Qingbao grew anxious. "We must follow the Young Miss; she is still injured!"
They had heard Physician Fu mention that the wound on Lu Zhaoling's head was actually fatal. They had no idea how she had managed to survive. Both Qingbao and Qingyin were practitioners of martial arts; they had seen the injury themselves and knew exactly how severe it was.
"I truly want to take you along, but the carriage really cannot fit anyone else," Lu Zhaoyun said with a helpless, self-deprecating sigh. "I'm not trying to make things difficult for you, but our family's carriage simply isn't that large."
Qingbao immediately countered, "We can walk."
They could use Qinggong.
"You came from Prince Jin's Manor, so you must know County Princess Changning and where her manor is. It is quite far from here; it would take at least an hour to walk," Lu Zhaoyun said. "If you and my second sister do not arrive at the gates at the same time, people will laugh at us."
Wouldn't that be the same as announcing to the world that the Lu family's carriage was so small it couldn't even fit their maids?
Qingyin remained calmer and proposed a more practical solution. "We will go out and rent a carriage then."
"By the time you find one, it will be too late. However, if you truly insist on following, then so be it. Second Sister, come sit in my carriage first." Lu Zhaoyun saw that the two maids were determined to stick close.
Lu Zhaoling spared her a glance.
"Go buy a carriage instead," Lu Zhaoling told her maids. "Make sure it's a comfortable one. There's no need to rush; just come and pick me up when you're done. If neither of you knows how to drive it, hire a coachman as well."
Lu Zhaoyun hadn't been lying about the carriage being cramped. Lu Zhaoling already knew the Lu family's finances were mediocre; she had no idea where the vast family fortune from years ago had been squandered. She had already experienced the inconvenience of not having a vehicle, so she decided she needed one of her own.
"Miss, but if you're alone..." Qingyin and Qingbao were worried.
"It's fine. Go."
Qingyin and Qingbao could only comply. Not wanting to waste a moment, they hurried out to purchase a carriage.
Lu Zhaoyun and Lu Zhaohua were both stunned. She was just going to buy a carriage like that?
"Second Sister, are you going to use all of those three hundred taels you took from the family just to buy a carriage?"
Three hundred taels could certainly buy a carriage, though it wouldn't be particularly luxurious. Even so, Lu Zhaoyun felt a surge of jealousy and anger. It pained her to see the Lu family's money going to Lu Zhaoling.
Lu Zhaohua was even more envious. However, she forced a bright, joyful smile. "That's wonderful! Our manor will have one more carriage from now on..."
Before she could finish, Lu Zhaoling calmly interrupted her.
"It's not for the manor. It's mine."
Lu Zhaohua: "..."
Does she have to be so stingy?
"Alright, we should leave. It wouldn't do to be late." Lu Zhaoyun was also feeling stifled, but for the sake of successfully bringing Lu Zhaoling to the County Princess's Manor, she forced herself to endure.
Lu Zhaoyun's carriage was indeed small. With the three of them plus Lu Zhaoyun's maid, Qiuju, it was already quite crowded. Moreover, the carriage wasn't very comfortable; the cushions were hard, and the ride was bumpy.
Lu Zhaoyun was wearing a scent sachet that gave off a powerful aroma. It happened to be a scent Lu Zhaoling loathed, and inside the cramped carriage, the fragrance became even more suffocating, making her feel physically ill.
"Throw that sachet away, or put it outside," Lu Zhaoling said, looking at her.
Lu Zhaoyun wondered if she had misheard. Was Lu Zhaoling insane? She was actually trying to dictate what she wore?
She suppressed her rage. "Second Sister, stop making a scene. This sachet was a gift from someone important; it is very precious. The incense inside cannot even be bought on the market."
The spices inside had been gifted to her by County Princess Changning herself a tribute presented by foreign envoys to the ladies of the Imperial Palace.
Lu Zhaoyun had received only a tiny amount and was incredibly proud of it. She usually couldn't bear to use it, only bringing it out for an occasion as solemn as today's. And Lu Zhaoling wanted her to throw it away?
"It smells foul."
Lu Zhaoyun gritted her teeth and squeezed out a smile, trying to pacify her. "Ordinary people might not be used to such a fragrance, but this is tribute from foreign envoys. It is an extremely expensive and luxurious incense.
Second Sister, now that you have come to the Capital, you must work hard to elevate your tastes. You cannot keep liking those low-class scents, or you will be ridiculed."
"You talk too much."
Lu Zhaoling moved like a flash. She reached out, snatched the sachet from Lu Zhaoyun's person, flipped open the carriage curtain, and tossed it to the seat beside the driver.
"Leave it there for now. You can put it back on later."
If she had to endure that smell in such a small cabin, she would lose her mind. Besides, the ingredients in that incense were suspicious she could detect fish and animal bone meal. It was simply unacceptable to her.
"Second Sister!"
Lu Zhaoyun never expected such a brazen act. She let out a sharp scream of fury.
"Scream again and I'll throw it away for good."
Lu Zhaoling had already closed her eyes, ignoring her completely.
The coachman looked at the sachet beside him and let out a massive sneeze. Finally, someone had pointed out that the Eldest Miss's perfume smelled terrible! But why did he have to be the one to suffer for it? Fortunately, sitting outside with the wind dispersing the scent, it was just barely tolerable.
Lu Zhaoyun stared at Lu Zhaoling, who was playing dead with her eyes shut. Her eyes were practically spitting fire, and her hands gripped her silk handkerchief so tightly she looked ready to tear her sister apart.
Don't get angry, don't get angry. Once we reach the County Princess's Manor, Lu Zhaoling is finished! She will be taught a lesson today!
Lu Zhaohua saw Lu Zhaoyun's face contorted with rage and wisely kept her mouth shut. She had no desire to become the target of that anger. However, seeing Lu Zhaoyun suffer such a setback at Lu Zhaoling's hands gave her a secret sense of satisfaction.
Throughout their lives, Lu Zhaoyun and Lu Zhaoyue had never missed an opportunity to lord their status as legitimate daughters over her. Now that another legitimate daughter had arrived, it was best to let them tear each other apart.
Qiuju, meanwhile, spoke in low tones to comfort Lu Zhaoyun.
The County Princess's Manor was indeed quite a distance from the Lu manor, primarily because the Lu family lived nowhere near the Capital's center of power. The Capital was divided into the Inner and Outer Cities.
The Outer City was mostly populated by commoners and filled with bustling, low-end markets and workshops. The Inner City was far more prosperous, but even it was stratified; the closer a residence was to the Imperial Palace, the more prestigious it was.
The County Princess's Manor wasn't exceptionally close to the palace, but it was within the elite radius. It was located on Zhuque Street. Zhuque Street was a long, vertical thoroughfare, and the manor sat toward the end of it.
This area consisted entirely of smooth bluestone roads that were incredibly wide. The surroundings were filled with grand three-entry and five-entry manors, all featuring high walls and imposing gatehouses.
Upon arriving, Lu Zhaohua couldn't help but look around with longing and envy. If only she could live here. Or perhaps, marry into a family on Zhuque Street.
"We're here."
Lu Zhaoyun hurried to get out, quickly retrieving her sachet for fear it might be lost. If she wasn't wearing it today, County Princess Changning might be offended.
Lu Zhaoling opened her eyes the moment the carriage came to a halt.
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