Chapter 169: Not Allowed to Punish A’Ruo

Chapter 169: Not Allowed to Punish A'Ruo

"She wants to save face, so she gives a broken teacup!" Liu Qingping widened her eyes. "This thing is only worth a few coins; it can’t compare to the people and money she’s asking for from you, Elder Sister."

"The item may not be worth much, but this face is something she can’t afford to lose."

Qin Shaojing is the eldest miss of the Duke’s estate. Her status is there.

She has to maintain her dignity.

She keeps asking for things from you, relying on Lady Qin’s reputation. Once or twice is fine, but after too many times, she can’t afford to lose face. Letting outsiders know would only make her a laughing stock.

However, she doesn’t have anything else to exchange.

So she uses some of the items she brought with her, those that are said to be valuable but are actually just rare and not truly precious, to trade.

She wants to save face and keep her dignity.

Liu Qingping understood. Now she knew why she found Qin Shaojing strange.

It’s because she’s poor but still tries to maintain her dignity! Putting on that noble act, really thinking she’s someone important!

"I think it would be better if she just straightforwardly asked you for what she needed! If she’s poor, then so be it. Being poor but still putting on airs in front of Elder Sister is really boring."

"She is, after all, the eldest miss of the Duke’s estate. Being able to open her mouth and think of giving something in exchange already means she’s lowered her head. To strip her of her dignity again would be like killing her!" Lu Lingyun said with a smile.

Liu Qingping pouted, her eyes lit up as she added, "Besides, as a guest, how does she have the nerve to meddle in the affairs of your concubines, Elder Sister?"

"Just now, she acted like Concubine Du was lording it over the other concubines, as if she were speaking on your behalf, Elder Sister. But what does that have to do with her?" Liu Qingping had grown wiser. In the past, hearing such words would have made her a tool for others to use, quickly going to discipline the concubines, but now she thought about it.

What does this have to do with the person speaking?

"She just wants to watch the drama." Lu Lingyun said with a smile.

Qin Shaojing is the type of person like that.

Seeing others' backyards in chaos, seeing them having a hard time, is enough to make her happy. If they are doing well, she’ll stir things up to make sure they don’t have it good.

She’s cunning and smooth-talking. In one sentence, she involves three concubines and one Lu Lingyun, but never herself.

The words seem to be on Lu Lingyun’s behalf, but it’s actually stirring up trouble!

Stirring up trouble between Lu Lingyun and her concubines.

Whether Lu Lingyun gets angry or the concubines are punished, it’s all entertainment for her, and she stays out of it.

"Wow, how can someone be like that?!" Liu Qingping frowned. "She’s just stirring up trouble, truly a troublemaker!"

"There are many people like that." Lu Lingyun continued to smile.

The most common troublemakers are often sisters-in-law or aunts who thrive on drama and fear a peaceful household.

Lu Lingyun and Liu Qingping spent the afternoon going over everything together, and in just one afternoon, Liu Qingping felt she had grown a lot.

This inner household may seem simple, but it’s full of hidden complexities!

Meanwhile, in Xiaohe Courtyard.

After being scolded and punished, Du Ruo was copying the family rules in her room.

The more she wrote, the more wronged she felt, as if the words themselves were a reminder of her failure.

As night fell, Cheng Yunshuo returned.

Seeing her, all the grievances Du Ruo had bottled up throughout the day burst out.

"Master!"

In private, Cheng Yunshuo allowed Du Ruo to call him that.

Surprisingly, it had a certain charm to it.

"What's wrong?"

Du Ruo turned her head away. "I knew I couldn't compete with those women. My mind is simple; how could I compare to them?"

"Who bullied you?" Cheng Yunshuo's protective instincts rose immediately.

He had always treated Du Ruo differently from other women.

A man's affection can take many forms: admiration, passionate love, compassion, and fleeting desire.

Among these, the most stable and lasting love is passionate love, but second to that is compassion.

The first is romantic love, and the second is evoking a man's paternal love.

In fact, in more stable intimate relationships, evoking a husband's protective instincts often leads to a more enduring bond.

Indeed, Cheng Yunshuo felt more of a paternal love for Du Ruo.

He had always seen Du Ruo as an immature younger sister, protecting and indulging her. Even if she caused trouble, as long as it could be resolved, it wasn't a big issue. In her repeated calls of "Master," he felt a sense of responsibility.

He always placed Du Ruo in a position where she needed his protection. When he first took her as a concubine, he wasn't sure how to treat this girl he always protected.

So, he deliberately kept his distance from her.

That night, Du Ruo clung to him, had a heart-to-heart talk, and positioned herself as someone who needed protection. How could he possibly avoid her after that?

He had to protect Du Ruo.

In the entire Marquis's Mansion, only he had the power to protect her.

"Today, the young mistress called us to her courtyard. On the way, we ran into your cousin, Miss Qin. She ridiculed me quite a bit," Du Ruo downplayed her own part in the incident while emphasizing how wronged she felt.

"Master, you know me. I've never been scheming. I couldn't understand what they were saying. When we arrived at the young mistress's courtyard, she ordered me to copy the family rules. Back home, no one ever controlled me so much..."

With that, Du Ruo handed over the family rules she had been copying all afternoon.

Without a second thought, Cheng Yunshuo ripped up the rules she had spent hours copying.

"Master..."

"You don't have to copy family rules anymore," Cheng Yunshuo said after tearing them up, and called for Xiaoqin, "Go tell the young mistress that from now on, Du Ruo is not to copy family rules! Even if she makes a serious mistake, I will handle her punishment!"

"Yes," Xiaoqin replied.

"Master!" Du Ruo's eyes lit up like stars. She threw herself into Cheng Yunshuo's arms, "Du Ruo knows that no one in the world treats her as well as you do. Even if it means being your concubine, she is willing."

Lingyun Lu gave a huge eye roll upon hearing Xiaoqin's reply in the courtyard.

By the end of the night, A'Ruo's status in the mansion had risen considerably.

Almost everyone in the mansion had found out.

Cheng Yunshuo had forbidden Lingyun Lu from disciplining A'Ruo for her sake.

Before they knew it, it was the day of the Dragon Boat Festival fair.

Cheng Yunshuo also had the day off, and he joined everyone in visiting the fair.

He and A'Ruo had been getting along exceptionally well these past few days, and with his day off, they could explore together during the day. Once they got to the fair, A'Ruo held onto his arm, and they walked ahead separately from the others.

Qiu Ling and Ling Long, who were by Lingyun Lu's side, were rolling their eyes inwardly.

"Lingyun, you all go ahead and get your fortunes told at the temple first. I'll take A'Ruo for a stroll," he said indulgently, looking at Du Ruo.

"Sure," Lingyun Lu responded indifferently.

As they watched the two walk away, Qiu Ling and Ling Long were even more speechless.

"They’re so annoying to watch; let’s just go."

"Young mistress, let's enjoy the fair!"

"We’ll have way more fun without them holding us back."

Qiu Ling and Ling Long walked beside Lingyun Lu and Liu Qingping.

"Sounds good!"