Chapter 165 Making Best Friends
Around noon, the caravan slowly drove into the post station beside the official road.
Lu Zhaoruo had just entered the guest room to rest for a while when she softly called Dongrou over: "Go to my trunk and get that newly tailored moon-white silk dress, along with that box of jade ointment, and send it to Lady Zhan."
Dongrou smiled and said, "My wife is truly kind-hearted."
Lu Zhaoruo sighed, "Although she is the daughter of the Marquis of Anguo, she is an unfavored illegitimate child. Now she is covered in wounds and abandoned in the wilderness by her closest relatives... Her survival is truly difficult; she is a pitiful person."
In her previous life, she had never met this illegitimate daughter of the Zhan family, and naturally did not know what her fate was.
Outside the door.
Wan Wanning stood outside the door and heard everything that was said inside.
She was unhappy.
While the Anguo Pavilion Marquis's mansion was indeed prestigious, she was merely an unfavored concubine's daughter, so lowly that she was abandoned in the wilderness by her elder sister, left to fend for herself. She was probably not even as respectable as a servant in the mansion. Why then did Lu Zhaoruo treat her with such great respect?
Not only did he allow her to ride in the same carriage, but he also personally delivered the brand-new silk robe that he himself had never received as a gift...
She felt uneasy and couldn't understand Lu Zhaoruo's behavior.
But then her gaze fell on her severed finger, which was wrapped in a thin cloth and still throbbed with pain.
Having paid such a terrible price to stay, she must now proceed with extreme caution.
She bit her lip secretly, swallowing all her resentment.
Just then, Dongrou opened the door.
However, she quickly put on her usual cautious and submissive demeanor, immediately stepped forward, and said softly, "Sister Dongrou, let me do this errand. You just take good care of your sister and let her rest."
Dong Rou hesitated slightly, but Wan Wanning had already accepted the tray with a smile.
Wan Wanning carried the clothes to the door of the room where Zhanfujun was resting.
The smile on her face vanished the moment she pushed open the door.
She walked into the room, her gaze sweeping over Zhanfujun, who was sitting on the edge of the tatami mat, still looking somewhat weak. Without saying a word, she placed the tray in her hands lightly on the table, making a soft "clang" sound.
“This is from my older sister.”
Her tone was flat, almost indifferent, "Clothes and ointment."
Sister?
That's Lu Niangzi's younger sister.
Zhanfujun rose and curtsied, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Miss Lu."
Wan Wanning smiled.
The daughter of a noble family bowed to him?
Even though she was born out of wedlock, it was enough to make her feel happy.
She gave a curt "hmm," maintaining her composure, then glanced around the room and frowned slightly upon seeing that it was a superior guest room.
She strolled slowly to the window, her tone casual as if she were chatting: "My elder sister loves to make friends from all walks of life. The reason she brought you back to the capital is because you are the daughter of the Marquis of Anguo."
At this point, her gaze swept lightly over Zhan Fujun's slender figure, "However... although you are the daughter of the Marquis of Ting's mansion, you are ultimately... a concubine's daughter. In the capital, interpersonal relationships are based on the depth of one's foundation, and I'm afraid you will find it difficult to truly help my elder sister in the future."
Upon hearing this, Zhan Fujun frowned slightly, but still maintained her proper demeanor, and said softly, "I will always remember Madam Lu's kindness."
Wan Wanning pouted: "What's the use of keeping it in mind?"
She continued, "To tell you the truth, when my elder sister first saved you, she saw that you had an extraordinary bearing and thought you were the legitimate daughter of some noble family. But it turned out that you were an unfavored illegitimate child. However, my elder sister has always been concerned about appearances, so once she saved you, she saved you to the end."
Zhanfu lowered her eyelashes.
She meant that Lady Lu had not rescued her out of kindness.
She leaned forward slightly: "Do you know that although my elder sister is a merchant, she will soon have an audience with the Emperor to receive a reward? At that time, all those who will be attending her will be the legitimate daughters of the most prominent families in the capital, and noble ladies of the imperial family..."
He deliberately left the sentence unfinished, but the meaning was clear.
After Wan Wanning left, Zhan Fujun stood alone in place, the pale color on her face gradually fading away.
Her gaze fell upon the magnificent moon-white silk dress, but a chill ran through her heart...
It turns out that Madam Lu didn't genuinely want to save him, but instead mistook him for a noble legitimate daughter.
He then learned that he was just an insignificant illegitimate child, and that the reason he continued to bring him to the capital and give him these gifts was for the sake of appearances.
She thought back to Lu Zhaoruo.
I felt that she was nothing like what Lady Lu had described.
but.
She took a breath.
In any case, Lu Niangzi and her brother ultimately rescued her from the desolate wilderness.
This debt of gratitude, regardless of her initial intentions or background, should be etched in the heart of Zhanfu Jun.
Yes, that's right.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the caravan set off again for the capital.
Over the next few days, Lu Zhaoruo's care for Zhanfu became increasingly meticulous.
He not only personally changed her wound dressings and prepared soft cushions and pillows, but also always provided her with warm and appropriate tea and snacks.
What warmed Zhanfu's heart even more was that the two of them got along exceptionally well and felt like kindred spirits during their conversation.
During their casual conversation, Lu Zhaoruo learned that although Zhanfu was the daughter of a noble family, she had been forbidden from reading and writing since childhood due to the harsh treatment she received from her stepmother.
She could only secretly flip through her younger brother's old books when no one was around, and with her fragmented memory and extraordinary talent, she managed to recognize a few scattered characters.
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoruo not only did not look down on him, but a hint of appreciation and pity flashed in her eyes.
She was taught by her father from a young age and was well-versed in poetry and literature. Seeing that Zhanfu was still trying her best to learn in such an environment, she valued her even more.
Thus, the journey was long, and the train carriage became a small study.
Lu Zhaoruo personally taught the students, patiently explaining everything from simple character shapes and strokes to the rhythm of poetry.
For Zhanfu, it was like a long-awaited rain after a drought. She devoted herself to her studies, and whenever she gained some insight, her eyes would shine with an unprecedented brilliance.
The scenery outside the car window changes, while the fragrance of books and ink quietly permeates the interior.
The two would sometimes whisper and discuss, sometimes practice calligraphy in silence, turning this bumpy journey into a fulfilling and heartwarming time.
Ah Bao happily munched on the candied peas, his little head unable to understand why Brother Xiao could always magically pull out a bag of fragrant candied peas from behind his back.
Seeing her wife and the maid getting along so well, chatting and laughing, Dongrou felt happy too.
Only Wan Wanning felt a sour taste in her heart.
She couldn't help but wonder why Lu Zhaoruo treated Zhanfujun so kindly and considerately, but never treated her the same way.
Wasn't she her 'adopted sister'?
Lu Bohong rode at the head of the convoy, always adhering to etiquette and not easily approaching the carriages.
However, I can't help but look back, and I always manage to meet the gaze of Zhanfu-jun as she peeks out.
At first, both of them were startled, then quickly looked away as if they had been electrocuted, their cheeks flushing red.
Over the course of several days, these unintentional eye contact became more frequent, and the previous awkwardness quietly transformed into a tacit understanding and warmth.
When their eyes meet again, they naturally lower their gazes, a gentle smile playing on their lips.
As it happened, every single scene was seen by Lu Zhaoruo.
Lu Zhaoruo couldn't help but think of her past life.
At that time, my elder brother had not yet gone to the capital and had married Li Nian'er.
Li Nian'er was fierce and jealous, and would often beat or scold her brother, causing him to be depressed all day long, and eventually... died on his bed.
Fortunately, in this life, she intervened in time and managed to save her brother from this ill-fated relationship.
Her gaze involuntarily swept over her brother's back outside the window again, and then over the gentle figure inside the car...
He thought to himself, “The fate of this life has changed. I wonder what kind of woman my brother will eventually marry.”
In any case, she must carefully look for a woman with a gentle and kind heart to marry her brother and make a happy marriage possible.
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