Chapter 187 The Heir Apparent of the Earl's Mansion 10

The next day when she entered the palace, she yawned in front of the emperor. Xiao Li initially felt sorry for her and thought that she should start her shifts after 7 a.m. starting tomorrow.

But then he realized why he was sleepy, and that pity vanished instantly.

His whole body turned icy cold!

Ning Yan: No, it's already cold enough, and you're still spreading cold air here. What is this river?

She sat beside the Emperor for several more hours before being released from the palace at nightfall. She also took a leave of absence, as she had an appointment with Prince Su.

Xiao Li actually agreed.

Ning Yan skipped out of the palace. To steal things from the Prince Su's mansion, she needed the right equipment, so she was going home to draw talismans tonight.

As soon as he returned to the manor, the steward came to greet him. "Young Master, the things you requested have been delivered to your courtyard. I just don't know if they'll be usable."

Who doesn't know that the talismans sold in temples are mostly for psychological purposes?

Those things are all fake, why would the young master buy them?

I've never heard of the young master having studied this profession!

"Okay, I understand."

Ning Yan first went to Ci'an Hall to pay her respects to her grandparents, then had dinner with her parents before returning to her own courtyard.

Cuizhu had already placed the things in the study. She was about to leave after Ningyan came in and served her a cup of fragrant tea.

"Just sit here with me, and we'll go back and rest together after we're done drawing."

Ning Yan checked the talisman. It was indeed blessed and consecrated by the Taoist patriarch, but the spiritual power attached to it was a bit low, though still enough.

Looking at the cinnabar again, it was also genuine, and Ning Yan felt relieved.

I sat down in the chair, calmed myself down, and after about 15 minutes I picked up the brush to draw talismans.

Unfortunately, the first one was ruined.

But it's okay, it's just a matter of getting used to it. After pausing for a while, she continued drawing the second picture.

Knowing what was going on, I finished it in one go.

Spatial symbol formed.

One more, invisibility talisman complete.

One more, and the Great Strength Talisman is complete!

Then came the amulets. He drew twenty in one go and casually gave one to Cuizhu, saying, "Wear it, it will keep you safe."

...

The next morning, Ning Yan got up and washed with Cui Zhu's help. Then she went to her mother's courtyard for breakfast. She gave one of the peace charms she had drawn to her parents, grandparents, and three older sisters. She also sent people to deliver them to her three older sisters.

Yesterday, Prince Su sent an invitation, asking Ning Yan to attend on time.

Ning Yan specially chose a light blue brocade robe, wore a jade crown, held a jade folding fan, and wore cotton boots that Cui Zhu had made for her to increase her height. The boots were also embroidered with bamboo, making them extremely exquisite.

Immediately, a dashing and handsome young man appeared in the mirror!

Ning Yan was very satisfied with her appearance. Because she had been raised as a boy since childhood, her every action was no different from a man's. Even though she was beautiful, no one would suspect that she was a woman. If it weren't for the rumors in the capital that she had that kind of relationship with the emperor, even if she was a playboy, countless women would still flock to her.

At the end of the Si hour (9-11 AM), Ning Yan boarded her family's carriage to keep her appointment with Prince Su.

When we arrived at the Prince Su’s residence, it was exactly 1:15 noon.

The steward of the Prince Su's mansion was already waiting at the main gate. Upon seeing Ning Yan arrive, he immediately ushered her inside. "Greetings, Lady Ning. The Prince is entertaining several officials in the front hall. This old servant will show you the way."

Today, Prince Su invited not only Ning Yan, but also several people he was trying to win over, along with several of his advisors.

Ning Yan smiled and nodded, following the old steward slowly into the mansion.

Butler: ...Before meeting this Lord Ning, he did not believe the rumors about the Emperor and this man.

But seeing him today, I inexplicably thought of that saying: "From now on, the emperor will not hold court in the morning!" With such a dashing and debonair air, who wouldn't be captivated by him?

"Your Highness, Lord Ning has arrived."

"Quickly, invite them in."

Prince Su stood up with a smile, and then explained to the officials in the hall, "I have also invited Lord Ning Yanning to come today. I will introduce him to you later."

Upon hearing this, someone immediately frowned, which was witnessed by Ning Yan as she stepped into the main hall.

Ning Yan: Fine, fine, you're glaring at me, aren't you? A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years, but a petty person takes revenge from morning till night.

Tomorrow I'll show you the power of pillow talk!

Wrong, wrong, wrong! It's the power of tattling!

"Greetings, Your Highness. May Your Highness be well."

Prince Su laughed and said, "Lord Ning, please don't stand on ceremony. Come, let me introduce you..."

These officials are all quite something. There are two military officers from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue, all of whom are officials of the third rank or above. Of course, there are no officials of higher rank. After all, no first-rank official would be foolish enough to accept Prince Su's invitation directly. If they wanted to visit each other, they would have to do so secretly.

Ning Yan isn't stupid; she won't confront people directly. She speaks her mind, never being impolite, and maintains a kind but never subservient attitude.

She even gave off an air of superiority, excessively indifferent, making it impossible to tell that she was the emperor's favorite.

This bears absolutely no resemblance to the rumored纨绔 (wan ku, spoiled brat) heir of the Marquis of Cheng'an, the seductive man who seduced the emperor.

During lunch, Prince Su arranged for singing and dancing. Ning Yan looked around and found that the two women sitting next to her were the most beautiful.

That makes sense, though. The other men are all in their thirties or forties, and one of them has been married to two wives. Ambitious women would naturally want to be around him.

It's just a pity that she had the will but not the body.

Prince Su kept giving his two maids meaningful glances, and the wine cup in front of him was filled again and again. Ning Yan was fearless in the face of all the wine. It must be said that the wine in Prince Su's manor tasted pretty good; at least you definitely couldn't buy it outside.

The invitation from Prince Su today was merely a test. His presence already signifies an attitude; deeper matters cannot be discussed.

Of course, Prince Su wouldn't just test the waters; he wanted to deepen the connection, and the first step was to send women.

With his people in the backyard, he felt more at ease using them.

Moreover, Ning Yan is a very important person, because he is the emperor's bedmate.

Ning Yan estimated that she had drunk about two jin of wine, so she pretended to be drunk and wanted to take her leave. But how could Prince Su let her leave like that?

"Quickly, Lord Fu Ning, go to the side courtyard to rest and return after you've recovered from the effects of the alcohol."

"You two better serve them well."

Two maids responded sweetly and then helped Ning Yan walk towards the backyard.

After she left, the two military officers suddenly became bold and unrestrained.

Even the laughter was at least three octaves louder.

Damn it, even though that pretty boy didn't say anything when he was around, I felt a little uncomfortable and didn't dare to do anything reckless.

Despite the fact that Prince Su is the one with the highest and most noble status, Ning Yan, that pretty boy, manages to exert a strong sense of pressure on them!

Could it be because he is the emperor's man?

Prince Su's smile grew even brighter. As long as something happened between Ning Yan and those two maids, the purpose of today's banquet would be achieved.