“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…
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