Chapter 173: People from the Border Town Home

Chapter 173: People from the Border Town Home

Liu Qingping emerged from Lu Lingyun’s courtyard. She didn’t have much to pack, but the concubines from the inner courtyard came to say their goodbyes.

Qiu Ling and Ling Long each gave Liu Qingping a piece of jewelry as a gift, along with many intimate words and well wishes.

After greeting them, Liu Qingping headed back to Lu Lingyun’s courtyard to prepare for her return.

On her way, she was called out again.

"Liu Qingping."

Liu Qingping stopped and saw Du Ruo, who had returned not long ago.

Seeing her, Liu Qingping huffed in disdain. "Hmph!"

"You're going back to marry?" Du Ruo asked.

"Yes, I’m going back to marry and become a head wife!" Liu Qingping emphasized the words "head wife" and looked up, leaving only a bit of peripheral vision to glance at Du Ruo.

Her expression of disdain could not have been more evident.

How could Liu Qingping not resent Du Ruo? She had used her before, and recently, she had learned that Cheng Yunshuo had even invited an Imperial Physician for her. The news had infuriated Liu Qingping.

Several times, she had wanted to ask Du Ruo if she had any shame, if she knew her place.

Inciting the master to get a doctor for her aunt—did she really think she could act like a head wife as a mere concubine?

Du Ruo deserved a good scolding!

Unfortunately, she hadn’t seen Du Ruo these past few days. She had wanted to scold her but hadn’t seen her.

As her words fell, Du Ruo approached her. "Congratulations."

Du Ruo removed a pair of expensive jade hairpins from her head, which Cheng Yunshuo had given her privately.

These were not the standard gold, silver, or pearl hairpins issued to the concubines in the household. This pair of jade hairpins was her most precious jewelry.

"This is to add to your dowry, wishing that you can become a comfortable and worry-free head wife like your elder sister," Du Ruo said.

The heavy jade hairpins landed in Liu Qingping’s palm, and she stared at Du Ruo in surprise, noting the change from her usual lively and domineering demeanor.

Du Ruo, head lowered, her eyes fixed on Liu Qingping’s palm, harbored visible envy.

She envied Liu Qingping.

Even though Du Ruo was favored, she had also come to feel the gap between being a concubine and a wife.

A concubine would always remain a concubine, never able to match the status of a head wife.

"You..."

Before Liu Qingping could finish speaking, Du Ruo turned and walked away.

Watching her leave, Liu Qingping frowned and finally snorted. "You made your own choice. Your family arranged for you to be a proper wife, but you insisted on becoming a concubine. Humph!"

After speaking, Liu Qingping clutched the jade hairpins and returned to her own family.

That afternoon, Liu Qingping went back home.

The next day, Lu Lingyun visited the Liu family to give Liu Qingping some dowry items.

Initially, Liu Qingping's mother had also given dowry items to Lu Lingyun, so out of courtesy, Lu Lingyun returned the favor.

This quickly raised Liu Qingping's standing among her natal family.

Whenever people mentioned Lu Lingyun, they praised and envied her. Those who had given dowry items felt it was the best gift they had ever given.

Madam Liu was also there. She smiled when she heard her relatives praising Lu Lingyun, but her heart was filled with bitterness.

However, she gradually came to realize that her own daughter, Lu Hanyi, was no match for Lu Lingyun's abilities.

Previously, she had attributed Lu Hanyi's struggles to the swap in their marriage arrangements, but now she couldn't help but feel that even if Lu Lingyun had married Li Wenxun, she likely wouldn't have had a difficult life!

Lu Lingyun was truly capable.

After the lively wedding celebrations were completed, Liu Qingping was married into the Zhang family, where the chief clerk of the Guanglu Temple worked.

With this third marriage of the year concluded, Lu Lingyun had some free time again.

In the inner quarters, aside from the continued favor Du Ruo received, nothing else happened. Peace prevailed in the east courtyard where Qin Shaojing lived and in the courtyard where Lady Qin resided.

As the days grew hotter, Lu Lingyun sat in the courtyard with the children, basking in the sun and eating newly delivered honey peaches. The sweet juice burst in her mouth with every bite.

The sun slowly climbed the trellis of roses above. Pleasant fragrances and floral shadows fell on Lu Lingyun.

At that moment, Little Wei came to announce.

"Young mistress, someone has come to see Lady Marquis and Lord Marquis."

"Oh?" Lu Lingyun, who had been dozing slightly, immediately woke up. She pushed herself up from the padded recliner, "Who is it?"

"Someone from the border. They claim to be distant relatives of the Marquis's Mansion."

"Do we have relatives at the border?"

"Yes, a cousin of the late elder Marquis. His branch of the family has been guarding the ancestral graves at the border. They said the border suffered a disaster and came to seek help from Lord Marquis. They have a token."

Upon hearing this, Lu Lingyun's drowsiness disappeared. She lazily stretched, "Show me the token."

"Yes."

An old jade pendant was presented.

Lu Lingyun recognized it as belonging to the Cheng family, "First, invite them in. Then take this to the other courtyard and ask my mother-in-law and father-in-law."

"Yes!"

After a while, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old young man dressed in tattered clothes, leading a six or seven-year-old girl, followed Little Wei in.

The two were covered in dust, their faces dark and their skin cracked, looking more wretched than the scavengers in the capital. The young man's eyes were very bright, with a fierce look in them, like a hungry wolf. The little girl clung to his leg, following him closely and curiously observing everything around her.

When they entered Lu Lingyun's courtyard and saw the large plate of honey peaches on the table, the little girl's eyes were fixed on them, unable to look away.

Seeing this, Lu Lingyun smiled and said to the little girl, "Do you want to eat?"

The little girl lifted her head at the sound, her eyes wide with hope, and nodded at Lu Lingyun.

"If you want some, come and get it," Lu Lingyun said, waving her over.

The little girl released her brother’s hand and started forward, but a man’s voice called out from behind them.

"Huihui, remember your manners."

At that, Cheng Hui froze and quickly returned to her brother’s side.

"Don’t worry, you’ve traveled far. Please have something to eat while I wait for word from my in-laws. I’ve already sent someone to inform them."

"Is Uncle not here?"

"My father-in-law hasn’t been feeling well and is resting in a separate residence. Please go ahead and eat something."

Hearing this, the young man no longer hesitated. He sat down with his sister and began eating the pastries and fruits on the table heartily. Both of them had clearly been hungry for a while, devouring the food with urgency. Seeing this, Lu Lingyun instructed, 'Have the kitchen prepare a meal and bring it up.'

"Yes."

After the two had their fill and settled their hunger, a message came back from Lady Qin.

Lady Qin confirmed that the jade pendant belonged to the Cheng family and asked Lu Lingyun to take good care of the guests until they arrived.

Lu Lingyun realized her mother-in-law wanted her to find out why they had come.

"What are your names?"

"You’re too kind, sister-in-law. We’re not nobles or anything like that. I’m Cheng Qi, and this is my sister Cheng Hui."

"Please don’t think less of us, sister-in-law. We’ve come looking for a place to stay," Cheng Qi said, lifting his head. The fierce look in his eyes had faded, and his sunburned, weary face now showed a mix of awkwardness and caution.