Chapter 84: Embarrassed, I still feel the same cold, self-respecting and arrogant person...

Seeing his wife's shy look, Lu Bingzhi smiled slightly, but he knew that she was shy, so he didn't tease her.

However, the medicinal bath had made Cui Lingyan very nervous. After the bath, Cui Lingyan helped Lu Bingzhi change his clothes. Lu Bingzhi lowered his head and whispered in her ear with a smile, "You're so shy just seeing me bathing. What will Yan'er do if we consummate our marriage?"

Cui Lingyan's suppressed nervousness surged back up, but she didn't want Lu Bingzhi to laugh at her and let him always have the upper hand. Even with a slight blush on her cheeks, she still glanced at him and said, "Is the prince okay?"

She had just finished her short sentence when Lu Bingzhi bit her earlobe, neither too hard nor too light. Cui Lingyan was embarrassed and frightened and subconsciously wanted to step back, but Lu Bingzhi pressed her against the wall and bullied her until her lips were swollen and her cheeks were flushed. Only then did Lu Bingzhi let her go.

"Since Madam is so worried about me, please don't think I'm bullying you when we consummate our marriage in a few days."

Cui Lingyan's face flushed, and she was breathing heavily as she was bullied by him. Hearing him say this, she pushed Lu Bingzhi with a bit of shame and anger, then she straightened her hair and came out from behind the screen without paying any attention to Lu Bingzhi.

Lu Bingzhi followed him out with a smile.

Outside, Birou saw the two of them coming out. The blush on the young lady's cheeks had not faded yet, and even her lips were slightly swollen. How could she guess what had happened inside?

She quickly lowered her head, but she was extremely happy in her heart. It was a good thing no matter what that the young lady and the prince could be so close.

If the prince's health is really fine as the young lady said, then consummating the marriage would be a natural thing. If the marriage is really consummated, there would be less gossip about the prince and the young lady in the Duke's Mansion, and they would not be laughed at by those outsiders.

Thinking of this, Bi Rou went to the tea room and brewed two cups of Lushan Yunwu tea.

Cui Lingyan took the tea and took a few sips, suppressing the embarrassment in her heart.

But from time to time, she would still think of what Lu Bingzhi said about not blaming him for bullying on the day of the marriage consummation, and she couldn't help but regret having said the wrong thing. She also felt that although Lu Bingzhi had a cold personality, he was actually very petty about certain things.

She had no other intentions just now. It was obvious that Lu Bingzhi was being too suspicious, or was deliberately picking on one of her mistakes to bully her.

Thinking of this, Cui Lingyan's gaze unconsciously fell on Lu Bingzhi.

When looking at him, I felt that this man was extremely handsome. Although there were many good-looking men, Lu Bingzhi had such a cool and noble appearance, and he was hiding such a big secret, which made it really hard to take your eyes off him.

The two of them went to bed early at night. Cui Lingyan was still a little worried that Lu Bingzhi would continue to touch her, but fortunately, Lu Bingzhi did not think of bullying her anymore. He just held her in his arms when he went to bed, and they both fell asleep quickly.

The next morning, Lu Bingzhi personally accompanied Cui Lingyan to pay his respects to Old Madam Dou.

When Mrs. Dou saw the young couple coming together, she felt so happy that she found their tacit understanding and closeness were even stronger than before. Without waiting for them to greet each other, she offered them a seat and asked someone to serve them tea and snacks.

Second Madam He, watching the old lady's expression, said with a hint of sourness, "In mother's heart, the prince is the most important. We, her daughters-in-law, come here every day to pay our respects, but we've never seen you so happy. I'm afraid it might even make us dislike you."

Madam Dou heard the joking in her words and scolded her with a smile: "How old are you? You're competing for favor with the younger generation."

"Forget it. I'll ask Madam Sun to bring out a box of jewelry from my private vault today. You can choose from them. This will save you from accusing me of being partial as an elder and only having eyes for Bingzhi."

He Shi was not thinking about that little thing, but since the old lady was so interested in rewarding them, she was naturally happy. She immediately stood up and thanked her, "Then your daughter-in-law thanks you, mother."

As she spoke, she turned to Lu Bingzhi, who was sitting beside her, and said, "It seems that the prince will come here more often at this time in the future. When we meet together, we can pay our respects to the old lady. If the old lady is happy, she will let us get a lot of good things."

Her joking words made Old Lady Dou burst out laughing, and the room became lively.

Outside the house, Lu Danruo, who was urged by his mother Cen to come and pay his respects, felt very uncomfortable when he heard the laughter inside.

My mother was so angry at my father for humiliating her that she fell ill, but the old lady's place was still bustling with activity. Compared with the deserted Peony Courtyard, the hustle and bustle here was really jarring to the ears.

She suppressed these emotions, forced a smile, opened the curtain and walked in.

As soon as she came in, there was a moment of silence in the room.

Madam Dou's smile faded a little. After she bowed, she asked, "Is your mother feeling better today?"

Lu Danruo felt upset, but she had been repeatedly punished since Cui came into the family, and her mother had completely lost face in front of her father, so she finally restrained her temper and replied respectfully, "I'm feeling better after taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor. Thank you, grandmother, for your concern."

Madam Dou also knew that her son had overheard what Cen and Lu Danruo had said in the house when he went to the Peony Courtyard that day. So she knew her son was very disappointed in Lu Danruo, otherwise he wouldn't have said that he would let her not have any contact with him after she got married. Seeing her granddaughter Lu Danruo now, she finally said, "You know your father's temper. You should control your temper from now on and not be so arrogant and willful like before."

Lu Danruo naturally knew what Madam Dou was referring to. A hint of embarrassment appeared on her face, and she felt very aggrieved. She nodded and said, "Yes, my granddaughter will remember this in the future."

Madam Dou nodded, pointed to a chair beside her and asked her to sit down.

Lu Danruo walked forward and sat down, listening to the conversation between her grandmother, Madam Dou, and her sister-in-law, Cui. He would occasionally add a sentence with a smile. Lu Bingzhi sat there drinking tea, and every time he responded, his grandmother would look at him. She felt that this grandson was good in every way. In such a lively atmosphere, only she, her own granddaughter, seemed like an outsider.

Lu Danruo's eyes moistened. Although her grandmother had been partial to Cui before she married into the family, it wasn't like this. She had come to Qingdeyuan to pay her respects, and her grandmother had been gentle and loving to her. She had never felt that she, the eldest daughter of the Duke's family, was superfluous.

But ever since Cui came into the house, especially after hearing what her father said and her mother being slapped in the face by her father and falling ill, she came to pay her respects again and felt that everything had changed. She felt like an outsider everywhere she sat in this room.

That day, my cousin came to the mansion with my grandmother, Old Lady Mei. In private, she mentioned that her brother was getting married soon and how she'd been worried lately, fearing her future sister-in-law wouldn't like her and would be eager to marry her off quickly. At the time, she'd found those words ridiculous, thinking a new sister-in-law was supposed to be cautious and fawn over the unmarried sister-in-law. How could a sister-in-law be so afraid of her sister-in-law's dislike and anxious to marry her off quickly?

She felt that her cousin was too cowardly and thought too much. After all, the Cen family could not compare with the Weiguo family, and the daughter raised there was a little more petty.

But at this time, Lu Danruo also had this feeling. As an unmarried sister-in-law, she might be seen as redundant in this mansion by outsiders. Even if she didn't say it explicitly, her grandmother must feel the same as her father that she would get married sooner or later, and once she got married and became the daughter-in-law of another family, she would have nothing to do with the mansion anymore.

Therefore, her father was too lazy to discipline her and did not treat her as his own daughter but as the future daughter-in-law of another family.

Lu Danruo felt a chill in her heart, and her eyes unconsciously turned to her stepbrother Lu Bingzhi. For the first time, she thought that even if there was no Lu Bingzhi, the prince, her father would not treat her as well as his son.

Or perhaps, it was because she had no biological brother, so she had no one to rely on in the mansion.

She looked at her sister-in-law Cui Lingyan again, and saw that this sister-in-law whom she had always looked down upon was now so comfortable in the Duke's Mansion. Not only was she liked by Lu Bingzhi, but even her grandmother was somewhat partial to her. She felt jealous and envious at the same time. She felt that although Cui Lingyan had a bad fate and her biological mother Qi disliked her, God still favored her and let her marry Lu Bingzhi, and then she became the wife of the high and mighty prince.

Cui Lingyan is so proud now. If she consummates her marriage with Lu Bingzhi in the future and becomes pregnant, I am afraid she will be even more arrogant than she is now.

If Lu Bingzhi's health had not been good, it would have been better for the couple to never have children.

Cui Lingyan had long noticed Lu Danruo's gaze towards her. Now she felt a bit of hostility in Lu Danruo's eyes as he looked at her, which he tried hard to conceal but couldn't, and she felt a little helpless.

She and her sister-in-law Lu Danruo were really incompatible, otherwise why would Lu Danruo hate her so much as her sister-in-law.

Cui Lingyan glanced at Lu Bingzhi and felt that Lu Danruo must have disliked Lu Bingzhi as her brother, which was why she was particularly annoying as her sister-in-law. In addition, after she came into the family, Lu Danruo was punished and made to kneel in the ancestral hall because of her, so she became even more displeased and resistant to her. It was likely that the relationship between these two sisters-in-law would never ease.

Fortunately, Lu Bingzhi would not be the heir of the Duke of Wei's mansion forever. Lu Danruo, the sister-in-law, was only temporary, so Cui Lingyan did not want to get too hung up on Lu Danruo.

So, he just glanced at Lu Danruo and then looked away.

However, Lu Danruo felt that Cui Lingyan's behavior was somewhat disrespectful, and she felt even more unhappy.

Mrs. Dou talked to a few people for a while, then asked them to leave, leaving only Lu Bingzhi in the room.

Lu Bingzhi asked with a smile, "Grandma, what can't you say in front of everyone? Why do you insist on keeping your grandson here alone? If Second Aunt is suspicious, she might think that Grandma is giving your grandson something special."

Madam Dou couldn't help but laugh in anger when she heard this: "Your Second Aunt is just like that. It's not the first time you've known her. She has her own little tricks but she's not very courageous. If she really wants to do something cruel, she'll be scared off first."

Madam Dou stopped talking about her daughter-in-law, He. She glanced at Lu Bingzhi's face and said, "I see that you look much better than before, Bingzhi. I heard that Imperial Doctor Pei gave you acupuncture for the last time a few days ago and said that you are fine now."

Seeing her grandson drinking tea leisurely, Madam Dou glared at him and finally said what was in her heart: "I want to say that Yan girl has been married for some time. If you are feeling better, you should consummate the marriage. Otherwise, if you marry this daughter-in-law, will she have to live a widow's life? We can't let her down like this!"

Hearing Madam Dou say this, Lu Bingzhi felt a little helpless and a little amused: "What's the point of being a widow or not? This is unlucky!"

Old Madam Dou also knew that she had said the wrong thing at the moment, so she quickly said "Pooh" and then looked at Lu Bingzhi.

"Give me a definite answer."

Lu Bingzhi put down the tea in his hand and said, "Don't worry, Grandma. Even if you don't tell me, I plan to consummate the marriage in the next two days."

"Didn't I tell you before that the imperial physician said that my poisoning had no effect on those things? Why don't you believe me?"

Madam Dou was a little embarrassed, and said to Lu Bingzhi with a hint of blame, "It's because you haven't consummated your marriage yet, and it's only now that I, as your grandmother, have to ask you this."

"A family like ours has been dragging its feet on consummating the marriage. You don't take those gossips seriously, but Yan is a new bride, so she must be feeling pressured. However, she's just married and shy, so it's not easy for her to bring this up, let alone tell you, her husband. I wonder how aggrieved and anxious she must be."

Lu Bingzhi explained, "Grandson is just worried that the remaining poison in his body has not yet been cleared and he and Yan'er will consummate the marriage. If Yan'er gets pregnant, it will not be good for the child. Besides, it is helpless for Yan'er to be chosen for this marriage. Grandson must let her adapt to the mansion for a while, otherwise it will seem like he is forcing her."

Madam Dou was surprised to hear his words, but she also directly exposed his words: "I believe your first statement, but I don't believe your second reason. You must have been thinking about consummating the marriage because you've been obsessed with Yan'er these days. With your personality, if you didn't like her, you would have dragged it out. Especially since those rumors outside have given you an excuse. No one can find fault with you, and they even have to consider your thoughts."

"You, you're just saying this because you think Yan'er has caught your eye and you're satisfied with her as a wife. Who doesn't know what you men are thinking?"

Lu Bingzhi was a man of upright character and aloof temperament. No one in the mansion would speak to him like that. Suddenly, he was commented on in this way by Madam Dou, his grandmother, and even Lu Bingzhi himself felt a little uncomfortable.

Madam Dou glanced at him, waved her hand, and said, "Alright, don't hang around here. Yan'er must be waiting for you outside. Since you have feelings for her, treat her well in the future. Don't be like your father and Cen, who lost their affection for each other and became a pair of resentful couples."

Lu Bingzhi nodded, but still defended the Duke of Wei, saying, "Father gave Cen a chance, but she refused to repent. She deserves to be in this situation now, and it's her own fault. She can't blame anyone else."

"As for Danruo, my grandson has the same idea as my father. If she can maintain her courtesy, I will treat her as my sister. If she shows any disrespect to Yan'er, my eldest sister-in-law, then grandma should choose someone to marry her off. After all, it's time for her to discuss marriage. If our family can't teach her well, we can't change her temper. I think after she gets married and becomes a daughter-in-law of another family, she will know not to act recklessly. Maybe when she returns to her parents' home in the future, she will know how good it is."

Lu Bingzhi never took his sister Lu Danruo seriously, and he never mentioned Lu Danruo's marriage in front of Old Madam Dou, so when Old Madam Dou heard what he said, there was a hint of surprise in her eyes.

She was also old, so how could she not understand what her grandson meant? Her grandson was openly protecting his wife Cui Lingyan, so he said these words.

Madam Dou sighed heavily and said, "Let it be."

Lu Bingzhi nodded, stood up, bowed again to Madam Dou, then turned and walked out.

In the yard

Cui Lingyan was standing by the pond next to the rockery, watching the goldfish swimming back and forth in the water with their tails swaying. When she heard footsteps behind her and the familiar scent of Canaan, she turned around.

"What did your grandmother say when she asked you to stay here?" Cui Lingyan was a little curious. The two of them were very close now, so she asked directly without any hesitation.

When Lu Bingzhi heard her ask this, he lowered his head and leaned close to her ear, smiling, "Grandmother asked when we will consummate our marriage."

Cui Lingyan's cheeks suddenly turned red. She subconsciously looked around and saw that only Birou was around. She breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Lu Bingzhi with a bit of embarrassment.

"Grandma, why would you ask this? Are you concerned about your health? But I told you before that Doctor Pei said you were fine and there was no need for you to worry."

Lu Bingzhi smiled and said, "Grandma is naturally worried that we haven't consummated our marriage yet. She's even more worried that you, Yan'er, will feel wronged because of my condition."

Cui Lingyan couldn't understand what he meant. Her cheeks flushed, but she still defended herself in a low voice, "There were countless rumors in the capital when I married you, but you protected me and sent Guanyan to send me gifts. I felt that even if you had any health problems, I would not despise you in the slightest and would take good care of you. Besides, such a thing doesn't have to happen. There are girls in our place who never marry. Grandma, there's no need to worry that I'm feeling wronged."

"The days I spend with you now are much better than before. I am already content."

Lu Bingzhi laughed when he heard this. He felt that his wife was a bit straightforward, simple and cute, and it made him feel distressed.

"You'll understand later on. After all, my husband is not that useless."

Lu Bingzhi left a few words and walked straight out of the yard.

Cui Lingyan's cheeks flushed with shame. She felt that she liked the original cold, self-respecting and superior Lu Bingzhi more.

How could this man, who spoke frivolously from time to time and loved to bully others, be like the cold and aloof Prince Weiguo whom others said was aloof from women?

Birou suppressed her laughter and said to her young mistress, "Young mistress, hurry up and catch up. Don't let the prince wait."

Seeing Birou wanting to laugh but not daring to, and teasing her like this, Cui Lingyan's cheeks became even hotter, and she caught up with Lu Bingzhi in a few steps.

The two of them returned to Wutong Courtyard. Lu Bingzhi stayed with her for a while before going to Songxue Hall.

Cui Lingyan was also busy with her own affairs. As she was looking at the account books, a maid came in and reported, "Young Madam, my aunt has brought my cousin and the second daughter to the mansion. They are now heading towards Wutong Courtyard."