Lu Wanning finally let out a sigh of relief. How could someone only tell half of a story? This Third Lady was really going too far. Moreover, she had given away that jade flute some time ago. There was no reason to take it back.
She quickly coquettishly said, "Third Lady, I don't like such things usually. It would be a waste to give it to me. His Highness the Prince of Yu has a wonderful flute sound. That jade flute matches him perfectly."
He Chan let out a sigh of relief and quickly smiled, saying, "Third Lady, Chan'er observed that jade flute of His Highness the Prince of Yu. It should be made of the warm jade from the South Sea. Such a wonderful object must have been hard for His Highness the Prince of Yu to obtain. How could he give it away casually?"
Sheng Jinyu slightly raised her eyebrows and glanced at He Chan with a hint of displeasure but didn't say a word.
The Third Lady just held Lu Wanning's hand and let out a long sigh, saying, "I'm not destined to have children. When I see a smart girl like the Princess of Zhaoyang, I'm really happy. If it weren't a wonderful object, how could I take it out?"
Only then did Sheng Jinyu speak up, "It was given by someone else, so it's not convenient for me to give it away. If aunt really likes it, I have a jade pendant in the shape of a jade rabbit. It's very suitable for a girl to wear. I'll send someone to the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion later to fulfill aunt's kindness."
After chatting for a while, the girls were going to the flower hall to play.
Jiang Shishi lowered her head and said to Lu Wanning, "My mother always says that the Third Lady is pitiful and has no luck with children. But seeing you two today, you seem to get along well."
Lu Wanning pursed her lips and smiled, "The Third Lady is kind. I didn't like coming here much before. I've only seen her from a distance a few times."
Jiang Shishi said, "The Third Lady... has a stubborn personality. If my health weren't so poor, I should come and accompany her often. Well, let's not talk about this. I heard at home that your engagement with the Heir of the Fu Family was called off. What happened?"
Then they heard He Chan's shrill voice behind them, "Humph, what else could it be? She must have taken a fancy to another man and fallen out of love."
Lu Wanning turned around without hesitation and slapped He Chan across the face.
He Chan let out a scream, "What are you doing?"
Lu Ying Shuang and Shi Aohan beside her were startled and quickly supported He Chan.
Lu Ying Shuang glared at her angrily, "Lu Wanning, are you crazy? How can you just start hitting people for no reason?"
Lu Wanning rubbed her wrist and sneered, saying, "Earlier outside the mansion gate, Miss Lu also said that my literary talent was poor and that I wouldn't refute when others slandered me. It was really uncomfortable. So I thought that since I can't compare with you all who are so glib, I might as well use what I'm good at. He Chan, who gave you the guts to slander this princess like this?"
She was a princess with a title. In the past, the previous owner didn't know how to make use of it. She wasn't the previous owner, so she naturally wouldn't just let others slander her and only know how to argue stupidly. If she couldn't win the argument and got angry, she would even be said to be bullying with power.
Shi Aohan trembled with anger, "You... you're bullying with power."
Lu Wanning curled her lips into a smile. Sure enough, here came this line again?
"Me? You all make up stories about me outside, and when I fight back, you say I'm bullying with power? Then what about you all? Does being weak mean you're always in the right? Take you, Shi Aohan, for example. Losing your chastity during the mourning period is unfilial, and seducing someone else's fiancé is unjust. What is it when you make up stories about me outside? Just because you're an orphan and live in the He Family as a dependent, as a weak person, can you do whatever you want and bully me?"
Shi Aohan's eyes widened, and she staggered back a step, looking at her in disbelief.
He Chan let out a scream, "Lu Wanning, if you have something to say, come at me. What kind of hero are you to bully her?"
Lu Wanning ignored her and turned to look at Jiang Shishi, raising her eyebrows and smiling, "Now you know why I called off the engagement, right?"
Jiang Shishi actually sneered, "I knew before that they consider themselves talented women and look down on others. Today I finally saw what it means to be unreasonable but still be so confident."
Lu Wanning pulled her, "Let's go, let's go. It's windy here. Be careful. It wouldn't be good if you catch a cold later."
Even on a sunny day in winter, it was extremely cold. Jiang Shishi had a weak constitution and couldn't bear the cold. So she went with Lu Wanning to a nearby warm pavilion to rest.
Lu Wanning casually told Jiang Shishi what had happened on the day of He Chan's coming - of - age ceremony.
Jiang Shishi was very angry. She held Lu Wanning's hand and said, "I went to my maternal grandparents' house some time ago and didn't know about such a big thing. Why didn't you write to tell me?"
Since Lu Wanning wasn't the previous owner, she didn't remember to write letters to her old friends. She just smiled awkwardly, "It's just a small matter. Why bother you with it? It would just add to your troubles. Moreover, I've already solved everything. My father has already gone to call off the engagement for me."
Jiang Shishi was worried. She held her friend's hand and asked with concern, "Are you really okay? Ning'er, I know how you felt about the Heir of the Fu Family. You once told me that if there was no him in this life, the world would be dark. Have you really let go now?"
Lu Wanning twitched the corner of her mouth. The world would be dark without him? Was the previous owner crazy?
"Of course I've let go. Don't worry about me. I've thought it through clearly. The most important thing in a person's life is oneself. If loving someone means giving up oneself, then it's not love. A girl can only be respected and loved by others if she respects and loves herself."
When Jiang Shishi heard her friend say this, her eyebrows relaxed a little, "It's great that you can think like this. I was always very worried before when you did everything for him. It wasn't worth it for a person who didn't love you. But what He Chan said just now about you falling in love with someone else, is it true? Have you taken a fancy to another man?"
Lu Wanning didn't know what was wrong with He Chan. She shook her head blankly, "I don't know. Maybe she doesn't understand that I've figured it out, so she just makes up stories about me. You know, I don't like ugly men, and I'm a bit scared of good - looking men. Hehe, I really have no more thoughts about men."
Jiang Shishi laughed, "It's not good to be alone. Why be so cautious? Which girl doesn't get married?"
Lu Wanning quickly said, "My second brother has already said that if I don't get married, he'll support me for the rest of my life."
Jiang Shishi covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, "Nonsense. In a couple of years, you'll be in a hurry."
Lu Wanning saw the worry in Jiang Shishi's eyes and felt a bit sad. Jiang Shishi's engagement had been set since she was a child. It was when the old Duke He was still alive. Because he had a deep friendship with Jiang Shishi's grandfather, he had promised that Jiang Shishi would become the wife of the Heir of the Duke He.
It was a pity that Jiang Shishi had fallen seriously ill when she was eight years old and had left behind some health problems. Her body was extremely weak every autumn and winter. The Jiang Family felt that if they still insisted on the engagement, they would be a burden to the He Family, so they wanted to cancel it. But the old Duke He appreciated the Jiang Family's understanding and didn't cancel the engagement. He only said that after Jiang Shishi grew up, besides the Heir of the Duke He, the Jiang Family could choose any other young man from the He Family.
Now the old Duke He had passed away for many years. The current Duke still remembered his father's last wish. Now that the Second Young Master of the He Family had reached the age of getting married, the engagement between the Second Young Master and Jiang Shishi was set.