Chapter 27: Mrs. Lu

  Getting up and washing, after having breakfast, Ling Yuancheng lazily stretched his waist, somewhat listlessly instructing a few maids in the house, and swaggered out of the Wutong courtyard where he lived. After leaving Chunhui Garden yesterday, he went out to drink with Xiao Chengye. To avoid further disagreement, both he and Xiao Chengye deliberately avoided mentioning Yuande, and they drank merrily nonetheless.

  Upon returning to the mansion, it was already quite late. After drinking wine, Ling Yuancheng also became lazy and didn't want to move, even when Mrs. Lu sent someone to summon him, he used his intoxication as an excuse to decline. Although he could use wine as an excuse yesterday, today he couldn't avoid going to pay his respects. Thinking of Mrs. Lu's predictable expression, Ling Yuancheng couldn't help but secretly sigh in his heart, and his footsteps became even slower.

  Mrs. Lu had been married to the Ling family for many years and had three sons and one daughter. The second son died young, and the eldest daughter was married far away in Hongzhou, so let's not mention her. Among the two sons who stayed by her side, the eldest son, Ling Yuanye, was steady and taciturn, and as the heir of the marquis' family, he got married early and now has both sons and daughters. Mrs. Lu is also very at ease with him. In most families, fathers love their eldest sons, while mothers dote on their youngest children. This is also true for Mrs. Lu. And Ling Yuqing was precisely Mrs. Lu's youngest son.

  But even if you walk slowly, you will still arrive. Ling Yuancheng looked up at the Changhe Courtyard where Mrs. Lu lived, took a deep breath, and forced out a smile as he stepped inside. As soon as he entered, he was spotted by the maid in front of Mrs. Lu, and someone immediately came to greet him, smiling and bowing as they led him into the main room, calling out: "Madam, Sixth Master has arrived!"

  After this voice fell, a slightly unpleasant humming sound came from the inner room: "Let him in!"

  That maid smiled and stopped, making a gesture to indicate that Ling Yuqing should go in. Ling Yuqing saw her with a look of schadenfreude on her face, couldn't help but feel annoyed, and gave her a white eye before taking a step forward, closing the curtain behind him: "Mother, I've come to pay my respects!" He called out with a smile, quickly walking a few steps to stand in front of Mrs. Lu, who was sitting on the kang, looking at him coldly, and bowed to her.

  Mrs. Lu was already in her late forties, but due to her pampered life, she looked like a woman in her thirties. Her oval face, slender eyebrows, and almond-shaped eyes were all perfectly proportioned, with a smooth, pale complexion that still made her look stunning even at this age. However, her thin lips and slightly downturned mouth gave her an austere and unyielding appearance. When she saw Ling Yuancheng enter with a smile on his face, her already unpleasant expression turned even darker: "You've finally remembered to come? Did you go to your uncle's house?" Her tone was severe, almost accusatory.

  Several maidservants on her side knew that the mother and son must have something to say, so when they saw Ling Yuancheng coming in, they tactfully retreated.

  After the crowd dispersed, Ling Yuancheng's face turned gloomy and he said: "Yesterday I was originally going to go, but Xian Yang came, which delayed me! After returning in the afternoon, I drank too much again, and my head still hurts until now!"

  He went to do something yesterday, Mrs. Lu naturally knew everything clearly, and the reason why she scolded him just now was just to knock on him. At this moment, after hearing these words, she stared at him with a glance, and her face also slightly eased: "Forget it! What did he come to you for yesterday?"

  Ling Yuancheng knew that Lu Furen had her heart set on him marrying Xiao Chengyan, so he didn't dare to tell her the truth about Xiao Chengyan. Upon hearing this, his eyes flickered slightly before he smiled and said, "He didn't say anything, but I heard that Tang Manyun has arrived, perhaps he came here to avoid her!"

  Tang Manyun is Xiao Chengye's cousin, and she has secretly been in love with him for a long time, but unfortunately, the flower has fallen, and the water has no feelings.

  Mrs. Lu heard this and couldn't help but shake her head, feeling quite helpless: "You children, what are you thinking in your minds? I think Man Yun is a good kid, if it weren't for Xian Yin, I would have sent someone to propose to the Tang family long ago!"

  Ling Yuancheng suddenly heard this, and couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. He hastily called out: "Mother, you mustn't randomly match me with someone! Think about it, if I were to marry Man Yun, wouldn't it be awkward when I meet Cheng Ye again later?"

  Madam Lu gave him a glance and said: "You silly child, with Xian'er around, how could Mother settle for second best?"

  Ling Yuancheng did not listen to these words, it would be fine, but after hearing these words, he could not help but become more vigilant and determined. He decided not to inform Lu Furen about Xiao Chengyan's intentions for the time being. He sank into deep thought, without saying a word.

  Madam Lu asked again: "I heard you went with Xianyan to see Old Madam yesterday?"

  Although she asked vaguely, Ling Yuancheng couldn't help but understand what Mrs. Lu truly wanted to know. Yesterday, the fragrance of the flower spread throughout the Ling mansion, and it's not just Mrs. Lu, but also many families in the capital who have close ties with the Lings had heard about it. Without much hesitation, Ling Yuancheng smiled and said: "The old lady has heard that the flower has already wilted, although she didn't say anything, her expression seemed to be somewhat regretful!"

  Madam Lu heard this and only nodded lightly, but after a while she suddenly asked: "You have been in close contact with Jiu Mei, what do you think of her?"

  Ling Yuan's heart skipped a beat again, but he smiled and said, "Mother, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

  Mrs. Lu frowned: "What nonsense is this?"

  Ling Yuan Qing chuckled and said: "It's a lie, but it suits Xian Yu very well. My son is just trying to please her, that's why he's being so considerate of her everywhere!"

  Madam Lu heard this and could only helplessly glance at him: "Forget it, just tell the truth!"

  Ling Yuqing's face immediately changed, and she sternly said: "The truth is, I think Ninth Sister is worthy of my friendship in terms of both character and talent! Moreover, Mother, Ninth Sister is my own sister!"

  The previous question, Ling Yuanching answered with a playful smile and mischievous words, Mrs. Lu heard it with both helplessness and amusement, and in her heart, she didn't take this matter seriously, but unexpectedly, Ling Yuanching's next sentence was serious in tone and firm in language.

  Her thin lips suddenly pursed into a stern curve, and Mrs. Lu coldly rebuked: "Are you accusing me?"

  Ling Yuancheng took a step forward, knelt down with a thud, and said calmly: "How dare the son blame his mother! The son only wants to say one sentence, Ninth Sister is indeed the daughter of Aunt Zhou, but she is also Mother's daughter. In the past, when she was at Miaofeng Mountain, no one paid attention to her, that's fine. But now she has returned to Pingjing, and is on good terms with Cheng Xian, and has some connections with Baili, how things will develop in the future is still unknown, I hope Mother will think thrice!"

  Mrs. Lu frowned, and for a long time, no one spoke. Ling Yuancheng also knelt at her feet, bowing his head in silence. The atmosphere in the room was so heavy that it was almost suffocating. Just as Ling Yuancheng was secretly regretting that he had spoken too directly and too early, a clear voice suddenly came from outside: "Madam, Sixth Master, someone has brought something from Ninth Miss!"

  Mrs. Lu was already unhappy in her heart, but she couldn't scold her youngest and most beloved child. Just then, Yu Dai sent someone to summon her, making Mrs. Lu feel like she had found a pillow just when she needed it. She immediately said loudly, "Tell her to come in!"

  She said with her mouth, but also gave Ling Yuancheng a glance: "You get up first!"

  Ling Yuancheng stood up, but couldn't help looking at the door with a worried expression. The curtain in the inner room moved at this moment, and the person who came in was someone Ling Yuancheng knew, it was Wen Ping, who was extremely trusted by Yuan Dai.

  Wen Ping stepped forward and bowed with a smile: "Greetings, madam! Greetings, Sixth Master!"

  Ling Yuqing glanced at Madame Lu's expression, knowing that she was about to erupt, and hastily smiled before she did: "So it's Wenjing! What brings you here? Has your young mistress sent you with some precious gift?"

  Mrs. Lu, although she had a mind to make a scene, was preempted by Ling Yuqing, and in front of Wenping and others, she couldn't bear to lose face for her own son, so she had to put on a stern expression and remain silent. Wenping was originally an astute person, as soon as he came in and saw Mrs. Lu's expression, he knew it wasn't good. At this moment, seeing Ling Yuqing intentionally giving her an excuse, he was naturally grateful, and hurriedly smiled: "As for what the young master and Sixth Master said, the other day our courtyard's hibiscus flower bloomed, after the flower wilted, Miss couldn't bear to just throw it away, so she thought of a way, made some pastries, and asked me to bring them over for you to try, also to fulfill some filial piety!"

  Madam Lu heard this and coldly laughed, saying: "Your Miss's filial piety is indeed great, how could it be that you were sent here? This filial piety is really well done!"