Chapter 26: Your Life Is Too Frail

When Lu Zhaoling returned to Tingnuan Pavilion, Qingyin laid out the food from the basket.

There were four bowls of bird’s nest soup with red dates and six plates of exquisite dim sum. In addition, there was a small earthenware pot of sweet soy milk.

"The masters of the Lu household certainly eat well."

She did not stand on ceremony, consuming two bowls of bird’s nest and two plates of dim sum herself before leaving the rest for Qingyin and Qingbao.

Qingbao soon returned with three boxes of pastries from a long-established shop and handed a small pouch to Lu Zhaoling.

"Miss, that jade pendant actually fetched fifty taels!"

Qingbao had gone to the pawnshop, where the proprietor’s eyes had brightened at the sight of the pendant. He noted that while the piece was not rare and the jade was only of medium quality, its luster was incredibly soft and captivating. The proprietor even admitted honestly that such a pendant would typically only be worth about thirty-five taels, but because it had a certain charm that made people feel pleased, he had offered a higher price. He even told her that if she had any more of such quality, she should bring them over, promising a good price.

"Fifty taels? Not bad," Lu Zhaoling nodded.

Qingbao added, "The silver box also fetched one tael, and the gold earrings went for twenty. Miss, I spent one tael at Babao Pavilion for the pastries, so there are exactly seventy taels remaining here."

Lu Zhaoling had been penniless, yet after just wandering around the courtyard for a short while, she had managed to earn seventy taels. Both Qingyin and Qingbao found this both novel and thrilling.

Lu Zhaoling sighed softly as she thought of her own small bundle. The clothes she wore were likely intended for Lu Zhaoyun; they were a bit loose on her and felt cumbersome.

"Keep the silver. Qingbao, go have something to eat. Qingyin, come with me for a walk in the courtyard."

Finding silver was not restricted to the confines of Tingnuan Pavilion.

"Yes, Miss."

Qingyin felt a hidden excitement. Having grown up in the Prince’s manor, their standards were high, and seventy taels was not a significant sum; however, the way Lu Zhaoling had acquired it felt incredibly amusing.

Outside Tingnuan Pavilion was a small patch of flowers, currently in full bloom with vibrant colors. A little further on was a small artificial hill. On one side of the hill grew several clusters of purple bamboo, and behind it stood several lush trees. Beneath the trees, a path paved with bluestone led to a small octagonal pavilion equipped with a stone table and stools.

The scenery was quite lovely; it was no wonder that Lu Zhaoyun and the others were so jealous and angry that she had been assigned to Tingnuan Pavilion.

As Qingyin supported her while they strolled, before Lu Zhaoling could find anything else, Madam Lu approached them with several attendants, looking quite aggressive.

"Miss, they are here to cause trouble again," Qingyin frowned.

"It’s fine; it saves me the trouble of looking for her."

Lu Zhaoling stopped in her tracks.

When Madam Lu reached her, she raised her hand, intending to slap her across the face. Qingyin’s expression shifted, and she immediately seized the Madam's wrist.

"What is the meaning of this, Madam?"

"You dare to stop me?" Madam Lu glared at Qingyin in a rage.

"Our young miss is still injured and hasn't done anything. Since you prepared to strike without a word, I naturally had to intervene."

"Know your place!"

Madam Lu shook off her hand. "I thought you were head maids sent by the Prince of Jin, but since your deeds of indenture were given to Lu Zhaoling, you are now servants of the Lu household. You had better figure out who your masters are!"

Before Qingyin could speak, Lu Zhaoling chuckled. She seemed entirely unaffected by Madam Lu’s fury.

"Now that you mention it, I had forgotten. Since I have returned to the Lu house, why hasn't anyone sent my monthly allowance, the new clothes for the four seasons, the maids' stipends, or the coal and tea for my room?"

Madam Lu had not expected her to have the courage to demand these things directly. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she suddenly recalled the instructions Lu Ming had given her.

"Since you want to talk about these things, let us settle the accounts, so you don't go thinking the family has owed you for all these years."

Lu Zhaoling looked at her, signaling for her to continue.

"We sent you to the countryside back then because the Taoist priest said the capital had too much auspicious energy, and your destiny was too 'light' to bear it; staying in the capital might have caused your premature death. It was for your own good."

Madam Lu scrutinized her with a mocking expression. "To put it bluntly, if your destiny is light, you must be raised humbly."

A light destiny? Although Qingyin did not understand the concept, she felt that Lu Zhaoling appeared to be quite blessed! Perhaps it was because she already viewed Lu Zhaoling through a favorable lens.

"You were sick every other day in the countryside. Your grandparents and your third uncle’s family worked themselves to the bone to care for you, and your father sent plenty of silver and medicinal herbs back every year. Over the past dozen years, if we calculate one hundred taels per year, that must be over a thousand taels!"

If Lu Zhaoling did not have her previous memories, she might have almost believed it! The "poor little Lu" had been worked like a beast of burden since she was a child, never getting enough to eat or wear. When she fell ill, she had to endure it on her own, nearly dying on several occasions, and she had never seen a copper of the silver or herbs supposedly sent from the capital. Furthermore, those people in the old Lu household in the country were abusive; they were nothing like family.

"Madam Lu, if you truly sent silver and herbs, you should settle those accounts with Old Man Lu and the old woman. I have never received a single coin."

Madam Lu’s gaze was like a blade. "You ungrateful wretch! We gave you food and clothes—is that not silver?"

Ha.

The work she had done in the country, rising earlier than the chickens and sleeping later than the dogs—even working as a maid would have earned her enough to support herself. What did they have to do with her surviving until now?

Lu Zhaoling did, however, recall that the third uncle in the countryside had been planning to marry her off to some landlord for a bride price. She wondered why Lu Ming had suddenly sent people to bring her back to the capital. She had not heard what the Lu servants had told the people at the old house when they arrived; by the time she finished cutting grass and returned home, they had rushed her to follow the servants back to the capital. The servants had kept their mouths shut the entire journey. She still did not understand Lu Ming’s purpose in bringing her back. They clearly detested her; surely it wasn't out of longing? There was definitely a conspiracy here.

Seeing that Lu Zhaoling remained silent, Madam Lu softened her expression, forgetting her earlier intent to strike, and actually offered a smile that bordered on gentle.

"You were young and ignorant before, so it is normal that you didn't understand these things. But now that you have been betrothed to the Prince of Jin, you should be more sensible. Otherwise, when you eventually marry into the Prince of Jin’s manor, wouldn't you be bringing shame upon him?"

Madam Lu looked her over. "Weren't you going to have new clothes made? No problem. I will have someone come to take your measurements later. However, could you give me that porcelain doll you brought with you? It was part of my dowry. You cried and insisted you liked it back then, so I let you take it to the countryside to keep you company for a few years."

A porcelain doll?

Was this their true objective?