Chapter 62: Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang

Chapter 62: Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang

The Liu matriarch didn’t get any advantage over Lu Lingyun.

She tried to manipulate her with family ties and interests, but Lingyun deftly dismissed her with even smoother words.

Not leaving the slightest gap for her to exploit.

This infuriated the Liu matriarch, making her feel deeply aggrieved.

At dinnertime, Lingyun formally invited her to stay for dinner, but the Liu matriarch couldn't eat a thing. She immediately made an excuse about having matters at home and left with her entourage.

Of course, Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang stayed behind with Lu Lingyun.

As she was leaving, she glanced at the two of them meaningfully and said, "You two, don’t cause trouble for your sister here. Make sure to get along well with your brother-in-law."

"Understood, Aunt."

The two girls responded in unison.

Hearing this, the Liu matriarch suppressed the malice in her eyes. Looking around Lingyun’s house filled with luxurious warmth and charm, she felt nothing but resentment.

Why did this damned fate give such a good life to her own daughter instead of that dead girl, Lu Lingyun?

How could Lu Lingyun be living so well, getting better every day!

This made her hate her even more!

"Hmph, I can’t let Lu Lingyun have it all. I just need Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang to show some spirit. If one of them catches Cheng Yunshuo’s eye, I can take half of Lu Lingyun’s good fortune."

After all, they were her nieces; their happiness would be better than Lu Lingyun’s.

Lingyun noticed the glint in her stepmother’s eyes and smiled without saying anything. After sending someone to escort her away, she looked back into the house.

Inside, Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang were like tourists in a treasure shop, marveling at each ornament one by one.

They exclaimed at every item they saw.

Just then, Qiu Ling arrived.

"Madam, Aunt Qiu is here."

Lingyun smoothed out the sleeves of her peony-patterned robe. "Let her in."

The Liu sisters, who were examining the ornaments, turned curiously toward the door. They saw Qiu Ling enter, dressed in orange-red silk embroidered with auspicious persimmons, adorned with gold hairpins and tassels.

Everything she wore was given to her by Lingyun, all top-quality items.

Raised in the marquisate as Cheng Yunshuo’s first-class maidservant, she was fair-skinned and radiant, looking every bit like a lady from a wealthy household.

Her elegant appearance left the two girls staring in awe.

Good heavens, who is this?

"Sister, is this a lady from your marquisate?" Liu Qingping moved closer to Lingyun, unable to take her eyes off Qiu Ling.

"That’s not right; I remember there are no ladies in the marquisate," Liu Qingshuang interjected.

"Misses, this is Aunt Qiu from our household," Chunhe reminded them with a smile.

Upon hearing she was just an aunt, the two girls blushed.

They were fifteen and fourteen years old, respectively, and their father’s side consisted of minor officials. The largest relative they had was their aunt married into the Lu family. This was their first time entering such a grand residence.

In their minds, concubines were only slightly better than maids, perhaps able to eat a bit more meat and wear clothes without patches, but still required to do household chores.

They had never seen a concubine dressed as well as a proper lady!

Aunt Qiu smiled at their words and looked at Lingyun. "Madam, these are..."

"These are my cousins from my maternal family."

"Ah, Misses, may you both be blessed." Aunt Qiu bowed to them.

Qiu Ling’s graceful bow left Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang flustered. They clumsily tried to mimic the demeanor of noble ladies, stammering, "No need, no need."

Everyone in the room laughed, making the two young girls blush even more.

Lingyun intervened, "Alright, we’re all family here, no need for formalities."

She rescued Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang, and the two girls gravitated towards her like birds finding a branch to rest on.

There weren’t many mature and composed young girls at their age, especially from small households. They might be shrewd and calculating in familiar circles, impressing elders with their potential, but in unfamiliar grand settings, they became timid.

Lingyun knew their worth just by looking at their embarrassed faces. It was laughable that the Liu matriarch thought sending these two young girls could compete with her.

"What brings Aunt Qiu here?"

"I made a pair of knee warmers for the cold weather, fearing Madam might catch a chill." Aunt Qiu presented the rabbit fur knee warmers she had personally embroidered.

Qiu Ling had gotten the materials through her parents.

Previously, she made these for Cheng Yunshuo, but now, heh.

"Please don’t disdain them, Madam." Aunt Qiu looked at her with sparkling eyes.

"How could I dislike it?" Lu Lingyun took it immediately and tried it on. The knee guards fit perfectly, warm and cozy inside, clearly made with care by Qiu Ling.

"I am very satisfied."

She smiled at Qiu Ling.

Receiving a smile from Lu Lingyun made Qiu Ling immensely happy.

"It's good that Young Lady is satisfied. Since you have guests, I'll take my leave now."

"Go ahead."

Lu Lingyun nodded at Qiu Ling.

After Qiu Ling left, Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang looked at the knee guards on Lu Lingyun and couldn't help but feel strange. "Goodness, there's actually a concubine who makes things for the main wife."

"How rare is that?"

"Of course it's rare," Liu Qingshuang added. "Sister Yun, why do you treat the concubine so well?"

"What else should I do?"

"Shouldn't you make her stand in line and serve you!"

Lu Lingyun looked at them. "In wealthy families, it's not common to mistreat concubines. Only small households behave that way."

Hearing this, Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang were as if they had heard something new, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Growing up, no one had ever taught them this.

Their mother had always told them that concubines were lowly and should be harshly treated. Their aunt also treated concubines similarly. How could it be different in wealthy families?

Their horizons were broadened by what they learned from Lu Lingyun.

For a moment, they felt their behavior here was petty, and their words sounded laughable.

At that moment, someone came into their courtyard.

"Young Lady, the Prince has arrived."

"Alright, let's have dinner."

Cheng Yunshuo had been coming to Lu Lingyun's place for meals recently.

Hearing that Cheng Yunshuo was coming, they both perked up.

As Lu Lingyun spoke, a young man around seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guards, with a handsome face and his hair tied back, walked in.

Seeing Cheng Yunshuo, both of them couldn't help but turn red-eyed.