Chapter 16: Aunt Qiu Confronts Xing Dairong

Chapter 16: Aunt Qiu Confronts Xing Dairong

After listening to Chunxing, Qiu Ling clenched her handkerchief and said, "I know that."

With that, she raised her head and headed towards Yaoguang Pavilion.

Qiu Ling was now twenty, a year older than Cheng Yunshuo.

She was born into the marquis household and had been by Cheng Yunshuo's side since childhood, taking care of him.

Her father served the old marquis, while her mother attended to the late matriarch.

When the matriarch was alive, their family held significant influence in the household.

Even Lady Qin treated them with respect.

As an elder servant, Qiu Ling used to be the top maid in Yaoguang Pavilion.

She grew up with Cheng Yunshuo, and they were considered childhood sweethearts. Since childhood, Cheng Yunshuo called her "Sister Qiu Ling," and she personally sewed his undergarments and socks. Whenever he got something new and interesting, he would think of giving it to her first.

As they grew older, it was natural for her to become Cheng Yunshuo's only bedmate.

Qiu Ling knew her status was low, but once the future lady of the house entered, she could at least become a noble concubine.

With her past relationship with Cheng Yunshuo, no new lady would dare touch her easily.

But what was Xing Dairong?

On the very first day Xing Dairong entered Yaoguang Pavilion, she expelled Qiu Ling and forbade her from returning to Lady Qin. She made Cheng Yunshuo send her to the prayer hall, where she was grouped with the old marquis's praying concubines.

Xing Dairong said that was where someone like her belonged.

Qiu Ling had long harbored resentment, but she had no choice but to endure in the prayer hall as the old marquis and Lady Qin could not handle Cheng Yunshuo and Xing Dairong.

She never expected to be released one day, let alone be elevated to the rank of concubine.

Now that she finally saw the light, she did not need Chunxing to remind her; she had long wanted revenge!

Lu Lingyun allowed her to choose her own courtyard, and she immediately picked the one closest to Yaoguang Pavilion.

Just to deal with Xing Dairong!

"Let's go!"

It was early autumn, and the afternoon sun was bright.

The garden pond shimmered with ripples.

A few pairs of colorful mandarin ducks swam on the lake, and the willow branches reflected in the clear water.

A woman in a pink robe led by two maids strolled along the lakeside, enjoying the scenery, when she encountered a woman dressed in a slightly red formal attire.

Red was a color with significance in this era.

Women wore red only on important occasions, such as weddings, major festivals, or children's weddings.

Only the main wife could wear true red; concubines and secondary wives could only wear slightly red.

From a distance, Xing Dairong immediately noticed the woman in slightly red formal attire.

She wore a silver hairpin and a gold-plated hair ornament.

Having lived in this era for a few months, Xing Dairong could tell at a glance that she was not a maid.

Just as she wondered who it was, Qiu Ling approached her with a fierce demeanor.

Xing Dairong recognized her face but couldn't recall where she had seen her. The two maids behind her exclaimed in surprise.

"Qiu Ling!"

"Qiu Ling?" Xing Dairong repeated the name, her expression suddenly changing as she remembered, "Who let you out?"

"You still remember me," Qiu Ling said sarcastically. "I thought all the women in Yaoguang Pavilion had been forgotten by you."

Xing Dairong's face turned stern. "Why aren't you in the prayer hall with those lowly concubines? What are you doing here?"

"Lowly?" Qiu Ling sneered. "We are lowly concubines, but what about you? You're not even a concubine in this household! Living with our young master without marriage, without any status, aren't you even lower than us?"

"You! I'm different from you!"

"Yes, you are indeed different. We are not as lowly as you. At least we are decent commoners. You, on the other hand, are just a cheap courtesan who sells herself to men! Who knows how many men have slept with you! You're filthy!"

"I haven't! In the brothel, I sold my art, not my body!"

"Oh, selling your art in a brothel, how novel! Who would believe that? Do you think you're a fairy or a princess? In the end, you're just better at seducing men!"

Xing Dairong trembled with rage. "I'll tear your mouth apart!"

At that moment, Qiu Ling caught sight of several people hurrying towards them.

As Xing Dairong lunged at her, Qiu Ling did not dodge. Just as Xing Dairong's hand touched her face, Qiu Ling cried out, "My lady, I was wrong! Please forgive me!"

In the next instant, splash!

Qiu Ling fell into the pond.

Xing Dairong was momentarily stunned, and then a voice roared from behind her, "Stop!"

Cheng Yunshuo rushed over with his entourage.

Xing Dairong saw him come and instinctively called out, "Yunshuo."

"Prince! Save me!"

In the not-so-deep pool, Qiu Ling flailed about, desperately pleading for help from Cheng Yunshuo.

Cheng Yunshuo did not look at Xing Dairong but immediately ordered someone to pull Qiu Ling out of the water.

As she was lifted out, wet and pitiful, Qiu Ling threw herself into Cheng Yunshuo's arms and sobbed, "Prince, Prince, I almost didn't see you again!"

Qiu Ling cried with tears like pear blossoms in the rain. Her hair, disheveled and sticking to her face, made her appear even more fragile and pitiable.

At this moment, Xing Dairong finally realized that she had been set up.

She looked at Qiu Ling, who was crying and complaining in Cheng Yunshuo's arms, anger surging within her, "Cheng Yunshuo! She is framing me!"

Cheng Yunshuo, holding Qiu Ling, glanced at her, "I saw it with my own eyes; what else do you have to argue about?"

"You...!"

"Prince, don't be angry. Miss Xing must have been shocked to learn that I was raised to the position of concubine..." Qiu Ling reached out with her delicate hand, clutching Cheng Yunshuo's robe pitifully.

Hearing this, Xing Dairong's eyes widened in shock, "You promoted her to be your concubine?!"

Cheng Yunshuo had originally planned to explain the matter of promoting Qiu Ling to concubine to Xing Dairong.

But today, he did not want to say a single word to her.

After all, he was a man, the heir to the marquisate, and in this era, having multiple wives and concubines was not uncommon. There was no need to explain everything to everyone. He had promised Xing Dairong a lifetime of devotion, and he intended to keep that promise.

But giving his former woman a title—what was so unreasonable about that?

Xing Dairong became jealous and caused a scene over him granting Qiu Ling a position. Such jealousy only made him tired of her.

He had fought against so many people for her sake and endured so much pressure. Why couldn't she show any understanding?

Was he the only one making efforts and compromises for her? Couldn't she make a single concession!

"Yes."

Cheng Yunshuo picked Qiu Ling up and spoke to Xing Dairong in a harsh tone for the first time, "I have decided to promote Qiu Ling as my concubine. Whether you like it or not, I don't need your approval!"