Chapter 142: To Avoid Her Speaking Bluntly and Taking Advantage

Chapter 142: To Avoid Her Speaking Bluntly and Taking Advantage

Lu Lingyun looked at Du Ruo’s expression, understanding her without pointing it out.

She stood up and declared in a loud and clear voice, “Miss Du Ruo, you don’t like managing accounts or doing embroidery, so I won’t force you. But since you are staying at the Marquis's Mansion, you need to follow its rules. Today’s incident was due to your behavior. Given that you are a guest, I will not penalize you this time. However, if this happens again, I will inform the Heir. I hope you will be more careful with your words and actions in the future.”

After finishing her words, Lu Lingyun left.

There was no need to reveal her thoughts, but rules needed to be established.

Since Du Ruo was a guest, she forgave her this time, but next time, she wouldn’t let her off so easily.

Informing the Heir would mean her expulsion.

In her courtyard, rules had to be followed. If someone repeatedly broke them, they would be asked to leave!

Upon hearing Lu Lingyun’s stern words, Du Ruo’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment once more.

If there was a next time, she would actually be expelled.

For all these years of her willfulness, she had never been treated this way before.

Her brothers pampered her, her brothers' friends spoiled her, and even her paternal aunt wouldn’t expel her for such behavior...

For a moment, a sense of grievance, frustration, shame, and resentment rose in Du Ruo’s heart, along with the panic of being reprimanded.

She realized that in Lu Lingyun’s inner chambers, she had no special privileges, and no one indulged her.

In any case, she restrained herself.

In the evening, when Cheng Yunshuo returned, he noticed that Du Ruo was unusually quiet today.

It was a stark contrast to her usual self, who would chatter non-stop as soon as she returned.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.

Du Ruo lowered her head and ate, then glanced at Cheng Yunshuo, “Nothing.”

Though Du Ruo said nothing, her tone conveyed her grievance.

"What’s going on!" Cheng Yunshuo immediately looked at Lu Lingyun.

Before Lu Lingyun could say anything, Du Ruo quickly said, "It has nothing to do with Madam. Master, don't get mad at Madam."

Lu Lingyun paused her chopsticks mid-meal.

Du Ruo continued, "Master, am I being a nuisance?"

"What do you mean?"

"I’m always so careless, not following the rules, acting like a guy, and always offending people without realizing it."

Listening to Du Ruo’s self-reflection, Cheng Yunshuo thought for a moment. "A'Ruo, you’re fine just the way you are."

Hearing this, Du Ruo’s eyes sparkled anew. "Master, you’re right."

Lu Lingyun watched the exchange between them, blinking occasionally.

Finally, she chuckled and resumed her meal.

After the meal, today Du Ruo didn’t cling to Cheng Yunshuo as she usually did. She only spoke to him during the meal and then left.

After finishing, Cheng Yunshuo accompanied Lu Lingyun to the inner room to see the children.

"Lingyun, you must have been tired from looking after the children and A'Ruo these past few days."

Lu Lingyun raised her eyebrow slightly. "Why do you say that, Crown Prince?"

Cheng Yunshuo had caused her plenty of trouble without ever mentioning it to her.

His words seemed to carry more weight.

Sure enough, Cheng Yunshuo continued, "Today, A'Ruo’s brother came to me and asked me to find her a suitable match."

Lu Lingyun raised an eyebrow, a rare hint of frustration showing. "Crown Prince, you’re really putting me in a tough position."

Having A'Ruo stay at the estate was one thing, but finding her a match is really asking too much.

"Is A'Ruo misbehaving?"

"Acting as a go-between is inherently a thankless task. Besides, Miss Du Ruo’s temperament is well known to you. If I don't handle it well, she might hold a grudge against me for life!" Lu Lingyun firmly declined Cheng Yunshuo.

She had always avoided trouble and refrained from meddling in others' affairs.

When Lady Qin asked her to take an interest in Qin Shaojing's marriage, she merely contributed to the dowry, waiting for either Lady Qin or Qin Shaojing to show interest before she would mediate as befitting a sister-in-law.

To ask her to arrange Du Ruo's marriage was unthinkable.

"Lingyun, no one will blame you."

"Ha!" Lu Lingyun snorted coldly, "Prince, you're a man. You have no idea how important marriage is to a woman. If it goes wrong, it could ruin her entire life. Being an outsider, if I arrange a marriage and they end up unhappy, won't they resent me and blame me?"

Cheng Yunshuo found her reasoning sound.

"I’ll speak with her brother tomorrow."

The next day, Cheng Yunshuo continued his duties as usual.

Du Ruo was much more compliant in Lu Lingyun's courtyard.

It was highly unusual for her to remain in Lu Lingyun's courtyard, playing with Go stones alone.

In the morning, someone from the Lu family came to Lu Lingyun's place.

"What is it, then?"

"Young Miss, Madam has invited you to a Hairpin Banquet in a few days."

"Oh? Who else will be there?"

"The two Misses Liu, and your aunt."

Lu Lingyun immediately understood.

This wasn't just any Hairpin Banquet or flower-viewing event. It was an occasion where noblewomen looked for potential daughters-in-law, and young ladies scouted for potential husbands.

Lu Lingyun herself had been betrothed during last year's spring banquet.

Hearing that it was Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang, the sisters, she knew that this year was their turn to be the focus.

The Liu family, along with Lady Liu, should be in charge of selecting husbands for them.

And asking me to go along is naturally to provide them with some support.

Lu Lingyun took a sip of her hot tea, "Go back and tell Mother that I will attend the banquet on time."

"Yes, Miss!"

Satisfied, the Lu family members left.

Nowadays, families need to support each other. A single tree does not make a forest, and a single thread does not make a rope. Families help one another, and together they can better withstand hardships.

If Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang marry well, it will also benefit her.

Moreover, she did not find the two sisters disagreeable.

She was happy to provide such support.

In the evening, Cheng Yunshuo returned.

After a boring day, Du Ruo wanted to chat but was told to go to bed early by Cheng Yunshuo.

"You should go to bed early and not stay up so late."

"Master, I've been bored all day. Now that you’re back, I finally have someone to talk to."

Frowning, Cheng Yunshuo asked, "Isn't your Shiniang here?"

"But Shiniang is very busy. She has to review the accounts and manage the household. I don’t understand any of it."

Cheng Yunshuo looked stern, "If you don’t understand, why haven’t you learned from her?"

"I offered to teach her, but she refused to learn," Lu Lingyun rarely interjected.

She glanced at Du Ruo and quickly shifted the blame, lest the girl’s ‘blunt words’ stick to her.

Du Ruo: "..."

As expected, after hearing Lu Lingyun’s words, Cheng Yunshuo became even sterner, "Du Ruo, you're not young anymore. Your two elder brothers are constantly worried about you. They say no one has taught you etiquette or how to manage a household. Here at my house, you have a rare opportunity. If you don’t learn now, what are you waiting for?"

Feeling extremely reluctant, Du Ruo pouted and said, "Master!"