Chapter 137: Du Ruo’s Little Scheme

Chapter 137: Du Ruo's Little Scheme

At just one sentence, Du Ruo's face froze in surprise.

She looked in astonishment at Qin Shaojing, who was smirking mockingly at her.

She’s Cheng Yunshuo's cousin... the young lady of the Qin Mansion?!

"Some people really have eyes like dogs! Seeing everyone as the young master's concubine—how absurd! Would our young miss ever debase herself to be a concubine?"

Qin Shaojing's nanny mercilessly derided her.

Instantly, Du Ruo’s face turned even redder.

Qin Shaojing snorted in contempt, glanced sideways at Du Ruo, exchanged a polite greeting with Lu Lingyun, and then strode past Du Ruo with her entourage.

Du Ruo’s face turned even redder.

She was so embarrassed she wished she could crawl into a hole.

At that moment, Lu Lingyun's voice broke through her thoughts, "Shaojing arrived at the estate just a few days ago, it's normal that you didn't recognize her. Later, during dinner, I'll properly introduce you two."

Flushed with embarrassment, Du Ruo nodded, "Okay."

During dinner, Cheng Yunshuo hadn’t returned. He was at the Commandant’s Manor reviewing case files, planning to handle several cases before the Imperial Guards’ selection.

Lu Lingyun had invited Qin Shaojing to dine in her courtyard.

"Shaojing, let me introduce you. This is Du Ruo, the younger sister of Yunshuo's colleague," Lu Lingyun said after everyone was seated, "Her aunt is ill, so she will be staying at our estate for a short period."

Upon hearing the introduction, Qin Shaojing raised an eyebrow. Du Ruo, sitting across from her, stood up, raised her cup heartily, and said, "Miss Qin, I was abrupt this afternoon. I, Du Ruo, apologize to you. Since we've clashed before we got to know each other, how about we become friends?"

Hearing her bold words, Qin Shaojing remarked, "Friends after a clash? Miss Du is indeed straightforward."

Du Ruo continued, "I speak bluntly and don’t understand all these roundabout ways. Miss Qin, please forgive me."

Before Qin Shaojing could respond, her nanny interjected, "What does she mean by ‘blunt’ and ‘roundabout ways’? Are you suggesting we bullied you?"

"Miss Qin, that's not what I meant," Du Ruo frowned, her gaze shifting from the nanny to Qin Shaojing, "I just think this isn't a big issue, and we can settle it with a drink."

Qin Shaojing's nanny sneered again, "Miss Du, your bold words make it sound like insulting our young miss is something that can just be brushed off with an apology. Are you saying that if Miss Qin doesn't accept your apology, she would be seen as petty?"

"Exactly, you talk straight while we talk in circles. Isn’t that just another way of saying our young miss isn’t as open and honest as you?"

"Lack of manners is just that—lack of manners. A simple ‘I didn’t know the rules, please forgive me’ would do, no need for all the fuss!"

Qin Shaojing's people chimed in one after another.

Speechless, Du Ruo looked helplessly at Lu Lingyun for help.

Lu Lingyun lightly coughed, and the room immediately fell silent. Lu Lingyun then looked at the seated Qin Shaojing, "Shaojing, Du Ruo is Yunshuo's nominal disciple. Yunshuo mentioned that her life has been hard. She lost her mother at a young age, has only two older brothers, and has been living with her aunt for a long time. No one has properly guided her, and she knows she was in the wrong today. For my sake, please forgive her."

With Lu Lingyun speaking on her behalf, Qin Shaojing couldn't refuse. She lifted her eyes and looked at the embarrassed Du Ruo across from her.

"So, Miss Du has had a tough life," Qin Shaojing narrowed her eyes and didn’t take the cup of wine Du Ruo offered, "I won’t drink this, but let’s just put it behind us. Sister-in-law, let's eat."

"Yes, let's eat," Lu Lingyun said, looking at Du Ruo who was still standing.

Feeling even more embarrassed, Du Ruo quaffed the wine in one go, sat down, and began eating quietly with her head lowered.

Qin Shaojing barely touched her food before getting up and leaving.

After she left, Du Ruo sighed. "Young Miss, I mentioned earlier that women can be troublesome to deal with."

Lu Lingyun remained silent.

Du Ruo put down her chopsticks, a look of dissatisfaction on her face. "I'd rather stay at my brother's place; there aren't all these messy issues there. I've never encountered such things in the Commandery Commandant’s Manor."

Each word dripped with disdain.

Lu Lingyun lifted her gaze and spoke, "Then let me ask you, why did you immediately call her a concubine?"

"I thought she was my master's concubine!" Du Ruo replied quickly.

"How did you come to that assumption?" Lu Lingyun put down her chopsticks and met her eyes. "There are no young ladies in the marquis’s residence. Apart from the prince’s concubines, there are maids and servants, and then there’s me, and the lady of the house, and the marquis's concubines. This is a large marquis's residence, and it was your first time in the inner quarters. You didn't recognize anyone, yet you immediately called her a concubine. Do you think that was really appropriate?"

Du Ruo was left speechless, her eyes suddenly darting away from Lu Lingyun’s steady gaze.

Yes, Du Ruo knew calling someone a concubine was not appropriate.

She did it deliberately to flaunt her superiority.

She was relying on her status as Cheng Yunshuo’s only disciple, using this special position to assert her sense of superiority among the women.

She knew there were no young ladies in the marquis's residence, and among the remaining people—whether they were concubines, consorts, or maids—she could find a sense of superiority over them.

Who would have thought she’d run into such a snag?

Lu Lingyun, seeing Du Ruo's evasive gaze, understood her little thoughts.

From the beginning, knowing Du Ruo had always mingled with men, she sensed a hidden pride and smugness in her.

Du Ruo enjoyed being different, praised for her masculine attire among men.

Every word she spoke was meant to belittle other women who followed the rules, lifting her own actions, calling herself forthright, making men take notice, and leaving other women feeling inferior.

She was aware of propriety; in fact, she was too aware of it, because she was maintaining an image of a forthright and quick-spoken person, and if others said anything more, it would seem like they were overthinking.

At that moment, Cheng Yunshuo returned.

Seeing him, Du Ruo immediately ran over. "Master! You're finally back! I really can't stay at your place!"

Hearing this complaint, Lu Lingyun let out a soft amused hum.

This was exactly it—slyly tattling on her.

"What's wrong?" Cheng Yunshuo asked, hearing her complaining tone. "Did someone bully you?"

Cheng Yunshuo looked towards Lu Lingyun.

Lu Lingyun, feeling the spotlight turn to her, couldn't be bothered to engage. She picked up her chopsticks and continued eating. "Let A’Ruo explain it herself."

Du Ruo fidgeted with her sleeve and said, "Master, it's nothing major. I offended your cousin earlier. I apologized, but she didn't seem happy. You know I’m not good with words and may have offended her without realizing it. Perhaps I should just go home."

After listening, Cheng Yunshuo said, "It's nothing serious. I'll mention it to Shaojing. You should just stay here and learn a thing or two from your master's wife."