Just when Cheng Suying was so aggrieved that she couldn't speak, a generous and warm voice came from beside her, "Suying, did they break your things?"
When Cheng Suying heard Lu Lingjun's voice, the grievances she had been holding back burst out immediately, and two lines of tears fell uncontrollably, "You gave it to me, mother. It was a kite that Aunt Wang sent from Jiangnan. They picked it up and didn't return it to me. They even tore it up for me."
"Who told you not to play with us!" Cheng Bingzhi yelled.
"Young Madam, they are young..."
"It's not your turn to speak, Aunt Li." Lu Lingjun didn't even look at Li Bixi. Her eyes fell on Cheng Bingzhi who was kneeling.
"Bingzhi, so you admit that you broke your elder sister's kite?"
"She was the one who chased us for it. If she hadn't chased me, I wouldn't have torn it. She even pushed me." Cheng Bingzhi argued cunningly.
Lu Lingjun looked into his eyes and said, "Just tell me whether you have it or not."
Cheng Bingzhi was still afraid of Lu Lingjun. He was the youngest son of the Marquis's Mansion and was usually spoiled by Aunt Li in their own courtyard. His father Cheng Yunshuo's favoritism towards their courtyard made him like a little bully in the backyard of the Marquis's Mansion. The maids and servants would give in to him, and his brothers would not provoke him. In the entire backyard, the only person he was afraid of was Lu Lingjun.
She looked at him so sternly that Cheng Bingzhi was so frightened that he dared not speak.
"Yes or no?" Lu Lingjun asked again.
Cheng Bingzhi was so scared that he almost cried.
His sister then said, "Madam, it was Bingzhi who tore it, but Daddy said that Xiying is the elder sister and should give in to us. Could it be that Daddy was wrong?"
Cheng Bingzhi nodded, "Daddy said, Daddy is right."
Lu Lingjun chuckled as she looked at the two children. "Your father is indeed right. As a big sister, Siying should give in to you."
The two children looked at Lu Lingyun.
"But I want to tell you the second half of this. It's not just your sister who has obligations. You, as brothers and sisters, also have obligations. If your sister gives in to you, you should respect and love her. If you don't respect and love her, then there's no need for her to give in to you all the time."
Cheng Suying and Cheng Bingzhi both widened their eyes when they heard this.
"Yesterday you broke your sister's kite, and you said your sister pushed you. You two had a back-and-forth, so let's call it a draw, okay?" Lu Lingjun said.
Cheng Suying was the first to nod. She didn't want to argue with them anyway.
It wasn't because she pushed Cheng Bingzhi, but because Cheng Yunshuo's biased father hurt her heart yesterday, and she didn't want to bother with them anymore.
Otherwise she would have to settle accounts with them for stealing her kite!
They started with their hands, and continued to bully her before she fought back.
Cheng Lanying and Cheng Bingzhi looked at each other and nodded.
"Putting aside the matter of stealing the kite, do you two still want to apologize to your sister?" Lu Lingjun continued.
"Why!"
"It's because your sister has never blamed you since she came out, but you, her brothers and sisters, keep using your father to pressure her!"
When Cheng Suying heard this, her eyes lit up completely.
Her mother understands her!
Her mother still protects her!
Know all her grievances!
"If you are right, then use reason to speak. All you keep saying is what your father said. What do you want your sister to say? Do you want her to say that her father is not good? You are clearly setting her up and using your father to pressure her!"
"Young Madam! You're too kind! They are just children." When Li Bijie heard Lu Lingjun say this, she hurried out to speak.
If they continue talking about this, they will both be guilty of a serious crime!
Even if they really think so, they still do it!
Lu Lingyun's eyes fell on Li Bixi, "Auntie Li, you are right, they are just children. If children don't learn well, it's because the adults didn't teach them well. I won't punish them today. You go back and copy the book a hundred times for Lanying and Bingzhi. If it happens again, I will have to take the two children in and teach them myself."
Upon hearing this, Li Bixi nodded her head vigorously, "Thank you, Madam!"
She accepted the punishment respectfully and took the two children away from Lu Lingjun.
Li Bixiang left Lu Lingjun in disappointment.
After leaving her courtyard, Li Bixi's humble appearance returned to her usual forbearance. She returned to her own courtyard, closed the door, and looked at her two children, "Lanying, Bingzhi, did you see that the people in that courtyard are biased."
Cheng Lanying and Cheng Bingzhi looked at their mother, slightly puzzled.
What Lu Lingjun just said to them actually makes a lot of sense.
Li Bixi looked at the ignorant child and snorted coldly, "If she is not biased, she still made a mistake. Why are you the only ones punished and she, Cheng Suying, is not punished? And you said that you used your father to pressure her. Your father was not wrong in the first place. If Cheng Suying dares to be dissatisfied, she is unfilial! What did you say wrong!"
Cheng Lanying suddenly realized, and she felt as if she had been fooled.
That's right, their father is never wrong, their father likes them, so they are right, and those who can be suppressed by their father are bad!
"But you can't easily bring your father out again, otherwise they will take advantage of you. The lady in the courtyard is still thinking about taking you away from your mother!"
Cheng Lanying and Cheng Bingzhi heard this and said, "We don't want to leave mom!"
"That girl in the courtyard is really bad! She just wants to bully us!"
Li Bixi looked at the two of them with satisfaction. She hugged them with her hands and said, "Who said that mother is just a concubine? But mother is willing to endure any hardship for you. You just need to remember mother's kindness!"
After hearing this, Cheng Lanying and Cheng Bingzhi both nodded repeatedly.
"We will never forget our mother."
"We will definitely let our mother live a good life!"
At this time, in Lu Lingyun's yard.
After Li Bixiang left with the two children, Cheng Suying jumped into Lu Lingyun's arms like a little kitten.
"mother!"
"What's going on here?"
Cheng Suying said in a muffled voice in Lu Lingyun's arms, "Mother is the best in the world."
"You little girl, you always say such nice things to coax me." Lu Lingjun hugged Cheng Suying.
"I'm telling you the truth. Mother is the only one in the world who treats Siying the best. Daddy..."
"What happened to your father?"
"Forget it, I won't talk about him anymore." Cheng Suying pouted, "From now on, I will treat him as the father of Cheng Lanying and Cheng Bingzhi, not my father!"
Lu Lingyun: "..."
After Cheng Suying finished speaking, she went back to her room in a huff.
Lu Lingjun smiled when he saw this.
Partiality has always been Cheng Yunshuo's characteristic, but she felt that Cheng Yunshuo might not necessarily favor Cheng Lanying.
In the evening, Cheng Yunshuo returned home.
Today he came to Lu Lingyun's yard specifically.
"Is there anything going on today?" Lu Lingjun looked at him and asked.
In the past few years, Cheng Yunshuo rarely came to her yard, only on the first and fifteenth days of the month for routine work. Otherwise, he would come to her to discuss things when he encountered problems.
The rest of the time, I'm with Bixi.
Everyone in the Marquis's Mansion knew that their prince was such a person. He gave all his favor to his concubine, but he gave enough face and respect to Lu Lingyun.
Not half as good as her.
Therefore, even if Li Bixi was favored, she could not shake Lu Lingyun's position at all.
"Something happened." Cheng Yunshuo took off the yellow armor that represented the commander of the Imperial Guards.
In six years, Cheng Yunshuo gradually rose to the position of commander.
Of course, some of this was due to the path paved for him by Lu Lingjun.
"What is it?"
Cheng Yunshuo is now the commander of the South Gate of the Imperial Guards and is well-informed. Today is a grand court meeting, and as soon as the court was adjourned, he heard about military intelligence outside the northwest border. There was a famine in the northwest Hu land, and the Hu people were heading towards the border and had already captured a city.
Cheng Yunshuo's hometown is outside the northwest border.
Their Ningyang Marquis Mansion is a wealthy family that made its fortune in the northwest frontier.
"The Northwest Beards have invaded and have already lost one of our cities."
Lu Lingjun listened to Cheng Yunshuo's words and frowned in thought.
In her previous life, she was obsessed with career development in Jiangnan and didn't know much about the enemy situation in the north, but she remembered the general trend.
Over the past ten years, wars broke out in both the north and the south, but they were all put down.
She knew more about the Japanese invasion of the Jiangnan region in the following years, and about several good battles that became famous throughout the court and the country, but she didn't know much about the war in the north.
She could only rely on her memory to remember the general direction.
"We are a great country, and we have nothing to fear from the barbarians in the northwest."
Cheng Yunshuo nodded, but his brows were furrowed. "Those bearded men are nothing to be afraid of, but the incident happened at the northwest border. Your Majesty is now mobilizing troops and is in need of a commander."
Lu Lingjun looked at him and asked boldly, "Sir, do you want to go?"
"I don't have that talent."
Lu Lingyun: "..."
It was Cheng Yunshuo for sure. I almost thought he had changed his personality.
However, as the saying goes, he who knows himself is wise, and he who knows others is enlightened. Cheng Yunshuo has such a clear understanding of himself that he can be considered a wise man to some extent.
If we can't do it, we won't go.
Just when Lu Lingjun thought Cheng Yunshuo was just talking casually, he continued.
"His Majesty has summoned my father to the palace."
Lu Lingyun: "..."
The old marquis was in poor health, due to hidden injuries from the past, plus he was angry at his good-for-nothing son. In the past few years, the marquis's mansion has been going smoothly, his wife has lived in peace, and the old marquis has been getting stronger day by day.
He and Qin had been living in a separate courtyard. It was said that they often went hunting in the mountains in spring and autumn, and they got a lot of mountain products.
He is still very strong despite his old age.
The most important thing is that he is the Marquis of Ningyang Marquis Mansion and has old subordinates in the northwest border. To this day, those old subordinates still respect Ningyang Marquis Mansion.
"It seems my father has to lead troops to fight in the war." Cheng Yunshuo sighed.
Lu Lingyun: "..."
Why does he sound a bit proud when he says this?
That night, the old marquis returned to the mansion.
Just as Cheng Yunshuo said, he received the emperor's order and was named General Pingxi. He was about to go to the northwest battlefield to pacify the Huzi.
When this news came, everyone in the marquis's mansion was shocked.
How long has Ningyang Marquis' Mansion been peaceful?
There has been no expedition for more than ten years.
The last time the old marquis went on an expedition was when he was young and followed his father to the border to quell a rebellion.
However, it was the aftermath of the war in the northwest at that time, and it was a minor conflict. They successfully put it down not long after they went there, and returned in glory.
Now that everyone knows that the old marquis is going to the war again, they are all curious and excited.
For those nobles who rose to power through military prowess, going to the battlefield is their honor.
Going back further, in earlier dynasties, only nobles were qualified to go to the battlefield and kill the enemies.
Civilians don't have this qualification at all.
Of course, the nobles had a bunch of slaves under their command who charged into battle, so they were not asking these noble nobles to engage in hand-to-hand combat.
But no matter what, they dared to go to the battlefield, fight the enemy and defend their own country, which is worthy of the wealth and luxury they enjoy on a daily basis.
Everyone in the Marquis' Mansion expressed their pride and admiration for the old Marquis returning to the battlefield.
Only the Qin family.
She was uneasy.
"We're leaving in three days?"
"That's right."
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Qin looked at the old marquis worriedly.
"The border is in danger. They have already swallowed one of our cities and are about to attack our important town in the northwest. Those bandits have not been so fierce in recent years. This time it will be a major war." said the old marquis.
He is not Cheng Yunshuo. He has been to the battlefield and has been paying attention to the developments in his hometown.
It was only six years ago that the northwest was in turmoil when his nephew Cheng Qi came to Beijing to look for his relatives.
But it was quickly pacified.
This time, the war outside the Great Wall was fierce, with real swords and guns, heading straight for the fortress. They had no choice but to go to the Ningyang Marquis' Mansion.
Qin was even more nervous when she heard this. "You are already old now. How can His Majesty be so cruel as to send you to the battlefield?"
The old marquis glanced at her and said, "If I don't go, will your son go?"
Qin: "…"
The northwestern border belongs to their Ningyang Marquis Mansion, where a large number of their old subordinates are located. It is impossible for them not to go there. The day the old marquis knew about the war was over has come.
The emperor summoned him to the palace today not because he wanted to directly appoint the old marquis. What he asked was about Cheng Yunshuo's abilities. Hearing this, the old marquis immediately stepped forward.
How could his useless son have such strength? It would be enough for him to be a royal guard and guard the palace. If he was asked to go to the battlefield, he would be giving away his own head!
He directly recommended himself to the emperor. Since he was still in good shape and had more intimidation to the old members of the Northwest Army, he took on the task of pacifying the Northwest without hesitation.
After hearing what the old marquis said, Qin was silent for a moment. Her eyes were filled with worry, but she couldn't say anything.
If her husband doesn't do it, should she ask her son to do it?
No, absolutely not.
"Master..."
The old marquis looked at her and said, "We are the people who work for the emperor. We are the Ningyang Marquisate, and we have to defend the border for the country. You don't have to worry. Stay at home with Yunshuo and Yuner. If there is anything, please discuss it with Yuner. She is capable of taking charge."
"Um."
Qin was like a little woman at this moment, responding with uncertainty.
The third day arrived quickly.
On this day, all the people in the mansion were seeing the old marquis off to the battle.
Qin was standing at the front wearing the robes of a marquis' wife, with Cheng Yunshuo and Lu Lingjun standing on her left and right.
Cheng Yunshuo wore the court robes of the Dragon Guards, and Lu Lingjun followed suit, wearing the fifth-grade imperial robes of the same rank.
Beside her were five children lined up in a row.
At the end were the concubines of the marquis's mansion.
The old marquis' concubines, who had been driven back to their home nunnery today, also came out to see them off.
The old marquis looked at the huge group of people in front of him, and his eyes fell on Qin first, "Stay safe at home and wait for me to come back."
"Um."
Qin couldn't help but hold the hands of the people on her left and right.
"Mom, the Northwest Beards are just scattered soldiers, and Dad is unparalleled in his bravery. We will definitely capture them easily this time. Don't worry."
The old marquis was furious when he heard this and rolled his eyes at him. It was just because they were in number, he should have given this fool a couple of beatings.
He still has the nerve to talk so casually about Hu Zi, praising his father's bravery. Doesn't he see that at his prime age, instead of going to the battlefield to make achievements, he wants his father with white hair to do it. Aren't he ashamed of himself?
The old marquis was too lazy to pay attention to his silly son. He turned to look at Lu Lingyun and said, "Yun'er, this home is yours."
"Don't worry, father. Yun'er will take good care of the mansion and wait for your triumphant return."
After hearing Lu Lingjun's words, the old marquis's expression improved a lot.
He nodded to Lu Lingyun with satisfaction.
Although he had an unpromising son, he was lucky enough to marry a good daughter-in-law who could support the family.
His eyes dropped down to the five children again.
Seeing his five grandchildren, the old marquis' eyes were once again filled with emotion. The Cheng family has always had few descendants, and it is fortunate that this generation has so many children.
Otherwise, if he only relied on Cheng Yunshuo, the only heir to support the family, he felt that the Cheng family would be doomed after this expedition.
Fortunately, fortunately...
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel more satisfied with his daughter-in-law Lu Lingjun.
His eyes fell on Cheng Bing'an, the oldest of the group. "Bing'an, you are the eldest grandson of the Marquis's Mansion. You must shoulder the responsibility of being the eldest brother."
"Yes, grandpa." Having been raised by Lu Lingjun since he was a child, Cheng Bingan, at a young age, has already become quite calm. He assured the old marquis.
The old marquis touched his head with satisfaction, and he looked at Cheng Binghao and Cheng Suying beside him.
Cheng Suying looked at him with bright eyes.
Cheng Binghao's temperament was different from both of them. He took the initiative to speak, "Grandpa, you are great."
The old marquis smiled, "You are great too!"
After he finished speaking, he touched the heads of the twins Cheng Binghao and Cheng Suying, then turned around and glanced at Cheng Bingzhi and Cheng Lanying.
Cheng Bingzhi and Cheng Lanying were both extremely afraid of the old marquis.
Because he was the one who could deal with their father, their father didn't even dare to breathe in front of him, and would be scolded whenever they met him during the holidays.
As a result, they were extremely afraid of this grandfather.
Cheng Lanying was older, so she didn't shrink back in fear, but she didn't dare to look at him and just lowered her head.
When Cheng Bingzhi met the old marquis's gaze, he was so frightened that he simply dodged back and hid behind his aunt Li Bi'e.
When Li Bixiang saw this, she quickly pushed her son.
"Bingzhi, say goodbye to Grandpa quickly. I wish Grandpa a successful start, a great victory over the enemy, and a safe return."
How could Cheng Bingzhi dare to speak to the majestic and stern old marquis? He hugged Li Bi'er's legs tightly and looked at the old marquis tremblingly.
"Bingzhi, that's your real grandfather."
"Bingzhi, didn't you tell your auntie before you left that you had a lot to say to grandpa? Come on, tell me!"
Li Bixi kept pushing Cheng Bingzhi.
There was nothing to say. It was all Li Bijie who taught Bingzhi over the past few days. She even checked him again before he left and asked him to memorize every word.
But at this critical moment, this child is so disappointing!
I don't even dare to say it!
When the old marquis saw this, he shook his head and turned away.
A group of people came together to see the old marquis off.
Lu Lingjun, Qin Shi, Cheng Yunshuo and their three children personally boarded a horse-drawn carriage and sent them ten miles outside the city.
After everyone left, Li Bixi looked at her two remaining children and was very disappointed. "Why are you two so disappointing? You don't please your grandfather!"
"We are not legitimate children, and grandfather doesn't like us anyway." Cheng Lanying muttered.
Cheng Suying and the other two were all raised under the mistress' name and were considered legitimate children, unlike them.
Their grandfather must be partial to them!
Li Bixi was furious when she heard this, but now she was outside, so she suppressed her anger and maintained her usual gentle and humble appearance, "Nonsense! The Marquis loves you all the same!"
After saying that, she led the two children hurriedly to her Bishui Garden.
Among the group of concubines, Qiu Ling and Ling Long looked at each other.
"Humph! This time she's really pissed me off!"
Linglong said.
During these six years, Li Bixi also tried to please them again and repair her relationship with them.
But after being tricked six years ago, Qiu Ling and Ling Long completely ignored her.
There wasn't that much pressure and competition in their mansion.
With Lu Lingjun in charge, as long as they can do their duties, they can live a comfortable and decent life in the Ningyang Marquis' Mansion.
There is no need to rack your brains to snatch men and fight for resources.
They have seen through Li Bixi's true face. All she has planned is to steal men. If she wants to steal men, let her steal them.
They won't serve!
In this way, Li Bijie could no longer poach them, and as time went on, the three of them maintained this kind of relationship.
They ignored each other and looked down on each other.
Qiu Ling looked at the two children being chased away by Li Bixi, "Children raised by an aunt are of no use."
As soon as she finished speaking, Linglong turned to look at her. Qiu Ling was frank and there was even a hint of pride in her eyes.
"Sister Qiu Ling, you are right. Just look at how our eldest young master grew up with the young mistress. He has an extraordinary demeanor at a young age. Aunt Li is really confused! She has to hold the two children in her hands!"
"If those two kids follow her, they will be ruined!"
Qiu Ling glanced at the people over there and said, "Don't worry about her. She can do whatever she wants. When her child grows up, she will know that he will definitely blame her!"
Qiu Ling, who has her own children, knows the pros and cons even better, and parents who love their children make far-sighted plans.
What can she give to the child? What can Lu Lingjun give to the child? She and Bixi are both concubines. If they don't give the child to the mistress, the child will be a bastard for the rest of their lives!
Li Bixi only looked at what was in front of her, only looked at herself, and held the child tightly in her hands. She was happy for a while now, but she would know when the child grew up.
The gap between the children is the gap between her and the mistress!
The child will blame her in the future!
I returned to Bishuiyuan and closed the door.
Cheng Bingzhi and Cheng Lanying were clamoring to play, and the fact that the old marquis had left the mansion made them happy and relaxed, saying that no one in the mansion would be able to suppress them anymore.
Bixi looked at her two heartless children and felt very disappointed with them.
How come the three children raised by Lu Lingjun all knew to get close to the old marquis Qin, but hers didn't know that!
Not long after, Cheng Yunshuo came back.
"My Lord."
"Um."
His father went to war today, so Cheng Yunshuo got a few days off and can relax in the Marquis' Mansion during these days.
As soon as I came back, I came to Bishuiyuan.
"How is the Marquis?"
"Leading the troops to war."
"The barbarians in the northwest are dangerous. My lord, you have worked hard for the Marquis's mansion." Li Bixi said gently.
Cheng Yunshuo glanced at her and said, "That's for the people of the world and for the trust of His Majesty."
Li Bixi: "..."
She seemed to take the family honor not seriously at all, and even thought his father was the same kind of person.
Isn't the purpose of achieving success and accomplishment for one's own glory and wealth?
What is this, for the world, for the people, for the emperor's order? It's okay to fool others with these nonsense, but how can you believe it yourself?
Isn't this a fool?
Forget it, she should have known that Cheng Yunshuo was a man with no ambition.
If he had any ambition, he wouldn't have let Lu Lingjun be the boss and ride on his head.
But Li Bixi didn't dare to say more, let alone persuade him.
She is not Xing Dairong, who would righteously ask Cheng Yunshuo to make achievements and build a career so that she can benefit from it.
She was not like Du Ruo, who blindly admired Cheng Yunshuo and always thought he was a capable hero.
He had no requirements for Cheng Yunshuo. He just wanted him to do a good job as the eldest son of the marquisate and provide adequate protection for her and the children.
It is better for her that he does not have any ambitions and does not try to achieve anything great. All the credit will be earned by his father and he can just enjoy himself.
"Is the Marquis very disappointed with Bingzhi?" Li Bixiang carefully tested.
She doesn't care about anyone else, she only cares about herself and her son and daughter.
The most important thing is my son.
"No." Cheng Yunshuo said casually.
"But just now the eldest and second young masters both satisfied the old marquis, but our Bingzhi... He is young, and his education is not as good as the other two young masters. He didn't even dare to answer the marquis' questions. The marquis must be very disappointed..."
As she spoke, Li Bixi looked at Cheng Yunshuo tentatively.
"What's the matter?"
Cheng Yunshuo glanced at Cheng Bingzhi who was playing in the yard. "He is timid and cowardly. Sometimes he is afraid of me. What do you expect him to do?"
A few days ago, he saw several children fighting over kites. No one else was crying except him. It was obvious from looking at him that he was a coward.
Among the five children, he is the most timid.
Li Bixi: "…"
"But today is the day when the Marquis is going to the battle. Bingzhi's poor performance must have disappointed the Marquis, especially since his two brothers are so outstanding."
"Let him be disappointed. If Bingzhi can't compare to Bing'an and Binghao, then don't compare. When he grows up, as long as he has the Marquis' Mansion, he can be a rich and idle person. What's wrong with that?"
Li Bixi: "…"
She really couldn't bear it any longer. Cheng Yunshuo, this man with no ambition, not only wanted to be a rich and idle person, but also wanted to arrange for her child to have this path.
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
She wants her Bingzhi to inherit the Marquis' Mansion in the future!
Even if his generation's Marquisate was to be stripped of its title and he could only inherit the earldom, her son would still be the next Earl of Ningyang!
As she spoke, Li Bixiang was about to cry, looking aggrieved and sad.
"I know Bingzhi is not as good as the eldest and second young masters, but the more this happens, the more worried I am. Bingzhi is already four years old. The eldest and second young masters both entered Tianfu Academy at his age. Bingzhi's talent is not as good as his two brothers, and I'm afraid the gap will be even bigger in the future."
Two years ago, Cheng Bing'an and Cheng Binghao reached school age, and Lu Lingjun sent them both to Tianfu Academy.
Now it is time for Cheng Bingzhi to enter school, but there is no movement from Lu Lingjun and no intention of making any arrangements.
Li Bi'e looked at Cheng Yunshuo pitifully with her gentle and submissive eyes.
Her words and actions hinted at only one thing, which was that it was time for Cheng Bingzhi to go to school.
You still have to go to Tianfu Academy.
She came from the imperial palace, so she saw the value of Tianfu Academy at a glance.
The best academy in the capital, if she wants her son Bingzhi to inherit the Marquisate, then naturally she has to start by attending the best academy.
Cheng Yunshuo heard her words and thought about it carefully. "Bingzhi is old enough to go to school. It's time to arrange something for him."
Li Bixi was delighted when she heard this, "Thank you, my Lord!"
Although Cheng Yunshuo is a man who doesn't have great achievements or big surprises for others, he usually doesn't shirk his responsibilities.
Li Bixi was very satisfied with him on this point.
This is also where he is always being controlled.
At this time, Xiaoju brought tea, "Master, Aunt Li."
"Is this your special tea again?" Cheng Yunshuo glanced at the tea.
Before Li Bixi opened her mouth, Xiaoju said, "Yes, this is the new tea material that Aunt Li dried yesterday. Aunt Li specifically asked me to make it today and wait for you to come back and drink it."
Li Bixian glanced at the fragrant, rich tea in Xiaoju's hand and said, "My Lord, if you don't want to drink it today, forget it."
"Since you dried it yourself, I'll drink it." Cheng Yunshuo took the teacup and drank the tea that Li Bijie dried herself.
Since having Bingzhi, Li Bixiang would personally prepare food and drinks for Cheng Yunshuo.
She used to be a cook, good at cooking, making snacks and soups. In the past two years, she started to dry and boil tea for him.
Cheng Yunshuo had no interest in expensive flattery such as gold and silver, but if it was something made by himself, no matter how big or small, he would accept it with all his heart.
I'm afraid of disappointing others.
After drinking the tea made by Li Bixi, Cheng Yunshuo left Bishuiyuan refreshed and went to Lu Lingyun's yard.
In Bishui Garden, Li Biheng looked at Cheng Yunshuo who left like this, and a smile slowly appeared on the corner of her mouth.
In Lu Lingyun's yard.
Lu Lingjun had just come out of Qin's house.
The old marquis's departure for the war had a great impact on Qin, so she returned to live in the marquis's mansion. She no longer had the calm and solemn demeanor of a grandmother in charge of the family, and now she seemed helpless.
When she spoke to Lu Lingjun today, her tone became softer, and there was a hint of uneasiness in her words. She kept talking to her and needed Lu Lingjun to comfort her.
Lu Lingjun finally managed to calm her down and told her to bring the children to pay their respects to her every day. Only then did she reluctantly let her go.
As soon as she returned to the yard with Siying and her three children, she saw Cheng Yunshuo.
"The prince is here."
"father."
"father."
"Father."
Cheng Bing'an and Cheng Binghao both called him dad, but Cheng Suying called him father coldly.
When Cheng Yunshuo heard Cheng Suying's different name, he looked at her, but Cheng Suying was too lazy to even look at him and just turned to look at Lu Lingjun.
"Mom, I'm tired. I want to go back to the house and rest first."
Seeing Cheng Suying not bothering to pay attention to her father, Lu Lingjun smiled faintly, "Go back."
After receiving her order, Cheng Suying turned around and left.
The remaining two children also said, "Mom, let's go back to the house too. The teacher will have an exam tomorrow and we need to review our lessons."
"Let's all go."
Lu Lingyun nodded at them.
Cheng Bing'an and Cheng Binghao simply bowed to Cheng Yunshuo and turned away.
"Lingyun, you have raised these three children very well."
After the three children left, Cheng Yunshuo said.
Lu Lingjun looked at him curiously, "Really?"
"Well, I can tell at a glance that you, Lingyun, have taught well. Bing'an and Binghao have also done well in the academy."
"By the way, Bingzhi is also of school age. Shouldn't you ask him to go to school with Bingan and Binghao?"
Lu Lingjun understood after hearing this.
Haha, there must be a reason why I came over to praise her out of nowhere.
This man is also good at expressing himself in a tactful way and knows how to lay the groundwork.
But he just came here with nothing in his mouth and said a few nice words and wanted her to arrange Tianfu Academy for Li Bi'e's son?
He really thought too much.
"Bingzhi has reached school age. Does the prince want him to enter Tianfu Academy as well?" Lu Lingjun asked directly.
She was too lazy to practice Tai Chi with Cheng Yunshuo. Cheng Yunshuo was simple-minded and took Tai Chi seriously. He might even think that she was a virtuous and kind mistress who would arrange things for him as soon as he opened his mouth.
"Yes, I want Bingzhi to go to school with his brothers."
"That prince is really making things difficult for me!" Lu Lingjun slapped him in the face without mercy.
"How could this be possible!" Cheng Yunshuo looked at Lu Lingjun and flattered him, "Lingjun, if you can send Bingan and Binghao to Tianfu Academy, you can definitely send Bingzhi too."
Lu Lingjun snorted coldly, "Prince, do you think Tianfu Academy is a cabbage on the roadside? I can buy as many as I want? It is the best academy in the capital!"
"Nowadays, those who want to enter Tianfu Academy can't get a place even if they push through the barriers. I have been close friends with the eldest young lady of Duke Xu's mansion for many years, and I only got two places in the first two years when the management was lax. Now the admission threshold is extremely high. You need three great scholars to be introducers, and you also have to take an examination. How can I get a place!"
Cheng Yunshuo heard this and said, "Then think of a way. You must have one."
Lu Lingyun really laughed. She said mercilessly, "Sir, I am just a girl in the inner house. How can I know so many great scholars? But you, you are the child's biological father. You should have arranged the child's schooling. It's good that I didn't come to you for Bing'an and Binghao. Why did you come to me?"
After hearing what Lu Lingjun said, Cheng Yunshuo's ears turned red. He was a man with a strong sense of responsibility and he would not shirk his responsibilities unless he couldn't do it.
Seeing his embarrassed look, Lu Lingjun smiled in her heart. She silently said, "If it really doesn't work, the prince can arrange other academies for Bingzhi. Tianfu Academy is a top academy. Don't other academies produce talents?"
When Cheng Yunshuo heard this, he thought it made sense.
"Okay, I'll go ask someone first."
After Cheng Yunshuo finished speaking, he left Lu Lingjun.
Seeing him like that, Lu Lingjun couldn't help but smile.
Li Bixi wants her son to get resources from her with just a few words. What a joke!
After she gave her two chances to let him raise the children, but she refused, her two children were destined to have nothing to do with her in this life.
It is indeed not that important whether one is born legitimately or illegitimately, especially to one's father. They are all children of the same father, so there is no difference.
But for different mothers, there is a big difference.
No matter how favored Li Bijie is, she is just a concubine. All her resources come from Cheng Yunshuo. Now if she wants to go to Tianfu Academy, she has to ask Cheng Yunshuo for it.
But as the mistress of the house and a lady of a prominent family, Lu Lingjun has good relatives and friends on her natal side, so the resources here are a large extra portion.
It's impossible for the Cheng family to have it!
It's ridiculous that Li Bixi is holding on to her own child and refusing to give it to him, while at the same time wanting to use her resources.
Lu Lingjun gave Cheng Yunshuo some advice and told him to find a college for Cheng Bingzhi, which was also a warning to Li Bijie about her greed.
If she continues to push her limits, don't blame her, as the mistress of the house and the mother of her illegitimate son, for personally arranging a way for her in the next step.
A few days later, Cheng Yunshuo resumed his duty.
In Bishui Garden, as Li Bixi was waiting, Cheng Yunshuo finally took the initiative to talk to her about Cheng Bingzhi's schooling.
"I have already made the contact and will be able to send Bingzhi to school tomorrow."
Li Bixi was very surprised to hear this, "So soon? I remember that before Tianfu Academy students can enroll, the teacher has to come to your house to test them, right?"
Tianfu Academy has many rules. Even if you get the admission qualification, the teacher must come to see the child in person.
At that time, Cheng Bing'an and Cheng Binghao from Lu Lingyun's courtyard had both been seen.
It is said that it is to test the character and learning ability of the child.
For this reason, Li Bixi has been forcing Cheng Bingzhi to study in the house, either practicing calligraphy or memorizing.
At the very least, she should ask him to memorize the Three Character Classic when the teacher came to test him.
Cheng Bingzhi was extremely unwilling, but he was forced to recite the general idea haltingly.
Li Bixi was a little surprised to hear that Cheng Yunshuo had arranged the admission so quickly and would go directly tomorrow.
"It's not Tianfu Academy, it's a private school opened by my colleague's uncle." Cheng Yunshuo said, and added at the end, "His uncle was once the top scholar, and his private school is also very popular."
When Li Bixi heard this, her smile froze immediately. "Didn't we agree on Tianfu Academy?"
"It's not that easy to get into Tianfu Academy." Cheng Yunshuo continued, "The admission requirements are stricter this year. Three recommendations from great scholars are not enough. You also need a letter of recommendation from at least one classmate who passed the imperial examination."
Cheng Yunshuo asked seriously and felt even more discouraged after asking.
Tianfu Academy was established only six years ago, and in those six years, there were only a few students who were old enough to take the imperial examinations. Even Lu Lingjun's younger brother Lu Kuan was only going to take the imperial examination this spring.
Cheng Yunshuo still asked him about other people and found out that all the graduates were sent out. Lu Kuan was even considerate enough to help Cheng Yunshuo get a letter of recommendation, but he still had to figure out how to get the internal recommendation from the three great scholars.
Cheng Yunshuo didn't have the ability to do so, so he had to settle for the next best thing and found her a school recommended by a colleague.
"The young lady knows so many people, this must be easy for her!" Li Bijie blurted out.
Cheng Yunshuo turned to look at Li Bijie who said this.
Li Bixi met his gaze and continued, "Master, what I mean is that the young lady has a wide network of contacts and comes from a scholarly family. Although the threshold of Tianfu Academy is high, it is just a matter of a word for her."
Hearing this, Cheng Yunshuo's expression slightly darkened, "Lingyun is just a girl from the inner courtyard, how can she be so capable."
"But the eldest and second young masters both enrolled in school in the past two years."
"You don't know that it's getting harder for Tianfu Academy to recruit students. In the past two years, Ling Yun was able to get in through connections, but now it's impossible. In addition to being recommended by three great scholars, you also need a guarantor from a graduate who passed the imperial examination."
Afraid that Li Bixi would question him again about not putting enough effort into his work, Cheng Yunshuo hurriedly explained.
"I asked around for you, and it was Lingyun's brother who helped. He was able to get letters of recommendation from former seniors, but recommendations from three great scholars are too difficult to get."
Lu Lingjun didn't lie. Tianfu Academy is so strict now.
Of course, this is an internal recommendation from Tianfu Academy. Tianfu Academy also has formal external admissions.
But that is more strict than internal referral.
That means selecting only the absolutely talented students from all over the country.
For example, their requirements for external enrollment are that students must pass the examination to become a tongsheng before the age of ten and a xiucai before the age of fifteen.
If Cheng Bingzhi followed the external enrollment requirements of Tianfu Academy, he would never be able to get into Tianfu Academy in his lifetime.
As for internal referral, we will just examine the child's qualifications briefly, and as long as they are not extremely bad, we will accept you based on your background and recommenders.
But Li Bixiang knew it.
"Young Madam, do you think that Bingzhi is a bastard who was not raised under her name?" Li Bijie said sarcastically.
She didn't think Cheng Bing'an and Cheng Binghao were any better than her son.
It was obvious that Lu Lingjun was deliberately targeting her son.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I am of humble origin, just an old palace maid, but Bingzhi is your child after all." Whenever Li Bijie encountered issues related to children, her tone became much sharper.
"Young Madam, you can't be partial to one and only look at the young masters and young ladies in your own courtyard, and not take Bingzhi Lanying seriously."
Hearing this, Cheng Yunshuo frowned, "How could Ling Yun be partial to one person over another? She can be unfair sometimes!"
Lu Lingjun's character is well-known, and the person who benefits the most is Cheng Yunshuo, who has been helping him clean up the mess.
How could Cheng Yunshuo listen to this?
Seeing that she couldn't drive a wedge between them, Li Bi'e softened her tone, "My Lord, that's not what I meant. I was thinking that Bingzhi is also your child. His two older brothers are both studying at Tianfu Academy, but he's not here. The gap between them will definitely be huge in the future, right?"
Cheng Yunshuo frowned.
Seeing that he was slightly persuaded, Li Bixi struck while the iron was hot and continued, "Master, I only have one son, Bingzhi. Bixi has been lonely all her life, and this child is my greatest hope. You should just give Bixi a hope and ask the young lady to help!"
Her face, which was 80% similar to Xing Dairong's, was full of fragility and helplessness. Even though she was older and no longer looked young, this made Cheng Yunshuo even more upset.
If she were still alive, if she were still here, she would definitely have the same hope...
Since she can't rely on her man, she has to rely on her son.
Immediately, Cheng Yunshuo softened his heart.
"I'll go talk to Lingyun again."
Bixi's eyes lit up, "Thank you, Master!"
At this time, Lu Lingyun's main courtyard.
A young man in his early twenties, just reaching adulthood, was sitting among them.
He was wearing a moon-white robe and a simple hair crown. He did not have any expensive jade ornaments on his body. The only things hanging around his waist were a purse that he had used for many years and a wooden token.
The words "Tianfu" are written on it.
"How confident are you of passing the imperial examination this year?"
In Lu Lingjun's small flower hall, Chun Xing poured tea, Chun He brought snacks, and the young lady sitting in the middle, who was wearing a light blue spring dress, asked with a smile.
The young man in the white moon-colored robe opposite her took a sip of tea and spoke slowly.
"Ninety percent."
The young lady opposite heard this and smiled with eyes as bright as stars, "So confident?"
Seeing her smile, Lu Kuan said with a little embarrassment, "The academy has arranged several exams, and my grades are all acceptable. The teacher said that as long as I can maintain this level of performance, passing the Spring Examination will not be a problem."
"What about the palace examination?" Lu Lingjun personally poured him tea.
"My teacher, Grand Tutor Zhao, said that we should wait and see how my exam results are. As long as my exam results are good, he can cover the results of the palace exam no matter what they are."
Lu Kuan said truthfully.
He was actually very humble. He was a student who was highly expected in this year's Tianfu Academy. In the provincial examination two years ago, Lu Kuan won the first place and became the Jieyuan.
In this time's provincial and palace examinations, everyone was hoping that he would win the top three places.
When Lu Lingjun heard this, he smiled so hard that his teeth were showing.
What does this mean? This is a sure thing!
The road to the imperial examination is nothing more than this. First, you have to ensure that you have a certain level of strength, and then use all the resources you can to enter the best college. In the best college, you can enjoy the top resources. As long as your grades meet the requirements, you can enter the final round.
If at this time there are one or two respected seniors who recommend you and provide support, then a meteoric rise will await you.
Especially for someone like Lu Kuan, who had Lu Lingjun paving the way for him to enter Tianfu Academy first, and then sent Xuesongtu to become a disciple of Grand Tutor Zhao. As long as he follows the steps, there will be no major trouble.
This year's imperial examination will surely be a great success.
Moreover, the resources waiting for him in the future are not like those of Liu Shuhui and Li Wenxun, who achieved political achievements at the local level.
Following this path, Lu Kuan started his official career as a Beijing official.
A group of people will recommend him to the emperor's attention and help him walk on the most central and broadest path to success.
"Thank you so much, Grand Tutor Zhao!" Lu Lingjun said with a smile.
Lu Kuan looked at his sister's smile, and a slight smile appeared on the corner of his lips. "No, thank you, sister."
Lu Kuan is not a fool. The further he goes along the way, the brighter he feels that the future is. He has long felt that someone is helping him with all his might.
The academy that Lu Lingyun arranged for him, the tuition and living expenses that Lu Lingyun paid for him, and the cedar painting that Lu Lingyun gave him...
Lu Lingjun helped him with several key points.
If it weren't for Lu Lingjun, he would have been at a loss six years ago and wouldn't have known what to do.
It may not be difficult to pass the examination to become a scholar, but he may have to work hard for many years before he can pass.
Because there are no resources.
Instead of today, a few years ago he passed the provincial examination easily and won the first place.
Lu Kuan said this sincerely, looking at his sister, the only one in the family who helped him.
Lu Lingjun smiled, "I am your sister. We are a family. Why should we thank you? Just study hard for the exam."
"Also, I won't ask about your studies. What do you think about your own affairs?" Lu Lingjun chatted with him and asked about his personal affairs. "Are you still waiting for your mother to arrange something for you?"
Lu Kuan is twenty years old now.
This age is just the right time to discuss marriage. Lu Kuan has gradually come to the fore in recent years and has also gained some respect in the Lu family.
Especially when he passed the provincial examination and won the first place, it really surprised their father.
Old Man Lu never cared about Lu Kuan and always ignored this illegitimate son. He had said before that he would come to him to arrange his admission after he passed the imperial examination, but Lu Kuan never contacted him, so he simply forgot about it.
Who would have thought that one day, his colleagues congratulated him and said that he had given birth to a son who was the star of literature. Only then did he know that Lu Kuan was actually the first place winner in this year's provincial examination!
He came from the imperial examination system and knew the importance of the provincial examination. It was not easy to pass the examination. Yet, he, an unknown bastard's son, actually passed the examination and became a Liyuan!
Old Man Lu returned home and hurriedly looked for Lu Kuan. Only then did he realize that his son, whom he had never taken seriously, had changed so much without him noticing.
At that moment, the way he looked at him changed.
He felt that this son could be of great use!
From that time on, everyone in the Lu family began to pay attention to the third young master who was born out of wedlock.
At the same time, it was not only Father Lu whose mind changed, but also Mrs. Liu!
Liu was shocked and jealous at first, but later, as she watched her illegitimate son become more and more outstanding, she had already started to think about taking advantage of him.
What she can control is naturally Lu Kuan's marriage.
"Of course, I don't need her to make the decision on my affairs." Lu Kuan said quickly after hearing this.
There was dissatisfaction between his brows.
Hearing his tone, Lu Lingjun raised her eyebrows slightly, "Why do I feel like your tone has some other meaning? Are you dissatisfied with the one your mother chose for you?"
Lu Kuan frowned. In front of Lu Lingyun, he was unreserved. "She told me the other day that she wanted her niece to marry me."
"Aren't Qingping and Qingshuang married? Which niece does she have?"
The two sisters Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang got married early in recent years. Both of them married well and lived very well. They would come to visit Lu Lingjun during the holidays.
The two of them were much closer to her than to the Lu family.
"Of course it's not the two of them. It's a concubine's daughter from her mother's family, who is eight years younger than me."
Lu Kuan said.
Lu Lingjun: "…"
Lu Lingjun asked why she hadn't remembered that the Liu family had a daughter. The Liu family's illegitimate daughters were all too young! They weren't even in her memory!
Lu Kuan didn't despise her because she was a illegitimate daughter. Lu Kuan also felt that Liu was speechless. He was already twenty years old, and Liu was still thinking of marrying her twelve-year-old illegitimate niece to Lu Kuan.
It was like abacus beads hitting someone's forehead, making a clacking sound.
"She is also annoying. Whenever I go back home, she has to tell me about this. She also asked the little girl to come to my yard. The one time I saw her, I didn't talk to her at all. I asked her to leave, and she turned around and cried and complained that I bullied her."
"I don't dare go back to the Lu family now."
Lu Lingjun: "…"
She looked at Lu Kuan, who was distressed, and said, "Just focus on taking the exam. I will tell mother about this later."
Lu Kuan's eyes lit up, "Thank you, sister!"
At this time, someone came.
"Lingyun!" Cheng Yunshuo's voice came from outside.
Cheng Yunshuo, dressed in brocade clothes, strode into Lu Lingyun's yard.
"Brother-in-law."
"Ah Kuan, you're here too."
"Yeah." Lu Kuan stood up, and he had basically said what he needed to say. "Brother-in-law, if you have anything to say, just tell me. I should go back too."
"A Kuan, don't worry." Cheng Yunshuo saw his eyes light up, "Last time you said you could get me a letter of recommendation from your classmates, right?"
"Um."
"I still remember that you studied under Master Zhao. Your teacher, Master Zhao, is also considered one of the great scholars."
Lu Kuan nodded without any defense, "Yes."
While listening to this, Lu Lingjun raised his eyebrows more and more. What was this idiot trying to do?
Cheng Yunshuo smiled at this time, "Ah Kuan, please do your brother-in-law a favor and ask your teacher and classmates for a letter of recommendation. Then I will look for people I know, and you can also ask your sisters about Lingyun. I think we should be able to get the recommendation of three great scholars and let Bingzhi go to your academy."
Lu Lingjun: "..."
Good man, I'm still worried about Cheng Bingzhi's schooling!
And Li Bijie is really capable. She convinced Cheng Yunshuo and put a lot of effort into her son's schooling.
But this time I really tested her bottom line. If I don't teach her a lesson, she will really get over her head.
Lu Kuan, who was standing by, heard this and asked, "Is my brother-in-law busy arranging Bingzhi's schooling?"
"Yes, Bingzhi is the only nephew of yours who has not yet entered school. As his uncle, you should lend a hand, right?" Cheng Yunshuo said.
Lu Kuan looked at Lu Lingjun at this time.
Lu Lingyun hurriedly said with a smile, "Ah Kuan, your imperial examination is coming up soon. Now you should focus all your attention on your books and don't worry about anything else."
Hearing Lu Lingjun say this, Cheng Yunshuo remembered that he was going to take the imperial examination. "A Kuan, you don't have to worry about my matter if you take the examination first. It's the same if you take it first and then ask for a recommendation letter for me after you finish the examination."
Lu Lingjun: "…"
This fool really made her angry!
She looked at Lu Kuan who was at a loss in front of her, and said a few words to him and asked him to leave.
After he left, Lu Lingjun looked at Cheng Yunshuo who was trying to figure out who to contact in the room but couldn't think of anyone to look for, and sneered.
"Is the prince still busy trying to arrange admission for Bingzhi?"
"Lingyun, Bingzhi is my child after all. You told him that his two brothers are both in Tianfu Academy, but he is not here. He must feel disappointed."
Lu Lingyun's sneer deepened in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. He even said very considerately, "Your Highness is right. It should be like this."
Cheng Yunshuo was pleasantly surprised when he heard this, thinking that Lu Lingjun was going to help, so he heard her continue, "I'll ask Ah Kuan to help, and Master Zhao is one. The only other person I can find is the eldest young lady from Duke Xu's mansion to help, and her father is one, but I really can't think of the last one."
As he spoke, Lu Lingjun sighed, feeling extremely annoyed. "If I were to be on good terms with their second grandmother, Xiao Cui, there would be a bunch of great Confucian masters in the Qinghe Cui family! Unfortunately, not only am I not familiar with them, but because of the current situation, I dare not visit them."
After she said this, Cheng Yunshuo's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Yes! The Qinghe Cui family! My mother is good friends with their old lady!"
Under Lu Lingjun's suggestion, Cheng Yunshuo thought of his mother!
He immediately went to his mother's yard happily.
Lu Lingjun looked at this idiot and snorted coldly!
Go, go, go quickly!
The old marquis had just gone on an expedition, and Qin was feeling empty and uneasy, so Cheng Yunshuo went to find her warmly to make connections for his illegitimate son to go to school.
She was waiting to see how Qin would deal with him!
At this time, Ningxinyuan.
Cheng Suying stayed with Qin.
Qin had been feeling very empty since the old marquis went off to war, so these days, Lu Lingjun simply sent Cheng Suying to live with her to keep her company.
"Grandma, are you still thinking about Grandpa?"
Cheng Suying sat next to Qin and practiced calligraphy.
Qin, who had lost her mind, came back to her senses after hearing her granddaughter's words and forced a smile, "Your grandfather hasn't led troops to fight in a long time."
Qin's marriage to the old marquis was not purely because of her family's decline, but was arranged by the family for the sake of profit.
She had seen the old marquis at a polo match.
That year on the fence, the young man, who was full of vigor and vitality and completely different from the other young men in Beijing, immediately caught her eye.
He has the sharpness and wildness that those young masters lack.
Later she found out that their family was the newly-promoted Ningyang Marquisate.
The old marquis had been to the battlefield with his father at a very young age, and he had the flavor of the frontier.
After that glance, she took the initiative to plan for herself. After the complete defeat of Duke Qin's Mansion, she took the opportunity to stay in the capital and marry in the capital in the name of continuing the family.
Even if you marry down.
It caused a sensation when the eldest daughter of the Duke's Mansion, who was so wealthy and powerful at the time, married into the Ningyang Marquis' Mansion, which had almost no foundation.
Everyone secretly said that the eldest daughter of the Duke of Qin's Mansion was very scheming and strategic. The newly promoted Marquis' Mansion had no foundation and would just become a branch and minion of the Duke of Qin's Mansion in the future.
Only Qin herself knew that she married the man she wanted to marry despite having such a big title and being looked at with all kinds of scrutiny and speculation.
She is sincere to the Ningyang Marquisate and the old marquis.
"Grandma, grandpa is so brave and powerful, he must be killing people everywhere. You shouldn't worry. What you should worry about is those barbarians." Cheng Suying said.
Hearing her say this, Qin suddenly let go of her anxiety and started laughing.
She reached out her hands and embraced Cheng Suying, holding her in her arms and loving her, "No wonder your mother always says that you have honey on your lips and are good at coaxing people."
"No, I'm not someone like that. I don't know how to fool people." Cheng Suying said.
In her opinion, the one who was coaxing others was the one from Bishuiyuan. She was the one with honey in her mouth, always saying a lot of soft and sweet words to coax her father around.
"Hey, who is that someone our Xiying is talking about?" Qin said with a smile, "Why does the tone sound like she is trying to outdo someone else?"
Just then, Cheng Suying saw her father's figure from outside the window.
She immediately shut up.
Qin was still wondering why she stopped talking when she heard Cheng Yunshuo's voice coming from the door.
"mother."
When Qin looked up, she saw Cheng Yunshuo striding in.
"You're here." Qin's mood improved a lot when she saw her son coming.
She was just about to chat with Cheng Yunshuo about the relationship between mother and son when she heard Cheng Yunshuo say, "Mother, isn't Old Madam Cui from Duke Xu's mansion your close friend?"
"What's wrong?" Qin was slightly startled when she heard Cui's name. Why was she talking about her for no reason?
Ever since the incident with Qin Shaojing, Qin and Cui have become estranged.
Qin Shaojing's series of events back then were indeed very embarrassing, and Cui looked down on him very much. Qin went there twice, hoping to seek some help, but she felt the other party's vague disdain and with little Cui in the middle, their relationship became distant.
We only gave each other gifts and wrote letters during the holidays, and rarely met each other.
Qin was confused when Cheng Yunshuo suddenly mentioned her old friend.
"You go talk to Madam Cui and ask her for a letter of recommendation from a prestigious scholar in your family for Tianfu Academy, so that I can arrange admission for Bingzhi." Cheng Yunshuo said.
As soon as these words fell, Qin's face changed.
My goodness, he never even shows up on normal days, but as soon as he comes, he asks her to do something.
Not to mention that her relationship with Cui is now tense, unlike before. Her father just went to war a few days ago, and she was sad and upset, but her own granddaughter knew to come and comfort her and talk to her.
It was a rare visit for Cheng Yunshuo, her biological son, and he asked her to do something right away.
It's still about his illegitimate son.
Qin immediately felt disappointed and angry.
"You came to see me for just this little thing?"
Completely unaware of his mother's change of mood, Cheng Yunshuo nodded and said, "Yes."
Even Cheng Suying couldn't help but shake her head at this moment. She said, "Father, Grandpa just went to war a few days ago, and Grandma is worried about him. Don't bother her with trivial matters at this time."
"How can this be a trivial matter? Bingzhi is also your younger brother. His enrollment is as important as yours."
Cheng Suying: "…"
I'm so angry, why did she remind him with such rude words!
Whatever my biased father wants, let him do it! How stupid of him to death!
Sure enough, after he said this, Qin's face turned completely cold.
"Asshole, you don't even have the slightest understanding of Siying!" She started to curse at Cheng Yunshuo.
"Your father is still fighting outside for the sake of this family at such an old age, and what about you? It's ok that you are too busy with official duties to take care of other things, but you are actually busy with your illegitimate son in the backyard all day long!"
This was the time when Qin was at her most vulnerable and helpless. No matter how big the matter was, it was not as important as the old marquis's affairs. Cheng Yunshuo, as the only son in the family, did not worry about his father or support the family at this time. He was busy working for a bastard, which really stepped on Qin's reverse scale.
"Mom, how can you say that?" Cheng Yunshuo was slightly dissatisfied, "Bingzhi is also your grandson."
"My grandson?" Hearing this, Qin became even more annoyed. "Bing'an and Binghao are both my grandsons. They come to see me every day after school. Siying has been with me these past few days. Which of the children born to you by that vixen in your courtyard has ever come to see me!"
After the old marquis left, neither Cheng Bingzhi nor Cheng Lanying came. Firstly, they were both unwilling to come, and secondly, Li Bijie knew her own worth.
She looked very much like Cheng Yunshuo's concubine, or a mistress, which made the two elders very unhappy. Qin only loved the legitimate daughter-in-law Lu Lingjun.
He doesn't take me seriously at all.
Li Bijie was a smart person. She felt that there was no need to please them and it was a futile effort. She simply did not come to Ningxin Courtyard to bother with the fun and just pretended that she did not exist.
Now, this non-existence has become a sin.
"I never care about those trivial things in your courtyard. Now I think you have been bewitched by the vixen in your courtyard! For her, you can't even see the east, south, west or north! If I don't deal with this vixen, I think this mansion will become hers!" Qin was so angry that she dealt with Li Bixi as well.
"Mom! What are you doing?" Cheng Yunshuo only then realized that his mother was angry. "Bixi is a well-behaved girl. Why are you punishing her?"
"She's honest? I think she's the most troublesome! Someone, please ask Aunt Li to come over!"
"I have never taken care of any of those vixens in your courtyard!"
Seeing that Qin was really determined to deal with Li Bixi, Cheng Yunshuo hurriedly said.
"Mom! I won't ask you to do anything, okay? Just take a good rest. I won't bother you, and you don't bother me either."
After saying that, Cheng Yunshuo just left.
Qin became even more furious when she saw this.
What does it mean that he doesn't bother her and she doesn't bother him?
"This rebellious son, this rebellious son..."
"Grandma, calm down and don't be angry with my dad," Cheng Suying couldn't help but use Lu Lingyun's tone.
Qin grabbed Cheng Suying's hand, shaking with anger, "Your father is really getting more and more outrageous! He doesn't even have the slightest understanding of you! Even at his age, he is still being coaxed around by women. He even dared to bring up the matter of a bastard in front of me. I think he has completely lost his mind!"
Qin didn't attack Li Bi'e immediately because Cheng Yunshuo ran away after saying something, but she couldn't let her go like that!
She asked Nanny Wen to contact the private school in Beijing with the strictest management, which required students to stay in the school for half a month before returning home. The next day, she turned around and arranged for Cheng Bingzhi to be admitted.
Isn't she going to arrange schooling for her son? Then let her go to school! Don't come back!
Her son wanted to go to Tianfu Academy? Why did he go to so much trouble to bother her about this?
She deserves it!
She really hated the concubines in the backyard. None of these vixen women were good!
She is of such a low status yet still has delusions. If I don't give her a good beating, she will try to coax the men in the mansion into a rage!
After Qin's arrangement was made, no one in the entire Marquis' Mansion dared to speak.
Li Bijie was waiting for Cheng Yunshuo to come back in her courtyard. She felt uneasy in her heart and even thought that she had prepared herself for not being able to attend Tianfu Academy.
She thought, if it really doesn't work out, then she can go to the private school arranged by Cheng Yunshuo for Cheng Bingzhi. In this way, Cheng Yunshuo will definitely feel that he owes Cheng Bingzhi in the future.
He will be compensated more in due time.
Moreover, she thought about it. The Marquis' Mansion started out with military merits and did not follow the path of a civil official. It would not have much impact if Cheng Bingzhi did not study in Tianfu Academy.
He will not aim for the imperial examination in the future.
So if she takes a step back, she can accept it.
Li Bixi's calculations are clacking loudly, and both advance and retreat are possible for her.
But as she waited, Qin finally spoke.
Nanny Wen, who was beside Qin, came to Bishuiyuan and took Cheng Bingzhi away without saying a word.
Li Bixi panicked when she saw this, and hurriedly cried and begged, "Madam Wen, what are you doing? What did Bingzhi do wrong again?"
Nanny Wen glanced at her coldly, "The Third Young Master has done nothing wrong. It's you, Aunt Li. Didn't you want the Third Young Master to go to school? The old lady appreciates your motherly love and specially contacted the Huixin Academy, the most demanding school in the capital, to send the Third Young Master there."
"What! Huixin Academy! Don't you have to stay there and only come back once every two weeks?"
Li Bixi was dumbfounded. She had heard about that school. Besides the long boarding time, the discipline was also strict! Her son was only four years old. How could he endure it?
Nanny Wen looked at her with a sneer, "Madam Li, relax. When the Third Young Master returns from his studies, you will definitely thank Madam!"
After saying that, she led people to forcibly take Cheng Bingzhi away from Li Bijie.
"Mother! Mother! Save me!"
As soon as Cheng Bingzhi started to howl, he was interrupted by Nanny Wen's sharp voice.
"The Third Young Master really needs to go to school and be well educated. That's not your mother! That's your aunt! Your mother is the Young Madam!"
Hearing this, Li Bixi gritted her teeth and reluctantly let go, "Bingzhi, just go to school and study hard. Your mother and your grandmother are all doing this for your own good!"
Nanny Wen snorted coldly after hearing all the gossip. She was too lazy to pay any more attention to her and just took her people away.
That night, Cheng Yunshuo came back, and Li Bixi, who had been married for six years, got angry with him for the first time.
Unfortunately, her anger was of no use.
When Cheng Yunshuo found out that it was his mother who sent Cheng Bingzhi to school, he actually felt a little secretly happy and relieved.
Finally he doesn't have to do this troublesome thing anymore.
Seeing that Li Bixiang was angry, he tried to persuade her with a few words but to no avail, so he just gave up. What else could he do about his mother's arrangement? He just dealt with it perfunctorily.
Li Bijie looked for a long time at the man in front of her who pretended to be serious but was actually perfunctory, and layer after layer of hatred and resentment surged in her heart.
Cheng Yunshuo felt the familiar disappointment in her eyes, and he frowned, "Bixi, I really ran around for you and the child, but things are beyond my control. You are so sensible, you should understand me."
He said this with deep affection and helplessness.
It's like a man who is deeply in love with a woman, but ultimately disappoints her due to reality.
Li Bixi met his eyes, which looked very similar to Xing Dairong's, but with a completely different light from hers.
She lowered her eyebrows and said obediently, "Master, it is this servant's fault."
As soon as she said this, Cheng Yunshuo felt as if he had been pardoned and his whole body relaxed.
"Bixi, I know you are sensible. Don't worry, I will find someone I know to look after Bingzhi, and send two servants to him to make sure he is well in the academy."
Li Bixi nodded and said, "Thank you, Master."
Cheng Yunshuo was relieved when he saw that the problem was solved. "It's getting late. I'll go back and rest today."
"You're not here today?"
"There are arrangements at the palace tomorrow, so I'm going back to Yaoguang Pavilion to rest." Cheng Yunshuo made up an excuse to go back and sleep today.
Li Bixi did not take the initiative to ask him to stay. She called Cheng Lanying over with a faint smile, "Lanying, come and see your father off together."
"Dad, why don't you stay with Auntie today?" Cheng Lanying hugged Cheng Yunshuo's legs and said softly, "Lanying still wants to listen to Dad's stories!"
Seeing her, Cheng Yunshuo's brows relaxed. He said lovingly, "Tomorrow, dad will tell you a story tomorrow."
"Not enough, Dad will have to come to Lanying for a month before he can forgive you!"
"Okay, for the next month, Dad will come to your aunt's courtyard every day." Cheng Yunshuo touched her head lovingly, put her down and left.
After Cheng Yunshuo left, Li Biying hugged Cheng Lanying and said, "Lanying, you are the only one left by my side now."
"Mom, don't worry. With me here, Dad will only come to our courtyard and only favor the people in our courtyard!" Cheng Lanying's eyes sparkled, and she said confidently, "No one can snatch it away!"
After a few days, Cheng Bingzhi's matter was finally over.
Lu Lingjun used a knife to kill someone else and beat up Li Bijie.
By the way, he also scolded Cheng Yunshuo.
She is still calm and composed here.
As the Spring Examination approached, the capital city became bustling again. Lu Lingjun took the maids to embroider knee pads and winter clothes for Lu Kuan. Today, she was thinking about Liu's plan against Lu Kuan, so she took the things and went to Lu's house.
In Liu's yard.
Liu was chatting with her younger brother and sister-in-law. Coincidentally, the two sisters Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang were also in her room today.
"Big sister is here!"
When the two sisters of the Liu family saw Lu Lingjun coming, they all came forward happily to greet her.
Next to them, Lu Lingjun also saw a little girl about twelve years old.
The little girl had her hair in a bun, with two velvet flower and pearl hairpins inserted in it. She was wearing a long goose yellow cotton dress, with only the front of her jacket made of silk. She had no valuable jewelry on her body, except for a silver bracelet with a little gold thread and a pattern on it.
The little girl blinked her big eyes and looked at the rich and bright Lu Lingjun who came in with scrutiny and timidity.
As soon as Lu Lingjun saw her, he knew that this should be the niece that Lu Kuan mentioned, whom Liu wanted to introduce to him.
"Why are you two here too?" Lu Lingjun retracted his gaze and said to Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang.
Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang looked at each other and said, "Auntie asked us to come and sit down."
When Lu Lingjun heard this, before he could say anything, Liu on the couch stood up warmly and greeted him with a smile, "Lingjun, what brings you here?"
Lu Lingjun winked at Shuanghong behind him, and Shuanghong came forward carrying the packed knee pad cloak.
Lu Lingjun said, "Isn't Kuan'er going to take the imperial examination in a few days? I prepared some cold-weather items for him and sent them over."
When Liu heard this, her old face became even more friendly and kind, "You don't need to worry about these things. As a mother, I will do it for him!"
"Aunt, what else do you want me to do when you've done it?"
At this time, a slightly childish female voice sounded.
The twelve-year-old girl from the Liu family spoke while holding up a pair of simply made knee pads.
"Qinghui, what are you doing?" Aunt Liu interrupted her quickly.
This girl's name is Liu Qinghui. She is the youngest in their family and the only unmarried girl.
She was originally a concubine's daughter, and Aunt Liu had never taken her seriously. But Liu was anxious to choose a daughter-in-law for Lu Kuan, and her target was her own family. Whoever was available in her family would be the one, so there was no need to choose.
This kind of good thing fell on Liu Qinghui.
After all, Lu Kuan will take the imperial examination in a blink of an eye, and it seems that he has the potential to become a successful person. It will be too late to make arrangements until he becomes successful!
They have to hurry!
After being scolded by her stepmother, Liu Qinghui immediately shut up and stood aside with a wronged look on her face.
She originally didn't get much attention at home. Her mother was a maid who came with her stepmother as a dowry, and now she is still the stepmother's head maid. She has to serve her stepmother and manage the accounts for her.
Thanks to this relationship, although she received less attention, her stepmother never treated her harshly, and her mother could even earn some money for her from time to time.
She lived a much better life than her previous sister.
Of course, she, like those concubine sisters, was extremely afraid of Aunt Liu. As soon as she spoke, they were so scared that they shut up and dared not say anything.
Lu Lingjun looked at the aggrieved little girl in front of her and smiled calmly, "Aunt, who is this?"
"She is Qinghui, your youngest cousin." Aunt Liu laughed dryly.
Lu Lingjun walked up to Liu Qinghui and took the knee pad from her hand. "Did you make this?"
Liu Qinghui looked at her and nodded timidly.
"Made for your third cousin?"
"Um."
"You are so thoughtful. Your third cousin is going to take the imperial examination. The examination room will be cold, so he should bring some warm clothes. I thank you on his behalf."
Hearing the thanks, Liu Qinghui was very confused, "No need to thank me, no need to thank me, my mother and aunt asked me to do it."
Liu and her aunt on the side all changed their expressions when they heard this. Liu even looked at her only niece from her mother's side with disdain in her eyes.
Why can't I help you up?
If she wasn't the only girl in her family, she would never let her marry him!
Aunt Liu is also very nervous at this moment!
Everyone knows that Lu Kuan relied on Lu Lingyun. With her help, he entered a good academy and made a name for himself.
She must be concerned about Lu Kuan's marriage.
And Lu Lingjun has helped the Liu family a lot over the years. She contributed to the marriages of her two daughters, which is why Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang both married into wealthy families.
After getting married, because she was their cousin, they had a good relationship and their parents did not dare to bully them.
Now that she knew what they were doing, Aunt Liu felt embarrassed and nervous.
She got anxious and explained, "Lingyun, it's not what you think."
Lu Lingjun smiled, "Of course I know that my aunt and mother care about Kuan'er. We are all family. It is normal to call Qinghui cousin to Kuan'er."
Lu Lingjun lightly brushed the matter aside with just one sentence: "We are a family."
Originally Liu Qinghui was going to give Lu Kuan a knee pad, but now the whole family is giving it to him together.
What ambiguity is there in this that could lead to misunderstanding?
But what she said made Liu and Aunt Liu choke. They, they really meant that!
Liu and Aunt Liu looked at each other helplessly. The eye contact between them was very dramatic, but no one of them spoke!
But she couldn't say it directly at this moment. She had to point Liu Qinghui to Lu Kuan, and she couldn't even use Liu Qinghui's name to say that she wanted to give it to Lu Kuan to give a hint.
Because the girl Liu Qinghui was young and stupid, I confessed like a child!
It's really useless!
In the end, it was Liu who smiled awkwardly first, "Yes, yes, yes, we all care about Kuan'er. He is the most successful one in our family! His two elder brothers haven't even passed the imperial examination yet. The whole family hopes that Kuan'er can pass the imperial examination and bring honor to the family!"
"What mother said is that if Kuan'er passes the imperial examination, it will be the glory of our entire family. It will benefit you, me, father, and even uncles."
Lu Lingjun sat down and played with the knee pad. "Kuan'er is no longer alone. He represents our entire family. His future is everyone's future. How far he can go, we can all follow him, right?"
Lu Lingjun looked at Liu with a faint smile.
How could Liu not know that she was being pointed at her!
She was not stupid, so she naturally saw Lu Kuan's potential, so she went to great lengths to quickly capture him.
But she also only saw this far. She wanted her niece to marry him so that she could control him tightly and maximize her own interests.
But once Lu Kuan takes off, he will be able to choose a better wife. A strong wife's family will allow him to fly farther and more steadily, and their Lu family will become stronger.
It's the greater good for everyone.
But what does this have to do with Liu...
Liu just thinks about her own best interests.
Lu Lingjun looked at her and continued slowly, "Mother, if someone affected Kuan'er's future, for example, he could have gone higher but was pulled down by someone, I think father would be the first one who would not let him go, right?"
After she said this, Liu was completely speechless.
Lu Lingjun just pointed at her at first, but now he is threatening her!