The next day. It was the third day after the wedding, the day for the return visit. As Lu Lingyun was getting ready, she heard Chunxing gossiping about the happenings in the Houfu. She had become quite adept at gathering information in the Houfu.
“Last night, the Young Master and his… well, you know who, were so lovey-dovey after they went back to their room. I heard they didn’t even open the door until dinner time. The servants brought the food in, and the Young Master personally fed her, bite by bite, at the bedside. The servants couldn’t help but stare!” Chunxing said, her voice tinged with bitterness.
Chunhe couldn’t help but spit, “How shameless!”
“And there’s more! She kept asking the Young Master if he loved her while she ate, and only agreed to eat when he said he did.”
“Ugh!” Chunhe’s face turned red with embarrassment. “Stop it! This is so embarrassing!”
“I know, right? Everyone in the courtyard is saying she’s a fox spirit reincarnated. She’s always going on about love and has the Young Master completely under her spell.”
Only Shuanghong, after listening to this, frowned with worry. “The Young Master is so smitten with her. Will he not go back with the Young Madam today?”
The room fell silent. The sour-faced Chunxing and Chunhe both fell silent. They could be bitter and jealous, but they couldn’t forget their own position in the Houfu. Lu Lingyun was the rightful Young Madam, and it would be a disgrace if she were to be overshadowed by a concubine. Today was the return visit, and if Lu Lingyun were to return alone, she would be ridiculed.
“He won’t,” Lu Lingyun said confidently, smoothing out her brow.
Lu Lingyun had a keen eye for people. She hadn’t known Cheng Yunshuo for long, but she was already seven parts certain of his character. He was indeed unconventional and daring, but he wasn’t completely lawless or self-absorbed. If he really intended to reject her, he wouldn’t have explained to her on the wedding day that he had already promised Xing Dai Rong a lifetime together. He wouldn’t have gotten into a little argument with her yesterday when Xing Dai Rong came to her room. He was, after all, a man who understood rules and right and wrong.
Since she entered the Houfu, she had not provoked him in any way. She had been patient and accommodating, never causing him any trouble. Even if he had no feelings for her, Cheng Yunshuo would still owe her a degree of respect. And with that respect, he would surely accompany her on the return visit.
Not long after Lu Lingyun spoke, Xiao Wei’s cheerful voice came from outside the room.
“Young Madam, the Young Master is here to pick you up for the return visit!”
The other ladies in the room were delighted at the news, while Lu Lingyun only smiled serenely, as if it were all within her control.
Soon, Lu Lingyun was ready. Today, she was dressed exceptionally well. After finishing her dressing, she took the colorful cloud crown that Lady Qin had given her and put it on. The large silver filigree flower crown was inlaid with top-quality Hetian jade and various gemstones, each of which was extraordinarily luxurious, dazzling and eye-catching, making it impossible to look away.
She wore a new float-light brocade over her dress. The fabric was like a cloud of gauze, and every thread shimmered under the sunlight. With every step she took, she radiated light and color, shining brilliantly. She was dignified and elegant, noble and beyond compare.
“Young Madam, you are so beautiful,” Chunxing couldn’t help but say.
Unlike her usual bitter tone, her voice now held only admiration and awe. She could despise, belittle, and be jealous of Xing Dai Rong because she was the same kind of person, even with a lower background. She would only ever be a concubine, a servant in the Houfu.
But Lu Lingyun was different. She was the mistress, forever distinct from them. Chunxing might want to compete and get ahead, but she would never dare to overstep with Lu Lingyun.
“It’s no wonder. Look who our Young Madam is. Her presence and aura—whoever sees her will know that she is the true mistress of this Houfu!” Chunhe said admiringly.
“Exactly!” Shuanghong nodded repeatedly.
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