Chapter 223: Chapter 223

As if not understanding why the other party suddenly became nervous, the "silly sweet" An Ning tilted her head, giving the other a puzzled look, then continued cheerfully amidst the young ladies' gossip:

"The master truly lives up to being a master, his Buddhist teachings are profoundly profound. Ever since carving this peace talisman onto this piece of jade, having this with me, even Mother says my luck has improved considerably lately!"

An Ning raised her head proudly. Under the sunlight, her lotus-like face grew even more dazzlingly radiant, as if filled with blazing spring brilliance.

However, everyone's thoughts weren't on this at the moment.

Everyone had some understanding of An Ning's temperament, and after witnessing the miraculous scene earlier, the young ladies indeed no longer doubted. They instead began inquiring enthusiastically, with the second young lady of Zhenguo Duke's mansion even suddenly remembering something and slapping her forehead:

"Speaking of this Master Wuxiang, I think I heard Mother mention him. Although not as virtuous and prestigious as Abbot Liaoran, he's truly quite remarkable!"

"My sister-in-law had some discomfort during her pregnancy recently and also got a jade talisman from him. She's indeed been much better these past few days!"

This undoubtedly added several more degrees of credibility.

At least for now, aside from some staunch materialists who scoffed, though the young ladies didn't mention it openly, they already planned to find time to visit with their mothers to pay respects.

Perhaps their own luck had mysteriously drained away too?

After several more rounds of drawing lots where An Ning mostly came out on top, and after repeatedly checking the tools, even those who hadn't believed earlier began to wonder inwardly...

But speaking of luck, can a person's fortune really mysteriously drain away?

Especially according to what the county princess said, Third Miss Yang's luck wasn't just ordinarily good before...

They couldn't clearly remember how it was earlier, but at least for most of this year, they hadn't noticed anything special about her!

Ah this... among young women in inner chambers, especially in large families with numerous legitimate and branch lines, even if they present a united front outwardly, there's no shortage of private dirty dealings. Those prone to wild speculation couldn't help but feel a creeping horror upon deeper thought...

Several people who had been gathered around Yang Yuan and her sister subconsciously took a step back.

As if thinking of something, only at this moment did Second Miss Yang's expression stiffen momentarily, then turn slightly pale, even carrying a trace of disbelief:

Even though the change was extremely subtle, which person present wasn't exceptionally shrewd?

Regardless of the reason for guilt.

How was this any different from confessing without being pressed? Even Miss Huang Third beside her unconsciously released her hand.

From not far away, An Ning's gaze flickered slightly as she watched this scene.

Second sister's reaction didn't seem entirely consistent with what she had previously speculated.

The banquet soon concluded, leaving everyone, especially the young ladies from various families who witnessed today's events, with their own private contemplations...

At the princess mansion's entrance, in front of everyone, Muyang tightly held her little sister's hand, unwilling to let go.

"A-Ning, if anything seems wrong, send me a letter early..."

"Otherwise, otherwise, why don't you stay at the princess mansion with me for this period? Don't go back..."

What everyone could see, Muyang naturally could see too. Though she didn't know the specific circumstances, in Muyang's eyes now, the entire Yang mansion was no different from a dragon's den and tiger's cave.

How could she allow her sister to remain deeply trapped there?

Meanwhile, the person involved, An Ning, remained somewhat muddled and confused, but seeing her friend so serious, she comfortingly patted the other's sleeve, her eyes as clear as ever:

"Don't worry, it's just going home, what could possibly happen!"

Finally, she even proudly blinked at the other: "Quick, say it—Yunjia, can't bear to let me go, can you!"

Lady Mu of Muyang County: "......"

What to do, she felt even more uneasy now...

Sigh, her A-Ning was perfect in every way, if only she were a bit smarter!

Staring fixedly at the direction where the carriage disappeared, after a long while, Muyang finally heaved a heavy sigh, then turned and walked heavily toward the inner chambers.

"One person's plan is short, three people's plan is long. No, I need to ask Mother what to do later?"

On the other side, inside the carriage, ignoring Second Miss Yang's almost trembling hands hidden in her sleeves and suddenly dilated pupils.

Lazily leaning against her mother's embrace, a wave of warm fragrance wafting over, An Ning soon closed her eyes.

Only after returning to her room, within her consciousness sea, did the system timidly emerge: "Speaking of which, host, isn't this approach rather too rough?"

There are no secrets in the imperial city. Needless to say, everything that happened today would soon reach the attention of every household.

Naturally including Second Miss Yang herself.

But ask this: are there flaws in this second young lady?

Naturally there are. Not to mention the rapidly improved poetry and literature over two years, just that highly skilled calligraphy and painting—if not scrutinized closely, fine, but upon deep investigation, the issues An Ning could see initially would naturally be noticed by experts too.

The imperial city never lacks highly capable people. Especially after having preconceived unfavorable impressions.

Continuously extended time, everything brought by this becomes the most powerful evidence...

But this way, the Yang mansion would inevitably come under the scrutiny of various big shots. This didn't seem quite consistent with our host who always preferred to lay low when the situation was uncertain!

"Host, is it really alright?"

What answered it was its host's unusually grave tone: "System, do you remember how the original body ultimately died?"

"Wasn't that... from getting drunk, accidentally catching cold and passing away?"

"Yes, getting drunk, accidentally catching cold, coincidentally that day the little maid was lazy and didn't properly close the doors and windows!"

"Such a remarkable coincidence!"

Lightly twisting the red jade bead bracelet in her hand, An Ning seemed faintly mocking:

"Coincidentally always overhearing others' slanderous words, coincidentally learning that the husband who always treated her well had someone else in his heart, coincidentally catching cold and dying just as she was about to regulate her emotions and completely let go of her husband to start anew..."

There's a saying: so many coincidences together stop being coincidences. Besides, the original body's luck was quite remarkable...

Moreover, the concept of fortune has always been mysterious upon mystery. Even in the cultivation world she previously inhabited, items that could alter luck were exceedingly rare. The most powerful top-grade magical instruments could only transfer less than a day's worth of fortune.

And even this improved it by less than thirty percent.

Looking speechlessly at a certain dog-like system, An Ning's face might as well have written: such an unknown dangerous thing, and you want me to play slowly with it?

Speaking of which, in this ordinary world, who knows how much use earlier protective talismans still have.

This round, she intended to play with open cards.

Besides... Lying on the fragrant soft large bed, An Ning soon closed her eyes.

So far, there was still one speculation that needed verification...