Chapter 38: I was dealt with just to please Lu Bingzhi, so why not? ...
Seeing Cui Lingyin's actions, everyone's eyes turned to Cui Lingyan.
Before Cui Lingyan could speak, Old Lady Zhai spoke up, "Yan girl, your second sister is at fault in this matter. How do you think she should be punished?"
Old Madam Zhai's eyes were fixed on Cui Lingyan, wondering if Cui Lingyan would be so ignorant as to make this scandal known to everyone. As the saying goes, you can't write two characters for Cui with one stroke. No matter how many mistakes Lingyin made, as long as Cui Lingyan was willing to give in and plead for her, could the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion force the Cui family's daughter to personally deal with her own cousin?
As for my aunt, Mrs. Zhan, I can persuade the Qi family to give up by giving them some sweet treats in the future.
At this moment, it all depends on whether Cui Lingyan cares about the reputation of this marquis' mansion.
Cui Lingyan stepped back, bowed to Old Madam Zhai, and said, "Grandma, you're being too kind to Yan'er. How could Yan'er handle such a serious matter? My granddaughter hasn't even married yet, so all matters in the mansion are decided by the elders like Grandma and Mother. I dare not refuse, or people will think that my granddaughter has become arrogant and disregarded the elders because she got the Duke of Wei's marriage."
Nanny Sun's eyes tightened and she said "OK" in her heart.
The prince did so many things behind Cui Lingyan's back. If Cui Lingyan was soft-hearted or had no ideas of her own, it would be a thankless task for the prince to help her this time.
Fortunately, Cui Lingyan did not disappoint her. Madam Zhai wanted her to consider the reputation of the Marquisate, and raised it high and lowered it gently, but she threw this difficult problem back to Madam Zhai under the pretext of filial piety, which showed that she was very insightful and intelligent.
What is even more rare is his decisiveness and courage. He is not afraid of offending his grandmother, Madam Zhai, because of this matter.
Nanny Sun shifted her gaze from Cui Lingyan to look at Old Madam Zhai. Sure enough, she saw that the old madam's face froze. She probably didn't expect that her granddaughter Cui Lingyan would not respond to her and even trick her.
In this way, this scandal is difficult to cover up.
Madam Zhai's face was gloomy, and the atmosphere in the room became even more solemn.
Madam Wen's face was pale, and Cui Lingyin's eyes were full of fear, and she even had difficulty breathing.
In desperation, she looked at Second Madam Bian with some pleading.
Bian had long been annoyed with her for causing all these troubles and getting the second house involved in the scandal. How could she speak up for her in front of the people from the Duke of Wei's Mansion? She just looked at her coldly and had no intention of helping her.
Cui Lingyin's heart suddenly turned cold and her face became even more pale.
After a long pause, Old Lady Zhai finally spoke, "Yin has committed a grave offense. Today, you must leave the mansion and reflect on your mistakes at the ancestral temple. As for Madam Wen, in consideration of your contribution to the Cui family's heir, I will punish you with thirty lashes of the cane. Go to the ancestral temple and take good care of Yin. From now on, you and your daughter will take care of yourselves."
As Madam Zhai finished speaking, Concubine Wen's body softened and she almost fainted. She was filled with fear and cried, "Madam, I have committed a grave sin and deserve death. I beg you to spare Yin. Yin was young and made a mistake. I already regret it. Please show me mercy."
As Madam Wen said this, she began to force Cui Lingyin to kowtow to the old lady.
Cui Lingyin pushed her away, her face wet with tears, and said with a hint of bitterness and sarcasm, "Auntie, can't you see that if this matter is exposed, there will be no way out for us mother and daughter. I am a bastard's daughter, can I still expect my grandmother to pity me at this moment?"
Cui Lingyin suddenly stood up, looked at the people present, and said almost madly: "You all bully me because I am a concubine's daughter. Yes, I am a concubine's daughter, how can I have the face to ask my grandmother to give me a way out. I am not like Cui Linghui. She despised Lu Bingzhi in her heart and deliberately fell into the water and even caught a cold to escape this marriage. This matter is known to everyone, but she has a prominent family as a backer. Even if my grandmother was angry with her, she still didn't say a harsh word. Even in the mansion, no one talked about this. How dare Cui Linghui... Hui didn't show any expression. Even so, the old lady of the Zhenguo Mansion was still worried about her granddaughter and didn't want her to be wronged, so she took her to live in the mansion. We all made mistakes, why are you chasing me and bullying me, a bastard? Do you think you are so noble? Cui Lingyan, don't think that you can get carried away just because you marry into the Weiguo Mansion. Today I don't expect you to plead for me. I want to see if you will regret snatching this marriage in the future after becoming the wife of the prince and having no heirs in your life?"
After Cui Lingyin said this, she suddenly bumped into the corner of the table. No one expected her to do this. By the time they reacted, Cui Lingyin was bleeding from her forehead and had fainted.
"Quick, quick, call a doctor!" Old Madam Zhai stood up suddenly, wishing she could beat Cui Lingyin and Madam Wen to death. If someone died at this critical moment, who knows how people in the capital would talk about their Ningshou Marquis Mansion.
She didn't realize that Cui Lingyin, who was usually submissive and obedient, was actually so cruel in her heart. She wanted to make Cui Lingyan feel uneasy even after marrying her.
From now on, the Marquis' Mansion will be criticized because of her.
The Xilan Courtyard was thrown into chaos. When the doctor arrived and said Cui Lingyin had only fainted and was not in danger of death, Old Lady Zhai breathed a sigh of relief and said coldly, "With her temper, the Marquis's Mansion cannot keep her. Come, send Miss Yin and Madam Wen to the farm. If they continue to stay in the manor, they will anger an old woman like me to death."
Madam Wen was nearly frightened to death by her daughter's actions. When she came to her senses and heard the old lady say this, she quickly pleaded, "Madam, please let the second young lady stay in the manor to recuperate for a while. Otherwise, if the second young lady died on the farm, who knows what people would say outside. Please have mercy on her."
After saying this, she kowtowed to Cui Lingyan again and begged, "Yin girl is Third Miss's cousin after all. I beg Third Miss to have mercy on her and not force her to death. Third Miss is getting married soon, so she probably doesn't want to risk her life at this time, right?"
Cui Lingyan's eyes turned slightly cold. She didn't expect that Cui Lingyin was so cruel and could be so brutal to herself.
If she didn't say anything at this time, people would think she was too heartless.
Thinking of this, Cui Lingyan bowed to Old Madam Zhai and said, "Grandma, why don't we wait until Second Sister's injury is healed before sending her to the ancestral temple."
She was not afraid that Cui Lingyin would continue to stay in the mansion. Cui Lingyin's behavior today completely angered her grandmother, Old Madam Zhai. Based on Old Madam Zhai's temper, Cui Lingyin would definitely not be in good shape in the future.
Madam Zhai, having seen Cui Lingyin's frenzied and ruthless behavior, didn't want anyone to die at this moment, so she nodded and said, "Come here, take the second young lady back to her own courtyard. Madam Wen, you go with her to take care of her. No one is allowed to enter or leave the courtyard at will."
As soon as Madam Zhai finished speaking, two maids came forward and carried Cui Lingyin out. Madam Wen was also carried out and given thirty beatings with boards.
The matter has come to an end here.
Aunt Zhan's face looked very ugly. She wanted to use this matter to gain some benefits for the Qi family, but when she was about to open her mouth, her sister-in-law Qi pulled her sleeve. Qi stared at her with her eyes, and she didn't know how to start.
At this time, Madam Zhai said, "Alright, let's all go back to our own courtyards. I'm a little tired too."
She glanced at Cui Lingyan and ordered, "Yan girl, go see Madam Sun off."
Cui Lingyan replied yes and walked out with Nanny Sun.
After leaving Xilan Courtyard, she thought for a moment and said to Nanny Sun, "Nanny, please come over. Now that the matter has been thoroughly investigated and has become such a big deal, I've finally been cleared. Nanny, please thank the Crown Prince on my behalf when you return. Although I've lived in the Qi family since I was a child and my status isn't as high as that of my elder sister Cui Linghui, I will marry the Crown Prince and be a good wife to him."
Hearing Cui Lingyan say this, Nanny Sun was stunned for a moment, obviously a little surprised, then a bit of appreciation appeared in her eyes, and she treated Cui Lingyan more approachably and amiably.
"Young lady is very insightful. If you can think this way, Old Lady can rest assured. Although the prince has a cold personality, he is willing to help young lady today, which shows that he takes this marriage seriously. This servant and Old Lady both hope that Young Lady and the prince can live in harmony and happiness."
Cui Lingyan looked a little shy and didn't say anything.
Nanny Sun smiled and bowed to her: "Miss, there is no need to see me off. Go back to your own courtyard."
Cui Lingyan watched Nanny Sun walk away and felt relieved.
At this time, Bi Tao stepped forward and whispered, "Miss, aren't you afraid that the prince will think you are trying to curry favor with him?"
Cui Lingyan glanced at her. "He saved me from trouble, so isn't it only natural that I ask Nanny Sun to thank me? I just want to please Lu Bingzhi, so why not? He's the Crown Prince, and I'll be relying on him when I marry him. If I don't take this opportunity to get him to know me, will we be strangers after we marry, with no idea what to say to each other?"
"I know what you're thinking. If it were Cui Linghui, she would definitely be reserved, not wanting to be looked down upon. But I'm not Cui Linghui, and I don't have that kind of backing. There's no need to put on airs. What's more, he's the eldest princess's son. In front of him, I've always been inferior."
"Besides, you just heard what Cui Lingyin said. If I don't say anything, people might think that I, like Cui Linghui, feel that this marriage has wronged me. If people misunderstand me, it will be a big deal."
Bi Tao nodded. "That's true. Outsiders say that Master Lu has a cold and aloof personality. When I and I met him at the palace flower viewing banquet, we also felt that he was difficult to approach. But this time, not only did he ask Guan Yan to send jewelry to comfort my lady, he also helped her bring this matter to the old lady, telling her not to cover up this scandal. I think it would be a good idea for my lady to marry him."
"If the prince can recover and the girl can give birth to a child in the future, there will be nothing to complain about this marriage."
Cui Lingyan's expression changed slightly as she rebuked him lightly, "Don't talk nonsense. The Crown Prince is of noble status, how dare I say anything critical? If this gets to the Crown Prince's ears or to the Queen Mother, how can I, your daughter, have a good life? We must all be careful with our words and actions."
Bi Tao's face turned slightly pale, and she nodded quickly, saying, "I understand. I won't say anything nonsense again."
The two of them headed towards Izumo-in.
In less than half an hour, the news spread throughout the entire capital. Only then did everyone realize that the previous rumors were just a deliberate slander because the concubine's daughter of the marquis's family was jealous of the legitimate daughter Cui Lingyan's marriage to the prince of Weiguo. For a while, there was a lot of discussion again.
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