Chapter 118 I actually became Lu Zhaoruo's adopted sister?
Lu Zhaoruo then looked at Li Nian'er again, her eyes filled with inquiry: "This is strange. Since Miss Li insists that I have been to such a place, could it be that you saw it with your own eyes? Could it be that last night, Miss Li was in Sweetwater Lane? Or in Madam Wan's courtyard?"
She feigned fear and asked in a low voice, "Then you witnessed your brother's tragic death?"
Li Nian'er was speechless.
How could she say that?
How dare she say that!
Soon, she remembered the dress Lu Zhaoruo had embroidered for Wan Ningniang, and her voice suddenly rose as she questioned, "Didn't you embroider a dress for Wan Miaoniang's sister?"
"How did you learn, Miss Li, that I embroidered a dress for Lady Wanning?"
Lu Zhaoruo showed no remorse, and even her expression was interrogative.
Li Nian'er panicked, her eyes darting around as she stammered, "I...I naturally just heard my brother...mention it casually the other day!"
Her heart was pounding—
She had to coerce and entice Shen Miaoniang to get the information out of her two days ago!
She stared intently at Lu Zhaoruo, trying to detect a trace of panic on her face.
The embroidered chamber must have a record of that dress, and the embroiderers all know it. Let's see how she tries to deny it this time!
To everyone's surprise, Lu Zhaoruo smiled gently and readily admitted, "Yes, I did embroider it."
Li Nian'er was overjoyed.
Is there no way to defend oneself?
Now you can't deny that you went to Sweetwater Lane last night!
Unexpectedly, Lu Zhaoruo sighed and said, "It's a pity that it hasn't been sent out yet. Madam Wan will never be able to see her sister wearing this dress again... Back then, she was the one who personally came to the embroidery shop to choose the pattern."
Li Nian'er's expression changed drastically.
Didn't you send it?
How could that be! Gui'er clearly said she wanted to meet her at 7 PM!
Lu Zhaoruo, however, seemed completely oblivious, and instead gently invited, "If you would like to see that dress, young lady, why don't you come with me to the embroidery pavilion?"
Li Nian'er was speechless for a moment, opening her mouth but unable to utter a sound.
Lu Zhaoruo seemed to suddenly remember something, turned to Dong Rou, and said in a voice that was not loud but clear enough for Li Nian'er to hear: "Speaking of which, Madam Wan is really good at this... She actually managed to get her hands on a drug like 'Ma Ren San' and knocked out all of Li Yanei's followers."
As she spoke, her gaze seemed to casually sweep over Li Nian'er.
The "Major Powder" instantly struck Li Nian'er's heart!
She froze, her face drained of color, and she abruptly lowered her head. Her previous imposing manner vanished instantly, leaving only a guilty conscience and shortness of breath.
That 'numbing powder' was personally given to my brother by myself...
Lu Zhaoruo took it all in without saying anything more, simply saying, "Let's go."
Just as she was about to leave, Li Nian'er forced herself to stop her, asking, "Why are you taking Wan Miaoniang's sister away?"
Lu Zhaoruo looked over calmly: "I used to have some acquaintance with Madam Wan. Seeing how your brother has treated her so badly, it's truly pitiful. Now that she wants to protect her younger sister who is all alone and helpless, what's wrong with me taking her in?"
She paused slightly, then turned the tables on him: "Or perhaps... Miss Li also wishes to take care of him and atone for her brother's sins? If so, I will entrust Ningniang to you."
After saying that, she gestured for Dongrou to help the person to Li Nian'er.
Li Nian'er recoiled as if she had encountered something filthy, her face contorted with disgust: "Who wants this unlucky thing! Just like her sister, they're both worthless!"
Lu Zhaoruo then nodded slightly: "In that case, I will take this 'bad luck thing' back with me."
She bowed and took her leave, but paused slightly as she brushed past Li Nian'er, muttering softly as if to herself, "If Young Master Li hadn't gone to the Shuyu Courtyard in Sweetwater Lane last night... perhaps this disaster wouldn't have happened."
Li Nian'er suddenly looked up, her face as pale as paper.
She stood frozen in place, watching Lu Zhaoruo's departing figure, feeling a chill rise from the soles of her feet, completely pinning her to fear.
...
Wan Ningniang slowly woke up and was greeted by an elegant boudoir she had never seen before.
The windows were bright and clean, the furnishings were serene, and even the brocade quilt covering her felt so soft and smooth that it made her feel dazed; this was definitely not the kind of material she would normally come into contact with.
Just as she was feeling bewildered, the door opened slightly, and a maid dressed simply and with a composed demeanor walked in carrying medicine.
"You're awake?"
Seeing her sit up, Dongrou smiled gently and said, "Drink this calming soup first."
"Who are you?"
Wan Miaoniang asked timidly, her voice still hoarse from crying, "Where is this place?"
"I am Dongrou, the personal maid of Lady Lu."
Dongrou gently placed the medicine bowl on the small table by the bedside. "This is the back room of Lu Ji Embroidery Building. My wife instructed that you be settled here. From now on, you will live here."
"Lu's Embroidery Shop... Madam Lu..."
Wan Miaoniang murmured, the image of her elder sister tightly gripping the wooden bars in the prison cart, tears streaming down her face as she gave her instructions, instantly flooding her mind—"From now on, you will follow the owner of Lu's Embroidery Shop, she will treat you well!"
A sudden pang of pain shot through my chest, and tears welled up in my eyes once more.
She remembered the way her older sister was strangled to death.
After that, she had no older sister anymore.
However, she still refused to believe that her elder sister would kill Li Yanei, and even if it was true that her elder sister did kill him, she couldn't understand it.
Just then, a clear, melodious voice came from the doorway: "Are you feeling any better?"
Wan Ningniang looked up and saw a woman dressed in a light blue dress slowly entering. Her face was beautiful, but her demeanor carried an undeniable calmness and majesty.
Dongrou quickly bowed and said, "My lady."
Lu Zhaoruo walked to the bedside and gently looked at Wan Ningniang: "Your sister and I are very good friends. I am also extremely saddened and regretful that she suffered such a disaster."
Wan Ningniang lowered her head slightly, not daring to look Lu Zhaoruo in the eye.
Lu Zhaoruo's tone was sincere, tinged with just the right amount of sorrow: "Since she has entrusted you to me, I will certainly not fail her expectations. From now on, you can live peacefully in my embroidered chamber, as for your home..."
“I have drawn up an adoption agreement with your parents, which states that your parents voluntarily adopt you as my sworn sister. From now on, I will be responsible for your marriage and upbringing, and I will have no further connection with the Wan family. As compensation, I have given the Wan family a sum of money that is enough for them to live a stable life, and I have stated that this is a one-time gift and that we will not owe each other anything in the future.”
Upon hearing this, Wan Ning's mother suddenly raised her head, a look of disbelief and astonishment flashing in her eyes.
Immediately afterwards, her eyes, which always carried a hint of timidity, quickly became misty, with tears welling up inside.
On one hand, there was an overwhelming sense of elation and excitement that couldn't be contained...
She, an insignificant maid in the Wan family, suddenly transformed into the adopted sister of the owner of Lu's Embroidery Shop!
On the other hand, there was a sharp, piercing pain and a chilling sensation...
Her parents actually pressed their fingerprints so easily for money, "selling" her without even a moment's hesitation.
She lowered her head abruptly, as if she wanted to hide her face, her voice so soft it was like a mosquito's hum, and with a clear sob in it: "Ningniang... thank you so much, sister... for arranging things for me."
She never had to go back to that cold, impoverished home again! She was now the younger sister of the Lu family's embroidery shop!
From now on, she can... live a decent life.
Lu Zhaoruo glanced at Wan Ningniang's expression and said, "From now on, you will be renamed Wan Wanning."
Wan Miaoniang never imagined that she would not only become Lu Niangzi's sworn sister, but also have a beautiful name.
She subconsciously repeated the name: "Wan... Wan... Ning..."
Then, he laughed and said, "It's really, really nice to listen to."
Lu Zhaoruo smiled gently: "If you are happy, that's good. If you lack anything in your daily life, or need anything, don't be shy, just tell Dongrou."
Upon hearing this, Wan Ningniang subconsciously lowered her gaze, her eyes secretly falling on the embroidered shoe tips peeking out from under Lu Zhaoruo's skirt...
The finest satin, edged with delicate pearls, was an exquisite fabric she had never touched before.
Lu Zhaoruo seemed not to notice her little action, and only gave her a few more words of advice such as "take good care of yourself and don't overthink things" before turning around and leaving.
She stepped out of the room and instructed Sun Jing: "Go to the yamen to make arrangements, use the money to redeem the body, then prepare a simple coffin and find a quiet place to bury it."
She will always keep her promises and handle things properly and thoroughly.
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