Chapter 259: Cutting Off the Supply at the Bottom

Chapter 259: Cutting Off the Supply at the Bottom

Cheng Yunshuo hurried without stopping to the temple in the suburbs.

By the time he arrived, it was already too late.

A'Ruo had completed the ritual and officially entered the temple as a nun who retains her hair, to observe mourning for her aunt for seven years.

"A'Ruo!"

When Cheng Yunshuo arrived, all he saw was A'Ruo's back.

In the temple, there were also Qiu Ling, Ling Long, and others.

Cheng Yunshuo, ignoring all else, tried to chase after A'Ruo but was stopped by a nun in the temple, "Esteemed benefactor, Benefactor Du has decided to observe mourning with hair for seven years. She will not see anyone during these seven years."

Hearing this, Cheng Yunshuo shouted at A'Ruo's back, "A'Ruo! It's your master! Your master is here!"

Qiu Ling and Ling Long, standing nearby, looked at Cheng Yunshuo with disdain.

Their eyes were filled with nothing but contempt.

"A'Ruo! A'Ruo!" Cheng Yunshuo watched as A'Ruo walked step by step, as if she couldn't hear his voice. This time, a sense of loss completely overwhelmed him.

He realized he was about to lose someone very important again.

He had lost once before and didn't want to lose again.

He shouted loudly, "A'Ruo, I was wrong before."

"Come back, okay? I won't treat you this way again."

"Give me another chance!"

His words finally made the person in front pause. A'Ruo, with her back to him, said coldly, "Never to meet again in life or death means never to meet again, unless you die, or I die. Go away!"

Hearing this, Cheng Yunshuo stopped.

Because he really saw A'Ruo draw a knife from her sleeve.

After saying this, A'Ruo strode towards the backyard. Cheng Yunshuo did not chase after her and stood silently in place.

Never to meet again in life or death.

No one knew what Cheng Yunshuo was thinking. He waited until A'Ruo had completely left and remained standing in the same spot for an entire day. No one could persuade him to move until the temple gates were about to close at night.

He then turned and left.

After returning, Cheng Yunshuo opened the long-locked Yuerong Pavilion.

He stayed inside alone.

He saw no one.

At this time, in Lu Lingyun's courtyard.

Lu Lingyun was quite taken aback to learn that A'Ruo had decided to observe mourning with hair and publicly vowed never to see Cheng Yunshuo again in this lifetime.

She chuckled lightly, never expecting A'Ruo to surprise her in such a way.

"Every month, donate two taels of incense money to that temple, which will serve as Concubine Du's monthly allowance."

"Yes, young mistress."

After all, she is a concubine of the mansion, and Lu Lingyun had to look out for her.

After handling Concubine Du's matter, Lu Lingyun learned that Cheng Yunshuo had returned and locked himself in. She then sent someone to the barracks of the Imperial Guards to request some leave for him.

Let Cheng Yunshuo stew in his own misery.

She efficiently managed both the major and minor affairs of the mansion, and when she had some free time, she turned her attention to Bishuo.

"Invite Concubine Li over."

"Yes."

Not long after, Bishuo arrived with a maid in tow.

Bishuo stood out from the previous concubines. As soon as she arrived, she knelt down before Lu Lingyun.

"This humble servant greets the mistress."

Bishuo knelt on the ground, proper and respectful, exuding humility.

Seeing her kneeling so respectfully, unlike the previous concubines, Lu Lingyun leisurely sipped her tea, allowing Bishuo to kneel for the time it took to finish a cup.

People are not all the same.

The women who had entered her household, whether it was Qiu Ling, Ling Long, Du Ruo, or Xing Dairong, were not very disciplined. For such people, using discipline to suppress them would be humiliating, and over time, they would grow resentful.

Lu Lingyun was not one to exert pressure and create a bunch of resentful enemies for herself.

She treated them with leniency, letting them form their own circles and live as they pleased. Over time, they would naturally develop respect for her.

But Bishuo was different.

She came from the palace, accustomed to discipline and kneeling.

If Lu Lingyun were to be lenient and tolerant with her, she would not feel respect, but rather, she would feel that Lu Lingyun could be taken advantage of.

Bishuo was also an ambitious woman. If Lu Lingyun didn't keep her in check, Bishuo would inevitably rise above her, even surpassing her.

After a cup of tea, Lu Lingyun leisurely put down her teacup, "Concubine Li, why are you still kneeling? You must be tired, get up quickly."

"Thank you, young mistress!" The maid behind her quickly stepped forward to assist, and Bishuo trembled as she rose to her feet.

"You must have been tired from serving the Crown Prince last night," Lu Lingyun said with a faint smile.

"Bishuo dares not," Bishuo replied with great respect, lowering her eyes and showing complete etiquette.

"Now that you've entered the family, we are all one. There's no need for such formality."

Hearing this, Bishuo knelt down again with a thud, "Bishuo will serve the Crown Prince and the young mistress with all her heart!"

"See, the etiquette from the palace is indeed different," Lu Lingyun looked at Bishuo, "Our Marquis's Mansion doesn't have so many rules. Concubine Li, you don't need to kneel all the time."

Lu Lingyun said this, but she didn't tell Bishuo to get up.

The maid behind Bishuo didn't have so many thoughts and immediately went to help Bishuo up.

Bishuo saw the hand extended towards her and slapped it away. "The young mistress hasn't allowed me to rise yet. How can you not understand the rules?"

The little maid then understood the situation; she quickly withdrew her hand and stood behind.

Lu Lingyun's gaze casually fell on this little maid. "Concubine Li, is this maid from outside?"

"Reply to the young mistress, yes."

"I thought she looked unfamiliar and didn't understand the rules. Such a person cannot follow you."

Hearing this, Bishuo's alarm bells went off. "Young mistress, I will carefully teach Xiao Ju the rules."

"So her name is Xiao Ju," Lu Lingyun said with a faint smile. "Who bought her?"

"It was the Crown Prince," Xiao Ju answered respectfully.

"Since the Crown Prince bought you, you are a maid of the Marquis's Mansion. Why haven't I seen your deed of sale?" Lu Lingyun said slowly.

Hearing about the deed of sale, Bishuo's heart sank completely. This mistress of the house is truly ruthless!

Her actions always aim to pull the rug from under one's feet.

The three people in her courtyard were brought from the outer courtyard, and they are also her core foundation in the Marquis's Mansion.

When she bought them, she had asked Cheng Yunshuo for their deeds of sale.

But before she could even train them, Lu Lingyun had undermined her foundation.

Once the deeds of sale are handed over to Lu Lingyun, these three can no longer become her confidants no matter what.

"Young mistress, it was my oversight. The deeds of sale are in my room," Bishuo swallowed her anger and said respectfully. "I will bring the deeds of sale later."

"There's no need for Concubine Li to bring them. My people will go and fetch them," Lu Lingyun looked at her maids and nannies, her gaze falling on Nanny Wan. "Nanny Wan, you will follow Concubine Li later to fetch the deeds of sale from Bishui Pavilion. By the way, their courtyard is newly opened, and the servants are also brought from outside. You will serve in Bishui Pavilion from now on and, by the way, teach them some rules."

Nanny Wan, Lu Lingyun's trusted aide, was raised by her stepmother Madam Liu. She is very skilled at dealing with servants and especially enjoys bullying others with her power.

Nanny Wan, who had followed Lu Lingyun into the marriage for so long, finally gained favor. "Yes, young mistress!"