Zhao Shuning was really sent to the courtyard of Lady Xiang in the Lin Mansion.
She still remembered that when she first arrived at the Lin family's courtyard, as soon as Zhao Shuning looked up, she saw Lady Xiang sitting mournfully by the window, brooding over her own sorrows.
When Zhao Shuning and Mo Bai arrived, because Mo Bai seemed rather foolish, Lady Xiang thought that these two people this year were just casually stuffed in by Lady Haitang to avoid embarrassing the Lin family during the Qianyuan Tournament.
Anyway, over the years, Lady Xiang had never even managed to make it into the top three, let alone win the championship.
Every time, she ended up at the bottom.
If only she could have made it into the top three just once, her life in the Lin family wouldn't have been so difficult.
When Zhao Shuning first saw Lady Xiang, she was sitting lazily by the window. She didn't even look up until Zhao Shuning entered. She held a beautiful round fan in her hand and gently fanned the air.
"Lady Xiang, these two are the advisors and assistants for you in this year's Qianyuan Tournament."
Lady Xiang nodded.
She waved her hand gently, and those people left, leaving only Zhao Shuning, Mo Bai, and Lady Xiang in the room.
Zhao Shuning noticed that Lady Xiang always had droopy eyes. She looked like a woman in her thirties, but with such a dispirited look all day long, it was no wonder that Lin Feng disliked her.
Lady Xiang's features were actually quite good. Since Lin Min'er was very beautiful, Zhao Shuning had imagined that Lady Xiang couldn't be too bad.
Now that they had met, there wasn't much difference.
It was just that her lifeless appearance was really off - putting.
"Sigh, Lady Haitang is so kind - hearted to send you two here."
Although Lady Xiang said this, she was actually quite indignant in her heart. However, without any background or influence, she could only be at the mercy of others.
In previous Qianyuan Tournaments, at least the people prepared for her were two adult men.
But this year, an eight - year - old little girl and a fifteen - or sixteen - year - old boy with impaired intelligence. Wasn't this clearly meant to embarrass her this year?
However, she was used to it. After all, Lin Feng hadn't visited her courtyard for so many years. Even if she wanted to have a child, it was just a pipe dream.
"Lady Xiang, do you have any instructions for us?"
Hearing this, Lady Xiang sat up slightly straight.
"I have nothing to say to you. Just do as Lady Haitang tells you. Gentlemen, there are melon seeds and fruits on the table. Although they are the leftovers from other rooms, at least they can fill your stomachs. Just make do with them."
"Lady Xiang, don't you want to win?"
"Win? For someone like me, that's simply a daydream. You two don't need to try to get information from me. I pose no threat to Lady Haitang. Just report what you see truthfully."
"Lady Xiang, we haven't introduced ourselves yet."
"There's no need for introductions. I'm tired. Gentlemen, please go back to your rooms and rest first."
Seeing Lady Xiang's attitude, Zhao Shuning didn't want to talk to her any more. She got up and took Mo Bai back to the guest room.
Along the way, Zhao Shuning kicked the pebbles on the side of the road hard.
"Really. Although my mother is gentle and timid, compared to Lady Xiang, she is much braver."
"She doesn't even want the help offered to her. She's really been bullied into submission."
Zhao Shuning kept breaking the branches in her hand.
Mo Bai followed her carefully, not daring to say a word.
After a while, still angry, Zhao Shuning kicked out again, and this time she kicked a person.
Really, she didn't do it on purpose.
That person suddenly appeared in front of her. She wasn't that blind to kick someone on purpose.
"Ouch—" With a cry, a young girl squatted down, covering her foot.
Zhao Shuning quickly stepped forward to help her up.
The girl scolded, "You don't even look where you're going! Can't you see a big person like me?"
Knowing she was in the wrong, Zhao Shuning had to apologize, "I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention. Where are you hurt? We'll take you to get it checked."
The girl straightened up and looked behind Zhao Shuning. "Are you from Lady Xiang's courtyard? The assistants invited this year?"
Zhao Shuning nodded. The girl twisted her foot and said, "You should be more careful in the Lin family. You just bumped into me today. If you offended Beauty Xiao, not only won't you get your reward, but you'll also lose your lives here."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. We're all servants. It's not easy for any of us. I'll leave first."
"Is your foot okay?"
"It's okay. It just hurt a bit before. Now it's much better. By the way, my name is Lu Wu. I'm from the fifth lady's room."
"Okay, I'll remember."
The young girl nodded and walked away. It seemed that she was in a hurry.
Zhao Shuning didn't suspect anything and took Mo Bai back to the guest room.
In the evening, when having dinner in the living room, Zhao Shuning finally understood how unpopular Lady Xiang was in the Lin family.
The place where she and Mo Bai ate was at the very end of the Lin family's living room. The food in front of them was only one plate of green vegetables, one plate of meat, and a plate of peanuts. Looking at what Situ Yun was eating at the first table, it was completely different from what they had.
Zhao Shuning wasn't a picky eater. It was good enough to have something to eat.
Seeing Zhao Shuning eating happily, Mo Bai also laughed heartily.
This laugh earned him a lot of contemptuous looks.
Some people with a bit of courtesy just glanced at him and said nothing, but some rude and ill - mannered people were different. Seeing Mo Bai's silly look, they sneered, "Lady Xiang is really generous. The people she invited to help are either a fool or a child."
Zhao Shuning was eating happily at that time. When she heard someone say this,
The peanuts she had just picked up with her chopsticks hadn't reached her mouth yet. With a snap, they fell on the table.
But those people didn't stop.
Seeing that Zhao Shuning and the others didn't respond, they continued,
"Look, just eating two peanuts can make them so happy. How long has it been since they last had a meal?"
Zhao Shuning's hand holding the chopsticks tightened secretly.
I just like peanuts. I'm happy eating peanuts. What's it to you?
Zhao Shuning's teeth were grinding.
She told herself to be patient. She must be patient. This wasn't the time to act.
But those people didn't intend to give up this chance to show off and put others down.
"Chen Xiong, look at what you're saying. Every year, the guests in Lady Xiang's room are like this. How can you say such a thing so openly?"
"Exactly. Leave some leeway for others. It'll be easier to meet again in the future."
"However, we probably won't have any intersection with these two people in the future. They're not on our level. How many times will they have the chance to eat in the same room as us? Hahaha—"
As soon as the man finished speaking, everyone except Situ Yun burst into laughter.
"Slap!"
The sound of chopsticks hitting the table hard came from the very end of the room.