Chapter 111
“I can’t believe I am getting married in a week. Even though it’s a more or less fake wedding, I am still getting married.” Yang Ning commented while trying out the pieces of jewelry that Yu Ling had asked her to try on and see if she needs to make any changes to them.
Even though these ornaments were supposed to be her dowry gift, she is the one who is going to wear them in the end. That’s why Yu Ling has asked her to check them and see if they look good on her or not.
These were the pieces of jewelry that Chang Ah had skipped from the gift list since they were expensive and cost a fortune to buy them.
After Yu Ling confronted Chang Ah the other day, she didn’t miss a day and purchased the other gifts that she missed out on in a hurry. Because she was worried that Yu Ling might tell Yang Luoyang about it and will cause trouble for her.
She cannot afford that. Not when the royal wedding is up ahead.
” Hmm. I never noticed this before, but Yang Ning is such a beauty. How can her skin be so clear and glowing?” She stared at her reflection in the mirror and caressed her face, admiring the softness of Yang Ning’s skin.
Since she used to be an athlete, she used to work out and train hard, which causes her to sweat a lot. Her skin was never soft or smooth but more firm and rough than an average girl.
It feels strange to have such soft and smooth skin. How can it be possible? She wondered.
.....
Yang Ning never did any treatment or used any herbs to make her skin more glowing. Yet her skin is so soft and gives a glossy look. She is truly a natural beauty that can make anyone’s heart flutter with a single look.
If Zheng Liang is the boy who has come out of a comic book, Yang Ning was the female version of him.
Why did she have to be the Villainess of the novel when she has all the qualities of becoming the main lead of the story?
” The writer of the novel must be jealous of pretty ladies. That’s why they always turn the prettiest woman into a villainess.” She commented with a scoff while putting the jewelry on the table carefully.
They’re so precious and expensive. She cannot dare to break them, not before the royal wedding at the least.
” Come in!” Yang Ning reacted when she heard a knock on the door.
She was expecting Xiaowei to bring food to her. It was almost lunchtime and her stomach was growling like a hungry hyena.
“Eh? Why did you come empty-handed? Where is the food?” Yang Ning asked in confusion when Xiaowei entered the room and was not holding anything in her hands.
Did she forget to bring her the food?
“Milady, Lord Yang has asked you to come to the front gate of the Household,” Xiaowei said.
Yang Ning frowned at the sudden mention of Yang Luoyang and she couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.
How come he wants to see her suddenly?
” Why? Did something happen?” Yang Ning asked, turning her attention to Xiaowei.
Xiaowei shook her head and said, ” It’s nothing serious. He has called you outside to welcome the Young Master, who is returning to the Household from the academy after six months.”
“His carriage has entered the capital and he must be arriving here anytime soon,” Xiaowei said.
Yang Ning raised her brows in surprise and asked, ” Young Master? You mean Chang Ah’s son, Yang Jian?” She asked to clarify her doubt.
Xiaowei pursed her lips when she heard the way Yang Ning described Yang Jian and nodded, ” Yes. The young master of the household and your younger brothel, Master Yang Jian is arriving today.”
” So he is coming today.” Yang Ning remarked and nodded when she remembered that Xiaowei had informed her that Yang Jian would be returning to the Yang Household soon to attend her wedding.
She has only heard about this boy from Xiaowei and hasn’t seen him in person yet. However, from the way Xiaowei has described him, it doesn’t look like he had a good relationship with Yang Ning.
Nor does she have any special rememberings of this guy from the memories of Yang Ning. Because he went to the academy when he was young and only comes back to the Yang Household for a short vacation, which is only 2-3 times a year, and spends only a few days with his family.
How can a boy like him stay apart from his family at such a young age? She sighed heavily, feeling bad for him.
However, at the moment, she was more worried about her first encounter with him. “I just hope he isn’t a meanie brat like his mother. I cannot deal with Chang Ah’s little version.” Yang Ning let out a heavy sigh and shook her head in helplessness before following Xiaowei outside to welcome her so-called little brother.
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When Yang Ning went outside, she found out that Yang Luoyang and Chang Ah were already outside and were waiting for Yang Jian’s carriage to arrive at the front gate.
Along with them, all the servants were also waiting eagerly for their Young Master to arrive. Seeing everyone’s reaction, she could tell how much everyone pampers and coddles Yang Jian, who is the young master of the Household.
“If they had shown one percent of this affection towards Yang Ning, I am sure that girl would have cried happy tears.” Yang Ning commented in a low voice and clicked her tongue, feeling bad for Yang Ning.
She looked around as she waited for the carriage to arrive impatiently. Why was she standing outside under the sun to wait for him anyways?
She wanted to go back to her chamber but if she went back to her room, she was sure that Yang Luoyang would find another reason to pick on her. Thanks to Yu Ling, he cannot do anything to her at the moment.
However, she didn’t want to create unnecessary trouble for herself and decided to wait there like everyone else.
Soon the carriage of Yang Jian arrived and halted in front of the Yang Household. Chang Ah’s eyes brimmed with tears when she caught a glimpse of her little boy whom she is meeting after six months. Meanwhile, Yang Luoyang’s face lit up with pride to see his son, who had returned from the academy.
“Father!” The little boy squealed in excitement and jumped down the carriage hastily to greet his father and mother, who were waiting for his arrival impatiently.
“Yang Jian, Be careful. Why are you jumping around like this? You’re not a kid anymore, so why are you acting like one?”
” You’re the future successor of the household. You should act upright like a nobleman. What is this behavior?” Chang Ah was surprised to see Yang Jian jumping around like this and scolded him as soon as she saw him.
He is the future successor of the Yang Household. If he acts like a clumsy kid in front of his father, then what would he think of him?
The little kid who was waiting for his mother to welcome him with a warm hug was caught off guard by her nagging.
He was sad.
However, it wasn’t a new thing for him. He was used to it.
Yang Ning, who was standing last in the crowd, pursed her lips upon noticing the excitement on the little boy’s face getting dimmed because of Chang Ah’s comment.
He is only ten years old. Of course, he is a kid who should be jumping around at this age. Why are they weighing his shoulders by saying such nonsense things?
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The excitement in Yang Jian’s eyes died down upon hearing such words from his mother and he stood there upright and greeted Yang Luoyang formally. ” Father, I have come back.”
Yang Luoyang smiled when his son greeted him formally and looked like a man who is ready to succeed him in the future.
He is the future of the Yang Household, his one, and only son, Yang Jian.
” Right. It’s been six months since I last saw you. But you already have grown quite a lot.”
“It’s a good thing. You have worked hard in the past six months. Since you’re here for your sister’s wedding, I want you to accompany me to the royal palace and learn the court work from me. It will help you in the future.” He said and patted his shoulders to encourage him to work harder.
Yang Jian pursed his lips and nodded with a hesitant smile on his face, ” Yes. I will work hard and will never disappoint you.”
Chang Ah was pleased by her son’s response and complained to Yang Luoyang, ” Are you going to make my son work when he just came back from the academy?”
“Let me spend some time with him and feed him his favorite dishes that I have prepared for him. You can do work-related conversations later.” She said and urged Yang Luoyang to move to the dining room directly.
“Alright. We should continue our conversation after having lunch.” Yang Luoyang agreed with Chang Ah and signaled the servants to prepare the dining room for their celebration feast which they have prepared to welcome Yang Jian.
Yang Ning let out a deep breath as she had no choice but to follow everyone to the dining room for lunch. She wanted to have her lunch in peace in her chamber, however, it looks like it is an inevitable choice.
While Yang Ning was following the crowd to the dining room, she caught an eye with the little boy who was glancing at her with a strange gaze in his eyes. She was about to smile at him in greeting but stopped when she noticed that rather than smiling, he was scoffing at her.
Yang Ning: “???”