Ming Manor. If this matter was exposed, some people would suspect that the Ming Manor was behind this, as their maid was involved. After all, it was not appropriate to drag the Ming Manor into this matter.

“Tear off her coat!” Ning Xueyan looked at the maid and a trace of a sneer flashed in her eyes. When the maid was at her side, she knew that she was not from the Ming Manor. Ming Yuanhua had gone up the mountain at this time, so the servants around him were all young males and older females, and definitely not a maid.

Although the maid was wearing the clothes of the Ming Manor, Ning Ziyan must have brought her here. Moreover, Ning Xueyan had never seen her before, so she must be from the Xia Manor. Ning Ziyan must have taken her as her trusted subordinate after coming to the Xia Manor!

This maid was supposed to lure Ning Xueyan over, so Ning Ziyan would not let her wear the clothes of the Ming Manor after the incident, for fear that Ning Xueyan would look for loopholes. Therefore, most probably this maid would be wearing another coat inside that should be the clothes of the Xia Manor.

Only in this way could Ning Ziyan ensure that Ning Xueyan would not be able to find the maid afterward. Then, no one could prove what Ning Xueyan said and she also would not be able to give a clear explanation. In that case, others would think that she was talking nonsense and the missing maid was just a fake witness for her private meeting. In order to frame her, Ning Ziyan was painstakingly detailed and went to great lengths to do it.

When she heard what Ning Xueyan said, Xinmei pulled off the maid’s coat and saw another coat inside that was the same as the coat of Ning Ziyan’s maid. She was a maid from the Xia Manor.

“Throw her into the room and wake her up later. People outside would be able to hear her screams.” Ning Xueyan asked Xinmei to give the maid to the guards from Prince Yi’s Manor, because she wanted to stay and enjoy a good show with Xinmei. Later, they were going to the hall where the ashram was held. Ning Xueyan believed that there would be another show over there which Ning Yuling was about to perform, so she could not afford to miss it.

Ning Ziyan had set a series of traps for her, so Ning Xueyan certainly had to take a good look at it.

In the yard, the peach blossoms were in full bloom. It was a hundred-year-old peach tree. Among its branches and trunk, the bright and charming peach blossoms bloomed singly and in clusters. This was the most scenic spot of Cold Mountain Temple in spring. Almost all the madams and ladies would enjoy it once they arrived.

At this time, there were several madams standing under the tree. Judging by the number of maids and older female servants around them, one could tell that these madams had strong backgrounds and came from rich and powerful families. It was not possible that their graces could be cultivated from poor and humble families.

They were appreciating the peach blossoms and talking at the same time. While speaking, they suddenly heard a woman’s scream coming from the opposite room, and then a “plop” sound, as if something had fallen to the ground.

These madams looked at each other doubtfully and walked to the door together. Immediately, two older female servants went to kick violently at the closed door and it was kicked open at once.

A woman’s scream rang out sharply…