Chapter 98: Lofty Ambitions
When it came to scheming minds and petty cleverness, Second Miss Ning ranked first among the four Ning sisters.
Among the sisters, whether born of the principal wife or concubines, each had a birth mother to love and nurture them—only she had lost her mother early.
Although Madam Ning treated her almost the same as Miss Ning, a knot remained in her heart.
When it came to food, clothing, and daily necessities, if her elder sister’s were slightly better, she would brood over it.
If Madam Ning went out to visit or attend banquets and only took her elder sister but not her, she couldn’t help feeling displeased.
Especially on ordinary days, when her maternal uncle’s family sent gifts, they often included something for her elder sister but nothing for her.
On such occasions, she would force back her tears, not daring to show them. Even if her sister privately gave her some of the gifts, it couldn’t dispel the deep-seated resentment in her heart. Returning to her room late at night, she couldn’t help shedding tears on her pillow, missing her own deceased birth mother.
Though Second Miss Ning was young, she was thoughtful and calculating in her actions.
Knowing that Madam Ning was not her birth mother, she made special efforts to show filial piety to her grandmother, Old Madam Ning.
She reasoned that while her stepmother was not her own mother, her grandmother was her blood relative, and the affection between generations ran deeper.
She often spent effort and money to curry favor with the maids, both senior and junior, in Crane Longevity Hall.
Thus, she learned of matters in Crane Longevity Hall earlier than anyone else.
When Consort He expressed interest in selecting a daughter-in-law from among the Ning sisters, Second Miss Ning was the first to hear the news.
She immediately thought that she herself was the most suitable candidate.
Although her elder sister was the eldest daughter of the principal wife, she was five years older than the Fifth Prince.
In royal marriages, if the woman was older, it was usually only by two or three years.
By the time the Fifth Prince turned sixteen, established his own household, and married, her elder sister would already be over twenty—how could she be a suitable match?
She herself was born of the eldest branch and was only three years older than the Fifth Prince—that was the perfect match.
Of course, she kept these thoughts to herself, only discussing them in her room with her wet nurse and personal maids.
From then on, she became even more diligent morning and night, creating many exquisite needlework pieces to send to Crane Longevity Hall as tokens of filial devotion to her grandmother.
Later, one day, she overheard her grandmother and stepmother discussing the Fifth Prince’s marriage and indeed excluding her elder sister due to age. Her heart swelled with joy and excitement.
The Fifth Prince and his mother were currently highly favored by the emperor and were likely candidates for the crown prince. If she secured the marriage now, and in a few years when the Fifth Prince grew older, she might even enter the Eastern Palace directly and become the crown princess.
But just a few days after her elation, she went to Crane Longevity Hall to inquire and learned that her second uncle and aunt had actually taken the lead, securing the marriage for their third daughter from the second branch!
This news struck like a bolt from the blue. Second Miss Ning was utterly unprepared and nearly fainted on the spot.
For several days afterward, she lay in her room without going out, startling Madam Ning and Miss Ning.
Fortunately, those days were sweltering, and her wet nurse and maids claimed she had suffered heatstroke, managing to cover up the truth.
Unmarried girls were not allowed to contemplate their own marriages, lest they be suspected of harboring romantic thoughts.
Though Second Miss Ning felt anxious, she couldn’t help but consider her own situation.
She prided herself on being a daughter of the eldest branch, raised since childhood under her stepmother’s care, with no distinction made between her and the principal wife’s daughter.
Among the four Ning sisters, in terms of appearance, character, and talent, where did she fall short compared to the others?
Her elder sister was the eldest daughter of the principal wife, so she dared not compare herself to her.
If the Fifth Prince’s marriage had been settled with her elder sister, she would have had nothing to say.
But why had her grandmother bypassed her and given the prince’s marriage to her third cousin?
Could it be that in the eyes of her grandmother and stepmother, even a twelve-year-old younger cousin from the second branch was superior to her?
In terms of status, she was a daughter of the eldest branch; in terms of birth, she was also a child of a concubine.
Where exactly did she fall short?
Worrying in her room for several days, she discovered that Madam Ning was arranging a marriage for her elder sister.
For many days in a row, whenever there were gatherings of official families in the capital, Madam Ning would take Miss Ning along, clearly intending to find a suitable match.
Each time they returned to the mansion, Miss Ning would be laughing and chatting, bringing back many congratulatory gifts.
Seeing her sister like this, Second Miss Ning forced a smile on her face, but her heart grew increasingly bitter and sorrowful.
Today, Madam Ning and Miss Ning, mother and daughter, went out again to celebrate the birthday of the Old Madam of the Marquis of Dingnan.
The ancestors of the Marquis of Dingnan were also dukes, but due to the reduction of hereditary titles, by this generation, they had become marquises.
The eldest son of the old marquis passed away in his prime, but fortunately, he left behind a grandson to inherit the title.
This grandson of the Marquis of Dingnan has now reached the age of twenty and is at the right age to discuss marriage.
Ningguo Mansion and the Marquis of Dingnan’s residence have been on good terms for generations, and Miss Ning and the grandson of the Marquis of Dingnan have known each other since childhood.
If this marriage were to succeed, she would become the principal wife of the grandson and, in the future, the Marchioness of Dingnan.
Upon learning this, Second Miss Ning felt her heart turn cold again.
Her stepmother only cared about her own daughter’s marriage, and even the advantageous match with the royal family had been taken by the second branch.
She was already fifteen years old. Would she have to wait until she reached her elder sister’s age and be married off casually?
Second Miss Ning pondered over and over but found no one to discuss with, so she could only confide in her wet nurse.
Seeing her distress, the wet nurse quickly offered a few words of comfort.
“The marriage with the Fifth Prince may not be as ideal as imagined. Being a daughter-in-law of the royal family means constant fear and worry, not to mention that the husband is likely to have many concubines in the future, which would inevitably bring suffering. Marriage is decided by parents. Now that the old Duke has passed away, the marriage naturally depends on Madam Ning. With our Ning family’s status, Second Miss will certainly not be wronged. You are still so young—please don’t overthink or worry, as it’s not worth harming your health.”
Second Miss Ning’s eyes reddened slightly. She pursed her lips and held back for a long time before tears finally fell.
“I am not a daughter born of the principal wife, so there is always a distance. Mother may not consider me. As for the marriage with the Fifth Prince, Grandmother intended it for Elder Sister, but Mother openly opposed Grandmother and didn’t even mention me. If Mother truly cared for me, she should have proposed this marriage for me. Would Grandmother have refused her?”
With her delicate brows furrowed, Second Miss Ning, after holding back for a long time, finally spoke her mind.
“I’m afraid Mother is guarding against me and doesn’t want me to become a princess. She fears that a concubine-born younger sister might overshadow the principal wife’s daughter, making her and her daughter lose face. After all, Elder Sister’s marriage is only among the families of dukes, marquises, and earls—at best, she’ll become a noble lady. Mama, you served my concubine mother, and I regard you as someone close to me. Elder Sister has Mother’s support, so even if she marries beneath her status, it won’t matter. But all I can rely on is the empty reputation of being from Ningguo Mansion. If I don’t strive for my marriage, I don’t know what will become of me in the future.”
The wet nurse had only known Second Miss as gentle and refined, never imagining she had such high aspirations. While her heart warmed at the thought, she also felt a sense of panic.
She was a wet nurse bought by Second Miss’s concubine mother and not a servant born into the Ningguo Mansion, so her perspective was not broad. Wringing her hands in anxiety for a long time, she finally remembered something important.
“Second Miss, as a young lady, you cannot go to Old Madam or Madam Ning to speak of this, and this old servant is powerless to help. However, I believe that the Duke must have a say in your marriage—after all, he is your own elder brother.”
Second Miss Ning shook her head and said, “My elder brother and I are also from different mothers. Usually, you see his demeanor—he is not very close to me, and we rarely speak casually. If I were to seek him out and talk about these matters, I would only end up being scolded by him, and then Mother would find out.”
The wet nurse then added, “Then why doesn’t Second Miss go to Phoenix Ripple Courtyard to speak with the eldest young mistress and gauge her thoughts? She is the rightful Lady of the Ningguo Duke, and sooner or later she will take charge of the household affairs—she is someone who can make decisions. Moreover, as the eldest sister-in-law, it is only natural for her to advocate for her younger sister-in-law’s marriage.”
Second Miss Ning thought for a long while and felt that the wet nurse’s words made sense, so she brought her attendants to Phoenix Ripple Courtyard to visit Shen Shi.
Little did she know, Shen Shi was also troubled by the matter of the Fifth Prince’s marriage.