She is the Side Character! — Watch Her Change her fate!

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: The Princely Heir Is a Woman 17

Ah Chen sat inside the carriage, lifting the curtain slightly to see a courtyard through the window, the main gate tightly closed, and the surroundings equally deserted and silent.

This place was secluded and quiet, with beautiful scenery, far from the outside hustle and bustle.

Todays’s carriage bore no insignia, and no one noticed the Heir of Prince Ning in this place.

Ah Chen didn’t intend to do much, just handling some affairs, then suddenly remembered someone living here, and decided to take a small detour to have a look.

”Zhou Yuanjia comes by whenever he has time, even climbing over the wall at night,” Ying Fang said, ”Everyone at the Weian Earl Mansion helps keep it a secret, occasionally even cleaning up after him.”

”Mm.” Ah Chen responded flatly, about to let the curtain fall when there was movement at the courtyard gate.

The gate opened, and three people came out.

First was a stout old woman, followed by a slender figure dressed like a maid, and finally, a gentle woman supported by the maid, her clothes not white but very pale, enhancing her fragile beauty. Especially the sorrow between her brows, making her even more pitiable, evoking sympathy.

This woman was the one in Zhou Yuanjia’s heart, his cousin Cheng Lingqing, who lost her parents before the age of ten and had to rely on the Weian Earl Mansion, growing up with Zhou Yuanjia like childhood sweethearts.

Feelings developed between them as they interacted, and once they understood each other’s hearts, they fell in love without hesitation.

Zhou Yuanjia’s desire to marry Cheng Lingqing was opposed; the Weian Earl couple suggested taking her as a concubine, but marrying her as a wife was out of the question due to her insufficient status. As the future heir to the Earl Mansion, Zhou Yuanjia needed a wife who matched his status or could benefit him.

Zhou Yuanjia somewhat compromised, believing it best to bring his beloved home first.

But Cheng Lingqing refused, preferring to not marry rather than be a concubine, telling Zhou Yuanjia that her self-respect was all she had left. If possible, she wished to have her beloved all to herself, but she knew it wasn’t feasible, so her only compromise was to become Zhou Yuanjia’s wife, agreeing not to oppose him taking concubines later.

Becoming a concubine was absolutely out of the question for her.

Zhou Yuanjia, initially wavering, was moved by her determination, making him even more infatuated.

During that time, he swore to marry only Cheng Lingqing in his life, causing chaos within the Weian Earl Mansion.

How could Uncle Wei An allow a woman to cause such uproar in the household, immediately arranging a marriage for Zhou Yuanjia, hoping he would behave once married. Forming a marital alliance with the Prince Ning Mansion seemed fitting.

Zhou Yuanjia was unwilling, but Uncle Wei An used Cheng Lingqing to coerce him, sealing the marriage deal.

Additionally, Zhou Yuanjia also made demands, asking for Cheng Lingqing to be well cared for and that their affair be left alone, promising not to cause any public scenes. As a result, this small courtyard existed.

The Weian Earl couple thought Zhou Yuanjia had settled, unaware of his resentment and even his hatred towards his soon-to-be wife, feeling that had it not been for Ning Yutong’s impending marriage, he wouldn’t be forced to marry her.

He hadn’t accepted his fate, merely temporarily compromised.

Once he built accomplishments and stood above Uncle Wei An, he’d clear away all obstacles, letting no one stop him from being with his beloved.

But before that, he needed to prepare to avoid future troubles.

On the wedding night, he spiked the wedding wine with infertility drugs for Ning Yutong.

After marriage, he outwardly treated Ning Yutong with respect, yet whenever he got bored, he’d drug her to keep her lethargic. During nights of pleasure with his cousin, he’d use sedative incense so Ning Yutong would stay asleep and unaware. By morning, he’d arrange to wake her and remove all traces.

Gradually, Ning Yutong’s health worsened.

Ning Yutong eventually sensed something was amiss. After some time, based on her observations, she deduced the truth.

However, she didn’t cause a scene, and to avoid inhaling more of the harmful incense, she feigned illness.

Zhou Yuanjia thought it was the incense and drugs causing her condition and didn’t suspect a thing. Little did he know, Ning Yutong was secretly planning her revenge. Lacking trustworthy allies in the Earl Mansion, even her maid was bought off; she had to slowly find her chance.

Originally, Ning Yutong was planning something big soon.

It was precisely for this reason that Ah Chen visited her just in time, bringing her some allies.

In that life of the commissioner, at this time Prince Ning’s rebellion led to his death, and these married daughters weren’t implicated. The bond between the Weian Earl Mansion and Prince Ning Mansion was more familial than close, so Prince Ning’s issue had only slight impact, nothing major.

Facing Prince Ning’s downfall, Ning Yutong also knew she wouldn’t live long; as the daughter of a rebel, even if His Majesty didn’t pursue her, she was of no use to the Weian Earl Mansion, she was a burden. If Zhou Yuanjia wanted to quietly make her ”ill,” there’d be no opposition.

Ning Yutong acted, so did Zhou Yuanjia, both remarkably successful.

Ning Yutong dosed the knowing members of the Zhou family with infertility drugs, careless about concealing her actions, achieving her goal smoothly.

Zhou Yuanjia poisoned her with lethal substances, intending to seize the chance and let her ”die of illness.”

She died, the Zhou family was left barren, making it hard to declare a winner.

Returning to reality, the area before the courtyard gate was now deserted.

Earlier, the old woman’s basket contained incense and candles, likely for prayers.

Ah Chen lowered the curtain: ”Return.”

At the Prince Ning Mansion gate, the doorman hurried up upon seeing Ah Chen.

”Who came?” she asked.

No one readily and openly visited the Prince Ning Mansion willingly.

”To the Young Master, it’s the matchmaker!” The doorman replied joyfully, visibly excited.

After all, the Young Master was seventeen or eighteen with no marriage settled yet. It wasn’t that no one set eyes on the Prince Ning Mansion, but those with intentions weren’t qualified, especially after knowing the Young Master was hard to provoke, some withdrew.

Given the current situation at the Prince Ning Mansion, even slightly better families were hesitant.

Today’s visiting Matchmaker Li had a different status; any proposal she brought for the Young Master would be of good quality.

Ah Chen glanced at the excited doorman, not bothering to respond.

Lately, she’d been going out frequently, and those with intentions and business opportunities kept sending beautiful women her way, as well as handsome men.

She would accept the clever ones, as finding people herself was bothersome, and after some training, they could fit into various roles.

There were naturally spies among them, but it didn’t matter; even spies could become loyal subordinates.

As long as she provided enough, resolving their worries and exploiting their weaknesses. Whether persuasion or threats, there was always a way.

Recently, fewer beauties were offered to her, understandably so; those sent before had all turned traitor, rendering further attempts pointless.

Ah Chen felt a bit regretful.

The people they sent were not only beautiful but also smart, attractive and useful, truly a rare find.