Lu Wanning's eyes curved into crescents. "I never care about others."
Jiang Shishi took her hand and walked forward, ignoring the crowd. When they reached the main gate of the Lu residence, they were naturally welcomed in.
Lu Yingshuang's face looked extremely ugly. She and Shi Aohan were known as the Two Beauties of the Capital. Although their reputations were great, she knew clearly in her heart that even the two of them combined were no match for Jiang Shishi. If it weren't for Jiang Shishi's frail health and her infrequent outings, the title of the most talented young lady in the capital would never have gone to Shi Aohan or her.
Fortunately, she had more friends. With their chattering, they managed to divert the topic.
Lu Wanning looked at Jiang Shishi curiously and asked, "Shishi, are you fully recovered? You're able to go out now?"
Jiang Shishi smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be fine this winter. The doctor advised me to go out more. My mother had something to attend to and asked me to come here. I just took the opportunity to visit the Third Lady."
Lu Wanning smiled and hooked her arm around Jiang Shishi's. She tried hard to recall the ending of this close friend in her mind, but she just couldn't remember.
The point at which she had transmigrated was not right. When she was reading the book, she was quite upset upon seeing the female supporting character with the same name. Especially when she saw that this female supporting character, just because she was a bit stupid, had to suffer so much. Her family was ruined, and her parents, brothers, nephews, and nieces all died miserably. She was so angry that she felt like exploding.
She didn't sleep well that night. The next day, she ended up in this place and became Lu Wanning here.
So, in fact, she hadn't finished reading the whole book. She was the female supporting character in the first half of the story. She had no idea what happened after her death. Even regarding the events before her death, she didn't pay much attention. After all, when she was reading the book, she only wanted to know the ending of the female supporting character with the same name.
It was no use regretting now. She couldn't go back and continue reading the book. Lu Wanning held her close friend's hand and examined her carefully. Only when she saw that she was really okay did she feel slightly relieved.
After entering the courtyard, they first had to pay their respects to the ladies.
In the Lu family, the First Lady was in charge of the household. However, because of the Third Lady's connection with the Prince Yu, at formal banquets, the Third Lady would sit at the main seat with the First Lady.
Today, the Third Lady wasn't with the First Lady. She was sitting in the courtyard, accompanied by His Highness the Prince Yu.
And Sheng Jinyu was holding a jade flute, playing a long and far - reaching melody that was truly captivating. Even though Lu Wanning didn't understand music, she still felt a sense of relaxation and joy in her heart.
In the courtyard, besides the ladies, there were also the Crown Prince, the Prince Yu, the county prince and the son of the royal clan, as well as the second and third young masters of the Duke He's Mansion.
Jiang Shishi's mother and the Third Lady of the Lu family had been close friends since their girlhood. Their friendship was deep, and they still kept in touch after they got married. Jiang Shishi came here today specifically to pay a visit to the Third Lady of the Lu family.
When the melody ended, Jiang Shishi and Lu Wanning went forward to pay their respects.
It was only when Lu Wanning walked up to the Third Lady that she felt that the long flute in Sheng Jinyu's hand looked very familiar. Taking a closer look, wasn't this jade flute the one she had given to Sheng Jinyu some time ago?
Her eyes narrowed slightly. She looked at Sheng Jinyu in surprise and then immediately glanced at He Nanfeng beside him.
He Nanfeng just clapped his hands and laughed. "Your Highness's skills have improved again. Congratulations."
Sheng Jinyu, as if deliberately, twirled the jade flute in his hand. "The tone of this flute is quite good. I like it very much."
Then a young master of the royal clan asked, "This jade flute is completely transparent. It looks like an extraordinary item. I wonder how Your Highness the Prince Yu got it?"
Lu Wanning felt her cheeks burning. This young master of the royal clan really knew how to pick the wrong topic. She was extremely nervous and looked at Sheng Jinyu for help. Please don't say that I gave it to you. Otherwise, I won't be able to clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River.
Sheng Jinyu smiled and just casually said, "I forgot."
Lu Wanning was so touched that tears welled up in her eyes. They were all good people, really good people.
Seeing Lu Wanning staring at the jade flute in Sheng Jinyu's hand, the Third Lady waved her hand. "Zhaoyang, come here and let me have a look."
Lu Wanning obediently walked over and bowed to greet her.
The Third Lady sized Lu Wanning up and down, then took off the jade bracelet on her hand and put it on Lu Wanning's. She said with a smile, "I've seen the princess a few times at banquets before. I just thought how could there be such a delicate young lady in the world? Now that I look closely, isn't it true? Elder sister - in - law, second sister - in - law, what do you think?"
The First Lady nodded with a smile. "Princess Zhaoyang is really beautiful. She is truly extraordinary."
Lu Wanning blushed and wanted to decline the gift, but the Third Lady wouldn't allow it. She just laughed heartily.
"Tsk tsk. Everyone loves beauty. Among the young ladies in the capital, if you're the second, no one can claim to be the first."
Lu Wanning quickly shook her head. "The Third Lady has over - praised me. I'm a rough - tempered person and not well - versed in literature. I really don't deserve such praise."
The original owner had a proud personality. She couldn't stand others saying a single bad word about her. If others praised her, she would be so elated that she would almost raise her tail high. She would never be so modest like this.
The Third Lady pretended to look serious. "Who says that young ladies must be extremely talented in literature? Literature is just something to add luster. You already have such a good family background and appearance. Why do you need those external things to add charm? You should leave a way out for others."
Such a joking remark made Lu Wanning feel even closer to the Third Lady.
Shi Aohan and He Chan were walking in with Lu Yingshuang. They happened to hear the Third Lady's words. Shi Aohan suddenly looked up at Lu Wanning over there, and the feeling of grievance in her heart grew stronger.
Literature is just an external thing? It was indeed so for others. Among the people present, even if they didn't have Lu Wanning's family background and appearance, they were still not bad. For them, literature was just something to show off. But it was different for her. She should have had a good family background, and even should have been superior to Lu Wanning. But now...
Now she could only rely on these things that others looked down on to try to improve herself and be able to mingle in the circle of noble ladies.
Today, He Chan seemed to be a different person. She didn't confront Lu Wanning. Instead, she respectfully stepped forward to pay her respects and softly called out, "Third Lady."
As more young ladies came into the courtyard, Sheng Jinyu stopped playing the flute. He put the jade flute on the table beside him and picked up the teacup to drink tea.
The Third Lady pointed at Sheng Jinyu and asked Lu Wanning, "Do you like..."
Sheng Jinyu almost choked on his tea. He looked at them sharply. And Lu Wanning also opened her mouth wide and unconsciously reached out her hand to wave. He Chan, who was standing beside Lu Wanning, turned deathly pale. Her hands tightly clutched the hem of her dress, and she was on the verge of fainting.
The Third Lady smiled slightly and continued, "I just saw you staring at the jade flute in A Yu's hand. Do you like that jade flute? If you like it, I'll ask A Yu to give it to you, okay?"