Chapter 96: Don't Mess With Me

The group of girls teased Ati for a while. Their conversation soon drifted to the latest fashions popular in Chengdu. Unlike the others, Lu Ying was unfamiliar with these things. Sitting quietly in a corner, she picked up a scroll and began reading. The others were used to her ways by now, and no one thought it odd.

Their laughter was interrupted by a sweet voice from outside the carriage, “Sister Lu...” The voice came from just beyond the carriage curtain; by the tone, it was none other than Lady Qian. The girls paused, and Ati lifted the curtain.

Outside, Lady Qian stood smiling at them. Unlike the previous day, she wore light makeup, and her once pale face now carried a flush. Her gaze toward Lu Ying shone with newfound confidence and vivacity. Seeing the girls’ eyes on her, the young woman offered a polite bow, her smile turning her eyes to crescent moons. “I heard Sister Lu and the others chatting happily, so I came over. Please forgive my intrusion,” she said, her gaze brimming with friendliness and a hint of ingratiation.

The girls merely glanced at her, offering no reply. Though they said nothing, the indifference in their expressions quickly froze Lady Qian’s smile. Forcing another, she turned to Lu Ying and called out warmly, “Greetings, Sister Lu.” With a sweet smile, she added, “Sister Lu, Zhao Lang says he has something to ask you.”

When she mentioned Young Master Zhao, her chin lifted with pride. Though her words were directed at Lu Ying, they were meant for everyone: See, Zhao Lang and I are now family—shouldn’t you treat me differently? The girls were taken aback. Before Lu Ying could speak, Ati said sharply, “Zhao Jiang? He barely knows Lu Ying. Why would he call for her?” She gave Lady Qian a cold look. “You’re not making this up, are you?”

Lady Qian faltered and then protested, aggrieved, “No, I’m not.”

“Enough, off you go,” Xiao Yan said impatiently, yanking down the curtain. Turning back to the others, she laughed, “Where were we? Let’s continue.”

As the curtain fell, Lady Qian caught one last glimpse of Lu Ying, sitting serenely in the corner with her scroll, and the girls laughing together. Then her view was cut off.

She stood there, stiff and awkward, for a moment before returning to her own ox cart. Watching her younger brother stretch his ankle in silence, she pressed her lips together and fumed, “How can they treat me like that?”

“Sis, what’s wrong?” her brother asked, looking up.

At the sight of him, tears welled in her eyes. She wiped her face with her sleeve and choked out, “Why do they all treat me this way? Lu is just like me—she hired a donkey cart to come here, she has no relatives in Chengdu. So why do they let her join their carriage, wear their clothes, and treat her as one of their own, while I’m ignored? She acts so aloof, as if she’s above us all! She’s no better than I am, but they only see her, never me. Even though Zhao Lang favors me now, they still look down on me!”

Her brother, hearing her grievances, only hung his head lower.

Seeing him like that, Lady Qian grew angry. She shot him a glare and muttered, “You’re no help at all.”

“I’ll try harder, Sis,” the boy replied earnestly.

“You always say that. You always claim the tutor favors you, but when it comes time for recommendations, why is your name never mentioned?” At this, the boy’s face darkened. “If I had money to give the tutor, do you think I wouldn’t be recommended?”

Lady Qian’s expression softened. “It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have said that.” Then she added, “But Uncle’s family agreed to send you to school. Remember, once we reach Chengdu, you must work even harder—not just for yourself, but for me. If the Zhao family sees your talent, they’ll value me more as well.”

He grunted in reply. After a moment, he tried to comfort her. “Sis, don’t be upset. Back in Xunyang, you always worried no one would marry you, but now, here you are, and you’ve already met Young Master Zhao. You have someone to rely on now. Why does it matter if those girls like you?”

“What do you know?” she snapped, biting her lip in frustration. “I just can’t understand it—why do they favor Lu over me? We’re both poor girls! And that Lu girl, how is she any different? She acts so superior, ignoring me every time I speak to her.”

Her brother, never good with words, only lowered his head further.

The girls thought Lady Qian had given up, but that afternoon, she returned. With a bright smile, she greeted Lu Ying by name, then quietly sat with the group, joining their conversation when she could, or helping clumsily whenever the maids were called upon.

It seemed Lady Qian was determined to join their circle. Lu Ying glanced at her, then returned to her reading.

Since discovering her extraordinary memory and comprehension, Lu Ying had grown ever more diligent. She wanted to absorb her family’s library as quickly and thoroughly as possible, to gather knowledge that might rival the seasoned scholars who had spent decades in study. In this way, she hoped to be of greater help to her brother’s education.

At this time, books were precious. People did not study carelessly as in later ages. Some spent decades in seclusion pondering the mere thousands of characters of the Dao De Jing. Even the most gifted scholars took years to study the medical classic, the Huangdi Neijing, line by painstaking line, and from these few thousand characters countless schools of medicine arose, each interpreting the text differently.

So Lu Ying always felt her knowledge was insufficient. She pushed herself to work harder still.

Dusk fell. As the group busied themselves setting up camp, Lu Ying began her usual rounds. Everyone was accustomed to her habits and let her come and go as she pleased, even greeting her respectfully as she passed. Wang Shang's bodyguard, Lord Cheng, was especially attentive.

As Lu Ying walked, she came to the creek, three hundred paces from camp, and stood there, gazing at the sunset, lost in thought. Suddenly, Lady Qian’s voice came from behind her, “Sister Lu, what are you looking at?”

Lu Ying turned.

Bathed in the sunset, dressed in a silver-white robe, her dark eyes gleamed like jewels, her features radiant and graceful as jade. Even Lady Qian, proud of her own beauty, suddenly felt unworthy.

But the feeling passed. Lady Qian forced a sweet smile. Then, with a hint of grievance, she asked, “Sister Lu, why do you always ignore me?”

Lu Ying regarded her calmly. “I’m not ignoring you. This is simply my nature.”

“Liar!” Lady Qian snapped, “You’re always so friendly with Ati and the others.”

“Is that so?” Lu Ying replied coolly, stepping past her. “If you say so.”

“Stop right there!” Lady Qian cried, frustration flaring. “Why do you look down on people? Let me tell you, Lu, you’re just clinging to those girls. At least I only have Zhao Lang. You, you’re two-faced with the Wen and Wang boys. You—shameless!”

At the word “shameless,” Lu Ying abruptly turned.

Expressionless, she stared at Lady Qian, then curled her lips in a cold smile. “So, Lady Qian, you’re quite proud of ensnaring Young Master Zhao, aren’t you?”

“Aren’t you the same?” Lady Qian sneered. “We all just want a better life. Why pretend to be so lofty?”

Lu Ying looked her up and down, scoffed, and walked away.

Seeing her still so arrogant, Lady Qian’s anger boiled over. She hurried after Lu Ying, shouting, “Lu, what makes you so proud? Why do you look down on people? I can’t stand your kind—you flirt with everyone, pretending to be something special!”

The insult hung in the air. Lu Ying stopped, then slowly, very slowly, turned her head.

Eyes narrowed, face blank, she studied Lady Qian for a moment, then nodded and walked straight toward her.

Intimidated by Lu Ying’s presence, Lady Qian stumbled back several steps.

Lu Ying didn’t strike her; she merely passed by, and, as she did, said coldly, “So you’re proud of catching Zhao Jiang, are you? How unfortunate—I despise those who seek reward without effort.”

With that, she brushed past.

Watching Lu Ying’s retreating figure, Lady Qian shivered for no reason and shrieked, “What do you mean by that?”

Lu Ying didn’t look back. “You’ll understand soon enough,” she replied icily.

Startled, Lady Qian stood dazed for a moment, then hurried after her.

Back at the camp, the boys and girls had lit a fire and gathered around, laughing and chatting. When Lu Ying approached, Ati waved her over. “Lu Ying, over here!”

Lu Ying went to join them, sitting cross-legged beside Ati, her lips curving into a smile. “Since there’s nothing pressing tonight, why not make some music?”

The girls were surprised, then cheered. “Great idea!” “What can you play, Lu Ying?” “Oh, the other day you played a tune on bamboo leaves—it was wonderful! Play another!”

Ordinarily, making music was left to entertainers. If Lu Ying hadn’t offered, none of the youths would have suggested it. Now, at her words, all grew excited.

Under the starlight, by the fire, Lu Ying in her silver robe smiled.

In that moment, the cold reserve that usually kept others at a distance gave way to an indescribable charm. Wen Qing and the others—even Zhao Jiang—were entranced.

Lady Qian, arriving breathless, saw the scene, snorted quietly, and muttered, She shamelessly flirts with everyone, even Zhao Lang, and yet dares lecture me. The thought left her feeling even more aggrieved.

Lu Ying, oblivious to the others’ reactions, smiled and spoke with clear, melodious tones, “What I do best isn’t playing the bamboo leaf, but singing. Is there anyone here skilled with the zither, willing to accompany me in song?”