Lu Zhaoling and her sisters did not arrive early. By the time they reached the gardens of the Princess's Manor, quite a crowd had already gathered.
It was currently late spring the weather was not yet hot, but carried a subtle, refreshing chill. The gardens were filled with a riot of colorful blooms, making for a beautiful sight.
However, these flowerbeds were now interspersed with silk flowers fashioned from white cloth, and white gauze hung from the nearby trees, fluttering gently in the breeze.
This white decor suppressed the natural vibrancy of the spring blossoms. It was clearly the work of Princess Changning; after all, the nation was currently in a period of national mourning.
In the center of the garden, several long tables were arranged in two rows, each set with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Past a few clusters of plantains stood a pavilion where stone tables were laden with tea and fruit.
This area was perfectly situated under the shadow cast by a nearby rockery and tall trees, though gaps in the foliage allowed enough sunlight to filter through, keeping the spot bright without being cold.
A small path led past the rockery to a pond where fresh lotus leaves floated on the surface, though no flower stalks had yet emerged from the water.
The young ladies who had arrived first were scattered about in small groups. Some were admiring the flowers, others were sipping tea or flipping through books, and many were chatting in low voices. No one dared to violate the social taboos of the mourning period, so they were almost all dressed in understated colors.
Yet, even in simplicity, there was calculated elegance. Some wore mutton-fat white jade bracelets or exquisitely carved jade hairpins. Others wore skirts embroidered with subtle silver threads that shimmered with every step, or belts inlaid with gemstones that caught the light. Scent sachets and jade pendants added a touch of hidden luxury.
Compared to them, Lu Zhaoling's attire was truly plain.
"Lu Zhaoling!"
Just as Lu Zhaoling finished scanning the crowd, He Lianxin caught up to her. Her sharp cry drew the attention of several people nearby.
"Lu Zhaoling? That name sounds familiar," someone whispered, looking toward them.
Another person immediately remembered. "That's the second miss of the Lu Family the one betrothed to Prince Jin by imperial edict!"
At that, the gaze of everyone who heard the voice fell upon Lu Zhaoling. They had just been gossiping about that very marriage edict, and they hadn't expected one of the parties involved to appear right before their eyes. For a moment, all sorts of looks were directed at Lu Zhaoling as they sized her up.
"Stop right there!" He Lianxin shouted. She spotted Lu Zhaohua trying to shrink away to the side and immediately snapped an order. "You! Pin Lu Zhaoling down!"
Lu Zhaohua was speechless.
Who did I offend? I've been trying to stay out of the way this whole time, so why did she have to notice me! Besides, pin down Lu Zhaoling? How would I ever dare!
Lu Zhaohua's face turned pale. "Sister He... I..."
He Lianxin's brows snapped together. "Who are you calling sister? A mere concubine-born daughter shouldn't try to raise her own status!"
Tears instantly welled in Lu Zhaohua's eyes, making her look like a frail, helpless little white flower. Her pathetic display actually earned her the sympathy of a small portion of the crowd. After all, among so many people, there were bound to be those who couldn't stand He Lianxin's overbearing nature.
A young girl in a goose-yellow skirt stepped forward and spoke to He Lianxin. "Miss He, is there a need to be so aggressive?"
He Lianxin looked at her and retorted without a second thought. "What does it have to do with you? Gu Qing, you might be a legitimate daughter, but don't forget that your mother was just a concubine who got promoted. Your family's morals are questionable to begin with, so it's no wonder you'd sympathize with a concubine-born girl!"
Gu Qing's face changed instantly. "He Lianxin! Aren't you taking this too far?"
Strictly speaking, He Lianxin hadn't been this arrogant two years ago. However, her ego had swelled ever since she became engaged to the Heir of Marquis Zhenyuan. Her father was the Vice Minister of War and enjoyed the Emperor's favor; adding a marriage alliance like that was a powerful combination.
In He Lianxin's eyes, even Princess Changning had to show her a bit of professional courtesy. What did a mere Gu Qing matter?
"Miss He, what is going on?" someone stepped in to act as a mediator. "The Princess just went back to her rooms to change. If she comes out and finds such a commotion..."
Hearing Princess Changning mentioned, He Lianxin finally stopped attacking Gu Qing. She shot Lu Zhaohua a glare and temporarily let her off after all, the person she hated most right now was Lu Zhaoling!
She called out to her two handmaidens. "You two, go! Make her kneel and apologize to me!"
"Yes!"
The two maids immediately rushed toward Lu Zhaoling.
Lu Zhaohua let out a timid cry of alarm and whispered anxiously, "Second Sister, run!"
Lu Zhaoyun hurriedly grabbed He Lianxin's hand, pretending to advise her. "Sister He, don't lower yourself to her level..."
And yet, she made no move to stop the two maids.
The other onlookers, while some disliked He Lianxin's arrogance, did not know Lu Zhaoling and were unwilling to offend He Lianxin on her behalf. They simply watched from the sidelines with varying expressions.
"Are you going to kneel and admit your wrongs to our mistress voluntarily, or do we have to make you?" The two maids reached Lu Zhaoling, their tone just as arrogant as their mistress. They reached out to grab her.
Gu Qing couldn't take it anymore and wanted to step forward, but someone beside her held her back. "Sister Gu, do you really want to provoke He Lianxin?"
"But she is Prince Jin's fiancée..."
Someone nearby sneered. "You actually believe that? There's definitely more to that story than meets the eye."
The two maids grabbed Lu Zhaoling's arms, one on each side. Just as they were about to restrain her and kick the back of her knees to force her down, Lu Zhaoling moved. She raised her hands, grabbed the back of both their heads, and smashed them together in the middle.
Thud!
The maids' foreheads collided with a dull sound. At the same time, Lu Zhaoling stepped back quickly, slipping out of their grasp.
"Ah!"
The two maids cried out in pain. Their heads were spinning, and spots danced before their eyes. They could barely remain standing.
Everyone was stunned.
Lu Zhaoling stood there, her breathing calm and her gaze cold. "Make me kneel? Is she some noble from the palace? Has the Emperor taken her in?"
He Lianxin had been shocked by the physical retaliation, but when she heard those words, it felt like an explosion went off in her mind. Her face turned a violent shade of red, a mix of pure rage and deep shame.
"You bitch! What kind of nonsense are you spouting?!"
Lu Zhaoling was destroying her reputation! If word got out that people were saying the Emperor had "taken her in," how could she ever show her face in public again?
The other ladies were equally dumbfounded, staring at Lu Zhaoling in disbelief. How... how could she dare to say something so scandalous?
"I am the future Princess Consort of Jin," Lu Zhaoling added. "You want me to kneel to you? Has your He family climbed so high that you're riding on the head of the Imperial Family now? Does Prince Jin know about this?"
He Lianxin looked like she was about to spit fire. she gasped for air, pointing a finger at Lu Zhaoling but unable to find her voice. She was arrogant, yes, but she wasn't completely brainless. Lu Zhaoling's words were incredibly sinister! If a charge like that was pinned on them, the He family would be in deep trouble.
"Hiss... this sister really knows how to talk," Gu Qing noted, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lu Zhaoling.
She was so daring!
It was the first time Gu Qing had ever seen anyone make He Lianxin nearly vomit blood with just two sentences.
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