Her own engagent suffered setbacks, so she was desperate for ng Qianqian to end up completely unwanted as well, as if only then could she regain a semblance of superiority.
Zhou Nanyan listened with utter disbelief and sarcastically rebuked, "What, is your brain waterlogged? It was clearly Sister ng who divorced your disgraceful older brother! The Governnt Office seized your family’s assets to compensate Sister ng’s dowry—wasn’t the whole Capital City witness to that? And now you still have the audacity to slander Sister ng here? Do you think anyone still believes your family’s lies?"
How good is the Lu Family at twisting the truth?
Back then, it was Lu Lingxiao who brought a concubine back from the border, but they insisted on portraying ng Qianqian as being narrow-minded and intolerant of the mistress.
ng Qianqian poured her dowry into supporting the Lu Family for five years, yet according to them, it was the Lu Family who raised ng Qianqian, only for her to turn into an ungrateful ingrate.
More recently, ng Qianqian and Lu Lingxiao dissolved their ties, but the Lu Family spread rumors claiming they were the ones who cast her away.
However, ever since Zhang Feihu publicly stripped the Lu Family of their last veneer of decency, everyone finally saw through their despicable facade.
The Lu Family’s leaders were all compulsive liars; who would believe them now?
Lu Linglong flew into a rage. "Everything I said is true! If you don’t believe , ask her yourself—didn’t she start seducing n even before heading to the border?"
ng Qianqian countered calmly, "Whom did I seduce?"
Lu Linglong righteously declared, "The Grand Commander! Dare say you didn’t know him before going to the border?"
Zhou Nanyan snapped with exasperation, "So what if she knew him? A filthy mind sees filth in everything!"
Lu Linglong pointed a trembling finger at her. "You, you, you—"
Zhou Nanyan glared back. "’You’ what? Aren’t you old enough to speak clearly? Next ti, twist your tongue straight before talking!"
Lu Linglong was, after all, the Lu Family’s only daughter. In usual circumstances, interacting with a circle of tactful noblewon, no one would openly tear down facades regardless of their true feelings.
That was, until she encountered Zhou Nanyan.
Lu Linglong was on the verge of tears from sheer frustration.
ng Qianqian, anwhile, felt even more grateful for Mada Wang’s earnest efforts. Today’s eting with this particular Mada and her daughter proved to be a perfect fit, both in status and deanor.
ng Qianqian spoke to Zhou Nanyan. "Yan’er, let’s go admire the lanterns."
"At your word, Sister ng!" Zhou Nanyan instantly ignored Lu Linglong, linking her arm with ng Qianqian’s. "Actually, Sister Wang is quite fun too. When she returns to the Capital City, I’ll introduce you both!"
ng Qianqian smiled lightly. "Alright."
The two walked past Lu Linglong without sparing her a glance.
Lu Linglong stomped her foot in fury: "ng Qianqian, you’re just unwanted! Unwanted!"
Zhou Nanyan was ready to throw punches, but ng Qianqian quietly held her hand. "When a dog bites you, you don’t necessarily have to bite back."
"Sister ng is absolutely right!"
Zhou Nanyan cald down, then turned back to flash a provocative grin at Lu Linglong. "Instead of worrying about others, maybe worry about yourself! Word has it that everyone who ca to propose to your family has run off! You’re the one who can’t get married! Hmph!"
Lu Linglong was hit where it hurt most and, unable to bear the insult, charged straight at Zhou Nanyan.
Zhou Nanyan didn’t sense the danger approaching.
ng Qianqian caught sight of the shadow on the ground and swiftly pulled Zhou Nanyan close, locking an arm around her waist and shielding her intimately.
Lu Linglong lunged forward but hit only air, staggering into the railing.
The pleasure boat rocked violently, throwing the unsteady Lu Linglong into the icy lake.
Zhou Nanyan found herself cradled in ng Qianqian’s arms, her back turned toward the direction of the railing.
Her heart thudded wildly.
Sister ng had hugged her! So, so, so embarrassing!
"S-Sister ng?"
"Are you alright?"
ng Qianqian’s calm voice carried a soothing reassurance.
Zhou Nanyan’s ears turned pink with embarrassnt. "Ah, I’m fine... Thank you, Sister ng..."
As she was turned around, she caught a glimpse of Lu Linglong hurtling toward her.
Thank goodness Sister ng acted in ti, or she’d have been in big trouble.
ng Qianqian released her gently.
Zhou Nanyan turned back, ready to retaliate against Lu Linglong—but she was gone.
By now, people onshore began noticing Lu Linglong flailing in the water, yet few could swim, and with everyone bundled up heavily at the end of February, rescuing her posed substantial danger.
"H-help... help..."
Lu Linglong struggled fiercely.
ng Qianqian had no intention of saving her.
Zhou Nanyan gasped, covering her mouth. "What do we do? I... I can’t swim..."
Thinking ng Qianqian surely couldn’t swim either, she looked up at Tan’er on the second floor. "Tan’er, do you know how to swim?"
Tan’er sat leisurely on the railing, playfully swinging her legs while munching on a candied hawthorn. "Nooooope!"
The boatman noticed the commotion and brought out a long pole to try retrieving her, but couldn’t get hold.
Just then, a man dove into the water, pulling Lu Linglong back to shore.
Lu Linglong, drenched and visibly shaken, turned purple from the cold. The man busied himself reviving her, pressing her chest to expel the water.
Opening her eyes, Lu Linglong spotted the patch-covered clothes of the man and assud he had violated her.
She raised her hand and slapped him hard!
The sound echoed loudly, leaving the man stunned as well as the onlookers.
A rchant spoke out angrily, "Miss! He was saving you! If not for him, you’d already be dead!"
"Exactly! We can all vouch for him—he brought you out of the water!"
"This is how drowning victims are revived in our village too!"
"Linglong?"
Lu Lingxiao’s voice suddenly cut into the crowd.
Lu Linglong’s eyes brimd with grievance: "Brother!"
Lu Lingxiao hurriedly pushed through the crowd, wrapping his outer robe around Lu Linglong. "What happened?"
Lu Linglong’s voice broke into sobs. "Wahhh... Brother..."
Lin Wan’er followed close behind Lu Lingxiao, visibly stunned by the unfolding scene.
The honest rchant recounted Lu Linglong’s rescue in vivid detail, though nobody had seen why she fell into the water.
Since ancient tis, a woman’s reputation was paramount. Even if it was done to save her life, public contact with a man rendered Lu Linglong’s chastity ruined; she was now utterly unmarriageable.
Unless her rescuer agreed to marry her.
But judging by the man’s ragged clothing and destitute appearance, Lu Linglong would rather die than marry him!
Lu Lingxiao asked the man, "What’s your na?"
The man stamred, "G-Gao... Gao..."
His inarticulate reply made Lu Linglong cry even harder.
ng Qianqian hadn’t anticipated such a turn of events. Not wanting to face Lu Lingxiao directly, she swiftly led Zhou Nanyan to the second floor.
Lu Lingxiao seed to sense sothing, twisting his head toward the pleasure boat—only to catch the fleeting glimpse of a trailing hem.
For the Lu Family, this marked a catastrophe, worsening their already precarious reputation. For the gathered ladies, it was nothing but a harmless accident removed from their concerns.
In the end, justice ca full circle. All of this was Lu Linglong’s own doing.
The Flower Appraisal Banquet was about to begin as the pleasure boat headed toward the heart of the lake.
Mada Zhou remarked, "If only we could board the boat for the viewing."
Mada Wang shook her head. "The Flower Appraisal Banquet at Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion is highly exclusive; we don’t have the privilege. Just catching a glimpse from afar will suffice."
Mada Lin suddenly said, "Oh dear, it’s all packed! We can’t get through!"
Zhou Nanyan sounded disappointed. "Huh? Can’t see at all?"
At that mont, an opulent pleasure boat sailed toward them, imposing in its grandeur.
Their vessel was already sizable, but in comparison, it paled completely.
Suddenly, ng Qianqian parted the beaded curtain, leaned half her body out, and casually called to a certain soone enjoying tea aboard the adjacent boat:
"Grand Commander, may we hitch a ride on your boat?"
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