Chapter 2: The Reincarnated Cousin

Of course, Tang Miaoling knew that she was acting strangely!

But facing someone who had sent her to her death, how could she dare not be amiable?

She used to think that she was so beautiful and her status was so noble, she would surely rise to prominence in the palace.

But she never expected that she wouldn’t even live for a month!

And what no one expected was that the emperor would actually favor a nameless Ning Wanyin.

It would be fine if she was just favored…

Tang Miaoling would only curse her for being shameless, for having some seductive means of attracting men. What was even more terrifying was Ning Wanyin’s ruthlessness…

She had only been in the palace for a month, and Ning Wanyin had already killed three!

It was like she was rushing to attend a banquet.

Tang Miaoling was the third one she killed.

Because she had wanted to steal the emperor’s favor from Ning Wanyin, and after failing, she became angry and framed Ning Wanyin, even threatening Ning Wanyin with the lives of her parents to help her compete for favor…

As a result…

She was sent to the cold palace.

Ning Wanyin, in the guise of a cousin, came to see her off for the last time.

She didn’t pay any attention to her pleas, nor did she torture her, she gave her a quick death.

She died peacefully, which was probably the only good news.

She woke up again.

Tang Miaoling found herself back on the eve of entering the palace.

Ning Wanyin, who had killed her in her previous life, was now living next door to her.

Oh my god, this was too scary!

She was sure that she was no match for Ning Wanyin, nor was she a match for anyone else in the palace.

She was just reborn, not a changed person.

Ning Wanyin could kill her once, she could kill her a second time.

Palace intrigue was scary! My cousin was ruthless! She wanted to go home.

If she had another chance, she wouldn’t come to the capital to participate in the draft, and she wouldn’t offend Ning Wanyin!

Fortunately, those things she did to kill herself after entering the palace hadn’t happened yet, and the most offensive thing she had done to Ning Wanyin was to steal her fan.

It was better late than never, she should still be able to save her life, right?

“Cousin, when I came to the capital, I brought a box of jewelry. Your birthday is coming soon, and I, as your elder sister, haven’t prepared anything, so I’ll give you this box of jewelry as a small gift to celebrate your birthday.” Tang Miaoling looked at Ning Wanyin eagerly, and instructed her maid Cui Ping beside her:

“Bring my treasure box.”

Cui Ping was dumbfounded.

The treasure box contained all the beautiful jewelry that Tang Miaoling had specially ordered to be made for competing for favor in the palace, it was very expensive, and it was her most cherished possession. She wouldn’t even give a single piece to an outsider, now she was going to give the whole box to Ning Wanyin?

Was her mistress crazy?

Since she woke up today, her mistress had been crying and laughing, she really seemed to be possessed.

Ning Wanyin was unmoved by her fickleness, her expression was calm as she politely declined, “Cousin, you’re too kind. This is your personal belongings, how can you give it away…”

“No, no, no, I don’t like jewelry lately… Just take it.” Tang Miaoling quickly pushed it back.

Cheng Shi was also surprised to see this, and quickly declined on behalf of Ning Wanyin. They couldn’t accept such a precious thing.

After a few exchanges of courtesies, Tang Miaoling was about to die of anxiety.

Finally, she forced it into Cheng Shi’s hands.

With that, Tang Miaoling’s heart was finally half relieved.

She had returned the fan and apologized, Ning Wanyin shouldn’t turn against her and kill her, right?

As they were talking with their own thoughts, the steward came in from outside and reported, “Someone has come from the palace!”

“Quickly, set up the incense table to welcome the imperial decree!” Cheng Shi was surprised again…

She was also happy.

The courtyard was filled with people kneeling on the ground.

The eunuch announced the imperial decree:

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Tang Miaoling, daughter of the Changping Hou, is hereby granted the title of Concubine of the Sixth Rank, and shall enter the palace on the first day of March. This is the imperial decree.”

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Ning Wanyin, daughter of the Shou’an Bo, is hereby granted the title of Noble Consort of the Seventh Rank, and shall enter the palace on the first day of March. This is the imperial decree.”

Ning Wanyin and Tang Miaoling bowed to receive the decree.

Cheng Shi happily ordered someone to give the eunuch a heavy bag of silver.

Thank heavens, her daughter had finally achieved her wish.

Ning Wanyin also breathed a sigh of relief. Entering the palace smoothly, every step from now on would require even more caution…

Cheng Shi dismissed the eunuch and was about to congratulate Ning Wanyin, but before she could speak.

Tang Miaoling was already very enthusiastically flattering her, “Congratulations, little sister. I knew that you, such a beautiful woman, would definitely be chosen. You will surely rise to prominence in the future, and your future will be bright.”

Ning Wanyin’s gaze fell on her face, her deep black eyes revealed no emotion.

They were both chosen, and she was even one rank higher than her.

With her personality, she should have looked down on her, but she was actually taking the initiative to be friendly?

There must be something fishy about this.

Ning Wanyin returned the courtesy without being arrogant or servile, “Congratulations, cousin.”

Tang Miaoling felt guilty when she met her gaze, and the atmosphere became a little awkward.

Cheng Shi also felt that Tang Miaoling was a little strange today, but she wouldn’t say anything, she laughed, “You two sisters are both chosen, this is a great joy! We should set up two tables of wine to celebrate for you.”

“Very good, very good!” Tang Miaoling quickly agreed.

She decided to actively repair her relationship with Ning Wanyin’s mother before entering the palace! She should also write a letter to her father, and properly promote her uncle!

For the sake of her life, Tang Miaoling’s brain was working better than ever!

…

Back at the Xihe Courtyard.

All the servants in the courtyard congratulated her.

Ning Wanyin ordered people to reward them, and sat on a Xiangfei bamboo gold-painted butterfly-patterned chair by the window, thinking carefully three times.

She instructed:

“Lianrui, send someone out to investigate. Who are the other selected showgirls this time?”

Since she was going to enter the palace, this was the most important thing to know.

Knowing yourself and your enemy, you can win every battle.

“Yes.” Lianrui bowed and retreated.

A second-class maid came forward with a zither and asked, “Miss, what should we do with this fan and treasure box?”

Ning Wanyin didn’t let them take the things into the room.

They were still in the courtyard.

“Please invite Doctor Ge to examine them.” Ning Wanyin arranged skillfully, “If the fan is fine, then put it in my box and take it with me to the palace. As for that box of jewelry, just leave it in the treasury.”

The fan was her mother’s heart.

But that box of jewelry…

She wouldn’t keep things from outsiders.

Even if it wasn’t poisonous or against the rules, it couldn’t be guaranteed to be absolutely safe.

No one knew what story was behind a seemingly unremarkable hairpin. Just in case, she wouldn’t take anything that outsiders gave her.

She didn’t know if Tang Miaoling wanted to harm her, but if she wanted to harm someone, sending something that seemed harmless but actually caused trouble, what could be easier than that?

Pengqin bowed and retreated, she was used to examining things for poison.

No matter what was sent, even if it was from her parents, Ning Wanyin would have the doctor examine it first.

Because these things had passed through the hands of countless people.

Of course, she actually learned privately from Doctor Ge…

She had learned medical skills, but she still asked the doctor to examine everything, never revealing it.

If everyone knew, it wouldn’t be a secret weapon.

Ning Wanyin instructed another second-class maid holding a zither, “Send someone to find out what happened to Tang Miaoling last night and this morning.”

“Yes.” Pengqi agreed.

After a while.

Zhou Mama came to invite Ning Wanyin to go again.

Just now, in front of outsiders, Cheng Shi still had some things she hadn’t had time to tell Ning Wanyin. Tang Miaoling had been pestering her to “catch up” for a long time, and only left now.

Ning Wanyin went to the Mingzhao Hall again.

“Wanyin…” Looking at Ning Wanyin, Cheng Shi was about to speak but tears welled up in her eyes.

Before the imperial decree came down, she was worried that her daughter wouldn’t be chosen. Now that everything was settled, she was worried about her daughter entering the palace.

Once you enter the palace, it’s like entering a deep sea.

It would be difficult to see Ning Wanyin again.

Ning Wanyin’s birthday was in June. Cheng Shi had calculated the time, in case her daughter was chosen, she wouldn’t be able to accompany her to celebrate her birthday this year, so she had prepared a birthday gift in advance.

“Daughter is unfilial, and from now on, she will not be able to serve by Mother’s side. Please take care of your health, Mother, don’t worry about your daughter.” Ning Wanyin lifted her skirt and knelt in front of Cheng Shi.

“Wanyin, my Wanyin…” Cheng Shi hugged Ning Wanyin, tears streaming down her face: “This time you enter the palace, you must take good care of yourself. Nothing else matters, your life is the most important thing!”

Ning Wanyin was always calm and composed, but facing her mother, she also nodded with red eyes.

The Ning family had fallen, and only the hereditary title of Earl remained. In the early years, before her father inherited the title, the several branches of the Ning family had been scheming against the eldest branch for the title.

Ning Wanyin grew up in this kind of scheming. She was indifferent to blood relatives, only her mother, who had protected and spoiled her since childhood, was the scales of her heart.

“This year, your mother can’t accompany you to celebrate your birthday. Take this birthday gift.” Cheng Shi helped Ning Wanyin up and handed her a brocade box.

Ning Wanyin was slightly stunned, “I’ve already taken the fan…”

“Tang Miaoling has a different idea every now and then, I don’t know what she’s up to. If she asks you for it again, don’t be reluctant to give it to her, you’ll offend her…” Cheng Shi worried.

Tears glistened in Ning Wanyin’s eyes. Her mother was always afraid that she would offend people, afraid that she would have a hard time.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

She wouldn’t let Tang Miaoling take away the birthday gift her mother had prepared for her, but Tang Miaoling’s trouble in the Bo Mansion would bring trouble to her mother.

She had originally planned to deal with her after she left the Bo Mansion.

“Wanyin… my Wanyin, the palace is not a good place. Mother knows you have a heart for His Majesty, but you must remember, he is His Majesty first, and then your husband, you must never lose your composure because of your feelings.” Cheng Shi held back her tears and instructed her carefully.

She wished she could pass on all her experience to Ning Wanyin.

Let her avoid making mistakes.

Ning Wanyin listened quietly. She was not a naive child, growing up in the scheming Bo Mansion, she had learned a lot of things through observation. But she was willing to listen again.

The faces of people in this world, you see one less with each passing day.

See, listen, and cherish.