Chapter 415: Settling Scores After the Harvest

Chapter 415: Settling Scores After the Harvest

After Cheng Binghao departed the Imperial City alongside General Wang's troops, the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion returned to its usual quiet.

When Lu Lingyun returned, she surveyed the mansion that had endured a great storm—the old Marquis had perished in battle, Cheng Yunshuo had taken monastic vows, and Qin Shaojing had manipulated Cheng Qi into seizing power by force. Gradually, the mansion was returning to normalcy.

Now that Lady Qin had regained consciousness, everything was once again operating as before. She let out a soft sigh.

At this moment, she noticed someone.

"Aunt Qiu, Aunt Ling, I was wrong, so wrong! Please, forgive me!"

In the courtyard garden, Li Bihan knelt, presenting tea to Qiu Ling and pleading for forgiveness.

Ling Long, who was nearby, said, "Concubine Li, how could you possibly be wrong? Didn't you boast that we'd live to regret it?"

Hearing this, Li Bihan's face, holding the tea, turned pale.

Little did she know that something she thought was a sure bet would end up in such a disaster!

Originally, she thought Qin Shaojing was quite clever, deceiving the old lady completely and manipulating the influential Cheng Qi to serve her purposes. She had thought it was a sure way to exploit the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion!

Who would have thought!

She actually had a scandalous affair with her father-in-law!

Not only that, but such a secret and scandalous affair was exposed and spread everywhere by others.

Was she insane!

Originally, she had hoped that once Qin Shaojing took over the mansion, with Cheng Yunshuo gone, she could lean on Qin Shaojing as a powerful patron, her life would improve, and her children could be reclaimed.

But now, she had been thoroughly humiliated.

After everything was over, Qiu Ling and Ling Long began to settle scores with her!

"Aunt Qiu, Aunt Ling, I was blind before, my heart was clouded by greed! I will never do such things again, please forgive me!"

"It's too late to beg for forgiveness now! As a traitor, none of us will forgive you!"

Just then, Lu Lingyun approached.

"Aunt Qiu, Aunt Ling."

As soon as Lu Lingyun spoke, the two who were scolding Li Bihan immediately composed themselves and greeted Lu Lingyun with joy and respect.

"Madam."

Now, it was only natural to address Lu Lingyun as "Madam."

Lady Qin had completely stepped back from managing the household, and all matters were now handled by Lu Lingyun, who was addressed as "Madam" by everyone.

Hearing Lu Lingyun's arrival, Li Bihan, who was kneeling on the ground, quickly turned and kowtowed to Lu Lingyun, begging for mercy, "Madam, I was wrong, I was deceived at that time! That Qin... Qin Shaojing used her status as the young lady to pressure me, ordering me to do her bidding!"

"Enough!" Qiu Ling snorted coldly, "Back then, I told you not to go, but you said the master's orders were supreme and you dared not disobey! I didn't see anyone pressuring you; it was clearly you who willingly knelt and licked her boots!"

"At that time, I was afraid..."

"And before that!" Ling Long interjected, "Don't think we didn't find out. When Madam was not in the mansion, Qin Shaojing had the servants block the gate, but someone went to Ningxin Courtyard to report it—that someone was you!"

"No one was forcing you back then, so what were you afraid of!"

Hearing this, Li Bihan knew it was all over.

The reckoning had come, and all her past deeds were being exposed.

She really couldn't survive in this Marquis's Mansion anymore!

"Madam, please have mercy!" Li Bihan gave up on excuses and rushed over to beg for forgiveness. "Madam, I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again, I will serve you wholeheartedly, only you!"

Qiu Ling and Ling Long looked at Li Bihan with disdain.

"Hmph! Typical."

When their Crown Prince was here, she never behaved like this.

Now she realizes she backed the wrong master!

We had warned her long ago to behave and serve our Madam faithfully, and she would want for nothing!

Now it's too late for her to beg for mercy!

As a concubine, her life and death are in the hands of the mistress, and with no master in the mansion, everything is at the mistress's discretion.

Even if she were sold off, she couldn't say a word!

At this moment, Lu Lingyun spoke, "You may all leave now; only Concubine Li needs to stay."

Qiu Ling and Ling Long bowed respectfully to Lu Lingyun and said, "Yes, Madam."

They shot Li Bihan a glare before turning to leave.

After everyone left, Li Bihan panicked even more and hurriedly kowtowed to Lu Lingyun, admitting her mistakes.

She pleaded to be allowed to stay.

She knew there was no one left in the mansion to protect her; if Lu Lingyun wanted to sell her off, it was entirely her decision.

"Madam, I truly know I was wrong!"

"Madam, I beg you, for Bing Zhi and Lan Ying's sake, please spare me!"

"I will serve you like a slave from now on!"

Thud! Thud! Thud! Li Bihan kowtowed with such force that her head soon became a blur of blood.

Seeing Li Bihan's unprecedented humility, Lu Lingyun said, "Enough, stop kowtowing."

"Madam, I was truly wrong; please don't sell me off! I no longer want Bing Zhi and Lan Ying; they are your children. Just spare my life, and I will never claim to be their mother again!"

"I was delusional before, trying to be the mother of the masters. I was truly wrong, and I will never dare again!"

Lu Lingyun looked at her and sighed, "The Crown Prince told me many things the night before he took his vows."

"He wanted me to give your children back to you."

Li Bihan, still kowtowing, stopped.

Li Bihan looked up in disbelief, her eyes meeting Lu Lingyun's calm yet profoundly deep gaze.

Lu Lingyun blinked softly, recalling the way Cheng Yunshuo had looked at her and the words he had spoken before his ordination.

"He told me to tell you that from now on, you should live a good life with your children."

Li Bihan's heart trembled inexplicably.

Her obsessions, her pleas—he had heard them all in the end.

He had returned her children to her.

"Concubine Li," Lu Lingyun stood up and sighed softly, "I’ve purchased the house where the Crown Prince had placed you outside the estate. From now on, you and Bingzhi and Lanying will live there."

After saying this, she called for Cheng Bingzhi and Cheng Lanying to be brought over, and then she herself returned to the courtyard.

Soon after, Cheng Bingzhi and Cheng Lanying arrived.

Still stunned by the overwhelming joy, Concubine Li didn’t fully come to her senses until Cheng Bingzhi rushed toward her, crying out, "Mother!"

Only then did Concubine Li come to her senses, reaching out to tightly embrace her son, and the mother and son wept together.

Cheng Lanying, seeing this scene, did not step forward. She stood quietly, her gaze holding a strange, unreadable emotion as she watched them cry.