Chapter 69: Tacit Understanding But there is a kind of tacit understanding between husband and wife that is rare among ordinary couples...
When Lu Bingzhi returned to Wutong Courtyard, Cui Lingyan was inside, looking at the account books. She looked up at the familiar scent of Canaan, and asked a little sheepishly, "Have you heard, my lord, that I kicked my second sister out?"
When Lu Bingzhi heard her ask this, he couldn't help but chuckle.
Hearing him laugh like that, Cui Lingyan's cheeks immediately flushed. "Didn't the prince say he'd support me? Now you think I've lost my gentleness and grace, so you're laughing at me?"
Cui Lingyan's words were merely casual, but Lu Bingzhi grasped her hand and said, "How could that be? I promised to support you. If someone disrespects you as their sister-in-law, they're disrespecting me as their brother. Just kick them out. I don't think she'll bother disturbing your peace and quiet in the future."
Cui Lingyan knew Lu Bingzhi's background and that he and Lu Danruo weren't close, which was why she had the audacity to kick him out without giving Lu Danruo face. But hearing Lu Bingzhi's words, she still felt a sense of relief. Men are like that sometimes. They promise you something privately, but when something goes wrong, they blame you for not being magnanimous and virtuous.
Although Cui Lingyan felt that Lu Bingzhi was not such a person, she felt relieved and at ease when she saw Lu Bingzhi coming over from Songxue Hall so quickly and saying these words to her.
She smiled, stood up, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Lu Bingzhi. She asked, "Grandmother punished my second sister by making her kneel in the ancestral hall and reflect on her mistakes. Madam must be resentful of me, her daughter-in-law."
When Lu Bingzhi heard her address her as Madam instead of Mother, he felt that Cui Lingyan was courageous and trusted him as her husband; otherwise, she wouldn't have shown such an attitude to her face. If it were anyone else, they would have been feigning indifference, unwilling to allow anyone to find fault with them.
Lu Bingzhi admired Cui Lingyan's behavior. He smiled and said, "Hate her all you want. I and Grandmother are here to protect you. Just be at ease as your young mistress. If you don't get angry today, you'll have to tolerate her in the future. There's no need to make yourself uncomfortable."
As he spoke, he picked up the teacup Cui Lingyan handed over and took a sip.
Cui Lingyan agreed with this, smiled, and sat on the other side of the couch to continue looking at the account book.
She lowered her head, her slightly drooping eyelashes like a small fan, and her whole body exuded a sense of seriousness, as if Lu Bingzhi's return was not a big deal.
Lu Bingzhi was silent for a while, remembering that it was not yet time for dinner and his wife might be busy with the warehouse work, so he picked up a book from the small rosewood bookshelf against the wall on the couch and began to read.
The sunlight poured in, bringing a touch of warmth and tranquility to the air, and even Lu Bingzhi had a touch of gentleness and warmth.
Birou opened the curtain and came in. She was slightly startled when she saw this scene, then she retreated lightly.
She felt that although the prince and the young lady had not consummated their marriage, there was a tacit understanding and ease between the couple that was rare among ordinary couples.
She was born in the Ningshou Marquis's mansion and had been serving in the mansion since she was a child. She knew that it was already very good for the couple in wealthy families to respect each other like guests. Even if the couple lived in harmony, the wife would still feel less at ease in front of her husband.
Today, the Young Madam had driven the Second Young Lady out, and everyone in the Duke's Mansion knew about it. Although she felt the Crown Prince wouldn't blame the Young Madam, she couldn't help but feel nervous when she heard that the Crown Prince had come from Songxue Hall. But now, seeing the Crown Prince and the Young Madam getting along so well and at ease, as if they had been married for years, she was surprised and couldn't help but feel happy for her own Young Madam.
She glanced at Bitao, who was waiting in the corridor with a look of worry on her face, walked up to her and whispered a few words in Bitao's ear.
Bitao was surprised at first, but then a look of joy appeared in her eyes. She glanced into the house and then pulled Birou away.
......
In the ancestral hall
Lu Danruo knelt on the cold, hard ground, feeling indescribable grievance and unwillingness in his heart.
Seeing her like this, Nanny Sun sighed softly and said, "Second Miss, reflect on your actions. After kneeling for two full hours, go to Wutong Courtyard and offer tea to your sister-in-law, the Young Madam, to apologize. Then this matter will be over."
When Lu Danruo heard this, her expression changed immediately and she looked at Nanny Sun with wide eyes.
Before she could speak, Nanny Sun spoke up, "Unless the Second Miss wants to kneel in this ancestral hall forever, if the Second Miss doesn't think about herself, she should also think about the First Lady as a mother. Otherwise, the Old Lady will think that the First Lady doesn't know how to raise her daughter."
After saying this, Nanny Sun bowed to Lu Danruo who was kneeling on the ground, then turned and walked out.
Only Lu Danruo and the maid Luomei were left in the ancestral hall.
Lu Danruo clutched the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her face flushing and then pale. She said bitterly, "A woman of Cui's status is worthy of asking me, the legitimate daughter of a duke, to offer tea and apologize. Grandmother is really old and confused!"
Luomei was serving in Cen's house. Cen didn't want to come to the ancestral hall with her, so she asked her to come and accompany the second young lady. When she heard the second young lady say that the old lady was confused, Luomei's face suddenly changed, and there was a bit of surprise and uneasiness in her eyes.
"Second Miss, please be careful with your words. If this gets to the old lady's ears, I don't know how she will punish you."
"Now that things have come to this, young lady, you'd better be obedient, even if it's for our wife's sake."
Lu Danruo glared at her hatefully. Luo Mei didn't dare to persuade her anymore, but she felt in her heart that the Madam and the Second Miss were powerless in this mansion. Since the Young Madam came into the family, things had become increasingly disgraceful.
The old lady punished the second young lady by making her kneel in the ancestral hall and afterwards she had to go to Wutong Courtyard to offer tea to the young lady to apologize. As a result, no one in the mansion knew how to look down on the first lady, the second wife.
The eldest lady and the second young lady were humiliated, and those who served in the Peony Courtyard were also ashamed. It was really uncomfortable.
Luomei sighed softly in her heart, and couldn't help thinking that it would be great if the one who married in was Cui Linghui, the eldest daughter of the Ningshou Marquis's Mansion. If that person had become the young lady, perhaps she would not have slapped the second daughter and their wives in the face like this today. In any case, the Mudan Courtyard would not have been in such an embarrassing situation.
Thinking of Cui Lingyan who now lives in Wutong Courtyard, she always appears gentle and quiet when I see her on weekdays, but I didn't expect that she is also a powerful one. I can't help but feel a little wary of her.
No matter how unwilling Lu Danruo was, after kneeling in the ancestral hall for two hours, Lu Danruo finally endured the discomfort and humiliation and went to Wutong Courtyard to offer tea to his sister-in-law Cui Lingyan to apologize.
Cui Lingyan did not pretend to exempt her from apologizing. After taking the tea and taking a sip, she asked Birou to get the best snow lotus cream and give it to Luomei, the maid who followed Lu Danruo.
"This snow lotus paste is a gift from the palace. It promotes blood circulation, dissolves blood stasis, reduces swelling and relieves pain. Go back and apply it to the second young lady."
Luo Mei didn't dare to refuse, so she quickly thanked him on behalf of her girl, took the things with both hands, and then helped Lu Danruo up and walked out.
When they left Wutong Courtyard, Lu Danruo's face turned ashen. He reached out to snatch the medicine bottle from Luomei's hand and raised his hand to smash it to the ground.
Luo Mei quickly stopped her, and said with a hint of anxiety and fear: "My dear girl, please stop being so angry. This medicine was a reward from the palace, most likely from the Cining Palace. What will happen if you smash it?"
Lu Danruo's knees were already aching from being forced to kneel in the ancestral hall, and after offering tea to Cui Lingyan to apologize, she felt even more humiliated. How could she be willing to use the medicine she sent? She felt that Cui Lingyan, as her sister-in-law, was clearly trying to humiliate her. Hearing Luo Mei's words, she couldn't help but burst into tears and said angrily, "She did it on purpose. She is so cunning and is clearly trying to humiliate me. How dare she, how dare she actually ask me to admit my mistake and offer tea? I'm the legitimate daughter of the Duke's Mansion, her sister-in-law. Doesn't she even have this little magnanimity?"
Lu Danruo was so angry that his face turned red, his veins popped out, and he almost fainted.
Luo Mei was afraid that something might happen to her because of her inner energy, so she quickly spoke to comfort her, and then half-supported and half-pushed her back to her residence.
......
The news that the second girl Lu Danruo came out of the ancestral hall and went to Wutong Courtyard to offer tea and apologize to her sister-in-law Cui Lingyan soon spread throughout the Duke of Wei's Mansion. Although it was a small matter, it also caused a stir in the Duke's Mansion. Everyone in the mansion knew that the young lady who had just entered the house was extremely respectable and had more face in front of the old lady than the Duke's wife Cen.
Some people were surprised, some sighed, and some sympathized with the mother-in-law, Cen. They felt that it was not easy for Cen to be the second wife. Not only did the young lady fail to control the man after she came into the house, but she also lost face. She was really too embarrassed to see anyone.
It's not that the Young Madam, a legitimate daughter of the Ningshou Marquisate, wasn't loved by her biological mother and was sent to the Qi family since she was young, but how could she be so powerful? It can only be said that the Young Madam was favored by the Crown Prince and the Old Madam right after she entered the family, and with their support, she had the upper hand in this matter.
No matter what people in the mansion talked about, Cui Lingyan pretended not to know. She just went to Qingdeyuan every day to pay her respects to her grandmother, Old Lady Dou. After leaving Qingdeyuan, she also went to Mudanyuan to meet her mother-in-law, Cen.
She acted properly and no one could find fault with her, so Cen couldn't vent her anger. Two days later, Cen sent someone to Wutong Courtyard to tell Cui Lingyan that she only needed to go to Mudan Courtyard twice a month, on the first and fifteenth day, and didn't need to come specially at other times. After all, they would meet at the old lady's place, so there was no need to worry too much about these rules.
As a result, Cen and Lu Danruo were completely at a disadvantage.
When Lu Danruo heard her mother Cen’s instructions, she was so angry that she cried again.
When Old Lady Dou heard this, she sighed with emotion and said, "Although Cui's grandson's wife is a girl, her personality is somewhat similar to Bingzhi's."
When Nanny Sun heard what the old lady said, she knew that there was some praise in her tone and no intention of blaming her.
She smiled and said, "This must be because the Crown Prince and the Young Madam are destined to be together. Otherwise, why would the Young Madam be the one to enter the house instead of Cui Linghui?"
Hearing Nanny Sun mention Cui Linghui, Old Lady Dou frowned and said, "She is arrogant and looks down on our Bingzhi. It would be better if she didn't come into the family."
"By the way, I heard that her grandmother took her to live in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion for a while, and now she's back at the Ningshou Marquis' Mansion. So, is the old lady in the mansion planning to find another marriage for her?"
Upon hearing her question, Nanny Sun sighed, "I'm afraid her marriage will be difficult. The Ningshou Marquis's Mansion will be worried. But if I were to ask, it's what she deserves. She despises our Crown Prince. She should have just spoken openly about the cancellation of the engagement. Why did she make such a fuss and embarrass the Crown Prince? What happens next is all her own fault. She can't blame anyone else."
Madam Dou didn't take Cui Linghui, an outsider, seriously. She nodded and didn't continue the topic. Instead, she said, "The Empress Dowager is holding a flower viewing banquet the day after tomorrow to select a concubine for the Second Prince, Xiao Ze. The palace has received the invitation, and it's logical that Danruo, the eldest daughter, should go to the palace to attend the banquet. Since Danruo is not feeling well, let Yanjie go. Yanjie has never been to the palace since she was a child. Every time, it's Danruo, the eldest daughter, who goes. This time, let her go and see the world."
Nanny Sun nodded, not taking the matter seriously. Princess Shuning had a very good relationship with the late Empress, but not with the Imperial Concubine. Therefore, the eldest princess's presence at the palace to attend the flower viewing banquet was merely a spectator. The Second Prince's wife couldn't possibly come from the Duke of Wei's Mansion.
Lu Danyan listened to the message from the old lady, responded with a smile, and asked someone to send the maid from Qingdeyuan away.
He Shi happened to come over and heard about this. She smiled and said, "If Danruo is punished, it will be a good thing for you, Sister Yan. In the past, it was because the old lady was partial to her and always sent the daughters from the eldest house to the palace. This time, you should also go to the palace to see for yourself."
Lu Danyan nodded. "I didn't expect Grandmother to punish me like this this time, and even asked me to offer tea to my sister-in-law to apologize. I've been too embarrassed to show my face to anyone these past few days."
He sat down next to Lu Danyan. "Yes, I was surprised too. But after this incident, we in the Second Branch have come to our senses. We need to be friendly with Cui, but we can't offend her. Your grandmother favors the Crown Prince, so even if we in the Second Branch have some selfish motives, we can't express them openly. Otherwise, we'd be as foolish as Danruo and make a fool of ourselves."
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