Chapter 99 Birthday Banquet Lu Bingzhi has always been aloof, but now looking at...
Cui Lingyan woke up just after dawn that day. Her eyes fell on the sky-blue tent embroidered with bamboo patterns. Even though she had lived in Songxue Courtyard several times, she still felt a little uncomfortable.
Cui Lingyan thought that perhaps there were too few girls' things in the room, and the decorations were not what women were used to.
She nudged the people around her and whispered, "Today is the old lady of the Cheng'en Mansion's birthday. Prince, hurry up and pack your things before you delay. You still have to pay your respects to Grandmother first."
Cui Lingyan originally thought that Lu Bingzhi would not attend the birthday party of the old lady of Duke Cheng'en. Old Lady Dou had previously said that she would ask Second Lady He to take her and the girls in the mansion to go. Unexpectedly, when this matter was mentioned during dinner a few days ago, Lu Bingzhi said that he would accompany her.
Cui Lingyan knew Lu Bingzhi's identity. She had been in the capital for a few days and married into the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion. She had heard some stories about the former queen and the current Shu Guifei sisters. Even if there was seven points of truth in it, she felt that Lu Bingzhi had no good feelings towards the Duke of Cheng'en's Mansion, his in-laws.
She also heard that it was this old lady who tacitly allowed Consort Shu to enter the palace and enjoy favor. This scandal caused the late empress to be neglected and left her depressed, ultimately leading to her early death. The late empress's biological mother, Liao, the current wife of Duke Cheng'en, had even staged a huge fight over her daughter's death and threatened to divorce him. Although the two did not divorce, Liao, the head of the household, moved out of the Cheng'en mansion and devoted herself to Buddhist worship, rarely returning to the Duke's residence.
This time, it is the mother-in-law's 80th birthday. According to filial piety, Liao will definitely show up no matter how reluctant she is.
Cui Lingyan wondered if Lu Bingzhi went with her because he also wanted to meet his grandmother.
Cui Lingyan was reluctant to ask these thoughts out loud. She helped Lu Bingzhi put on his clothes, and then she washed and changed her clothes. She changed into a Xiangfei-colored brocade jacket embroidered with peony flowers, combed her hair into a flowing cloud bun, and pinned a gilt ruby-inlaid hairpin and two pearl flowers in her hair. Her outfit was a bit more formal than usual.
Feeling Lu Bingzhi's momentary daze and his gaze fixed on her, Cui Lingyan felt for the first time that her good looks were truly a blessing from heaven.
Otherwise, how could even someone as cold and self-restrained as Lu Bingzhi reveal such a stunning expression.
She felt a little uncomfortable being looked at like this by him. Before she could speak, Lu Bingzhi whispered in her ear, "Women dress to please themselves. Are you dressing like this just for your husband to see?"
Cui Lingyan's cheeks flushed, and she smiled and gently nudged his chest. She caught sight of the smile on Bi Tao's face standing beside her, and said with a hint of embarrassment, "Sir, stop messing around. We still have to eat."
She hadn't expected that Lu Bingzhi, who was known for being aloof and reserved, actually had such a side to him in private. It seemed like he had learned to say these words after they had consummated their marriage.
Cui Lingyan was just thinking about it when Lu Bingzhi pulled her to sit at the table. After breakfast, the two of them went to see Old Madam Dou.
When they entered, He was already in the room with her daughter Lu Danyan, talking to the old lady.
Cen and Lu Danruo were there too, but Cen looked a little unwell, as if she had not slept well.
Lu Danruo was sitting next to Cen. When he saw Cui Lingyan and Lu Bingzhi come in together, he was stunned for a moment and then looked away.
Cen tugged at her sleeve, and although Lu Danruo was reluctant, she finally stood up.
After Cui Lingyan, Lu Bingzhi and the old lady greeted each other, she bowed to Cui Lingyan and called her sister-in-law.
There was a hint of surprise in Cui Lingyan's eyes, but she didn't want to hit someone who was smiling. She nodded slightly and smiled at Lu Danruo.
Madam Dou asked them to sit down and asked Lu Bingzhi, "You never went to such occasions before, so why are you going to the 80th birthday of the old lady of Duke Cheng'en this year?"
Madam Dou said worriedly, "If you meet the Second Prince Xiao Ze, you cousins should not start a quarrel or disrupt the banquet."
Although Old Lady Dou loved her grandson Lu Bingzhi, she also knew that although her grandson was the daughter of Princess Shuning and was favored by the Empress Dowager in the palace, his status could not surpass that of the Second Prince Xiao Zequ.
Xiao Ze dared to secretly order someone to poison him, but the emperor only beat to death a eunuch beside him. He raised him high and then brought him down lightly, naturally not because the emperor was not angry about the second prince's behavior, but no matter how angry he was, his nephew could not compare to his own son.
Madam Dou understood this principle, so she didn't really want to ask her grandson to attend the birthday banquet. After all, the old lady was the Second Prince's great-grandmother, and the Second Prince would probably go to celebrate the birthday in person.
After the old lady finished speaking, the room became quiet for a moment.
As a stepmother, Cen Shi couldn't speak up at this time. Moreover, Lu Bingzhi's schemes against the Cen family had caused such a scandal, which had angered the Empress Dowager, who ordered her people out of the palace to reprimand him. As a stepmother, she had lost all her dignity and prestige. Because of these scandals, she didn't even have the face to attend the birthday banquet, and instead, He Shi got the honor.
Therefore, Cen was feeling depressed. After hearing what Old Lady Dou said, she would rather Lu Bingzhi go with Cui Lingyan. It would be best if they met the Second Prince Xiao Ze and even had an argument with him.
Cen glanced at Cui Lingyan discreetly, noticing how her attire made her look even more striking, making it impossible to look away. Unable to avoid a hint of evil, she thought it would be best if Xiao Ze liked Cui Lingyan's face. If something went wrong and word reached the Emperor, he would probably think Cui Lingyan was a disaster, that her face was the cause of the growing discord between his son and nephew. If the Emperor showed his dislike for Cui Lingyan, his nephew's wife, would Cui Lingyan's situation in the Duke's Mansion remain good?
Cen could only ponder these thoughts in her mind. Her gaze fell on Lu Bingzhi, who chuckled softly and said, "Grandma, why would you be so worried? I'm not someone who doesn't know the seriousness of the matter. How could I have caused any unpleasantness with the Second Prince?"
Madam Dou wanted to say something, but seeing that Lu Bingzhi had made up his mind, she didn't want to persuade him anymore. She just said, "This is the first time Yan's daughter has appeared in such an occasion. Please protect her more and don't let others bump into her and bully her."
Lu Bingzhi nodded and looked at Cui Lingyan who was sitting next to him, with a little more gentleness in his eyes.
Cui Lingyan smiled at him before lowering her head again.
This scene was seen by everyone in the room, and everyone had their own thoughts.
Lu Danruo curled her lips and cursed her inwardly as a foxy woman.
After Cui Lingyan and Lu Bingzhi boarded the carriage after leaving the old lady's place, Lu Danruo whispered to Cen, who was seeing her off, "They say beauty brings disaster. I think he's been bewitched. Not only did he ask Cui to live in Songxue Courtyard, he even accompanied her to the birthday banquet. Could it be that he thinks Cui didn't grow up in the capital and is afraid that others will look down on her?"
Cen tugged at her sleeve and scolded her in a low voice, "Alright, go with your second aunt and Yan. If you hear any gossip at the banquet, just pretend you didn't hear it. Don't get carried away and cause trouble. It will make people look down on us mother and daughter even more."
Thinking about how her maternal grandparents' family was now being laughed at and ridiculed, and how her mother couldn't attend the birthday party because of this, but instead asked her to go with He and Lu Danyan, Lu Danruo felt particularly aggrieved and also developed a bit of fear and dread of Lu Bingzhi.
His stepbrother was so heartless and cold-hearted, and his methods were extremely cruel. For the sake of his wife Cui Lingyan, he attacked the Cen family without any consideration for her and his mother, causing the Cen family to lose face and become a laughing stock in the capital.
"Isn't it just grandma's partiality? Mother is a married woman. How can her family's affairs involve her, the Duke's wife?" Cen nudged her, interrupting her complaints. "Go quickly, don't keep your second aunt and eldest sister waiting."
Lu Danruo nodded, walked to the carriage not far away, stepped on the footstool and got on the carriage.
Seeing the two carriages slowly driving out of the alley of the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion, Cen brought the nanny back to the Mudan Courtyard.
In the carriage, Cui Lingyan asked, "I wonder if I'll meet Princess Chun'an today?"
Lu Bingzhi smiled lightly and looked at her: "Why, are you afraid of meeting Chun'an or do you want to meet him?"
Seeing the teasing in his eyes, Cui Lingyan glared at him and said, "Why would I be afraid of Princess Chun'an? She has a straightforward personality and a noble status. If I can please her, it would be wonderful to have her protect me at banquets like this in the future."
"Your Highness knows that I didn't grow up in the capital. I'll always be looked down upon in situations like this. If I had a backer, things would naturally be different."
She said this casually, even with a hint of joking, and she actually had no intention of currying favor with Princess Chun'an.
She said this only because she knew that Princess Chun'an was Lu Bingzhi's biological sister. Based on her understanding of Lu Bingzhi, her words would not only not make Lu Bingzhi unhappy, but would make him feel particularly pleasant to hear.
Sure enough, Lu Bingzhi couldn't help laughing after he finished speaking: "You are not afraid of her, but there are so many noble ladies in the capital who dare not even breathe in front of Chun'an."
Cui Lingyan smiled and said, "The last time I met the princess in the palace, I felt that her temperament was much better than those noble ladies in the capital."
Lu Bingzhi took her into his arms and said gently, "Since you think so, talk to Princess Chun'an more when you meet her this time. I think the princess will like you after you spend more time together."
He thought for a moment and continued, "The princess isn't very close to the old lady of the Duke's Mansion, but she is much closer to her grandmother, the Duke's wife. If the Duke's wife were here today, I would take you to pay her respects."
Cui Lingyan's eyes showed just the right amount of confusion and surprise, but she nodded obediently without asking any more questions.
Lu Bingzhi originally thought that Cui Lingyan would ask a few more questions, but when he saw that she answered obediently, he felt that Cui Lingyan's personality was really to his liking.
God was kind to him in this marriage.
He thought for a moment and explained, "My mother had a close relationship with the late queen. After the late queen passed away, my mother and the wife of Duke Cheng'en also interacted."
After hearing his explanation, Cui Lingyan's smile deepened.
The fact that he could give her such an explanation showed that he cared about her and gave her the respect that a wife deserved.
She didn't ask for too much, just wanted to get along well with Lu Bingzhi and his wife. She could deal with future matters later, as overthinking would only restrict her.
After less than half an hour, the carriage stopped in front of the gate of Duke Cheng'en's mansion.
Several carriages were already parked in the alley, and brand new red silk was hung on the vermilion gate, creating a festive atmosphere everywhere.
The butler of the Duke's Mansion greeted the guests at the door. Seeing that the logo on the carriage was that of the Duke's Mansion, he hurried forward to greet them.
He took Lu Danruo and Lu Danyan out of the carriage.
Later, Lu Bingzhi got off the carriage first, and then personally helped Cui Lingyan get off the carriage.
There were many guests at the door. Lu Bingzhi was also a noble person in the capital. The fact that he was broken off engagement with by Cui Linghui, the eldest daughter of the Ningshou Marquisate, and married to Cui Lingyan, the third daughter of the Marquisate who had been raised outside since childhood, caused a lot of controversy, and countless rumors were spread.
So much so that as soon as the couple appeared, everyone's eyes turned to them.
Cui Lingyan could feel the gazes coming from all around her, some scrutinizing her, some envious, some looking down on her. Although she was not nervous, she felt a little uncomfortable.
Holding her hand a little tighter, Cui Lingyan looked at Lu Bingzhi and met a pair of gentle eyes.
Lu Bingzhi has always had a cold temperament, but when he looked at Cui Lingyan at this moment, there was a hint of tenderness and smile in his eyes.
Seeing such a perfect couple, the people around them sighed in their hearts. Some envied Cui Lingyan, while others felt that Cui Linghui would regret not getting married. Some even focused their attention on Cui Lingyan, wondering if she could marry a poisoned man like Lu Bingzhi and still be a virgin.
Just at this moment, a carriage stopped in front of the mansion gate, and the people who got off were none other than the old lady Zhai of the Ningshou Marquis Mansion and the eldest daughter Cui Linghui of the mansion.
For a moment, everyone's eyes fell on Cui Linghui, and then on Lu Bingzhi and Cui Lingyan.
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