Chapter 15 – Disgrace

Ye Zhen was not ugly, but she had a darker complexion compared to the women in the capital. Still, among the girls of the Lu family, she was the one with the most beautiful facial features.

It was a pity though that aside from her dark skin, she was also thin from her illness making her look fragile and unhealthy. Fortunately, she had a pair of captivating, bright eyes that made her look more lively.

Old Madam Lu smiled with pride at Madam Chen's words. "Our girl is quite good. Yao Yao has just returned from the border town, but she has already become a student of no other than Mister Shan!"

Madam Chen actually looked down upon the Lu family's kind. Old Madam Lu, for example, wished everyone knew that her family is of royalty thus, he only wore things of luxury. All day long, she wanted to be thought of as at par with the famous families in the capital, but she didn't know that everyone else was mocking them secretly in the inside.

But who would have thought that Lu Family would raise a *high-ranking imperial concubine, and Lu Lingzhi also became the most valued courtiers of the new emperor?

*Wang Fei – High ranking Imperial concubine

At a young age, Lu Lingzhi became the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, and there were talks circulating that he would become a minister in two years time.

Ye Zhen didn't expect Old Madam Lu to show her off as her granddaughter so bluntly. Her cheeks were slightly hot from the attention, but she still smiled and held her hand.

On the other hand, Mister Shan spared Ye Zhen a light look, appreciating her calm and somewhat natural reaction.

When they went inside, a line of people greeted them simultaneously as they passed. When they made their way towards the garden, the rich fragrance of flowers filled the air and greeted them delightfully.

In the sea of flowers in front of them, there were two or three groups of beautifully dressed guests. And in the open space, a bamboo shed was set up, and under it was a banquet table filled with various fruits and wine.

Old Madam Lu's appearance, however, quieted the crowd around them.

Soon, a young woman in bright clothes came up and said, "Old Madam Lu, you are finally here! Madam Wu has been talking about you for a long time, and she also said that if you didn't come today, she will have to go to your home to fetch you herself!"

"Madam Wu should not play jokes on me, an Old Madam! How dare come I not to the flower appreciation party held by Madam Wu this year?"

Every year, there are different contractors for the Flower Show, all of whom are chosen by the Empress herself.

This year, however, the Palace has no Empress, and the person in charge of the harem is of course, Imperial concubine Lu Wushuang.

Who knows when the Wang Fei would be appointed as the empress in the future? Ye Zhen understood that this was the reason why no one wanted to offend the Lu family.

In fact, everyone seemed to strive to be on their good side, even the previous friends of the Ye.

Ye Zhen tailed Old Madam Lu, and silently asked to excuse herself from the party, she then went elsewhere, alone.

The ladies under the bamboo shed saw Old Madam Lu and got up one after another to greet her.

Ye Zhen looked at this scene, and her heart ached. When did these aristocratic women in the capital felt the need to bow before her like this? Just because Lu Family has made a contribution to the imperial palace and had Lu Wushuang become the imperial concubine, they seemed to have forgotten the Ye family!

Looking at the Old Madam Lu's face, Ye Zhen noted that the former couldn't hide her satisfied smile as she exchanged greetings with everyone, Ye Zhen was sad, for herself, and also for the family she would never be with again.

However, Ye Zhen admits to herself that Lu Family has had more vision than most people. For who would have thought that the unpredictable Prince of Qin dynasty had the ability to rebel and usurp the throne!

Second and Fourth Miss Lu exchanged glances when they saw so many distinguished ladies present. They both saw the excitement in each other's eyes at the scene unfolding before them.

They took a step forward and squeezed their way through, pushing Ye Zhen aside in the process.

Seeing her granddaughters, Old Madam Lu said with a proud smile, "These are my granddaughters. Pay your respects ladies, quickly!"

"Greetings to the ladies." Both of them said with gentle and sweet smiles on their faces, the two of them tried to present their best faces to the public.

Ye Zhen followed in paying her respects, although she stood silently behind them and did not speak a word.

"These are your granddaughters? They are indeed beautiful just like Wang Fei Lu! As expected of your granddaughters, for where else would they go but high places?" Madam Wu said with a smile.

"They have not reached far, as compared to my dear Lu Wushuang who is already at a high place." Old Madam Lu replied, for she sensed it was appropriate to appear modest at times.

Old Madam Wu's eyes fell behind old Madam Lu and settled on Ye Zhen's face, the former's eyes widened in surprise before she uttered,

"This girl, it seems, I haven't seen her before!"

"This is my third granddaughter who have just returned from the border town where she has been living since her childhood. Today, I brought her here to see the world," said Old Madam Lu with a smile and called Ye Zhen to her side. "My granddaughter, who did not know of anything else, managed to become Mister Shan's student only a few days ago for she is filial and intelligent." Old Madam Lu added.

Old Madam Wu had a strange smile on her face as she replied, "Indeed, your third granddaughter is so lucky and that Mister Shan has gained another good student."

People didn't know what Madam Wu meant by her statement, but Ye Zhen knew what she had meant. Madam Wu used to see the late Wang Fei before, but now she is afraid to think of the dead, but she just couldn't say loud, that this thought troubles her.

Second and Fourth Miss Lu saw that others only noticed Ye Zhen, anger filled them but they could not say even if they found the events uncomfortable. "Madam Wu, you don't know how lucky third sister is! Have just arrived in Kyoto and are now planning to go to college!" said Fourth Miss Lu with sarcasm in her verdict.

"Poof!" the group did not know who laughed aloud. "Why? Another girl from a merchant background also wants to take an examination for a women's college. Tell me, Lu Jing, how are you any different from her?"

This was very sudden, and everyone around them quieted down and eyes straight at the speaker.

"Princess Liu Hua, what exactly do you mean?" Fourth Miss Lu's face slightly changed as she stared at the girl sitting nearby.

Ye Zhen knew that Princess Liu Hua was the daughter of an imperial princess and the cousin of Mo Rongzhan. When Ye Zhen's soul dissipated, she had seen everything that will happen in the future two years to be exact, as she was reborn back in time when she was killed. In a year's time, she knows that Princess Liu Hua would enter the palace to become concubine of Mo Rongzhan. She will then give birth to a daughter. As for the outcome, Ye Zhen did not know for after two years of roaming in the palace, her soul broke free and she woke up in the body of her sister Lu Yaoyao.

"You don't know what I mean? My, how embarrassing! Is the college training such dim-witted girls these days?" Princess Liu Hua looked at Fourth Miss Lu, then to Ye Zhen with clear disdain.

Princess Liu Hua was pampered since she was a child, and her character was unruly and willful. Seeing that all the people only ingratiate themselves with the Lu girls, she was already dissatisfied and decided to humiliate Fourth Miss Lu.

She loved Mo Rongzhan for a long time. She thought she would be the Wang Fei of Mo Rongzhan, but instead, Ye Zhen was chosen to be his imperial concubine. When Ye Zhen died, Lu Wushuang was quick to take her place. Furthermore, he had told her that he loved Lu Wushuang like a rare treasure. How could she not be jealous? With her cousin choosing someone of merchant's blood over her?

She couldn't wait for the Lu family to die as quickly as the Ye family!

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"You…" Fourth Miss Lu's face turned red with rage as she thought that this flashy girl was humiliating her.

She and Princess Liu Hua had already had the displeasure of meeting each other in college. She was about to start swearing, when she heard a calm and cold voice saying, "What's wrong with being a daughter of a merchant? How can the daughter of a merchant be inferior to that of a princess when you are behaving as though you are not?"

"Impudent! Who are you to dare say that to the Princess of this country?" Princess Liu Hua angrily said and rose from her seat.

Fourth Miss Lu laughed mockingly, "Even Mister Shan knows of it. It seems that your are just as short sighted as I expected."

"Sir." Ye Zhen greeted Mister Shan.