Chapter 5: Winning Over the Qin Family

Chapter 5: Winning Over the Qin Family

The male voice was clear and vibrant, indicating a young man full of vigor, but his tone was cold and impatient.

She nodded gently, "I am Lu Lingyun."

"I don't care what your name is; you were brought here by my mother, not by me."

The man's voice in front of her remained icy, and he didn't even lift her red veil.

Lu Lingyun stared at the red boots before her and responded without any sign of surprise, "Mm."

"I will never accept you. Don't expect anything from me!"

Lu Lingyun: "Mm."

"I will never touch you, nor will I have children with you!"

Lu Lingyun almost laughed, "Mm."

Her compliance caused Cheng Yunshuo's aggressive demeanor to soften slightly, and he paused before continuing his tirade, making any further anger seem unreasonable.

In the end, marriage is a matter decided by one's parents and arranged by matchmakers.

He did not want to marry Lu Lingyun, and she had no choice in the matter either.

If he had married someone with a bad temper who argued with him, he would have had ample reason to turn his back on her tonight.

But Lu Lingyun's good nature made it difficult for him to continue his hostility.

However, accepting her tonight was out of the question.

Cheng Yunshuo stared at her for a long time, then changed his tone and spoke clearly.

"I have promised Dairong that I will be with her alone for the rest of my life. I will never accept another woman. If you behave properly, you will remain the nominal wife in this household, and I will give you some respect. But if you misbehave, don't blame me for being harsh!"

Lu Lingyun listened patiently and responded, "Alright."

This response left Lu Lingyun satisfied.

Because this was exactly what she wanted.

Her calm and respectful tone made Cheng Yunshuo frown deeply.

He looked more closely at the quiet red veil before him and said after a moment, "I won't spend the night here. This is my promise to Dairong. You can lift your veil yourself."

With that, he turned and left without looking back.

On their wedding night, the groom left after issuing warnings, clearly showing that the new bride was not favored.

But Lu Lingyun knew that this beginning was already a significant victory.

In her previous life, when Lu Hanyi married into the marquisate, Cheng Yunshuo acted similarly. Lu Hanyi, with her spoiled nature, argued fiercely with him that night.

On their wedding night, they broke dishes and pots in the bridal chamber, and Cheng Yunshuo took the opportunity to completely sever ties with her. When the Qin family questioned them later, he had every reason to call Lu Hanyi a shrew, leaving the only person who could support her, Lady Qin, with less leverage.

Three days later, when Cheng Yunshuo refused to accompany her back to her family, Lady Qin had no recourse.

But she was different.

She did not make things difficult for Cheng Yunshuo, which made him feel somewhat indebted to her.

Lady Qin's goodwill and confidence would be stronger as a result.

In this household, the person she needed to win over was not Cheng Yunshuo, but her mother-in-law, Lady Qin.

"Clean up and get ready for bed."

Lu Lingyun lifted her red veil herself, stretched, and said to the silent servants in the room.

The next morning.

News that the groom did not spend the wedding night in the bridal chamber had spread throughout the entire household.

Another piece of gossip was that Cheng Yunshuo went directly to his beloved concubine Dairong and stayed with her all night.

It was said that Cheng Yunshuo spent the whole night comforting her until she calmed down.

While Lu Lingyun was washing up, Zhiran relayed the news, causing her to smile.

"Miss, how can you still laugh..." Zhiran was angry on her behalf.

Lu Lingyun looked at Zhiran's puffed-up face in the bronze mirror and shook her head. Her gaze then fell on Chunxing and Chunhe behind her.

"Zhiran, stay in the room later. Chunxing, come with me to serve tea to my in-laws."

Zhiran had been by her side since childhood, always caring for her, but sometimes too much so.

Seeing her suffer, Zhiran would jump to her defense first. In her previous life, in the Li family, where she was suppressed by her brother and sister-in-law, Zhiran's straightforwardness was useful.

But in the marquisate, it was unnecessary.

Everything was out in the open, and her people being too assertive would only annoy Lady Qin.

She needed to rearrange the people around her and send Zhiran out.

"Miss..."

Upon hearing that Lu Lingyun did not want her to follow, Zhiran's eyes immediately turned red.

"Alright, alright, you stay inside and inventory the storeroom for me. That's more important, understand?" Lu Lingyun gave her a look, and Zhiran's simple mind immediately stopped.

Indeed, indeed, now the young lady only has her as a true confidante, and the household items still require someone to keep an eye on them.

"Yes, Miss!"

Beside, Chunxing, who was called out, also stepped forward with a cheerful and delighted air, "Yes, Madam!"

"Nanny An, you come with me too," Lu Lingyun glanced at the two nannies.

"Madam, please allow this old servant to accompany you. Yesterday, you were wronged greatly at the Marquis's Mansion. Such mistreatment is a complete disregard for you and the Lu Family! I must seek justice for you in this matter!" Mammy Wan interjected.

Lu Lingyun glanced at her indifferently, "Nanny Wan, am I not wronged if my elders at home are not wronged? You keep saying it's not a big deal, implying that my elders at home are bullying me. What kind of intentions do you have?"

Upon hearing this, Granny Wan's expression changed.

Lu Lingyun continued, "Nanny Wan, you came with me from my natal family when I married into the Marquis's Mansion. I know you're concerned about me being wronged, but once we entered the Marquis's Mansion, it became our home. In our own home, we should speak up when there's an issue, not dismiss things so lightly. Don't you agree?"

At this point, Granny Wan no longer dared to retort, for to say another word would not be to feign protection of Lu Lingyun, but to incite discord between the two families.

She nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, yes."

"Tidy up the room, Nanny An, and come with me."

"Yes, Madam."

Lu Lingyun led Chunxing and An Mama away.

Ningxin Courtyard, the courtyard of the Qin family.

"Did she really say that?"

"Yes, Madam," the nanny by Lady Qin's side said with eyes full of approval.

Lu Lingyun hadn't arrived yet, but the words she had spoken in the morning had reached Mrs. Qin's ears.

Upon hearing Lu Lingyun's remark that it was not the elder bullying her, Qin's eyes immediately brightened. She twirled the emerald Buddha beads in her hand and nodded, "This truly is a child who understands manners and knows the bigger picture."

At that moment, the voice of a maidservant could be heard from outside the house.

"Madam, the young mistress has come to serve tea."

Mrs. Qin immediately stood up, "Hurry and let her in."

Lu Lingyun led the person into the house, and Lady Qin walked straight toward her.

"Mother."

Lu Lingyun tried to bow, but Lady Qin took hold of her hand.

"Good child, you've suffered."

Lady Qin gently touched her hair, looking at her with the affection of an elder.

At first, she had only felt a third of her fondness for Lu Lingyun, mostly valuing her as a daughter-in-law. But now, during this formal meeting, she genuinely cared for her.

This daughter-in-law was perceptive and well-mannered, more respectful and compliant than she had ever hoped for.