Lu Lingyun handed the money to Cheng Yunshuo. Giving money and receiving money felt entirely different. It was even different from the usual financial support she gave to Lady Qin. Cheng Yunshuo, who was receiving money from Lu Lingyun, looked at her with a newfound light in his eyes. Lu Lingyun, without asking any questions, gave him the money, showing both respect and consideration. His affection for her inevitably grew a few degrees. “Then I’ll be off,” he said to her. “Mm,” Lu Lingyun responded. After Cheng Yunshuo left, Chun He couldn’t help but say, “Young Madam, the Young Master likely wants the money to spend on that vixen.” (A derogatory term for a woman who is considered alluring and manipulative.) “It doesn’t matter,” Lu Lingyun replied calmly. It was the Houfu’s money anyway, and it was from his allowance, so Lu Lingyun didn’t lose anything. “Young Madam, this could be a good opportunity to make that vixen a concubine,” Chun Xing’s eyes twinkled. “Leisure Pavilion has no allowance for her, and the Young Master has no money to support her. This is a perfect chance to control her, right?” “It’s too early for that,” Lu Lingyun smiled. Even if she were to make Xing Dai Rong a concubine, and have her serve tea to her as a sign of respect, they would have to come to her first. Why should she be in a rush? Looking at Chun Xing, she said, “Go back to Autumn Concubine. She might have another chance tonight.”
Cheng Yunshuo, content with the money, returned to Leisure Pavilion. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he asked, “Where’s Dai Rong?” “Miss Xing is in her room,” a servant girl named Qiu Kui replied. “Is she crying?” “She’s not crying.” Qiu Kui looked at their Young Master. She wanted to say that not crying was scarier than crying at this moment. She didn’t know what she was doing, but she always felt a tremor whenever she was near Xing Dai Rong’s room. “Go invite the embroiderer. Later, have Dai Rong choose materials for making clothes,” he said, throwing the silver bag to Qiu Kui. “Yes,” Qiu Kui replied. Cheng Yunshuo was in a good mood now, feeling much better with money than without it. He went over and knocked on Xing Dai Rong’s door, coaxing her gently, “Dai Rong, open the door. What happened this afternoon was my fault, I’m here to apologize.” The room was quiet. Cheng Yunshuo continued to knock, “Let’s talk properly.” But the room remained silent. Cheng Yunshuo lost his patience. Mimicking Xing Dai Rong’s actions that afternoon, he kicked the door open with his foot. As soon as the door flew open, a bucket of cold water was splashed right on him.
Xing Dai Rong, her hair disheveled and her eyes red with anger, looked at him with a water bucket in her hand. She had been confined to her room for the entire afternoon, and after crying and making a fuss, all that was left in her heart was a deep-seated resentment. She felt wronged, she was angry. Cheng Yunshuo was all she had in this world, but he had locked her up and spent the afternoon with another woman. He was a scoundrel. All the promises he had made to her were lies, all deceptions. He was a complete and utter liar! She would make him pay, she would! This wasn’t water, this was her tears, pouring out on him! The icy water dripped down Cheng Yunshuo’s head, one drop after another. In that moment, Xing Dai Rong felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration and relief. She burst into laughter. Across from her, Cheng Yunshuo, after a few breaths, looked at her with an icy expression, “You’ve gone completely mad.”
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