Chapter 30

Chapter 30 – Imperial Concubine Lu (2)

“Replying to Wang Fei, this is the third miss who has lived in the border town since her childhood. The little girl’s name is Yaoyao.” Old Madam Lu quickly took Ye Zhen’s hand as she spoke.

“Third Sister, come here quickly and let me take a look at you.”

Lu Wushuang looked at Ye Zhen’s appearance, she was dark-skinned and thin but possessed a gentle smile on her face.

Ye Zhen headed towards her, her face lowered to the ground as she walked. She did not do anything to alert them to her hatred, she kept those feelings hidden with all her strength.

In so doing, she knew that to all the onlookers she appeared timid and cowardly. Those who had expected much from her would be a little disappointed.

In this situation, in such a small familiar crowd, she managed to unexpectedly look at Teacher Shan’s eyes, it seemed to her that there was nothing in Teacher Shan’s eyes, just her irises staring back at her…

“Well, she looks like Third Aunt. Have you grown accustomed to living in the capital?”

Lu Wushuang took Ye Zhen’s hand while eyeing her up and down once again, the hard ridges of Ye Zhen’s calloused hands touched the soft, pampered palms of the wang fei.

Ye Zhen answered in a low voice. “I’m used to it now, Your Imperial Highness. Grandmother is very kind to me.”

Lu Wushuang gave a soft smile and said, “I like what I see in you. We, daughters of the Lu Family have never lost to anyone else. You have to strive to gain more courage and take the entrance examination to the academy, relying on your own strength.”

By saying so, Lu Wushuang meant that as an imperial concubine, she would not help Ye Zhen enter the Academy for Women, that she would not use her influence merely for her sister’s benefit.

It was a good thing saying this in front of the many, so when Ye Zhen succeeded in entering the academy in the future, people would say that it was all her doing, a fruit of her hard work.

Lu Wushuang nodded with a smile and asked her to go back to Old Madam Lu. “I heard that this year’s King Chrysanthemum has bloomed exceptionally well. I can’t help but feel pride that once again, the palace has lived up to its name.”

Madam Wu laughed. “Wang Fei never disappoints. Only she is worthy of the praises as beautiful as the Chrysanthemum King.”

“Oh, Madam Wu, you flatter me too much!” Lu Wushuang nodded her thanks and announced. “Everybody, please enjoy the flowers of this palace!”

Lu Fang and Lu Jing quickly surrounded the old madam, pushing Ye Zhen to the side.

As she looked at Lu Wushuang leaving with her entourage and a flock of people surrounding her, Ye Zhen’s footsteps slowly stopped. She was not interested in enjoying the flowers. She had other things to do.

The bamboo shed now housed no one, even Teacher Shan, and Princess Liu Hua had gone elsewhere to admire the flowers.

Ye Zhen glanced at the crowd in the distance and turned to the other direction.

After walking for some time, she slowed down. As she neared a familiar road, the memory of that fateful year slowly crept in her mind…

If she hadn’t run away and lost her way back then, she wouldn’t have left so many things behind and she wouldn’t have lost her heart as well.

The grove is just ahead, Ye Zhen thought as she took careful steps. It was as if she saw a young boy and a little girl snuggling up to each other there. Her memory came rushing like a flood that burst from its enclosure and inundated her mind. It was so fast and painful that she couldn’t hold down nor control the distress she felt.

She remembered that time when she was seven years old, there was a flower show hosted by the Ye Family. She had come quite early with her grandmother. There were so many people at that time, and her grandmother and mother were busy entertaining guests.

Therefore, she had wandered around by herself, until she had lost her way in the forest and met the young Mo Rongzhan who had fallen into the well.

At that time, Mo Rongzhan was still blind. He had fallen into the well and could not get out. His servants were all gone too.

In order to save him, Ye Zhen ran to find many roots, and one by one tied them together! For it was only through the tying method that her father had taught her would she be able to save him and pull him out of the well.

The connected vines which were as strong as ropes, she diligently tied to a nearby tree, helped the young prince climb up from the well.

One could see but got lost,  the other could not walk out of the woods for he was blind; thus, they had to stay for a while waiting for someone else to find them.

“I have only a little food with me but I’ll share half of it with you.” The seven-year-old Ye Zhen had found two cakes in the pockets of her robes and had handed one to Mo Rongzhan.

“Is your hand hurt?” He had asked her, even if he couldn’t see, his other senses made up for it.

His sense of smell, for one, was particularly keen, and Young Mo Rongzhan was able to smell the blood from Ye Zhen’s wound. His face that had been indifferent suddenly looked somewhat distressed.

Her lips pouted, Ye Zhen replied in a low voice. “I was scratched by the root of a tree and it hurts.” She complained about the injustice of it all.