The Devious First Daughter

Chapter 144. Power Demonstration

Everyone saw a surprised-looking maid of Prince Yi's Manor behind them.

Seeing that Third Young Lady Ning had been warned earlier, it became apparent that her motive in coming here wasn't so pure. There was also the fact that the Third Prince decided to return in the middle of their stroll. Could it be that they had planned for a rendezvous?

And at the Prince Yi's Manor, at that! The Third Prince wasn't acting in a way that befitted his status.

"Third Sister insisted on coming here, saying that there might be a place we can rest in. She said her foot isn't well," Ning Lingyun explained on her sister's behalf. Her explanation, however, made everyone look at Ning Qingshan's legs and made the latter feel like her secret had been exposed. She even felt that they were giving her extra glances because they noticed that her foot was lame.

"Shut up! Stop talking!" Ning Qingshan retorted angrily. She wanted to strangle Ning Lingyun to death but her excessive reaction made everyone think she had a poor character. She was a completely different person behind everyone's back. To think that the Third Prince treated such a woman as his treasure and even met her privately. It seemed that he didn't have a good eye for people.

This made it seem like the Third Prince, ever the gentleman, was also a two-faced person.

The rest looked at Ning Qingshan and then at Ao Mingyu. Although they didn't say anything, it was obvious what they were thinking.

Ao Mingyu was so angry that he wanted to blow up. He never imagined that Ning Qingshan would be so stupid. In her letter, she said she would ruin Ning Xueyan's banquet. He didn't believe that she could create much trouble in Prince Yi's Manor but she sounded so certain that he couldn't help but trust her.

Thus, he went along with her plan. To him, Ning Lingyun was an insignificant sacrificial piece. Being able to suppress Ao Chenyi was too much of an advantageous move.

Little did he imagine that when he rushed over, he would see Ning Qingshan hugging Ao Xian's leg and the two of them falling over after fighting. The others were giving him strange looks, too. Veins throbbed on his forehead. How could he not be angry when this plan had even affected his reputation? He stared at Ning Qingshan with intense hatred in his eyes.

He wanted to be the Crown Prince, so he tried his best to appear gentle and graceful to everyone and everything. He wanted others to think of him as a modest gentleman so he could earn the support of the court officials. Could someone tell him what was going on now? Where did that idiotic Ning Qingshan find the nerve to fight with Ao Xian?

The Fourth Prince stepped forward to ease the situation. "Take the ladies of the Lord Protector's Manor away. This is a rest area for male guests." Although Ao Mingyu was his rival, they were at Prince Yi's Manor after all. Prince Yi was their biggest competitor; they had to defeat him in order to stand a chance.

"Let's break it up. We should be checking out the flowers in the manor. This is a flower-viewing banquet, after all. It wouldn't be nice to tire ourselves from walking around before getting a drink, would it? If Uncle finds out, he'll criticize me for not entertaining you well."

"Let's go! Let's go! We should check out the flowers!"

"The flowers in Prince Yi's Manor are gorgeous. Come on, let's go and take a look."

Since Ao Mingwan had said as much, the other Princely Heirs knew better than to say anything else. They played along and pretended as if they didn't see the miserable Ning Qingshan. They did what they should, be it turning their heads, looking behind them, or stepping aside, to open up a path for the ladies.

Ning Qingshan also knew that it was time to leave. She immediately stood up and walked away.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd made a quiet, mocking sound of laughter. It was barely audible but Ning Qingshan was riled up upon hearing it. She sped up, almost as if she was fleeing. All she wanted was to leave this place and not hear anyone mocking her.