Chapter 43

Fu Residence.

Cheng Lingyan is sixteen this year; in theory, as a lady of an official family, suitors should have already trampled through the gates of the Fu Residence, yet there are very few families that wish to marry her. The main reason is that on that day Cheng Lingyan behaved without any decorum and publicly offended Lu Bao'er. At that time Lu Bao'er was of low rank and little influence, but in just two years she rose to the position of Imperial Academy Attendant Scholar, which left people gaping.

What about the future? If one were to take Cheng Lingyan as a principal wife, she would then have to represent the family in receiving guests, and having this feud with Lu Bao'er, who would dare get close to her? Let alone she only has an outer‑grandmother, the Lady of Qingping County, to gossip with.

The ladies of the various families in Jingdu are the most opportunistic, accustomed to currying favor with power; with such scheming, it is no longer a deal worth negotiating.

There are indeed some low‑ranking ladies who wish to arrange a marriage between their legitimate son and Cheng Lingyan, but upon hearing about Cheng Lingyan's temperament, they fear that this newly‑wedded, high‑spirited bride would look down on her mother‑in‑law, causing constant domestic unrest; after weighing it, they lose interest.

Old Lady Su did try to scheme for Cheng Lingyan, but the legitimate sons she recommended, whose families were respectable, were either too poor or of too low a rank for Cheng Lingyan, and Old Lady Su could not force anyone, so she gave up. She originally thought, out of a particular fondness for Cheng Lingyan, that before she left the Cheng household, she could arrange a good marriage for her by moving Lu Bao'er's position. That way, even if something happened later, Old Lady Su would have leverage, and the other side would not dare to do anything to Cheng Lingyan, but would instead respectfully obey her, which would be a good ending.

Unfortunately, even though Cheng Lingyan knows she is not a biological maternal granddaughter, she assumes only Lord Fu knows this and keeps it hidden from Old Lady Su; as long as the true maternal granddaughter is not found, the charade must continue, so she brazenly causes trouble with no one to restrain her.

She has decided; not knowing when she might be thrown out, she wants to arrange a good marriage, at least one superior to the Lu Bao'er she despises. Since Lu Bao'er's husband is now of the fifth rank, she will seek someone of even higher rank, so she cannot be outdone by Lu Bao'er.

In the past two years, Old Lady Su has been even more eager to invite Lu Bao'er to the residence as a guest; even Su's daughter‑in‑law, the Third Consort Sun Que, has met her and they have some acquaintance.

Today Lu Bao'er came to Fu Residence again as a guest, and in the corridor she ran into Sun Que, who was also going to pay respects to Old Lady Su, and laughed, "Third Madam, you're also here to see the old lady?"

Sun Que saw Lu Bao'er and beamed, "What a coincidence, we've run into each other. I've steamed some Poria cakes and was planning to send them to my mother to try. You came at the right time, let's sit together and taste them."

Having two years of experience, Lu Bao'er is far more adept at social customs now. She pinched her sleeve, pursed her lips and smiled, "This is Third Madam's offering of filial piety to the old lady; I dare not eat it."

Sun Que laughed out loud at her teasing, "With a mouth like yours, no wonder mother likes you."

The two chatted and laughed as they walked to the Flower Hall, where Old Lady Su had been waiting long ago. She glanced at Sun Que getting along well with Lu Bao'er outside, smiled, and said to Grandma Zhao, "Sun Que is indeed a good one."

Grandma Zhao followed Old Lady Su's lead, saying, "Although she is the general's daughter, having practiced sword and spear since childhood, her temperament is excellent; from what I see, Third Madam and Madam Xie have a certain affinity."

"That's just right; if we bring Bao'er back to the residence later, we'll need an aunt who can speak in kind."

Hearing this, Grandma Zhao's mind stirred, and she asked, "Are you planning to tell Madam Xie about this?"

Old Lady Su sighed, "It will have to be said sooner or later; now I see Lord Xie rising swiftly. If we wait two more years until his household becomes illustrious and I bring Bao'er into the residence, I'll inevitably lose some satisfaction, as if I had refused her when she was poor and humble."

"Old An is kind‑hearted, a first‑class good person; how could one say that? I think, after all the years you've looked after Madam Xie, she remembers it and won't misunderstand," Grandma Zhao thought of Cheng Lingyan and added, "People's temperaments are innate; don't you think? Look at the one from Ten Fragrance Courtyard. You've cared for her since childhood, yet now she's scheming against you, as if you know nothing."

Thinking of Cheng Lingyan, Old Lady Su sighed again. How could she not know what Cheng Lingyan was plotting in her heart? The incident with Wu Cuizan that day, Old Lady Su's hands were everywhere, so she naturally knew. She had originally thought a Wu Cuizan connection could guide things, later letting Cheng Lingyan return to the Wu family. Yet she never imagined the young girl's mind could be so vicious! Cheng Lingyan even dared to kill her own birth mother; what else could she not do?

Old Lady Su first assumed that if Cheng Lingyan thought Wu Cuizan was spouting nonsense, that might spark a murderous intent, which was understandable. Yet on reconsideration she realized that if Cheng Lingyan didn't trust Wu Cuizan, what reason would she have to kill to silence someone?

Clearly, Cheng Lingyan believed Wu Cuizan's words, feared being expelled from Fu Residence, and thus developed murderous intent.

A young girl, for wealth and honor, would even murder her birth mother. Such a child makes one's heart cold.

So Old Lady Su endured two years, feeling deeply uneasy, and decided to tell Lu Bao'er about this, giving her a heads‑up.

Sun Que and Lu Bao'er entered the Flower Hall together, exchanged a few family matters, and Sun Que, having accounts from the Third Consort to settle, excused herself, leaving Lu Bao'er alone.

Old Lady Su had a few of her favorite sweet cakes placed, dismissed the servants, and kindly asked, "Bao'er, you look a bit low‑spirited today; is something uncomfortable?"

After becoming familiar with Lu Bao'er, Old Lady Su took the liberty of calling her by name affectionately. Lu Bao'er liked Old Lady Su, treating her like a grandmother. Hearing this, she was startled, fearing that her deeds with Xie Junling might be exposed, and, with a guilty heart, whispered, "Nothing, I'm fine! By the way, why isn't Old An wearing a warm headband today? The wind will make my head ache later."

With Lu Bao'er's gentle reminder, Old Lady Su felt a warm glow in her heart, let out a sigh of "Ah," patted Lu Bao'er's hand, and said thoughtfully, "I called you here today because I have something to tell you."

"Old An, go ahead, I'm listening."

"If I tell you that you are actually my maternal granddaughter, how would you react?"

Lu Bao'er was startled, but from Old Lady Su's face she could not discern a lie or a joke. Nevertheless, Lu Bao'er replied, "Old lady, stop joking. As far as I know, my only maternal granddaughter is Miss Lingyan."

Old Lady Su sighed, "It is absolutely true. Not only does your appearance match your mother's, but my husband already sent someone regarding your father Lu Jin's matter. You were indeed adopted back into the Lu family; you are my long‑lost maternal granddaughter. As for Lingyan, she was the child my husband brought home years ago to soothe my heart."

Lu Bao'er was shocked by this and fell silent.

Outside, seeing no maid to block her, Cheng Lingyan, who knew the way well, arrived at the Flower Hall doorway just as she heard those words. She was terrified, her spirit fled, and she slipped back to Ten Fragrance Courtyard.

Old Lady Su actually acknowledged kinship? Then… Lu Bao'er is her maternal granddaughter? What to do? What to do?

In her panic, Cheng Lingyan could think of no other solution; she only knew, Lu Bao'er must not stay!