Chapter 101: Good Things Come in Pairs
Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Good Things Come in Pairs
Seeing everyone’s confusion, Feng Qingyue cast aside her fear and laid everything on the table.
"Since we’ve come this far, I wonder if the Grand Commandant knows that your Liang Ji was once on very intimate terms with Cui Xiaolang? Not only did she give him money and gifts, but they even agreed to elope in the dead of night! You—"
Elope? Those listening clicked their tongues in shock.
"Shut up!"
Princess Lanling was choked with anger. This wasn’t just exposing Liang Wan’s secrets; it was a direct slap in Lu Xiu’s face! Her daughter was truly foolish beyond belief!
"Lady Feng—" Cui Hao, dripping with cold sweat, glared at Feng Qingyue. His heart was in his throat.
The crowd couldn’t help but carefully observe Lu Xiu’s expression.
Feng Qingyue glanced at her mother, who was tugging at her arm, and said frankly, "I’m only doing this for the Grand Commandant’s own good, to save him from being kept in the dark!"
At the Peach Blossom Banquet, Liang Wan had deceived her, claiming that she had a secret tryst with the Grand Commandant that night. However, after getting into a huge argument with Cui Hao over this very matter, she learned from him that Liang Wan’s guardian sand was still intact; she had never lost her virginity. Only then did she realize she had been tricked by Liang Wan, whose sole purpose was to prevent anyone from finding out what truly happened that day!
Lu Xiu remained silent. He merely turned his head, nodding thoughtfully.
Seeing his apparent hesitation, Feng Qingyue added fuel to the fire. "To be honest with the Grand Commandant, I used to be Liang Ji’s close friend. Unfortunately, she is a fickle and loose woman. I advised her against it several times, but she turned a deaf ear and even demanded I help her cover it up. If you don’t believe what I just said, you can send someone to Cui Xiaolang’s home. You will definitely find many items given by Liang Ji—"
"That’s not true!" Cui Hao wanted to explain but couldn’t find the words.
Zhou Yun, who had been listening for quite a while, raised an eyebrow and smiled. "How do you know whether there are things belonging to Liang Ji in Cui Xiaolang’s home? Have you been there?"
Feng Qingyue’s lips twitched, a trace of panic flashing in her eyes. "Of course I haven’t been there, but I assume it must be the case."
"Oh, you assume..." Zhou Yun waved his fan, dragging out his words.
"Ah Yue, stop your nonsense!"
Just now, Song Tan had returned to the banquet and mentioned seeing Lady Feng arguing with Liang Ji in the small pavilion. Thinking her daughter might be drunk, Princess Lanling grew worried and came out to check on them to prevent any trouble. Little did she expect, it would have been better not to come out at all!
In front of everyone, Princess Lanling could only suppress the fiery rage in her heart and warn her in a low voice. She was well aware of the exact nature of Feng Qingyue and Cui Hao’s relationship.
"I’m not spouting nonsense," Feng Qingyue insisted, her face flushed red.
Liang Wan smiled. "She isn’t spouting total nonsense. I did gift many items to Cui Xiaolang. However, they were nothing more than stationery and rations. It wouldn’t hurt to investigate."
This answer was exactly what she expected. Feng Qingyue curled her lips into a smirk. "Then why don’t you explain the night elopement?"
Cui Hao was drenched in cold sweat. If this matter were exposed, his shady dealings with Zhang Shi would definitely come to light as well. He couldn’t help but secretly curse Feng Qingyue for being so utterly unhinged.
Liang Wan let out a long sigh. "Ah Yue, I never thought you would misunderstand me so deeply. I just explained it to you. I gifted those items to Cui Xiaolang simply because I was grateful for his past kindness to our Liang Mansion and to me. I was merely repaying a debt of gratitude."
Speaking of this debt of gratitude, it was true that Cui Hao had taken a knife from a bandit to save her and the Fourth Lady that day. The incident had spread throughout Jinye City; everyone knew about it. For saving her life, gifting some stationery and rations was truly nothing much.
Hearing this, Cui Hao hurriedly agreed. "Indeed! I am not one to seek rewards. It was truly Liang Ji who felt uneasy about the debt. I never intended for it to cause such a misunderstanding. This is truly my fault!" Saying this, he bowed deeply toward Lu Xiu. "I hope the Grand Commandant absolutely does not misunderstand!"
Lu Xiu’s lips curved into a slight smile. He was just about to speak when Feng Qingyue cut him off.
"Grand Commandant, do not believe their coordinated lies. Let alone what really happened during that night elopement, based on what status is he even attending today’s banquet?"
Lu Xiu shook his head and sighed lightly. "Naturally, I was the one who sent for him!" Everyone was astonished.
Lu Xiu patted Liang Wan’s hand. Looking at the crowd, the curve of his lips deepened, and he spoke in a casual tone. "A benefactor to Liang Ji is a benefactor to me. Hearing that he possesses some talent, I originally wanted to recommend him to Prince Guangping, but I didn’t expect that—"
"Uncle Xiu, who do you wish to recommend to me?"
After the group had been away from the banquet for a long time, Prince Guangping and Princess Yuzhang grew anxious, afraid that they had used the opportunity to leave entirely. They came out to look for them, only to find them gathered around the small pavilion. Before even getting close, they heard Lu Xiu saying he wanted to recommend someone to Prince Guangping. Overjoyed, Gao Yi exchanged a glance with Princess Yuzhang and quickly stepped forward.
Liang Wan cast a glance at Gao Yi. Even though he was clearly a few years older than Lu Xiu, he certainly threw around ’Uncle Xiu’ smoothly enough.
Lu Xiu turned his head and said leisurely, "I was too focused on drinking with Your Highness just now and almost forgot about this matter." At this, the expressions of the onlookers shifted constantly.
Cui Hao was overjoyed and hurriedly rushed forward.
Lu Xiu’s expression remained indifferent. "I hear that although Cui Yuebai is versed in literature rather than martial arts, he dared to fight bandits barehanded and even won with his wits. How can such a brave and insightful talent be buried? Why not let him join Your Highness’s household and serve you?"
Gao Yi had also heard of this matter, but seeing that it was Lu Xiu making the recommendation, how could he refuse? Sometimes, who or what was being recommended didn’t matter; what mattered was the attitude!
Gao Yi finally looked Cui Hao straight in the eye. Seeing that he had a clean and handsome appearance, he nodded. "Since this is Uncle Xiu’s intention, you will follow me from now on."
Tears welled up in Cui Hao’s eyes. Overwhelmed with joy, he bowed first to Gao Yi and then to Lu Xiu. Believing he had gained Lu Xiu’s support, Gao Yi was absolutely elated as well. He pulled the others along, wanting to return to the banquet and continue drinking freely.
Suddenly, Lu Xiu paused in his steps and looked back. The others followed his gaze.
Princess Lanling, Feng Qingyue, and the others were still standing rooted to the spot, their faces ashen.
"Uncle Xiu?" Gao Yi was bewildered.
Lu Xiu tilted his head, pretending to think. "Why do I remember that it was Princess Lanling who secured this Imperial College Assistant Teacher position for Cui Yuebai?"
Princess Lanling abruptly snapped out of her daze. "Yes."
Gao Yi nodded repeatedly. "Since he is someone chosen by both Aunt Lanling and Uncle Xiu, he definitely won’t be bad!"
Princess Lanling hadn’t expected Lu Xiu to give her this opening. Catching Princess Yuzhang’s meaningful glance, she quickly caught up to them. "About what happened just now—"
Lu Xiu narrowed his eyes. "What happened just now?"
Unable to read his intentions, Princess Lanling didn’t dare to reply rashly.
He then looked at Cui Hao and asked, "Did Princess Lanling recommend you because she wants you to be her ideal son-in-law?"
"No—"
Whoever was trying to deny it was entirely drowned out by Gao Yi’s loud laughter.
"Ha, there’s such a thing?" He laughed, patting Cui Hao’s shoulder. "Good, good, good! Then I am definitely going to be the matchmaker for this!"
Cui Hao was shocked. He could marry a Marquis’s wife? Overwhelmed by the sudden succession of joyous events, he hurriedly began bowing again. This time, his bows included Princess Lanling. Princess Lanling knew that this was already the lightest possible punishment, so she had no choice but to swallow her grievance.
Zhou Yun smiled with pointed implication. "Princess Yuzhang’s banquet has been hosted exceptionally well!"
Gao Yi and the others laughed as well.
Liang Wan kept her eyes lowered the entire time, a faint smile resting on her lips. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Feng Qingyue’s body swaying slightly.
Someone from the banquet tables came over to urge them back again, and Princess Yuzhang responded with continuous agreements.
Lu Xiu’s expression was apathetic as he cast a fleeting glance at Feng Qingyue, who had fallen far behind. "It seems this makes three times."