“This must be Lingyun! It’s been so long, you’ve blossomed into a truly elegant young woman. Your air of sophistication is exactly what a Houfu madam should have!” The elder Mrs. Liu beamed at Lu Lingyun, her face plastered with a smile. Liu Shi, standing beside her, couldn’t hide the displeasure in her smile. This marriage was originally meant for her own daughter, a future with the prestigious Houfu and the title of a dignified madam. Who would have thought that her daughter would insist on marrying Li Er, constantly claiming that she had a long-term vision, that Li Er would rise to the pinnacle of power and she would become a诰命夫人 (gao ming fu ren – a woman of noble status, given a title by the emperor). At first, Liu Shi thought her daughter had gone mad, but she couldn’t stop her persistent pleas. Her daughter even declared that if she was forced to marry into the Houfu, she would end her life with Cheng Yunshuo and his concubine that very night. After much deliberation, Liu Shi realized that Cheng Yunshuo might not be a suitable match after all, and only after Lu Han Yi’s repeated vows about Li Er’s future brilliance, did she agree to the exchange of brides. Oh no, she wouldn’t allow this fortune to fall into Lu Lingyun’s hands. Hearing her sister-in-law’s flattering words, a knot of frustration formed in her heart. How could Lu Lingyun be worthy of marrying into the Houfu and becoming its madam, overshadowing her own daughter? While she seethed internally, the elder Mrs. Liu didn’t care. If Lu Lingyun became the Houfu madam, she would become a powerful figure. Flattering her now could only bring benefits.
“Auntie.” Lu Lingyun responded with a polite smile.
“Such a good child! I always thought Lingyun was special, intelligent and quick-witted, much more sensible than Han Yi. Don’t you think so, Ping Niang?”
Liu Shi rolled her eyes inwardly, changing the subject. “Lingyun, what brings you here?”
Lu Lingyun glanced back at Zhi Ran, who presented her with a small casket. “I received a wedding gift from Wang Qi Luo today, and I wanted to share half of it with my sister.” Lu Lingyun opened the casket, revealing a collection of beads, jade ornaments, and some silver ingots. The silver ingots were neatly stacked at the bottom, making it appear full. The items were large and eye-catching, though in reality, they were only worth about a hundred taels. The presentation was good.
“Oh, so many!” The elder Mrs. Liu’s eyes lit up at the sight of the casket filled with jewelry.
“My wedding is on the same day as my sister’s, so as a senior sister, I should give a gift. I thought it was only right to share half of what I received with Han Yi.” Lu Lingyun smiled cunningly.
“You are such a thoughtful child!” The elder Mrs. Liu showered Lu Lingyun with praise. “Your sisters are getting married at the same time, so it’s only right for friends and family to split their gifts. It’s really admirable that you have this kind heart.”
Her words made Liu Shi’s face even more unpleasant. What did that mean? Lu Lingyun received a gift and could share half with Lu Han Yi, shouldn’t Lu Han Yi also share half of hers with Lu Lingyun? She was a shrewd woman. The items Lu Lingyun brought were not cheap, but upon closer inspection, they were ordinary, only worth a hundred taels in total. The gifts her own daughter received were worth hundreds, even thousands of taels! But Lu Lingyun had taken the initiative, arriving with gifts, and she could not possibly refuse!
“Yes, yes.” Liu Shi clenched her jaw, her gaze fixed on Lu Lingyun. “Were all these gifts given by Wang Qi Luo?”
“Of course.” Lu Lingyun’s face remained unflustered as she lied. Liu Shi would never go to the Wang residence to verify. In the past life, she would never go to Wang Qi Luo to confirm the gifts either. The tricks she had used, she would return them today!
Liu Shi couldn’t ask a second question. The gifts were given, even if they were ordinary, they were still gifts. What could she say? Criticize her for being stingy? For giving junk? She couldn’t, she could only swallow her anger!
The elder Mrs. Liu chimed in, “Lingyun, your aunt has prepared a wedding gift for you as well. It’s been delivered to your mother, and she will send it to you later. Right, Ping Niang?”
“Yes, yes,” Liu Shi said with a knot in her throat. “Your sister also received many wedding gifts today. I was going to send some to you anyway. You’ve come at the right time.”
Lu Lingyun seized the opportunity. “Then thank you, Mother. Zhi Ran, take these back and store them in the bottom of the chest. These are gifts from our family, and you must ask Mother’s maid to clarify who sent what, record everything carefully, and make sure nothing is missing. These are expressions of everyone’s heart.”
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