Lu Zhaoyun was delighted to hear that a friend had come to visit her at home.
"She will be here any moment. Madam said she is an exceptionally wealthy and noble young lady. Eldest Miss, do you think it might be Princess Changning?" Qiuju asked as she quickly moved to comb Lu Zhaoyun's hair.
Lu Zhaoyun had been in poor health lately and had been waking up quite late. She was currently patting rouge onto her face, determined not to let her complexion look too sallow.
"It shouldn't be the Princess. Both Father and Mother are already acquainted with her," Lu Zhaoyun said, joining in the speculation.
"Could it be Miss He?"
"I heard Sister Lianxin fell ill a few days ago as well. Could she have recovered already?" Lu Zhaoyun felt it was very likely He Lianxin.
Perhaps He Lianxin wanted to come over and discuss how to deal with Lu Zhaoling. Because of Lu Zhaoling, they had both been driven to such a pathetic state. She was their common enemy.
Sun Yingying was led through the gardens of the Lu Manor by a maid. Once the maid estimated that the Eldest Miss had finished making herself presentable, she led the guest toward the courtyard.
Leaning on Qiuju for support, Lu Zhaoyun stood at the courtyard gate, waiting. She was full of anticipation. A friend coming to see her proved that there were still those who didn't despise her for the scandalous incident she had recently endured.
As the figure slowly approached, Lu Zhaoyun's eyes widened in confusion.
"It's not Sister Lianxin?"
The visitor looked somewhat familiar. Was she someone she knew?
"Sun Yingying?" Lu Zhaoyun recognized her.
However, she had only seen Sun Yingying in passing. They had no real friendship or regular contact.
"Eldest Miss, could Miss Sun be taking the initiative to make your acquaintance?" Qiuju guessed. "Perhaps she heard about your engagement to the Second Prince from the Princess. Is she using this illness as an excuse to visit and become your friend?"
"That isn't entirely impossible," Lu Zhaoyun nodded. She forced a smile and stepped forward to greet Sun Yingying.
"Yingying, I didn't expect you to come see me..." Since Sun Yingying had taken the initiative to visit, Lu Zhaoyun naturally intended to show a welcoming and friendly attitude. This way, she would gain another ally.
But the moment Sun Yingying saw Lu Zhaoyun, she stopped dead in her tracks.
"Huh? Who are you? I'm here to find the Second Miss Lu!"
Lu Zhaoyun's smile froze instantly. What did she just say?!
"Miss Sun, this is our Eldest Miss..." Qiuju added, growing anxious.
"The one who had the stomach troubles while copying sutras?" Sun Yingying asked in surprise. After the question left her mouth, she looked Lu Zhaoyun up and down with genuine curiosity.
That look made Lu Zhaoyun feel utterly numb! Sun Yingying had heard about that incident! And she had asked about it so directly! Did this girl have no manners at all?
Lu Zhaoyun, who had just managed to soothe her own pride, felt the wound being ripped open once more.
"Take her away!" she hissed through gritted teeth. Stifling the urge to scream, she glared at the maid who had led the way.
Dammit! If she wasn't here to see her, why was she brought here? Why let her be misunderstood? Was Sun Yingying doing this on purpose?
"Miss Sun, ththis way, please." The maid trembled, hurriedly leading Sun Yingying away.
Infuriated, Lu Zhaoyun spun around and rushed back into her room, violently sweeping the teacups off her table.
"It must be Lu Zhaoling! She must have instigated Sun Yingying to come here! She sent her to mock and insult me!"
Otherwise, why wouldn't Sun Yingying have gone straight to Tingnuan Tower?
Qiuju shrank her neck. "But how would the Second Miss even know Sun Yingying?"
"Didn't she go out yesterday? She must have used Prince Jin's name to go around hooking up with people! She is a woman of deep, calculating schemes!"
Lu Zhaoyun was so angry her eyes turned red. No, she couldn't let this continue. Lu Zhaoling could already call people to the house just to trample on her. Who knew what she would do next?
Why hasn't the Second Prince replied to my letter yet!
Sun Yingying was led to Tingnuan Tower.
Lu Zhaoling was already up. She was sitting in the courtyard, eating breakfast.
The maid who had brought Sun Yingying fled as soon as they reached the outside of the courtyard. Sun Yingying found it strange. Did everyone fear the Second Miss Lu?
"Miss Sun," Qingyin greeted her.
Lu Zhaoling sat there and raised her eyes, beckoning to the guest. "You're here? Have a seat."
Sun Yingying ran over and sat opposite her, glancing at the breakfast on the table. There were six dishes laid out; it seemed the Second Miss had quite the appetite.
"Want some?" Lu Zhaoling asked.
"I've already eaten," Sun Yingying said quickly.
Lu Zhaoling nodded. "Then wait a moment. I'll talk after I finish."
She went back to her breakfast, showing no intention of stopping to entertain Sun Yingying.
Sun Yingying looked around, finding the atmosphere here very comfortable, though she couldn't say why. Once Lu Zhaoling finished, Sun Yingying immediately pulled out some banknotes. She was making up the difference for the amount they had discussed yesterday.
"Second Miss Lu, are we going to the Liu Family now? How are we going to find the murderer?" She was truly anxious.
"Have you told your parents?"
"I have. My father and mother both agreed to ask for your help, and they've even sent people to assist me. They are waiting outside and can do whatever you need," Sun Yingying said.
Lu Zhaoling produced three copper coins. "I'll calculate the direction we should take."
Sun Yingying watched her divination with curiosity. She watched as Lu Zhaoling tossed the three coins and pinched her fingers, though Sun Yingying couldn't understand any of it.
"We go east today, to a place with a bamboo forest."
East? A place with a bamboo forest? Where is that?
"I need to prepare a few things. No rush."
Lu Zhaoling went inside to retrieve some talismans she had drawn the previous night, while Qingyin packed some essentials. Just as they were about to head out, Madam Lu came walking toward them at a brisk pace.
"Lu Zhaoling, how can you let your elder sister be bullied like that? Do you have no sisterly affection left in your heart? Zhaoyun is already suffering enough, yet you had to let an outsider stab her in her wound. Are you even human?"
Madam Lu had just gone to Zhaoyun's room with some snacks when she learned what happened. This was essentially a slap in the face to her as well. She, the dignified matriarch of the house, had been played by a little girl!
After finishing her tirade against Lu Zhaoling, she turned her gaze to Sun Yingying. Hmph, this one clearly isn't any good either.
"Young lady, you really should keep your eyes open and see clearly. You must know who is worth associating with and who should be avoided at all costs. Be careful, or associating with someone base and malicious will ruin you!" Madam Lu said coldly.
Sun Yingying looked at Qingyin. "Who is this?"
Qingyin replied, "Madam Lu."
She wouldn't say this was the Eldest Miss's mother, as Zhaoling didn't recognize her as such.
Sun Yingying understood immediately. "I truly thank Madam Lu for the reminder. When I met the Second Miss, I made sure to open my eyes very wide to confirm her character. This wide!"
She widened her eyes and used her hands to trace large circles around them.
"I looked very closely. The Second Miss is exactly the kind of person I want to be close with. She is beautiful and powerfulI admire her so much!"
Sun Yingying spoke with an incredibly exaggerated tone.
Madam Lu nearly rolled her eyes into the back of her head from sheer fury. "You..."
"Out of the way." Lu Zhaoling reached out and gave Madam Lu a shove, pushing her aside.
Madam Lu was about to erupt again when someone came running toward them.
"Second Miss, someone has arrived from Prince Jin's Manor. They request your presence."
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