Chapter 93
Chapter 93: Trampling on Luo Ning
Luo Ning had dreamed of her past life.
On her birthday that day, she had gotten up early to visit her grandmother. Grandmother had cooked longevity noodles for her and gently told her she wanted to give her some things to keep by her side, and that she must not tell Madam Bai.
Luo Ning had not understood at the time.
Not until this life, when she received the land deed, did she realize that grandmother had wanted to give her a bit of her private property. But grandmother had been afraid that, since she was young and did not understand, she might talk carelessly and make things hard for grandmother among her children and grandchildren.
Grandmother had to be fair. If she gave something to this granddaughter, she would have to give something to her other grandsons and granddaughters too, and the Old Madam could not bring out that much.
With that worry on her mind, the old lady had tried to test Luo Ning’s thoughts. Sadly, Luo Ning had been full of grievance and anger and had not caught the hint.
On her way back, a snake suddenly slithered down from a tree branch.
Its body was as thick as the mouth of a vase, with mottled markings. It scared the maidservants walking by half to death.
Luo Ning was most afraid of cold, soft, slimy snakes and insects. She froze and fell sitting on the ground.
Qiu Lan, who was with her, was also scared to death, but somehow she found the strength to drag Luo Ning backward.
The snake climbed up and wrapped itself around Luo Ning and Qiu Lan.
Qiu Lan screamed until her voice was hoarse. Her hands and feet were weak, but she still gritted her teeth and kept pulling Luo Ning back.
Someone nearby laughed.
It was Luo Yin.
Beside him stood Yu Zhuo, Li Yu Xuan, and Bai Ci Rong.
Luo Yin laughed until he could not straighten his back.
Luo Ning and Qiu Lan were as embarrassed as they could be. Qiu Lan bit her lip until blood showed before she could steady herself and help Luo Ning up.
Luo Ning’s clothes were all wrinkled, her hair loose and messy. She looked as if her madness had broken out again.
After they had watched enough of the show, Luo Yin told a servant boy to put the snake away.
The snake was very tame and coiled around the servant boy’s shoulder.
Bai Ci Rong stepped forward and said: “A’Ning, you do not have to be afraid. This kind of snake has no poison.” She did not help Luo Ning up. Instead she gently stroked the snake’s head.
Her palm brushed it once, then quickly pulled back.
Li Yu Xuan laughed and said: “Many people are afraid of snakes. That is nothing. Miss Bai dares to touch one. She really has courage.”
She laughed again and said: “Our future general’s wife is no less brave than a man.”
Bai Ci Rong’s smile held a bit of girlish shyness as she asked: “What do you mean by that?”
Li Yu Xuan looked toward Yu Zhuo and said: “Miss Bai may not understand, but someone does, right?”
Yu Zhuo looked back at Bai Ci Rong, his gaze soft and lingering.
When he looked at Luo Ning again, his eyes were full of dislike. He said: “A’Ning, if you are still not well, you should not come out. Stay in your courtyard and rest.”
Bai Ci Rong sounded worried but dealt Luo Ning another blow as she said: “A’Ning has seemed in good spirits these last few days. Aunt only let her come out because of that. Who knew she would be scared again? I hope her illness will not get worse.”
Yu Zhuo’s face grew even darker. He did not want to spare Luo Ning another glance.
They seemed blind to the snake and simply took Luo Ning’s loss of control as her “madness.”
Very soon, Madam Bai came and scolded Luo Ning. She said: “Putting on an act in front of guests, what kind of behavior is that? Do you still have even half the dignity of a young lady of the Marquis Manor?”
She also said: “If you had even half of A’Rong’s grace, I would not have to worry. You should stay in your courtyard and rest well. Madness has to be nursed slowly.”
Every word stabbed into Luo Ning’s heart.
Luo Ning had not believed that she would twist right and wrong like this. She thought it was a misunderstanding and tried to explain.
Madam Bai did not listen.
Luo Ning grew angry and had a big quarrel with her.
Her roaring did not win her any support. Instead, in the eyes of everyone in the Marquis Manor, her “madness” seemed even worse.
Grandmother came to see her, but could only hold her hand helplessly, unable to say anything.
Maybe at that time, grandmother had really wanted to say: [A’Ning, leave. Go live somewhere else. Swallow all the bitterness and grievance in your heart. Only then can you live long and in peace.]
But if Luo Ning did not say it first, and grandmother said it, it would be the same as driving her away. It would only make her more miserable, so grandmother held back and said nothing.
Grandmother watched her sink deeper and deeper into the mud and could not save her. The feelings in her eyes were almost as desperate as Luo Ning’s.
In her dream, Luo Ning saw that snake again.
She also relived that day. She and Qiu Lan rolled on the ground, covered in dust, while Yu Zhuo openly exchanged looks with Bai Ci Rong right in front of her.
Her disgrace only set off Bai Ci Rong’s noble elegance.
They had played this trick on Luo Ning on purpose.
And they had done it on Luo Ning’s birthday.
She also dreamed of grandmother’s trembling hands and the contempt in Madam Bai’s eyes.
Luo Ning smiled and said: “I am fine. It is just too hot today.” She changed into fresh underclothes and gently held Qiu Lan’s hand.
Qiu Lan did not have Qiu Hua’s martial skills. She was quiet and steady by nature, even a little timid.
But this soft, timid girl had never taken even half a step back when Luo Ning was in danger. She always stood in front of Luo Ning, unafraid of death.
Luo Ning’s own death had not been a pity. She had simply failed to see through her family’s false faces. But Qiu Lan’s death had been too terrible and too unfair.
Luo Ning said: “Call Nanny Kong. I need her to do something for me.”
She wanted to give Bai Ci Rong a small return gift. As for Luo Yin, he was already dead, so she would put him aside for now. Yu Zhuo was not here in front of her, so she would keep his debt written down. There would be a day for him to pay it back.
Qiu Lan left.
On the morning of her birthday, Luo Ning put on a light pink jacket embroidered with winding crabapple blossoms and an apricot white silk skirt. On her feet she wore a pair of double strapped shoes embroidered with magpies on branches.
Nanny Kong combed her hair into a bun and set it with pearl hair ornaments. She also put a small pair of pearl earrings on her.
On her wrist she wore Xuan Miao’s Buddhist prayer beads and no other jewelry. She looked plain and elegant.
She was very beautiful by nature. Simple dress only made her look even purer than frost and snow, her whole bearing like something not of this world.
Nanny Yin, Nanny He, and Lin Zhao all gave Luo Ning birthday gifts. The two nursemaids each had made a pair of shoes by hand, and Lin Zhao gave Luo Ning a very light hand crossbow.
Lin Zhao said: “This hand crossbow has a trigger. You strap it to your forearm like this and cover it with your sleeve. Pull this string and it will shoot one arrow. There are three arrows in all.”
Luo Ning tried it out.
As long as she aimed it, the range was about three meters, stronger than a small bow and arrow.
It was also very convenient.
Luo Ning knew good work when she saw it and said gratefully: “Sister Lin, you have spent a lot on this.”
Lin Zhao smiled and said: “This is most suitable for a princess consort. Your wrist strength is not very good. This can help you protect yourself.”
Luo Ning put it on at once and would not take it off.
She also thanked the two nursemaids.
Luo Ning said: “Today Wenqi Courtyard will also set a table with food and wine. Wait for me to come back tonight. Then you can all celebrate for me together.”
Everyone agreed.
Luo Ning went to her grandmother.
In the morning, guests arrived one after another.
Luo Ning kept busy greeting and entertaining them. When it was almost time for the banquet to begin, Princess Ping Yang finally arrived.
The princess was graceful and noble, her manners full of dignity. She left all the guests staring in a daze. They all quickly stood and bowed to her with respect.
The princess smiled and said: “I am also a guest today. There is no need to be so formal. Be at ease, be lively. Do not spoil the birthday star’s good mood.”
Everyone answered at once.
The princess then greeted Luo Ning’s grandmother. She respected the elderly and spoke with a very humble attitude.
The Marchioness, Madam Bai, led Bai Ci Rong out to meet the princess.
Looking at them, the princess smiled and said: “The three of you, mother and daughters, look really alike. I did not know A’Ning had a blood sister.”
Madam Bai and Bai Ci Rong did not change their expressions. Their smiles were bright and steady.
Madam Bai smiled and said: “This is my niece from my maiden family.”
The princess was a bit surprised and said: “People always say nieces look like their aunts. It really is true.”
Madam Bai smiled and said: “Yes, I have a deep bond with this child.”
Luo Ning smiled quietly.
When they sat down at the tables, a round faced, slightly plump maidservant, who looked a bit like Chu Shuang, came to serve at Luo Ning’s side. She poured wine for her.
Luo Ning sat at the main table with her grandmother, Madam Bai, the Yanping Commandery Princess, and others, keeping the princess company, while the other guests sat behind them.
The room was full of womenfolk, almost all from families of relatives and friends. Everyone had a smile on her face.
Right at that moment, a sudden change occurred.