Chapter 158: Making Du Ruo a Concubine

Chapter 158: Making Du Ruo a Concubine

The door was forced open.

Leading the way was Lu Lingyun.

Followed by Cheng Yunshuo and Du Ruo’s two brothers.

"A'Ruo!"

"A'Ruo!"

The terrified Du Ruo, upon seeing the people rush in, dodged the group led by Lu Lingyun and, amidst the crowd, threw herself into Cheng Yunshuo's arms, sobbing hysterically.

"Master, I'm so relieved you're here!"

Lu Lingyun: "..."

Qian Heng and the others were severely beaten by Du Ruo's brothers and the men they brought with them.

Seeing that their sister was almost violated by these four, Du Ruo's brothers were filled with rage, their teeth grinding in hatred. They beat them until they screamed in pain, and when the four men finally issued threats:

"If you keep beating us, you'll be courting death!"

"Stop hitting us! If you touch us again, our family will make sure all three of you die!"

"Do you really think your sister is pure?"

"She was the one who offered to drink with us voluntarily!"

"How dare you say that!" Du Tai, furious, drew his sword, ready to strike them down.

Du Yang, seeing the blade flash, finally restrained him. "Forget it, just let it go."

"But, Brother! These scoundrels almost violated A'Ruo!"

"Enough!" Du Yang said coldly and angrily.

There was no point in arguing anymore.

Not only were they all colleagues in the Imperial Guard, but Qian Heng and the others came from more prestigious families. They couldn't do anything about them.

If things escalated, they and Du Ruo would suffer. They didn't even dare to report it to the authorities. They were just thankful they arrived in time and nothing major happened. A beating to vent their anger was sufficient.

"Aren't you going to get out of here!" Du Yang said angrily.

Qian Heng and the others, each beaten to a pulp, with bruised faces and covered in ash, hastily left the place.

Throughout, Du Ruo clung tightly to Cheng Yunshuo's clothes, crying so hard she could hardly catch her breath.

After dealing with Qian Heng and the others, Du Yang, with a furrowed brow, looked at his sister.

"Come back with me right now!"

"Waaa, Master..." Du Ruo clung to Cheng Yunshuo's collar with a death grip.

Seeing this, Cheng Yunshuo said, "Forget it, I'll go back with you,"

He glanced at Lu Lingyun standing nearby. "Lingyun, you take the others back to the mansion first. I'll return later."

"Okay."

Lu Lingyun glanced at Du Ruo, who was sobbing uncontrollably, and left with her entourage.

After getting on the carriage, Xiaoqin furrowed her brow and said, "It's over, it's over."

Xiaoqin had been taking care of Du Ruo during this time and had come out to look for her when Du Ruo went missing.

"What do you mean by 'over'?" Shuang Hong asked.

"A'Ruo's reputation is certainly ruined!" Xiaoqin said with a worried look.

Du Ruo is not like Xing Dairong. She is a genuine official’s daughter. Even if Lu Lingyun didn’t suppress the matter, there would be no reputation left to damage for Xing Dairong, who ran away with someone.

She never had to care about reputation in the first place.

But Du Ruo isn’t married yet. After this incident, she is doomed.

"Pah! In my opinion, she deserves it!" Chunhe said with contempt in her eyes. "Isn't she always shouting about how great men are, and how comfortable she feels around men? This time, let her enjoy it to her heart’s content!"

"Yes, a respectable woman wouldn’t act like her. If she doesn’t care about her own reputation, why should anyone care for her?"

"Enough, stop talking." Lu Lingyun interrupted the little maids.

She gazed deeply out of the carriage, lifting the curtain to see Du Ruo, who was wrapped in thick clothes and being carried out by Cheng Yunshuo. Her eyes already held a sense of resolve.

She remained calm, didn’t even sigh, and let the curtain drop.

That night, Cheng Yunshuo did not return.

The next evening, Cheng Yunshuo returned after completing his duties.

When he returned, he said to Lu Lingyun, "Lingyun, I plan to take A'Ruo as my concubine."

The previous night, after Cheng Yunshuo sent Du Ruo back and was about to leave, he was stopped by Du Ruo's critically ill aunt.

Du Ruo’s aunt pleaded with him to take Du Ruo as a concubine.

After this incident, Du Ruo has no other options!

This matter cannot be covered up, and even if it could, they wouldn’t dare marry Du Ruo to Yu the Imperial Guard.

If Yu the Imperial Guard found out, he would definitely seek revenge.

At best, Du Ruo won’t have a good life; at worst, she might be divorced, and the two families would become sworn enemies.

Du Ruo’s aunt, lying on her sickbed, spat out two mouthfuls of blood and, seeing that Cheng Yunshuo was about to leave, struggled to rise from her sickbed to beg him.

"Even as a concubine, it’s better than nothing!"

At this critical moment, the Du family couldn’t care about anything else.

All night long, the Du family begged him.

Lu Lingyun responded to Cheng Yunshuo's words with a noncommittal "Hmm."

She had been prepared for this since she saw that scene yesterday.

Sure enough, he went to take responsibility for Du Ruo.

"Lingyun, do you agree?"

"Since the Prince has already agreed, what else is there for me to agree or disagree?"

It's just another concubine entering the household.

Lu Lingyun never cared about who was in Cheng Yunshuo's harem, as long as everything was peaceful in her territory.

"Lingyun..." But this attitude of Lu Lingyun's moved Cheng Yunshuo greatly.

Looking at the ever calm and composed Lu Lingyun, his respect for her deepened even more.

"Only you can manage this household. No one else can."

Lu Lingyun: "..."

With a slight raise of her eyebrows, she said, "But if you're taking a new concubine, shouldn't we elevate Ling Long’s status?"

Currently, there were only Qiu Ling and Ling Long in Cheng Yunshuo's harem.

Qiu Ling had damaged her health after childbirth and could no longer serve him, and Ling Long still had no official title.

If Du Ruo entered the household, it wouldn’t be fair to let her dominate alone.

That girl was quite manipulative, and since she was coming into her household, she should be put in her place.

Cheng Yunshuo thought for a moment and nodded, "Handle it as you see fit."

"Alright."

The next day, Lady Wang visited Lu Lingyun again.

This time, she felt reluctant to come.

"Sigh! This time, I really didn't want to come. That girl Du Ruo has truly embarrassed us, but her aunt’s condition has worsened and she can't even get out of bed. After much begging, she pleaded with me to come."

"Sister Wang, no need to feel so embarrassed," Lu Lingyun said with a smile, "We sisters should speak frankly. Nothing else matters between us."

Hearing this, the embarrassment on Lady Wang's face faded. She looked at the remarkably considerate and generous Lu Lingyun gratefully, "Sister Lu, you are the most magnanimous main wife I’ve ever known!"

"Alright, no need for compliments." Lu Lingyun pulled Lady Wang to sit down, "Let’s discuss the important matter. Should we set the date, or should Du Ruo’s family?"

Lady Wang had come this time to arrange the details of Du Ruo entering the household.

"You decide!" Lady Wang's face was still flushed. She took out a scroll from her person, "Here is Du Ruo’s dowry list."