Chapter 176 Being Kind to Your Enemy Is Often the Wrong Beginning (1/2)

Xia’er was dragged outside the courtyard and to prevent her from screaming, her mouth was plugged with a piece of cloth. Ning Zu’an ordered the guards to execute the punishment. The servants knelt on the ground in the courtyard, lowering their heads. None of them dared even breathe heavily. Soon, the sound of sticks hitting people and muffled grunting came from outside the courtyard.

The air seemed to be filled with a faint bloody smell. Mammy Luo knelt on the ground with other servants with a pale face. She was scared and she had never expected that Madam Dowager would have ordered people to beat Xia’er to death. How could she be so cold-blooded to kill a person just because she had stained an account book!

The air was suffocating in the room as well. Junior Concubine Xu was so scared that she covered her mouth with her hand, shivering behind Ning Zu’an. She had forgotten that today was her big day. She had been very happy when she took the jewelry from Madam Dowager just now. No matter how First Madam protested, she had become the concubine finally, and obviously, she won the battle with First Madam this time.

If she would have a son with Ning Zu’an in the future, she might have the opportunity to compete with First Madam.

But now, she had changed her mind. Looking at the dark face of Madam Dowager and the knife-sharp eyes of Ning Zu’an, she realized that her fate was still in their hands. They could decide her life and death. The idea that she might replace Madam Ling and become First Madam was completely dismissed by her now.

The repressed stuffy groans from outside, intermittent, represented the passage of life!

Ning Qingshan’s face was as pale as a sheet and she couldn’t stay calm anymore. She pinched the handkerchief, her fingers trembling. The person who was being hit was her personal maid, Xia’er, who wasn’t strong at all, so it was impossible for her to withstand the fifty times beating. She had just returned to the manor. If her personal maid was beaten to death like this, what the others would think of her?

She also felt the authority of Madam Dowager, so in addition to shame, she was frightened as well.

But at the same time, this accident strengthened her determination. One day, she would climb to the top of power and decide the life and death of others.

Then Madam Dowager, Madam Ling, Ning Zu’an and Ning Xueyan would all be stepped under her feet. But she needed to wait. She would definitely be more cautious in the future and would never be as reckless as she was today. If she hadn’t been so hasty, things could be different. She thought that after three years of forbearance, she had gotten everything under her control. However, she had never expected that Ning Xueyan would have gotten in her way.

Ning Xueyan held up the tea cup speechlessly. She took a sip of tea gracefully, allowing the bitterness to refresh her heart. She looked down, and her jet-black eyes were cold and clear, without a trace of fear in them.

She wouldn’t feel that Xia’er was pitiful. The weak was the prey of the strong. If Ning Qingshan’s plan succeeded today, Ning Xueyan would be the one who got involved in trouble, and maybe her maid would be killed miserably.

She had failed to protect her maid in her last life, and she herself even had been murdered.

When it came to this life, she wouldn’t make the same mistake again. Therefore, she was fearless and would never retreat!

Lanning stood behind her and quietly watching Ning Xueyan’s delicate figure. She was so thin, but she made people feel strong. Among the nervous people in the room, Ning Xueyan looked so calm, strangely calm. It seemed she wasn’t been disturbed at all. Her long eyelashes cast a light shadow on her fair face, and no fear could be found in her eyes.

Lanning had never witnessed a servant being hit like that before. But she didn’t feel nervous when she looked at the delicate and slim figure in front of her.

Yes, her mind was in peace. She had never been so calm before.

She knew that danger had been close to her today. If the others found the stained account book at Bright Frost Garden, Ning Xueyan would have been blamed. As her personal maids, she and Qingyu would have been punished too. If that was the case, the one who was being beaten outside might not be Xia’er, but her and Qingyu. So it was a fight to death!

Since Ning Qingshan began to frame Ning Xueyan, Bright Frost Garden and Foggy Courtyard were hostile! So she didn’t need to show even the slightest sympathy to Xia’er, who was being punished outside.

Sensing that Lanning’s breath calmed down, a faint smile crossed Ning Xueyan’s eyes.

Lanning had always been a cautious person, but it was not enough. She must be absolutely loyal to her and obey her orders unconditionally. Moreover, she must be cruel. Ning Xueyan had always appreciated Lanning, but she was afraid that Lanning was too kind just like she had used to be in her last life.

Being kind to your enemy was often the wrong beginning.

Lanning was smart, so Ning Xueyan believed that she would understand the truth.

Xia’er failed to last until she was hit fifty times. She had no breath when she had been hit forty times. An older female servant came in to report, shivering. Obviously, she was extremely scared, and her voice changed with fear.

“Take her out!” Madam Dowager raised her head and said slowly, glancing at everyone present.

“Yes!” The older female servant dared not to say anything more. She wanted to stand up and leave, but she was so frightened that her legs went limp, so she couldn’t rise to her feet.

“Lanning, help her up,” Ning Xueyan ordered calmly. Her face was still pale, but it was because she was weak, not because she was scared. She showed no fear at all.

“Yes,” Lanning answered and then walked toward the older female servant. She supported her up, her face as calm as it used to be.

Madam Dowager nodded secretly. Ning Qingshan was pretending to be calm, while Ning Xueyan was really calm. Even her personal maid looked calm and at ease, showing the air of an excellent first maid. It was quite different from that of the unruly maid of Ning Qingshan.