Chapter 126: Banquet for Colleagues

Chapter 126: Banquet for Colleagues

Lu Lingyun was a woman, so even though she had arranged the food and banquet, it was not appropriate for her to make an appearance.

It was enough to just send the servants to announce it.

However, when the servant returned, she had something to report to Lu Lingyun.

"Young Mistress, that female disciple of Crown Prince Ye has come again!"

"Oh?"

Lu Lingyun was in the room with young Bing'an at the time.

These days, young Bing'an had become increasingly attached to her. He stayed awake longer during the day and would make babbling sounds, which was very cute.

"That girl is quite strange. A woman dressed as a man, spending her days among those men, she bears some resemblance to Aunt Xing from before," the reporting servant said.

Upon hearing this, Lu Lingyun didn’t know how to respond. She gave a light, faint smile.

"Alright, let's eat."

"Yes."

A table of dishes was set in Lu Lingyun's small courtyard. She paid no mind to anything, nor did she care what Cheng Yunshuo thought, or what others thought.

Anyway, what happened outside had nothing to do with her.

As long as she lived her own life well, with three meals a day, eating and drinking well, that was enough.

While Lu Lingyun's side was calm and peaceful, a storm was brewing elsewhere in the inner compound.

"What! Yunshuo brought someone again today?"

"Yes, the young mistress arranged it. There was a banquet, and many of the Crown Prince's colleagues were invited to dine outside."

Upon hearing that it was many colleagues, Xing Dairong's expression slightly relaxed.

But soon, she realized something. "That woman! Is she here?"

"Miss Xing, I don't know." Qiukui hadn't gone to the outer compound.

There were so many outsiders at the marquis's residence today, and the women of the inner compound were not seeing any guests.

As the senior maid by the side of the concubine, she could not move around freely.

So, she hadn't inquired that much.

"No, I must go and see!"

Xing Dairong got up, ready to leave.

"My lady, why would you go to such a place!"

Meanwhile, outside, after a few rounds of drinks,

Cheng Yunshuo's colleagues were eating happily.

Hosting a banquet was quite a delicate matter.

Especially since Cheng Yunshuo now held a fairly high position, with an official role in the Imperial Guards. Inviting everyone for a meal was like hosting his subordinates. It was very effective in winning their hearts, and in daily official matters, everyone would gravitate towards Cheng Yunshuo, following his arrangements.

Moreover, for future promotions and the like, he would also have a foundation of support.

Cheng Yunshuo was very satisfied with the banquet that Lu Lingyun had arranged for him.

"Everyone, eat and drink well! Make sure to enjoy yourselves to the fullest!"

"We certainly will!"

"Our marquis residence may not have much, but we have plenty of good food and wine!" Just then, a female voice rang out from the banquet hall.

A pregnant woman walked out, followed by servants carrying wine jars.

It was Xing Dairong.

Xing Dairong wore an extremely appropriate smile and came out to greet the guests like the hostess.

Of course, she wouldn't rush out and make a scene like Qiukui had said, ending up crying and causing a fuss.

She had become smarter.

For this, she had even spent a large sum of money to reward the servants and used her own private funds to have the kitchen prepare more wine, which she brought along.

It should be known that in the marquis residence, everything was rationed. Without Lu Lingyun's arrangement, getting anything extra would cost money.

She had rarely spent her own money and walked out generously.

But when Cheng Yunshuo saw her appear, the smile on his face immediately turned cold.

Most of the Imperial Guards present had not seen Lu Lingyun before, and seeing the pregnant Xing Dairong, they thought she was Cheng Yunshuo's official wife. They all said,

"The Crown Prince's wife has arrived!"

"So it's the Crown Prince's wife!"

Upon hearing everyone address her this way, the smile on Xing Dairong's face couldn't be contained.

She looked at the others. "Everyone has worked hard, and you have all helped our Yunshuo a lot in the Prefectural Commandant Manor. Today, make sure to eat and drink well."

She put on the air of a mistress of the household and looked at everyone as she spoke one by one.

Above, Cheng Yunshuo was utterly unable to sit still upon seeing this.

He stood up and grabbed Xing Dairong, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see your colleagues and friends."

"Exactly, Yunshuo, why are you being so petty?"

"Introduce your sister-in-law to us!"

"We've long admired sister-in-law!"

The crowd chimed in agreement.

Xing Dairong felt even more elated by everyone's words, a smile hanging on her face, ready to say a few more words to the crowd.

However, an inexplicable emotion rose in Cheng Yunshuo's heart, an embarrassment and awkwardness born from the fact that a woman he was no longer proud of, who was no longer presentable, was entertaining guests on his behalf in front of others.

That's right.

Xing Dairong was no longer someone he could be proud of or present to others.

A long, long time ago, he would have confidently introduced Xing Dairong to all his friends.

Back then, her every frown and smile, every thought, was enough to make him proud. Even though her status was very low, having Xing Dairong by his side would still fill him with pride.

But now.

He just wanted to hide her away.

Even though, at this moment, Xing Dairong behaved very appropriately, neither acting crazy nor causing a scene, and spoke politely to everyone, he still felt an inexplicable awkwardness.

What is she doing here!

Lu Lingyun knows to arrange the banquet properly and then retreat to the inner courtyard, not stealing any spotlight.

What is she doing here!

At that moment, a small, masculine-dressed figure entered from outside after using the restroom. As soon as she came in and saw Xing Dairong above, both Du Ruo and her expressions changed instantly.

"So, the bitch really came!" Xing Dairong blurted out.

Before she could finish her sentence, Cheng Yunshuo pulled her and led her straight into the inner room.

Everyone at the banquet looked at each other in bewilderment. They looked at Du Ruo questioningly, "A'Ruo, do you know Yunshuo's wife?"

"She's not my master's official wife! She's just my master's concubine!" Du Ruo said, glaring at the person who had gone into the inner room.

At this point, someone from the Imperial Guards also recognized Xing Dairong, "She's indeed not sister-in-law, that's the courtesan my lord spent ten thousand coins to marry from the brothel!"

"Oh oh oh! I remember now, the woman who caused a big stir with Yunshuo back in the day!"

"So it's her! Yunshuo did a lot of grand things for her."

"So that's the famous extraordinary woman!"

The group of Imperial Guards began to whisper among themselves.

After Cheng Yunshuo became an official, he completely distanced himself from his past, but the grand things he did for Xing Dairong back then were still remembered by many.

At that moment, everyone enthusiastically joined in the discussion.

Du Ruo, listening to the crowd's discussion, scornfully curled her lips in disdain, "What extraordinary woman, just a bitter and poisonous woman!"

Although her voice was low, others still heard her.

"A'Ruo, what's going on?"

"Yes, come on, tell us!"