The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 55

Cui Zhu’s face tightened, and she immediately lowered her head, pleading, “Miss, please spare your servant. You know how Nanny Zhang is; if she finds out, there’s no telling how she’ll punish me.”

Seeing her dejected look, Song Luoning chuckled softly and tapped her on the forehead. “You’re getting more and more undisciplined.”

“Not at all.” Cui Zhu didn’t dare to speak again. She obediently helped her mistress through the covered walkway. From a distance, they could see many people gathered in the main hall. Song Luoning stepped inside.

Everyone suddenly fell silent upon seeing Song Luoning enter. The previously boisterous hall instantly became quiet.

“Wife, you’re here.” Xiao Yu was delighted. She rushed over in two strides and took her hand. “The maid said you were napping, so I didn’t rush to find you. Are you feeling alright?”

Song Luoning’s face flushed. This scoundrel dared to say anything. Fearing she would say something even more embarrassing, she gave her a vexed look and pulled her hand away. “I heard you’re back. Did the Emperor give you a hard time?”

With an empty palm, Xiao Yu pursed her lips, feeling a little wistful. Her eyes fixed on her wife’s slender, jade-like fingers, and she sighed slightly. “No, but I happened to run into Third Brother on my way out of the palace. He’s the one who brought me back.”

Song Luoning pursed her lips and nodded, then noticed Song Yanyu in his armor and greeted him. “Third Brother.”

Seeing the couple’s deep affection, Song Yanyu felt relieved. It seemed his worries were unfounded. But if Xiao Yu dared to bully his little sister, no matter who she was, he wouldn’t let her off the hook. Song Yanyu replied, “I ran into my brother-in-law while on duty, so we came back together.”

Song Luoning smiled. “Third Brother, you’re so busy with work, and you still went to the trouble of bringing her back.”

Song Yanyu waved his hand. “It’s nothing. But there is something that needs to be decided once Big Brother arrives.”

Song Luoning froze and looked at Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu touched her nose, blinked her almond-shaped eyes, and looked utterly innocent.

Song Luoning frowned, her gaze sweeping the hall until it landed on an unfamiliar face. She paused and asked, “Husband, who is this young lady…?”

A New Guest

The atmosphere in the hall became tense. Everyone’s eyes turned to Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu didn’t seem to mind, smiling as she said, “I brought her from the palace. She’s quite pitiful, so I thought I’d let her stay at the manor for now.”

“What did you say?” Song Luoning’s expression darkened.

Xiao Yu continued, “She helped me in the palace.” She secretly tugged on Song Luoning’s sleeve, pleading a little, “Wife, let’s help her. She’s really pitiful.”

Song Luoning curled her fingers, her eyes lowered. “Since she helped my husband, what do you plan to do?”

“I want her to stay at the manor for now, then we can decide later,” Xiao Yu said with a smile.

“Is that so?” Song Luoning raised her head, her eyes crystal clear. She stared at her in silence.

“Yes. Today in the palace, that idiotic…” Realizing her slip of the tongue, she paused. The thought of what that Emperor had said about her wife earlier that day made Xiao Yu’s face darken. Worried about upsetting her wife, she glossed over the details. “If it weren’t for her reminder in the palace, I might have said something wrong and offended the Emperor.”

Song Luoning raised her eyelids, but her heart sank bit by bit. The fingers hidden in her sleeve slowly curled into a fist. She gave a faint “Mm” in response.

Jiang Wanrou couldn’t bear to watch any longer. She raised her hand and slapped Xiao Yu on the head. This wretched child! Couldn’t she see her own wife was angry? And she just kept talking and talking. How could she be so oblivious?

She had no idea who she took after, but it certainly wasn’t her.

“Mom, what was that for?” Xiao Yu rubbed her head, looking at Jiang Wanrou with a disgruntled expression. Why did her mom suddenly hit her? In front of so many people, she wasn’t leaving her any dignity at all.

Seeing her ignorant and clueless expression, Jiang Wanrou couldn’t help but palm her forehead. This wretched child, how could she be so foolish? Was she only happy once she’d angered her wife into leaving? Jiang Wanrou was anxious but couldn’t say it outright. Her face was a picture of disappointment.

Fearing she would strike again, Chen Yu quickly took Jiang Wanrou’s arm and gave Xiao Yu a meaningful look. Although she wasn’t sure what had happened, with so many people watching, her aunt was completely losing her composure.

The Unspoken Conflict

Song Luoning turned her face away to look elsewhere. After a moment, her voice was faint. “My husband can decide this matter.”

“Mm, okay.”

“Little Sister, I think we should wait for Big Brother to decide this. I’ve already sent someone to invite him over.” The brother and sister had always been close. Her expression clearly showed she was angry, and Song Yanyu couldn’t sit still. He wished he could immediately get justice for his sister.

“Third Brother,” Song Luoning interrupted him, the emotions in her eyes obscure. “This matter should be left for my husband to handle herself. Since she’s her lifesaver, it’s only right to repay the young lady.”

Although she said that, Song Yanyu suppressed his dissatisfaction and looked at Xiao Yu. This kid looked more and more displeasing to him. If his father and big brother hadn’t told him to, he would have gone over and beaten her up already.

In contrast, Xiao Yu looked like nothing was wrong. She reached out to take Song Luoning’s hand, which was hanging at her side, but Song Luoning pulled it away.

“…”

“Husband, you should go settle that young lady first,” Song Luoning said in a calm tone, her eyes looking into the distance.

Seeing her so cold, Xiao Yu’s bright eyes showed a hint of grievance. Her fingers under her sleeve clenched and then relaxed, and she awkwardly lowered her hand. “Wife, I…”

How did she get the feeling her wife was unhappy? Did something happen while she was away? No, she had to ask her for a clear explanation tonight.

Xiao Yu blinked, her voice a little naive. “Then I’ll go settle Yuan Niang now.”

Song Luoning didn’t speak.

Jiang Wanrou stood by, closing her eyes. She really wanted to pry open that wretched child’s head and see what she was thinking.

Xiao Yu called out to Yuan Niang.

The beautiful woman, with a graceful figure, walked out elegantly. She curtsied to Song Luoning and said with a smile, “Thank you, Older Sister, for taking me in.”

Song Luoning’s face went pale. She raised her eyes to look at her. “Please call me Madam Xiao.”

“Exactly! My master only has one daughter, Miss. Not just anyone can call themselves ‘sister’,” the little maid couldn’t stand it anymore. What ‘Older Sister’? This was clearly a display of power. And that wretched son-in-law, to dare to openly bring someone back, completely disregarding her mistress’s dignity. She was so angry she could die.

Cui Zhu glared fiercely at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu: “…” What was wrong with this little maid? Did she eat a firecracker? Xiao Yu innocently blinked her almond eyes and tugged on Song Luoning’s sleeve, whispering, “I’ll be right back, Wife, wait for me.”

Cui Zhu snorted coldly.

“Cui Zhu, don’t be rude,” Song Luoning warned in a cold voice. “Let my husband handle the arrangements herself.”

Cui Zhu was indignant, but didn’t want to anger Song Luoning further. She huffed with annoyance, feeling it was unfair to her mistress, and simply turned her face away, as if afraid others wouldn’t see she was angry.

The atmosphere became awkward.

Xiao Yu rubbed her nose, still unable to understand where the little maid’s hostility came from.

Yuan Niang timidly looked up at Xiao Yu. “My lord, am I causing you trouble?”

“You know and you’re still staying?” Cui Zhu muttered under her breath, feeling both angry and annoyed.

Xiao Yu: “…”

“Cui Zhu!” Song Luoning snapped sharply, her tone filled with warning.

“This servant knows her mistake,” Cui Zhu lowered her head, not daring to make another sound.

Song Luoning said sternly, “If there’s a next time, you can go back to the Prime Minister’s residence.”

Cui Zhu lowered her head without a word and retreated to stand behind Song Luoning.

That Yuan Niang, however, curtsied to Song Luoning again. “Madam Xiao, if you must blame someone, blame me. I didn’t make myself clear. The Emperor bestowed me upon my lord today. I am now my lord’s person.”

The moment she said this, it was like a thunderclap.

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