Chapter 160
Chapter 160: Pei Ying Cannot Explain
The “local specialties” sent from Grand Princess Jia Hong’s residence were piled on the heated brick bed by the window in Luo Ning’s main bedroom.
She did not let Qiu Lan put them away right away.
Luo Ning picked up a silver bracelet and said to Qiu Lan: “I used to wear this kind of bracelet a lot when I was in Shaoyang.”
The silver bracelet had fine long patterns etched on it and was covered with blue lacquer. It was bright and beautiful, like a blue peacock. Luo Ning had liked it from the first time she saw it.
There were not only bracelets, but also other pieces of jewelry.
Her hair was thick and heavy. She often felt her head and neck were weighed down, so she did not like earrings or hair ornaments, afraid they would add more weight.
In Shaoyang there was a kind of woven cloth headscarf, also in that special peacock blue color. Girls could wear it too, and Luo Ning sometimes used it when she went out.
Now all the things she used to like in Shaoyang were placed on the low table by her bed.
They had been chosen with care.
They were not only local specialties, but also things Luo Ning herself liked.
Qiu Lan picked up that bracelet and asked: “Eldest Miss, do you want to put it on?”
Luo Ning said: “Grand Princess sent these. I must visit her to thank her in person. Tomorrow when I go to the Princess Manor, I will wear them.”
These things were not very valuable. They were just quite common in the local area but rare in the Inner Capital.
Luo Ning did not share any of them with the others in Wenqi Courtyard.
Nanny Kong asked in a low voice: “Eldest Miss, is the Princess still angry? Did we not offend her last time over Second Young Master’s studies?”
Luo Ning said: “Whether she is angry or not, since she sent these things, I must go and thank her in person.”
Nanny He came over to help Luo Ning with her hair.
They put two velvet flowers in her hair, made from blue velvet cloth, simple but interesting. Her silver earrings also had little blue velvet flower tassels hanging from them. She wore a silver bracelet with blue lacquer patterns.
They all looked like ordinary things, but once she dressed up with them, they were almost like kingfisher feather inlay jewelry. They set off Luo Ning’s elegance and calm, and her bearing seemed pure and refined.
After Luo Ning finished dressing, she took her maidservant Qiu Lan and went to Grand Princess Jia Hong’s residence.
She had not sent in a visiting card beforehand.
Qiu Lan slipped some silver to the gatekeeper and asked him to go inside and report.
Soon, a maid from the inner courtyard came out and said: “The Princess has been waiting for you.”
Luo Ning followed the maid into the Princess Manor.
In the Princess’s main courtyard, the main hall already had guests.
They were people Luo Ning knew.
The Princess smiled and said: “Today I have two groups of guests. Good things come in pairs.”
Luo Ning gave her a proper salute.
Sitting there were Madam Wang, the Marchioness of Jian Ning, the Wang family’s Third Miss, and Wang Tang Yao. Keeping them company was Pei Ying.
The younger generation all stood and greeted Luo Ning.
Pei Ying’s gaze fell on her.
Madam Wang smiled and said: “Miss Luo’s outfit today looks very fresh and new.”
She treated Luo Ning the same as she treated everyone else: polite but distant. She also held herself with the air of a great house madam and did not get too close.
Luo Ning smiled and said: “The Princess sent it to me.”
Grand Princess Jia Hong looked at her, her eyes lighting up: “When I sent them over, I felt they were not fit to give away, just some cheap little things. I did not expect them to look so good once you dressed up.”
Madam Wang quickly said: “It is because Miss Luo is stunning.”
Luo Ning said: “I do not dare accept such praise. Madam flatters me.”
The Princess laughed and said: “It really is because she is beautiful, and still young.”
She glanced at Third Miss Wang and said: “Huai Feng is very lucky to have all of you around him. I said so before. The Emperor and Huai Feng are true brothers. Whenever there is something good, he always thinks of Huai Feng.”
Luo Ning: “…”
Only Grand Princess Jia Hong dared to speak so openly, pushing everyone into the water with one pole.
Madam Wang, who was usually so competitive, strong, and sharp-tongued, did not reply.
Since they did not pick up the words, Luo Ning also did not respond.
When Pei Ying saw the air turn awkward for a moment, he said to the Princess: “Mother, shall we move to the flower hall? It is already lunch time.”
“Exactly,” the Princess said with an easy smile. “I asked the kitchen to make a few special dishes today so you can try something different.”
Everyone stood up.
Wang Tang Yao glanced at Luo Ning.
He always had a particularly cold look, and there was a hint of hostility in his eyes.
Luo Ning acted as if she did not see him.
They walked out. The Princess and Madam Wang went in front, and the younger ones followed a few steps behind.
Third Miss Wang asked Pei Ying: “Is this something from Shaoyang?”
Pei Ying said: “Yes. Only that place has it.”
Third Miss Wang said: “The color is a bit darker than kingfisher feather inlay jewelry, but it makes a person’s complexion look even better.”
Wang Tang Yao added: “Maybe that is because the person is pretty to begin with. Otherwise it would look very old-fashioned.”
When Third Miss Wang and Pei Ying heard this, they both looked at him. For a moment, their eyes were full of a feeling that could not be put into words.
Luo Ning openly laughed once and said: “You praise me too much.”
Only then did Wang Tang Yao realize that he had just praised Luo Ning’s beauty, and Luo Ning had taken his praise and looked quite pleased with herself.
His face darkened.
That was not what he meant.
He had meant that Luo Ning was putting on an act again, pretending to be pitiful to gain sympathy, and showing off her ties with the Princess, using her looks to make a big fuss.
But somehow, after Pei Ying’s and Third Miss Wang’s looks, and Luo Ning’s words of thanks, the meaning of his words turned into simple praise.
Wang Tang Yao gave her a long look.
Luo Ning met his gaze. For an instant, her eyes turned sharp, then she looked away.
Pei Ying spoke: “Miss Luo, please stay for a moment.”
He stood tall and straight under a tree, calm and gentle in manner.
Luo Ning stopped walking.
Pei Ying said: “Please do not take it to heart. I did not know you would come today. I thought you would wait at least two days. If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave first. I will explain to my mother for you.”
Luo Ning smiled and said: “I do not feel that uncomfortable. Fifth Master Wang even praised my beauty.”
Pei Ying gave a bitter smile.
He said: “He is sharp by nature, and because of your cousin, he is taking his anger out on you.”
Luo Ning said: “It is not only because of my cousin. I am afraid it also has to do with Valiant Cavalry General Yu Zhuo.”
Pei Ying paused and said: “That matter has nothing to do with you, does it?”
Luo Ning said: “I heard from a monk at Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple that Fifth Master Wang sent people to inquire about my movements that day.”
Pei Ying frowned and said: “I did not know about this.”
Luo Ning said: “I was born low. How could I have the ability to harm the Valiant Cavalry General? The Heir Apparent did not even think that way. That is normal. It is this Fifth Master Wang who is really giving me too much credit.”
Pei Ying lifted his eyes.
For a moment, his gaze turned sour.
He felt that Luo Ning was pointing at him.
She was saying that he avoided and hid things because he looked down on her low birth.
But Wang Tang Yao looked down on her in another way and even sent people to investigate her.
He said: “Of course it has nothing to do with you.”
He quickly changed the topic: “I have not yet congratulated you. Your brother has been admitted into Spring Mountain Academy.”
Luo Ning said: “It was thanks to Prince Yong’s help.”
Pei Ying seemed to want to say something.
The hand hidden inside his sleeve clenched and then slowly relaxed. He lowered his eyes and, in the end, said nothing.
Luo Ning looked at him and suddenly asked: “Have there been any letters from Madam Feng lately?”
Pei Ying’s expression went still for a moment. Then he said: “Yes. She is doing well.”
“Has she moved?” Luo Ning asked.
Pei Ying said: “That I do not know. Her letters are limited.”
“Could you show me her letters?” Luo Ning asked.
Pei Ying answered at once: “They only say that she is safe and talk about some house matters. It would not be proper to let you see them.”
Luo Ning understood.
She did not bring it up again.
She ate lunch at the Princess Manor, and the mood at the table was very subtle.
After the meal, Luo Ning did not excuse herself first. She left together with the Wang family.
She would not lose in bearing and would not flee just because the Wang family was there.
She was the Empress Dowager’s daughter-in-law. She was not worse than anyone.
During the meal, they had talked about a newly opened jewelry shop in the city, so Luo Ning planned to go and have a look, and buy something for her grandmother.
On that street, she happened to meet Xiao Huai Feng and Cui Zheng Qing.