Lu Yinxi had intended to leave. After all, in Lin Zihan's impression, she should be an ordinary person. Daughters from ordinary families couldn't attend the Spring Banquet. But just before she took a step, Lin Shaoqing's gaze swept over.
He saw her!
In that case, there seemed no need for her to deliberately avoid him.
Having thought it through, the young girl tidied her dress and walked up to the two of them on her own initiative. "Greetings, Lin Shaoqing."
"Teahouse girl."
During their previous meeting, Lu Yinxi had indeed never mentioned her name, not even her surname. So it was appropriate for Lin Zihan to address her like this.
"My surname is Lu. I'm the fourth daughter in my family. I concealed my identity last time. Please don't blame me, Lin Shaoqing."
Lu Yinxi bowed again to Lin Zihan, showing her apology.
"Brother Zihan, are you very familiar with this young lady?"
Seeing the two of them chatting as if there was no one else around while she seemed to be the extra one, Zhang Lingyue finally couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
"Regarding the case of Fang Qinhu earlier, Miss Lu provided some clues." Lin Zihan explained calmly.
"I see!" Miss Zhang Er smiled understandingly. As for what was really on her mind, only she knew.
"I was wondering why I couldn't find Lin Shaoqing. Turns out he's hiding here to meet his fiancée?"
The voice came before the person. Lu Yinxi looked in the direction of the voice and saw a group of young noblemen walking towards them. The one leading the way was actually Shang Luoshu.
As the distance between the two sides gradually closed, the person who had just spoken noticed there was a third person present. Immediately, the thought of teasing came to his mind.
"Wow, it's not just the fiancée. There's actually another young lady here. Lin Shaoqing is really lucky!"
The crowd burst into laughter. Zhang Lingyue also lowered her head shyly, but her eyes couldn't help but glance at Lu Yinxi.
"Is it funny?"
This was the first thing Shang Luoshu said after seeing the young girl. However, his gaze swept over the people behind him. Everyone felt a chill down their spines under his gaze and couldn't help but shut up.
After the laughter died down, the man stepped forward to greet her. "Miss Lu Si, long time no see."
The fourth miss of the Lu family who had just returned?
As if they had discovered something new and strange, all eyes fell on Lu Yinxi.
Lu Yinxi showed no sign of timidity. Instead, she generously curtsied. Shang Luoshu, on the other hand, still had a serious face.
"Didn't you say you were going to play the arrow - throwing game with Lin Shaoqing? Why are you standing there still?"
For some reason, upon hearing this, the expressions of several noble sons immediately became ambiguous. But they also tacitly didn't expose it and instead pulled Lin Shaoqing away.
Shang Luoshu didn't leave in a hurry. He first glanced at Lu Yinxi, then said to Zhang Lingyue, "I hope Miss Zhang Er will take good care of Miss Lu Si."
He was so proper in his conduct and gentle in his manner. He was truly someone raised in the royal family. The young girl beside him was a bit surprised. She had never seen Shang Luoshu like this before.
"Your Highness King Jing, please rest assured. I will surely live up to your trust."
After getting Zhang Lingyue's promise, Shang Luoshu didn't stay any longer. He turned around and followed the group.
After the crowd disappeared from sight, Zhang Lingyue softly asked, "Is this your first time at the Spring Banquet, Miss Lu Si?"
"Yes, it's my first time. I've never been here before I received the invitation."
Madam Lu had been living in the small Buddhist hall for a long time and had long lost touch with those poetry banquets in the capital. Wang hated her to the core and would be happy to see her make a fool of herself. There was no way she would remind her.
Needless to say about her elder brother Lu Yinjian. After the imperial examination, he applied to Prime Minister Lu to go on a study tour. He didn't care about the results of the imperial examination at all. Surprisingly, Prime Minister Lu actually agreed.
So before receiving the invitation from the Qi Prince's Mansion, Lu Yinxi really had no idea that there was a Spring Banquet in the capital.
"Shall we talk as we walk?"
"Okay."
The two of them walked towards the courtyard together and didn't notice that someone behind them was gritting their teeth and scheming.
The so - called Spring Banquet was actually a disguised blind - date banquet.
Don't look at the fact that the young ladies and the noble sons were still in two separate groups now. Once everyone arrived, they would all gather in one courtyard for a talent competition.
It sounded so... boring!
Lu Yinxi found a secluded waterside pavilion and sat down. By now, she had completely lost interest in this Spring Banquet. But after glancing at Zhang Lingyue, she seemed to think of something.
"I heard that you, Miss Zhang Er, already have a betrothal. Can you still come to such an event?"
A blush rose on the young girl's face. Zhang Lingyue's voice dropped a bit. "As long as one hasn't gotten married yet, they can come."
"I see..."
After getting the answer to her question, the young girl nodded seriously. Her eyes casually scanned the surroundings. Zhang Lingyue, on the other hand, looked up at her several times, wanting to say something but was too hesitant to speak.
After several attempts, Lu Yinxi finally noticed her abnormality.
"Do you have something to ask me, Miss Zhang Er?"
Suddenly having her thoughts exposed, Zhang Lingyue couldn't help but be startled. Then she blushed and nodded.
Looking at her appearance, there was no need to guess what she wanted to ask.
"I got to know Lin Shaoqing because of the case of Fang Qinhu." The young girl took the initiative to explain.
"Ah? I didn't..."
Ignoring her slightly embarrassed expression, Lu Yinxi continued, "Miss Zhang Er must know that I used to live in a village on the outskirts of the capital. When I was a child, I almost died because of my playfulness. If it weren't for Lieutenant Fang's rescue, I'm afraid..."
"So after I heard that Lin Shaoqing was going to handle this case, I told him about this. It was also a way for me to do my part. But at that time, I didn't reveal my identity. I think Lin Shaoqing must have thought I was a daughter from an ordinary family."
"After the case, I haven't seen Lin Shaoqing again." After thinking for a while, Lu Yinxi added this seriously.
Some misunderstandings were better not to happen.
"Miss Lu, I, I didn't mean that."
Although she said so, after hearing her words, Zhang Lingyue couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and the smile on her face became a bit more sincere.
Women, your name is duplicity!
Seeing the change in her expression, Lu Yinxi shook her head pretending to be mature and focused her attention on the scenery outside the waterside pavilion again.
"Miss Zhang Er, why didn't you say a word when you came? You're hiding here."
Suddenly, her view was blocked, and a shadow fell from above. Lu Yinxi glanced sideways at the person. It was a very bright - looking young girl who seemed very aggressive.
She didn't know this person, and the person didn't call her either. So the young girl took a sip of the tea in front of her and pretended not to see.
Zhang Lingyue was not like her. Even though she was reluctant in her heart, she had to stand up and respond reluctantly. "Miss Feng looks very beautiful today."
"Humph, that's natural."
The young girl called Miss Feng raised her head proudly, but her eyes glanced at Lu Yinxi who was holding the pastry. "Which family's miss is this? Why haven't I seen her before?"
"This is the fourth miss of Prime Minister Lu's mansion." Zhang Lingyue quickly explained, implying that she should be more restrained today.
"Miss Lu Si, is she the wild child who has been raised in the village since childhood?"
The sudden laughter mixed with malicious words shot towards the pavilion like arrows.
"Raised in the village with no etiquette tutor around, she probably can't even read, right?"
"So why can someone like this who can do nothing come to the Spring Banquet?"
"Isn't it because she has a good father?"
More and more arrows came. The attention of the young ladies on the field gradually shifted to the waterside pavilion where Lu Yinxi was.
"Miss Lu Si..."
Zhang Lingyue nervously tugged at the young girl's sleeve. There was genuine concern in her eyes.
She had brought Lu Yinxi to this secluded waterside pavilion because she was worried that they would meet Miss Feng and cause a commotion. But she didn't expect such a thing to happen.
"Don't worry. I'm fine."
The young girl patted Zhang Lingyue reassuringly, then stood up and walked towards the crowd. Her sharp gaze made people unconsciously take a step back. "Who just said that I can do nothing?"
"I did!" A young girl in yellow stood out from the crowd very confidently. "You're a wild child raised in the village. What can you do?"
The young girl in yellow felt something coming at her as Lu Yinxi's gaze swept over. Just as Lu Yinxi was about to speak, there was a commotion at the courtyard gate.
"Pretty beauty, I want to see pretty beauties!"
"Sweet - smelling pretty beauties, don't run away!"
"Hehe! I caught you!"