Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Forming a Marital Alliance

Jing Lai stacked the food box in his hand on top of the one in Fu Changqin’s arms, “Don’t mix them up, make sure the Second Miss gets the hot one.”

As for the cold ones, they could be given to others.

Fu Changqin understood the implication behind Jing Lai’s words, and instantly felt a chill in his heart.

What, did the rest of their family look like a garbage bin to Xiao Chengyu?

However, Fu Changqin didn’t have a chance to complain, as Jing Lai pushed him onto the carriage, urging him to hurry, “Hurry up and go!”

The coachman drove the carriage away, and Jing Lai didn’t even spare Lin Qingqing a glance before returning to the mansion.

Lin Qingqing was trembling with anger and was about to leave when suddenly a luxurious carriage of Marquis Zhao’s mansion slowly came to a stop.

The old lady who stepped down from the carriage indeed had an unfamiliar face.

Lin Qingqing had never seen her in the capital before.

Even if she hadn’t had the opportunity to meet them, she could still recognize the noble families of the capital.

Another young girl of similar age to the old lady also stepped down, and she was equally unfamiliar.

“Old Madam!” Housekeeper Jiang hurriedly came out, quickly bowing to the newly descended old lady, “Our old madam knew you were coming, so she has been waiting early.”

“I only returned to the capital yesterday, and it was she who made me come over so early,” the old lady said with a smile.

“Old Madam, Miss, please come in.”

Being able to make the old lady wait and having Housekeeper Jiang come out to greet her personally, Lin Qingqing thought for a moment, got into the carriage, and instructed the coachman to go around to the back gate of the Marquis’s mansion.

Using a signal unique to her and Xiao Fengxing, she sent a message into the Marquis’s mansion.

Who knew after a while, Yilan, the maid beside Aunt Liu, came out but said, “The Second Young Master is not in the mansion right now, and Aunt Liu is also unavailable, Miss should come another day.”

Lin Qingqing was surprised by Yilan’s unexpectedly disrespectful attitude towards her this time.

Aunt Liu had been quite attentive to her before, but this time she was actually asking her to come another day.

“Miss Lin, Aunt Liu said you are now also an unmarried young lady,” Yilan said, “It would be better for you to follow some rules and avoid being seen. It’s not good for people to know you always visit the Second Young Master at the Marquis’s mansion.”

“How dare you speak to me like this!” Lin Qingqing said angrily.

“Forgive me, Miss.” Yilan responded with a sarcastic bow, showing no fear, “I am just conveying Aunt Liu’s message. If you don’t like it, well, I’ve said what I needed to.”

“Let’s go!” Lin Qingqing flung her hand angrily and headed towards the alley entrance with her maid.

“Miss, why did Aunt Liu’s attitude change so quickly?” the maid whispered.

Lin Qingqing was also puzzled, “Their attitude is indeed strange.”

As she reached the alley entrance and was about to get into the carriage, she happened to overhear the idle chatter of the doormen at the Marquis’s mansion.

“Was that lady from the Zhao Master’s mansion?”

“Yes, she is an old friend of our Marquis’s old madam. But the Zhao Master’s mansion is not in the capital, and Old Madam Dong has not been back in the capital for many years.”

“Then why did she return this time, especially when it’s not a festive season?”

“I heard that the young lady of the Zhao Master’s mansion has reached the age for marriage discussions, so they brought her to the capital to find a good match.”

“I also heard that Old Madam Dong has intentions of marrying into our Marquis’s mansion.”

“If Old Madam Dong personally brought her to the capital, she must be dearly loved by her. Surely she wouldn’t marry her to our Marquis? As good as our Marquis is, his health…”

“Of course not to the Marquis, it should be to the Second Young Master.”

“How could it be? No matter how good the Second Young Master is, he’s still… that girl can’t be an illegitimate daughter, can she?”

“It’s said she’s the legitimate first daughter, but the original legitimate wife of Zhao Master passed away years ago, and now the household is managed by the second wife. Living under the second wife is certainly not easy, although she only carries the title of first daughter. It’s only under the old madam’s care that she’s been protected.”

“Without family favor, she can’t get any extraordinary marriage prospects. So, Old Madam Dong thought of our old madam. If she marries into our mansion, she would still be under the care of the old madam.”

“Moreover, since the two old madams are best friends, perhaps the young lady of the Zhao Master’s mansion might eventually protect the old madam.”

Both sides understood these words.

In the future, if Xiao Chengyu really passes on and leaves Xiao Fengxing to inherit the Marquis’s mansion,

Then the young lady from Zhao Master’s mansion would be the Marchioness.

With her managing the household, the old madam’s days wouldn’t be bad either.

“Both old madams have calculated so well.”

“They’re both leaving a way out for themselves. The legitimate daughter of Zhao Master’s mansion is indeed an excellent marriage prospect for the Second Young Master. In the capital, he wouldn’t find such a good match.”

“Yes, no matter how displeased the old madam is, she has to pinch her nose and agree to this marriage for the sake of the future.”

“Our old madam is indeed capable!”

These words all fell into Lin Qingqing’s ears.

The maid hurriedly said, “Miss, the Second Young Master is getting engaged.”

“No wonder Yilan was so disrespectful to you just now, and even Aunt Liu…” the maid paused.

Lin Qingqing’s heart was in turmoil.

The legitimate daughter of the Zhao Master’s mansion, though unloved, still had the backing of the Master’s mansion.

The Zhao Master was also a renowned and powerful minister, not some idle noble.

For Xiao Fengxing to treat the legitimate daughter of Zhao Master’s mansion, he naturally couldn’t be like he was with Fu Mingzhu.

If their marriage were to truly succeed, unless the legitimate daughter died, she couldn’t possibly surpass her to become the primary wife.

Even if Xiao Fengxing inherits the Marquis’s mansion, he cannot touch the Zhao Master’s mansion.

But she would never be a concubine!

Lin Qingqing returned home with a heart in chaos.

Meanwhile, when Fu Changqin returned home, Madam Fu was surprised, “Why did you come back so early today?”

Thinking of this, Fu Changqin was at a loss, “Don’t mention it, the Marquis said Shinian likes osmanthus cake from the Marquis’s house chef, so to let Shinian eat it while it’s still hot, they hurried me to bring it back.”

Madam Fu: “…”

Now she wasn’t worried about Fu Shinian having any romantic notions about Xiao Chengyu; she started worrying if Xiao Chengyu was interested in Fu Shinian.

After all, who wouldn’t be moved by a young girl traveling a thousand miles to save him at the risk of her life?

“But why did they let you bring back so much?” Two large boxes seemed like they wanted to stuff Fu Shinian to death?

“It was only one box initially.” Fu Changqin said, “But I ran into Lin Qingqing at the Marquis’s gate.”

“Hmm?” Madam Fu’s face changed immediately at the mention of Lin Qingqing.

“Mother, I’ll explain in detail later, but first, I should take this hot osmanthus cake to Shinian.” Fu Changqin just handed the top box of osmanthus cake to Ting Qin when Fu Shinian walked in.

“What osmanthus cake, for me?” Fu Shinian heard the mention of osmanthus cake as she came in just in time.

Not to mention, she did kind of miss the desserts from the Marquis of Changping’s house chef when osmanthus cake was mentioned.

“The Marquis of Changping said you like osmanthus cake, so he specially let me bring it back while it’s hot. It was just steamed, so he even made me come back immediately and not continue my reading.” Fu Changqin said.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep