Qiuju helped Lu Zhaoyun out of the carriage, completely ignoring Lu Zhaohua and Lu Zhaoling.
After Lu Zhaohua got out of the carriage, she thought for a moment and stretched out her hand to Lu Zhaoling, "Second Sister, I'll help you."
"No need."
Lu Zhaoling avoided her hand and got out of the carriage herself.
Lu Zhaohua looked a little sad, lowering her eyes to hide her gaze.
"Zhaoyun."
Someone in front called out, their voice filled with a bold and unrestrained personality.
Lu Zhaoyun was pleasantly surprised and hurried to greet her.
"Sister He!"
Lu Zhaohua's expression changed when she saw the newcomer, looking a little timid. How could she forget that He Lianxin would also be at such an event?
Lu Zhaoling glanced at her but said nothing.
She looked towards the newcomer.
First, she saw the other party's carriage, which looked much more luxurious than the Lu Family's.
The woman who was intimately greeting Lu Zhaoyun was about seventeen or eighteen, with a melon seed face and a pointed chin, and was quite beautiful.
Because it was during a period of mourning, she was dressed simply in white, with only a few small and exquisite jade hairpins and silk flowers in her hair, making her look graceful and elegant, like a plain lotus.
She was accompanied by two maids, whose clothes were white with some brownish-red floral patterns.
It seemed this person came from a good family.
However...
Lu Zhaoling looked at her face, her eyes flashing.
"Second Sister, that is the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, Lord He's eldest daughter, He Lianxin. She and Big Sister are very good friends, but you should still avoid her." Lu Zhaohua leaned closer to her, whispering a reminder.
"She bullied you?" Lu Zhaoling's question was, in fact, an assertion.
Lu Zhaohua looked somewhat embarrassed.
This was a very shameful thing for her!
It was actually because He Lianxin was someone who intensely disliked concubine-born daughters, and also disliked peers who were somewhat similar to her.
Lu Zhaohua also had this elegant and lotus-like image, and she had offended He Lianxin on their first meeting, being severely suppressed by her.
"N-nothing of the sort." How could Lu Zhaohua admit it? She just bit her lower lip sadly, "Second Sister, you don't know the hardships of being a concubine-born daughter."
Lu Zhaoling ignored her aggrieved look and had already turned her gaze to the Princess Manor's main entrance.
The fact that Princess Changning was granted a separate residence indicated that she was highly favored by the Emperor.
Lu Xiaokelian knew nothing about Jingcheng and had few memories, so she didn't know what kind of person Princess Changning was.
However, she saw the Aura of Wealth within the Princess Manor.
Therefore, she naturally had to enter; it would be a waste not to pick up money when it's available.
The Princess Manor was a three-courtyard residence, already very large and imposing.
Two maids stood on either side of the main entrance, greeting guests.
Seeing that Lu Zhaoyun was still endlessly talking with He Lianxin, Lu Zhaoling walked towards the main entrance first.
Lu Zhaohua thought for a moment and quickly followed her.
The two maids simultaneously extended their hands, blocking them.
"Where are the two young ladies' invitations?"
"They're with that lady. We came together; you can get them from her," Lu Zhaoling pointed at Lu Zhaoyun.
She heard that Lu Zhaoyun and Princess Changning were good friends, which meant she wasn't new to the Princess Manor. Could these two maids not recognize the Lu Family's carriage? Even if they didn't, Lu Zhaoyun was standing right there; hadn't they seen her just now?
Lu Zhaoling sneered inwardly. It seemed that the suppression targeting her had begun at this very moment.
"Then please wait for that young lady..."
The two maids insisted on not letting Lu Zhaoling enter first.
Lu Zhaoling grew impatient and said coldly towards Lu Zhaoyun, "Lu Zhaoyun, if we don't go in, I'm leaving."
"Oh dear, coming!" Lu Zhaoyun had actually been distracted, paying attention to the movement at the main entrance. Seeing her being blocked by the two maids, she secretly smirked, but as soon as she heard Lu Zhaoling threaten to leave, she quickly came over. How could she let Lu Zhaoling go?
"Sister He, this is my second sister, Zhaoling."
She held He Lianxin's hand and then said to Lu Zhaoling, "Second Sister, quickly greet Sister He."
He Lianxin looked at Lu Zhaoling, her eyes slightly cold.
"I wouldn't dare let the future Princess Consort of Jin call me 'sister'."
Prince Jin had returned to Jingcheng. Prince Jin was bestowed a marriage to a country bumpkin from the Lu Family.
This news had already spread throughout Jingcheng.
Everyone was shocked and incredulous, and also very curious about what kind of person this Second Miss Lu was, and what kind of dumb luck she had to be favored by Prince Jin.
He Lianxin was naturally very curious as well.
And now she saw Lu Zhaoling. Sure enough, she had a foxy face, and He Lianxin disliked her on sight.
Lu Zhaoling naturally perceived He Lianxin's malice towards her.
She also replied indifferently.
"Hmm, you're indeed not qualified."
After saying that, she brushed away the hands of the two maids and walked in ahead of them.
The two maids, seeing He Lianxin and Lu Zhaoyun arrive, naturally didn't dare to block them anymore, but they also didn't expect Lu Zhaoling's actions.
He Lianxin was so infuriated by Lu Zhaoling's words that her whole body trembled.
She gripped Lu Zhaoyun's hand tightly, "What did she just say?!"
She dared to say she wasn't qualified?
She, the esteemed daughter of the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, wasn't qualified to be called "sister" by a country bumpkin? Her fiancé was even the Heir to the Zhenyuan Marquisate, who would inherit the title of Zhenyuan Marquis in the future!
Let alone Lu Zhaoling, even Lu Ming would have to be respectful in front of her!
How dare Lu Zhaoling!
Lu Zhaoyun was also shocked by Lu Zhaoling's audacious words.
However, after recovering, her heart blossomed with joy.
This was good. Lu Zhaoling's ability to offend people was outstanding! He Lianxin was also someone who held grudges and was spoiled at home. Offending her, Lu Zhaoling was practically asking for a swift death!
But she still quickly comforted He Lianxin, "Sister He, you are a person of great magnanimity, please don't bother with her. You know, my second sister has always been raised in the countryside and indeed has no manners or upbringing. My parents can't control her at home, and she hits me, her older sister, whenever she wants..."
She was just that overbearing.
Lu Zhaoling's reputation would be ruined.
If it spread, Lu Zhaoyun didn't believe Prince Jin would still want to marry her.
What if there was a bestowed marriage? A year's time was completely enough to mess up this engagement.
Lu Zhaohua tried to minimize her presence nearby.
However, He Lianxin didn't notice her at all this time, all her anger directed at Lu Zhaoling.
Lu Zhaohua also felt a little relieved.
Since Lu Zhaoling was so reckless, she should be safer, right? In any case, having someone else draw fire was a good thing.
"She's such a disrespectful and ill-mannered person! Why did you bring her here?!" He Lianxin stormed inside, intending to chase after Lu Zhaoling.
"She grew up in the countryside after all, she needs a chance. Later, I'll definitely make her apologize properly to Sister He..." Lu Zhaoyun said, putting on the act of a "good sister."
"Apologize? Fine, let her kneel and offer me tea!" He Lianxin said through gritted teeth.
Ahead, Lu Zhaoling had already entered the garden.
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