Chapter 1 Demote wife to concubine and marry widowed sister-in-law?
The spring rain hit the banana leaves and splashed onto the window frames, making a rustling sound.
There was a faint medicinal fragrance in the air in Hanxiang Pavilion. Gu Qingning was wearing a lake blue silk dress, looking gentle and quiet.
She paused while sewing her wedding dress and looked at her handsome fiancé in brocade robe.
"What did you say?"
A trace of guilt flashed across Lu Hangzhi's face, but he still repeated his words.
"Qing Ning, the whole capital is saying that Ruoying is a jinx. If I don't marry her, she won't be able to survive. But don't worry, for the sake of our many years of friendship, although she is my wife and you are my concubine, you will still be sisters in the mansion from now on, regardless of age."
Gu Qingning looked at him in shock, "Lu Hangzhi, cousin Ruoying is your widowed sister-in-law!"
Lu Hangzhi: "Ruoying and my eldest brother's wedding didn't take place. My eldest brother went to the war before they even finished their wedding ceremonies. She can't be considered my widowed sister-in-law."
Gu Qingning: "She is not your sister-in-law, but Lu Jingyu is your brother, right? It's been less than half a year since he died in battle, and you are so impatient to marry his wife who has not yet married?"
Lu Hangzhi felt annoyed. He stood up suddenly and overturned the teacup on the table. The tea spilled all over the floor with a crackling sound.
"Do you agree or not?"
"What if I don't agree?"
"Gu Qingning, do you have a heart? Ruoying is your cousin after all, do you really want to force her to death? The Chenhou Mansion shouldn't have kept an ungrateful person like you!"
"Although being a concubine is a bit unfair to you, but being able to marry into the Duke's Mansion, what else can you, an orphan girl, not be satisfied with? Your cousin is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis' Mansion, are you trying to suppress the legitimate daughter and become the legal wife?"
Looking at his righteous appearance, Gu Qingning half lowered her eyes, a hint of sneer flashing in her eyes.
She had no intention of marrying into a duke's mansion.
Ten years ago, the entire Lin family, a family of imperial physicians, died tragically overnight, and even a one-year-old child was not spared.
The Lin Mansion was flooded with blood.
It is said that the branches and leaves of the herbs planted in the yard were dripping with blood.
The case was later hastily closed as a robbery and assault, but anyone with a discerning eye knew that there must be some unknown reason behind it.
No one knew that Imperial Physician Lin had a granddaughter named Lin Tang. Because she had been weak and sickly since childhood, she was raised by her maternal grandfather, Gu’s family, in the countryside of Jiangnan.
Later, my grandfather died and the Gu family split up.
The six-year-old Lin Tang changed his name to Gu Qingning and was taken by his loyal servant Grandma Liao to live with his distant relatives, the Shen family of Guangping Marquis Mansion in the capital.
During the ten years of living under someone else's roof, Gu Qingning was careful in what he said and did, tried hard to hide his incompetence, taught himself medical skills, and quietly investigated the real culprit who caused the tragic death of his entire family.
Later, the Lin family's case was transferred to the Dali Temple.
The Grand Court Minister was none other than Duke of Qin, Lu Changhui.
At this time, the Duke Qin's Mansion actually sent a matchmaker to the door, saying that they wanted to arrange a marriage for the second son, Lu Hangzhi, and to choose Gu Qingning as his wife.
Everyone envied her good luck as an orphan.
Although she knew that there was no reward without merit, Gu Qingning accepted the marriage proposal in order to solve the case.
And after the engagement, she paid much attention to Lu Hangzhi, which made him misunderstand and think that she admired him very much.
Now, Gu Qingning looked at the furious Lu Hangzhi, frowned and asked: "Lu Hangzhi, aren't you worried that if you do this, you will be laughed at by the whole capital city?"
Lu Hangzhi said angrily: "What are you laughing at? I am doing this to save Ruoying! Anyway, I am here to inform you today, not to discuss with you! Either you ask to be my concubine, or our marriage is canceled!"
After saying this, Lu Hangzhi turned and left.
Not long after he left, Shen Ruoying, wearing a lilac brocade dress, walked into Hanxiang Pavilion.
She looked at Gu Qingning who was still quietly sewing her wedding dress, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Who made me so unlucky that something happened to the young master before I even got married? Qing Ning, if you want to blame someone, blame me. Don't blame Hangzhi. He was only helping me because of our childhood friendship."
Shen Ruoying is good at playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. She is beautiful, gentle, dignified and virtuous. She is a model of noble ladies in the entire capital.
She is also the white moonlight of many young talents.
Gu Qingning raised her head and looked at Shen Ruoying, who seemed to have suffered a great injustice, and said dejectedly: "Aunt grandmother also asked you to marry Lu Hangzhi and let me be a concubine?"
Speaking of this, Shen Ruoying felt even more guilty.
"My grandmother and the others didn't agree at first, but they finally agreed for my sake. Qing Ning, don't blame my grandmother and the others. This is all my fault."
Gu Qingning half lowered her eyes and said nothing.
Shen Ruoying bit the corner of her mouth lightly, and her eyes became even redder.
"Forget it. This matter is ultimately my fault. Who made me so unlucky that I have to bear the reputation of being a husband-killer? I will go tell Hangzhi's grandmother and the others that I will not get married. I will become a nun instead!"
After she said that, she ran out crying.
The maid Banxia came over with a frown and asked worriedly, "Miss, could it be that the eldest lady really has become a nun?"
Gu Qingning chuckled, “Don’t worry, Shen Ruoying is the one who can’t bear to leave.”
At first glance, her cousin was indeed a perfect lady from a noble family.
But if she was really so noble and innocent, why would she turn around and marry his younger brother Lu Hangzhi so soon after the young master passed away?
And under the premise that the other party has another engagement?
Her cousin is no simple person.
Seeing that her master was calm and composed, Banxia also calmed down.
She asked curiously, "Girl, should we continue to prepare the dowry?"
Gu Qingning: "Keep sorting. Remember to bring my medicine box, medical books, and other things with you."
In order to investigate the Lin family's case, she must marry into the Duke Qin's Mansion!
Banxia nodded obediently and easily moved a box weighing more than 100 pounds to the other side with one hand.
She has possessed extraordinary strength since she was young. If there is any conflict, she can beat three ordinary servants alone!
**
Shen Ruoying, who came out of Hanxiang Pavilion, slowly scraped away the tears at the end of her eyes with her fingernails.
Who would be willing to be a widow?
If Lu Jingyu died, Lu Hangzhi would immediately inherit the title and become a young lord, with a bright future ahead of him.
She made the right choice.
But the Lu family still cares about their face. If Gu Qingning disagrees with this, things will become difficult.
But it's okay.
She never failed to get what she wanted.
The next day, Gu Qingning was called to Madam Shen’s Ci’an Hall.
In addition to Old Madam Shen and First Madam Shen, Lu Hangzhi's mother, Lady Feng, the wife of the Duke, was also there.
Feng said softly, "Qing Ning, although this happened suddenly, we know that you have always been sensible. You will definitely not object to this, right?"
Feng was the second wife of Duke Qin, and she only gave birth to one son, Lu Hangzhi, whom she doted on.
She had always looked down on Gu Qingning, an orphan daughter of a merchant family. Now that her daughter-in-law had suddenly become the legitimate daughter of a marquisate and was also the one her son liked, she naturally approved of it.
Madam Shen also agreed, "Qing Ning, in fact, you and Ruoying are in the same mansion. It is very good for the two sisters to help each other. The Shenhou Mansion will also be a strong backing for you."
Madam Shen said coldly, "Qing Ning, the Shen family has treated you like a young lady and spoiled you for ten years. You shouldn't make things difficult for the Shen family at this time, right?"
Gu Qingning was neither hurried nor slow, she raised her head and smiled gently:
"You elders are right. My cousin and I will be living in the same mansion from now on, so we can really help each other."
Seeing her relax, smiles slowly appeared on everyone's faces.
"Qing Ning, we know that you are the most sensible one."
"Don't worry, Qing Ning. Although you are a concubine, your food, clothing and daily expenses in the Duke's Mansion will not be bad."
"Qing Ning is really sensible. Our Shen family has not raised you in vain."
Gu Qingning looked at the hypocritical crowd and continued with a smile: "However, I don't want to be Lu Hangzhi's concubine. I want to marry the young master Lu Jingyu as my wife."
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