Chapter 166: Undermining

Chapter 166: Undermining

Du Ruo covered her face and ran back to her Xiaohe Courtyard, feeling aggrieved.

Xiaohe Courtyard was near Lu Lingyun's courtyard, and on the way, Liu Qingping saw her.

"Isn't that Du Ruo? What's the matter with her?"

"I don't know."

"Let’s check it out."

Liu Qingping arrived at Du Ruo's Xiaohe Courtyard.

Du Ruo was crying, feeling aggrieved.

"Du Ruo, what's the matter?"

Hearing the voice, Du Ruo quickly wiped away her tears. She turned her red eyes and saw Liu Qingping entering with her people.

They first met as unmarried ladies, making them old friends.

"Who bullied you? I’ll talk to my elder sister and get her to stand up for you," Liu Qingping said as she approached her.

As she said this, Du Ruo felt a pang of sadness in her heart, feeling utterly alone.

Liu Qingping had her sister, the young mistress of the Marquis’s Mansion, to rely on, and she could always bring her up. But Du Ruo had no one.

"What's wrong with your face? Who hit you?" Liu Qingping noticed the slap mark on Du Ruo's face and exclaimed.

Du Ruo turned her face away. Seeing her hesitation, Liu Qingping couldn’t help but say, "Come on, you can tell me. There’s nothing to hide from me!"

Du Ruo's eyes suddenly lit up as she lowered her eyes. "Qingping, how long will you be staying here?"

"About ten days or so."

"Then can I have meals with you these days?"

"Sure," Liu Qingping agreed without hesitation.

That evening, she took Du Ruo to have dinner at Lu Lingyun's courtyard.

When Lu Lingyun saw Du Ruo come to her place, she was taken aback. Before she could inquire, Liu Qingping spoke up.

"Elder Sister, I’ve invited A’Ruo to join us for meals these days."

Given what Liu Qingping had said, Lu Lingyun naturally wouldn’t say anything. She nodded her approval.

She noticed that Du Ruo was wearing a face covering. "What's wrong with your face?"

"It’s nothing," Du Ruo shook her head.

"She was hit by someone," Liu Qingping said on her behalf.

"Qingping, I'm fine. Don’t make things worse," Du Ruo pulled Liu Qingping.

Lu Lingyun gave Xiaoqin a meaningful glance. "What happened?"

Xiaoqin explained what had happened at the entrance.

Du Ruo and Linglong got into an argument at the door. In a moment of desperation, Du Ruo cursed, which was overheard by Cheng Yunshuo, who immediately slapped her.

After Xiao Qin finished speaking, Du Ruo immediately said, "Young Madam, I was in the wrong. I shouldn't have cursed, and I deserved the slap."

"Aruo, even if you cursed, your brother-in-law shouldn't have hit you like that. It was too much," Liu Qingping said.

Hearing their conversation, Lu Lingjun spoke up, "Alright, let's all sit down and eat."

She did not mention punishing anyone or further pursuing the matter; it was as if nothing had happened.

Since this was Cheng Yunshuo's decision, she did not interfere.

As for Du Ruo, Lu Lingjun gave her a brief glance, saw her sit down to eat, and smiled slightly without saying much more.

Although she didn't say anything, Liu Qingping, filled with a sense of justice, kept serving food to Du Ruo, taking good care of her, and making sure she ate well.

For three consecutive days, Du Ruo and Liu Qingping ate at Lu Lingjun's place.

On the third night, Cheng Yunshuo came.

To avoid any suspicion, he had been trying to visit Lu Lingjun's courtyard less frequently, but since it was his own home, he should check on the children, so he came for dinner tonight.

As soon as he entered, he saw Du Ruo sitting at the table wearing a veil.

Seeing Du Ruo, he paused for a moment. Liu Qingping, unable to hold back, said, "Brother-in-law, you're here. Who are you looking at? Have you forgotten your newly married concubine?"

Her tone carried a hint of reproach, as if she was standing up for Du Ruo.

Cheng Yunshuo's face turned awkward.

Lu Lingjun then said, "You've been busy all day and must be tired. Sit down and eat."

"Okay." Cheng Yunshuo quickly sat down.

At the small round table, Lu Lingjun was seated between Liu Qingping and Du Ruo. Cheng Yunshuo naturally could not sit next to Liu Qingping, so Du Ruo stood up, showing her understanding.

"Your Highness, let me serve you dinner."

"Aruo, just add a stool," Liu Qingping said.

"No, I am a concubine," Du Ruo said, lowering her eyes with a hint of grievance. "As a concubine, I should serve the master and the mistress during meals."

Liu Qingping: "..."

This sounded so awkward.

Du Ruo had been eating with her at Lu Lingjun's place for three days, and she hadn't seen her follow any rules!

Listening from the side, Cheng Yunshuo felt a mix of emotions. "Aruo, sit down. Just like before, you don't need to serve."

"That's not possible," Du Ruo said, half-lowering her eyelids. "Since I married into the marquisate as a concubine, I must follow the rules of a concubine. How can I be the same as before?"

These words made Cheng Yunshuo feel suffocated.

He immediately thought of the old Du Ruo, who was so free and unrestrained. Even when she didn't follow the rules, she was still endearing. But now, she looked like a wronged little wife.

She kept referring to herself as a concubine.

How could Cheng Yunshuo let this pass?

He had brought Du Ruo into the estate to take care of her, not to make her suffer.

At this moment, he noticed the face veil on her face. "Why are you still wearing a veil on your face?"

"Brother-in-law, the mark from your last slap hasn't faded yet!" Liu Qingping spoke up for Du Ruo again.

Du Ruo opened her mouth once more, "Don't worry, Qingping, don't mention it. I'm not so fragile; it will heal soon."

Liu Qingping: "..."

Her words made her feel like she had swallowed a fly. It was unbearable.

Liu Qingping finally realized what was strange about Du Ruo's words today.

What did she mean by telling her to stop talking?

She had been defending her, but Du Ruo didn't appreciate it and even told her to stop interfering.

It made her look like a troublemaker. What kind of person was she?

Cheng Yunshuo, sitting next to them, felt he couldn't continue the meal.

He stood up immediately, "Lingyun, I still have some official matters to handle. Please eat without me. I'll eat later in my room."

As soon as he finished speaking, he left.

Standing beside him, Du Ruo saw him leave and followed, "I won't eat anymore either."

After Du Ruo left with Cheng Yunshuo, Liu Qingping angrily slammed down her chopsticks, "What does Du Ruo mean! I've been supporting her, but she keeps undermining me! She made me look like a fool. She took all the credit for being the good person, while I'm left being the bad one!"

Sitting in the main seat, Lu Lingyun sipped some hot soup and smiled lightly, "You're only figuring this out now?"

"Big Sister!" Liu Qingping widened her eyes in shock, "Was Du Ruo planning all along?"

Lu Lingyun lightly smiled, "Just see how long she's been wearing that veil."

Liu Qingping finally understood.

Liu Qingping wasn't stupid. She had unconsciously treated Du Ruo as a friend, and since they had no conflicts of interest, she hadn't been cautious and had helped her.

Du Ruo had only asked if she could eat with her, which was no issue for her.

Who would have thought that Du Ruo's real goal wasn't to join Lingyun's table, but to meet Cheng Yunshuo while eating here!