Chapter 394: Instigating the Eradication of Lu Lingyun

"What are you talking about?" Before Lu Lingyun could speak, Cheng Hui couldn't wait to retort.

Qin Shaojing glanced at her and smiled, "Hui Hui, don’t you think it’d be great if your brother managed the Marquis's Mansion?"

"The Marquis's Mansion is managed by my sister-in-law; what does my brother have to do with it!" Even Cheng Hui understood the difference between family and outsiders. They were merely distant relatives of the Ningyang Marquis's family, far from the direct line, so how could they have any say in its management?

Qin Shaojing, however, smiled even more brightly. She turned to Lu Lingyun and said, "Sister-in-law, since my cousin has taken monastic vows, and Bingan and Bing Hao are still young, how can you, a woman, manage such a vast Marquis's Mansion! Brother Cheng Qi, after all, has the blood of the Cheng family in his veins. He naturally has a duty to look after everyone. In the future, with him helping you manage the Marquis's Mansion, we won't let outsiders bully our family. We’re all family; isn’t that great?"

Listening to Qin Shaojing's words about inciting to take over Lu Lingyun's inheritance, Lu Lingyun understood everything.

So, Qin Shaojing's target wasn't Cheng Qi at all, but the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion!

She had wondered why Qin Shaojing would be interested in Cheng Qi, a poor boy with no family background, who had only earned some rewards through military achievements.

It turns out she was after the title of the Ningyang Marquis!

The wealth and legacy of the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion could just barely match her status!

Cheng Hui, listening to Qin Shaojing's lengthy speech, frowned anxiously but didn't know how to argue back. Before she could speak, Lu Lingyun spoke up.

Lu Lingyun didn't look at Qin Shaojing but directly at Cheng Qi, "Second Uncle, is this your idea or Qin Shaojing's?"

Lu Lingyun’s question was spot on.

Hearing her question, Cheng Qi turned away without answering.

Seeing this, Cheng Hui burst into anger, "Cheng Qi! Not only have you been bewitched by that woman, but you've also been incited by her to bully our sister-in-law! Have you forgotten how sister-in-law treated us? When we first arrived at the Marquis's Mansion, it was sister-in-law who warmly welcomed us, provided us with food and shelter, and even remembered to leave fabric for us when everyone was getting new clothes. In the years you were away, it was sister-in-law who took care of me."

"She always remembered us siblings when she had something good, treating us like family all these years. How could you do this to her?"

As Cheng Hui questioned him, Cheng Qi grew more and more ashamed, his face filled with guilt and he couldn't look directly at them.

At this moment, Qin Shaojing spoke up, "Hui Hui, look at what you're saying. Your brother is just trying to help sister-in-law! The Ningyang Marquis's Mansion is so large, with so many people eyeing it. Without a man to take charge and uphold the family's reputation, how can it survive? Bingan and Bing Hao are still so young; it will take ten or eight years for them to grow up. By then, the Marquis's Mansion might have been completely taken over by others!"

"I don't see others taking over the Marquis's Mansion; I see you using my brother to take it over first!" Cheng Hui pointed at her nose and scolded, "I can see it now. You're planning to divorce the Duke of Liu's family and wait for my brother to take over the Marquis's Mansion, then marry him and become the new mistress of the Marquis's Mansion!"

Even she could now see Qin Shaojing's hidden fox tail.

Bit by bit, she seduced her brother, and now she's inciting him to seize the Marquis's Mansion. It’s clear she wants to become the mistress of the Marquis's Mansion!

Once she drives her and her sister-in-law out, she’ll have everything she wants here.

Qin Shaojing had such a vicious plan!

Qin Shaojing, having her intentions directly exposed, wasn't angry. She just looked at Cheng Hui and said, "Cheng Hui, Cheng Qi is your own brother. You should understand the distinction between insiders and outsiders. If your brother gains power, it's you who will benefit. Don’t be foolish here."

"I won’t be foolish; I have a conscience and see everything clearly! My sister-in-law treats me like her own sister. She works hard managing the entire Marquis's Mansion. Cheng Qi, now that sister-in-law is in her most difficult time, instead of helping her, you let this vile woman incite you to seize her Marquis's Mansion. Do you still have a conscience?"

Cheng Hui sternly questioned her brother.

"Enough!"

Cheng Qi, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up. He raised his head, his eyes filled with guilt, and dared not look directly at Lu Lingyun as he said, "Sister-in-law."

"Second Uncle, go on."

"Shaojing makes a valid point. Bingan is still young. He can only inherit the title of heir apparent, and it will be years before he can formally petition for the title. The future holds many uncertainties. Who knows if the Emperor will grant him the title? After all, Shaojing's father wasn't granted the title of Duke until his deathbed."

Lu Lingyun laughed upon hearing this, "So, Second Master, you’re here to inherit the Ningyang Marquisate on Bingan’s behalf?"

"Young Mistress," Cheng Qi looked at her, meeting her cold, mocking gaze, and immediately lowered his head, "I have no intention of seizing the Ningyang Marquisate. Once Bingan comes of age, I’ll petition the Emperor to restore the title to him. Believe me."

Lu Lingyun couldn't stop laughing at this.

The sheer audacity was astonishing.

Even if she believed Cheng Qi truly meant it, did Shaojing think the same way?

First, let Cheng Qi hold the Ningyang Marquisate for ten years, and then return the title to Bingan when he comes of age?

How could that be possible!

Shaojing was clearly using this lofty rhetoric to placate Cheng Qi while gradually encroaching on the Ningyang Marquisate!

Once she had the title, there was no way she’d give it up!

"Second Master, if you truly care for us, then abandon this goodwill," Lu Lingyun said coldly, "The Ningyang Marquisate is in my hands. Your intervention is unnecessary."

"Young Mistress," Cheng Qi called out again, but when he met Lu Lingyun's calm and composed gaze, he couldn't utter another word.

"Second Master, you may leave! Escort him out!"

With that, Lu Lingyun turned and walked away.

Then, a voice came from behind her, "We’re not guests here; we’re the rightful masters. Who dares to tell us to leave?"

Lu Lingyun turned to see Shaojing standing proudly beside Cheng Qi. She looked at Lu Lingyun with a big smile, "Young Mistress, my aunt insisted we stay and keep her company daily."

"Besides, it’s getting late—time for dinner. We’ll go and have dinner with my aunt now."

With that, Shaojing pulled Cheng Qi towards Ningxin Courtyard. But Cheng Qi, too embarrassed to stay for dinner, quietly left, leaving Shaojing alone.

Lu Lingyun, seeing this, exclaimed, "What’s happening here!"

An old nanny who stayed in the Marquis's Mansion stepped forward, "Young Mistress, the mistress recalled Shaojing and overlooked all her past misdeeds! She was kept in the mansion by the mistress, living and eating with her!"

Lu Lingyun frowned upon hearing this, "How did this happen!"

"Today, Second Master Cheng brought people to see the mistress. We didn’t dare to intervene, so we allowed them to proceed. Who would have thought that the old mistress, who had forgotten so many, could still remember Shaojing! She kept calling her 'Shaojing,' doting on her more than her own children!"

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun quickly walked towards Ningxin Courtyard.