Of course, the current Lu Wanning wasn't the original owner. She had no intention of making things difficult for Shi Aohan. So, she nodded and returned a half - bow. "Cousin, good day."
This move stunned the noble ladies present. Lu Wanning always swaggered around when she went out. Not to mention Shi Aohan, even the princesses in the palace had never received a half - bow from her. Was the sun rising in the west today?
However, before they could react, they heard He Chan's cold snort.
"Oh, you're quite different today. You've changed your clothes and become so polite. No wonder you're going to marry into the Duke Fu's Mansion. Tsk, tsk, tsk. You've really gone to great lengths to please Brother Xuan. Do you think others don't know what kind of person you are? Do you think you can win Brother Xuan's heart just by imitating my cousin everywhere?"
These words were really hurtful. Everyone knew that Lu Wanning was head - over - heels in love with the heir of the Duke Fu's Mansion. Regardless of the strained relationship between the two families, she had been following the heir of the Fu family around all day long. Finally, she managed to get the Empress Dowager to issue an imperial edict for the marriage.
It was said that the heir of the Fu family once said in front of his friends that the Princess Zhaoyang was just a pretty face, arrogant, and extremely vulgar.
The ladies who were chatting over there naturally heard this commotion and were immediately embarrassed.
Madam He was extremely anxious. She turned back and glared fiercely at her daughter. "Chan'er!"
Lu Wanning was quite calm. What He Chan said referred to the original owner, not her. Although in others' eyes it was her, she didn't have any psychological burden.
It wasn't for any other reason. The original owner was rash in nature and always felt that Shi Aohan, the new number - one beauty, had stolen her limelight. She had disliked Shi Aohan for a long time. Even in the original book at this moment, the original owner, not yet aware of the affection between Shi Aohan and Fu Rongxuan, had already clashed with her several times because she disliked Shi Aohan's status.
Lu Wanning had thought for a long time today. The original male protagonist disliked her, and she had already made enemies with the original female protagonist. It was too late for her to ignore them. According to the progress in the book, in two months, when the two got married, it would be the beginning of the decline of the Lu family.
What she could do now was to try her best to save the situation of the prince's mansion. At the very least, she had to keep her whole family alive. As for the original male and female protagonists, she would try to cancel the engagement and then avoid them as much as possible. If she couldn't avoid them, she would try not to respond to them to avoid trouble.
Thinking like this, Lu Wanning smiled slightly, stepped forward and took Madam He's arm. "Aunt, you've been so busy talking to my mother and the others that you've ignored us. It's so cold. Aunt, you didn't even let us go in."
Madam He was relieved to have an excuse. She quickly said with a big smile, "Oh, it's all my fault. Have I let my dear Ning'er freeze? Come, come, let's go in."
In this way, the surrounding ladies also relaxed. They chatted and walked into the mansion together.
"Stop pretending!"
He Chan was originally reluctant to let it go and wanted to mutter softly. But she was so angry that her words were especially audible.
Madam He's face flushed red. She didn't understand what had happened to her daughter today. She turned back and scolded, "Chan'er, if you say another nonsense word, I'll..."
He Chan had lost a great deal of face and felt wronged. She simply shouted, "It's true. She's just putting on this act to show her gentleness and generosity in front of Brother Fu. We all know what she's usually like."
Madam He was so anxious that she stepped forward to cover her daughter's mouth. There were so many noble ladies here today, and they might all be Chan'er's future in - laws. No matter how dissatisfied she was, she couldn't say it in front of everyone.
Seeing this, Shi Aohan quickly stepped in front of He Chan and apologized repeatedly. "Aunt, it's all my fault. I'm so sorry. Please don't be angry with cousin. Today is cousin's coming - of - age ceremony... Miss Lu, it's all my fault. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Cousin didn't mean it. She was just standing up for me."
She was born looking weak and pitiful. At this moment, with tears in her eyes, she looked so pitiful. With just a few words, the noble ladies who were on good terms with her felt sorry for her and He Chan. Their gazes also fell on Lu Wanning with blame.
Oh, so she's a green - tea bitch. She just called her cousin, and now it's Miss Lu? She didn't even call her princess?
Lu Wanning originally thought that as long as she got the male and female protagonists together, she would be carefree. But now it seemed impossible. This green - tea bitch was clearly coming for her.
She just didn't want to cause trouble, not that she was afraid of it!
As Lu Wanning lowered her head, she also put on a surprised look and looked at Shi Aohan in disbelief. "What are you saying, cousin? I... When did I ever want to blame cousin?"
Shi Aohan felt that Lu Wanning was acting strangely today. If it were the old her, wouldn't she have caused a big scene already? Why was she so amiable?
Before Shi Aohan could react, Lu Wanning added with a look of grievance. "Moreover, why did cousin stand up for you? Did I... do anything wrong to you just now?"
At this moment, everyone realized that, yes, the princess had only said one word to Miss Shi just now, and it was Miss Shi who had called her cousin first, and she had just replied with "cousin." Why did He Chan need to stand up for her?
He Chan pulled Shi Aohan behind her and glared fiercely at Lu Wanning. "If you have something to say, come at me. What kind of a hero are you to bully her? Don't you know why I'm standing up for her? Humph, you clearly don't like her. Your eyes wrinkle when you look at her, but you still pretend to be gentle. Do you think we're all blind?"
Lu Wanning took a step back, looked around, and seemed about to fall. Her eyes were filled with tears. She was born beautiful, and today she wasn't wearing bright and ostentatious clothes, which made her look even more pitiful.
"Why do you think of me like this? I..." Lu Wanning sighed. "I did frown, but that's because I was a bit curious. Today is your coming - of - age ceremony. Why is she wearing all white? It seems a bit inauspicious... But I also thought that since you two are on good terms and you don't mind, I... naturally wouldn't say anything."
He Chan was shocked and subconsciously glanced at Shi Aohan. Her eyebrows also wrinkled. Yes, today was her coming - of - age ceremony, such a festive day. Why was her cousin wearing such clothes?
Shi Aohan waved her hands repeatedly and explained. "No, it's because I'm still in mourning... I know you only observe mourning for one year here, but in our custom, we have to observe mourning for three years..."
Actually, observing mourning was appropriate. But if one was in mourning, one shouldn't attend various banquets. Wearing mourning clothes to a banquet was a very rude act to the host. If she had to attend the banquet, she could have chosen to wear plain clothes with simple and clean decorations instead of wearing mourning clothes so blatantly.
But Lu Wanning didn't give others time to react. She nodded first, as if trying to rescue Shi Aohan. "I see. Actually, this is a very small matter. I really didn't do anything."
She was really innocent. One couldn't be convicted of the crime of frowning just because one frowned when seeing someone wearing inappropriate clothes, could they?
Madam He was extremely annoyed. Just then, a maid came out from inside to urge them. She quickly stopped He Chan, who was about to retort, and led everyone inside.