Chapter 76 Lannings Doubts (1/2)
Lanning nodded and expressed her doubts. ”Most of the things Mother Wang told me happened after Young Lady Ziying was three or four years old. It seemed that she had never mentioned those things that happened when Young Lady Ziying was younger. I felt strange at that time. She was Young Lady Ziying's wet nurse, how could she not know about Young Lady Ziying's childhood?”
These words made Ning Xueyan silent for a while.
In Ning Xueyan's memory, Mother Wang began to take care of her when she was a child. And Xiang'er was the personal maid her mother gave her when she was eight years old.
Ning Xueyan could not recall her childhood clearly; after all, she was a child at that time, but Mother Wang was an adult.
”How do you know that Mother Wang didn't know about what happened during Ning Ziying's childhood?”
”I once asked about the burn mark on Young Lady Ziying's ankle. Mother Wang told me that Young Lady Ziying was scalded when she was a child. But she didn't know the exact time. She only said that Young Lady Ziying had been scalded before she had arrived at the manor to serve Young Lady Ziying. But when I asked her another time, she said that she had been serving Young Lady Ziying since Young Lady Ziying was born.”
Such contradictory words made Lanning feel strange and doubtful. So she tested Mother Wang from time to time. The result of the test was that Mother Wang was not Ning Ziying's wet nurse. For reasons unknown, Ning Ziying's wet nurse was changed when she was still young.
It was very strict when a big family chose a wet nurse. When the Young Lady grew up, her wet nurse would stay with her to take care of her. Generally speaking, the wet nurse would be more loyal to the children she took care of personally than others would be. So if there was no specific reason, it was impossible to change the wet nurse in the middle of her service.
These things were always kept in Lanning's mind. Now, Lanning trusted Ning Xueyan, who was lying in bed, so she told her everything.
Lanning gradually calmed down. The girl on the bed closed her eyes. Under the candlelight, she looked pale and emaciated, which made her look dangerous. But somehow, she made Lanning feel at ease.
”I heard that Ning Ziying's wet nurse happened to be absent when she had an accident. Now she's come back?” Ning Xueyan asked, opening her eyes.
”She has come back. But she felt strange when she heard that it was the Eldest Young Lady who was marrying Childe Xia, so she didn't come back to Lord Protector's Manor. When we went to Cold Mountain Temple, I saw her outside the gate of Lord Protector's Manor. So I went to see her. Now she lives in a house on the east side of the city.”
Lanning had kept this matter in mind for some time and already wanted to tell Ning Xueyan. So when Ning Xueyan asked her now, she relaxed and told her.
Seeing that Lanning became relaxed and replied naturally, Ning Xueyan narrowed her eyes slightly. Lanning was a smart person. And Ning Xueyan now needed such a smart and loyal person to help her. Lanning was a good candidate.
One reason was that Lanning was once Ning Ziying's maid. Ning Xueyan knew that she was a loyal maid.
The other reason was that Lanning was calm in the face of an accident. She was intelligent and not rash!
But she didn't want Lanning to disregard the present because of her former master. Ning Ziying had become a thing from the past. Now, it was Ning Xueyan who was alive. Lanning mustn't question Ning Xueyan's decisions and had to firmly carry out any of her orders.
So Ning Xueyan needed to shock Lanning and gain her trust.
Now, Lanning had told Ning Xueyan Mother Wang's story. So Ning Xueyan believed that Lanning trusted her wholeheartedly.
”Lanning, don't alarm Mother Wang at first. Hire a smart maid to take care of her. Pay attention to whether or not Mother Wang associates with others and what she has done. Let me know if there's anything. By the way, I'll pay the maid's wages.”
Ning Xueyan arranged Mother Wang well.
”Well, I needn't tell Mother Wang that it's you who asked me to do those things?” Lanning nodded and asked.
Ning Xueyan looked at Lanning with admiration. Lanning was indeed a wise woman. ”I don't want her to know yet. I promised you last time that I would avenge Ning Ziying. When the time comes, Mother Wang will be needed.”
Since Ning Xueyan and Lanning had talked about Ning Ziying, Lanning no longer hesitated and told Ning Xueyan everything she knew. So the two talked for a while. Seeing that Ning Xueyan had to rest, Lanning blew out the candle, went to the outside room, and was about to sleep.
Bright Frost Garden was quiet all night.
But Madam Ling's Auspicious Clouds Courtyard wasn't quiet at all. Ning Zu'an was in a rage there.
How could Ning Zu'an not be angry at such a scandal caused by his favored daughter? Originally, the marriage between Ning Yuling and the Third Prince was certain. Unexpectedly, so many things happened during their trip to Cold Mountain Temple. Furthermore, the daughter, who Ning Zu'an had always valued, didn't help him at all, but would instead bring many things to Commandery Prince Li's Manor when she got married.