Chapter 163: Remembering Madam Tong, Lu Lingyun’s Birth Mother

Chapter 163: Remembering Madam Tong, Lu Lingyun's Birth Mother

A hot tea was served before Lu Lingyun. Listening to Madam Liu's words, she slowly took a sip, and with an unhurried tone, she said, "Since Hanyi has suffered such grievances, as her elder sister, I will definitely help her."

"That's right!" Madam Liu's smile grew more sincere upon hearing Lu Lingyun's response. "I knew I didn't misjudge you. Among all the children, you are the most reasonable and considerate!"

After the praise, Lu Lingyun continued calmly, "Mother, I also have something to discuss with you."

Madam Liu immediately became wary. "What is it?"

"My dowry maid, Chunhe, has been assigned to the mansion's procurement. However, when I reviewed my dowry list, I couldn't find their indenture papers?" Lu Lingyun smoothly brought up the issue.

Madam Liu's smile faltered.

"I know you must have been busy with my wedding preparations and overlooked it. I need them now, Mother," Lu Lingyun continued to smile at Madam Liu. "Please give me their indenture papers this time. I will write a letter to Li Er, letting him know that our Hanyi isn't someone to be easily bullied. She has family backing her up!"

Lu Lingyun's words were sincere, subtly reminding Madam Liu that if she didn't provide the indenture papers, she wouldn't support Lu Hanyi.

Madam Liu found herself in a difficult position.

Usually, she might have brushed it off, claiming the indenture papers were hard to locate and would be given later. But now, Lu Lingyun was pressing her for an immediate response.

Whether to give or not.

Lu Lingyun would only support Lu Hanyi if she received the indentures.

Since she had raised the issue, she couldn't now claim indifference to Lu Hanyi.

After all, Lu Hanyi was her only biological daughter.

Meeting Lu Lingyun's smile, she hesitated but eventually gave in.

"I must have overlooked it," she immediately scolded her head housekeeper. "How could you overlook such an important matter! If the eldest miss had to ask for it herself, people might think I was deliberately holding it back!"

"Yes, it was my mistake," the head housekeeper replied.

"Fetch those maids' indenture papers immediately!"

With Lu Lingyun providing a way out, Madam Liu accepted it.

By scolding her head housekeeper, she indirectly apologized to Lu Lingyun, stating it was an oversight, not intentional.

Lu Lingyun sat by, smiling, without exposing the truth.

People need to give each other some face to get along in life.

Shortly after, the head housekeeper returned with a stack of indenture papers.

"Lingyun, please check if everything is correct?"

Lu Lingyun went through each indenture paper, examining them carefully before smiling. "Everything's in order, Mother. I was just unsure how to bring this up. I knew you must have been too busy to recall it."

"Yes, preparing for both your and Hanyi’s weddings was a significant task!" Madam Liu looked back at Lu Lingyun. "And what about your sister’s situation?"

"Leave it to me. I’ll write to Li Er immediately. Our family’s girls must not be bullied by others!"

"Yes!"

Lu Lingyun returned triumphantly, and by sending a letter to Li Er on behalf of Lu Hanyi, she managed to retrieve the indenture contracts of her maidservants.

In truth, given Lu Lingyun's status and position, Madam Liu no longer had the power to control her.

Once Lu Lingyun spoke, Madam Liu had no real choice.

At most, Madam Liu could stall or delay a little, but holding onto those maidservants' indenture contracts was ultimately useless.

Instead, it was better to exchange them for support for her own daughter.

For Lu Lingyun, having the indenture contracts in her hands meant her power and prestige had only grown.

With just a little insignificant effort in terms of writing and saving face, she smoothly retrieved what she wanted from Madam Liu.

In this round, Lu Lingyun came out a clear winner.

As she was about to leave the room, Madam Liu suddenly remembered something, "Lingyun, there's one more matter I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Your cousin Qingping is engaged, isn't she? Your aunt told me that she wants Qingping to go to your mansion to learn some etiquette for a while. Your marquis's mansion is strict and knowledgeable. If she learns more, it will certainly earn her respect when she marries."

It was about Liu Qingping's marriage.

In reality, this wasn't about learning etiquette; it was about adding some prestige. In the future, it could be said that she was taught by the nannies of the Marquis's Mansion. After marrying, Liu Qingping's in-laws would not find fault with her etiquette.

"Alright."

For such a cost-free favor, Lu Lingyun was always willing to oblige.

"Very well, I'll leave these family matters in your hands!"

At this time, Lu Father had also just finished his duties at court. Lu Lingyun stayed for a meal at the Lu residence, where they discussed various other matters, much to Lu Father's satisfaction.

The more he looked, the more he felt that his late wife, Tong Shi, had given birth to the best daughter.

For a moment, he was reminded of his well-educated, gentle, and virtuous late wife.

Lu Lingyun's deceased mother, Tong Shi, had originally been the eldest daughter of the prestigious Tong Family from Jiangnan. At that time, Lu Father had been a poor scholar from a declining family, so impoverished that they couldn't even afford the journey to the capital for the imperial exams. His mother then remembered a verbal marriage arrangement made by his ancestors and suggested he go to the Tong Family to seek assistance.

Naturally, the Tong Family was unwilling to acknowledge the arrangement, especially since the Lu Family had even lost the token.

At that time, he was met with much disdain at the Tong Family and was about to be thrown out when he met Tong Shi. Upon learning of the situation, Tong Shi secretly gave him a substantial amount of money and told him to come back and propose marriage after he succeeded in the imperial exams, no matter how long it took. She promised to wait for him.

After Lu Father passed the imperial exams and became an imperial scholar, he returned to propose, enduring many hardships. However, Tong Shi insisted on fulfilling the marriage agreement, even at the cost of breaking ties with her family. Because of this, after Tong Shi's death from complications during childbirth, the Tong Family never made an appearance, and Lu Lingyun had no relatives from her mother's side.

Looking at the excellent Lu Lingyun, Lu Father felt a pang of sadness. If Tong Shi were still alive, their family might have been even better.

At the very least, their children would have been as trouble-free as Tong Shi.

After Lu Lingyun left, Lu Father remained still for a long time.

Madam Liu hummed indifferently, "Just now, Lingyun said she would write to Li Er because our daughter Hanyi was wronged. Even her sister is standing up for her; as her father, shouldn't you do the same?"

She said this to provoke Lu Father, reminding him that Lu Hanyi's own sister was helping her, yet he, as her father, had not.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, Mr. Lu let out a cold snort. "If the daughter you bore had been half as sensible as Lingyun, she wouldn’t be so useless and stupid! And you still have the audacity to ask Lingyun to write a letter to help her!"

As soon as Mr. Lu finished, he left.

Madam Liu was speechless.

Lu Lingyun returned to the Marquis’s Residence. Upon returning, she casually penned a letter to Li Er.

There was no need to put in much effort; a few casual lines would suffice.

The sun shone lazily, and the inner chambers were tranquil. She leisurely reviewed the account books and watched over the children.

A few days later, Liu Qingping visited her residence.