bayedsolid Chapter 858 Madam Lu Suffers a Setback!
Chapter 858 Madam Lu Suffers a Setback!
The old lady finally breathed a sigh of relief; at least there was still someone with a clear head.
"Get up, the ground is cold. Come, sit and talk with your grandmother."
"Thank you, Grandma."
Lu Xiaorou wiped away her tears with a handkerchief before sitting down on the couch. "Grandmother, Aunt, please speak with my father and mother. I would rather marry into an ordinary family as a wife than be a concubine."
“Good child, this was not your father’s idea, so don’t blame him. Last night, your father had a fight with your mother over the matter of you two sisters. If it weren’t for the fact that he is a man, your mother would not have been in charge of your marriage.”
Lu Xiaorou felt a little better. As long as she didn't marry a concubine, it wouldn't matter if she married someone of a lower status.
Madam He patted her shoulder, "Silly girl, you are the legitimate daughter of our Duke's mansion. Your status is very precious. Never say anything about marrying into a lowly family in the future, lest you be scolded by your mother again."
"Yes, Aunt."
"Mother, since Xiaorou has her own thoughts, what do you think?"
"Don't worry, I'll talk to the third brother about this. In the end, it's her mother who's being unreasonable. Why would her perfectly good daughters insist on becoming someone's concubine? I already disliked her for frequently taking you two sisters to the Prince An's mansion. Now she's changed her target again. She really thinks she's clever."
Madam He shook her head. "Mother, I'm afraid you'll have to step in and put things under control. My third brother is busy with official duties all day long; how can he have time to worry about such trivial matters? But if my sister-in-law really angers the Crown Princess, it will be more of a disaster than a blessing for our Lu family."
“Who can argue with that? If your sister-in-law were even half as smart as you, this old woman wouldn’t have to work so hard.”
"Mother, please don't say that. You are now the backbone of our Duke Dingguo's mansion."
The old lady chuckled self-deprecatingly, "What backbone? It's just that you have too many concerns and are unwilling to get involved."
“Mother, if my third brother comes back, please don’t be anxious. Let’s talk things out slowly.”
"Don't worry, I know what's going on."
"Reporting to the Madam, the eldest aunt has returned."
Mrs. He was overjoyed. "Quickly, invite her in."
The Dowager Lady smiled and said, "She is now the Heir Apparent's wife of the Prince of Su's mansion. Logically, we should go out to greet her."
"Now that we have arrived at the Duke of Dingguo's residence, she is your junior, so it is only right that she come over to pay her respects and greet you."
These words were pleasing to the ear, and the old lady smiled repeatedly, then said nothing more.
Lu Xiaorou looked at Madam He, and then thought of her own mother. Sure enough, she was someone who couldn't speak properly or handle things effectively.
Look at that aunt; with just a few words, she managed to make the old lady very happy. That's what it means to know how to get along with people.
As the Crown Prince's carriage passed by on the street, a servant rushed over and said, "Madam, Miss, the Crown Prince's carriage is here."
Madam Lu was overjoyed and quickly lowered the curtain, instructing, "Quickly, let's go outside."
Lady Lu had deliberately hidden herself at a T-junction, and her sudden appearance startled the Crown Prince's groom, who immediately tightened the reins.
Fortunately, the two carriages did not collide, but both carriages were frightened to varying degrees.
Madam Lu's carriage, however, was traveling at a shorter distance and at a faster speed, and crashed directly into the wall, damaging the carriage.
Lady Lu helped her daughter down from the carriage. In front of the Crown Prince's carriage, a group of people were already kneeling and begging for forgiveness.
"It is all my fault. I accidentally bumped into the Crown Prince's carriage. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Duanmu Chuze didn't know whose carriage he had encountered at that moment. He only heard a woman's voice and immediately got out of the carriage.
Upon seeing this, he truly regretted getting out of the car.
"So it's Madam Lu. Never mind. Are you all alright?"
"Your Highness, I am unharmed." She then glanced at her carriage with feigned distress, saying with some heartache, "It's just that the carriage crashed into a wall and is now damaged."
"Oh, as long as you're not on guard, that's fine."
After Duanmu Chuze finished speaking, he was unwilling to talk to her anymore. He turned around and was about to get into the carriage when he heard Madam Lu's voice again, "I wonder if His Highness the Crown Prince is going back to the Chang Le Prince's Mansion?"
"Indeed, what advice does Madam Lu have for me?"
Lady Lu was startled. How could she dare to offer any advice to the Crown Prince? However, she was quite pleased with the Crown Prince's tone and attitude.
"Your Highness, my daughter and I were originally planning to go to the Prince of Chang Le's residence to pay our respects to the Crown Princess. It just so happens that my daughter has embroidered a painted screen, which we are going to send to the Crown Princess."
As she spoke, Madam Lu reached out and tugged at her daughter behind her, gesturing for her to step forward so that the Crown Prince could see clearly.
Lu Xiaoxiao had never experienced anything like this before.
With his head down and his hands clasped in front of him, he didn't dare to look up at all.
Seeing that this young lady was still quite reserved, Duanmu Chuze did not want to make things too difficult for Madam Lu, so he waved his hand and said, "Someone, go and rent a carriage for Madam Lu."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Madam Lu had been keeping her head down, thinking about how she could lie and say that she had something to do so that her daughter could ride in the same carriage as His Highness. That way, with a man and a woman alone together, it would be impossible for His Highness to shirk responsibility!
But when he heard the Crown Prince say that he wanted to rent a carriage, he immediately became somewhat unhappy.
Could a rented carriage be something that ladies from prominent families like them could ride in?
Who knows how filthy it is inside? Who knows what kind of customers they bring in every day?
"Your Highness, it is not appropriate to sit there and wait for the rented carriage. You need not worry about me. I will take my daughter and walk back together."
Upon hearing Madam Lu's words, Duanmu Chuze frowned slightly. She was deliberately putting pressure on him! This place was still quite far from the Chang Le Prince's residence. If he really let them walk there, it wouldn't be a problem. After all, he was the Crown Prince; what objections could they possibly have?
The problem is that it is now the dead of winter, and this Lady Lu is an old servant of the palace. She once served my elder brother. If I ignore her, wouldn't that be a bit heartless?
"Your Highness, we're not far from the Mu residence." Zi Yi replied softly.
Duanmu Chuze's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his lips. "Alright! I'll reward you handsomely later."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Go to the Mu residence and borrow a carriage, or two sedan chairs. Just say that they are borrowed from the Duke of Dingguo's residence."
"Yes, Your Highness."