They are both his sisters, but Luo Shenyuan is being too partial to one over the other.
Luo Yilian still had a gentle smile on her face. What else could she do? Couldn't she see that Gu Jingming was being perfunctory towards her? Wasn't she aware of Luo Shenyuan's disregard for her? But no one had given these things to her, and if she didn't fight for them, she would have nothing.
Gu Jingming and Luo Shenyuan went into the house to talk, and the maid from Zhuyuan brought some cakes and candied fruits to Yining.
Luo Yilian turned her face away. If it were really up to her to choose, she would have chosen Luo Yihui's birth, the noble birth of the eldest daughter, her father's attention, and the doting of Mrs. Luo. Her husband's family was also a first-class noble family, and she had given birth to a son, securing her position as the Crown Prince's wife. Even the Crown Prince doted on her in every way.
When Luo Yihui came back to visit her family, who in the family dared not respect her?
Although Luo Yining was also a legitimate daughter, she could never compare to Luo Yihui. After all, her grandmother was gone, and she was raised by Lin Hairu.
So what if she wanted to marry Gu Jingming? Although Gu Jingming was born into a good family, she was also good-looking and talented, so why couldn't she just think about it?
Luo Yilian took a deep breath, then took her leave and left the bamboo garden with the maids and servants.
Yi Ning saw Luo Yilian leave, and she knew exactly what these concubines were thinking. There were generally two types of illegitimate daughters: those who grew up humble and obedient, obediently following their mistress's orders. While they wouldn't be particularly wealthy, they could always marry into a well-to-do family. For example, Luo Yixiu's two illegitimate sisters eventually married into ordinary, well-to-do families. The other type, however, was ambitious, aiming for a high position, hoping to gain wealth and status if they succeeded, but being disdained by their mistress and losing their reputation meant they had no hope of a good future.
Comparing Concubine Qiao's personality, Luo Yilian definitely wouldn't be the first type. Furthermore, Luo Yilian was favored by Luo Chengzhang. Although she wasn't born a legitimate daughter, she was no less capable than Luo Yining. She received the same education and the same monthly allowance, putting her on equal footing with the two daughters of the first wife.
How could Luo Yilian, who grew up like this, tolerate being inferior to others when discussing marriage?
As for herself, she is still young now, but who knows what she will be like in a few years.
Yining was chewing candied fruit while thinking about something.
Lin Mao looked at her for a long time, and suddenly asked: "You are so absent-minded, what are you thinking about?"
Yi Ning glanced at him and found that his expression was unusually serious. She also replied seriously: "Look at the marriages of my two sisters and think about what my future will be like."
Lin Mao smiled at her. His narrow, long, almond-shaped eyes were quite pretty, with an indescribable handsomeness. "Are you worried that you won't be able to get married in the future?"
Yi Ning ate the kumquat preserves silently and decided that for the sake of her own well-being, she would not talk too much with Lin Mao. She smiled and said, "I remembered that I haven't practiced the music for today yet. I'll go back now. Goodbye, Cousin Mao."
Lin Mao wanted to tell her there was nothing to worry about, but she had already walked away. Her maids and servants gathered behind her in a huge procession.
Luo Shenyuan saw this scene in the room. After a long time, he lowered the curtain and said to Gu Jingming, "Lin Mao is a man of unstable mind."
"He's quite clever, with a bit of a devious way of thinking." Gu Jingming also smiled, "But he's a little off-key—he always bullies his cousin Yining, even though he actually likes her very much. If someone else spoke to him like that, he would have lost his temper long ago, but only Yining tolerated it."
Luo Shenyuan silently looked at the pot of daffodils on the table and said lightly: "What did he do to Yi Ning?"
"He was bitten by cousin Yining today, but he didn't seem angry. Cousin Yining has a good temper and only bites him when she's pushed into a corner." Gu Jingming shook his head and said with a smile, "You and cousin Yining have a pretty good relationship. I thought you weren't close to the Luo family."
Luo Shenyuan's face was expressionless. He said, "When I returned from the capital, my lord told me that the emperor was not feeling well. I'm telling you this now, as few people know about it. Lu Jiaxue has sent elite troops to protect the Qianqing Palace. I'm afraid the situation is critical."
Gu Jingming's expression became more serious.
He had been the Crown Prince's tutor, and his grandfather had been the Imperial Tutor. Naturally, the Gu family had long been considered part of the Crown Prince's faction. However, the Crown Prince was young and weak, while the current Highness was more vigorous and energetic. Unfortunately, he wasn't the Crown Prince...
"Thank you, I will pass the message to my grandfather." Gu Jingming said in a low voice.
Luo Shenyuan nodded slightly and left the bamboo garden without saying anything else.
Yi Ning said she was going back, but she had just met Luo Shenyuan and wanted to talk to him more, asking how he was doing in the capital and if her elder sister was okay. In fact, she wanted to know more, about the situation of the Lu family, Cheng Lang's current situation, and even Lu's eldest sister-in-law... Unfortunately, she couldn't ask any of these.
Yining was waiting for Luo Shenyuan at Fengxietang as the sky gradually darkened.
Fearing she'd catch a cold, the maid at Fengxietang brought her a cloak and a bowl of pear juice. Yining had overeaten candied fruit, and the sweet pear juice was just the thing to quench her thirst. She clutched her pillow, gazing at the stars in the cold night sky, and thought it was time for dinner. She didn't want anything to eat, so she sent a maid back to tell Lin Hairu not to wait for her.
Yi Ning leaned against the pillow, feeling a little sleepy. She even had a dream in her drowsiness. Then she seemed to feel someone holding her. She woke up in a daze and saw the handsome and resolute chin of her third brother and smelled his familiar scent.
"Third brother." She reached out and hugged his neck, whispering, "I always feel like you seem to have lost some weight. Have you lost weight?"
She was still asleep and didn't even know what she was saying.
Luo Shenyuan clenched his fists and finally held her in his arms. He whispered in her ear, "Meimei, Third Brother is back..."
He didn't say anything else, but Yining felt that he was holding her very tightly, and she could even smell the scent of his breath.
She felt a little sleepy and closed her eyes drowsily.
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