The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

Under the pretext of asking Princess Gao about the gift list, Lu Yun first went to Mingde Hall, sat for a while, and then went straight to Xiuzhu Pavilion.

Aunt Cen looked at the gift list on the table without any suspicion and took the initiative to mention a few things about the Hua family's preferences.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Lu Yun took the account book from Cai He and placed it on the table. "Although I usually stay in the mansion, I also have some understanding of what is happening outside. In the past two or three years, I have done my best to help with the relief of the disabled soldiers."

At first, Aunt Cen's expression was very calm. When she heard the princess mentioned the word "compensation", her eyes moved slightly and looked at the account book on the table. "I knew the princess had a kind heart, but I never thought you would actually -"

Lu Yun opened the account book and placed it in front of her. It recorded the purchased materials, dates, silver spent, etc. from the beginning to the end. A rough calculation showed that the expenditure at the end of last year alone was no less than one hundred taels.

Cen Miaoxin read it very carefully. After recognizing a few words, she knew that what the princess said was true. Her eyes turned red and she held onto the edge of the table and was about to kneel down. "I thank the princess on their behalf."

Lu Yun quickly had someone help her up. "I've long heard of the kindness of General Cen and Madam Qiong. I admire you both greatly. This time, I do have a favor to ask of you."

Cen Miaoxin hurriedly said, "Princess, please tell me, but if there is anything I can help with, I will do it without hesitation."

Lu Yun observed her expression, sighed secretly, and continued to probe, "I heard that Aunt Cen has been secretly paying money to support General Cen's former subordinates over the years?"

Cen Miaoxin was startled at first, then looked ashamed. "Compared to you, I can only offer fifty taels of silver, which is not worth mentioning."

Lu Yun's eyes softened. "So you've distributed all the pension money that my father gives to the Cen family every year."

Cen Miaoxin's face was filled with melancholy. "When my father was dying, what he was most worried about were the veterans who had followed him. He often said that without them, the Cen family wouldn't be where it is today. But—" Cen Miaoxin laughed at herself. "There's really not much I can do."

Lu Yun exhaled a breath of turbid air. "Fortunately, the Hua family helped you do this. Otherwise, it would be too difficult for a woman like you to gather supplies and organize the people to deliver them."

Cen Miaoxin looked up in surprise, feeling rather bewildered. "My Lady Princess, how do you know all this? Besides the Hua family, I've never mentioned this to anyone else."

Lu Yun pretended to be relaxed. "Needless to say, Madam Tong treats you like her own daughter. Who else could it be other than the Hua family?"

Cen Miaoxin also laughed. "I was mistaken. At first, I was doing it all by myself. Later, I met Brother Cheng at the Hua family. He took over everything and not only that, he also helped me with the money."

Lu Yun groaned inwardly and pretended to joke, "I guess you also had a share of the good reputation that the Hua family gained later."

Cen Miaoxin shook her head repeatedly and argued for the Hua family, "My money and the money the Hua family paid are separate. There are two account books in total, and they have nothing to do with each other."

After asking a few simple questions, Lu Yun left.

To know exactly how much money Hua Cheng invested in this matter, one just needs to find out what he gave away and then add up the accounts.

"What?!" An angry roar echoed over Anlan Courtyard.

I thought about fifty taels, I thought about sixty taels, but I never thought it would be only less than forty taels!

Lu Yun pointed at the note on the table and was furious. "The Hua family gained a good reputation without spending a penny, and now they want to take kickbacks again." How shameless!

Zhou Boli patted his wife, whose nose was snorting at the moment, soothingly. "Madam, please take care of yourself. Anger is harmful to your health."

Lu Yun took a deep breath, found the gift list for tomorrow's gift-giving, picked up a pen and wrote a few words, leaving only a pair of jade ruyi to keep things simple, and replaced the rest with slightly inferior items.

Hua Cheng, the young master of the Hua family, is getting married, and the Hua family is filled with guests.

Lu Yun and Zhou Boli arrived just in time, and General Hua and his wife, Tong, personally greeted them. Lu Yun wore a smoky purple shirt with large sleeves embroidered with floral patterns and a gold filigree headpiece inlaid with rubies. The translucent smoky purple gauze peony flowers trembled in her hair, making her look both noble, dignified, and unparalleled in her beauty.

Zhou Boli wore a purple round-necked robe with a black long gown woven with gold over it, and a white jade and purple gold crown on his head. His every move and gesture exuded the supreme majesty of a superior.

As soon as the couple appeared, they attracted the attention of everyone present. Men, women, young and old, either bowed with their hands clasped in front of them or knelt down and bowed their heads in greeting.

Zhou Boli raised his hand to signal, and everyone stood up.

The two said goodbye in the hall, and Lu Yun followed Mrs. Tong to the back house.

"Princess, please."

Lu Yun smiled and sat down, her eyes swept around the room, and everyone lowered their heads and avoided her gaze wherever she went.

However, Mrs. Tong obviously did not think so. She got up and left in a hurry, making the excuse that she was going to the front to entertain the guests. Soon after, several more people left, and the main hall, which was decorated with flowers, suddenly became much quieter.

Lu Yun watched coldly until she saw a familiar figure at the door.

Jiao Ying: "Your humble servant greets the princess."

Lu Yun smiled and gestured for her to sit next to her. "It's been a while since we last met. What have you been busy with?"

Jiao Ying's cheeks flushed slightly, and Cai Die was full of joy. "My Lady Princess, my wife is pregnant."

Lu Yun's eyes lit up, and her gaze fell on her belly. The month was still early and the shape of the pregnancy could not be seen, so she pretended to be angry and said, "Such a big happy event, but you didn't send anyone to tell me. Brother, don't you treat me as your own family?"

Jiao Ying quickly explained for her husband, "My mother said it's not good to let anyone know before the third month. Please don't be offended, Your Majesty."

Lu Yun suppressed a smile and said, "It's boring to stay at home all day. I have a few sets of mahjong and playing cards. I'll send them to you when I get home. It's good for killing time."

Jiao Ying thanked him with a smile.

Seeing the Princess and Madam Zhang Er talking so animatedly, someone finally got up the courage to come up and talk to them.

The woman in the cotton skirt said her surname was Lin and her husband was a subordinate of General Hua. She smiled and said, "My Lady, do you know whose daughter-in-law Madam Tong is marrying?"

Lu Yun had indeed forgotten to ask this question, but Mrs. Lin must have brought it up for a reason, so she followed her lead and said, "I really don't know."

Mrs. Lin covered her mouth and chuckled, "She is General Dong's daughter."

Dong Pan? It was actually her! Could it be that the Hua family didn't know about Dong Pan's disturbance at Changfuji? This person is not a good person.

Jiao Ying had vaguely heard of the deeds of the eldest daughter of the Dong family. She blinked her eyes and said, "General Dong has a high reputation in the army and is a good match for the Hua family."

A flash of sarcasm crossed Mrs. Lin's face. "Mrs. Jiao is right. The only thing that's scary is that some people don't think the same way."

This person naturally refers to Mrs. Tong.

Lu Yun could hear that this Mrs. Lin was probably not on good terms with Mrs. Tong. Judging from her age, she was a generation older than Mrs. Tong, and her husband was just a subordinate of General Hua.

Thoughts turned around in her head, and Lu Yun smiled gently, "I heard that General Hua treats me kindly, and Hua Cheng also has the style of his father and has been providing relief to injured and disabled soldiers for many years. His reputation is even greater than that of the former Cen family."

Mrs. Lin's face was filled with even more sarcasm. "Your Highness, you don't know that General Cen's family is truly noble and upright. What a pity, alas!"

Lu Yun coughed lightly and said, "I'm new here, please help me, Mrs. Lin."