"I... this servant understands."
Under Ning Ywan's cold gaze, Liu Ruyi hastily changed her words.
She never expected that although she could enter the Yongning Marquis Mansion, she would end up as an ordinary servant, even lower than a concubine.
"Mother!"
Ning Yuqin panicked and hugged her. "How can you be a servant!"
If Liu Ruyi really became a servant, her own situation would be even more awkward.
Previously, she was raised under Yuan's care and had the status of the second legitimate daughter of the Yongning Marquis Mansion.
But now, in order to avoid a demeaning marriage, she had drawn a clear line from Yuan Qingrong.
Liu Ruyi's concession had backfired on her.
"Second Miss, it's just that this servant has no good fortune."
Liu Ruyi gently pushed Ning Yuqin away. After all, she was more than a decade older and more calculating.
She knew how to read people's expressions and act accordingly.
"Father, are you just going to let Ning Ywan bully Mother like this?"
Ning Yuqin was naturally unwilling, but she had clearly addressed the wrong person.
Not to mention her ungrateful attitude towards Yuan Qingrong, but also her various actions in recent days had already angered Ning Fengnian.
Moreover, Ning Ywan's arrival had saved him from an embarrassing situation. She was his beloved daughter, so he naturally wouldn't pay any more attention to Ning Yuqin.
"Hehe! You're quite interesting. You actually like to recognize a servant as your mother."
Ning Ywan let out a soft laugh. Although her voice was low, it caught everyone's attention.
"I understand. You must think the status of a legitimate daughter is too noble for you, right?"
She pretended to be in distress, propping her chin up. It took her a while to come up with an idea.
"Indeed, your birth mother is of a lowly status. You really don't deserve the status of a legitimate daughter. From today on, you'll be demoted to a concubine-born daughter."
Although the difference between "legitimate" and "concubine-born" is only one character, the gap is huge.
In the Chu Dynasty, the legitimate were highly regarded while the concubine-born were looked down upon. If Ning Yuqin was really demoted to a concubine-born daughter, it would be difficult for her to enter the circle of noble ladies in the future.
And who among the royal relatives, marquises, and heirs would take a fancy to her with such a status?
All her previous fantasies would probably come to nothing.
Ning Yuqin widened her eyes. "Ning Ywan, you're so heartless!"
Since the wedding day, Ning Ywan seemed to have completely changed. She was no longer the humble and timid girl she used to be.
Now she exuded an air of nobility, coldness, and charm, as well as intelligence and quick wit.
All of Ning Yuqin's secret schemes had been completely detected and foiled by Ning Ywan.
On the contrary, she always ended up in bad luck and failure.
How could a person change so much in such a short period of time?
Ning Yuqin had all sorts of wild thoughts, her mind in turmoil. Just then, she heard Ning Ywan's reply.
"Heartless?" Ning Ywan sneered coldly. "Who can compare to you, an ungrateful white-eyed wolf?"
She casually flicked her sleeve. "Moreover, if you dare to overstep your boundaries and offend this Princess Consort again, don't think that just because we're from the Yongning Marquis Mansion, I'll spare you. I'll punish you severely!"
Having suffered many setbacks at Ning Ywan's hands, Ning Yuqin had finally seen the situation clearly.
Moreover, judging from Ning Fengnian's doting on Ning Ywan, it was unlikely that the current situation would change.
Ning Yuqin could only nod obediently and keep her mouth shut. She secretly hoped that Ning Ywan would leave the Yongning Marquis Mansion as soon as possible.
After all, Ning Ywan was already married. It wouldn't be appropriate for her to stay in the Yongning Marquis Mansion all the time.
After she left, Ning Yuqin would discuss with her mother, Liu Ruyi, how to deceive Ning Fengnian.
As for her status, as long as Liu Ruyi was up to the task, there was no need to worry about not changing back from a concubine-born daughter to a legitimate daughter.
"Ywan is being a bit unreasonable." Ning Fengchen suddenly spoke up. "Yuqin is, after all, your younger sister."
There was a smile on his face, but there was also a hint of hostility hidden deep in his eyes.
"Who are you?"
Ning Ywan deliberately asked. "Since when has an outsider been allowed to interfere in the affairs of the Yongning Marquis Mansion?"
She had deliberately ignored Ning Fengchen just now. Sure enough, he still took the initiative to speak.
He pretended to be a kind and honest person.
But who didn't know that honest people often had the most terrifying thoughts hidden in their hearts.
Ning Fengchen's face turned red. He first glanced at Ning Fengnian, who was silent. Seeing that he didn't intend to stop him,
he finally realized that Ning Ywan, his niece, had a much higher status in the Yongning Marquis Mansion than he had imagined.
"I'm your uncle." He forced a laugh. "When you were born, I even held you in my arms."
But Ning Ywan just raised her eyebrows slightly and waited for his next words indifferently.
"I just think that family harmony brings prosperity. Why do you sisters have to fight so bitterly?"
Such a meddlesome and talkative person!
Ning Ywan frowned and sneered. "Uncle? Don't you have anything better to do? Why do you come to the Yongning Marquis Mansion to be a gossip and interfere in other people's business?"
Although Ning Fengchen was from a collateral branch, because Ning Fengnian had always been polite and close to the collateral branches, giving them a lot of help.
Therefore, he gradually thought that there was no difference between the two "Ning Mansions".
When compared to outsiders, he even claimed to be a member of the Yongning Marquis Mansion, acting very arrogantly.
He never thought that Ning Ywan's personality would be completely different from Ning Fengnian, who was always kind-hearted.
There was no trace of intimacy in her eyes. Although what she said was the truth, it made Ning Fengchen realize the difference in status for the first time.
How could he be willing to go back to his old self? Immediately, he put on the airs of an elder. "Ning Ywan, even though you have a noble status, isn't it too presumptuous for a junior to talk to an elder like this?"
Perhaps because Ning Fengnian was usually too kind, he thought he could discipline his daughter on his behalf.
But he didn't expect that Ning Fengnian would be the first to lose his temper. "Ning Fengchen, what's wrong with my Ywan's words?"
It was the first time he had ever been angry with Ning Fengchen. "Ywan is right. Outsiders should not interfere in the affairs of the Yongning Marquis Mansion!"
Ning Fengchen stared at him in shock. "Cousin."
Before he could continue,
Ning Fengnian waved his hand to interrupt him. "Since this matter is over, you can go back."
Although he didn't see through Ning Fengchen's real intention of trying to smooth things over, as a doting father, he always put Ning Ywan's wishes first.
"Cousin, then I'll take my leave?"
Ning Fengchen asked tentatively, but Ning Fengnian naturally wouldn't try to keep him as he used to.
He could only secretly give Liu Ruyi a look. The latter immediately bowed. "After all, we've known each other for many years. Let me see Lord Ning off."
"Stop!"
Ning Ywan spoke again. "You're now a servant in the Yongning Marquis Mansion. Without the master's permission, how dare you make such a suggestion on your own?"
This was the way Liu Ruyi had fantasized about acting towards others after entering the Yongning Marquis Mansion countless times.
"This servant has received Lord Ning's care for many years. I don't know when we'll meet again after this farewell. Please, Marquis and Eldest Miss, allow this servant to see Lord Ning off."
The real purpose of seeing Ning Fengchen off was to secretly discuss their future plans.
Liu Ruyi pinched the palm of her hand and bit her lower lip hard to hold back.
But she managed to squeeze out a few tears, as if hinting that Ning Ywan was too domineering.
But among the people present, only Ning Fengchen and Ning Yuqin were willing to understand her.
But one had no right to speak, and the other didn't have the guts to help.
Ning Ywan let out a cold snort. "Once you enter the Yongning Marquis Mansion, you'd better behave yourself. If you can't let go, then go back to his mansion and be a maid. You're just a servant wherever you are. Am I right?"
It was a blatant threat. Liu Ruyi swallowed hard. She actually felt a bit nervous, as if Ning Ywan had seen through her real intention.
Immediately, she didn't dare to mention it again and could only watch helplessly as Ning Fengchen left.