Chapter 39: Gap: Can't I marry someone more noble than Lu Bingzhi?
Zhenguogong Mansion
Songluoyuan
After hearing Bai Zhi's report, Cui Linghui's face darkened and he stood up from the couch. "What are you saying? It was Lu Bingzhi who ordered a thorough investigation and even handed the evidence to Grandmother. And Grandmother couldn't suppress this scandal?"
Cui Linghui murmured, "How could it be? It's impossible. What kind of person is Lu Bingzhi? How could he be so kind?"
Cui Linghui paced back and forth, her face filled with disbelief, mumbling something. Seeing her like this, her maid, Bai Zhi, felt a surge of panic. She quickly helped her sit down in front of the couch and soothed her, saying, "Don't worry, young lady. Even if it's really Master Lu who's helping you this time, he might not be doing it out of a desire to protect the Third Young Lady. Perhaps he's just trying to save the Marquis's and the Duke's from being laughed at."
"The Third Young Lady and Qi Shaozhang grew up together, so it's no exaggeration to say they were childhood sweethearts. But with all the rumors going around before, how could Master Lu, no matter how tolerant and generous he is, not have some resentment in his heart? In my opinion, Master Lu is simply trying to quell the rumors and prevent the two families from getting too embarrassed. Who knows what kind of situation the Third Young Lady will be in after she marries him?"
Cui Linghui frowned, feeling empty inside. It was as if he hadn't heard Bai Zhi's words. He only spoke aloud, "Lu Bingzhi is so heartless and cruel. Given his personality, he shouldn't even help Cui Lingyan. He'd just ignore all those rumors, but now he's helping Cui Lingyan? Not only that, he even asked Guanyan to send a box of jewelry. I heard it was chosen from the dowry left by the eldest princess. I was his fiancée back then. When has he ever been so attentive to me? When has he ever given me any gifts? Why is he so attentive to Cui Lingyan?"
Cui Linghui felt indignant, thinking back to her previous life when she was about to marry Lu Bing and how uneasy and frightened she was. On her wedding night, she showed resistance to Lu Bingzhi out of fear. For that little mistake, Lu Bingzhi made her stay alone in the empty room, making everyone in the Duke's Mansion laugh at her, the new bride.
In the years that followed in the mansion, he treated his wife as nothing. He never helped her at all when she was wronged or in trouble. He was even full of ridicule when she humbled herself to please him, and trampled on her face under his feet.
She was too familiar with the cold and heartless Lu Bingzhi, and she hated him too much. That was why she could not accept Lu Bingzhi's different attitude towards Cui Lingyan.
Why? Cui Lingyan's fate was clearly unfavorable, and she was disliked by her birth mother, Qi. She was sent to the Qi family at the age of six, and only returned to the Marquis's residence after so many years. How could her family background, talent, or etiquette compare to Cui Linghui's? How could Lu Bingzhi treat her so differently?
Thinking of Cui Lingyan's outstanding appearance, Cui Linghui bit his lips tightly, his brows full of unwillingness.
Bai Zhi had long been frightened by her daughter's expression, with beads of sweat oozing from her forehead. She was so anxious that she didn't know what to do.
The girl is usually steady and this marriage is something she doesn't want. To put it bluntly, the third girl became the prince's wife by picking up something she didn't want, and it was not up to her.
Why is the girl reacting so strongly now?
Even if she was jealous that Prince Lu had helped the Third Miss once, she shouldn't have reacted like this, right? As she said, it didn't mean anything. The Third Miss didn't know what the situation would be like after she got married. How could the girl have assumed that Prince Lu treated the Third Miss differently?
Could it be that the girl actually regretted it in her heart?
Bai Zhi glanced at Cui Linghui secretly, but didn't dare to ask.
Just as Bai Zhi was thinking, she heard footsteps outside, followed by the concerned voice of the Duke's wife, Mrs. Xue: "Did Miss Hui take her medicine today? Are you feeling better?"
"To answer Madam, I have used it."
The curtain was drawn, and Xue came in from outside with her maid Sumei.
Cui Linghui put away the expression on his face, forced a smile, stood up to greet her, bowed and called out, "Aunt."
Without waiting for her to get down, Madam Xue reached out and pulled her up. "You've often come to our Duke's Mansion since you were little. We're all family, so there's no need for these empty formalities. Come and sit down. Your aunt came here today to see if you're feeling better. Your grandmother was very worried about your cold and asked the family to take good care of you. But you don't look well, so don't worry your grandmother."
Cui Linghui had always been doted on by her grandmother, Madam Dong, and was also planning a marriage with Lu Bingzhi. Even though she outwardly respected her aunt, Mrs. Xue, she didn't really have much respect for her in her heart. But now that this marriage was over, when she returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion for a short stay, she found that life at her maternal grandmother's house wasn't as comfortable as before. Even though her food, clothing, and living expenses remained the same, and her aunt, Mrs. Xue, treated her very well, Cui Linghui could sense that everyone in the mansion, with the exception of her grandmother, treated her differently, seemingly with a touch of contempt.
Even her cousin Mu Zhen had only visited her twice in person during the time she had lived there, and the rest of the time she could only see her at her grandmother's house.
Xue said that Mu Zhen was learning to be a housekeeper and had to learn to read the account books on weekdays. She had to be busy with all the affairs in the mansion. She told her to send someone to inform them if there was anything. If anyone in the mansion dared to neglect her, she would not let them off easily. She should not hide it in her heart and not tell them that she had been wronged.
Every word was filled with concern and care, fearing that even the slightest neglect would cause her any dissatisfaction. But Cui Linghui understood that everything was different from before. Given her previous status as the future wife of the Duke of Wei's son, there was no question of neglect. In the Duke's mansion, even Mu Zhen, a legitimate daughter, had to flatter her.
Cui Linghui couldn't help but think of her previous life. Before she married Lu Bing, her aunt Xue treated her very well. But after she married, Lu Bingzhi didn't like her. Even on the wedding night, Lu Bingzhi didn't stay in the bridal chamber but went to the study. After the news spread throughout the capital, Xue's eyes no longer had the love and love as before when she looked at her. Instead, there was more of an undisguised contempt hidden under pity.
Cui Linghui came back to his senses, suppressed the discomfort in his heart, and said to Xue: "Thank you for your concern, aunt Huier. I am feeling much better now."
Mrs. Xue nodded, patted her hand gently, and changed the subject, saying, "You've heard everything about the Marquis' Mansion in the capital today, right? Your aunt came here to advise you that since this marriage has fallen to Cui Lingyan, you shouldn't overthink whether it's a good idea or not. Everyone has their own destiny. Hui girl, you should just look forward to it. Don't overthink it, as it will only harm your health and make your grandmother sad. It's not worth it. Don't you agree?"
Cui Linghui's face froze, and his face turned red and white, looking extremely embarrassed.
Xue Shi didn't seem to notice her discomfort and continued, "When I met your cousin before, I felt that although she was born out of wedlock, she was well-mannered and sensible. Even if she couldn't marry into a high-class family, she would still be able to find a similar marriage in the future because of her background. She wouldn't be looked down upon. But now, look at her. After this incident, Cui Lingyin's reputation has been ruined. What future does she have? Which family in the capital would be willing to let her marry in? To put it bluntly, someone like her can only marry out and give her a dowry to make the Marquis's mansion no longer have this scandal. Over time, no one in the capital will remember her anymore. Even if she is mentioned occasionally, it's just with contempt and ridicule, used as a warning to the girls in her own mansion."
"Aunt has always known that you, Hui girl, are sensible. You are different from Cui Lingyin, but Aunt still wants to tell you that when things need to be let go, let them go. Don't think too much about it, otherwise you will hurt others and yourself, and end up in a miserable situation."
"You can stay in the Duke's Mansion first. After another six months, when you are better, you can look for a good husband. There are still many ideal husbands in the capital."
When Cui Linghui heard what Xue said, her face flushed. How could she not understand that her aunt was warning her not to covet her cousin and not to think about marrying into the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion? Even if her grandmother had this idea, she would not agree.
Cui Linghui suddenly felt ashamed, her eyes misting over. From childhood to adulthood, she had never experienced such embarrassment. Even though she had been married to Lu Bingzhi in her previous life and lived an unhappy life in the Duke's Mansion, she still had the status of a Crown Prince's wife, and she maintained her dignity in front of others.
But her aunt Xue's words made her realize that without the identity of the wife of the prince of Weiguo, she was just a legitimate daughter of the Ningshou Marquis Mansion. Even the Zhenguo Mansion, their in-laws, looked down on her a little. Otherwise, her aunt would not have said these words today.
Cui Linghui's expression changed again and again. Suppressing the resentment and shame in her heart, she nodded and said, "Hui'er thanks aunt for the advice."
Having said this, Mrs. Xue gave a few more instructions to the maid to take good care of her, then got up and left.
After Mrs. Xue had left for quite a while, Cui Linghui gritted her teeth and said, "Do you think I'm interested in this Duke's Mansion? Aunt, you're really underestimating me. When have I ever expressed any interest in marrying into this Duke's Mansion? This is really going too far! You're bullying me!"
In anger, Cui Linghui picked up the teacup on the table and wanted to smash it on the ground. However, just as she moved, Bai Zhi's face changed. She quickly stepped forward and snatched the teacup from her hand. She lowered her voice and said, "No matter how angry you are, you shouldn't smash things randomly. This is the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. If some unpleasant words are spread, how will those people in the mansion talk about you?"
How could she not know that what Xue said was clearly a slap in the face of the girl? But although the girl was loved by the old lady in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, she was an outsider after all, just a cousin living in the mansion, and she still had to pay attention to the things she should pay attention to.
As soon as Xue left the girl, she smashed things. If the maid standing in the corridor heard it and it got to Xue's ears, the girl's life in the Duke's Mansion would be miserable.
Could it be that the girl is moving back to the Marquis' Mansion now?
I guess the girl doesn't want to see the third girl Cui Lingyan at this time?
Hearing Bai Zhi's words, Cui Linghui was shocked. The tears that he had been holding back for a long time finally fell. However, he said with all his might:
"Do you really think Lu Bingzhi is a good man just because he helped Cui Lingyan once? Cui Lingyan will only know what life will be like if she marries such a heartless and cold-hearted man."
"There's nothing wrong with me not wanting this marriage. Without it, can't I marry someone more noble than Lu Bingzhi?"
As Cui Linghui spoke, she looked outside the house. Bai Zhi thought she was just comforting herself and didn't notice that she was looking towards the imperial palace.
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