Chapter 15: Elevating a Concubine

Chapter 15: Elevating a Concubine

As expected.

After Xing Dairong was slapped by Cheng Yunshuo, her status soared.

Cheng Yunshuo doted on her every day, showing deep remorse.

Xing Dairong cried and threw tantrums, but eventually forgave him after he swore countless oaths, promising never to harm her again and to cut all ties with Lu Lingyun.

After they reconciled, they enjoyed a period of blissful intimacy, seemingly even better than before.

During this time, Lady Qin sent Nanny Wen to inquire about Lu Lingyun, but Cheng Yunshuo did not give her any instructions.

Lady Qin had taken the old Lord Marquis to their country estate for recuperation and was not in the mansion.

Lu Lingyun gave a message to Nanny Wen to pass along to Lady Qin.

"The Prince does not favor me; the mission entrusted by Mother may be difficult to accomplish soon."

Nanny Wen quickly brought back Lady Qin's reply.

"Eryn, do not worry. Always prioritize your own well-being."

Seeing this, Lu Lingyun smiled faintly and then proposed to obtain Qiu Ling's indenture, intending to elevate her as a concubine for the Prince.

Qiu Ling was once Cheng Yunshuo's bedchamber maid.

In large families, men usually did not take concubines before marriage, but having bedchamber maids was common.

Before Xing Dairong appeared, she was the only one in Yaoguang Pavilion who had been favored.

After Xing Dairong arrived, Cheng Yunshuo stopped touching her, and when Xing Dairong entered Yaoguang Pavilion, he sent Qiu Ling to serve the elderly ladies in the temple.

She had already brought Qiu Ling back, and the next step was to elevate her to a concubine.

Indeed, she was settling scores with Xing Dairong.

Xing Dairong had repeatedly provoked her, and if she didn't retaliate, it wouldn't be like her.

After all, dealing with a concubine without any status would not require much effort; elevating a concubine would show how Xing Dairong would react.

She was no saint.

Not long after Lu Lingyun sent her request, Qiu Ling's indenture arrived along with Lady Qin's message.

Lady Qin told her to handle everything herself.

Upon receiving Qiu Ling's indenture, Lu Lingyun smiled lightly, "Where is His Highness now?"

"He went to play ball with the two sons of the Chancellor this afternoon; he might return by evening."

"Good."

In the evening, Lu Lingyun found Cheng Yunshuo before he returned to Yaoguang Pavilion.

Cheng Yunshuo kept his distance, trying to avoid any suspicion.

But ultimately, Lu Lingyun had done nothing wrong, and he felt guilty towards her.

Lu Lingyun also maintained an appropriate distance, standing in a place where he would not feel uncomfortable, and mentioned elevating Qiu Ling as a concubine.

"I recently learned that Qiu Ling used to serve the Prince. Now that I am in the mansion, it is proper to give her a title. I want to elevate Qiu Ling as a concubine."

Cheng Yunshuo frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Elevate a concubine?

Marriage alone had already upset Xing Dairong; adding another concubine...

"Your Highness need not worry. I am thinking that Qiu Ling is getting older, and if she is not elevated as a concubine, she will have no other prospects. Without a title or the Prince's protection, life would be hard for her."

Lu Lingyun lifted her handkerchief, showing genuine sympathy and compassion.

This immediately evoked Cheng Yunshuo's memories of Qiu Ling.

Qiu Ling was once his bedchamber maid.

Before Xing Dairong came, she served him diligently.

After Xing Dairong arrived, he stopped touching her and sent her to another courtyard for Xing Dairong's sake.

Cheng Yunshuo was not a heartless man, and recalling the past, he felt some guilt towards Qiu Ling.

Lu Lingyun then played her trump card, "Moreover, I heard that Miss Xing is very progressive and does not care about titles. I just want to give Qiu Ling a title so she can live better and keep me company in the mansion."

Her words were sincere and selfless, which further intensified Cheng Yunshuo's sense of guilt towards both her and Qiu Ling.

"Alright, you decide."

He agreed and then strode towards Yaoguang Pavilion.

Before entering Yaoguang Pavilion, he sternly instructed everyone not to tell Xing Dairong that he had met Lu Lingyun.

Even though they barely spoke and kept a distance, Cheng Yunshuo still feared Xing Dairong's misunderstanding.

His actions were observed by Lu Lingyun and Shuang Hong.

"Young Mistress, the Prince truly treats that woman excessively well," said Shuang Hong.

"Indeed, the Prince is a rare and deeply affectionate man." Chunxing's tone was tinged with jealousy and envy.

They had been in the mansion for some time now.

Day by day, it must be said that from another perspective, Cheng Yunshuo was truly an excellent man.

Unfortunately, not for their mistress.

In Lu Lingyun's eyes, there was a serene and carefree demeanor. "Ask about the cause and effect of orchid seeds and floating willows; flowers bloom and fall in their own time."

In this world, falling in love is easy, but living together is hard.

Countless deep affections drown in the trivialities of daily life, and countless deep affections are consumed by fundamentally different worldviews.

At the end of the day, love comes down to how people interact with each other.

Beyond the initial dazzling heartbeats, once all the core aspects are revealed, most relationships end up being described as "orchid seeds and floating willows."

Lu Lingyun watched calmly.

After the concubine matter was settled, the next day, she drank the concubine tea.

Qiu Ling presented the tea to Lu Lingyun with utmost respect, looking at her as if she were a reborn parent.

"Your kindness, I shall never forget. In the future, I will serve you wholeheartedly, doing anything for you."

Qiu Ling said, moved.

"As long as you serve the Prince well and bear him a son soon," Lu Lingyun smiled as she accepted the tea, giving Shuang Hong a nod to hand over a large red envelope.

Qiu Ling happily accepted the red envelope. Not only did Lu Lingyun elevate her to a concubine, but she also gave her a separate courtyard.

The courtyard was close to Yaoguang Pavilion.

"You don't have anyone to serve you yet, so let me assign Chunxing from my courtyard to assist you. If you see any suitable maidservants in the future, let me know, and I'll arrange them for you."

"Yes, thank you, Mistress," Qiu Ling said, deeply moved.

From today onward, she would have a maidservant!

No longer just a servant girl!

Chunxing exchanged a glance with Lu Lingyun, showing no objections, and walked to Qiu Ling's side.

Lu Lingyun also bestowed two sets of clothes and some jewelry on her, ensuring they left her courtyard with grandeur.

As soon as they stepped out of Lu Lingyun's courtyard, Chunxing spoke to Qiu Ling.

"Aunt Qiu, remember, to establish yourself in this mansion, you need to please not the young mistress, but the Prince."