The Devious First-Daughter (Web Novel)
chapter-307

“Are they all here for the Beauty Contest?” Honored Consort Ya sat on the carriage, with a smile on her face and asked gently.

She was beautiful and refined, so she was very popular in the palace. Besides, she had a son. Compared with the Empress, who had no children, she was the most influential person in the whole palace. Of course, she was in charge of the Beauty Contest.

“Yes, Your Highness. They are all daughters of noble families.” The first eunuch, who led the ladies into the palace, came in a hurry and answered respectfully, when he heard that the Honored Consort Ya was in front of him.

“They’re beautiful. It seems that there will be more younger sisters in the palace this time.” Honored Consort Ya smiled gently and gazed at them with a soft look.

“They look good, but how can they compare with you, Honored Consort Ya?” The chief eunuch said with a smile. Everyone knew that Honored Consort Ya was the Emperor’s most trusted person. Even the Empress’s status was lower than Honored Consort Ya’s in the palace. Besides, there was the Third Prince in the palace. People in the palace naturally knew where their place was.

“Did the Third Young Lady from the Lord Protector’s Manor come?” Honored Consort Ya asked with a faint smile.

“Yes, yes, she came some time back!” The chief eunuch said, pointing at Ning Qingshan, who was standing in front of him. Everyone knew the Third Young Lady of the Lord Protector’s Manor would become the Third Prince’s consort. So, he had to keep an eye on her. That was why he remembered her so well.

Ning Qingshan stepped forward and bowed to Honored Consort Ya respectfully.

“It is said that the Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protector’s Manor is also here. Come here!” Honored Consort Ya looked at the crowd, as if she was looking for something. At this time, when she mentioned the Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protector’s Manor, the eunuch was stunned. He looked around carefully and searched for Ning Xueyan.

All the portraits of these beautiful ladies had been sent to the palace earlier, so the chief eunuch had seen them. Besides, all the ladies were from noble families, and most of them had been to the palace, so the chief eunuch knew them. However, the Fifth Young Lady had never appeared in the chief eunuch’s mind.

For a moment, he was stunned. “What does Honored Consort Ya mean?”

Although Ning Xueyan stood at the back, she also heard Honored Consort Ya’s question. She blinked her watery eyes, walked up to Honored Consort Ya, and bowed respectfully. “I pay my respects to Honored Consort Ya. I hope that Honored Consort Ya will have good luck and good health.”

“She is a fabulous person. No wonder you’re so valued.” Honored Consort Ya looked at Ning Xueyan from head to toe, as if she was seeing her for the first time. After a while, she said with a meaningful smile.

Ning Xueyan’s heart jolted. She frowned slightly. “Does Honored Consort Ya mean that someone is interested in me? Ao Chenyi?” Ning Xueyan denied the name directly. “Ao Chenyi is arrogant and he could not get along well with Honored Consort Ya. Who else can that person be?”

After she finished speaking, Honored Consort Ya waved her hand. Two palace maids came over with a small white jade box in their hands. When the box was opened, there was a jade bracelet inside.

“You two sisters are both delicate. I have always liked you very much. I hope that you will support each other in the future. I will reward you with this thing.”

Honored Consort Ya smiled and waved to Ning Qingshan, who was standing aside. Then, she said with a smile.

“Your Highness, I’m afraid to accept!” Ning Xueyan bowed hurriedly. As her long eyelashes fluttered, she was trying to cover up her annoyance. Honored Consort Ya asked them to support each other at this time and place, indicating that she wanted them to get along well with each other. On that day, Honored Consort Ya also intended to let Ning Qingshan and Ning Yuling live together in peace.

She did not expect that the same thing would happen again. Honored Consort Ya wanted her and Ning Qingshan to get along well with each other.

But at this moment, it was no longer like that day, when there were no outsiders. At that time, there was only Madam Dowager calling the shots for her. At this time, she was alone, so she could not afford to humiliate Honored Consort Ya, in any case. But if she accepted it, everyone would understand what it meant. Then…

Ning Xueyan had sharp eyes, and she had already noticed that there were two words written on the white jade boxes. One of the boxes was addressed to Ning Qingshan, “First-class,” while the other one had “Second-class.” written on it. The Beauty Contest had not been held yet, but it was already clear which one was better. At the same time, it was a hint to everyone that Ning Xueyan would also enter the Third Prince’s Manor, but her status would be slightly lower.

But Ning Xueyan did not want to accept the hint. She raised her eyes and glanced at Ning Qingshan. She believed that Ning Qingshan did not want to admit that either, so she did not come up to get the reward.

“Why are you afraid? Don’t you like my gift?” Honored Consort Ya asked with a smile. She looked natural and gentle, and every smile on her face looked very tender.

Her words were aggressive and it was clear that she would not let Ning Xueyan muddle through this. At the same time, she glanced at Ning Qingshan vaguely. Ning Qingshan, who was standing beside her, lowered her head, with anger in her eyes. If it were her, she would not have done such a rude thing, but she did not appreciate it.

However, Honored Consort Ya could not say anything before the crowd of people.

“Your Highness, please calm down. I’m full of respect for you, but I did not do anything for you. That’s why I did not accept your gift. If I accept your gift for no reason as soon as I enter the palace, the other ladies will have objections to the unfair treatment. I will feel uneasy here, and the others will gossip about you and ruin your reputation.” Ning Xueyan said with dignity and gentleness.

Ning Xueyan’s words were very tactful.

Most of it was about herself, but she mentioned Honored Consort Ya along with it. After all, it was a Beauty Contest. It was a highest-ranking contest because all the candidates were the daughters of noble families. This time, the two princes’ consort and the co-consort would be selected from the competition.

Even Prince Yi’s consort and co-consort would be selected.

Honored Consort Ya was trying to intervene in the contest even before it started. In fact, she was interfering too much in the matter. Although she was only second to the Empress in the imperial harem, she was less justifiable than the Empress. Moreover, she was too biased. If someone took it seriously, he could even use this condition against Honored Consort Ya and the Third Prince.

Therefore, Ning Xueyan’s subtle speech could be regarded as a favor to Honored Consort Ya. She would not offend Honored Consort Ya.

“What a smart child. She is not only good-looking, but also eloquent and thoughtful. She is adorable. Well, since there is no difference between her and others at this time, I’ll reward you after the contest.” As expected, the Honored Consort Ya looked more gentle. She looked at Ning Xueyan with a smile and waved her hand to the side.

Two palace maids left with the boxes in their hands.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Ning Qingshan and Ning Xueyan came forward and thanked her respectfully.

Then, Honored Consort Ya did not stay anymore. She left in the carriage to give way to the ladies. The palace maids and eunuchs lined up neatly in the two wing-rooms.

After Honored Consort Ya’s carriage went off, everyone followed the chief eunuch again. After the episode, Ning Xueyan felt the people around her giving her looks of envy and jealousy. Everyone knew that the Third Prince was the favorite son of the Emperor. It was unusual that one could marry into the Third Prince’s Manor.

Wasn’t it said that the Third Prince had taken a fancy to the Third Young Lady of the Lord Protector’s Manor? What about the Fifth Young Lady?

Many people’s eyes wandered between Ning Qingshan and Ning Xueyan. However, one of them was still smiling, refined, and elegant, while the other was indifferent, cold, and beautiful. No one could tell that if anything was wrong. Because of what Honored Consort Ya had done before, they were united.

Ning Xueyan bowed to Ning Qingshan slightly. Ning Qingshan wore an amiable smile on her face, showing no sign of unpleasantness.

What did this mean? More eyes wandered between them as if they were trying to dig something out.

Today, they went to the palace first, but the Beauty Contest had not started officially yet. The chief eunuch took them to Shuyu Palace and asked people to arrange accommodations for them. Because there were not many people, each of them could be assigned to a room. The maids would make the beds and arrange the rooms. The ladies were told again that they were not allowed to leave at will. Without a call, they could only stay in the Jade Palace. Otherwise, no one would bear the responsibility of the nobles being disturbed.

After his admonitory talk, everyone left and prepared to sort out their arrangements. It was said that there would be a stewardess in the palace coming later.

“Fifth Sister, how did you manage to get the attention of Honored Consort Ya?” Ning Qingshan suddenly stopped Ning Xueyan, who was about to leave, with a smile, and asked her carelessly.

The corners of Ning Xueyan’s eyes twitched. From Ning Xueyan’s angle, she could see a hint of jealousy and hatred in Ning Qingshan’s eyes. With Ning Qingshan’s shrewdness, how could she not know what Honored Consort Ya meant just now? Was she here to denounce her publicly?

“I don’t know. Maybe when I was in Cold Mountain Temple, I was with the Second Sister. I took advantage of her presence and was introduced to Honored Consort Ya.” Ning Xueyan said with a gentle smile, “Third Sister, do you know that Second Sister will be returning to the manor today. Maybe she has arrived at the manor already. Unfortunately, we have entered the palace and missed her return.”

Ning Xueyan said that she had benefited from being with Ning Yuling, which made her feel uncomfortable. However, there was nothing wrong with her words, which made Ning Qingshan feel embarrassed. But when she saw the curious eyes of the people around her, she immediately held back her anger and forced herself to smile a stiff smile.

“Second Sister is coming back. What a coincidence. When we go out, we must meet her. We have not seen each other for three years.”

She could not be angry here and give the others a chance to ruin her reputation. Anyway, she had already been in the imperial palace. She didn’t believe that her aunt wanted to marry Ning Xueyan to her cousin. The Beauty Contest was beginning, and there were many variables in it. She would make a fool of Ning Xueyan again and again. In that case, she believed that her cousin would not be willing to marry Ning Xueyan, and her aunt would not like a woman who did not deserve her reputation.

Therefore, she was not anxious. The stiffness in her eyes turned into malice. She would never let Ning Xueyan get what she wanted. She must make a fool of her…