The Devious First Daughter

Chapter 99. The Butterfly mark

How could Ning Qingshan not be jealous?

Both of them were co-consorts. She felt that she should be nobler than Ning Xueyan. But how could Ning Xueyan gain such honors just because Prince Yi would be marrying the consort and the co-consort at the same time? Even though she tried to worship the ancestors ahead of Ning Xueyan before the clansmen, it came to naught because of the incident at the Cloud Reflection Courtyard.

Those people did not pay any attention to her at all. She entered the ancestral temple and worshipped the ancestors first. When she came out, nobody noticed her. Instead, they were whispering to each other and talking about the affairs at the Cloud Reflection Courtyard. So, no one cared about her.

But now, Prince Yi had sent the betrothal gifts before the Third Prince. Ning Qingshan had privately requested the Third Prince to pay the bride-price earlier, but she received no response at all.

She twirled her handkerchief between her fingers, with a trace of hatred in her eyes. If it were not for Ning Xueyan, she would have been a consort. Her betrothal presents would have caused a sensation in the manor and aroused the envy of all the sisters. In that case, Madam Dowager would think highly of her. And, she could stand high above the others to see how they envied her.

However, all her plans had been ruined because of Ning Xueyan. Every time she thought of this, Ning Qingshan would grit her teeth in anger, even in her dreams.

"Third Sister, Fifth Sister's betrothal presents are so beautiful. I've never seen anything so exquisite." Ning Lingyun said with a naive smile. Since she had been released from Buddha Hall, the Fourth Young Lady, who had once been tart and mean, had become obedient and childish. She hardly seemed to notice the coldness in Ning Qingshan's eyes.

She said this in a low voice, but it could still be heard.

"Fifth Sister's betrothal presents are indeed beautiful. I saw something similar when I was at Honored Consort Ya's palace." Hearing Ning Lingyun's words, everyone turned to look at her. There was a gentle smile on her face. Seeing Mother Ruan turning her head, she also nodded politely to her and praised the gifts.

Her words sounded appropriate. Not only did she express her gratitude to Prince Yi's Manor, but she also pointed out that the presents were precious. Ning Xueyan narrowed her eyes slightly, and a trace of coldness flashed in her eyes.

"You're too polite, Third Young Lady. How can the things in our manor to be compared with those in Honored Consort Ya's palace? However, you're sharp-eyed. There are some old objects which belong to our Consort Dowager Chen." Mother Ruan said politely.

Prince Yi, Ao Chenyi, was the son of Consort Dowager Chen. In the previous dynasty, Consort Dowager Chen was the late emperor's favorite concubine. So, it was reasonable that she had one or two old objects which were better than Honored Consort Ya's. Compared with Honored Consort Ya now, Consort Dowager Chen had been much more favored at that time. Consort Dowager Chen had been in poor health, so she died a few years after she gave birth to Ao Chenyi. Otherwise, she could have been enthroned to be the empress.

There had been rumors that the childless Empress from the Lord Peace's Manor could be promoted to be the Empress Dowager because Consort Dowager Chen died early. If she died a few years later, Prince Yi would be the legitimate son in just ways. At that time, no matter how powerful the Emperor was, he would not be able to compare with Prince Yi.

But even under such circumstances, the former emperor still appointed Ao Chenyi as the emperor's younger brother. From the twists and turns of the matter, people were aware that the deceased emperor favored Consort Dowager Chen very much. How could Honored Consort Ya compare with her now?