Chapter 307 Lin Yingyu's Noble Concubine
In the blink of an eye, fifteen days have quietly passed.
During the past two weeks, Lu Zhaoruo appeared no different from usual, busy with the affairs of Yunshang Pavilion every day, and never once set foot in the Xiao residence.
She couldn't accept that Xiao Yeming was the lecherous man who had defiled her.
Even more unacceptable is that he deceived himself.
She only visited Gu Xian at Anzhai occasionally, and on several occasions she tried to see Princess Yongfu, but was stopped at the palace gate by the Empress Dowager's people.
Most of the time, she would simply return to the Lu residence alone, sit silently under the old sycamore tree in the courtyard, keeping company with A Bao's small, newly laid grave...
There was always a plate of candied peas next to it, which was its favorite food when it was alive.
Dongrou and Qiulu watched from afar as their wife grew increasingly thin and the plate of untouched peas remained untouched. Their hearts ached, but they dared not approach to disturb her.
The death of Lü'er remained a thorn in Lu Zhaoruo's heart, and she never forgot to search for her lost younger brother.
By chance, when she was talking to Qiu Lu, she heard her mention that she used to serve in the second branch of the Marquis's mansion in Xiang'an County. The young man, Pang Hong, had a thumb-sized, oval-shaped, dark blue birthmark below his shoulder blade.
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoruo was shocked.
This is exactly the same as the description of her younger brother that Greenie had given before her death!
She immediately went to visit the second branch of the Marquis's residence.
When I saw the child, he was sitting upright in his study practicing calligraphy. He had delicate features and a graceful demeanor.
Lu Zhaoruo felt a pang of sorrow. She dismissed everyone around her and then gently told them the tragic news that Lü'er had died.
Pang Hong was stunned at first, but when he came to his senses, he burst into tears and threw himself into Lu Zhaoruo's arms, crying his heart out and calling out "Sister" over and over again.
Fortunately, the second husband and wife were kind-hearted. Because the wife was unable to have children, she bought Pang Hong in the remote city of Jizhou as her legitimate son. She treated Pang Hong as her own son and raised him very well.
Pang Ying, the eldest son of the main branch, was an uneducated and dissolute playboy who indulged in drinking and merrymaking. He was completely ignorant of literature and economics and was utterly incapable of shouldering any great responsibility.
Lu Zhaoruo predicted that the title of Marquis of Xiang'an County would most likely fall to this child in the future.
She gently stroked Pang Hong's head and softly instructed him, "Study hard, understand principles, and grow up safely. That will be the best comfort for your older sister."
After saying goodbye to Pang Hong, he bumped into Lin Yingyu.
Lin Yingyu sized her up, a smirk playing on her lips, and said in a flirtatious tone, "Oh, isn't this Madam Lu? What brings you to the county magistrate's residence?"
Her eyes and brows were full of smug pride, as if she were completely unaware of the dignity befitting a "Third-Rank Lady".
Just as the stalemate was at hand, Pang Ying, the heir of the Marquis of Xiang'an County, happened to pass by. Upon seeing Lu Zhaoruo there, his expression hardened, and he immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I was unaware of your arrival, Your Excellency. I apologize for not welcoming you properly."
Lin Yingyu's expression suddenly changed when she saw Pang Ying being so respectful to Lu Zhaoruo.
Finally, she reluctantly knelt down and bowed deeply, saying, "This humble servant... respectfully sees you off, Lady."
Lu Zhaoruo didn't even glance at her and left directly.
The Xiao residence.
Xiao Yeming remained unconscious, his breath faint.
Wang Wu, Ban Ling, and Lu Seng were out searching for clues about the Japanese pirates' secret dealings with powerful figures and the mastermind behind the "Dark Shrine."
Inside the Buddhist hall.
Princess Yongfu knelt on the prayer mat, her figure emaciated beyond recognition.
Her once bright and vibrant face is now nothing but a bloodless paleness, and her eyes, which once reflected starlight, are now empty and numb, devoid of any spirit.
The Empress Dowager watched from afar behind the curtain, her heart aching as if being torn apart, but she could only harden her heart.
She knew that only such strict discipline could protect her daughter's life and sever that ill-fated relationship; this was the best way to protect Yongfu.
Prince Qing Lexian of the Qing Kingdom would always find some excuse to come. Sometimes he would bring a box of exquisite honey-fried fruits, or a few uniquely shaped ghee-fried abalone. Other times, he would bring a lifelike straw cricket, or a mother-of-pearl inlaid box containing red beans and mung beans for her to sort and relieve her worries.
This time, he brought a finely woven bamboo birdcage, inside which was a white-eye with bright feathers and a melodious song.
He gently hung the birdcage by the window, his voice gentle and bright: "Yongfu, look at this white-eye bird, it's the most clever one. I've taught it to recognize people. If you're bored, just tease it."
Yongfu's empty gaze finally stirred slightly, landing on that vibrant green.
However, this white-eye was not as good as the other bird.
Its name is Gu Pan.
She cried again, crying uncontrollably.
Qing Lexian had been in love with her since childhood, and when he first met her at the age of eight, he secretly vowed that he would marry her in the future.
Finally, Yongfu recounted in detail how she admired Gu Xian, how the two met and got along, and even the past when she once rode a horse for him.
Seeing how she had devoted herself to others and become emaciated, Qing Lexian felt even more pain in her bones.
He also frankly told them about Lu Zhaoruo being poisoned and Xiao Yeming being seriously injured and unconscious.
Yongfu was extremely worried upon hearing the news, but she couldn't even step out of the Buddhist hall, so how could she go to visit and help them?
Qing Lexian suppressed the bitterness in his heart and said gently, "If you truly love him, I... I am willing to help you."
He risked his life many times to try to help her slip out of the Buddhist hall, even if it was just to let her see Gu Xian once.
Unfortunately, they were stopped every time.
Each failure extinguished the glimmer of light that had just ignited in Yongfu's eyes, plunging him back into deathly silence.
Looking at her increasingly dim eyes, Qing Lexian could only suppress all the pain and helplessness in his heart and continue to try to make her smile, even if only for a moment.
However, with the wedding date of the marriage between the two countries drawing ever closer, he was powerless to change this predetermined fate.
During the fifteen days.
A romantic affair quietly spread throughout the capital, becoming a topic of conversation in teahouses and taverns.
The beautiful Lady Lin from Yingxiang Pavilion, through some unknown means, managed to make Pang Ying, the heir of the Marquis of Xiang'an County, who frequented brothels, fall deeply in love with her, to the point of being completely infatuated with her.
This young master Pang, who used to be a womanizer, now seems to have completely changed his soul.
He not only dismissed all the women around Lin Yingyu, but was also determined to take her into his household. For this, he did not hesitate to argue with his parents, who strongly opposed the marriage, and even openly contradicted them: "Father, Mother! Do not compare Yu Niang with those common beauties! She is literate and knowledgeable about perfumes and medicines, which makes her different from all the women in the world!"
Ultimately, relying on his status as the eldest son, he defied public opinion and insisted on carrying Lin Yingyu into the Xiang'an County Marquis's mansion in a small blue silk sedan chair, taking her as his concubine.
Lin Yingyu, relying on the Marquis's mansion for support, became increasingly arrogant.
She repeatedly came to Yunshang Pavilion under various pretexts, her words laced with barbs and provocations.
Now, she not only secretly relies on Lady Yunxiu, but also secretly uses some of her homemade, subtly effective incense pills and secret medicines to exploit the private ailments of many noble ladies, so no one dares to embarrass her to her face.
One day, she was once again arrogant in the pavilion, mocking Lu Zhaoruo's embroidery as having only a reputation.
Dong Rou was furious and blurted out in public, "You are nothing but my wife's late husband's mistress from Jizhou. How dare you be so insolent here!"
These words caused a stir among the room, and everyone looked at them with different expressions.
Unexpectedly, Lin Yingyu's eyes reddened, and she burst into tears in front of everyone, her voice filled with heartbreaking sorrow: "Sister, why do you have to reopen old wounds... I was forced and coerced by Shen Rongzhi back then, and I had no choice but to lose my virginity. I am also a person with a tragic fate... If I hadn't been desperate, how could I have ended up like this?"
Her strategic retreat, coupled with the fact that many noblewomen needed her "secret medicine" or feared her secrets, meant that no one dared to voice their disdain. Instead, some even tried to reconcile them.
Seeing this, Dong Rou had no choice but to grit her teeth and swallow her anger.
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