Chapter 160: Life as a Concubine

Chapter 160: Life as a Concubine

Ling Long was taken as a concubine two days before Du Ruo entered the household.

However, she hadn’t been assigned a separate courtyard yet.

Du Ruo was stunned when Xiaoqin told her this.

From what she knew, there were several concubines in Cheng Yunshuo’s household. In her memory, her master had exclusively loved the courtesan Xing Dairong from the brothel.

He didn’t love any other woman.

Cheng Yunshuo had personally told her this before.

During the days Cheng Yunshuo stayed at her house, he had been melancholic every day. She knew he was lovesick, and that was when she became infatuated with him.

She thought Cheng Yunshuo was a rare, deeply devoted man of his time.

She was angry that Xing Dairong hadn’t cherished such a good man, forcing him away. If Cheng Yunshuo had loved her, she couldn’t imagine how happy she would be. She would have clung to him tightly and never let him get hurt!

When she later learned that Xing Dairong had died from difficult childbirth, she felt an immense satisfaction, as if she had finally gotten her revenge.

But now, the night of the red candles had passed.

On the day Du Ruo entered the household, she felt the disparity between her expectations and reality.

Why was it so different from what she had imagined!

The next morning, at breakfast time.

Du Ruo went to Lu Lingyun’s courtyard.

Cheng Yunshuo was having breakfast in Lu Lingyun’s courtyard.

Upon entering, Du Ruo gave him a resentful stare.

Cheng Yunshuo paid no attention to her gaze and continued eating, casually remarking, “A’Ruo is here too.”

Du Ruo’s resentment grew.

Lu Lingyun, sitting nearby, observed everything.

“I’m here, Master... ah, Young Master,” Du Ruo said through clenched teeth.

Noticing the change in address, Cheng Yunshuo remembered that Du Ruo was now his concubine.

Cheng Yunshuo looked up and, seeing Du Ruo’s expression, belatedly realized that since he hadn’t visited her the previous night, she might be feeling dissatisfied.

But how could he explain or console her?

He was completely unprepared.

Bringing Du Ruo in as a concubine had been purely out of necessity. He still hadn’t changed his attitude toward her.

Meeting Du Ruo’s deep, intense gaze and seeing her about to speak, Cheng Yunshuo set down his chopsticks and said, “I have to go on duty. You all continue eating.”

With that, he fled.

Watching Cheng Yunshuo flee, Du Ruo felt even angrier.

Sitting next to them, Lu Lingyun found the scene entertaining.

Cheng Yunshuo was responsible, but he was immature.

The promises he made never aligned with what others expected.

He thought he had fulfilled them, but in reality, they were always things that disappointed others.

Having expectations of him was bound to lead to disappointment.

Lu Lingyun, seeing the new unhappy couple, raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Concubine Du came so early, is it to pay respects?"

Du Ruo, harboring a sense of grievance, replied, "Yes."

As she was about to sit down, she heard Madam Wan's stern reprimand.

"Concubine Du, did the young mistress allow you to sit? How can you be so disrespectful!"

Du Ruo used to just sit down and eat as soon as she arrived.

She had learned some rules and etiquette, but those were according to the lady's standards.

Back then, she was treated almost like a young miss in the Marquis's residence.

But now, she was a concubine.

"From now on, when you come here, only if the main wife allows you to sit can you sit! During meal times, as a concubine, you should stand by and serve the main wife and lord. How can you just sit down so casually!"

Lu Lingyun said nothing, sipping her hot soup, letting Madam Wan teach Du Ruo a lesson.

Du Ruo stood there awkwardly, being sharply reprimanded, while she looked at the calmly seated Lu Lingyun.

Only after Madam Wan finished explaining the rules did Lu Lingyun put down her soup bowl, looking at her indifferently and asking just four words, "Have you understood?"

As the main wife, despite her good temper, the core dignity and rules must not be compromised.

Today, she needed to make it clear to Du Ruo that a concubine was just a concubine.

Once a woman became a concubine, in her presence, she would be half a servant.

Du Ruo, meeting Lu Lingyun's indifferent yet authoritative gaze, tightened her hand under her sleeve, "I understand."

"In front of the young mistress, you should refer to yourself as 'servant'."

Du Ruo's eyes widened immediately. She looked up at Lu Lingyun, her eyes wide in silence for a few breaths before she gritted her teeth and replied, "Servant understands."

On the first morning after entering the household, Du Ruo finally understood what it meant to be a concubine, and the reason her aunt and brothers had looked so serious, helpless, and resentful back then.

Being a concubine was far different from being the main wife.

She now realized that the three potential marriages her aunt and brothers had planned for her were well-meaning.

None of them were intended to harm her!

At the very least, she would have been a main wife.

She had pushed herself onto the path of becoming a concubine, placing herself in a lower position as soon as she entered the household.

However, however... Duan Ruo couldn't accept it!

The indignation in her heart churned for a long time, and finally, she thought of someone.

If she must be a concubine, then so be it!

Who says being a concubine is bad? As long as she could win Cheng Yunshuo's heart, she could be a respected concubine!

Didn't Xing Dairong do the same? In the inner quarters, she had everything she wanted. Even Lu Lingyun had to yield to her.

She would become the next Xing Dairong, making Cheng Yunshuo dote on her.

And she would do an even better job than Xing Dairong!

At that moment, Duan Ruo suppressed her grievances and resentment, her eyes filled with determination. As Lu Lingyun allowed her to rise, she regained her composure.

She put aside all the anger she felt towards Cheng Yunshuo.

"If there's nothing else, you can return. I don’t require the concubines to pay their respects or serve meals in my chambers. You can dine in your own courtyard," Lu Lingyun said, letting Duan Ruo go since she had been quite obedient.

She generally didn’t overly control or mistreat the women in the inner quarters. As long as they were obedient, she had no need for excessive rules.

Duan Ruo, hearing this, bowed respectfully, "This servant will take her leave."

After Duan Ruo left, Chun Xing, attending by Lu Lingyun's side, said, "Young Mistress, you are truly too kind. If it were me, I’d say Concubine Duan is a troublemaker. Did you see the look she had when she left? It was just like Concubine Xing used to be!"

"I agree. Her look is very similar to Concubine Xing’s, especially when she looks at the Crown Prince!" Chun He said.

"Yes, I thought the same. Like sticky rice cakes, clingy and stringy," Shuang Hong added.

Lu Lingyun couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Young Mistress, what are you laughing about?" Chun He asked, a bit anxious. "Concubine Duan is definitely trying to seduce the Crown Prince. Our inner quarters have been peaceful for so long, and the Crown Prince has been staying in our courtyard recently. If Concubine Duan steals his heart, it will be a disaster!"

Lu Lingyun’s gaze gently turned to Chun He and Chun Xing. "Chun He, Chun Xing, you’ve been with me for a year now. You are also the oldest among my dowry maids. I can’t keep you by my side forever; keeping you too long would delay your future prospects. I’ll take this opportunity to ask you, would you like to serve the Crown Prince?"