Lu Wanwan frowned. "He is delusional; it’s no surprise he thinks I’m in love with him. But Duan Zhixing..."
What exactly had he said to Song Lin?
Seeing that she had no interest in Song Lin, the Eldest Princess felt relieved. "If it’s all baseless, there’s no need to pay it any mind. I doubt he would dare to shout about it outside. The day after tomorrow is Lady Anguo's flower viewing banquet—why not go to lift your spirits?"
"Of course I'll go!"
After parting with the Eldest Princess, Lu Wanwan wrote down an address as soon as she boarded her carriage and said to her maid, Lüluo, "Go to Prince Ping's Mansion yourself and hand this to my eldest sister. Tell her to help me look into this family."
"Yes."
On their way back to the Lu Residence, all they heard along the road were discussions about the new third-place scholar being pelted with eggs by a prince.
While news in the Capital was plentiful, truly explosive gossip was rare. Song Lin had officially been thrust into the spotlight by the Third Prince.
At the inn.
"The Third Prince was only punished with copying books and being confined to his quarters?" Song Lin's face was dark.
Meng Wan was equally indignant on his behalf. "Brother Lin, you are a scholar favored by the Emperor himself! How could the Emperor just brush aside such a grave insult?!"
"It must be Lu Wanwan stirring up trouble!" A handprint still marked Song Lin's face, and his rage mounted.
He felt like a fool for having just considered Lu Wanwan’s good qualities—he had forgotten that she was a poisonous woman to the core!
"She isn't still in love with you, is she? Seeing this rare opportunity to show off in front of you, how could she dare..." Meng Wan bit her lip. "Could it be that she hasn't given up yet, and wants to use this to force you to bow down and marry her?"
Song Lin sneered, "In her dreams!"
Did she still think he was the same man from his past life, subject to her bullying and influence? Did she think that without her, he would fade into obscurity and achieve nothing?
What a joke!
He would make Lu Wanwan watch with her own eyes how, without her in this life, he would rise through the ranks even faster, reach the pinnacle of power, and bestow supreme glory upon Wanwan!
...
As soon as Lu Wanwan returned to the estate, the steward stepped forward to report, "Young Miss, Princess Wen'an came looking for you earlier. When she learned you had entered the palace, she left."
Lu Wanwan nodded. "From now on, do not let her into the Lu Residence."
The steward understood and bowed in acknowledgment.
As they were speaking, Eldest Sister-in-law Lu came toward them.
"Little sister, did you see the entire parade of the new scholars today? Are you happy?"
Lu Wanwan beamed. "Extremely happy!"
Eldest Sister-in-law Lu's eyes lit up, and she burst into hearty laughter. She waved over Eldest Young Master Lu, who was behind her, and said triumphantly, "What did I tell you? Seeing Song Lin meet with misfortune, our little sister would be absolutely delighted. You lost!"
Eldest Young Master Lu cast a mournful look at Lu Wanwan. "A while ago you praised his immense talent, then you said his character was flawed, and now you’re grinning at his misfortune... women are truly fickle!"
"How are you speaking to me?" Eldest Sister-in-law Lu glared at him. "Quit your dawdling—pay up!"
Reluctantly, Eldest Young Master Lu took a silver ingot from his sleeve.
Lu Wanwan squinted at them for a long moment. Gambling on their sister for fun?
"Big Brother, why do you only have ten taels of silver left?" she suddenly asked. "Didn't you secretly sell a painting for fifty taels the day before yesterday?"
"Little sister, you—" Eldest Young Master Lu looked at her in disbelief as he was betrayed.
Seeing Eldest Sister-in-law Lu staring coldly at her husband, Lu Wanwan walked to the side of the road, snapped off a tree branch as thick as a toddler's head, and handed it to her. "Eldest Sister-in-law, this one has a good weight to it!"
The weight in Eldest Sister-in-law Lu’s palm sank suddenly. After attempting to snap it herself and failing, she went silent.
Lu Wanwan quickened her pace, distancing herself from the battlefield. Soon, screams echoed from behind:
"Xinrou, listen to me! I really didn't hide any private money; that forty taels was meant to buy your birthday present—"
"If your heart was clean, why were you running!"
"If I didn't run, I’d be beaten to death by that branch!"
Lu Wanwan glanced back, her smile growing increasingly radiant.
...
Two days later, the Duke of Anguo Estate was bustling with guests.
The Duke of Anguo was highly favored by the Emperor and commanded the Divine Mechanism Battalion, holding real, tangible power.
Ordinarily, the civil and military factions of the Great Chu were clearly divided, with little interaction. However, after Xie Yanxi single-handedly elevated the Eastern Depot to such heights, the civil and military officials and the nobility found a rare, mutual camaraderie as they huddled together for warmth under his tyrannical shadow.
Thus, quite a few people attended today to show their respect.
After Eldest Young Master Lu dropped off his mother, wife, and sister at the gates of the Duke of Anguo Estate, he instructed them, "I'll be gone for anywhere from three days to half a month. Take care of yourselves, and don't miss me too much—"
"Who has time to miss you?" Eldest Sister-in-law Lu waved a hand. "Just go on your way."
Eldest Young Master Lu choked.
Mother Lu, tired of his nagging, simply walked inside. Eldest Sister-in-law Lu followed suit as she spotted some familiar friends and went off to greet them.
Lu Wanwan, however, gave him the courtesy of staying behind. She crooked a finger at her brother, and once he approached, she quietly slipped several banknotes into his hand.
"The 'Fading World' whip newly crafted by the Chiyue Workshop is something Eldest Sister-in-law has her heart set on, but she was too late to buy it. Add a bit more money and have a custom red one made for her—her favorite color."
Eldest Young Master Lu shook his head in refusal. "I’ll just sell a few more paintings to save up. How can I use your money to offer a gift on my own behalf?"
Lu Wanwan patted his shoulder. "This is money from Xiao Yao. Your paintings have a unique spirit, and the children at the border love them. Xiao Yao wants to buy several more paintings of the Great Chu landscape to take to the border."
Xiao Yao was the Fourth Young Miss of the Marquis of Yongan's Mansion; her maternal family lived at the border, and she visited for two months every year.
Only then did Eldest Young Master Lu nod and tuck the banknotes away. "I’ll paint them once I finish this case. I won't delay Miss Xiao's departure from the Capital."
Finishing this, he looked at Lu Wanwan with emotion. "Little sister, you are so good to me."
There were so many talented scholars outside; why would Xiao Yao only want his paintings? It was clearly all for Lu Wanwan's sake.
—In truth, it wasn't much money, and Xiao Yao was merely looking for convenience. But to Eldest Young Master Lu, who hadn't possessed much private money since his marriage, this felt like a massive fortune!
Lu Wanwan urged him to hurry off. "Big Brother, you've just been promoted to Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review; now is the time to achieve results. Go say goodbye to your wife and get to your cases."
But Eldest Sister-in-law Lu was busy chatting with her friends and merely waved him away.
"Second Young Miss Lu, please this way." The nanny of the Duke of Anguo Estate greeted her with a smile.
"Is this the Second Young Miss Lu?" A surprised voice came from behind. "Could it be the second daughter of Grand Tutor Lu's household?!"
Lu Wanwan turned around in confusion and saw a plainly dressed woman standing three steps away. The woman looked agitated, and she was watching her with a complex expression... too intricate for Lu Wanwan to decipher.
"Are you looking for me, Madam?" she asked politely.
The woman nodded instinctively, then hurriedly waved her hands in a flustered manner. "Young Miss, your status is noble. How could a person like me have anything to ask of you? I... I am just new to the Capital and heard that the Second Young Miss Lu was peerless in grace, and I was merely curious to see you!"
"You overpraise me, Madam. I wouldn't dare claim to be 'peerless in grace'." Lu Wanwan smiled.
The woman watched her with rapt attention, her eyes welling with tears. "You deserve it, you truly do. A heavenly figure like you deserves every praise."
The tenderness and maternal love in her voice were nearly overflowing.
This was the scene Meng Wan witnessed as she arrived.