Chapter 236: Lu Lingyun Meets Bi Ruo

Chapter 236: Lu Lingyun Meets Bi Ruo

Cheng Yunshuo gradually calmed down from his frenzy.

"Bi Ruo?"

"Yes! She's the head palace maid, and she's already twenty-five this year, about to leave the palace. Take a good look!"

Cheng Yunshuo settled down and thought carefully.

Indeed.

The woman today was much older than Lu Lingyun.

And even if she were the same age, she still wouldn't be her.

Seeing Cheng Yunshuo calm down, Li, the Imperial Guards leader, released him. "Luckily, Lady Bi Ruo is forgiving and didn't hold it against you. Otherwise, you'd be in big trouble today."

"You really dared to, in broad daylight, with so many people around, just hug her. Impressive! You should really thank her for that."

Cheng Yunshuo fell into silence.

The next day.

Cheng Yunshuo arrived early for duty at the West Gate.

When he was reassigned to patrol another gate, he swapped shifts with others so he could stay at the West Gate.

Just before noon, the woman in green regular attire appeared before him again.

He stepped forward and politely stopped her.

The maid behind Bi Ruo, seeing it was him, quickly stepped back in fright.

Bi Ruo gently shook off her hand. "Do not be rude."

She greeted Cheng Yunshuo warmly. "Greetings, Lord Cheng."

"This is my token. I'm leaving the palace for procurement today and will return before the hour of Shen, as per the usual entry and exit time." Bi Ruo dutifully reported her schedule.

Cheng Yunshuo took the token, checked it, and then returned it to her. "Lady Bi Ruo, please take care."

"Thank you, Lord Cheng."

Bi Ruo neatly put away her things and left the palace gate after the inspection.

Just then, Cheng Yunshuo spoke again, "Lady Bi Ruo."

"Is there something else, Lord Cheng?"

"About the sachet and yesterday's incident, I was impulsive. I apologize, and I thank you, Lady Bi Ruo, for your repeated help."

"Lord Cheng is too polite." Bi Ruo bowed slightly and smiled faintly at Cheng Yunshuo before gracefully leaving the palace gate, heading to the palanquin transfer point and getting inside.

Even after she entered the palanquin, Cheng Yunshuo couldn't tear his eyes away.

"Lady Bi Ruo, that guard must have ill intentions, a man with improper intentions, staring at us so boldly." As soon as they were inside the palanquin, the maid whispered to Bi Ruo about Cheng Yunshuo's bold gaze.

From the palace gate to the carriage stop, a distance of about a hundred meters, Cheng Yunshuo's gaze seemed fixed on them, making the young maid feel uneasy.

She cursed Cheng Yunshuo under her breath, calling him a libertine.

Hearing this, Bi Shuo said, "Don't worry about him."

She gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and saw that the man at the palace gate was still gazing intently at them.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

The carriage headed toward the market district, where they began making purchases according to the palace's list.

By the time it was nearly three in the afternoon, she had returned to the palace in the carriage.

As the carriage carrying the supplies was about to enter the designated spot at the palace gate, it was stopped by another carriage.

"What's going on?" The sudden stop made the maid immediately lift the carriage curtain and ask.

"Miss, someone is blocking us," the maid replied.

"Who has the nerve to block our carriage?"

Palace carriages had distinct markings, and anyone with sense would recognize it as a royal carriage. Who would dare to block it?

As soon as the maid finished speaking, a clear voice came from the carriage that was blocking them. "May I ask if Lady Bi Shuo is inside this carriage?"

The carriage curtain was lifted, and the first to come out was a maid dressed in a light orange embroidered satin dress, with sleeves made of the popular Jiangnan silk fabric. She had a velvet flower and a pearl hairpin in her hair.

While her attire wasn't overly extravagant, it was still quite impressive for a mere maid.

For a maid to be dressed so well, she must come from a prominent noble household.

Sure enough, the maid soon helped out a young lady dressed in a light blue wide-sleeved silk dress. The finely embroidered outer jacket she wore was nearly as exquisite as those worn by the palace's imperial consorts, and her shoes, made of luxurious Shu brocade and adorned with gemstones, were impossible to overlook.

This young lady, not yet twenty, was actually from a ducal family.

Though the maid was from the palace, she was still a servant, and seeing someone of such high status, she quickly became more deferential.

"Who are you?" The maid's tone had softened considerably.

"I am Lady Lu, the wife of the Ningyang Marquis's heir. I would like to meet Lady Bi Shuo from the palace. May I ask if the person inside is her?" The woman who had stepped down from the carriage had a calm and composed gaze, looking at the carriage in front of her with a faint smile.

It was none other than Lu Lingyun.

As Lu Lingyun's voice fell, a different female voice came from inside the carriage. "I am indeed Bi Shuo."

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun felt a surge of anticipation.

Finally, she had met the legendary Lady Bi Shuo.

Lu Lingyun stared intently at the carriage in front of her, and the first thing that caught her eye as the carriage curtain was lifted from inside was a glimpse of green clothing.

The woman lowered her head and, with the help of the maid, slowly descended from the carriage. When her entire face appeared before Lu Lingyun, even though she had braced herself, Lu Lingyun's eyes couldn't help but light up.

"Miss, she really looks like Aunt Xing," the voice of Chunxing reached her ears.

Lady Lu Lingyun nodded slightly. Yes, the resemblance was striking!

The woman before her could have been an older version of Xing Dairong, except that this woman was much older. Her face showed signs of age, particularly around her brows, unlike the young Xing Dairong, whose skin was as smooth as porcelain and whose charm was vibrant and lively.

Yet, her attire and maturity gave her another kind of beauty, a beauty that Xing Dairong did not possess.

"May I ask what business Lady Cheng has with me?"

As Lady Lu Lingyun observed Bishuo, Bishuo was also observing Lady Lu Lingyun. The woman before her was dignified and graceful, with a steady presence that reminded one of the palace ladies—reserved, profound, and wise. Yet, she was surprisingly young.

Bishuo's expression grew serious.

Lord Cheng seemed like a straightforward man.

But this wife of his was far from simple.

"I’ve come to apologize to you, Lady Bishuo," Lady Lu Lingyun met Bishuo's eyes. "Lady Bishuo, some days ago, one of my concubines offended you on the road. She can be quite impulsive and short-tempered. I’ve brought a small gift as an apology, and I hope you will forgive her."

As Lady Lu Lingyun spoke, her maid Chunxing presented a small box. When the box was opened, inside was a complete set of exquisite jade jewelry, clearly very valuable.

Even though the maids were used to seeing fine things in the palace, they couldn’t help but stare at the stunning and valuable jewelry.