When Luo Qing Shuang heard this news, her entire body felt like it's crumbling!

A daughter of the grand General's Mansion was actually going to be a concubine? Even though that person was her beloved Fifth Prince, but without a position as an imperial consort, how could she show off in front of those aristocratic ladies? She's afraid that in the future, she'd be too embarrassed to even attend the Flower Bestowment Festival and the Poetry Assembly, these kinds of gatherings.

"Why.....why......" Luo Qing Shuang clenched her teeth in anger.

She merely lacked the identity as a main daughter, yet she'll have to accept the compromise of becoming a concubine? The position of a concubine is simply one without the slightest degree of status. Don't mention a noble consort, even a side consort can beat and scold her as they wished. It's considered not a big deal even if they beat her to death. These were all decided by status and position!

"Mother, I don't want to be a concubine......" Luo Qing Shuang cried loudly as she threw herself at Wang Xue Ru's bosom.

But Wang Xue Ru was also helpless. This was a verbal command issued by the emperor. When the time came, her precious daughter would be sent to Fifth Prince's Mansion.

She thought about the daughter that she'd painstakingly raised for sixteen years becoming the lowest concubine for no rhyme or reason. Even betrothal gifts were not needed, so forget about mentioning a lavish wedding ceremony. She could only furtively dress Qing Shuang up beautifully, place a veil over her head, and send her through the side door of Fifth Prince's Mansion. There was simply no difference between this and being a thief.

Completely without any idea of what else to do, Wang Xue Ru could only comfort her daughter. "Qing Shuang, be good, don't cry. Even though you're a concubine, at least you're marrying the fifth prince that you like. As long as you work hard in the future, why wouldn't you be able to have Fifth Prince promote you into a main consort?"

Luo Qing Shuang's tearful and hazy eyes looked up. "Mother, is that really possible?"

She absolutely didn't want to be a concubine!

Her mother, also, just because she's a lesser concubine, even though her servants respectfully call her the side madam, the fact was that she did not have any significant position at all. Otherwise, how would she be in this kind of predicament?

Just because she's not the main wife's daughter, she would have to lower her head to Luo Qing Luan for no reason at all?

"There must be a way, there must be!" As if to console herself, Wang Xue Ru said, "right now, the only piece of good news is that Luo Qing Luan, that girl, is no longer the future fifth prince consort. As long as you win over Fifth Prince's heart, why would you be afraid that you won't be able to deal with that girl in the future?"

"That's true. I won't give up!" The more Luo Qing Shuang thought about it, the angrier she became and she turned all of her grievance on not becoming a consort into blame towards Luo Qing Luan.

Even if she was only a concubine, so what? She's still better off than Luo Qing Luan, whose engagement had been broken!

"Qing Shuang, now that you're already Fifth Prince's woman, go, mother will help you vent your anger on that rotten girl." Wang Xue Ru smiled gloomily. She actually wanted to see if Luo Qing Luan would be so upset after finding out this news that she'd hang herself. If so, then it'd certainly be interesting to watch.

Very quickly, Luo Qing Shuang changed into a newly made full length brocade dress with peony flowers. Dressed elegantly, she followed Wang Xue Ru and headed for Luo Qing Luan's shabby little courtyard.

Sweeping her eyes over the disintegrating bluestone floor, there wasn't even one presentable decoration. There were even some sparse weeds in the corner. Wang Xue Ru and Luo Qing Shuang were even more pleased and smiled. They took their previous bit of resentment and unwillingness and threw them beyond the clouds.

The shabby window before them exposed Luo Qing Luan's figure. She seemed to be writing something. Seeing this situation, Wang Xue Ru yelled from far away. "Hey, Qing Luan, what are you doing?"

Once she saw that it was those two people, Luo Qing Luan took a piece of paper and covered the writing that she just finished, then walked outside emotionlessly. "Father's concubine, older sister, why are the two of you here?"

"Qing Luan, you probably don't know, right?" Wang Xue Ru shouted exaggeratedly, as if she felt very bad. "I just heard the news your father brought. I was just too shocked, so promptly came to tell you. Iris just that, when you hear it, you mustn't feel sad."

Already knowing what her mother was going to say, Luo Qing Shuang also spoke in a contrived manner. "That's right, younger sister, this news came too suddenly, I also couldn't believe it."

Keeping in mind the trace of malicious intentions she perceived in the depths of their eyes despite their feigned mannerisms, Luo Qing Luan pretended to not notice and deliberately said, "Oh, is it about the rumors going around outside?The thing about Elder Sister and a man? There were even erotic illustrations! Sigh......I already heard Dai Yue talk about it. Elder Sister, who in the world did such a thing and bared our General's Mansion?"

"It truly is too repulsive!"

"You......"

Listening to these words nearly infuriated Wang Xue Ru and Luo Qing Shuang enough to die from excessive anger.

They originally wanted to humiliate Luo Qing Luan, but didn't expect to be humiliated by her instead.

This matter had already spread like wildfire and the entire capital knew of it. During this period of time, Luo Qing Shuang was basically too ashamed to go out. That's why she was too upset and was anxious to come and distress Luo Qing Luan. She didn't expect......

Complexion darkening, Wang Xue Ru coldly responded. "Nevermind those unfounded stories. Who said that the person is really our Qing Shuang? If anyone still dare to spread rumors recklessly in our General's Mansion, don't blame me for punishing them severely!"

Smiling indifferently, Luo Qing Luan answered. "Yes, I got it, Father's Concubine can relax, I absolutely won't speak of these things outside."

No longer able to endure, Luo Qing Shuang declared loudly. "Luo Qing Luan, today, mother and I came to tell you something. Why did you gossip about me for? I'm telling you, Fifth Prince already petitioned to the emperor to break off your engagement with him!"