Unlike those tough-talking noble ladies, the Queen and all the ladies secretly admitted in their hearts that this ninth lady of the Lu family was really a wonderful person.
The appearance is delicate without losing elegance. If you add one point of delicacy, you will be coquettish. If you add one point of elegance, you will be deserted. If you behave generously without losing arrogance, if you lose one point of magnanimity, you will be frivolous. If you lose one point of arrogance, you will be cramped. The key is that everyone knew the scene when all the ladies were surrounding her, and her ability to remain calm was indeed a model for everyone, and she was worthy of being hailed as a leader among the ladies of aristocratic families.
The reversal of status left the Empress at a loss for words. She didn't know what to say. She wanted to give away the mutton-fat white jade bracelet but was worried that it would be like Lu Bingzhen picking up something Lu Binghui didn't want. In the end, she only said, "Nine Empresses are really lovely." , but people don’t know what to reward.”
Hearing this, Lu Bingzhen took the painting held by Cai Bing and replied with a smile, respectfully and without losing intimacy, "I heard that my queen was also a master of calligraphy and painting when she was in her boudoir. Why don't you give me an inscription?" As soon as these words came out, everyone was stunned. They all breathed a sigh of relief.
At present, the dynasty can only last for two generations, and the emperor has to rely on aristocratic families that have been passed down for hundreds of years. In recent years, under the leadership of the old patriarch Lu Zhi, the Fan Yang Lu family has gradually become the leader among centuries-old families. Naturally, the royal family values the Fan Yang Lu family even more. At today's palace banquet, Li's mother and daughter have always been the focus of everyone's attention. Everyone was careful to flatter them, and even the queen was particularly friendly to them.
But who would have thought that the fifth lady of the Lu family would actually make them misunderstand the identities of the two of them by relying on vague words. Now those who have offended Jiuniang of the Lu family dare not bear grudges against Jiuniang, they only itch Wu Niang with hatred.
Seeing Lu Bingzhen offering the steps, how could the Queen not agree? Xiu Xin held up the pen and ink, and with one stroke the Empress wrote the twelve words "The sky is pale, the clouds are coming and going, and there are a few branches of snow" in one stroke, and was rewarded to Lu Bingzhen.
Everyone at the subsequent banquet was in a state of uncertainty. They also ridiculed Lu Bingzhen. The noble lady was uneasy. She didn't know how to explain to the master of the family, for fear of being scolded, and she was also worried that the queen would look down on her daughter because of this matter. The noble lady who was watching from a distance was secretly wondering whether her nephew could marry Lu Bingzhen, the leader of the family.
And this scene was being watched by two people on a tall building in the distance.
"Your Highness, your Majesty has invited almost all the noble ladies from famous families in the capital today. Do you have a chosen candidate for the Crown Princess?" The speaker was Prince Xiao Min's companion, his mother's cousin Wen Zheng.
Xiao Min put down the clairvoyance in his hand, did not answer, just smiled and said, "Just watch. Don't look at the banquet, the daughter of the Miss Ling family and the eldest princess Ruyang will definitely suffer later, and the Jiu Niang of the Lu family is not as good as she seems. Good temper." Xiao Min thought of the incident ten years ago when Mrs. Lu brought Lu Bingzhen into the palace to express her gratitude, and when he thought about it, he felt a dull pain in his arm.
Wen Zheng was stunned and wanted to ask His Highness why the Crown Prince knew from a distance that the girl who was being squeezed was Jiuniang of the Lu family. He also didn't understand why His Highness was so sure of Lu Jiuniang and refused to give up. From her appearance to her clothes, Lu Jiuniang looked gentle and approachable, and she even took the initiative to step down for the queen. But he looked around and didn't find any commotion in the Youth Hall.
As soon as the Xiuxin banquet in the Fanghua Hall ended, she appeared on the high building. She knelt down and saluted, "I am here to attend His Majesty the Crown Prince, Mr. Wen. Your Majesty ordered me to come. Can Your Majesty the Crown Prince select the Crown Princess today?"
Xiao Min raised his eyebrows, cupped his hands and said, "Sister Xiu Xin, please report to your mother, but my mother will make the final decision on my marriage." Xiu Xin knew that the master who had watched him grow up had great ideas, and she thought this meant what she said. Today, all the ladies in the Youth Hall are welcome. How could they know that the person of His Royal Highness’s liking is in the hall but refuses to speak out.
However, Wen Zheng was quite curious about what happened in the Fanghua Hall. He had known the prince for many years and knew that the prince knew everything. Therefore, Wen Zheng was even more curious about what Jiuniang of the Lu family could do, "Aunt Xiuxin, could you tell me if anything unusual happened in Fanghua Hall today?"
Xiuxin had nothing to hide from Wen Zheng, who was always friendly with her masters, so she told the truth. "There was nothing going on at today's banquet. It's just that before leaving, the two ladies got soaked by the snow for some unknown reason. Logically speaking, the snowflakes on the branches in the Yimei Garden had been swept away, so there wasn't much snow. The ladies were playing. It’s not a big deal, it shouldn’t be like this.”
Xiu Xin was very puzzled. She had seen the appearance of those two young ladies before. It didn't look like they had been soaked by the snow, but more like they had rolled on the snow. There were snowflakes all over my head and body, and my nose was filled with snot and tears that had been frozen in the cold weather for several days, but I was so embarrassed. Wen Zheng couldn't help but look at His Highness the Crown Prince in surprise when he heard this.
Xiao Min couldn't help laughing, but when the two of them looked at him, he held it back, no matter how suspicious they were, he said no more.
Xiao Min thought to himself, "It is true that these little ladies raised in boudoirs are not very strong, but Jiuniang of the Lu family is an exception. She entered the palace with her mother ten years ago and was able to push her away when the orphan wanted to. She grabbed my arm forcefully and wouldn't let go. I was no match for her in martial arts at that time, so how could this delicate little lady be her match?"
Thinking of this, Xiao Min also wondered why Lu Jiuniang had such magical power. She was just a noble girl raised in a boudoir, born into a wealthy family and surrounded by many servants. Logically, she should be a weak woman who couldn't lift her hands or shoulders.
The fact was exactly as Xiao Min expected. It was Lu Bingzhen who made Ling Qi and Chi Weiyan wet when they were covered in snow. After the banquet, the Queen Mother asked all the ladies to go to the Plum Garden to pick a plum blossom and take it home to enjoy. When Lu Bingzhen was choosing plum blossoms, he happened to see Ling Qi and Chi Weiyan hiding behind the rockery and whispering.
At that time, Lu Bingzhen looked around and saw the thick snow covering the bamboo forest. The snow was bending the bamboo, and it was hanging dangerously above the two of them. With a thought in his heart, Lu Bingzhen walked under the bamboo forest and shook the bamboo branches. The thick bamboo branch that is difficult for ordinary people to shake is as light as a pen in Lu Bingzhen's hand.
In this way, the two of them were directly covered by the snow and got wet. After Lu Bingzhen left, he did not forget to use bamboo branches to clear away the footprints on the snow, leaving the two of them dumbfounded. Ling Qi and Chi Weiyan insisted that it was Lu Bingzhen who did it, but no one around them believed it. Even their mothers told them to shut up and stop talking to Jiuniang of the Lu family. The two of them were angry and aggrieved, and fell ill after returning home.
After the palace banquet, Lu Bingzhen and her mother took a car together, and Lu Binghui was sent to another car. Mrs. Li asked her daughter in a low voice, "A'rui, did you feel wronged at the palace banquet today? There are so many noble girls in the capital who flatter you and put them down." When she said this, Mrs. Li had a hint of anger on her face, while Lu Bingzhen looked gentle. Looking at her mother, she just smiled and comforted her.
Li Shi sighed, she knew her daughter Mo Ruomu, A Rui was not a carefree person, so she had already acquiesced if she didn't deny it. Ms. Li never understood how her daughter developed such a temperament. Which of the beloved ladies who come from a wealthy family is not bossy, arrogant and willful, let alone tolerate such a change of status today.
Ah Rui should obviously be the most proud girl in the world. She is top-notch in terms of family background, appearance, poetry, and etiquette, but she has a nonchalant temperament. When her cousins snatched her jewelry and toys when she was little, she gave them to her with a smile. When she grew up, her cousins dared to take over her identity, but she was able to calmly comfort her mother.
Mrs. Li also felt a headache when she saw this overly sensible and polite daughter. She didn't care about the harmless little banter between her children, but A Rui was already fourteen years old, and it was the age to talk about marriage. Even if she waits until she gets married and has children, A Rui won't care if her aunts and concubines compete for her status and glory.
Lu Bingzhen looked at her mother's worried eyes and didn't know what to say. She really didn't feel wronged. She had been doted on since she was a child and had several large boxes of jewelry. She didn't even know she had them until her cousins dug them out. At that time, she was thinking that she would be leaving soon to go out with her parents, so her things were gathering dust, so she just gave them away.
Today, neither Ling Qi, Chi Weiyan nor Lu Binghui got any benefits. Lu Bingzhen really felt that since he had returned it, he didn't need to care much. What Lu Bingzhen didn't know was that the more she behaved like this, the more her parents felt that she had been wronged, so they doubled the compensation to her, which made her become the family favorite.
As for Lu Binghui's behavior today, it was all the tricks of a daughter from a small family who had never seen the world. All the ladies present were human beings who would not let go of rabbits. Even if they misunderstood that Lu Binghui was Jiuniang, they would not have rashly hired her. Naturally, they would know their true identities sooner or later.
In the evening, Lu Qi returned home and was surprised to see the darkness in the house. After calling the maid to light the lamp, Lu Qi saw his wife Li sitting on the couch with a tired look as soon as she entered the room. Even the makeup on her face had not been completely washed off. "An Niang, what's wrong with you? Could it be that something happened at the palace banquet today?"
Li's maiden name was Li Yian, and she and her husband had a close relationship. Lu Qi always called her by her maiden name in private. With tired eyes, she only signaled to tell the maid about Lu Binghui who was going to the palace banquet. Lu Qi was shocked when he heard this. He obviously didn't expect that his niece would have such thoughts.
"At today's banquet, Ah Rui was alert and calm, and was not frightened by the aggressiveness of those noble ladies. But what if Ah Rui panicked for a moment? I took Wu Niang to the banquet, but instead caused trouble and harm I have a daughter. Can Wu Niang consider at all today whether my cousin will be treated coldly and humiliated at the palace banquet? My daughter, who is loved and cherished in the palm of my hand, is blocked in a corner and questioned today. "
The more Li thought about it, the angrier she became, and finally she dropped the tea cup in her hand. Lu Qi also looked ugly when he heard this. Her younger brother died young, her sister-in-law remarried, and her niece was left alone. Of course, Lu Qi had to take care of her. But this doesn't mean that he can tolerate someone trying to harm his daughter or even replace his daughter's identity.
