Chapter 96: Lies She didn't believe that someone like Lu Bingzhi would do this...
When Cui Lingyan mentioned Cui Linghui, Madam Zhai's smile froze, and a flicker of unnaturalness crossed her face. She smiled and said, "Yes, Hui has lived in Guangfu Temple for some time. Although she is a young girl and has maids and servants to serve her, the temple is still quiet and cold. How can it compare to home? So I sent someone to bring Hui back."
Qi was sitting downstairs, listening to her mother-in-law's words, feeling a little surprised. Only then did she realize that Cui Linghui was brought back home by someone sent by her mother-in-law.
A strange glint flickered in her eyes. She felt that her mother-in-law's thoughts were somewhat beyond her comprehension. Logically, her mother-in-law must have been extremely disgusted with Cui Linghui, her eldest granddaughter, and wished she could live in Guangfu Temple and not be an eyesore in the mansion. So why would she send someone to bring Cui Linghui back so quickly?
Could it be that he was afraid that the old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion would have some complaints and feel that the Marquis' Mansion had treated Cui Linghui unfairly?
Thinking this in her heart, Qi Shi did not ask. Since she had already brought the person back, they would just live under the same roof. Now, they, the stepmother and daughter, would not pretend to be close. Cui Linghui's reputation was ruined and his marriage was uncertain. Even with the protection of the Zhenguo Mansion, Qi Shi was not as wary of her stepdaughter as before.
After hearing what the old lady said, Cui Lingyan became more certain about what happened to Cui Linghui when he was in Guangfu Temple. Otherwise, why would her grandmother be so secretive and even pretend to be kind in her words?
But she knew that her grandmother was a cold-hearted person at heart. Cui Linghui's marriage was difficult and his reputation was ruined. In the eyes of the old lady, he was just a useless pawn. How could she still show such kindness to him?
Cui Lingyan couldn't help but think of what she knew in her dream, that Cui Linghui and the second prince Xiao Ze had something going on. Thinking about the old lady's expression just now, her heart skipped a beat and she couldn't help but come up with a guess.
Could it be that Cui Linghui and Xiao Ze were secretly having sex in Guangfu Temple or even doing something more intimate, and were seen by the serving nanny, who then hurriedly took a carriage back overnight to report the matter to the old lady, causing the old lady to be frightened and cause what happened last night.
Cui Lingyan's heart was beating fast. She suppressed her suspicions and said to the old lady with a smile, "Grandmother, it would be a good idea for you to send someone to bring my elder sister back to the palace. Although my marriage was made possible because of my elder sister, the Crown Prince and I are now on good terms, so I don't really blame my elder sister. Since my elder sister is back today, why don't you ask her to come over so we can meet? It would be better than meeting at a banquet later, which would be awkward and look a bit awkward on the faces of outsiders."
Cui Lingyan's words were somewhat tentative, but seeing the hesitation and entanglement in the old lady's eyes, her guess became more certain.
This time, Qi assisted Cui Lingyan and said, "Yan's words are not wrong. Now that Hui is back, why don't you spend more time with mother? It won't sound good if she just stays in her room and doesn't fulfill her filial duties. Besides, I have raised Hui well. She only came to mother's house after returning from Guangfu Temple and didn't go to my Cuiwei Courtyard. If she doesn't go, it's good for us mother and daughter to meet at mother's house."
"Speaking of which, Hui and I are also mother and daughter. I have loved her over the years, but now she is alienating me, her stepmother. It's really..."
Old Madam Zhai glanced at Qi with some dissatisfaction, somewhat displeased with Qi's lack of tact today, but what could she do after Qi said that? Instead of calling Hui over, she stopped them from getting along.
Since they are a family and she is an elder, she should hope for harmony in the family.
Thinking of this, Old Lady Zhai sighed softly in her heart and ordered the head maid Bitang standing beside her, "Go and call Miss Hui over and tell her that Miss Yan has returned home today. Ask the sisters to meet and talk."
Bitang replied yes, bowed, and walked out of the house, heading towards Yingyue Courtyard.
Cui Lingyan observed Madam Zhai's expression inconspicuously, then retracted her gaze before picking up the teacup in her hand and taking a sip.
Old Madam Zhai shifted the topic from Cui Linghui to Cui Lingyan, and asked with some concern, "Yan girl, has the Crown Prince been feeling better these days? It's been a while since you got married, and it's not good to keep dragging it out. It won't look good on both you and the Crown Prince if word gets out."
Cui Lingyan was stunned at first, then she smiled shyly.
Old Lady Zhai had only asked casually. She knew that Lu Bing was in poor health from the poisoning, and that it would be difficult for the two of them to consummate their marriage even if it took half a year. She asked this out of subconscious concern and politeness, and she had never expected Cui Lingyan to react like this.
She was stunned for a moment, then a hint of joy appeared in her eyes, and she said happily: "Yan girl, have you consummated your marriage with the prince?"
Cui Lingyan nodded slightly and said tactfully, "Doctor Pei's medical skills are still very good."
After hearing what Cui Lingyan said, there was nothing that Madam Zhai didn't understand. It must be that Doctor Pei had superb medical skills and had cleared the remaining poison in the prince's body.
This is truly a good thing. The prince was already satisfied with Yan Yatou as his wife, and the relationship between the two after consummating their marriage was naturally different from when they had no physical contact.
If Miss Yan was luckier and had gotten pregnant and given birth to a child earlier, even if the first child was just a daughter, she would be able to completely consolidate her position in the Duke's Mansion with the help of this daughter.
With both favor and offspring, Yan Yatou, the Crown Prince's wife, is truly the envy of all the noble ladies and brides in the capital.
As Mrs. Zhai thought about this, the smile on her face grew more and more.
Because of this episode, the atmosphere in the room became much better, and even Qi looked at Cui Lingyan with more loving affection.
Cui Lingyan would have been fine if she had simply won Lu Bingzhi's affections. If the remaining poison in Lu Bingzhi's body hadn't been cleared, he would have been useless and unsuitable for consummating the marriage, and Yan Yatou's title as the Crown Prince's wife would have been in name only. But upon hearing that the two had consummated their marriage, she shared the same sentiments as Old Lady Zhai: if Yan Yatou gave birth to a child in the future and consolidated her position, it would also be a good thing for her, the birth mother.
As for Bo Ge'er, having an elder sister who is the wife of the crown prince and has children is naturally a help.
Thinking this way, Qi became more thoughtful and really wanted to ease the relationship with her daughter Cui Lingyan.
Cui Lingyan could sense the surprise and complexity in Qi's eyes, as well as the unnatural intimacy and kindness that followed, but she felt nothing moved and only felt a little ironic.
Yingyueyuan
When Cui Linghui heard that Cui Lingyan had returned and the old lady had asked her to go to Xilan Courtyard to meet Cui Lingyan, she immediately felt humiliated and dissatisfied. She felt that Cui Lingyan was really arrogant now. Did she want to deliberately humiliate her stepsister when she returned to her parents' home?
She suppressed her humiliation and anger and said to the maid who came to her, "Wait outside. I'll change my clothes and go to my grandmother."
The maid replied "yes" and bowed before retreating.
Cui Linghui asked Madam Xie to fetch her a Xiang-colored brocade crabapple flower jacket, reapplied her makeup, and changed into more expensive and eye-catching jewelry. After getting dressed, she said to Madam Xie, "Madam, please accompany me."
Aunt Xie nodded, but she felt a little uncomfortable seeing her daughter dressed up like this.
The girl was so serious that she felt inferior to Cui Lingyan, the prince's wife.
The young lady had an affair with the Second Prince, Xiao Ze, at Guangfu Temple. Even if she became a concubine in the future, her reputation would be tarnished if word got out. The young lady's unwanted marriage fell to the third young lady. It was said that Prince Lu treated the third young lady very well, and it was unknown whether the young lady regretted her actions.
Nanny Xie kept these words in her heart, but Cui Linghui was now extremely thoughtful. Seeing the expression on Nanny Xie's face, she guessed what she was thinking.
Her face grew colder, and she spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Even if you feel sympathy for me, Madam, there's no need to show it so obviously. I don't need it right now. Even if Cui Lingyan had been favored by Lu Bingzhi, I'm afraid they still wouldn't have consummated their marriage. Being the Crown Prince's wife is just a facade, and she's secretly feeling wronged and afraid of being laughed at."
In her previous life, Lu Bingzhi had never touched her. She didn't believe that someone like Lu Bingzhi would consummate his marriage with Cui Lingyan so quickly.
Cui Linghui brought Nanny Xie all the way to Xilan Courtyard, and could hear the lively conversation inside through the curtain.
Suppressing the unhappiness in his heart, Cui Linghui lifted the curtain and walked in. As soon as he entered, he heard Madam Zhai's smiling advice.
"Now that the prince is well again and you've consummated your marriage, it's time to have a child sooner rather than later. With more children, your relationship will be even more special. Old Madam Dou will be delighted."
When Cui Linghui heard this, he paused and his eyes widened.
She felt that she must have heard wrongly. How could Lu Bingzhi and Cui Lingyan consummate their marriage?
In her previous life, she was so humble that she even took off her clothes in the study without caring about her dignity, but he didn't even look at her. In return, she was only ridiculed and despised.
Cui Lingyan is a girl from a marquisate who grew up in the Qi family. Even if she has some beauty, can she really seduce Lu Bingzhi to consummate his marriage with just this face?
Cui Linghui's eyes were filled with anger and disbelief. She subconsciously looked towards Cui Lingyan who was sitting there, and couldn't help but say, "How could Lu Bingzhi consummate his marriage with you? Third sister, don't lie to Grandmother just to save face!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Madam Zhai's expression darkened first. She slammed the teacup in her hand on the table and scolded with a sullen face, "What nonsense are you talking about, little girl Hui? You just came back from Guangfu Temple and you've been exhausted from the journey. I'm afraid you haven't rested enough and your mind isn't clear. You should go back and rest first."
Old Lady Zhai was just about to order Cui Linghui back to Yingyue Courtyard when Cui Lingyan spoke up, "Big sister, I'm really confused by what you're saying. The Crown Prince and I are already married, and he's naturally going to consummate the marriage now that he's feeling better. How can Big sister think I'm lying about something so natural?"
The obvious surprise and confusion in Cui Lingyan's eyes further irritated Cui Linghui. Cui Linghui's face was full of embarrassment and turned pale instantly.
The memories of his previous life came flooding back at once, Cui Linghui's face turned red and white, and even his body was shaking slightly.
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