Chapter 269 - Go Down. Let’s Go to the Linjiang Restaurant Quickly (2/2)
Even the emperor was also very jealous of him, but he still did not dare to target Ao Chenyi aboveboard. What was worse, Ning Xueyan even had a feeling that if the emperor and the Third Prince won in the future, a horrifying situation would happen. At that time, countless corpses would be strewn all over the country, with blood flowing freely like streams. Ning Xueyan knew that Prince Yi was absolutely capable of burying the whole Chu Kingdom with him.
“So are you scared?” Seeing that Ning Xueyan was deep in thought and remained silent, Ao Chenyi asked, with a slight smile emerging on his cold and good-looking face. It was a question, but Ao Chenyi seemed not to expect an answer at all. Sure enough, the smile lurking around the corners of his lips turned bloody. With an air of superiority that only the king of evil demons could have, he gazed at Ning Xueyan, as if he were looking at an ant which was struggling between his fingers.
“It’s useless to be afraid. Since you have already chosen to be with me, I won’t give you any cause to regret it.”
“Your Highness, how about listening to them?” Ning Xueyan sank into silence again. Feeling a little confused, her eyes fell upon him, and she sighed lightly.
At this moment, she felt as if she had seen a scene from hell full of blood, in his being. How many people died because of him that even Ning Xueyan could see the raging evil spirit in him, at only a mere glance?
“Okay, then I will take a look with you, Yan’er.” He casually touched the hair on top of Ning Xueyan’s head. Ao Chenyi’s lazy but mellifluous voice showed that he was in a good mood. His slightly cold hands dropped down, and he half embraced Ning Xueyan in his arms. Clinging together, they continued to look down.
A moment later, the situation below had changed. On one side, Ao Mingyu sat quietly in the chair. Respectfully, Ning Qingshan stayed at the other side. It looked as if they had never shared any intimate moments a while ago. Ao Mingyu poured a cup of tea for Ning Qingshan. Handing it to her, he asked softly, “After some time, it will be my eldest uncle’s death anniversary. Do you want to visit his tomb with the others?”
“Will you be there?” Ning Qingshan asked softly. Although she did not want to go, she could not show her true feelings on her face. This dead man was her nominal father, but Ning Qingshan knew that she had little affection for him. However, she still needed this nominal father to be her link with the Honored Consort Ya and the Third Prince. Otherwise, she would have broken off her relationship with him long ago.
“I may not have time to go, for the time being.” After a moment of thinking, Ao Mingyu answered tenderly, his eyes fixed on Ning Qingshan.
“Cousin, I think that it is not convenient for me to pay homage to my father. After all, I’m now the daughter of Lord Protector’s Manor. If Lord Protector knows this…” Ning Qingshan did not finish her sentence. However, she still clearly expressed her concern. Since she was a daughter of Lord Protector’s Manor now, it would be better if others did not know that she had a relationship with the Grand Tutor Ya’s manor.
“Then, don’t go. You can just secretly hold a memorial ceremony for him in your room. I believe that if my uncle’s spirit in heaven sees you doing that for him, he should understand you. After you marry me, I will visit his grave with you, so that you will have a good reason to visit his tomb then.” Ao Mingyu said softly, with some concern. HE felt sorry for her and looked at her with a gentler expression.
“As Mammy Luo instructed me, I did not tell him the whole story of my life. Sure enough, it turns out that it did benefit me a lot.” Ning Qingshan was overjoyed. She noticed the Third Prince’s expression and knew that he felt guilty about not letting her visit her father’s tomb. Exerting great efforts to suppress her great joy, Ning Qingshan forced herself to show some sadness on her face. She blinked, and her eyes became a little red, as if she was going to cry.
She stood up and bowed respectfully to Ao Mingyu. “Thank you, my cousin. If that day comes and I can hold a memorial ceremony for my father in a righteous way, I believe that he will finally rest in peace in his grave.”
All these years, Ning Qingshan pretended to be a descendant of the Ya family, and the only child of General Ya, who was said to be killed in battle. General Ya chose to go to the fatal battlefield himself to protect his families. Since then, everyone in the Ya family felt sorry for him.
It was just for this reason that Honored Consort Ya was willing to come up with a romantic trap for Ao Mingyu with Ning Qingshan, when she was in the palace. Otherwise, how could Ning Qingshan know that the Third Prince was in poor health, and happened to be there to save the Third Prince, when no one was around to serve him? She did all of this only to leave an impression on the Third Prince’s mind.
Of course, in the past three years, she tried to keep a certain distance from him in order to make the Third Prince miss her even more. Anyway, she was too young to marry Ao Mingyu at that time. Thus, it would be much better for her to leave him for a while. But then, she made sure that the others constantly spread news about her to Ao Mingyu’s ears, without him noticing. In this way, she managed to increase and maintain her good reputation in Ao Mingyu’s mind.
Ning Qingshan said these words in an extremely gentle way and looked a little sad, at the same time. How many men would not show their tenderness toward such a considerate beauty, who seemed to be filled with such sadness? As Ning Qingshan expected, Ao Mingyu sighed softly and took her hand to pull her up. “Cousin, it’s too late now. You’d better go back early, lest others start to suspect you, which is not a good thing for you.”
It sounded like Ao Mingyu was worried about Ning Qingshan’s situation, and was afraid that it would hurt her reputation if she stayed here longer. His thoughtful words brought warmth to Ning Qingshan’s heart. She looked as if she was about to cry. Well, this time, she did not pretend. After all, she really liked Ao Mingyu. Previously, she was uncertain whether Ao Mingyu truly loved her. When she saw that he was so wholeheartedly considerate toward her, Ning Qingshan felt like her whole heart was bathed in warmth.
Touched, she nodded. “Okay, cousin. I know that. I… I will go back as soon as possible, but I want to see you a little longer.” The deep affection in her beautiful eyes was too intense to be hidden. Following a sudden impulse, she rushed to clasp Ao Mingyu round his waist, burying her head deep in his arms.
“Cousin, let me hug you once again.” she said this coquettishly. Now that she thought that her wishes would soon come true. Shortly, she would not only enjoy a high status and inexhaustible wealth, but also marry her loved one. What made her feel even better was that her beloved was deeply in love with her. Being overcome with passion, Ning Qingshan leaned her head against Ao Mingyu’s chest. Thus, she failed to notice a somber and disgusted look flashing across Ao Mingyu’s face.
“Are they leaving?” Ning Xueyan suddenly felt very anxious. She leaned back against Ao Chenyi and told him, “Let’s go down. Hurry, let’s go to the Linjiang Restaurant.”
Hurriedly patting Ao Chenyi’s hand, she turned around to whisper in his ear. The last sentence that Ao Mingyu said was not merely to advise or express his concern for Ning Qingshan. What he meant that Ning Qingshan should go and join the others from the Lord Protector’s Manor. After all, when these people got together, the one who was not there would inevitably attract all the others’ attention…