Madam Lu glared at Lu Zhaoling.
"Your elder sister is the eldest legitimate daughter and has always enjoyed a virtuous reputation in the capital. Even the Commandery Princess is fond of her, and your father's superiors and colleagues only know of her. Therefore, she cannot be the one to endure such a scandal. She won't be able to survive the blow!"
The thought of her eldest daughter weeping so bitterly made Madam Lu's heart ache with agony. She tried her hardest to persuade Lu Zhaoling.
"But you're different. Your identity hasn't been officially revealed yet, and very few people in the capital know you. Even if they found out, they would be more forgiving. After all, you grew up in the countryside; being a bit coarse is only natural! People will just laugh it off and move on."
"Besides, aren't you used to it by now? You never learned the etiquette expected of the capital's noble young ladies, and no one ever taught you any rules. I heard from the Old Madam that you were the one raising the chickens and ducks back home. Since you dealt with such filth every day, what is there to fear?"
As Madam Lu spoke, she almost managed to convince herself.
Old Madam Lu had sent letters in the past mentioning that Lu Zhaoling had to clean up chicken and duck droppings every day in their hometown and was even responsible for scrubbing the latrines. She washed everyone's clothes by herself and tended the vegetable patch behind the courtyard.
She was essentially just a village girl who spent her days toiling over such menial labor. What was so noble about her? Breaking wind in public would be perfectly normal for someone like her; she certainly wouldn't find it unbearable.
"But your elder sister simply cannot do it. She won't be able to withstand the gossip and rumors! Zhaoling, you haven't been home for a long time, and you've only just returned. Surely you want to integrate properly into this family?
If you help your sister this once, we will all remember your kindness. In the future, your sisters will take you along whenever they go out, allowing you to make more friends."
Qingyin and Qingbao listened to Madam Lu's speech and were truly getting an eye opening lesson in shamelessness!
How could anyone be so brazen? Just because the eldest miss couldn't handle it, it was supposedly fine for their own lady? They were both fuming with rage.
Lu Zhaoling, however, let out a laugh.
"I have a better idea. Don't you think Lu Zhaoyun is unable to handle this because she's never lived in the countryside? Well, it's not too late. Since the capital is currently abuzz with jokes at her expense, let her go away to avoid the spotlight for a while.
It's the perfect time to send her back to the countryside. Let her raise chickens and ducks, scrub the latrines, and plant vegetables. Once she has adapted, you can bring her back to the capital."
She paused for a moment, her tone remarkably indifferent.
"By then, wouldn't she be able to withstand a little gossip?"
Qingbao couldn't help but clap her hands. "That is an excellent idea, My Lady!"
Haha! Using Madam Lu's own words against her!
Madam Lu felt a surge of fury get stuck in her throat, nearly making her eyes roll back into her head.
"Your elder sister is destined to marry the Second Prince! How could she possibly engage in such coarse and filthy work?!"
Lu Zhaoling pointed at herself. "What are you afraid of? I did coarse and filthy work for ten years, yet am I not still going to be the Princess Consort of Jin? It seems the person themselves is what matters most."
Seeing that Lu Zhaoling was completely unmovable, Madam Lu slammed her hand on the table.
"I am making the decision on this matter! You will agree whether you want to or not! Do not forget that I am the matriarch of the Lu household, and you are merely a daughter! If you are disobedient, you are unfilial. If a reputation for unfiliality spreads, even Prince Jin wouldn't dare to marry you!"
Lu Zhaoling gave a cold snort.
"By all means, go out and tell everyone I am unfilial. Go ahead."
Did she look like someone who feared such a reputation?
"You really are seeking death!"
Seeing that she truly would not comply, Madam Lu's eyes filled with venomous hatred. She turned and stormed out.
The moment she left Tingnuan Tower, she immediately ordered her servants to spread word.
"Go to the most crowded teahouses and spread the word. Say that the person who disgraced themselves in the Capital News was Lu Zhaoling! Make sure to specify it was the Lu Zhaoling betrothed to Prince Jin. Take some silver and find enough people to spread it. This must be known by everyone as quickly as possible."
Madam Lu's expression was ruthless. As long as the rumor spread, Lu Zhaoling would drag Prince Jin down with her in disgrace.
Furthermore, a scandal so soon after the Emperor had granted the marriage was equivalent to slapping the Emperor's face. The Emperor would surely grow to loathe Lu Zhaoling!
"Yes, Madam." The servants took their orders and hurried away.
***
At the He family estate, He Lianxin had fainted from rage the previous day. Upon waking, her fury had only intensified.
When Madam He learned what had happened, she stopped her daughter from rushing out to seek revenge and instead sent people to investigate Lu Zhaoling first.
Today, the results of the investigation arrived, but so did the latest issue of the Capital News.
"The one who made a fool of herself must be Lu Zhaoling! She's nothing but a coarse, disgusting wench!" He Lianxin cursed, clutching her handkerchief in hatred.
"This second miss of the Lu family is certainly making quite a name for herself." Madam He was also quite surprised. "She's only just returned, yet she's already whipped Heir Zhu into a faint, seduced Prince Jin into a betrothal, made you faint from anger, and caused a scene at the Commandery Princess's manor."
In just a few short days, she had become famous throughout the city.
"However, this fame is hardly a good one." Madam He sneered. "Raised in the wilderness, no matter how much ambition or petty cleverness she has, how far can she really go? Lianxin, your temper has been far too grand lately. That isn't good. Didn't you suffer a great loss just yesterday?"
Madam He looked at her daughter. Ever since a satisfactory marriage had been arranged, He Lianxin had become self indulgent. Before, she had listened to her mother's advice, maintaining an air of dignity and elegance to attract a good husband. Once the marriage was set, she had completely let herself go.
He Lianxin cried out, "I am the eldest legitimate daughter of the Minister of War! I should be allowed to be as arrogant as I want! Otherwise, why would my father work so hard? Doesn't he hold a high position just to bring glory to our house and serve as a powerful backer for his wife and daughter?"
Madam He's expression changed slightly, and she almost reached out to cover her daughter's mouth.
"Oh, my little ancestor! Even if that's true, you can't just shout such things out loud! Your father works diligently to share the Emperor's burdens and show loyalty to the Imperial Family!"
In an ordinary household, such words wouldn't matter, but given Minister He's position, such talk was dangerous.
"Madam, Miss, I have news," a maid said as she entered. "Madam Lu has sent people out to spread rumors about the second Lu miss."
Upon hearing the report, He Lianxin immediately said, "I knew it! It really was that wench who disgraced herself!"
Madam He shook her head. "No, you're wrong. The fact that Madam Lu specifically sent people to spread this news means the one who truly made a fool of herself wasn't Lu Zhaoling, but Lu Zhaoyun."
"What? How could Zhaoyun disgrace herself in public like that?" He Lianxin couldn't believe it.
A glint flashed in Madam He's eyes. "There is certainly more to this story. Regardless, it's a disgrace for the Lu family either way. Lu Zhaoling bullied you yesterday, and we cannot simply swallow that grievance.
Go, find a few people to muddy the waters even further. Spread word that the second Lu miss is not only coarse and vulgar, but also reckless and overbearing, using Prince Jin's backing to bully Lianxin."
"Yes, Madam."
If Madam Lu wanted to ruin her second daughter's reputation, Madam He would gladly add fuel to the fire.
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