Xu Yao got the job of cleaning the front yard. This was also Ning's selfish reason. At the end of the year, many relatives, friends and acquaintances would come to give New Year's gifts. If Xu Yao was lucky, she could also see some younger relatives who were brought by their elders while cleaning the front yard.

It's just that no one knows when Xu Yao secretly went out. She left through the side gate of the front yard, and then stopped the heir of the Marquis of Zhongyong's family on the street. She had the two old women she was with invite him to a private room in a nearby restaurant.

No one knows what the two talked about in the private room, but the heir of the Marquis of Zhongyong sent someone to the mansion that same day to request an audience with Madam Ning, and told her everything that Xu Yao had done to their heir.

Upon hearing this, Madam Ning was shocked. She never expected her daughter to do such a thing. After sending the person away, Madam Ning was so angry that her face turned pale. She even had trouble breathing. It was only after the nanny who was serving her fed her two pills made by Zhang Zhaoci that she felt a little better.

Everyone in the mansion only knew that Xu Yao had been locked up and beaten by Ning Shi for going out without permission, but they didn't know that there was actually another reason behind it.

Ning immediately ordered people to surround Xu Yao's courtyard and not allow anyone to enter or leave at will. Ning and her maid interrogated the people serving Xu Yao and learned the whole story. They went back and reported to Ning, who then came to question Xu Yao herself.

Although Xu Yao was only fourteen years old, she was tall and her appearance, though still immature, already showed signs of future brilliance. When Ning entered the room, Xu Yao was sitting quietly at the table. When she saw Ning come in, she neither got up nor spoke.

Looking at her graceful daughter, Madam Ning felt a pang of sadness. She asked, "Yao'er, tell your mother, why did you do such a thing?"

Xu Yao looked at Ning Shi and said calmly, "Mother, I like Prince Yang, and I want to marry him."

Ning felt as if her heart had been squeezed tightly. She said, "Child, marriage is a major event that is decided by parents and matchmakers. You are still a girl. How could you run out like this and stop Prince Yang in the street? What will he think of our family if he finds out?"

Xu Yao said, "This is between me and Prince Yang. What do I care what others think? Mother, I know that my cousin Siyan from Aunt Shao's family wants to arrange a marriage between her and Prince Yang. I told you that I like Prince Yang. Can you stop her from going to Prince Yang?"

Madam Ning said, "Yao'er, marriage is about the goodwill of two families. The Yongping Marquis's Mansion and the Zhongyong Marquis's Mansion are already preparing for marriage negotiations. It's inappropriate for you to do something like this. Yao'er, don't you think about the reputation of the sisters in the mansion? Aren't you afraid of ruining your own reputation?"

Xu Yao said nonchalantly, "What's so scary about that? Mother, as long as I can get married to Prince Yang, that's all that matters."

Ning Shi never expected her daughter to be so selfish and cold-hearted. She dared not look at Xu Yao anymore. The child's current state was all because of her poor upbringing.

Ning felt there was no need to continue the conversation with Xu Yao, and said, "Yao'er, let me tell you, what you did today will come at a great cost. None of the people serving you advised you or told me, the mistress of the house, about your departure. They failed to take good care of you, so I have no choice but to replace them all, including your personal maid and governess."

Xu Yao said nonchalantly, "Do as you please. If you feel they are not serving you well, then send someone else who you think can serve you well."

Ning clutched her chest in anger, and Li Mama quickly helped her up, saying to Xu Yao, "Fourth Miss, what you did made Madam so angry she almost couldn't breathe."

Xu Yao said, "Mother, there's nothing wrong, Mother. I'll tell you now, I won't marry anyone but Prince Yang."

Ning was so angry that tears welled up in her eyes. She staggered back to her own courtyard, supported by Li Mama's arm.

The Crown Prince had already heard the news and was waiting in the room. When he saw Ning Shi coming over, he quickly went to her. Ning Shi could no longer hold back and hugged the Crown Prince tightly, bursting into tears. But this made the Crown Prince feel quite sad. He said, "Look at you, if the child is disobedient, we can just teach him properly. Why are you crying?"

Sobbing, Madam Ning said, "Your Highness, our daughter has gone astray. No matter how much we teach her, she won't change. Your Highness, I truly regret it now. We should have taught her properly back then. I always thought that Yao'er was our youngest legitimate daughter, and that we could find her a son from a marquis's family to marry. She wouldn't have to manage the household, so it wouldn't matter if she was a little less disciplined. But I never expected that she would do such a shameful thing and still think that she did nothing wrong. She doesn't even respect me."

The prince said, "She's still quite young, we can teach her properly some more."

Madam Ning shook her head and said, "Young Master, I must go to the Old Madam to apologize now. I have failed to properly educate my child and have brought shame upon the household. My child has done wrong but has not realized that he has done anything wrong. Young Master, I do not know what to do now."

Ning started crying again at the end of her story. The Crown Prince sighed and said, "In that case, I'll go with you."

Ning and the young master went to the old lady's place. No one knows what the three of them talked about. However, the old lady sent a governess and several maids and servants that Ning had reassigned to accompany Xu Yao in her secluded courtyard. Before that, Ning sent Li Mama to ask Xu Yao if she knew what she had done wrong. Xu Yao did not admit her mistake, so Ning had Li Mama give Xu Yao twenty strokes of the cane, ten strokes on each hand.

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