Princess Changning had long since forgotten that she had ever met Lu Zhaoling as a child.
Lu Zhaoling could tell as much from the Princess's earlier reaction. Consequently, she needed to see if the things the Princess had taken from her back then were still around.
Walking toward the lake, Lu Zhaoling spotted a small cluster of Aura of Wealth bubbling up from beneath a lily pad not far from the shore.
To think the wealth was actually in the water. Did she really have to go fishing for it?
Well, it would be a waste not to, she thought.
Lu Zhaoling looked around and found a branch about the length of her arm. She picked it up and walked to the water's edge. She wasn't in a hurry to fish the item out; instead, she sat down on a nearby stone.
Even if she was going to retrieve it, she wouldn't let anyone see her do it. Behind her, Lu Zhaoyun's gaze was constantly sweeping over her.
Lu Zhaoling held the branch, lightly tapping the surface of the water as if playing. To anyone else, it simply looked like she was idling by the lake out of boredom.
Princess Changning glanced over as well, but quickly retracted her gaze.
She turned to Shen Xiangjun and said, "Xiangjun, I don't think she's any cause for concern. Look at her crude and vulgar manner; how could my Uncle Prince Jin truly take an interest in her? There must be some hidden reason behind this imperial marriage grant."
Shen Xiangjun forced a smile. "I'm fine."
She had let Princess Changning know of her admiration for Prince Jin specifically because she hoped to gain the Princess's support. Everything had been prepared, but who could have guessed that on the very day Prince Jin returned to the capital, he would be snatched away by this little wench?
It had caught her completely off guard.
"I know you're just putting on a brave face, and you must feel very wronged," Princess Changning said. "Rest assured, I will definitely find out the reason. In my heart, you are the only one I recognize as my aunt."
"Princess, please don't say such things," Shen Xiangjun replied with feigned embarrassment, though she felt a secret sense of relief.
With Princess Changning's help, perhaps there was still a chance?
After all, Princess Changning was the beloved daughter of the Grand Princess, and she was doted on by both the Emperor and the Empress. Because the Princess did not get along with her brother and sister-in-law, the Emperor had even granted her a separate Princess's Manor.
As soon as she felt the others' eyes move away from her, Lu Zhaoling struck with lightning speed.
She had already locked onto the object in the water. With a flick of the branch, she hooked it and pulled it back instantly.
It was a small bundle wrapped in a silk handkerchief and tied tightly with a satin ribbon; she had used the branch to hook the ribbon itself.
Generally speaking, when Lu Zhaoling reached out to claim wealth, it was wealth where the Karma had been severed items that were truly ownerless. In other words, if she didn't take them, they would simply remain there forever. Her taking them would not ruin anyone else's affairs or steal another's fortune.
However, the moment her fingers closed around this small bundle, she felt a trace of Karma.
Lu Zhaoling frowned. She immediately unwrapped the item.
Inside was a private seal. The seal was made of top-quality jade, warm to the touch and finely textured, carved with a Pine and Crane motif. Inscribed on the seal was a name: Weng Songzhi.
Who was Weng Songzhi? She didn't know him.
But the trace of Karma was undeniable. Perhaps the owner of the seal had fallen ill because he lost it? Or perhaps he had missed some great opportunity?
In such a situation, she had only two choices: throw it back into the water, or keep it and find the owner to resolve this bit of Karma.
Lu Zhaoling didn't hesitate for long. She tucked the seal into her robe, picked up a small pebble to wrap inside the handkerchief, tied the ribbon back together, and tossed it back into the lake.
The seal was a good item, but she loathed the handkerchief. It was stained with a Misfortune Aura; clearly, the handkerchief and the seal did not belong to the same person.
Just then, a maid approached carrying a tray. "Miss, please have some fruit tea."
Lu Zhaoling looked up. The tray held seven or eight small porcelain cups. Behind her, several more maids were walking down the path, each carrying a tray. They seemed to be passing through to deliver refreshments to the guests. It seemed reasonable enough that the first one to see Lu Zhaoling would offer her a cup.
Lu Zhaoling stood up.
The maid held the tray out to her. The cups were filled with sweet-smelling fruit tea, all in similar portions. Lu Zhaoling was indeed a bit thirsty, so she took a cup. "Thank you."
The maid gave a slight curtsy and walked away with the remaining cups. The maids following her carried various other items, all of them small, delicate portions of food.
Princess Changning was providing a Vegetarian Feast today, though Lu Zhaoling hadn't expected it to be served in such a modern fashion.
Lu Zhaoling looked toward the garden and noticed another table set up beside the pavilion, where all the food was being laid out. Regardless of whether she would copy the sutras, she didn't mind having a taste of the food.
Lu Zhaoling looked at the fruit tea in her cup and took a sip.
In the distance, Lu Zhaoyun quickly looked away, feeling a bit nervous. Fortunately, Lu Zhaoling had drunk it.
As Lu Zhaoling walked back with her cup, Princess Changning called out to her.
"Lu Zhaoling, come and eat! For the sake of my Uncle Prince Jin, I won't mistreat you. Finish eating and get to copying the sutras."
The others had already taken their seats at the table. Lu Zhaoling scanned the group; their maids all seemed to be holding scriptures, indicating they had already chosen which ones to copy.
She walked directly up to Princess Changning. "First, give me back the thing you owe me from years ago."
Princess Changning froze, her expression quickly turning to anger.
"Absurd! When have I ever owed you anything? You were in the countryside, and I have never even left the capital!"
"A string of bells," Lu Zhaoling said. "Do you remember now?"
That string of bells was something the original soul, Little Pitiful Lu, had unintentionally traded from an old man.
The old man had claimed he hadn't eaten in three days and was on the brink of starvation. Little Pitiful Lu happened to be passing by, carrying two baked cakes wrapped in oil paper cakes she had saved her copper coins for a long time to buy. Seeing the old man's plight, she gave them to him.
The old man reached into his pocket and gave her a small string of bells in exchange.
As Little Pitiful Lu walked home, happily jingle-jangling the bells, she ran into Princess Changning, who was out strolling with several maids. For some reason, the Princess took a liking to the bells at first sight and snatched them away.
"Those are mine..."
"Let me play with them for a few days! If you ever need anything, come find me and I'll help you! I am Princess Changning!"
The Princess had carelessly tossed those words over her shoulder and run off.
Later, when Little Pitiful Lu was about to be sent to the countryside, she was terrified. She remembered the Princess's promise and tried to seek her help, but the Princess refused to see her.
While she was being bullied, injured, and sick at the hands of the Lu family in the countryside, the young girl would occasionally think of that incident. She had been naive enough to think that since she was a Princess and had promised to help, if she wouldn't help, she should at least return the bells.
Recalling those bells now, Lu Zhaoling felt that the item was somewhat special. She needed to get it back and examine it.
Princess Changning had long since tossed such a childhood trifle to the back of her mind. She had snatched things from many people over the years.
"Why would I want a string of bells? How ridiculous."
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