Since Lu Yinxi was sent to the manor by Prime Minister Lu when she was three years old, Wang Shi hadn't seen her again.
Even so, the moment Lu Yinxi entered the door, she recognized at a glance that this was the daughter of that bitch.
It was because of those phoenix eyes.
Back then, that woman had used those very eyes to look at her as if she were a clown.
The smile on her face was almost cracking, and the handkerchief in her hand was tightly clenched. Scenes from the past flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.
Recalling these things, Wang Shi could hardly maintain her dignified appearance. All she wanted to do now was to go up and tear out those eyes.
However, she managed to hold back in the end, forcing a smile on her face and looking kind.
"You must be Xi'er, right? In my memory, you were just a tiny thing. I didn't expect you to have grown so tall now.
I heard from Nanny Sun that you can talk now?"
Allowing Wang Shi to pull her to her side, Lu Yinxi showed a bit of timidity and curiosity on her face in due course and slowly nodded.
"Are you the Second Madam?"
Seeing her like this, a trace of doubt flashed through Wang Shi's mind. Had Nanny Sun's message really come from Lu Yinxi?
Or had she misinterpreted the meaning?
Her mind was spinning, but the truth no longer mattered to the Second Madam.
As long as Lu Yinxi was that woman's child, she wouldn't let her wander around in front of her.
"Yes, it's me. So many years have passed. Xi'er probably doesn't remember me, right?"
The young girl lowered her eyelids as if she were embarrassed.
Wang Shi was very satisfied with her reaction. She patted her hand earnestly and then changed the subject.
"Xi'er must know that today is your father's birthday, right?
You've been in the manor all these years and have never shown filial piety to the Prime Minister. If this gets out, it won't sound good. That's why I took the liberty of bringing you back."
The young girl suddenly lifted her eyes, and the brilliance in them dimmed a bit. Lu Yinxi gently bit her lips and whispered, "So what you mean is that I still have to go back to the manor after the birthday banquet?"
The young girl's voice wasn't very loud, but the Second Madam still heard it. She also didn't miss the change in her expression, and her voice unconsciously took on a coaxing tone.
"Does Xi'er not want to go back?"
"Is that okay?"
The young girl nodded eagerly, her eyes full of longing. "Can you let me stay, Second Madam?"
"I have a way to let Xi'er stay in the mansion, but you have to listen to me. Are you willing, Xi'er?"
"I'm willing! Xi'er is willing!"
Even at the end of February, the climate in the capital was still rather cold. The flowers that should have bloomed in spring were still on the verge of blooming.
Shang Luoshu stood with his hands behind his back beside the rockery in the courtyard. His gaze casually swept over the scenery in front of him, but his mind was clearly not on it.
After chatting with Prime Minister Lu about paintings, he found an excuse to leave the study and come here. However, Chen Guang, who always followed the man, was nowhere to be seen.
After about half a cup of tea, the shadow of the tree beside Shang Luoshu swayed slightly. When he looked again, there was an extra figure on the ground. It was Chen Guang, who had disappeared just now.
"Your Highness, this subordinate has found the woman you mentioned according to the portrait. She is indeed the Fourth Miss of the Lu family."
Hearing this, the man's lips twitched slightly.
"I see. You may step down."
"Yes."
The gentle breeze blew, and the tree shadows danced.
The man stood with his hands behind his back, looking into the distance. The spring light shone on his back, but it couldn't hide his loneliness.
This was the scene Lu Jinran saw when she ran into the back garden. The man was clearly right in front of her, but she felt as if he were very far away.
She straightened her clothes and adjusted her breathing. Then she walked gracefully to Shang Luoshu's side and said softly, "Your Highness, Prince Jing... Lunch is about to start. Mother asked this commoner girl to invite you."
"Thank you."
The longevity noodles were steaming and fragrant.
Looking at the longevity noodles in her hand, Lu Yinxi pursed her lips and casually placed them on the small table. Then she sat down on the chair on the other side.
She was in the side room. As long as she lifted the curtain, she could see the main hall.
At this time, the Lu family was having lunch. There was also a strange man at the table who looked a bit familiar to her.
"Fourth Miss, the Second Madam said that you should hold the longevity noodles and wait for the summons."
Dan Zhu frowned and said. She was specially left by Wang Shi to watch Lu Yinxi.
Seeing that the young girl didn't respond, she stepped forward and stood in front of her. Her eyes were cold as she repeated again,
"Fourth Miss, please pick up the longevity noodles and wait for the Madam's summons."
Lu Yinxi still didn't move. Instead, she propped her head up with one hand and tilted her head. A hint of coldness could be faintly seen in her eyes.
"Are you teaching me what to do?"
It was just a simple question. When she said this, there was still a smile on the young girl's face, and her jet - black eyes were curved.
But Dan Zhu still felt a chill rising from the soles of her feet, which then turned into a big hand that tightly grabbed her throat.
She instinctively took a half - step back, and more accusations were stuck in her throat. She couldn't utter a single word.
In the main hall
Although the presence of Prince Jing made the Lu family a bit more reserved during the meal, overall, it was still quite pleasant.
Needless to say about Prime Minister Lu and the Second Madam, the smile on Lu Jinran's face never faded. If it weren't for the shyness of a young girl, she would have wanted to sit beside Shang Luoshu.
At the entire dinner table, only Lu Yinjian was not enjoying his meal.
He wanted to mention his younger sister several times, but was gently blocked back by the Second Madam each time. If it weren't for the presence of Prince Jing, he would have spoken his mind long ago.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and toasts, lunch was coming to an end. According to the past practice, the longevity noodles should be presented.
Wang Shi glanced at Lu Yinjian and found that he was trying to speak again. But this time, the Second Madam was quicker.
On the dinner table, although the jade chopsticks had just been put down, the woman beside Prime Minister Lu quickly knelt on the spot.
"My lord, this concubine is guilty."
Shang Luoshu hadn't left yet, and the woman from the inner courtyard suddenly did this. A trace of annoyance immediately arose in Lu Wenhan's heart.
"What happened?"
Lu Yinjian didn't know what Wang Shi was up to and didn't dare to speak rashly. He didn't know that this was exactly what the Second Madam wanted.
She frowned as if in great difficulty, and didn't utter a single word for a long time. It wasn't until Prime Minister Lu was obviously impatient that she hesitated and said, "My lord, please have the longevity noodles first! His Highness, Prince Jing, is still waiting!"
Hearing this, Lu Wenhan casually glanced at Shang Luoshu beside him. He seemed to completely ignore that there was one person missing at the dinner table and was looking around at the furnishings in the main hall.
Prime Minister Lu knew in his heart that His Highness, Prince Jing, was giving him face. So he accepted the favor and said in a deep voice, "As you say, have the longevity noodles first. We'll talk about other things later.
You may get up."
"Thank you, my lord."
Throughout the whole process, Lu Yinjian had been paying attention to the Second Madam.
He noticed that after hearing this, the corner of Wang Shi's lips involuntarily curled up slightly. Then she slowly raised her voice and said, "Xi'er, why don't you present your father's longevity noodles?"