TICIEC Chapter 1.2

The Shou’an Count’s Mansion has been in decline for a century, so they are determined to send their daughter to the palace to gain the Emperor’s favor.

Ning Wanyin also took the initiative to express her desire to enter the palace, so the two sides hit it off immediately.

Cheng Shi had seen all of Ning Wanyin’s efforts over the past three years, so she couldn’t help but misunderstand that her daughter had developed feelings for the young emperor.

Ning Wanyin gently comforted her, “Don’t worry, Mother. If things don’t work out, we can make other plans.”

Nothing in this world goes as planned.

Even if you’ve done your best, you still need a bit of divine intervention.

If she is not selected, she will carefully choose a less risky marriage.

“You’ll definitely win! And don’t say such unlucky words!” Cheng Shi quickly interrupted her.

While the mother and daughter were talking, Zhou Mama, who was guarding the door, came in and announced, “The Cousin¹表妹, biǎo​mèi: younger female cousin via female line. is here.”

Cheng Shi’s eyebrows knitted slightly.

She said, “Please ask Miaoling to come in.”

Tang Miaoling.

The daughter of the Tang family of Changping Marquis’s Mansion, and also Ning Wanyin’s cousin.

The Tang family has been stationed in the northwest for generations. This time, she had traveled all the way from the northwest specifically for the selection.

Although the Tang family’s mansion is in the northwest, it also has its own branch in the capital.

But in order to curry favor with her, Old Mrs. Ning specially brought her to live in the Count’s Mansion.

Tang Miaoling has an arrogant and domineering personality. Since arriving at the Ning family, she has been acting in a domineering manner. She does not treat the Ning family as relatives, but as servants, and asks them to take whatever she wants.

Perhaps it was because Ning Wanyin’s father worked for her father. So, in her eyes, the Ning family was all her family’s ‘servants’.

A while ago, she had taken a fancy to an embroidered round fan displayed in Cheng Shi’s room and had pressured Cheng Shi to ‘give’ it to her.

That was a gift specially prepared by Cheng Shi for her daughter’s birthday. She embroidered it stitch by stitch for three months.

Furthermore, since Ning Wanyin had competed with her in this year’s selection, she had disliked her and constantly mocked her.

Cheng Shi disliked her extremely.

But her husband was still in the northwest military camp, and his life and future were in the hands of the Marquis of Changping. She couldn’t afford to offend him, so she could only pretend to be submissive.

A woman in a royal blue, double-breasted, gold-embroidered magpie-branch brocade dress walked in. Unlike her usual arrogance, Tang Miaoling bowed politely to Cheng Shi.

“I hope you will be well, Aunt.”

Cheng Shi was surprised by her sudden politeness.

Then, after a moment’s pause, she responded with a gentle smile, “Please take a seat. Zhou Mama, serve the tea.”

Tang Miaoling did not rise, but carefully considered each word as she spoke, “Miaoling saw Aunt’s round fan a while ago and, in a moment of delight, asked to borrow it for a look. I came here today to return it.”

Her personal maid immediately presented her with a brocade box.

Inside lay a perfectly intact round fan.

Cheng Shi was unsure of what she meant, so she asked tentatively, “If you like it, keep it.”

Tang Miaoling immediately became anxious, “I was just borrowing it! This is a birthday gift from Aunt for Cousin. How could I possibly compete with her for it?”

Everyone was silent.

When you snatched it away earlier, didn’t you already know that it was a birthday gift for their young lady?

Ning Wanyin’s gaze fell on Tang Miaoling, her autumn-water eyes deep and profound.

Something was not right with her cousin.

When Tang Miaoling felt Ning Wanyin’s gaze, her whole body tensed up, as if she had encountered a wild wolf while walking in the mountains, with her hair standing on end.

Her palms were sweating with fear, but to hide it, she pretended to be calm and looked at Ning Wanyin, forcing a very kind smile.

“Cousin, you look so beautiful today.”

Ning Wanyin smiled faintly in return, but she became more certain in her heart that Tang Miaoling had changed.

 

 

 

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