Chapter 107 - Allies Or Enemies 2
Chapter 107 – Allies Or Enemies 2
The Duke's mansion
"He is getting married to a second wife, as a concubine that is and It is someone we know".
'Someone we know, what does he mean. I don't know any unmarried that would be willing to be a concubine. Even if he was the crown prince, a concubine was still a concubine and with in-laws like the Grand Princess and State Duke Xia, any concubine in that mansion wasn't bound to have peaceful days. Who hasn't heard of how the Grand Princess handled the State Duke's Haram.'"
"Really"
"Yes" he nodded, "it is your third younger sister"
"What!"
Zhu Fengyin pulled back in stock and bit her lips, 'just what was that pretentious sister of hers thinking. Was she that desperate to become the future Emperor's wife that she would even agree to be a concubine'.
"How did this happen?"
"I don't know but Brother Ling is serious with her. This is the first time I have seen him attracted to a woman. He was always only focused on work, it was surprisingly natural".
Zhu Fengyin's fists balled up, why was history bizarrely repeating itself. She had been happy when the marriage of the Commandery Princess and the Crown Prince was announced. It gave her hope that changing her future was possible but in just a few days everything was a burst.
Zhu Fengyin was worried when the commandery Princess arrived at the capital, she may not have paid any attention to the Lu family but even people in the remote parts of Northern Wei heard the stories about the Golden couple, Lu Yingjie and Commandery Princess Xia Ying.
She had been a little scared that the commandery Princess would turn her gaze on Lu Yingjie. The thought of that opened up some of her old scars from her time as the sixth Prince's consort. Where she had spent the majority of the three years, she was married to that man fighting concubine.
Her biggest fear during those few weeks before commandery Princess Xia was engaged to the crown prince, was that Xia Ying would get the Grand Princess involved and convince the Grand Princess to get rid of her. However, the engagement took care of it and for some time she assumed that she had escaped her horrid fate.
Zhu Fenfang's sudden marriage had her a little worried but she soon calmed down when she remembered that, unlike her past life, in this life, she had avoided the cursed marriage into the royal marriage. Zhu Fenfang was only married as a concubine, even if she had the crown Prince's affection she was not the main wife and as such had no real power.
Her expression visibly brightened up, "I guess congratulations are in order for my sister, I will have to pay a visit to Zhu mansion tomorrow and congratulate her."
Lu Yingjie noticed the change in attitude but pretended otherwise, he understood that the new must-have taken some time to get used to since it was unexpected. Even with how close he was to the crown prince he never expected a new like this.
Tian Tian came in with a tray containing a bowl of sobering soup, placed it on the table beside the bed and stepped out.
"Arrange a few gifts to be sent over for her dowry, the Zhu family and the Lu family are in-laws. We should show a semblance of a united front," he said picking up the spoon in the bowl of soup and taking a sip of the soup.
"Yes, should I have the servants bring in some bathing water?" She asked seating forward.
Lu Yingjie smiled at her over the spoon of soup and asked, "Fengyin my wife, are asking if I would spend the night with you?"
Her whole face was on fire and she shifted away from him quickly "that is not what I mean".
"Mm okay, then I can just sleep in the study no worries right?"
"Don't you date, I will be paying respects to mother tomorrow. If you sleep in the study this night, I will have to endure another of your mother's scolding. I still haven't recovered from the set down I received when you caught a cold last week".
Lu Yingjie didn't respond, he just laughed while Zhu Fengyin glared at him.
Although the relationship between Zhu Fengyin her mother-in-law had improved, it was far from being perfect. They had called somewhat of a truce after Lu Yaozhu and Su Liya had left, Madam Lu had a hard time getting used to her son being posted do far away from her.
A few days after Lu Yaozhu and Su Liya left madam Lu fell sick, the Imperial doctor after checking on her reported that she was just stressed out because of overthinking and needed to take her mind off a few things. Zhu Fengyin understood the bond between madam Lu and her children were strong.
She knew that Lu Yingjie wouldn't be the same if anything happened to her and decided to pay her mother-in-law visits more often. Initially, Madam Lu acted cold to Zhu Fengyin as usual but gradually she warmed up to her and the visits became livelier.
Apart from scolding her a few times whenever she felt that Zhu Fengyin made a mistake. Madam Lu was respectful to her and treated her relatively better than before.
As expected, as soon as Zhu Fengyin walked into the living room of madam Lu's courtyard. She was besieged by Madam Lu and Lu Yiling, who wanted to know how her younger sister got attached to the crown prince. For someone that claimed not to indulge in gossiping, her mother-in-law seemed to be invested in doing exactly that.
Lu Yiling was another story entirely, she always went out and came back with hot gossip. While Lu Yiling could be a little annoying at times, it wasn't hard to see that she didn't hold grudges. She always had the best intentions at heart and was selfless.
Just like with Zhu Fenfang's marriage, she added a few things to the gifts to be added to her dowry. Zhu Fengyin felt a little sad when she saw that because she knew that while Lu Yiling took Zhu Fenfang as a friend. Zhu Fenfang never saw her that way, to someone like Zhu Fenfang, Lu Yiling was a means to an end nothing else.
This was why after meeting with her stepmother, Zhu Fengyin decided to visit her younger sister. This was a move that she never saw herself making ever.
Both in her past life and now, Zhu Fengyin never wanted anything to do with this younger sister of hers. She had always seen through all of Zhu Fengyin's tricks and because of that never saw her as someone worth mentioning.
Zhu Fengyin was instructed to wait in the living room while Zhu Fenfang got ready to join her. She waited patiently for over thirty minutes before Zhu Fenfang came out. Zhu Fengyin suspected that this was all deliberately set up by Zhu Fenfang to prove a point. Zhu Fenfang's first words on arrival proved her right.
Zhu Fenfang walked listlessly into the room and bowed, "sorry for keeping your waiting elder sister Fengyin. It is just that I have been busy preparing for my wedding day." She laughter coyly "who knew marriage into the royal family would be this stressful and I am only getting married as a concubine".
Zhu Fengyin laughed on seeing the bashful expression on her face, "You are right Mei Mei, who knew that the marriage of a mere concubine would be so stressful".
"Wha_ what do you mean? A mere concubine! I am the concubine of the crown Prince, my position is well above that of a normal concubine!" Zhu Fenfang exclaimed loudly.
"Yes, your position is above that of a normal concubine but is it above that of the Main wife? Do you get to pass through the east gate in a carriage? Do you even get to leave the east palace gate? No, you don't because you are still just a servant, so please be humble. I don't care how you managed to achieve getting married to the Crown Prince because that is frankly irrelevant.
"I am only here to warn you, whatever you do never involve Lu Yiling. Seeing as you have finally married into the royal family, you don't need her anymore. You have gotten the crown prince's heart so leave the Lu family alone".
Zhu Fenfang laughed, "Why do I need a declining family like yours, I am now an imperial concubine. My husband is the next Emperor, my children would be Princes and princesses. Why do I need a foolish young mistress of a mere dukes house? Zhu Fengyin, you and your mother always went around proudly because you were both of good station but look how low you have gotten. You lost your engagement to foolish Feifei and ended up as the wife of a duke at odds with the Emperor. If you ask me I think you should spend more time thinking of how to save your declining in-laws"
Zhu Fengyin looked at the wide smile on her face and shook her head, "Don't worry about me Fenfang, worry about yourself. You are a concubine, who's mean that your survival is dependant on the crown Princes's favour. Ask yourself how long you can stay in favour, especially when you are serving under a princess consort of high birth like the commandery Princess".. Zhu Fengyin didn't wait for any response from her and just left the room.