Cheng Yunshuo’s words silenced the room, and Lady Liu’s face lit up with joy. She repeatedly made humble remarks, pretending that she and Lu Lingyun were deeply attached as mother and daughter. She recounted how Lu Lingyun had lost her mother at a young age and how she had raised Lu Lingyun with the utmost care, treating her better than her own daughter. Lu Lingyun was starting to feel annoyed. She gave perfunctory replies before leaving with Cheng Yunshuo. As she walked away, she glanced back at the room. Lu Han Yi was still standing there, dumbfounded, with an array of expressions on her face. Her husband, Li Wen Xun, called out to her several times, but she didn’t react. Lu Lingyun withdrew her gaze and smiled faintly. This was just the beginning. Just wait until Lu Han Yi realized that her carefully arranged marriage had taken a completely different direction than her husband’s, and she wouldn’t believe her eyes. After all, it was Lu Lingyun who had planned meticulously, spending almost half of her dowry, building connections with wives of high officials in the Imperial Academy, and bribing them with gifts and obtaining exam questions to help Li Wen Xun achieve the top rank in the imperial exam. Without her efforts, Li Wen Xun wouldn’t have become a top scholar!
After Lu Lingyun left, the women in the room gradually dispersed. They had all witnessed a good show today. At least they now knew that Lu Lingyun had married well, indeed, into a wealthy and powerful family. She was now a woman of status, living a life of luxury. They couldn’t fathom why Lu Han Yi, in her right mind, would marry the son of a mere sixth-rank official.
After everyone left, Lu Han Yi kept repeating, “Impossible, absolutely impossible!” “Han Yi, what’s wrong with you?” Lady Liu looked at her daughter, thinking she was possessed. “Mother! Lu Lingyun will never be favored!” “Alright, stop obsessing over her. Just live your own life well.” Lady Liu sighed. Today, Lu Lingyun had stolen the spotlight, but there was no turning back now.
“Mother, I will treat Han Yi well from now on.” Li Wen Xun assured her.
Lu Han Yi then had a realization. “Right, Mother, just wait and see! Wen Xun will definitely pass the imperial exam! We will definitely be better off than Lu Lingyun!”
Even though Lu Lingyun’s current behavior was different from her previous life, after all, the Houfu was a dilapidated place, and Cheng Yunshuo would eventually run off with a concubine. On the other hand, Lu Han Yi would steadily rise in status alongside Li Wen Xun! Her good life was with Li Wen Xun! There was no escaping that!
Lu Han Yi’s confident tone made Li Wen Xun slightly blush. “I will try my best.” “Husband, I believe you will definitely become the top scholar!”
Li Wen Xun’s face turned even redder. He had prepared diligently for the upcoming spring exam and was confident of passing the civil service exam. However, he didn’t dare dream of becoming the top scholar. Fortunately, they were talking in private, and he could pretend it was his wife’s support.
Lady Liu, seeing her daughter’s unwavering confidence, thought, “Whatever, let’s see how it goes. Maybe my daughter is right, and the man she chose is truly her destined soulmate. If not, I will truly die of frustration.”
Lu Lingyun and Cheng Yunshuo got into the carriage, which rolled slowly along. The two of them remained silent. Lu Lingyun sat quietly, calmly flipping through a book, as if Cheng Yunshuo wasn’t even there. After all, he didn’t show any interest in her and kept a distance, creating enough space between them for two more people.
Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt. There was no sudden movement requiring them to touch each other. Lu Lingyun, remaining perfectly still, held onto the carriage handle. Cheng Yunshuo did the same, sitting upright and maintaining his distance.
Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter