Chapter 36 Questioning the Prince of Weiguo who sent people to investigate the rumors...

When Bi Tao saw the precious jewels in the box, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and was happy for her daughter. Master Lu sent these things over, obviously to support the girl and reassure her.

If the prince hadn't sent someone here, the young lady would have been worried sick for the past few days, unable to sleep soundly. Not to mention, those flatterers in the mansion who look down on the weak and flatter the powerful would have no idea how to belittle the young lady. Even the old lady might have taken her anger out on the young lady.

She didn't even dare to think about what her future situation would be like if she lost her marriage to Master Lu.

Bi Tao breathed a sigh of relief and said to Cui Lingyan with a smile on her face, "This matter is finally resolved. I wonder if the old lady has found out who is behind this. I heard that the old lady is furious and ordered a thorough investigation. If they can find out who is behind this and trying to ruin your reputation, you will definitely not let that person off."

Because Lu Bingzhi sent someone to deliver these jewelry, the atmosphere in Chuyunyuan became much better and there was a sense of relaxation in the air.

Seeing Bitao's joy, Cui Lingyan breathed a sigh of relief, yet a slight frown crossed her face. Even if the rumors didn't affect her marriage, she would certainly be the subject of gossip once she married into the Duke of Wei's mansion.

Cui Lingyan pondered this, looking towards the courtyard where Cui Lingyin lived. She suspected that these rumors were most likely Cui Lingyin's doing, but what could she do? Although she hadn't grown up in the Marquisate, her time back home, coupled with the events in her dream, had taught her a good deal about the old lady's character. Even if she could be certain that Cui Lingyin was responsible, she wouldn't allow this scandal to tarnish the reputation of the Ningshou Marquisate.

Cui Lingyan sat there pondering for a long time, when she suddenly heard footsteps outside, followed by the maid's hurried voice: "Aunt Madam."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhan came in from outside. Qi Ruoruo, who followed behind her, also had an ugly expression on her face, and her eyes were red as if she had been crying.

Cui Lingyan stood up and called out, "Aunt."

Zhan nodded, walked to the couch and sat down, then said to Cui Lingyan, "Yan girl, tell all the maids in the room to leave. Your aunt has something to say to you."

Cui Lingyan was stunned for a moment, then nodded to Birou and the others.

The maids left, leaving only Cui Lingyan, Zhan and Qi Ruorou in the room.

Cui Lingyan personally poured tea and handed it to Zhan. Zhan's eyes fell on Cui Lingyan's face. She saw that her expression was calm, and her beautiful eyes still did not have any worries. She seemed very calm and not affected by the rumors in the capital at all. She couldn't help feeling a little angry.

She said, "Yan girl, you've lived in the Qi family for so many years, you should know my aunt's temper, so I'll just be frank with you. I'm sure you've heard the rumors about you and Shao Zhang in the capital. I don't know how nasty they are behind your back. When your cousin found out about it, he got really angry and said he wanted to move out of the mansion. As your mother, I feel really bad. I asked you to live in the Qi family for all these years and take good care of you, but who could have imagined that you would be involved in these things, and that your cousin would be criticized like this now."

After hearing what Zhan said, Cui Lingyan knew exactly what her aunt was thinking. She was coming to question her and demand an explanation from the Qi family.

Cui Lingyan's eyes revealed a hint of sarcasm as she said, "Yan'er was also extremely angry when she heard those rumors. She knows that her aunt is upset, but she still hasn't found out who is behind it..."

Hearing Cui Lingyan's lack of apology and even some attempt at evasion, Zhan's eyes lit up with annoyance. She couldn't help but question him, "Girl Yan, you're saying this as if you don't have anything to do with this matter. If it weren't for you, how could your cousin be so badly criticized and his reputation ruined?"

Cui Lingyan took a sip of her teacup and said, "If my cousin and I had a secret affair and someone could use it as evidence, it would naturally be my fault. But my cousin and I are innocent and have never done anything wrong in the Qi family. Now my aunt wants me to give her an explanation. Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know why my aunt is asking me for an explanation. If my aunt is angry, shouldn't she be looking for the person who did this behind the scenes and spread these rumors? Why is she coming to me, a victim herself, to ask for an explanation?"

Cui Lingyan continued, "Yan'er knows that my aunt is worried and distracted, so Yan'er doesn't blame her. But my aunt should also understand that every wrong has its perpetrator, and this matter cannot be blamed on me."

Cui Lingyan's words were blunt, even a bit heartless. As soon as she finished speaking, Zhan was stunned.

Qi Ruorou, who was sitting nearby, also showed a hint of surprise in her eyes and quickly said, "Cousin, why do you have to say such things? Mother is also worried about brother, so she couldn't help but come over to talk to you about this matter."

"This is my first time in Beijing, and I have no choice but to tell you about anything that's happened. Please be understanding and considerate of me. I love my eldest brother the most. If he moves out of the mansion, how can he take care of himself? If anything were to happen, how could I bear it?"

Cui Lingyan looked at Qi Ruorou and said gently, "Cousin, I misunderstood my aunt. I thought she was here to question me. Please don't blame me for being harsh. How can a girl like me, about to get married, interfere in such matters? How can I go out and defend myself against those rumors? I'm afraid that if I don't defend myself, I'll only make things worse and attract more gossip."

"If Aunt is concerned about this, she might as well go to Cuiwei Courtyard and discuss it with Mother. Mother is in charge of the household affairs of the Marquisate, and the Marquisate has some connections outside. She should be able to find out who is behind this conspiracy. Then, I can give Aunt and Cousin an explanation."

Cui Lingyan's words were so soft that no one could find any fault with them. She also said that Qi was in charge of the household affairs of the Marquis' Mansion, and Zhan wanted to use this matter to control Cui Lingyan. However, hearing these words was like a punch on cotton, which made people feel angry but unable to express it.

Zhan looked at Cui Lingyan deeply, and became more and more certain that her niece's personality had become different from when she was in the Qi family since she returned to the capital.

Before, in the Qi family, Cui Lingyan was gentle and well-behaved. Now that she has come to the capital, especially after she is about to marry into the Weiguo Mansion and become the Crown Prince's wife, her temperament has become a bit more strong and aggressive, which makes it really difficult for Zhan to adapt.

Zhan was wondering whether Cui Lingyan's gentle and well-behaved appearance in the Qi family all these years was just an act. Now that she has returned to the Marquis' Mansion and got a good marriage, her true nature has been revealed as she feels confident.

Otherwise, why would he suddenly become a different person?

Zhan suppressed her unhappiness, her eyes reddening slightly as she said to Cui Lingyan, "My dear, you misunderstood. Your aunt isn't here to question you. It's just that I feel sorry for your cousin, and since I have no one to complain to in this mansion, I thought I'd come to your room and talk to you."

"You know, even though your mother is from the Qi family, she's been married in the capital for so many years, and her relationship with the Qi family is just that of a relative. It doesn't matter if I, your sister-in-law, are close or distant. Furthermore, if something like this happens while we're visiting, and she starts crying and making a scene in front of your mother or the old lady, how will we ever see each other again? It's precisely because of these concerns that I feel so bad. I'm afraid your cousin will have to move out of the Marquis' Mansion, and then he'll be criticized by those outside, who might think he was kicked out."

"If anything happened to him, I don't know how I would live."

As Zhan spoke, she couldn't help but burst into tears. She murmured, "If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have brought your cousin with me when I sent you back to the capital. This would have prevented the rumors from spreading and affecting you, little girl Yan."

Zhan wiped her tears and said to Cui Lingyan with some concern and worry, "Oh, right, I came here today because I'm worried about you, Yan girl. There are so many rumors out there. Madam Dou of the Weiguo Mansion and the prince must have heard about it. I wonder what the Lu family thinks about this. Will it affect your marriage, Yan girl?"

Zhan asked directly, and it was obvious that she didn't know that Lu Bingzhi had sent his attendant Guan Yan to deliver a box of jewelry.

Cui Lingyan didn't want to hide it, so she told this to Zhan.

Zhan was stunned for a moment, a hint of surprise in her eyes, then she said with a hint of joy, "The prince sent someone to deliver something to reassure you. This, this is really unexpected. I heard that Prince Lu has a cold personality, but now it seems that the prince treats you, little girl Yan, a little differently."

Qi Ruorou sat down below, her eyebrows trembling slightly, and a trace of emotion in her eyes that she tried hard to hide but couldn't.

She thought that these rumors outside would affect the marriage of Cui Lingyan and Lu Shizi. After all, the world is the most harsh on women. Regardless of whether the rumors are true or not, they will damage the reputation of Cui Lingyan, the future wife of the prince.

The Duke of Weiguo's family is of such a prominent status, and Lu Bingzhi is the eldest princess's biological son. He has a grandmother who is the empress dowager, and his uncle, the emperor, also values ​​him very much. How could such a man bear to marry a woman with a tarnished reputation and an unclear relationship with his cousin in her family?

Qi Ruorou clenched the teacup in her hand, emotions surging in her beautiful eyes. When she was at the Qi family, she hadn't thought Cui Lingyan was any luckier than she was, but now that she was in the capital, it seemed as if fate had deliberately favored Cui Lingyan; otherwise, how could she have escaped this disaster?

Qi Ruorou was just thinking about something when a maid came in hurriedly and reported, "Young lady, the Duke of Wei has sent people to investigate the source of the rumors. It turns out that they are related to our Second Young Lady. It was Second Young Lady's biological mother, Concubine Wen, who secretly instigated it. The evidence has been taken to the old lady. The lady and the others have gone to Xilan Courtyard now. Since this concerns your reputation, you should go there too."