“Miss, Ning Ziying has been beaten and is passed out. Should I continue to beat her?”

Two women in fine clothes were sitting high up in the Yunying courtyard of the Lord Protector’s Manor scornfully looking at the thing that was huddled up on the ground. It was badly mutilated and could be recognized as a human being. They picked up their teacups and slowly took a sip of tea.

One of them walked forward and brushed aside the matted hair on the face of that person. She said with affectation, “Sister Ying, wake up, Sister Ying!”

Having been awakened by the pain on her face, Ning Ziying raised her dirty face covered with mud, where a few deep blood stains could be seen that had just been scratched by Ning Ziyan’s nails.

“Sister Ying, don’t hate your elder sister. You had an affair with another man before marriage. It is really shameful. How could Brother Yuhang marry a dirty woman like you…”

“Ning Ziyan!” she raucously bellowed with difficulty, “it is you who had an affair with a man and made my fiance break it off with me!”

Ning Ziyan put her hand holding a hanky under her nose as if to block something dirty while she said with disdain, “Brother Yuhang and I are fond of each other. It’s you who shamelessly messed around with him! At first, I took pity on you. It’s OK to let you become Brother Yuhang’s concubine as the minister’s mansion can afford a concubine who serves me with drinks, but you were unlucky. When you had a tryst with a man, you ran into Brother Yuhang and me, so I had to take action…”

Looking at the perky Ning Ziyan in front of her, Ning Ziying just felt a surge of anger. This woman, who had secretly had an affair with her fiance and even got pregnant out of wedlock, had falsely accused her of having an affair with another man before her wedding in order to take her marriage away! How could there be such a vicious woman in the world like her, whom she had treated as her own elder sister before?

With her eyes full of hatred, Ning Ziying had been beaten unconscious by the servants. She was only able to lie on the ground. Suddenly, she rushed at Ning Ziyan and fiercely bit her hand, making her mouth bloody and teeth break. She felt her teeth cut open the skin on her hand and become embedded in the flesh, where bright-red blood oozed out. It was unknown whether that blood came from her mouth or Ning Ziyan’s hand!

Madam Ling, the Lord Protector’s wife, who sat next to Ning Ziyan watching the fun, just then rushed over to beat and scold Ning Ziying. But no matter how much pain Ning Ziying felt when her back and body were being beaten, she did not let up her bite. She stared straight at Ning Ziyan and bit her with greater and greater force.

“Bitch!”

A powerful male voice suddenly resounded among the noise, which came from Xia Yuhang!

The next moment, Ning Ziying felt that her abdomen had been ferociously hit by something. Completely unguarded, she was hit and flew straight out, smashing into a large stone by the lake! A mouthful of blood sprayed out, which stained the ground red in front of her!

“How dare you hurt Yan’er! Throw this shameless bitch into the lake,” Xia Yuhang said coldly.

“How dare you bite me! Drown this bitch in the lake!” Ning Ziyan shouted with madness…

Ning Ziying wanted to look up at the man who had spoken sweet words to her yesterday but today could mercilessly kill her. However, the next moment several people grabbed her hair and dragged her into the nearby lotus pond.

“Miss!” The scream came from Xiang’er, her personal maid. She tried to look back, but she could not see what was in front of her eyes.

She was violently suffocating and her numb body could not feel pain any longer. With her last bit of strength, she tried to focus her eyes on the faces of Madam Ling, Ning Ziyan, and Xia Yuhang. She smiled silently toward the sky. Her sad, distorted smile could be seen through the fluctuations of the water surface, and it was cold and bloodthirsty…

“Someone come over here, put stones onto them, and make them sink into the water. After tomorrow, we’ll tell others that they have drowned.” Madam Ling stood up and coldly instructed once the water’s surface no longer fluttered and the mistress and her maid were dead.

“Yes, madam!” Several ladies sharply grabbed either side of a stone and tied to Ning Ziying and Xiang’er, then pushed it hard into the lotus pond with a big splash. Immediately, it turned into light ripples. No one knew that the owner of the Yunying Courtyard had died in this lotus pond.

“Yan’er, you were bitten badly by the damn bitch. Go and see the doctor. Don’t put off tomorrow’s wedding because of that.” Madam Ling turned her head to Ning Ziyan and spoke empathetically after she had dealt with everything in sight.

“Mom, don’t worry about my minor injury. Will the death of Madam Ming delay my and Brother Yuhang’s wedding?” Xia Ziyan pointed to the southeast corner of the backyard where Madam Ming, the co-wife of Lord Protector Ning Zu’an, lived. Just now, someone had reported that Madam Ming was dead!

Madam Ming was the co-wife of the Lord Protector and had the same position as her, the wife of the Lord Protector. If the news were to be spread out, Ning Ziyan, as her daughter, could not marry until three months later. But even though she could wait, her pregnant belly could not!

“That bitch didn’t die earlier or later, but at this moment. Don’t worry, Yan’er. I will put off the time of her death until the day after tomorrow,” Madam Ling snorted coldly. The bitch should have died long ago, but unexpectedly she had a hard life. Her death was postponed for half a month, which happened to be in collision with her baby daughter’s wedding day!

As they spoke, their group of people suddenly walked out of the door of the Yunying Courtyard. The last lady to leave closed the door, and the Yunying Courtyard was restored to peace and quiet again. No one would have thought that this empty, closed yard had lost its owner…

But that sinking body suddenly woke up in the water. The floating body made her grasp something in front of her subconsciously.

Awake!

As she opened her eyes and looked at the strange surroundings, Ning Ziying was full of doubts.

She had undoubtedly been drowned in the lotus pond. So, where was she now?

“Where am I"

Seeing the white clothes on her body and the simple arrangement of a funeral in the house, Ning Ziying suddenly felt dizzy, and a lot of strange memories poured into her mind.

Ning Xueyan was the cowardly, 14-year-old Fifth Young Lady of the Lord Protector’s Manor. Her natural mother was the unfavored co-wife of the Lord Protector, Madam Ming, who had died the day before. Ning Xueyan had died at her mother’s funeral due to grief and weakness.

And Ning Ziying was reborn in Ning Xueyan’s body. She was no longer the Ning Ziying who went to the Lord Protector’s Manor for shelter.

The sound of joy and laughter in the front yard made her feel that it was a dream…

According to Ning Xueyan’s memories, it was Xia Yuhang and Ning Ziyan who were married now.

They thought that Ning Ziying had died!

Every dog has its day. Now she was no longer the same as she used to be. This time, it was her turn to send them to hell…

“Fifth Young Lady, Fifth Young Lady.” Mother Han’s voice came from the door.

“Mather Han, I’m here.” There was a mute voice in her throat. She had lost consciousness and been hungry for a day. She was lucky to be able to make a sound.

Hearing the sound of Ning Xueyan, Mother Han rushed over and said, “Fifth Young Lady, I brought you some water. Have a drink and rest for a while.”

“Mother Han, hasn’t madam arranged someone to send me food yet?” After drinking some water, Ning Ziying did not feel any pain in her throat. She slightly recovered her original voice and her gaze became serious. At this time, the bride had left, but the guests were still there according to noise outside. “Everyone will see if I go out now and make trouble for them,” Ning Xueyan thought.

“I have asked them, and they said…” Mother Han swallowed hard as she looked at Ning Xueyan, “they said that the First Madam would ask someone to send food to you soon.”

“Mother Han, let’s go and get it ourselves!” Ning Xueyan stood up suddenly with a mocking smile on her lips. If she remembered correctly, aside from the Madam Dowager, who very much valued face, there was a Madam Dowager Liu in the Lord Protector’s Manor, and both were extremely respectful of the rules.

This Madam Dowager Liu was the aunt of Ning Zu’an, the Lord Protector. Her dead husband was a famous scholar in the regions south of the Yangtze River and she only had a daughter. After her husband died and her daughter was married, she lived alone. So Ning Zu’an went to her home to bring her to the Lord Protector’s Manor to take care of her. At that time, all the people in the court said that Ning Zu’an was filial.

“What? We… we’ll get it ourselves?” Mother Han widened her eyes in shock and looked incredulously at the Fifth Young Lady, who had always been weak and protected by her.

“Yes, we’ll get it ourselves. They said that my mother has died and I’m unlucky now, so they don’t allow me to go to the front yard. I’ll go!”

Ning Xueyan spoke coldly, with hatred in her eyes!

“Ning Ziyan, don’t think everything is okay as long as you enter the Xia’s Manor. I’ll mess it up. Besides, the Lord Protector’s Manor never has been peaceful.”

“Fifth Young Lady, you can’t go. The Madam Dowager and First Madam will punish you if they find out.” Mother Han was shocked by Ning Xueyan’s sudden decision. She grabbed Ning Xueyan’s sleeve tightly for fear that she would recklessly rush out.

“Mother Han, don’t worry. I won’t be rash.” Ning Xueyan’s eyes were indescribably deep.

Seeing that the Fifth Young Lady was persistent, Mother Han could only pick up the lantern on the ground and hold Ning Xueyan with her hand.

Ning Xueyan walked toward the bustling front yard. Everything was full of happiness, and her white linen clothes were more dazzling than the others.

Most of the servants in the manor did not know that someone had passed away. And Ning Xueyan had not been out of her Bright Frost Garden for many years due to cowardice. The new servants did not know who she was, secretly guessing her identity.

“Who is she? How does she dress like this? It looks as if someone died.”

“It’s the Fifth Young Lady. Look at her, she doesn’t look like a lady of the Lord Protector’s Manor.”

“She has no manners. The First Young Lady got married today, but she is dressed like this. What does she want to do?”

Suddenly, a woman rushed out of the crowd and reached out to stop her, saying rudely, “Fifth Young Lady, why did you come here? You’re not in good health. You needn’t come out. The First Madam asked you to go back to rest.”

Everyone in the Lord Protector’s Manor called Madam Ning “First Madam” while they called co-wife Madam Ming “Second Madam”. The comer was Madam Ming’s trusted Mother Yun. Ning Xueyan recognized that she was one of the villains who had drowned Ning Ziying the night before. She could not help looking at her with great hatred.

“Mother Yun, the Fifth Young Lady hasn’t eaten for a day. Why hasn’t anyone sent her food yet?” asked Mother Han.

“We all are busy serving the guests. Madame and Madam Dowager haven’t eaten yet. Why are you in a hurry? When everything is done, we’ll send a meal to the Fifth Young Lady,” Mother Yun said impatiently.

“When everything is done? When will that be? Mother and grandmother also haven’t eaten for a day?” Hiding the hatred in her eyes, Ning Xueyan raised her head and asked in amazement.

The Fifth Young Lady, who had always been cowardly and seldom spoke loudly, had refuted Mother Yun today, which stunned Mother Yun. She raised her head and looked up at the cold eyes of Ning Xueyan and felt afraid.

“Mother Yun, I heard that you are in charge of the kitchen today. Why didn’t the masters have dinner, yet all the servants have eaten?” Ning Xueyan stretched out her hand and pointed at the greasy corner of Mother Han’s mouth, smiling ironically.

“Fifth Young Lady, you’re the daughter of the Lord Protector’s co-wife. It’s very disgraceful of you to argue with us. You’d better go back first, and when we’re not busy, we’ll send it to you.” Mother Yun was shocked to see that Ning Xueyan was so fierce today. But when she remembered that it was madam’s order to neglect the Fifth Young Lady and her cowardice, she was perfunctory again.

After that, without waiting for Ning Xueyan to answer, Mother Yun turned to the two women following her and said, “Come on, take the Fifth Young Lady back!”

Mother Yun was Madam Ling’s trusted servant, so she knew that she had to prevent Ning Xueyan from going to the front yard. So, Mother Yun asked them to take Ning Xueyan away, as she could not let her destroy the wedding ceremony.

“Who dares to touch me!” Looking at the two women coming at her in a threatening manner, Ning Xueyan suddenly gave a sneer and spoke sharply.

The indignation on Ning Xueyan’s face threatened the two women, and they did not dare to come closer.

Mother Yun felt humiliated and shouted at the two women, “Go ahead and take Fifth Young Lady away.”

Ning Xueyan sneered in her mind. Madam Ling’s servants dared to bully a mistress, but this was exactly what she needed. She pushed aside Mother Han who was protecting her, stepped forward, and slapped Mother Yun. “I am the mistress, and you dare to bully me!”

She slapped Mother Yun’s face heavily with great hatred.

No one expected that the cowardly the Fifth Young Lady would slap the First Madam’s personal servant!

Mother Yun had never received such treatment in the manor. She covered her face subconsciously and roared with a fierce look on her face, “How dare you slap me!”

She was dizzy now, just feeling the buzz in her ear. She felt that she was losing face when she saw several maids and women on the side secretly laughing.

She forgot that Ning Xueyan was also the mistress of this manor due to being enraged and she rushed at Ning Xueyan and was going to hit her!

“Sure enough, you’re an evil flunky and dare to beat a mistress,” Ning Xueyan thought with mockery in her eyes. She moved to one side, but pretended to be unsteady and fell down. Before she fell down, she secretly stretched out one foot and tripped Mother Yun, who then fell down beside Ning Xueyan.

Looking at Mother Yun coming over to her, Ning Xueyan stretched out from a very hidden angle and pinched Mother Yun hard on her ******. Then she fell down on top of Mother Yun, so it seemed that it was Mother Yun who had dragged her down.

Mother Yun screamed out in pain because of Ning Xueyan’s hard pinch. She completely forgot that Ning Xueyan was the mistress of the Lord Protector’s Manor, and was going to beat Ning Xueyan while she scolded her. “Bitch! How dare you hit me! I’ll kill you today.”

The maids and women around them responded at this time, and immediately rushed up to stop Mother Yun. Mother Han reacted quickly and protected Ning Xueyan with her body. It was chaos.

“Stop! What’s going on?” The angry sound came from over their heads. Madam Ling, who came in hurriedly, almost went mad when she saw the scene! She stared at Mother Yun fiercely. Mother Yun felt afraid so she let go of Ning Xueyan’s arm and hurried to explain.

“Madam, the Fifth Young Lady slapped me. Look, my face is swollen.” Mother Yun complained to Madam Ling, pointing at her swollen face. It had become red and swollen, and it could be seen that she had been slapped.

“Fifth Young Lady, what’s the matter? You don’t stay well in the Bright Frost Garden. Why did you come here and slap my servant?” Madam Ling frowned and looked at Ning Xueyan, who was being protected by Mother Han.

Ning Xueyan held Mother Han’s hand and stood up with difficulty. Her face looked pale. She pointed at Mother Yun and said, “She not only scolded me, but also bit me. Mother, please exercise justice for me.”

“Ah!”

All of them screamed, and their eyes fell on Ning Xueyan’s sleeves, where there was a large bloodstain and blood still dripped from the sleeves. They all realized that Ning Xueyan’s pale face was caused by excessive blood loss.

This sudden change surprised everyone except Ning Xueyan! She hid all the hatred on her face. Because of her pale face and bleeding wounds, she looked more miserable in the eyes of the people around her.

“Madam, I didn’t bite her!” Mother Yun was also shocked, hurrying to explain. Even though Ning Xueyan was not favored, she still was a mistress of the manor.

“Do you mean that I bit myself?” Ning Xueyan stood unsteadily, covering her head with one hand. It looked like she was going to faint, but she still forced herself to turn her head to Madam Ling. “Mother, please exercise justice for your daughter.”

She emphasized the word “daughter” when she begged, then fell back after saying it. Mother Han hurried to reach out to catch hold of her. Before fainting, Ning Xueyan said something in Mother Han’s ear in a low voice.