Chapter 254: Not Letting Her In

Chapter 254: Not Letting Her In

Qiu Ling and Ling Long both furrowed their brows at the scene.

They weren’t fools; they knew their place and had long accepted their status without engaging in schemes.

But as women, who couldn’t see the needle hidden in each other’s cotton?

Qiu Ling said bluntly, “Oh, who might this madam be! How have you tarnished the reputations of our Crown Prince and the Marquis’s Mansion?”

These words caused a slight tremor in the kneeling Bishuo.

Lu Lingyun couldn’t help but glance at Qiu Ling. She had spoken well.

Bishuo straightened herself from the ground, “Honored ladies, I believe there has been a misunderstanding regarding the Crown Prince. I am not his mistress; I am just his cook. Bishuo and Crown Prince Cheng Yunshuo are innocent, but we have been misunderstood by outsiders.”

“If you are truly innocent, why would there be any misunderstandings?” said Ling Long from the other side, “Or did you intentionally create these rumors, causing the whole Imperial City to gossip?”

Hearing Ling Long’s sharp words, Lu Lingyun couldn’t help but glance at her as well.

She had spoken well too.

Yet, Bishuo remained unfazed, her face not reddening with shame. She calmly looked directly at Lu Lingyun, “Madam, all faults are mine to bear. Bishuo knows she has disgraced the Marquis’s Mansion and feels unworthy to face you. But now that the mistake is made, Bishuo only worries about Crown Prince Cheng Yunshuo’s future and does not wish to affect him.”

“Hmph! If you are so concerned about the Crown Prince and have his best interests at heart, you should go die!”

“Yes! You should hang yourself in the concubine’s courtyard! No one would criticize you then!”

Qiu Ling and Ling Long rolled their eyes and scoffed at such shameless words.

“Ahem,” Lu Lingyun coughed lightly, interrupting the two.

She had just acknowledged their wit and eloquence, but they were no match for Bishuo.

Bishuo’s words were not something easily countered.

Telling her to die would give Crown Prince Cheng Yunshuo a reason to retaliate.

Although Bishuo had nothing, being just a lowly external consort, her greatest weapon was Cheng Yunshuo.

By coming here to beg for mercy, Bishuo seemed humble and pitiful, but in reality, she was employing a desperate tactic.

She put herself in a vulnerable position, ready to strike back if anyone dared to harm her.

Lu Lingyun looked at the sincere woman before her, “Lady Bishuo?”

“Madam, I have been released from the palace. My birth name is Li. Please address me by that name,” Bishuo said softly, her eyes filled with vulnerability, “My parents have passed away, and I have no relatives left. I am fortunate that Lord Cheng took me in and gave me food. I have long heard of your kindness, Madam, and only ask for a way to survive.”

Lu Lingyun smiled faintly, “Miss Li, you keep mentioning survival. People might think I’m forcing you to die, which is a serious accusation I can’t accept.”

“The fault lies with Bishuo. I know I have committed a capital crime and cannot expect you to forgive me.”

“Look, I haven’t said anything complicated, but Miss Li keeps accusing me of intolerance. If this spreads, I’ll be seen as a jealous woman.”

Hearing this, Qiu Ling and Ling Long both looked at Lu Lingyun. “Young Mistress, you have always been tolerant and kind, with a virtuous reputation known to all. This woman dares to defame you and tarnish your name!”

"You're right, I've finally caught on. You're not here to beg for your life or apologize to the Marquis's Mansion. You're here to bully our mistress and smear filth on her! If you go back and hang yourself, people will say our mistress is evil! You really are up to no good!"

Lu Lingyun dissected Bishuo's words in just a few sentences, causing both Qiu Ling and Ling Long to have a revelation, after which they looked at Bishuo with disgust.

Bishuo, still kneeling on the ground, slightly furrowed her brow at that moment.

Her gaze toward Lu Lingyun deepened once again.

This mistress of the Marquis's Mansion was truly remarkable. Lu Lingyun had seen through all her words and exposed them with just a few sentences, while she herself remained unshakeable, leaving no room for error.

Even when Cheng Yunshuo was mentioned, Lu Lingyun didn't bat an eye.

You see, as soon as Du Ruo caught a hint of Cheng Yunshuo's special attention toward her, she would immediately become agitated and start a scene. Even the two concubines would feel resentful and indignant upon hearing Cheng Yunshuo's name.

Yet, as the official wife, Lu Lingyun remained unshakeable when it came to her husband having an outside mistress.

She was extraordinarily composed!

After several thoughts raced through her mind, Bishuo knelt down again, "Young mistress, Bishuo has no such intentions. All Bishuo wants is to live! I beg you, give Bishuo a way to survive!"

Bishuo abandoned all her probing and calculations, placing herself entirely at Lu Lingyun's mercy.

Seeing Bishuo resort to this shameless tactic of forcing a decision again, Qiu Ling and Ling Long were annoyed once more and were about to order the servants to throw her out, when they heard Lu Lingyun speak.

"Miss Bishuo, you're flattering me too much. You keep asking me to give you a way to live. How am I not giving you a way to live?" Lu Lingyun lightly tapped her teacup, "You say you and the Crown Prince are innocent, and I believe you. As for those rumors, they are all baseless. As long as one remains innocent, the rumors will dissipate on their own. Don't you agree?"

Hearing this, Qiu Ling and Ling Long couldn't help but gasp.

High, truly high! Their mistress was on a whole other level!

Bishuo wanted Lu Lingyun to give her a way to stay, essentially asking for permission to enter the Marquis's Mansion. Since everyone outside believed Bishuo to be Cheng Yunshuo's outside mistress, if the matter blew up, there would need to be a resolution.

But as long as Lu Lingyun refused to acknowledge it, Bishuo would be nothing.

An outsider with no connection to her.

And in that case, all the pressure would fall on Bishuo herself to bear.

Hearing this, Bishuo's lips pressed together slightly.

"Alright, see Miss Bishuo out."

Lu Lingyun was tired of hearing Bishuo's sob stories and waved her away.

The servants immediately stepped forward.

Bishuo, still kneeling, looked around, pressed her lips tightly together, and kowtowed three times before following the servants out.

After she left, Qiu Ling and Ling Long said, "Young mistress! That was a brilliant move! You just left her hanging! And didn't allow her into the mansion!"

Lu Lingyun smiled faintly, "What's so brilliant about what I did? If she really wants to enter this door, could I possibly stop her?"

Her words caused Qiu Ling and Ling Long to exchange a glance.

Indeed, if Bishuo couldn't get what she wanted by pressuring Lu Lingyun, she could always turn to Cheng Yunshuo.