Chapter 97: I am unwilling to give up thinking that if the news gets out, the capital will only...

Nanny Xie, following behind Cui Linghui, noticed the tense atmosphere in the room and feared her daughter would be blamed by Old Madam Zhai. She quickly bowed and apologized, "Forgive me, Old Madam. Our daughter caught a cold at Guangfu Temple and rode the carriage all the way back home, which was exhausting. My words may have been a little confused. Please forgive me, Old Madam."

After she said this, she looked at Cui Lingyan who was sitting there, with a hint of nervousness and pleading in her eyes.

Cui Lingyan's gaze lingered on Cui Linghui for a long moment before she retracted it. She sighed softly and said to Old Madam Zhai, "Since Big Sister isn't feeling well, Grandmother should allow her to go back and rest. Otherwise, if Big Sister faints here, it will seem like I, the returning aunt, have angered her. If word gets out, who knows what people outside will say about my granddaughter."

Cui Lingyan's words were somewhat sarcastic and did not give Cui Linghui any face at all. She almost said that Cui Linghui had called off the marriage with Lu Bingzhi because she couldn't bear to see Cui Linghui and Lu Bingzhi consummate their marriage and get along well, which made her so angry.

Old Madam Zhai was also a little angry and felt something was a little strange. She had watched Cui Linghui grow up since she was a child, and as a grandmother, she knew her temper well. But ever since she fell into the water and then called off the marriage with Lu Bingzhi, her granddaughter's actions became more and more out of line.

Just like today, even if she really didn't like Lu Bingzhi and Yan Yatou consummating their marriage, or was even angry and unhappy about it, she wouldn't show it so obviously, right?

Moreover, she herself had been hanging out with the Second Prince, Xiao Ze, at Guangfu Temple, even giving herself away as his concubine. Hadn't she been obsessed with becoming his concubine? Now, seeing Yan Yatou and Lu Bingzhi consummating their marriage, was she regretting calling off the engagement?

Old Madam Zhai was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with her granddaughter. With a sullen face, she instructed Madam Xie, "Since Hui has caught a cold, she should go back to Yingyue Courtyard and rest. You don't need to come to pay your respects to me for the next few days."

After getting permission, Nanny Xie half-supported and half-pushed Cui Linghui out of the house.

It wasn't until they left Xilan Courtyard and felt a gust of wind on their face that Cui Linghui finally came to his senses. He tugged at Madam Xie's sleeve and said, "How is this possible? How could someone like Lu Bingzhi consummate his marriage with Cui Lingyan so quickly? Wasn't he still poisoned and ill and unable to move? How come now that Cui Lingyan is his wife, everything seems fine to him, and he's willing to be close to her? Why? Why does he treat Cui Lingyan so differently? How am I any different?"

Cui Linghui's words were a little incoherent, even Nanny Xie was a little confused. She didn't know what it meant that if it was the Third Lady, the Prince would be willing to get close to the Third Lady and consummate the marriage with her?

In her opinion, the marriage that her own daughter didn't want was given to the third daughter, and the third daughter became Lu Bingzhi's wife. Now that she is well, it is natural for her to consummate the marriage. Just like what the third daughter said just now, even if her own daughter is unhappy, she shouldn't be so stubborn, right?

Aunt Xie felt that her daughter was a little possessed. She supported Cui Linghui with one hand and raised her other hand to touch Cui Linghui's forehead. Not feeling hot, she said with a bit of surprise, "Miss, don't think about these things for now. It's better to go back to Yingyue Courtyard and rest for a while. Was it because the old lady asked the two maids to check your innocence when you just returned home that you scared her and she hasn't recovered yet?"

Cui Linghui felt a little headache. All the scenes of her getting along with Lu Bingzhi in her previous life appeared in her mind, including the embarrassment, alienation, and grievances. If Lu Bingzhi had not touched her and refused to consummate the marriage with her, causing her to be neglected and ridiculed, how could she have had an affair with Xiao Ze behind her back, done such a shameful thing, and been caught red-handed at the palace banquet, ruining her reputation and losing her life.

She had returned to her former life, forsaking her reputation and withdrawing from the marriage, leaving it to Cui Lingyan. She only considered that even if Cui Lingyan had some respectability, Lu Bingzhi, a heartless and cold-hearted man, would only treat her as a decoration at best. How could he possibly get close to her? Even if the remaining poison in his body was eliminated, given Lu Bingzhi's temperament, he would definitely not truly enjoy being close to any woman.

But it just wasn't long after Cui Lingyan married into the Duke of Weiguo's mansion that the two of them had physical contact. How could she not be jealous and hate him?

Cui Linghui cried, "Mammy, how could Lu Bingzhi bully me like this? How am I inferior to Cui Lingyan? He ignored and distanced himself from me, but Cui Lingyan treated her with respect. I won't accept this!"

Nanny Xie felt even more bewildered, thinking Cui Linghui was simply too angry and had lost his mind. She sighed heavily and said, "Young lady, please stop talking. Back then, you and the prince were at most engaged, so there was no question of him being cold or indifferent. Don't say this again, or else people outside will laugh at you and think you're frivolous."

As Aunt Xie spoke, she supported Cui Linghui all the way to Yingyue Courtyard.

In the house

Old Madam Zhai was a little embarrassed and said to Cui Lingyan, "Your elder sister may be in a bad mood because of the difficulties in her marriage. She also caught a cold and she doesn't know what nonsense she said. You don't have to bother with her, little girl Yan."

Cui Lingyan smiled and did not respond to the old lady's words. Instead, she changed the subject and talked about other things.

After chatting with the old lady for a while, she stood up and said goodbye, saying that she had a lot of things to do at the Duke's Mansion and it would not be appropriate for her to stay in the Marquis' Mansion for too long.

Madam Zhai nodded, and gave her a few more instructions, asking her to get along well with Lu Bingzhi and to pay her respects to Madam Dou often. Cui Lingyan nodded in agreement and took Birou out of the house.

Old Madam Zhai ordered Bitang to see her off. Seeing Qi sitting there, she instructed, "From now on, you should also pay more attention to Yan girl. She and the prince have consummated their marriage, and once she gives birth to a child, her position in the Duke's Mansion will be secure. If you, as a mother, don't seize this opportunity to ease the relationship, it will be too late and you will regret it later."

Qi felt a little embarrassed. She had just wanted to send Yan out in person, but she suddenly became too close to her and seemed a little uncomfortable.

Moreover, if Yan Yatou refused, she would lose face as a mother.

But after the old lady said this, she nodded and said, "Yes, daughter-in-law knows."

As she spoke, she thought of Cui Linghui and hesitated before saying, "Mother, is there something wrong with the eldest daughter? Although she has a bad temper, she has never been so out of control and unable to control her temper before."

"I always feel that this time when she came back from Guangfu Temple, she looked a little different from before."

Madam Zhai naturally didn't want to tell her daughter-in-law, Qi, about Cui Linghui and the Second Prince Xiao Ze's affair at Guangfu Temple. She sighed softly and said, "Miss Hui's marriage was difficult, and she's feeling very miserable. Perhaps that's why she lost her composure."

"After all, she put so much thought into that marriage, even sacrificing her reputation for it. Now that Yan and the prince are getting along so well, and they've consummated their marriage, she might be feeling some regret and bitterness. It's not surprising for a girl to have these thoughts."

Qi's eyes held a hint of sarcasm. "She was the one who wanted to break off the engagement, and now she's the one regretting it. She wanted to have the best of both worlds, but fate didn't give her the chance. Now Yan is the Crown Prince's wife and he loves her, so why is she so jealous? If she has such thoughts, why not go back to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion and beg her grandmother to find her a good marriage, or if she feels sorry for her and asks her to marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion and become his granddaughter-in-law?"

Madam Zhai glared at her unhappily and said, "Alright, stop saying these useless things. You're a stepmother. Even if you have some grievances against Hui girl, don't show it too obviously. We're family after all. If things get too awkward and spread out, it won't be good for the reputation of the Marquisate."

Qi felt that the old lady was somewhat protective of Cui Linghui this time, and felt a little strange in her heart. However, seeing that the old lady Zhai looked pale, she didn't know what to say. She just nodded and said, "I understand."

Madam Zhai waved her hand and asked Qi to leave.

After Qi left, leaving only the head maid Daimao in the room, the old lady said with a sullen face, "Miss Hui is truly outrageous. The two sisters are making such an ugly scene that it makes me, as their grandmother, feel terribly embarrassed!"

"She gave her body to Xiao Ze and did such a shameful thing, and she even wanted Lu Bingzhi, her former fiancé, to not consummate the marriage with Yan Yatou. I don't know what to say to her."

Daimao is not a fool, so he naturally understands the thoughts of the eldest lady Cui Linghui.

She said, "Perhaps, the eldest lady has some regrets. Previously, the eldest lady probably felt that Prince Lu was in poor health and would not be able to give her an heir in the future, so she called off the engagement, risking her reputation. But now, the third lady and the prince have consummated their marriage so quickly, so naturally, the eldest lady feels some regrets. But things have come to this point, and the eldest lady has chosen this path. The best future for her is to become the Second Prince's concubine. After giving birth to an heir, perhaps she will have a good future too."

The old lady was a little worried. "Perhaps. Alas, I've seen her and Miss Zheng at a banquet before. Even if they weren't close friends, they were still equals in the same circle. But in the future, they will have to rely on others for their lives. One is the Second Prince's wife, and the other can only be a concubine. I really don't know if Hui girl's choice is right or wrong? I think she is afraid of being laughed at and thought that she will not marry well in the future, so she is willing to do such a shameful thing!"

Thinking of something, the old lady frowned and said hesitantly, "I don't know if Xiao Ze sent her contraceptive soup after she became close to him. Zheng hasn't even entered the family yet. If Miss Ruohui is pregnant, it would be a huge scandal! Our Ningshou Marquis Mansion can't afford to lose face like this!"

Daimao thought of the young lady's previous cold and said comfortingly, "It shouldn't be that serious. If the young lady hadn't caught a cold from falling into the water, even if she hadn't taken the contraceptive soup, she wouldn't have gotten pregnant by chance like this."

The old lady wanted to say something else, but when she thought about how Cui Linghui was sent out of the palace with a pale face, and the diagnosis made by the imperial physician, she stopped talking.

......

What happened in Xilan Courtyard could not be concealed and soon spread throughout the entire Marquis' Mansion.

In the Bilan Courtyard, Cui Lingyin was embroidering her wedding dress. Upon hearing the news, she showed a hint of surprise, then said with a hint of sarcasm, "I thought she was so tough. Now that she knows Cui Lingyan and the prince have consummated their marriage, isn't she regretting it? If I had known this would happen, why would I have made such an ugly scene and called off the engagement? If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have..."

Cui Lingyin didn't finish her words, she just put down the needle and thread in her hand and put the wedding dress aside.

Madam Wen had already been brought back to the manor from the farm. Sitting aside at this moment, how could he not understand what she was thinking when he heard her words? It was indeed a wrong for her daughter to marry Qi Shaozhang.

If Cui Linghui had not made a fuss at the beginning, his daughter would not have ended up in the situation she is in today. As a girl from a marquis's mansion, even if she was born out of wedlock, it would be normal for her to marry into a family of higher status than the Qi family.

Madam Wen opened her mouth to say something, but Cui Lingyin had already composed herself and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Although I won't be as high and mighty as Cui Lingyan, the wife of a prince, if I marry into the Qi family, it's not certain that Cui Linghui will marry into a good family in the future. If she marries far away from the capital, I'm afraid her marriage won't even be as good as my daughter's."

"If she hadn't been so worried about her marriage, she wouldn't have been so impatient as to ask those questions today. She's completely humiliated. If this were to get out, I wonder how many people would laugh at her."

Here, Cui Lingyan brought Birou back to the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion and went directly to Songxueyuan.

She had some guesses about what happened to Cui Linghui in Guangfu Temple, and thought that if the news got out, people in the capital would probably talk about her ex-fiancé Lu Bingzhi again.

After all, Cui Linghui broke off the engagement with Lu Bingzhi regardless of her reputation, but now she is hanging out with the second prince Xiao Ze, and she may even have lost her innocence. In comparison, it would be embarrassing for Lu Bingzhi, her ex-fiancé.

But these were just her guesses, and Cui Lingyan didn't know whether she should tell Lu Bingzhi about them.

Lu Bingzhi noticed her hesitation in wanting to speak. He put down the book in his hand, reached out and pulled her to his side: "What's wrong? You look like this after just one trip back to the Marquis' Mansion. Did someone wrong you?"