Chapter 183 Wan Wanning was driven away and left to wander the streets.
Wan Wanning continued to cry, "Sister, I didn't mean it! I beg you, you can't be so heartless! If you drive me away, how am I, a weak woman, supposed to survive in the capital with no one to rely on?"
Her voice was filled with terror: "This...this is going to kill me!"
Lu Zhaoruo pulled back the hem of her clothes, looked down at her, and said in a voice as cold as ice: "Back then, I let you stay in Jizhou and learn embroidery and accounting to give you a stable way to make a living. It was you who were unwilling and insisted on coming to this capital with me."
"You came here, but you didn't settle down. You've been scheming and plotting all the time. Today's consequences are the result of the seeds you sowed yesterday."
Wan Wanning wouldn't listen to any of this.
What stability? What Jizhou City? She didn't want any of it!
She had a similar appearance to her elder sister; though not stunningly beautiful, she was still charming and alluring.
She was unwilling to spend her whole life trapped in that small place of Jizhou, guarding a dilapidated embroidered tower!
She firmly believes that she deserves a better place and should go further and stand higher.
Even if she came to the capital, even if she couldn't marry General Xiao, even if she became a concubine of some other powerful person, it would be better than being a "sworn sister" who was always inferior to Lu Zhaoruo!
Tears streaming down her face, she pleaded in a plaintive voice, "But...but you promised my sister...you would take care of me..."
"I don't owe you anything, sister!"
Lu Zhaoruo suddenly interrupted, her gaze sharp, "On the contrary, it's your older sister who owes me! I took you in because your older sister died young and suffered a tragic fate; I gave you a new name and called you my sister because I was afraid your identity would cause controversy and I wanted to find you someone to rely on; I treated you like my own child because I pitied you for being wantonly bullied by your parents and brothers in your own family and wanted to give you a stable life!"
"And what have you given me in return? Schemes! Malice!"
She took a deep breath and said resolutely, "Keeping you by my side today could ruin my reputation, and tomorrow you could take my life. I, Lu Zhaoruo, cannot tolerate such an ungrateful person. Whether you live or die, it's your own choice, and you'll walk that path yourself."
Wan Wanning collapsed to the ground, her face ashen, her last glimmer of hope extinguished.
Dongrou stepped forward and expressionlessly helped her up: "Wanning's mother, please."
If only Greenie were still alive.
That way, it won't cause trouble for my wife.
Wan Wanning wanted to plead, but Dong Rou had already half-invited and half-carried her out of Chengrui Courtyard, where Lu Zhaoruo lived.
Stumbling along the way, they finally reached the secluded alleyway leading to the side gate of the Xiao residence.
Dong Rou stopped inside the door, coldly pointing outside: "Madam Wan, please make yourself at home."
After saying that, without waiting for a response, he turned around and closed the side door.
Wan Wanning stumbled and fell heavily onto the cold stone steps.
She looked up, staring intently at the small, closed door that kept her out of the world of wealth and luxury. Overwhelmed by immense humiliation and despair, she was instantly consumed by the thought.
She suddenly burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
Lu Zhaoruo... how cruel you are!
What difference is there between abandoning me in this slum and leaving me to fend for myself?
If you truly despise me so much, why did you pretend to take me in in the first place? If you hadn't given me hope, I might still be at home in Kedah, mistreated by my parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law, toiling away all day. At least... at least I'd have a roof over my head and wouldn't be homeless!
She instinctively curled her hand, and the old wound on her severed finger throbbed with pain again.
That severed finger...
A bone-chilling hatred permeated every part of his body.
In order to stay by Lu Zhaoruo's side, she didn't hesitate to cut off her finger and become a slave, but in the end, Lu Zhaoruo still so ruthlessly drove her away...
Lu Zhaoruo.
I hate you!
The side door behind me creaked open.
Just as Granny Song was about to leave on an errand, she caught sight of her still standing there and immediately frowned and coldly scolded, "Why are you still lingering here? Get out of the way! Don't get in my way!"
She heard that the merchant's wife had driven the younger sister away.
Overwhelmed with shame, Wan Wanning hurriedly got up and fled.
Granny Song coldly watched Wan Wanning's hasty departure, thinking to herself, "I never expected that merchant's daughter would actually kick this younger sister out like that..."
She thought for a moment, then remembered Wan Wanning's arrogant words, and couldn't help but sneer: "Now it seems that we wronged Lu Zhaoruo. If she really had such delusional thoughts of climbing the social ladder, why would she have driven this younger sister away?"
She originally intended to tell this to Madam Xiao.
Wan Wanning wandered aimlessly through the bustling street.
On the long street, luxury cars and fine horses came and went in an endless stream.
The sedan chair, draped in blue silk, was carried steadily by strong servants.
Even more impressive were the carved railings and vermilion-lacquered carriages, with fine horses adorned with golden saddles and silver bells, slowly passing by, and occasionally the soft laughter of noble ladies could be heard from inside the carriages.
Occasionally, a noble lady, unable to bear the stuffiness in the carriage, would get off and walk.
They wore swirl skirts embroidered with gold and colorful brocade, with light gauze overcoats, and hairpins with swaying flowers adorning their hair. As they moved, the pearls and jade shimmered, and a subtle fragrance wafted through the air.
There were always two or three maids following closely behind, serving him carefully.
The shops on both sides of the street displayed treasures and curiosities, attracting these distinguished guests to stop and admire them.
Wan Wanning stared at the other person almost obsessively, her heart filled with bitterness and longing.
When will I be able to live such a luxurious life?
But right now, she doesn't even know where she'll get her next meal or where she'll find a place to stay.
She was unwilling to accept it.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but reach out and wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.
Xiao Yeming was leading several personal guards as he turned out from the street corner ahead.
Chance!
Wan Wanning steeled her heart, seized the opportunity, and deliberately let her legs give way. With a delicate cry of surprise, she "accidentally" stumbled towards Xiao Ye's horse-riding position.
She collapsed to the ground, raised her tearful eyes, and was about to say something.
However, Xiao Yeming's gaze did not linger on her for even a moment. Without stopping the sound of hooves, he led his men straight past her and left indifferently.
In that instant, Wan Wanning understood completely.
In his eyes, he never existed.
She could not have him as a concubine, let alone a mistress.
Overwhelmed by humiliation and despair, she collapsed to the ground, barely able to get up.
Suddenly, a magnetic voice rang out from above: "Madam, are you feeling unwell?"
Wan Wanning looked up blankly, against the light, and saw a young man dressed in fine clothes bending down and extending a hand to her.
The moment she saw the other person's face, her heart skipped a beat.
Isn't this the young man she had met briefly at the city gate when she first arrived in the capital?
She was sitting in the carriage, curiously peeking out from behind the curtain, when she saw a young man riding a fine horse.
At that moment, their eyes met briefly in the air, and she shyly lowered the carriage curtain.
I never expected that we would meet again in such a wretched state.
Seeing her in a daze, the young man in brocade robes called out gently again, "My lady?"
Wan Wanning suddenly snapped back to reality, her gaze falling on the hands that symbolized power and wealth before her.
She placed her hand gently on it almost without hesitation...
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