Chapter 159: The Prince Consort Stayed at Lady Ling’s Place

Chapter 159: The Prince Consort Stayed at Lady Ling's Place

Even when taking a concubine, it usually involves the gift list from the man’s family.

The Du family directly presented the dowry list.

"This time, A'Ruo’s brothers have put up their savings to marry her off. They have given A'Ruo two shops, a manor, and two hundred acres of land as her dowry."

"As for the betrothal gifts, the Du family stated that the Marquis’s Mansion does not need to contribute anything."

Lady Wang thrust the dowry list into Lu Lingyun’s hands.

From ancient times until now, it’s rare to see a family that not only refrains from asking for betrothal gifts but also brings a generous dowry and eagerly agrees to become a concubine.

The Du family has truly gone to great lengths and lost face for A'Ruo’s sake.

All they hoped was that Lu Lingyun would, out of respect for the Du family’s sincerity, treat A'Ruo kindly in the future.

Lu Lingyun looked at the listed dowry and couldn't help but say, "A'Ruo has a good family backing her."

"Who wouldn't agree?" said Lady Wang, who then began to vent, "That girl A'Ruo is really heartless and brainless! Her brothers treat her so well, and her aunt dotes on her, having chosen a fine and proper marriage for her, yet she still causes trouble!"

"All day long, she acts as if she owns the world, causing chaos and behaving without any rules! She looks down on this and that."

"Does she even know who she is worthy of? Guard Yu doesn’t know about this yet, and if he did, would he even want her? A fine marriage, the position of a proper wife, and she refused to take it. Now, she’s eager to be a concubine! Do you know what she said?"

Lu Lingyun: "......What did she say?"

"A'Ruo said she was willing to marry her master, even if it meant being a concubine." Lady Wang mimicked A'Ruo's tone with a look of disgust. "And she was even happy about it! Not a hint of reluctance. When we introduced her to a proper wife position last time, she kept rejecting it. But for being a concubine, she is eager! There will come a time when she regrets it! Let her be worn down by the main wife!"

Lu Lingyun: "......"

After saying the last sentence, Lady Wang remembered that Lu Lingyun would be A'Ruo’s main wife in the future, and she quickly added, "Sister Lu, I’m not talking about you. You’re a rare and kind-hearted main wife, definitely not the type to wear someone down, but these days, concubines are just not as good as proper wives! How could she be so eager to be a concubine?"

"I understand." Lu Lingyun smiled faintly.

"Sigh! I’m done with that girl. If she wants to be a concubine, let her be. It’s all her own doing! She will live a hard life in the future! No one will care for her anymore!" Lady Wang was frustrated.

Three days later.

An auspicious day.

Lu Lingyun sent the concubine betrothal gifts to the Du family, who said they didn't want any, but it was necessary to give them anyway.

A'Ruo entered the Marquis’s Mansion as a prestigious concubine. The betrothal gifts sent to her, along with her dowry and herself, all entered through the side gate in the evening, carried in by a small sedan chair.

The Du family, finding it shameful, didn’t even hold a concubine wedding banquet, nor was there any fanfare or grand send-off.

She was sent into the Marquis’s Mansion in a low-key and disgraceful manner.

Though there was no concubine wedding ceremony, the tea ceremony still took place.

Cheng Yunshuo and Lu Lingyun sat in the main seats, together drinking a formal concubine tea.

Dressed in peach-colored wedding clothes, A'Ruo, now accepted into the household, responded with, "Yes, Shiniang." under her crimson veil.

Lu Lingyun's face turned cold. "Concubine Du, from now on, you must call me Young Mistress."

Concubine Du paused for a moment, then re-offered the tea. "Yes, Young Mistress."

Lu Lingyun accepted the tea and gave Frost Red a glance, who then handed a red envelope to Concubine Du.

Concubine Du accepted the envelope and immediately offered tea to Cheng Yunshuo.

Cheng Yunshuo didn't know what to say; he felt uneasy. After a moment, he said, "A'Ruo, you need to be more sensible from now on."

"Yes, Master... I mean, Young Master."

Just as she was about to call him Master, the veil over her head quickly shifted her tone, showing she still had some memory left by calling him Young Master.

Cheng Yunshuo also accepted her concubine tea.

After the two red envelopes were given and the tea was drunk, the ceremony was concluded, and Concubine Du was led away.

She was assigned to Xiaohe Courtyard, which had now become the concubine’s quarters.

After Concubine Du left, Cheng Yunshuo remained still for a long time.

Lu Lingyun glanced at him. "Today is the Young Master's great joy. Aren't you going to the concubine's quarters?"

Cheng Yunshuo's face turned red. "Lingyun, don't make fun of me."

Cheng Yunshuo didn't like Concubine Du.

Or rather, his feelings for Concubine Du were like that of a younger sister. Even during the time when Xing Dairong misunderstood him, his heart hadn't wavered, nor did he have any other intentions toward her.

This time, it was purely due to an emergency, and the Du family had no options, so he brought Concubine Du into the estate to provide her a way out.

He had never harbored any romantic feelings for her.

Now that Concubine Du had suddenly become his concubine, he didn't know how to handle the situation.

Lu Lingyun looked at Cheng Yunshuo's embarrassed face and hummed softly. "Then on this wedding night, Young Master, don't stay in my quarters, don't make me the target of complaints!"

Lately, Cheng Yunshuo had often stayed in Lu Lingyun's courtyard. He didn't share the same room with her; they just talked and took care of the children together.

In Lu Lingyun's presence, he always felt peace.

He didn't want to return alone.

Hearing this, after a moment of internal struggle, Cheng Yunshuo left.

That night, in Xiaohe Courtyard, Concubine Du sat quietly on the wedding bed. She was unusually composed, sitting demurely on the edge of the bed.

Under the peach-colored veil, her pretty face was flushed.

For her, after going through all the suffering, it had unexpectedly turned into something good.

She never imagined she would have the opportunity to marry Cheng Yunshuo!

The moment she realized she was going to marry Cheng Yunshuo, all the humiliation and pain faded, and she even felt that perhaps it was a blessing from heaven.

She heard her aunt’s brothers speak to her with serious faces, telling her that she could only be a concubine from now on.

In her eyes, being a concubine to Cheng Yunshuo was much better than being a wife to that Imperial Guard Yu!

She was thrilled with it!

Just as Du Ruo was feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation inside, she heard the door open.

"Master..." Du Ruo, adopting a different tone, spoke in a coquettish and flirtatious tone, "I've been waiting for you. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this? Even as a concubine, marrying you is enough for me."

Xiaoqin, who had pushed the door open, said, "It’s me, Concubine Du."

Du Ruo: "..."

Amid the awkward silence, Xiaoqin continued, "Concubine Du, you should lift the veil yourself. The Crown Prince has returned to the Yaoguang Pavilion and is staying with Concubine Ling."

Du Ruo: "!!!"

On the wedding night, Cheng Yunshuo returned to the Yaoguang Pavilion and stayed with Concubine Ling.