Chapter 60: The Liu Family’s Visit

Chapter 60: The Liu Family's Visit

Xing Dairong kept pulling Cheng Yunshuo and talking nonstop. One moment she wanted more jewelry as part of her allowance, the next she asked him to make more winter clothes for her. She also complained that since she had become his concubine, she had suffered in terms of status and needed material compensation.

Before she could finish, Cheng Yunshuo turned around and walked straight out.

"Where are you going!"

"Back to sleep."

"You should spend more time with me and the child." Xing Dairong stomped her feet.

After leaving Xing Dairong, Cheng Yunshuo passed by the Autumn Fragrance Courtyard on his way back to Yaoguang Pavilion. He thought about Qiu Ling, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

"How is Qiu Ling doing?"

"Aunt Qiu has been allowed to move freely again," Qingfeng said at this moment. "If you have time, Your Highness, you should visit Aunt Qiu. You can share the good news with her too."

Lu Lingyun had suggested to Cheng Yunshuo that he should visit Qiu Ling more often. So, Qingfeng took the opportunity to remind him.

Hearing this, Cheng Yunshuo paused for a moment, then headed towards the Autumn Fragrance Courtyard.

He found Qiu Ling inside, embroidering knee pads.

The candlelight flickered as Qiu Ling meticulously embroidered thick rabbit fur knee pads. For a moment, Cheng Yunshuo was reminded of the past.

Every year, Qiu Ling would make knee pads for him, and all his personal items were embroidered by her own hands.

Thinking about this, he felt a twinge of guilt. Perhaps it was too harsh to confine Qiu Ling to her quarters for half a month last time.

"Sister Qiu Ling..."

Cheng Yunshuo spoke up.

Qiu Ling heard his voice and glanced towards the door. Seeing Cheng Yunshuo, there was no trace of the warmth or eagerness she used to show. She didn't even bother to put away her embroidery tools. "Why doesn't Your Highness go keep Aunt Xing company? What brings you here?"

"Qiu Ling, I came to see how you are."

"I've seen you now. Please go back, Your Highness."

Qiu Ling continued working on the knee pads, outright rejecting him.

Cheng Yunshuo: "..."

Qiu Ling actually wanted him to leave.

Was this still his Sister Qiu Ling?

Seeing Qiu Ling embroidering the knee pads, Cheng Yunshuo found an excuse to sit down. "My knee pads just broke. These new ones you're making look very useful."

Qiu Ling looked up at him. "Your Highness must have misunderstood. These are for Madam."

Cheng Yunshuo: "..."

"If you need knee pads, ask Aunt Xing. She is your favorite; anything she makes, you will surely like."

Cheng Yunshuo: "..."

This really wasn't his Sister Qiu Ling anymore.

Qiu Ling chased Cheng Yunshuo out from her place.

She had realized that no man was worth her effort.

No matter how much she did for him, it would never match the allure of another woman's glance.

Whenever he faced rejection from other women, he would think of her. Such a man was not worth her time!

From now on, she would live for herself. Winning Lu Lingyun's favor meant she could still enjoy a comfortable life!

After chasing Cheng Yunshuo away, Qiu Ling continued sewing the knee pads for Lu Lingyun.

The next day, Lu Lingyun received notice from her in-laws.

The Qin family and the old Lord Marquis would return to the marquisate from their residence by mid-month.

Lu Lingyun immediately got busy.

Apart from the year-end purchases, winter preparations, personnel arrangements, and reviewing the annual accounts, she also had to tidy up the courtyard and complete all tasks before presenting them to Lady Qin.

Fortunately, both concubines in the household had settled down.

Qiu Ling no longer cared about Cheng Yunshuo and Xing Dairong, while Xing Dairong spent her days pestering Cheng Yunshuo for favors. Thus, the household remained peaceful.

Lu Lingyun had enough time to manage the household affairs and organize a grand promotion celebration for Cheng Yunshuo, while also finding time to handle her shop's matters.

"Madam, Sister Zhiran says many people have been asking about charcoal. Should we start selling it now?" Xia Mei relayed the message from the general store.

"Not yet. Wait until the twelfth month."

Charcoal was already being used, priced at two taels per cart.

After the twelfth month, the price would soar to four or five taels per cart.

"Yes."

The sound of crackling charcoal filled Lu Lingyun's room.

Now that the marquisate had started comprehensive heating, as the main lady of the house, she had the most abundant supply of charcoal—three full basins of smokeless charcoal, warming the room to a cozy temperature.

It was rare for Lu Lingyun to experience such a comfortable winter. Life in a wealthy and influential household was indeed more pleasant.

After Xia Mei left, Chunhe entered the room again, "Young Lady, your family has sent a letter."

"What is it?"

"Your mother mentioned she wants to come visit you."

Liu's wife is coming?

The last time Liu's wife fell ill, Lu Lingyun went back to see her, but it wasn't a serious matter; it was merely a social visit to maintain their relationship.

Not even a month has passed, and she wants to visit again. It seems that Liu's wife still harbors some hidden intentions, trying to become familiar with her.

"Sure, if Mother wishes to come, I'll send a carriage to pick her up."

"Yes."

That afternoon, Liu's wife arrived at Ningyang Marquisate with two concubines and several cousins by carriage.

As soon as they entered Lu Lingyun's room, everyone's eyes lit up.

The first thing they noticed was the warmth inside. It hadn't snowed yet, and smaller officials' homes didn't use charcoal fire.

Even in the Lu family, only Liu's wife and Lu's father's rooms had one basin of charcoal fire, while the concubines and other children born of lesser status had none.

Lu Lingyun's room had three full basins of smokeless charcoal!

"Sister Lingyun, it's so warm here."

One of Liu's wife's nieces spoke up.

Lu Lingyun recognized her; her name was Liu Qingping, and her mother was the aunt who had given her wedding gifts.

"Qingping is here too."

"Sister Lingyun, you're truly extraordinary now!" Liu Qingping approached Lu Lingyun with a smile, looking her up and down. Seeing Lu Lingyun adorned in gold and silver, with clothes embroidered with gold thread, she touched her coat and then her golden pendant, "These must be very expensive!"

Liu Qingping's father was just a seventh-rank examiner in the Hanlin Academy, the lowest position handling textual corrections.

Such a scholar-official had no real power, especially being at the bottom doing textual work, so there was little money at home.

Liu Qingping wore a silk-lined robe for early winter, with only the front panels made of silk. The most valuable item she had was a gilded hairpin, which was still inferior to what Aunt Qiu from Lu Lingyun's household wore.

"Qingping, your sister is now the lady of the marquisate, of course she's different," Liu's wife said with a smile, her eyes filled with admiration, envy, and a well-hidden jealousy and resentment.

Originally, all these luxuries should have belonged to her own daughter, and this prosperous life in the marquisate should have been lived by Lu Hanyi.

How could Lu Lingyun enjoy it instead!

Her foolish daughter insisted on marrying that poor boy surnamed Li. She saw no potential in Li Wenxun, only that Lu Lingyun's life in the Li family was getting worse day by day.

She came here for Lu Hanyi's sake!