Chapter 50: The Ambiguity of Identity

Walking some distance ahead, the Crown Prince finally could not hold it in any longer.

"Imperial Uncle, this is the first time I have ever seen you protect someone like this."

Right now, his curiosity about that Second Miss Lu from the countryside was simply burning him up.

The Prince of Jin paused slightly.

How could the person who could save his life (and had already done so once) be considered just "someone"? Although he was no saint, he was not so cold-blooded and ungrateful either.

Besides, that young lady made him feel quite interesting—far more amusing than those noble daughters who always put on a solemn and proper facade.

Seeing that he remained silent, the Crown Prince asked again, "Did Second Miss Lu really spend ten years in the countryside?"

"Mhm."

"Then is she not afraid of Imperial Uncle?"

The Crown Prince was just too curious. How could anyone agree to betroth themselves to the Imperial Uncle the very moment they met?

Could it be that she had taken a fancy to the Imperial Uncle's face?

The Prince of Jin glanced at him. "What, do you think this Prince does not look like the kind of man who could make thousands of maidens fall in love at first sight and vow never to marry another?"

The Crown Prince could not help but size up his Imperial Uncle.

How could he not look the part?

"Imperial Uncle's appearance is naturally as bright as the stars and the clear moon, making one full of admiration. However," the Crown Prince smiled, "Imperial Uncle's demeanor is cold, proud, and stern. Little Si and Little Qi have been afraid of you since they were children, and as for those female cousins, seeing you is like mice seeing a cat..."

"Hmm?"

"It is simply an analogy."

The Crown Prince had spoken a bit too freely, but seeing the Prince of Jin arch an eyebrow, he quickly reined back his words. "The noble ladies who were captivated by Imperial Uncle's appearance when they were young would run away after exchanging just a few words with you. You cannot deny that everyone is afraid of you, especially the young women."

The Prince of Jin had been exceptionally handsome since childhood.

In his youth, he had attracted his fair share of young maidens, but not a single one had ever been able to truly grow close to him, because they were all frightened away.

Consequently, the Prince of Jin had never liked those young women, always feeling that they were timid, unamusing, and tedious.

"So, Imperial Uncle, is that Second Miss Lu really so infatuated with your looks?" the Crown Prince asked again.

Infatuated enough to not be afraid of the Imperial Uncle's temper?

In the Prince of Jin's mind, the image of Lu Zhaoling pressing close to him and reaching out to pull open his collar flashed before his eyes.

He only felt a warmth rise in his chest, and his tone carried an ambiguous undertone.

"Not at all. She is simply audacious beyond compare," he said.

The Crown Prince froze.

Second Miss Lu was audacious beyond compare?

***

Lu Ming walked home nursing a head of suppressed anger, and unable to endure it any longer, he headed straight for Tingnuan Pavilion.

The sun had not yet set, but the courtyard gates of Tingnuan Pavilion were tightly shut.

He pounded on the door with a loud *thud, thud, thud*.

"Lu Zhaoling!"

Hearing the commotion, Qingyin came over to open the door. The moment the door swung open, she was met with the sight of Prefect Lu glaring with eyes spitting fire.

"Why are you locking the door in broad daylight?"

Lu Ming shoved her aside and strode into the courtyard.

The moment he stepped inside, he instantly felt his internal anger subside slightly. Instead, he caught the faint fragrance of fresh flowers?

Lu Ming was somewhat taken aback. Why on earth was he noticing floral scents when he was in such a rage?

Looking around the courtyard again, it was still the same as before, but for some reason, it looked a great deal more pleasing to the eye, every corner exuding elegance.

At that very moment, Lu Ming even felt a twinge of regret for giving Tingnuan Pavilion to Lu Zhaoling, feeling a pang of heartache.

"Where is your young mistress?"

Hearing his voice, she still did not even come out to greet him.

Raised in the countryside indeed, completely devoid of manners!

Lu Zhaoling's voice floated out. "What is all this shouting and hollering about?"

Just as her voice trailed off, she walked out from the inner quarters.

Taking advantage of the afternoon sunlight, Lu Ming got a clear look at her face.

In just these few short days, the gauntness on Lu Zhaoling's face was gone. She was visibly fairer now, and her complexion even carried a healthy rosy glow.

The redness and swelling on her forehead had entirely vanished, leaving only a faint trace that looked as though it would soon heal completely.

The clothes she wore were also new, well-fitted, and elegant—completely different from the pitiful state she had been in on her first day back.

Lu Ming had to admit that she had been blessed with a striking appearance!

Once she was cared for a bit longer, there was no telling what kind of stunning beauty she would grow into.

Could it be that the Prince of Jin was so superficial that he had simply taken a fancy to Lu Zhaoling's face?

"Prefect Lu, do you have something you wish to give me?" Lu Zhaoling raised an eyebrow, sizing Lu Ming up.

She discovered that there was actually a faint aura of a talisman lingering around Lu Ming.

Originally, he had been tainted by some misfortune, but right now, a talismanic energy over his chest was slowly dispelling that bad luck.

"I gave you three hundred taels just the day before yesterday!" Lu Ming was infuriated by her all over again. "As a young lady, you do not have to do a thing; what do you need so much silver for?"

"What business is it of yours what I do with it? What, you gave it to me and now you want it back?" Lu Zhaoling walked out, her gaze falling upon the section of a blue cord exposed at his neck.

It seemed he was wearing something.

Lu Ming took a deep breath and changed the subject.

"Now everyone knows you have been bestowed in marriage to the Prince of Jin. Whenever you go out from now on, people will look upon you as the Prince of Jin's fiancée. Therefore, you must always remember that you represent the face of both the Prince of Jin and the Lu family. You must be cautious in your words, polite in your manners, and graceful in your speech..."

Before he could finish, Lu Zhaoling let out a mocking laugh.

"How do you even have the face to mention the Lu family and the Prince of Jin in the same breath? Can the reputation of your Lu family ever compare to that of the Prince of Jin?"

"Do not forget, you are also a member of the Lu family!"

"Oh..." Lu Zhaoling drew out the syllable. "My 'Lu' might not necessarily be the same 'Lu' as Prefect Lu's."

Lu Ming's heart skipped a heavy beat.

Could this damned girl know something? Impossible!

"Zhaoling," he softened his tone somewhat, "Father knows that you might have some misunderstandings..."

"Misunderstandings? Is this current Madam Lu my biological mother?"

Looking at the way Madam Lu treated her, no one would ever believe it.

Lu Ming gritted his teeth. "Yes! Your biological mother was her elder sister—"

"A distant cousin three thousand leagues removed, do not try to make it sound so intimate," Lu Zhaoling cut him off again.

As she had mentioned before, the current Madam Lu was said to have originally come to the Lu family merely to seek refuge with her elder cousin. The former Madam Lu, being kind-hearted, took in this cousin, only to end up losing her own husband to her.

The cousin had climbed into her own cousin-in-law's bed and had even conceived a child in the same year as the elder cousin.

However, after the elder cousin gave birth, something happened and she left the Lu family, her life or death unknown. Lu Ming seized the opportunity to let the cousin replace her identity, becoming Madam Lu, and even wiped away all traces of the former first wife's existence.

At that time, all of them were still in the countryside.

The Lu family deliberately kept it hidden, and upon arriving in the capital, no one knew the inside story, allowing the current Madam Lu to openly pose as the legitimate first wife.

Through their crafty maneuvering, Lu Zhaoling, the legitimate eldest daughter born of the first wife, had instead been demoted to the second miss.

This was also the reason why Lu Zhaoying had to lie about being one year older.

"Have you been listening to your grandmother's nonsense?"

Perhaps one or two people back in the old country village knew about these matters, and Lu Ming had never taken it to heart before, but he had never expected Lu Zhaoling to find out.

He guessed that over the years, his old mother must have let slip a word too many.

Lu Zhaoling did not answer.

Lu Ming said angrily once more, "Even if she is not your biological mother, she is still your aunt and shares some blood ties with you. What is wrong with her acting as your mother? Besides, I am still your biological father!"