“Then what do you want?!” To everyone’s surprise, Cao Jianfeng became enraged and turned to glare at her fiercely.
Cao Lingyun knew that it was impossible for him to divorce his favorite concubine based on this incident alone, so she simply took a step back and gave Cao Jianfeng a way out that he had no choice but to accept.
“Now that the concubine has told such a blatant lie, how can she still hold onto her position as steward?”
Upon hearing this, Cao Jianfeng’s anger subsided slightly, and he coldly snorted, “Then let Liu continue to manage the affairs of the mansion.”
At this moment, Liu Ruoyan hesitated and said, “Master, I truly do not have the ability to manage a household ”
Before she could refuse, the old lady interrupted her with disdain: “With such a gentle nature, how can she manage the household affairs well? In my opinion, it would be better to let Lingyun take on the job of housekeeper.”
Upon hearing this, Cao Lingyun’s gaze sharpened. She knew that the old lady’s recommendation was not out of affection for her; there must be another purpose behind it.
But now is not the time to think about this. In this Cao family mansion surrounded by tigers and wolves, her mother’s gentle nature would certainly not be able to support her to live a peaceful life. Rather than being a fish on the chopping block, she would rather turn herself into the butcher.
Thinking of this, Cao Lingyun calmed herself down, stood in front of her mother, and bowed gracefully to the old lady: “Lingyun will certainly live up to Grandmother’s high expectations.”
With the troubles resolved and Cao Lingyun still unable to sort out the affairs of the inner quarters, news came from outside that the Duchess of Tang was going to hold an elegant gathering and poetry party.
All young men and women in the capital who were comparable to the young talents, regardless of their social status, were invited to the banquet. Naturally, all the children of the Cao family were sent invitations without exception.
Cao Lingyun was preoccupied with many matters and originally had no intention of going. However, a few days before departure, she suddenly changed her mind and boarded the carriage to the banquet with Cao Lingtang.
The reason is simple: because of this poetry gathering, she will encounter the heartless man who took her life in her previous life, the newly appointed scholar Zhang Yachu.
In his past life, this man orchestrated a hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress scheme, successfully deceiving her into marrying him. He appeared to be completely sincere, but in reality, he only coveted her family background and wealth. In the end, in order to seize her dowry, he even conspired with his favorite concubine to cause her and her unborn child to die!
Thinking of this, Cao Lingyun felt a chill run down her spine again. This time, she was determined to reverse the tide and make this villain suffer eternal damnation.
At the elegant poetry gathering, the atmosphere was lively and bustling. Young men and women exchanged glances and feelings through poetry and songs, while the older ones talked about their ambitions and ideals.
In her previous life, Cao Lingyun was too disheartened to socialize, but this time, she was consumed by hatred. So she left the banquet early, apologized for being “tired,” and went to the lakeside pavilion to rest.
Rouge and Bao Yan thoughtfully lowered the curtains by the pavilion, intending to fan Cao Lingyun and help her take a nap, when suddenly a magnificent figure rushed in like a mad dog.
“Cao Lingyun, I’m going to kill you!!!”
Cao Lingyun stared intently and recognized that the person who had barged in was Cao Linglan, whose eyes were bloodshot.
I heard that Aunt Peng had pleaded for her several times before she was given the opportunity to leave the mansion for this poetry gathering.
However, Cao Linglan was clearly still haunted by the incident of losing her virginity that day. As soon as they met, she pounced on Cao Lingyun, intending to tear at her hair: “It must have been you, you bitch, who plotted against me! It must have been you!”
Cao Lingyun coldly dodged her attack, her words laced with sarcasm: “You know perfectly well who had a guilty conscience first, and who got themselves into trouble!”
“You bitch!!”
Provoked by her, Cao Linglan became even more frenzied. She suddenly gained a strange strength and shoved Cao Lingyun hard on the shoulder. The force was so great that it actually pushed her off the wooden railing of the pavilion.
“Third Sister ”
Bao Yan and Yanzhi were far enough away that they only had time to let out a scream.
The lake outside the pavilion was extremely deep, and unfortunately, Cao Lingyun couldn’t swim. She helplessly flailed her arms, but choked on a mouthful of water, and despair overwhelmed her.
At this moment, she inappropriately recalled that in her previous life, Zhang Yachu had suddenly appeared when she accidentally fell into the water, pretending to be a gentleman before coaxing her into falling into his trap.
Now that I’m living this life again, am I still destined to suffer the same fate?
Cao Lingyun was lost in thought, her struggles growing weaker and weaker. Suddenly, she felt a weight on her side, and the next moment, a pair of strong hands wrapped around her waist. With a pull, she finally emerged from the water.
“Cough! Cough cough!!”
After a violent coughing fit, Cao Lingyun managed to catch her breath and looked up to meet a pair of warm eyes.
“Young, young master ”
She struggled to sit up and stared blankly at Zhou Hongbai in front of her. But when his gaze fell on her soaked dress, he suddenly turned his face away. The next moment, he turned to the side and took the cloak that he had taken off on the shore before jumping into the water, and gently draped it over Cao Lingyun.
“It’s good that you’re alright.”
Cao Lingyun carefully pulled the cloak closer, inhaling the faint scent of ink and tea that lingered on it, and miraculously calmed her frantic heartbeat.
However, as she looked down, she caught a glimpse of a figure flashing by in the grass outside the pavilion.
With a hunched back and a thieving look on his face, it was none other than Zhang Yachu, whose plan had failed!
The commotion at the pavilion in the middle of the lake was quite significant, and the young men and women from the nearby area soon arrived. After settling everyone in, Zhou Hongbai went straight to the women of the Tang State Duke’s mansion.
“Miss Tang, please take Miss Cao to change into a clean set of clothes.”
The latter readily accepted and politely helped the pale-faced Cao Lingyun up. Just as the two were about to leave, Cao Lingyun suddenly glanced behind her.
Zhou Hongbo, who had been standing still, immediately understood and followed at a distance.
After Cao Lingyun was led into the inner room, she politely thanked the Tang family girl and then stood guard in the outer courtyard, keeping her eyes down.
Inside the room, Cao Lingyun quickly changed her clothes, but did not rush out. Just now at the lakeside pavilion, Zhang Yachu must have been looking for an opportunity in the shadows. If he did not get a chance to be a hero and save the beauty then, he would not have let it go.
Sure enough, a short while later, rustling voices could be heard from outside.
“Young Master, what are you doing here? The eldest son of the Cao family is looking for you all over the Tang State Duke’s mansion. You’d better hurry over!”
It seemed that a servant had rushed over and hurriedly reported to Zhou Hongbai.
While the latter hesitated, the servant added, “You don’t need to worry, Miss Cao’s maid is already outside the courtyard, just a few steps away. Besides, you are a male relative; staying here wouldn’t be good for Miss Cao’s reputation ”
Having said all that, Zhou Hongbai had no choice but to leave to keep his appointment with his friend. Before leaving, he gently knocked on the door to signal his departure. Cao Lingyun responded from inside, but her heart sank.
The elder brother always personally handles matters when seeking out the young master; when has he ever sent a servant?
The one who sent Zhou Hongbai away must have been Zhang Yachu, who was hiding in the shadows.
Realizing something was amiss, Cao Lingyun didn’t rush to escape. Instead, she leisurely waited at the door, preparing to ambush the prey.
Sure enough, the next moment, a figure rushed to the door and burst in with a “bang”.
The newcomer feigned an accidental intrusion. Upon seeing Cao Lingyun, whose hair was still unkempt, he stared at her several times before hastily raising his sleeve to cover his eyes and apologizing hastily, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to intrude. I didn’t know there was anyone here. I’m truly rude to such a beautiful lady!”
Perhaps he had read too many stories, and after failing to save the beauty, he came up with such an impolite plot.
Seeing Zhang Yachu feign a flustered retreat, Cao Lingyun tightened her cloak and silently cleared her throat.
The next moment, before the other party could continue to feign indifference, she suddenly threw her cloak at Zhang Yachu’s face, shouting “Indecent assault” while taking advantage of the moment when he was temporarily out of sight, and then punched and kicked him several times.
“Help! This is indecent assault! Help!”
Cao Lingyun only stopped when her opponent begged for mercy. Then, shouting loudly, she hurriedly burst through the door and ran out.
As she crossed the threshold, she deliberately dropped one of her embroidered shoes.
“Help!! Someone help me!!”
She ran while calling for help, but the next moment, she suddenly bumped into a warm embrace.
Hearing the commotion, Zhou Hongbai stepped back, catching Cao Lingyun in his arms. Looking down, he saw that the girl was pale and shivering, her black hair wet and clinging to her cheeks, her eyes also wet, like a frightened cat.
Upon closer inspection, it was noticed that Cao Lingyun had even lost one of her shoes, her white toes now embedded in the mud, a sight that was truly heartbreaking.