The Devious First Daughter

Chapter 140. If I can't escape it, I'll face it

Ning Xueyan didn't expect to see Xia Yuhang, much less here in front of her store. She was speechless when she saw Xia Yuhang turned his head around in astonishment. How could she run into him so coincidentally?

She didn't think he had a hobby of buying cosmetics.

"Princess Ning." Xia Yuhang saluted her with a complicated look in his eyes. This woman was no longer the neglected Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protector's Manor nor the consort with relatively low status in Prince Yi's Manor. The Emperor's imperial decree had made her Prince Yi's princess. Princess Xianyun might still be around, but she had fallen ill and couldn't handle any of harem's matters anymore.

It was clear who wielded true power in Prince Yi's Manor.

Ning Xueyan didn't think Xia Yuhang had anything to say to her. Ning Ziyan was just a concubine now. As in-laws, they couldn't be considered proper relatives. It was inappropriate for her to call him brother-in-law either, so she merely smiled and nodded. She said politely and distantly, "Eldest Young Master Xia."

Without waiting for his reply, she then entered the store with her maids.

Xia Yuhang opened his mouth but couldn't make any sound. He watched helplessly as Ning Xueyan leave. He lingered outside the door for a while, staring at the storefront with a sullen expression, before turning around and leaving in low spirits.

He walked past several stores before reaching the entrance of a restaurant. He looked at the store sign before entering with his young servant. The servant blocked a waiter from coming over to serve them, allowing Xia Yuhang to walk upstairs by himself. He took a turn and arrived at the door of a private room. A servant who had been waiting there immediately opened the door for him.

With a shrill voice unlike his peers, the servant lowered his voice and said, "Please enter quickly, Eldest Young Master. His Highness has been waiting for you for a while."

It was still quite early. Those who went to bed last night would only be having their breakfast at this time. The business at this restaurant wasn't good at this hour. When Xia Yuhang entered earlier, he noticed that there was barely anyone downstairs.

Behind the door, the Third Prince was pacing inside the room, looking obviously agitated. When he saw Xia Yuhang coming in, he immediately said, "Yuhang, you're finally here. I'm going to die from the stress if you come any later."

He then settled down on a chair by the table.

Xia Yuhang had regained his usual calm and elegance by now. He sat down on the other end of the table.

There were some pastries on the table, but not any wine or dishes. It was evident that the Third Prince had rushed to their appointment without having breakfast.

Xia Yuhang had come out to meet the Third Prince. He just didn't expect to run into Ning Xueyan on his way here. He was momentarily mesmerized after seeing her familiar, indifferent eyes, but he was completely calm now.

He poured a cup of tea for himself and took a sip before raising his head. "Your Highness, what's stressing you out so badly?"

"The concubines at Prince Yi's Manor got into trouble the other day. Some of them came from my mother. Father was so furious that he punished the Empress and scolded my mother as well. My mother said that Father is very upset with her and refuses to even see her. On the contrary, Honored Consort Shu kept sending things over and those at the imperial study have accepted them as well. Yuhang, what do you think Father has in mind? Does he think that Ao Mingwan is more suitable than I am?"

The Third Prince was terribly frustrated. His mother said that she only sent those concubines over after receiving a hint from his father. But the moment there was trouble, all the blame fell on her. Not only did his father not console his mother, but he even threw a temper at her. This matter could be squashed just as easily as it could be blown up.