Lu Wanning felt no psychological burden as her gaze fell on the jade screen she had bought. Now that she had the screen, it was time to inscribe words on it. Just as she was about to ask the maid to bring the writing brush, Xiangyun came in.
Compared with the gentle and charming Jiyue, Xiangyun appeared more honest and sincere. Jiyue was smart and lively, while Xiangyun was steadfast. They were the two most trusted maids of the original owner. Relatively speaking, the original owner preferred the honest Xiangyun and was slightly on guard against Jiyue. She even wondered whether to take Jiyue with her after marriage. After all, Jiyue was quite beautiful. If she harbored inappropriate thoughts, how could the original owner tolerate it?
But that was the original owner, not Lu Wanning herself. These days, Lu Wanning had always been cold to Xiangyun. Even now, when Xiangyun came in happily holding the snacks bestowed by the palace, Lu Wanning showed little reaction.
Xiangyun felt a bit uneasy but didn't dare to ask more. She just said, "Your Highness, these are the snacks sent from Guanjugong. You used to like them the most, but now..."
Lu Wanning frowned and said, "I've gained weight recently. I won't eat these. You can divide them among yourselves."
Xiangyun glanced at Jiyue, looking a bit aggrieved. Then she carried the snacks out.
Jiyue whispered, "Your Highness, I'm just talking casually. It might not be appropriate to decline the Queen's kindness like this, right?"
Lu Wanning asked, "Why is it inappropriate?"
Jiyue choked for a moment and thought the princess was right. The princess had always been willful, and the Queen wouldn't mind.
"However, Your Highness, did Xiangyun do something wrong? You seem to have ignored her recently. She has been feeling very uneasy in private..."
Jiyue carefully observed the princess's mood and then said, "Your Highness, Jiyue and Xiangyun have grown up with you since childhood. We know your temperament best. In the past, when we made mistakes, you would just punish us. You've never been so cold to us before. It really worries us."
Lu Wanning's expression became even colder. It wasn't for any other reason. In the book, there was a passage describing the original owner's two maids. It said that Jiyue used the princess's power to bully others and didn't put anyone in her eyes, while Xiangyun was very soft - hearted. She felt sorry for the original owner's torment of Shi Aohan. Relying on the original owner's trust, she secretly protected Shi Aohan many times.
Later, when the original owner learned of the tragic deaths of her family members, she spat out blood and became seriously ill. Jiyue hit the pillar to death to protect her and was praised as loyal by Shi Aohan, who even ordered a generous burial for her. Of course, this part in the book was not to show Jiyue's loyalty but to show how magnanimous Shi Aohan was. He was so kind - hearted even to a domineering servant like Jiyue.
Xiangyun was the only maid of the Lu family who managed to get out unscathed. In the end, she married a servant of Fu Rongxuan.
Lu Wanning had been in this world for a short time and hadn't noticed any disloyalty from Xiangyun. But she found that Jiyue always protected her and put her preferences first.
She didn't have the idea of equality for all. She was lucky to be reborn as a noble lady instead of a servant. She also thought that loyalty and good character were equally important for the people around her.
As for appearance, people here were much more critical of women than men. In fact, if a man had ill intentions, could Jiyue, a mere maid, resist? She wasn't the kind of person who would have conflicts with her trusted maid because of a man's favor.
Lu Wanning didn't know how to explain this to Jiyue, so she changed the topic and pointed to the jade screen. "Hurry up and prepare things for me. I'm going to inscribe words on the jade screen."
When the writing brush and paper were brought, Jiyue suggested, "Your Highness, before inscribing on the screen, you might as well write on the paper first and then choose the best sentences to inscribe?"
Lu Wanning clapped her hands and laughed. "That's a great idea. Hurry up and grind the ink. I'll start inscribing."
She excitedly picked up the brush, thinking about what to write, completely unaware that Jiyue beside her let out a big sigh of relief.
When she was about to write, Lu Wanning finally realized why Jiyue always had that expression when she mentioned inscribing on the jade screen. She, in modern times, didn't know how to write with a brush, and the original owner in ancient times also didn't seem good at calligraphy and painting. The words she wrote looked like scratches made by a chicken's claws.
Lu Wanning twitched her eyelids. After hesitating for a long time, she asked, "Can my father write well?"
Jiyue nodded repeatedly. "The prince's calligraphy is strong and powerful."
Strong? That wouldn't do. The jade screen was delicate, and the flying crane on it already looked a bit out of place. If the words weren't elegant enough, the screen would look even more bold and unrefined, which would be even more inappropriate.
Jiyue added, "The princess's small - regular script is very pleasing to the eye."
But if the princess wrote on it, it might not be to the Empress Dowager's liking.
Lu Wanning propped her face with her hand, thinking that no plan seemed suitable.
Just then, Xiangyun came to report that the third young master of the He family had arrived.
Lu Wanning put down the brush and paper and went to the front yard to receive the guest.
When she saw He Nanfeng, Lu Wanning was secretly amazed. The men in ancient times really had their own unique charm. The Prince Yu had a celestial appearance, like an immortal descending to the mortal world. Although Fu Rongxuan had a poor character, as the male protagonist in the book, he had a gentle and elegant demeanor. And even though He Nanfeng was wearing an ordinary blue robe, he was still extremely handsome and suave.
The original owner was really strange. With so many handsome men around, why did she fall for Fu Rongxuan and chase after him?
Lu Wanning rolled her eyes. There wasn't much description of He Nanfeng in the book. It seemed that he didn't die early. Should she change her backer?
Forget it. Although He Nanfeng didn't die early, he didn't have much power. And as a member of the He family, he wasn't very trustworthy.
He Nanfeng was playing chess with Lu Hanchi. When he saw Lu Wanning coming, he stood up to greet her.
Lu Wanning pretended to be innocent and came over with a smile. "Cousin, are you playing chess with big brother? Who won?"
Lu Hannian interjected, "In the military camp, no one can match big brother in martial arts. His chess - playing skills are also unmatched. But unexpectedly, he has met his match here."
So big brother lost.
Lu Wanning clapped her hands and laughed. "Big brother, the young men in the capital are good at playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting, while big brother is good at martial arts and military strategies. Everyone has their own strengths. Being able to be a match for cousin shows that big brother is both civil and military, which is really extraordinary."
Lu Hanchi raised his eyebrows and smiled. He only said to He Nanfeng, "Ning'er has always been outspoken. Her exaggerated praise makes me feel ashamed. Nanfeng, don't mind."
He Nanfeng shook his head. "Of course not. What cousin said is true. Big cousin is really talented in both literature and martial arts. It's really rare."
Just then, they heard hearty laughter. Everyone turned around and saw the princess coming with her maids. The maids were holding a long zither in their arms. They put the zither down in the corridor.
The princess nodded to He Nanfeng. "Nanfeng, it's rare for you to visit the mansion today. Aunt hasn't played the zither for a long time. I'd like to ask you for some advice."
He Nanfeng had been prepared. He didn't believe a single word the servant said, that Lu Wanning missed the friendship from childhood and thanked him for the gift. After all, the last time he gave the gift, Lu Wanning didn't even open the jade flute's case and later gave the jade flute to someone else.
He guessed that it wasn't Lu Wanning who invited him but his aunt who found an excuse.
"Aunt used to be famous in the capital for her music. If you're willing to teach me, it will be my great fortune."