Chapter 339: Cheng Lanying, the Master of Acting Spoiled

Chapter 339: Cheng Lanying, the Master of Acting Spoiled

When Concubine Li heard Qiu Ling say this, her eyes immediately lit up.

Qiu Ling was offering to help her!

Qiu Ling looked at her and said word by word, "Concubine Li, you know you’re uneducated and can’t teach your child, so why not take this opportunity to send Lanying to the young mistress for guidance! To keep her from causing more trouble in the future!"

Concubine Li: "......"

Qiu Ling saw Concubine Li’s eyes dim and her face flush with suppressed anger, and burst out laughing.

Trying to use me? What a joke!

She’d been through her share of hardships, especially after being tricked by Concubine Li. She wasn’t about to be fooled by a few sweet words! Or used as a pawn!

Besides, her daughter Cheng Lanying was anything but likable.

Before, she’d leaned on Cheng Yunshuo’s favor and never gave the other concubines the time of day. Last time, she even spoke arrogantly and provoked her!

Asking her to plead for Cheng Lanying? Not a chance!

Qiu Ling, delighted to see Concubine Li flustered, left with a satisfied smile, fanning herself.

Lately, life had been nothing but joy—truly good days.

First, Cheng Yunshuo often came to her place, and second, since he started coming often, Concubine Li's good days were over.

Inside and out, everything was going her way.

Double the joy!

Concubine Li watched Qiu Ling leave, fanning herself, and gritted her teeth. ‘Just you wait,’ she thought.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped into Lu Lingyun’s courtyard.

After Qiu Ling left, Lu Lingyun considered summoning Concubine Li, and just then the maids reported that she had come on her own.

Lu Lingyun raised her eyes and called her in.

Soon, the seemingly meek and fragile Concubine Li entered.

“Greetings, young mistress,” Concubine Li said, bowing her head and curtsying with utmost respect.

But Lu Lingyun raised an eyebrow at Concubine Li’s overly humble demeanor. This woman might seem timid, but she’s the boldest in the entire Marquis’s Mansion!

She looked at Concubine Li, “Concubine Li, what brings you here?”

At that, Concubine Li dropped to her knees with a thud. “Young mistress, I beg you to release Lanying!”

“Lan Ying acted recklessly and offended the Crown Prince, but she’s still young and foolish. All the blame is mine—I failed to teach her properly! She has been confined for half a month now, copying the family rules every day, and when I went to see her these past two days, her body could no longer hold up. Please, young mistress, show her mercy and release her. I’m willing to take her punishment, tenfold, a hundredfold!”

Concubine Li deeply buried her head.

As she buried her head, her eyes were shining.

She came to plead with Lu Lingyun, and if Lu Lingyun agreed, it would be all benefit and no harm to her!

Even if she were to be punished tenfold or a hundredfold, it would be her golden opportunity!

Since Cheng Yunshuo has lost interest in her, she was worried about not having a way to capture his attention. If Lu Lingyun punished her, it would surely make Cheng Yunshuo remember her and feel pity.

As long as there's a spark of emotion, she has the opportunity to bring Cheng Yunshuo back!

Moreover, she could also secure Cheng Lanying's release. Over the past half month, she had been drilling into her day and night about what Cheng Yunshuo is like and how to win his favor.

If Cheng Lanying is released, she will surely regain her father's affection.

She knelt deeply on the ground, portraying a mother willing to endure anything for her daughter.

Lu Lingyun sat on the rattan chair, casually sipping the new Jiangnan tea that Wang Peirong had asked her to bring back. As the tea's aroma lingered on her palate, she spoke, "Pity Concubine Li's motherly heart, since it's so..."

"Li Bihan is willing to take all punishments for Lan Ying, please punish me, young mistress!"

Lu Lingyun chuckled, "Since Concubine Li is so willing, why would I punish you? Go back and release Lan Ying, but she must not repeat her mistake."

Lu Lingyun waved her hand, casually releasing Cheng Lanying.

Hearing Lu Lingyun had released Cheng Lanying so easily, Li Bihan was momentarily stunned.

Since when was Lu Lingyun so easy to talk to?

It was always hard to get anything from her!

Every time she wanted something, she had to pay a price, but this time, how could Lu Lingyun... be so easily persuaded?

Could she have really become so foolish, so easy to manipulate?

"What's the matter, Concubine Li? Are you still hoping the heir will return and decide whether to release Lan Ying?"

Hearing this, Li Bihan quickly snapped out of it and thanked her profusely, "Thank you, young mistress! Thank you, young mistress!"

Lu Lingyun watched Li Bihan kowtow and waved her hand, "Concubine Li, you may leave now."

"Thank you, young mistress!"

Li Bihan lowered her head and left, her eyes filled with hidden joy.

It was naturally better to have Cheng Lanying released without punishment, as no one would willingly accept punishment.

Even if she could play the victim for sympathy, suffering was still real.

If Lu Lingyun didn't punish her, she'd find another way to win Cheng Yunshuo's affection, which would be the same.

Meanwhile, Lu Lingyun smiled lightly as she watched Li Bihan, hiding her schemes, leave. She twirled the teacup in her hand, still thinking about how to tell Cheng Yunshuo about the poisoning, preferably letting him slowly realize it himself.

Now that she had come asking for help, it was the perfect opportunity.

In the evening.

Cheng Yunshuo returned to the mansion.

Today, as he was about to head to Qiu Ling's place, a little girl intercepted him on the way.

"How did you get out?" Cheng Yunshuo was extremely surprised to see Cheng Lanying waiting halfway.

"Father," as soon as he spoke, Cheng Lanying ran towards him and hugged his leg, "Father, Lan Ying knows she was wrong."

Cheng Lanying half lowered her head, her eyebrows and eyes bearing a resemblance to her mother, Li Bihan.

Cheng Yunshuo saw her meek and submissive appearance and couldn't help but bend down to pick her up, "Do you truly understand your mistake?"

"Mm." Cheng Lanying buried her head even lower, "Daddy, please don’t be upset with me, okay? Lan Ying knows she was wrong."

Hearing such words from a child, Cheng Yunshuo, who wasn’t heartless, naturally softened.

"From now on, you must treat your sister with more respect."

"Lan Ying gets it." Cheng Lanying clenched her little fists, "Lan Ying will always be respectful to her sister and won’t talk nonsense anymore. Daddy, I’ve taken your words to heart, and I’ll listen to you."

"Good, as long as you understand." Cheng Yunshuo couldn’t help but smile.

At this moment, Cheng Lanying wrapped her arms around Cheng Yunshuo's neck, "Daddy, let’s go home. My aunt and I have missed you so much these past days."

"This..."

"Daddy, I truly know I was wrong. Please show me more love."

Cheng Lanying was far more skilled at being endearing, her every word tugging at Cheng Yunshuo’s heartstrings.

How could Cheng Yunshuo resist this? He immediately said, "Alright, let's go back."