Chapter 30 - Sowing A Seed Of Doubt 1
Chapter 30 – Sowing A Seed Of Doubt 1
The main courtyard.
"Because she would marry into the royal family, the Crown Prince to be precise. oh I am not worried about her" said Zhu Fengyin as she stood by the mirror carefully arranging the loose strands of her hair.
When Su Liya remained silent, she looked up through the mirror and saw Su Liya shocked expression. She chuckled, turned around and pinched Su Liya's cheek, "wipe that shocked expression off your face Yaya! You are not the only one with a cheat".
Su Liya smiled sheepishly "that's true". She took a step when Zhu Fengyin let go of her cheeks. Su Liya clamped both hands in front of her and stretched out her hands, the case if she was a soldier paying her commander respect.
"Sister Fengyin please accept my apologies! This little one was acting silly" she said cheekily.
Zhu Fengyin shook her head and knocked her jokingly "Shut it silky". She looked up and saw Lu Yingjie standing by the door.
The steward Uncle Lu had informed Lu Yingjie of the Wang's family visit as soon as he got back from court. He was aware that his mother had been making things difficult for Zhu Fengyin but there was nothing he could do about that.
His mother was the matriarch of the family, it wasn't in his place to caution her without being accused of being an unfilial son. Zhu Fengyin was a new wife, it was left to her to make her mother-in-law warm up to her.
While he couldn't get involved in the power struggle between them, he could make it up to Zhu Fengyin. He was expecting to find her in low spirits when he arrived but was surprised to find her in such high spirits.
Her face brightened up as she smiled, which made her so enchanting. Lu Yingjie felt his heart soften as he saw her, while he was cautious around his new wife, he couldn't help but admit that he had gotten fond of her.
He had paid close attention to her for many years but this was the first time, he saw her look genuinely happy. Back then she had been engaged to the sixth prince and in love with him so he could look at her from afar. He was careful not to let his mother discover his feelings or she would be harder on Zhu Fengyin.
Lu Yingjie look was quite heated, Zhu Fengyin got shy. She blushed and said, "Young Master! sorry, didn't see you there".
Su Liya who stood in front of Zhu Fengyin, with her back to Lu Yingjie, looked up at Zhu Fengyin, her breath hitched and her eyes bulging out. She mouthed "Oh Lord" and turned around. She Smiled nervously, greeted Lu Yingjie in a muffled voice and ran out of the room quickly.
Zhu Fengyin was amazed at her speed, she watched her leave mouth open. Su Liya speed was very great, Zhu Fengyin only saw a blur of her clothes. She shook her head and smiled, Lu Yingjie's lips were curved up as she turned around. He thought that he was cute when he smiled, he didn't smile often but she wished that he did.
"You must be famished after the long day, I will instruct the kitchen to send over some dishes and a cold drink, it has gotten hotter," she said.
"That would be a little difficult, didn't you maid just run for the hills," he said playfully.
Zhu Fengyin chuckled "that's true! Don't let Yaya hear you, I fear that she would try to convince you otherwise".
"Yaya? You both seem very close"
"We are close, almost like sisters. Yaya can be a little naughty, don't take her actions to heart" she said referring to Su Liya's previous actions.
"Don't worry, I didn't take it heart she acts a lot like Xiao Ling".
Zhu Fengyin bet her head slightly "Really? I didn't know that" she said thoughtfully.
"You just met Yiling. Once you get to know her better, you will understand. Yiling is very naughty but a trip to our hometown made her act a little mature"
Zhu Fengyin smiled "then I will take your word for it. I look forward to getting to know Yiling better".
Lu Yingjie sat on the stool at the dining table at the centre of the room and replied "You will don't let her tough exterior fool you, Yiling is a sweetheart. Come have a seat, Xiaojun will soon be here with our lunch". Zhu Fengyin nodded and sat opposite him.
*********
Meanwhile at Madam Lu's Courtyard.
Madam Wang and Wang Shiyi stayed for some minutes after Zhu Fengyin left before they left. Madam Lu was relieved that they were smart enough to read the room and leave as soon as they did. They had archived the purpose of their presence and she didn't see the need in keeping them here.
Madam Wang was an exact example of the pompous brainless noble wives of noble families that she didn't like to associate with. The Wang family had been hunting to their motives both openly and secretly for a while now but she had been acting ignorantly.
Madam Wang initially approached her with her eldest daughter under the thoughts of being the main wife but since Yingjie wasn't inclined to get attached to the family, she turned them down. However, her current visit indicated that they weren't discouraged by her son's wedding.
She wanted to applaud them on their level of shamelessness for approaching them once again just a month after her son's wedding. The Wang family were desperate because this time she was pushing forward their concubine daughter.
Madam Lu had entertained their presence just to test how Zhu Fengyin would react to such treatment and so far Zhu Fengyin behaved properly. Now that she was gone, there was no need to keep them here.
Everyone loosened up once Madam Wang and Wang Shiyi had left.. Madam Lu was very fond of both of her nieces, she quickly introduced them to her youngest child Lu Yiling.