The sound Lu Zhaoyun released was incredibly loud.
The source was unmistakable, and everyone turned to look at her in absolute shock. A refined young lady of a noble house had actually passed gas in public!
"Big Sister, how could you..." Lu Zhaohua's eyes widened in disbelief as she instinctively looked toward Lu Zhaoyun's backside.
Caught by that gaze, Lu Zhaoyun's mind went blank. Unable to process anything else, she reflexively reached back with both hands to cover herself.
It was a purely subconscious reaction.
However, she had forgotten that she was still holding the sutra she had just finished copying. The large sheet of paper was thrust behind her to hide her shame. At that exact moment, she couldn't control herself, and another series of explosive sounds erupted.
"This..."
The sutra was soiled. It was completely ruined!
That thought flashed through everyone's mind.
Lu Zhaoyun couldn't care about the paper anymore. A series of violent cramps seized her stomach, and she felt as if she were about to lose all control then and there.
"Help me to the latrine!" she gasped, grabbing Qiuju's hand.
"Big Sister, the sutra..." Lu Zhaohua hurriedly took the paper from her, then immediately set it back down on the table as if she had been electrocuted.
She felt as though the page was filthy, as if the very stench had clung to the fibers of the paper.
Lu Zhaoyun's face was deathly pale as she rushed toward the latrine.
Though she managed to make it inside at the very last second, the thunderous sounds and the accompanying odor made her want to die of shame. She had actually made such a colossal fool of herself in front of Princess Changning and so many high-born ladies!
If word of this got out, how could she ever show her face again?
In the garden, the other young ladies had retreated a significant distance.
"Eldest Miss Lu looks so elegant and beautiful, so why..." Why was that sound so foul? It was enough to suffocate someone!
"Can that sutra she copied even be used? I certainly don't want mine placed anywhere near hers!"
"She was clutching her stomach as she ran. Heavens, do you think she didn't make it? Could she have soiled her skirts?" Someone fanned the air in front of their nose, their expression a mix of shock and utter disgust.
When these women were together, they could present a united front against outsiders, but amongst themselves, they were divided into small cliques.
Lu Ming's official rank was not particularly high, and many of them looked down on Lu Zhaoyun. Others simply disliked her because she usually overshadowed them and acted like the center of attention.
"Lu Zhaohua, what did your sister eat at home today?" someone called out.
Lu Zhaohua lowered her head, looking helpless and distressed. "We didn't eat much before coming out..."
Her voice was soft and sounded quite aggrieved.
Princess Changning's tone suddenly darkened. "Are you implying that the food in my residence is unclean?!"
"No, no, Princess, that isn't what Zhaohua meant at all," Lu Zhaohua stammered, frightened.
The others chimed in with sneers. "We all ate the same things, and not a single one of us made such a disgraceful scene."
"Exactly. If her stomach was upset, she shouldn't have come out. This stench is unbearable; I can't stay here a moment longer."
Lu Zhaoyun's ordeal lasted a long time. When she finally emerged, her legs were weak, and she had to be supported by others just to walk.
The other guests had already departed, even Shen Xiangjun. Only Princess Changning remained, sitting in the pavilion while the maids tidied up.
As Lu Zhaoyun was helped toward the pavilion by Qiuju, Princess Changning's nose twitched. She cried out immediately.
"Just stand right there and speak!" Her voice was sharp and shrill.
Lu Zhaoyun froze, looking at the Princess in disbelief. She and the Princess were supposed to be close friends. How could the Princess speak to her like that?
Princess Changning's expression was grim. She didn't want to be so harsh, but she truly couldn't help it. "Did you... get something on your clothes?"
"Get what on them?" Lu Zhaoyun asked, dazed.
"The smell! It's terrible!"
Lu Zhaoyun finally understood. Her face changed instantly, and she swayed as if struck by a heavy blow. "Princess, how could I be so filthy!"
The Princess was going too far, actually suggesting that she had soiled herself.
Princess Changning looked at her. "Zhaoyun, I prepared this Sutra Copying Gathering for so long, and this is how it ends? What exactly happened to you?"
A perfectly good gathering had been concluded by a string of flatulence and Lu Zhaoyun charging into the latrine. If word got out, where would the Princess's dignity be?
"I don't know either..." Lu Zhaoyun's heart jumped, and she immediately changed her tune. "It must be Lu Zhaoling's doing! She must have played some trick!"
Lu Zhaoyun had indeed spiked the fruit tea, but that specific cup was supposed to have been drunk by Lu Zhaoling. The maid who had first brought the tea to the lakeside had drugged three or four cups on the outer edge of the tray, ensuring that no matter which one Lu Zhaoling picked, she would fall into the trap.
"You asked me to have my people cooperate with you, and this is the result?"
Princess Changning knew Lu Zhaoyun had planned to cause trouble today. She had thought they were just dealing with a little country girl and that lending a maid's help would be enough. Who could have known that not only would she be driven nearly to madness, but Lu Zhaoyun would also make such a spectacle of herself?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Lu Zhaoyun actually dared to use drugs within the Princess's manor? Why couldn't she do such shady business at the Lu family home!
Seeing that Princess Changning was truly enraged, Lu Zhaoyun felt things going south. Her eyes reddened as she quickly brought up the Second Prince.
"Princess, it's my fault. I thought of you as family, so I thought asking for your help would be the same as asking the Second Prince. I was wrong, I truly was..."
At the mention of the Second Prince, the Princess's rage stalled. Lu Zhaoyun was engaged to the Second Prince, and he cared for her deeply; he had even personally asked the Princess to look after her.
The Second Prince was her cousin, and Lu Zhaoyun was her future cousin-in-law. It wasn't wrong for Lu Zhaoyun to call her family. If she were too hard on Lu Zhaoyun, it would be difficult to explain herself to her second cousin.
Though Princess Changning was still frustrated, her expression softened slightly. However, catching another faint whiff of the scent lingering around Lu Zhaoyun, she had no desire to continue the conversation.
"Fine. You should head back now."
Lu Zhaoyun was so weak she could hardly stand, so she hurriedly took her leave.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhaoling was in her carriage, nearly at Prince Jin's Manor.
Qing Yin and Qingbao had chosen this carriage well. It didn't look like much from the outside, but the wood was of the highest quality, the craftsmanship was solid, the interior was spacious, and it even had shock absorbers. it was far superior to Lu Zhaoyun's carriage.
Lu Zhaoling had given the order to go to Prince Jin's Manor immediately after leaving the Princess's residence. Although Qing Yin and Qingbao didn't know her goal, they were more than happy to take her.
The man driving for them was a dark-skinned old man. He wasn't a permanent servant; Qing Yin had hired him temporarily as they hadn't found a suitable permanent driver yet.
When they arrived, Lu Zhaoling looked at the magnificent gates of the estate and arched an eyebrow.
"Prince Jin's house is quite impressive."
An Aura of Wealth was practically soaring into the sky!
She really wanted to go inside and have a look around. Unfortunately, Prince Jin's own fortune and luck were so domineering that she likely couldn't "borrow" any of that wealth for herself.
"Is this the Second Miss Lu?" someone called out.
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