Chapter 152: It’s All Fake Concern for My Own Good

Chapter 152: It's All Fake Concern for My Own Good

Lu Lingyun suddenly became wary when she heard Cheng Yunshuo ask that question.

She turned her head and looked at Cheng Yunshuo, who appeared serious and had a serious expression on his face, knowing exactly what he was planning.

"I'm just fourteen this year," Lu Kuan replied honestly.

At that moment, they heard Lu Lingyun sip her tea and say, "Ah Kuan, you're still young. You must prioritize your studies and not indulge in play or let your mind wander to other things."

"Yes!" Lu Kuan replied earnestly.

As Cheng Yunshuo listened to the exchange between Lu Lingyun and Lu Kuan, he had been about to suggest introducing Du Ruo to Lu Kuan, but now he was speechless.

He was straightforward and didn't have many tricks up his sleeve, and he didn't realize that Lu Lingyun's words were a subtle rejection.

Telling others that Lu Kuan was still young and not to think about him.

With the topic changed, Cheng Yunshuo directly asked, "Even though you're young, some important matters can be decided in advance. What if I introduce you to a marriage prospect?"

Lu Lingyun: "..."

Lu Lingyun was exasperated by this straightforward and stubborn husband.

He had no tact or perceptiveness at all, and when something was on his mind, he had to act on it!

Both Lady Qin and the old Marquis were known to be shrewd, so how could they have produced such a dull and straightforward Cheng Yunshuo?

Cheng Yunshuo, who had been working hard for Du Ruo's sake, was busy running around. Du Ruo, who had been listening, suddenly put on a sullen face and said, "I won't marry him!"

Her words drew everyone's attention, and they all looked at Du Ruo.

Du Ruo, with a puffed-up expression, glared at them. "Are you really doing this for my benefit?"

Cheng Yunshuo frowned and said seriously, "How are we not doing this for your benefit? Ah Kuan is excellent. He passed the imperial examination at a young age, and his family background is well-known through Shiniang’s connections. He's an excellent match!"

Hearing that it was Shiniang’s family, Du Ruo sneered even more. "My Shiniang’s cousin’s son married the only son of the Chief of the Imperial Kitchen. He's already passed the provincial examination, and you want me to marry someone who just passed the entry-level examination? And he's so young—how long am I supposed to wait?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I look down on him!" Du Ruo blurted out her true feelings. "You're all pretending to do this for my benefit!"

Lu Lingyun: "..."

Well, she didn’t even win over her own brother.

After saying that, Du Ruo ran out of the courtyard.

Everyone else in the courtyard was left embarrassed.

Especially Lu Kuan, who was bewildered.

He watched Du Ruo run away, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Ah Kuan, don't take it to heart. It's your sister and I who were meddling," Lu Lingyun quickly comforted him.

At this point, Cheng Yunshuo was speechless, feeling frustrated as Du Ruo had run off.

Lu Lingyun said a few more things, encouraging Lu Kuan, knowing he had afternoon lessons, and then had the servants escort him out.

Privately, he gave Lu Kuan some silver to spend.

After Lu Kuan left, Lu Lingyun looked at Cheng Yunshuo. Before she could speak, Cheng Yunshuo slammed his hand on the table in frustration. "How can that girl be like this!"

"Like what?" Lu Lingyun said with a faint smile on her brow. "The young lady is in her prime and should carefully and seriously choose a suitable husband."

"But she can't be this picky! This one isn’t good enough, that one isn’t good enough, and she even blames us for not genuinely caring about her!"

Cheng Yunshuo felt frustrated, experiencing what it truly meant to be unappreciated despite his efforts.

Time and again, from disciplining her to finding her a husband, Cheng Yunshuo had been frustrated all along.

Enough is enough; he was truly fed up.

Seeing Cheng Yunshuo’s frustration, Lu Lingyun felt secretly satisfied. "I told you not to take on other people’s matters. Now you know some things shouldn't be rashly agreed to."

Cheng Yunshuo sighed deeply, "I’ll never take on such idle tasks again!"

After his frustration, the matter still needed resolving since he had promised to do his utmost.

He then begged Lu Lingyun again, asking her to help him persuade A'Ruo to marry. She definitely had to marry someone.

And now, given the situation, the groom will be one of those selected for her over the past two days. There were no other options.

If A’Ruo is unwilling, then her two elder brothers will make the final decision, and she won’t even have a choice in the matter.

Since A’Ruo can’t stay at their home forever, the Du family needed to settle her affairs.

After listening to Cheng Yunshuo, Lu Lingyun understood everyone’s thoughts. Despite Cheng Yunshuo’s persistent pleading, she finally agreed to make one last attempt at persuasion.

In the afternoon, she went to Xiaohe Courtyard.

"What is A’Ruo doing?"

"Young mistress, Miss A’Ruo is sulking in her room."

"I’ll go take a look."

Lu Lingyun walked to the door and knocked on A'Ruo's door.

The door opened from the inside, and A'Ruo looked left and right at the people outside. Her first words were, “Where is Master?”

Lu Lingyun: "..."

She had expected Cheng Yunshuo to come and comfort her.

After all, it had always been Cheng Yunshuo before.

"So, you only want to see your master and don’t care about anyone else?" Lu Lingyun said.

Upon hearing this, A’Ruo’s expression tightened, but she didn’t say anything. Reluctantly, she stepped aside and let Lu Lingyun in.

Once inside, Lu Lingyun sat down and got straight to the point. "A’Ruo, do you really think we’re harming you?"

"Hmph!” A'Ruo turned her head away, a disdainful sneer on her face.

"Your brothers and Master have already discussed this. This time, they are determined to marry you off."

"And you say you’re not harming me!"

Du Ruo was furious, stood up, and shouted at Lu Lingyun, her eyes blazing with fury.

A cold voice responded.

"That’s right, you are a burden."

Lu Lingyun lifted her gaze, her eyes cold and indifferent. "You are fourteen now and no longer a child who needs to be cared for. But what skills do you have to make a living? Or any family wealth to support you in this world?"

Du Ruo was stunned upon hearing this.

"You need food and daily expenses every day. Do these silver coins just appear out of nowhere and are given to you without reason? Without going into the distant past, even while living in the Marquis’s Mansion, you require daily expenses. Who provides for you? Have you ever contributed a single penny?"

Du Ruo, under the questioning, took a few deep breaths. "My brother and aunt will give you money!"

Lu Lingyun sneered. "Your aunt gave me a valuable hairpin, so... how can you spend their money while cursing and resenting them?"

"Miss A'Ruo, if you had the means and strength to stand on your own in this world, you could live as you wish. If your brothers and aunt then forced you to marry an ordinary person, I would be the first to speak up for you. But you have no means or strength at all, not even enough to sustain yourself. Isn’t this a burden? What else would it be?"

"As a burden, shouldn’t you first blame yourself for your incompetence?"