Daily Life of a Powerful Official Supporting His Wife

Chapter 43

Fu Mansion.

Cheng Lingyan was sixteen years old. As a young lady from an official family, the Fu family's doors should have been flooded with wedding invitations by now, but surprisingly, few families wanted to marry her. The main reason was Cheng Lingyan's unruly behavior that day, publicly offending Lu Bao'er. Back then, Lu Bao'er held little influence, yet within just two years, she had risen to the position of Imperial Academy Attendant Scholar, a truly astonishing achievement.

What about the future? If he married Cheng Lingyan as his clan wife, she would have to represent his family when meeting guests. With such an antagonist against Lu Baoer, who would dare to get close to her? Not to mention that she only had one grandmother, the Princess of Qingping, to gossip about.

The ladies in Kyoto are the most snobbish and accustomed to currying favor with the powerful. With this in mind, it is not an easy deal to negotiate.

There was a lady of a lower official rank who wanted to ask Cheng Lingyan to marry her son, but after hearing about Cheng Lingyan's personality, she was afraid that such a noisy bride would be arrogant and look down on her mother-in-law, causing unrest in the family all day long. After thinking it over, she gave up the idea.

Old Madam Su had planned for Cheng Lingyan, but unfortunately, Cheng Lingyan either found the several legitimate sons from clean families she recommended too poor or too low-ranking. Old Madam Su couldn't force her, so she didn't push it. She had originally wanted to favor Cheng Lingyan, arranging a good marriage for her before she left the Cheng family and made way for Lu Baoer. That way, even if something went wrong later, with Old Madam Su's hand in hand, the man wouldn't dare to do anything to Cheng Lingyan, but would instead be obedient and respectful, a good ending.

Unfortunately, even though Cheng Lingyan knew that she was not her biological granddaughter, she thought that only Mr. Fu knew about this and he had kept it a secret from Mrs. Su. As long as her biological granddaughter was not found, this drama would have to go on. So she made a fuss without any fear and no one cared about her.

She had made up her mind. She didn't know when she would be kicked out of the house, so she wanted to find a good marriage, at least better than Lu Baoer, whom she looked down upon. Since Lu Baoer's husband was now a fifth-rank official, she had to find someone of a higher rank. She couldn't lose to Lu Baoer anyway.

In the past two years, Old Madam Su has been more diligent in inviting Lu Baoer to visit her house. Even Old Madam Su's daughter-in-law, Third Lady Sun Que, has met her and they have some friendship.

Today, Lu Baoer came to visit the Fu Mansion again. On the corridor, she ran into Sun Que, who was also coming to pay her respects to Old Madam Su. She smiled and said, "Third Madam, are you here to see the old lady as well?"

Sun Que smiled brightly when he saw Lu Baoer: "What a coincidence, we bumped into each other. I steamed some Poria cocos cakes here and was planning to send them to mother to try. It's a good thing you came, let's sit down and try them together."

Lu Baoer had two years of experience and was much more familiar with the ways of the world. She pinched her sleeves, pursed her lips and smiled, "This is a filial gift from the Third Madam to the Old Madam. I dare not eat it."

Sun Que was amused by her and laughed out loud: "With your mouth, no wonder mother likes you."

The two of them chatted and laughed as they walked to the flower hall, where Old Madam Su had been waiting for them. She caught a glimpse of Sun Que and Lu Baoer getting along well outside, and said to Aunt Zhao with a smile, "Sun Que is a good person."

Madam Zhao followed up on Old Lady Su's words and said, "Although she is a daughter of the General's Mansion and has been wielding swords and spears since she was young, she has a very good character. I see that the Third Madam and Madam Xie have a good impression of each other."

"That's good. If I take Baoer back home in the future, I'll always have an aunt who can talk to me."

Hearing this, Nanny Zhao's thoughts stirred. She asked, "Are you planning to tell Madam Xie about this?" Madam Su sighed and said, "I'll have to tell her sooner or later. Now I see that Master Xie is rising rapidly. If I wait another two years, until his family becomes prominent, and then I take Bao'er into the house, it will inevitably be a bit awkward. It will be as if I refused to acknowledge her because she is poor and humble."

"Old An is a kindhearted man, a truly excellent person. How could you say that? I believe that Madam Xie, having cared for you for so many years, must have noticed and understood your sentiments." Nanny Zhao thought of Cheng Lingyan and couldn't help but add, "People's temperaments are innate. If you don't believe me, look at that girl in the Ten Fragrance Courtyard. You've taken care of her since she was a child, and now she's plotting against you, pretending you know nothing."

Thinking of Cheng Lingyan, Old Madam Su sighed again. How could she not know what Cheng Lingyan was planning? Old Madam Su, with her connections, naturally knew about Cheng Lingyan's affair with Wu Cuizhan. She had originally thought that with Wu Cuizhan as her guide, she could easily return Cheng Lingyan to the Wu family. Who knew that at such a young age, she could be so vicious! Cheng Lingyan dared to kill even her own mother, so what else would she not dare to do?
Mrs. Su had originally thought that if Cheng Lingyan felt Wu Cuizhan was talking nonsense and therefore wanted to kill her, that was understandable. However, she changed her mind and realized that if Cheng Lingyan didn't believe Wu Cuizhan, what reason would she have to kill her?

It was obvious that Cheng Lingyan believed what Wu Cuizhan said and was afraid of being kicked out of the Fu Mansion, so she wanted to kill him.

A young girl, for the sake of fame and wealth, even killed her own mother. How can such a child not make people feel chilled?

So Madam Su endured it for two years and felt really uncomfortable, so she planned to talk to Lu Baoer about this matter so that she could be prepared.

Sun Que and Lu Baoer came to the flower hall together and chatted about family matters. Sun Que still had to settle the accounts of the third room, so he took his leave first, leaving Lu Baoer alone.

Madam Su had some of her favorite sweet cakes served, and after dismissing the servants, she spoke to her in a friendly manner, "Bao'er doesn't look very energetic today. Is there anything wrong?"

After Old Madam Su and Lu Baoer became familiar with each other, she took it upon herself to call her by her name affectionately. Lu Baoer loved Old Madam Su very much and usually treated her as close as her grandmother. Hearing this, she was terrified, afraid that what she and Xie Junling had done would be discovered. She shrank her neck with a guilty conscience and whispered, "It's okay, everything is fine! But why didn't Old An wear a forehead warmer today? If the wind blows later, I'll have a headache again."

With Lu Baoer's gentle and soft words of advice, Old Madam Su felt very happy. She said "Ah" happily, patted Lu Baoer's hand, and said carefully: "I called you here today because I have something to tell you."

"Just keep talking, Mr. An. I'm listening."

"If I tell you that you are actually my granddaughter, what will you do?"

Lu Baoer was startled, but she couldn't tell from Madam Su's face whether she was lying or joking. Despite this, Lu Baoer still said, "Madam, please stop joking. Your only granddaughter is Miss Ling Yan."

Madam Su sighed and said, "This is absolutely true. Not only do you look exactly like your mother, but my master has already sent someone to investigate your father, Lu Jin. You were indeed adopted into the Lu family and are my long-lost granddaughter. As for Ling Yan, it was my master who brought her home to ease my worries."

Lu Baoer was startled by this sentence and remained silent.

Outside, seeing no maid to stop her, Cheng Lingyan, who was familiar with the entrance to the flower hall, happened to hear these words. She was so frightened that she quietly slipped back to Shixiangyuan.

Madam Su actually acknowledged her relationship? So... Lu Baoer is her biological granddaughter? What should I do? What should I do?
Cheng Lingyan couldn't think of any other solution in her panic. She only knew that Lu Baoer couldn't be kept!
(End of this chapter)