The next morning, the sun was shining brightly. Before her coming-of-age ceremony began, Luo Lingyue earnestly instructed the two of them, "Be extra careful today! Sister Ping, you must stay close to Fourth Brother. Shang Zhi, disguise yourself as Sister Ping and accompany my eldest sister-in-law. Be flexible and adaptable!"
After she finished her instructions, she turned around and asked Bai Zhi softly, "Has Sister Li Xuemei arrived?"
Bai Zhi smiled and replied, "They came here early this morning with the Eighth Princess. But, Master, why did you tell the Eighth Princess about your plan? She's the Crown Prince's biological sister!"
Luo Lingyue raised the corner of her mouth slightly, revealing a sly smile: "Don't worry! If she has two more peerless beauties as sisters-in-law, I think she will definitely be very happy to cooperate with us! As long as Li Jingshu is unhappy, Chu Caiwei will be overjoyed! And she took the trouble to cultivate these two sisters, isn't it just to send them to the Eastern Palace!"
Although the number of people attending Luo Lingyue's coming-of-age ceremony was small, each one held a significant position. They came from various powerful families in the capital, ranging from important officials in the imperial court to tycoons in the business world. Each of their presence added a solemnity and awe to the ceremony.
In the hall above, Emperor Wen and the Empress sat upright, flanked by the dignified and beautiful Consort An. All three of them focused their gazes on Luo Lingyue below, their eyes filled with anticipation and blessings for her.
Beside Luo Lingyue was her mother, An Qingyi. An Qingyi carefully combed Luo Lingyue's long hair and placed an exquisite hairpin in her bun. This hairpin was carved from fine jade and inlaid with a lifelike albizzia flower. It was a gift from Xiao Jinghan.
At this moment, Xiao Jinghan stood in the crowd not far away, his eyes gentle and doting, with a faint smile on his lips. He watched Luo Lingyue quietly, watching her complete the coming-of-age ceremony step by step, his heart filled with joy and satisfaction.
The entire coming-of-age ceremony was solemn and dignified, yet filled with a warm atmosphere. Everyone present was happy for Luo Lingyue and full of anticipation for her future. For Luo Lingyue, this day was not only a testament to her growth, but also the starting point of a new life.
After Luo Lingyue's coming-of-age ceremony, Luo Lingzhang smiled and humbly said, "Thank you all very much for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my sister's coming-of-age ceremony. The lotus flowers in the lake of the General's Mansion are in full bloom today, a breathtaking sight. In the pavilion, we have prepared exquisite refreshments for you all to relax and unwind. At lunchtime, let's toast together and celebrate this moment!"
Seeing that the Emperor, Empress, and Concubine An showed no intention of leaving, the officials present moved to the lakeside to admire the beauty of the lotus flowers in full bloom. At this moment, Li Mingfu secretly glanced at the Crown Prince, who understood and whispered to Li Jingshu beside him, "Go and invite Chen Manping to the lakeside."
Li Jingshu felt a surge of annoyance and a dull pain in her chest when she heard this. However, when she recalled what her father had said, the rage that was welling up in her was forcibly suppressed.
Emperor Wen slowly walked to the lakeside, admiring the blooming lotus flowers. He whispered to Concubine An beside him, "The lotus lake at the General's Mansion is such a wonderful place! Such a beautiful view, it's perfect for watching a play!"
Concubine An smiled slightly, her beautiful face like a blooming flower, delicate and tender: "I also hope that this play carefully constructed by Xiao Qi will be appreciated and loved by Your Majesty!"
The Empress, standing nearby, watched Emperor Wen and Concubine An's affectionate scene with cold eyes, a surge of resentment welling up in her heart. She gritted her teeth and cursed silently, "How dare this vixen flirt with me! What a shameless bitch!"
The queen's eyes were full of jealousy and anger, and she clenched her fists, as if she wanted to rush forward and teach Concubine An a lesson. However, she knew she couldn't do that because it would cause dissatisfaction and disgust from Emperor Wen.
Therefore, the queen could only suppress her inner anger and continue to observe everything in front of her silently. She secretly made up her mind to find a way to make Concubine An fall out of favor and win back Emperor Wen's heart.
The Crown Prince and Li Mingfu stood in the crowd, watching from afar as Li Jingshu walked towards Chen Manping. When Li Jingshu approached, the two smiled at each other, as if everything was self-explanatory.
At this moment, Chen Manping was chatting with her eldest sister, Chen Manting. When they saw Li Jingshu, they all stood up and saluted, shouting in unison, "Crown Princess!"
A faint smile graced Li Jingshu's delicate face. She whispered, "Madam Luo, I've noticed that there are not only blooming lotus flowers in this lake, but also some mature lotus pods. The Crown Prince has had a poor appetite lately, so I'd like to pick some lotus seeds and make some soup for him to stimulate his appetite. Madam Luo, could you arrange for someone to take me to the center of the lake to pick lotus pods?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Manting immediately responded, "Your Highness is so polite! In that case, let my second sister, Chen Manping, take you there by boat. She is very familiar with this lake and will definitely be able to help you find the best lotus pods." After saying that, she turned to look at her sister beside her, her eyes full of trust and encouragement.
Chen Manping carefully helped Li Jingshu onto a small boat, then gently paddled, slowly heading toward the center of the lake. As they got farther and farther away from the shore, they gradually disappeared into the dense lotus leaves, as if entering a secluded world.
At this time, the lotus flowers on the lake were in full bloom, and the breeze brought bursts of fragrance. However, people on the shore could not see the beautiful scenery and scene in the lake.
Chen Manping smiled and said to Li Jingshu, "Princess, look at how beautifully the lotus pods are growing here... Ah!" Before she could finish her words, a silver needle, as thin as an ox's hair, suddenly shot out at her, piercing the back of her neck with unerring precision. She didn't even have time to let out a cry of surprise before her body collapsed limply.
Li Jingshu's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly reacted, quickly picking up the oars and paddling furiously, steering the boat toward a secluded spot in the lake. Just then, several figures in black emerged from beneath the lotus leaves like ghosts. With nimble movements, they effortlessly lifted the unconscious Chen Manping and then vanished silently among the lotus leaves.
At this moment, Luo Lingyue was wearing a hazy and dreamy mist purple dress. Her figure was graceful, like a fairy descending to the earth, which was eye-catching; and her beautiful face was as fresh and refined as a lotus emerging from the water, and she was so beautiful that she could captivate the whole country.
She was sitting in a pavilion by the lake with the young ladies of the aristocratic families, leisurely sipping fragrant tea and savoring delicate snacks. They were filled with laughter and joy, and the atmosphere was harmonious and peaceful, as if time had stood still at this moment.
However, Luo Lingyue's gaze passed over the crowd and settled lightly on the Eighth Princess, who was not far away. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, a faint smile that revealed an indescribable confidence and composure.
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