Luo Rui's marriage to Qin Zhixing's family was a decision made by Luo Changqing and his son, and had nothing to do with Xu Shichu. She was just fulfilling her duties as a stepmother in this marriage, and was polite to Qin Mei, who was about to become her stepdaughter-in-law. After all, she was the next generation mistress of the prime minister's mansion, and Xu Shichu would not be an annoying stepmother.
However, when the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion learned that Luo Rui was engaged to an unknown woman, they were shocked. The eldest aunt came to Xu Shichu's house in person, angrily, to inquire about the situation and even asked her to stop the marriage.
How could Xu Shichu listen to her? Naturally, he rejected her directly and drove her away mercilessly.
She must be crazy to match Xu Xuerou and Luo Rui. Wasn't that the reason for the original owner's tragedy? Why did Xu Shichu do such a thankless task that would harm himself and benefit others
She had given up on her stepson's marriage, but unexpectedly, her stepdaughter came to her instead.
Xu Shichu looked at Luo Yaqing, who was dressed in rich and gorgeous clothes, and almost failed to recognize that she was his noble and elegant stepdaughter.
Before she got married, Luo Yaqing wore simple and elegant dresses in light green, goose yellow and light purple, and her jewelry was exquisite rather than expensive. But today when she returned to her parents' home, she wore a red dress and a purple skirt, with many hairpins on her head, looking like a wealthy young lady.
Xu Shichu didn't know that Luo Yaqing had her own difficulties. Of course, she liked to dress in a simple and elegant way, but since she married into the Shunyi Palace, she had to "follow the local customs".
She wore a slightly plainer dress and fewer jewels, so her eldest sister-in-law, the Crown Prince's Consort, and a group of concubines began to mock her, saying that she was too petty and self-righteous, and whether she couldn't stand the extravagance and wealth of the palace...
Even though Luo Yaqing explained to them that she was not aloof or petty, she just liked this style and was not disgusted by the luxurious style of the mansion, but those sisters-in-law were always calm and would never listen to her explanation. So they still talked about her dressing every time, especially in front of Princess Shunyi.
After talking so much, Princess Shunyi also had some opinions about her. In order to avoid trouble, Luo Yaqing had to learn to dress luxuriously and extravagantly like them.
But this change gave her sisters-in-law a reason to complain, saying that she was really just pretending to be noble. Didn't she show her true colors after just a short while? If she really liked to dress simply and elegantly, why would she change her style so easily
… Luo Yaqing was almost gritting her teeth when she heard what they said. She felt wronged and unwilling. Didn’t she change her style to fit in with the palace and with them? Why did she still get ridiculed after she changed
Luo Yaqing felt wronged and angry, and told Zhou Wencun about it, thinking that Zhou Wencun would comfort her and share the same hatred with her. However, she never expected that Zhou Wencun would say that she was making a fuss and thinking too much. Her mother and sisters-in-law just said a few words casually, and she cared too much and was not broad-minded enough...
So after getting married, Luo Yaqing finally felt the grievances from her in-laws and her husband.
But she cannot show dissatisfaction or grievance, otherwise she will be narrow-minded and too artificial.
Unable to vent her anger, she just wanted to escape back to her parents' home to relax, so she told the princess that she wanted to return to the prime minister's residence.
Who knew that when the princess learned that she was going back to the prime minister's residence, she called her over, held her hand lovingly and said:
"I heard that your stepmother's yard is planted with many exotic flowers and plants? Last time, I saw a camellia called Five-Colored Red Dan at Madam Wen's place. It had flowers of five colors, gorgeous and beautiful.
Good boy, please help me talk to your stepmother. I really like that kind of five-color red dan. I want a pot of it. I wonder if she can give it to me?"
Luo Yaqing's eyes widened when she heard her words. She didn't expect the princess to suddenly make such a request.
Her relationship with Xu Shichu was very dull, and they usually kept to themselves, not to mention any friendship, so how could she have the confidence to tell her stepmother that her mother-in-law wanted a basin of five-color red elixir? Or was it a gift
Luo Yaqing's face turned red. She had never asked for something from others with confidence, but she couldn't humble herself and beg her stepmother for something.
But now if she doesn't do it she will offend the princess, and if she does she will not be able to hold her head up in front of her stepmother, so she is in a dilemma.
"What? You don't want to? It's just a pot of flowers, can't you even tell your stepmother?" Seeing that she didn't speak for a long time, the princess said with a cold face, shaking off her hand.
"No, no, I'm not unwilling, I just don't know if my stepmother is willing..." Luo Yaqing said embarrassedly, lowering her head in shame.
"She is a stepmother. As the only daughter of Prime Minister Luo, you only asked her a small request. Does she dare not agree? Aren't you afraid that you will say bad things about her in front of your father?" The princess said disdainfully, and then looked at her suspiciously, "Could it be that you don't want to do your best for me?"
"Of course not. If it's someone mother likes, I will definitely try my best to find him for you!" Luo Yaqing assured quickly.
"Then I'll wait for your good news." The princess said with satisfaction, "By the way, you can stay at your parents' home for a few more days this time."
So Luo Yaqing returned to her parents' home with such a difficult task. She originally wanted to come back to relax, but now she felt even more depressed.
When she came back, Luo Changqing and Luo Rui were still on duty outside and had not returned home.
Luo Yaqing went straight to find Xu Shichu.
Xu Shichu glanced at her indifferently. She was dressed to look luxurious, but she became nervous and lacked confidence after making that request in front of him.
"You said that Princess Shunyi likes my five-color red camellia and wants one?" Xu Shichu asked casually.
"Yes, mother said that she saw her at Minister Wen's house and fell in love with her at first sight." Luo Yaqing tried her best to remain calm and composed in front of her stepmother.
As the apple of Luo Xiang's eye, she had never asked anyone for help before. Her father and brother would give her what she wanted as soon as possible.
But now that she is married, she has to bow her head in front of her stepmother, whom she once looked down upon, in order to please her mother-in-law.
"That's really unfortunate. I only have two plants left. I plan to put one of them up for auction at Baihua Pavilion next month, and I'm keeping the remaining one for my own enjoyment. I won't give it to anyone else." Xu Shichu said straight to the point.
When Luo Yaqing heard that one of the plants was going to be auctioned, she immediately said, "Can you not put that one up for auction at the Baihua Pavilion? I'll just pay for it."
"No, I can't. My Baihua Pavilion is famous for auctioning rare flowers and plants. Besides, I have already spread the word that I will auction the five-color red camellia next month. If I suddenly cancel the auction, it will damage the reputation of my flower shop, which will do more harm than good." Xu Shichu said frankly.