At present, Ling Qingwan stayed in the general's mansion on the pretext of visiting her grandfather. Ling Xiao's face was covered with bruises, and he did not dare to go back to the marquis' mansion. Ling Shen could not see her two children every day, and Ling Qingwan was worried that she would become sick from missing them.
More importantly, there is also Madam Ling in the Marquis' Mansion, who is not an easy person to deal with. Last time, Ling Qingwan contradicted her in Jing'an Temple, and Madam Ling must be resentful. She might try every means to make things difficult for Ling Shenshi so as to get revenge.
At night, the bright moon came.
"Has anything big happened in the mansion?" Ling Qingwan asked Mingyue.
Mingyue would not come empty-handed, so she must have brought some news. Ling Qingwan couldn't help but become interested.
"Miss, something did happen, but it has nothing to do with the Madam. It's... about Ling Chuchu." Mingyue hesitated for a moment, lowered her head and reported to Ling Qingwan.
"Tell me about it." Ling Qingwan raised her eyebrows and sat back in her chair.
"This morning, the prince went to the Marquis' Mansion to ask for Ling Chuchu's hand in marriage." Mingyue frowned, and looked at Ling Qingwan's expression from time to time. "The old lady and the master have already agreed."
Song Zhiqing originally had a crush on Ling Qingwan, and this was known to everyone in the city. Now that Song Zhiqing wanted to marry Ling Chuchu, people naturally thought that she was being abandoned. Ling Chuchu became famous, and Ling Qingwan became a joke.
"It's a good thing." Ling Qingwan nodded and smiled. "Have you decided on the wedding date? When is it?"
Song Zhiqing and Ling Chuchu, one is heartless and ungrateful, the other is selfish and greedy, the two are a perfect match. Ling Qingwan's original intention was to bring them together, so that she could save herself trouble.
This development of events was exactly what Ling Qingwan wanted. She was so happy that she had no time to worry about it.
But Mingyue didn’t understand these things, and Ling Qingwan didn’t intend to tell her.
"Not yet. I only heard vaguely that it will be after the New Year's banquet, and the earliest wedding should be next spring." Mingyue answered Ling Qingwan's questions truthfully. What has changed is that she didn't care about Ling Qingwan's mood before, but now she has to see Ling Qingwan's face every time she says something.
After Mingyue left, Ling Qingwan began to pack her luggage and planned to return to the Marquis' Mansion.
Ling Chuchu had long wanted to marry Song Zhiqing, and now that she finally got her wish, she would not waste this opportunity and would show off in front of her and her mother. Ling Shen had treated Ling Chuchu like her own daughter for more than ten years, and if Ling Chuchu really made trouble in front of Ling Shen, she would definitely be very sad.
Early in the morning, Ling Chuchu went to Ling Shen's courtyard.
The younger generation who came from the province had just left, lining up to go out of the door in groups of three or five. Ling Chuchu walked in the opposite direction, straightened her back and walked into the yard.
Things are different now. Ling Chuchu is not only the eldest daughter of the Marquis's Mansion, but also the future Crown Princess. These people can't afford to offend her. When they see Ling Chuchu, they either greet her attentively or stay away from her. Ling Chuchu is even more proud, and she even forgets to take Ling Shenshi seriously.
"I haven't visited the Madam for several days. I wonder if she is doing well?" Ling Chuchu stepped into the room, but her voice reached Ling Shen's ears before she arrived.
Nanny Park was angry and was about to speak when she was stopped by Ling Shen.
"Thank you Chuchu for your concern. I'm fine and you don't need to worry about me." Ling Shenshi was very gentle and her words were like a spring breeze.
Ling Chuchu looked at him with disdain, walked to the table and picked up the teacup and teacup.
"Miss, I will be the one to pour the tea." Nanny Park said as she reached out to grab the teapot.
Ling Chuchu quickly filled a cup and put the teapot down.
"I am filial to my mother. When do I need a servant like you to tell me what to do?" Ling Chuchu scolded Nanny Pu impatiently.
Nanny Park looked hesitant and lowered her head.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Ling Chuchu didn't come a few days ago, but happened to come to Ling Shen today because the prince proposed marriage yesterday. She came here specifically to irritate Ling Shen.
"My mother died early, and you brought me to the main house and adopted me for more than ten years, making me the eldest daughter of the emperor for more than ten years. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't be alive today, and I wouldn't be able to marry the prince. It's all your credit that I can grow up to be what I am now."
Ling Chuchu's words were gentle, and if it weren't for the obvious sarcastic smile on her lips, I would have been fooled by her words.
Ling Shen chuckled and shook her head.
The calmer she acted, the angrier Ling Chuchu became. Ling Chuchu held the teacup and passed it to Ling Shenshi.
"This cup of tea is for you. I want to thank you for raising me."
Ling Chuchu bent down and offered it with both hands. Ling Shenshi couldn't refuse. As soon as her fingertips touched the teacup, it suddenly fell to the ground. The scalding hot tea accidentally splashed onto Ling Shenshi's hands and wet her clothes.
"Madam!" Several maids came forward and hurried to see if Ling Shen's hand was burned.
Ling Chuchu looked down at the maids busying around, gloating over their misfortune.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to do that. The tea was too hot and I didn't hold it tightly, so I accidentally splashed it on you." Ling Chuchu looked innocent and pretended to apologize.
"It's okay, it's okay." Ling Shenshi endured the pain and waved her hand.
"Miss, everyone in this mansion knows that you are now the future Crown Princess. Your status has increased and is different from before. But after all, the eldest lady has raised you since you were a child, so you should have some filial piety towards her."
Nanny Pu couldn't help it and scolded Ling Chuchu a few words.
"What are you talking about? Do you think I loosened my grip on purpose?" Ling Chuchu looked at Madam Park with a sidelong glance, her eyes full of contempt. "I apologize, but your master didn't say anything. How can you, a servant, say anything about me?"
"You are sorry, but my mother has not forgiven you, so this matter cannot be let go."
Ling Qingwan stepped into the room, looked around, and saw Ling Shen sitting on the couch.
"Wanwan?" Ling Shen was happy, but then she realized something was wrong and hurriedly covered her burned hand with her sleeves.
All the maids present bowed to Ling Qingwan, except Ling Chuchu, who stood straight with slightly dim eyes and a very resentful look, staring at Ling Qingwan.
Soon, she regained her composure and put on a smug look.
"Narcissus, go call the doctor." Ling Qingwan instructed the maid first.
Narcissus agreed and hurried out of the room.
"Wan Wan, I'm fine, just..."
Madam Pu was a smart person. She knew that Ling Shenshi valued feelings and didn't want to see Ling Qingwan and Ling Chuchu at loggerheads. Without waiting for Ling Shenshi to finish, she coaxed and dragged Ling Shenshi to the side room.
"Why? You sent your mother away because you didn't want her to know that the daughter she holds in her heart is nothing but a worthless shrew?"
Ling Chuchu sneered, her words full of sarcasm.
"You're kidding. I just can't bear that my mother has worked so hard for so many years, only to raise an ungrateful person."