Chapter 107 Even if the concubine wants to enter the Second Prince’s residence, I think she will most likely…

Madam Zhai's heart sank. She forced a smile, rose, and went to the door to greet them. She explained, "Don't blame me, elder sister. That wasn't my intention. It's just that this matter has escalated to such a degree, and it has affected the dignity and reputation of both families. Yan is now married to Bingzhi. I know her personality; she's very comforting. The prince is also a generous and kind person. He certainly wouldn't use someone else's mistakes to get himself into trouble."

Madam Dou's eyes were filled with mockery. She walked straight to the couch and sat down, saying coldly, "No matter how magnanimous Bingzhi is, he wouldn't tolerate such humiliation. That child has always been strong-willed and has never suffered such humiliation. Look, he fell ill with anger as soon as he returned home. If it weren't for this, do you think someone with my temper would disregard decency and come straight to your Ningshou Marquis's residence?"

After Madam Dou finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room became more solemn.

Although Mrs. Zhai was surprised that Lu Bingzhi became ill because of this incident, she knew Dou's character very well and did not suspect that she would lie about such a thing.

Moreover, if not for this, Dou would not have come to the Marquis' Mansion in such a hurry.

For a moment, Madam Zhai was even more worried.

At this moment, Madam Dou's gaze fell on Cui Linghui, who had collapsed on the ground and hadn't gotten up yet. Seeing her face swollen and her hair disheveled, she showed no sympathy. Instead, she taunted her, "Miss Cui, I don't know when you became so close to the Second Prince. You listened to him and humiliated our Bingzhi today. Have you already given yourself to him and are you completely devoted to him?"

"Otherwise, how could you, a daughter of the Ningshou Marquis' eldest son, be so lowly as to accompany the Second Prince in such a deed? Aren't you afraid that if the news gets out, it will ruin your reputation and make your future marriage more difficult?"

Madam Dou's words were practically humiliating to Cui Linghui. For an unmarried girl to be questioned in this way would have been considered unkind by anyone else. But Cui Linghui had repeatedly let down the Duke of Wei's mansion, and she was already inferior to Madam Dou, her elder. Then, at today's birthday banquet, the incident happened again. Madam Dou had so disrespected her and publicly humiliated her, yet no one present could find fault with her.

Cui Linghui's face flushed and paled, the embarrassment and humiliation in her heart almost swallowed her whole. Facing Madam Dou's mocking and contemptuous gaze, her lips trembled, and she spoke for a long time, "Everyone says that you are the most kind and generous to women. I think you are the most understanding of the difficulties of being a woman. So why do you use your daughter's dignity to humiliate Linghui? Although Linghui is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family, how can she say a word of dissent in front of the Second Prince?"

As she spoke, she couldn't understand how such news had spread so quickly throughout the capital. She, Xiao Ze, Lu Bingzhi, and the nearby maid, Yulan, were the only ones present. Xiao Ze and she were only interested in privately humiliating and embarrassing Lu Bingzhi, so they naturally wouldn't tell anyone about it. Yulan certainly didn't have the guts to do so. So there was only one possibility: Lu Bingzhi had spread the news.

Although Cui Linghui and Lu Bingzhi had never shared a bed in their past life, she did understand Lu Bingzhi's character. Because of this understanding, she couldn't believe that someone as cold and indifferent as Lu Bingzhi could do such a thing. Wasn't he afraid of being ridiculed and talked about?

The Lu Bingzhi in her impression would only behave like he did in the pavilion, not taking her and Xiao Ze's actions seriously at all. How could he act like this?

She recalled seeing Lu Bingzhi and Cui Lingyan talking at the banquet, and the look on Cui Lingyan's face when she turned around and looked at her. Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Cui Lingyan was instigating all this?

Before she could figure it out, she heard Madam Dou sneer, "Miss Cui, are you admitting that you gave your body to the Second Prince? And that everything you did in Duke Cheng'en's mansion today was forced upon you by the Second Prince?"

Cui Linghui felt awkward for a moment and tried to defend herself, but Madam Dou sighed softly and turned to Madam Zhai, saying with emotion, "Miss Cui grew up in the capital. She's well-versed in the rules and regulations for women and even received instruction from a teacher. I thought her previous plan to break off the engagement, which caused Bingzhi to be criticized, was just a slip of the wrist. Although I blame her a little, I can also understand her. But she's not even married yet, and yet she's already given herself away. How could she have the guts to do such a shameless and despicable thing? Today, I have only one question for you: did you know about this before, or did you find out after the banquet today?"

Madam Zhai felt guilty upon hearing this. How could she not know what the old lady meant? If it was the former, then she, as an elder, was also kept in the dark, simply being fooled or even used by the younger generation. If it was the latter, then she knew that Cui Linghui and Xiao Ze had been involved in a long-standing affair, and bringing Cui Linghui to her house today had ulterior motives.

Madam Zhai was embarrassed, her face flushed red. Just as she was about to speak, Madam Dou stopped her, saying, "Forget it, I know what you mean. I came here just to hear an answer. Your eldest daughter is shameless, but it's not my place as an outsider to scold or punish her. Moreover, she is now the Second Prince's person, so I can't punish her easily. But don't forget, although Princess Shuning is gone, there is still the Empress Dowager in the palace. If the Empress Dowager hears about this, how can she forgive Cui Linghui? There is nothing else she can do. It is absolutely impossible for Cui Linghui to enter the Second Prince's palace as a concubine. Even if she wants to enter the Second Prince's palace, I think she will most likely only be a concubine!"

Her gaze fell on Cui Linghui, and she said meaningfully, "I heard that the Second Prince already has a concubine, and it seems her name is Qiu Ning. When you enter the Second Prince's residence, perhaps you can ask her for advice on how to win his favor. After all, I'm afraid Miss Cui is not familiar with the art of lowering herself to serve others. If you become a concubine, you should learn it well, otherwise how can you feel balanced in the future?"

As if this wasn't exciting enough, she continued, "By the way, the eldest daughter of the Kangshou Marquisate didn't attend the birthday banquet today for some reason, but news spread so quickly now, she must have heard what you and the Second Prince did at the banquet. I wonder what life will be like for you, Miss Cui, under her thumb in the future?"

After saying this, Madam Dou stood up and left with Nanny Sun.

Cui Linghui's face turned pale. The word "concubine" frightened her. She didn't come to her senses until Old Madam Dou left the room.

She couldn't believe her ears, but what Old Madam Dou said was right. Lu Bingzhi fell ill due to anger as soon as she returned home from Duke Cheng'en's Mansion. Regardless of whether the illness was true or false, if the news reached the ears of the Empress Dowager in the palace, would the Empress Dowager let her off easily?

Moreover, Madam Dou came to visit specially and didn't make any fuss, and even came to ask for an explanation. However, when the news of her visit spread, there were even more rumors outside.

After all, Madam Dou had always been a woman of great respectability, able to remain calm even in the face of major challenges, and she would certainly not rashly come to ask for an explanation. Her visit only reinforced the fact that Lu Bingzhi had become ill from the humiliation he suffered at the banquet.

Cui Linghui's body swayed, and he had almost no strength to support himself.

At this time, Qi sneered and said, "Madam Dou is right. Even if Hui girl enters the Second Prince's palace, she will most likely only be a concubine. It's really ridiculous. When will our eldest daughter from the eldest house become a concubine? I'm afraid that as his stepmother, I will be too embarrassed to attend banquets in the future."

Cui Linghui was so angry that she almost fainted, tears streaming down her face. Madam Zhai slammed the table, making the teacup on it clatter. She said in a deep voice, "Alright, you're the mistress of the house after all, and Hui's stepmother. It's fine if you don't offer any advice at this time, but why are you still making these sarcastic remarks?"

Qi bowed and said, "Mother, please forgive me. I was so angry with Hui that I could only say these foolish words. Mother, please allow me to leave first. I will go back and think about how to deal with our eldest girl after I have recovered."

After saying this, Qi turned around and left the room with her nanny without waiting for the old lady to respond.

Madam Zhai knew that she was angry, but her face was still ashen with anger.

Bian also wanted to hide away for some peace and quiet, but she was always good at pleasing the old lady, so she naturally couldn't leave at this time. She hurried forward to help the old lady smooth her back, and then comforted her, "Old lady, now that things have come to this, let's wait for news from the palace. Why not ask Hui to return to her own Yingyue Courtyard first, and wait for news from the palace before we take action."

Madam Zhai nodded, and a maid came forward to help Cui Linghui out of the house. Yulan, with a pale face, hurried to follow, but she was worried in her heart. She regretted that she had not persuaded her daughter to stop being intimate with the second prince in private, and even did such a humiliating thing in Guangfu Temple.

Now she has no choice but to sacrifice her reputation. Who knows, in the end the Second Prince will not be able to protect the girl and may not even be able to give her the status of a concubine.

If after all the scheming, the girl only ends up being the second prince's concubine, how will she cope with it?

Yulan didn't dare to think about it, as she felt there was no way out.

......

Cining Palace

When the Queen Mother heard the news, she was furious and immediately threw the teacup in her hand to the ground.

"What a bastard! I thought he would learn his lesson and be more restrained after what happened last time, but what is he doing? How dare he hang out with Cui and humiliate Bingzhi like this? Does he think I'm dead?"

"And that Cui, such a lowly creature! When she tried to break off the engagement and put Bingzhi under such scrutiny, I should have sent her to a nunnery, leaving her to live out her days in seclusion! I was soft-hearted and gave her a chance to live, but now she's unrepentant and is bullying Bingzhi! How can I tolerate her any longer?"

The Empress Dowager was in a rage when a palace maid came in and reported, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine Shu heard the news and came to apologize. She is now kneeling outside."