Gao Xiyue and Su Lufu politely greeted Zeng Xiwen, but Zeng Xiwen arrogantly ignored them. Gao Xiyue disapproved of Zeng Xiwen's attitude and angrily wanted to confront her, but Su Lufu pulled her aside: "Never mind... it's only our first meeting, it's only natural that we're not very friendly..."
Gao Xiyue glanced at her sideways and muttered, "We're both imperial concubines, yet they think they're so superior. They're really looking down on people..."
Zeng Xiwen vaguely heard Gao Xiyue's words, stepped forward to block their path, glanced at Su Lufu's unremarkable attire, and arrogantly said, "What are you two whispering about? Do you know who I am? The Zeng family in the capital is my home. My grandfather was a first-rank official, and my father was a third-rank minister..." She then raised a disdainful eyebrow at Gao Xiyue and said, "What do you young ladies from the countryside know? How dare you gossip behind my back..."
Gao Xiyue was instantly enraged. With her hands on her hips, she shouted at Zeng Xiwen aggressively, "Small place? Just because you're from Beijing doesn't mean you're so great! I wouldn't even look at you..."
Su Lu couldn't hold them back, so she could only stand between Gao Xiyue and Zeng Xiwen to prevent them from arguing.
Zeng Xiwen had never been yelled at so loudly before. She was momentarily frightened by Gao Xiyue's imposing manner. With no maids around to help her, her arrogance subsided considerably. She muttered a few curses under her breath and left alone.
Gao Xiyue shook off Su Lu's hand and said angrily, "Why are you holding me? I can't stand her condescending attitude. We're all candidates, and who knows who will be chosen in the end? What's she so smug about?"
Su Lu helped Gao Xiyue sit down, smiled and poured her a cup of iced tea, comforting her, "Don't be angry, we'll just avoid provoking her in the future."
Gao Xiyue looked at Su Lufu with dissatisfaction and complained, "And you, don't you get angry when you hear what she said?"
Su Lufu thought for a moment, then shook her head with a slight smile, saying, "I'm not angry. She doesn't understand me. She's just saying what she thinks. Although I'm not the daughter of a wealthy family in the capital, I've never suffered any injustice since I was a child. My father and mother have treated me very well..." As she spoke, she leaned on Gao Xiyue's shoulder and smiled, "Even after coming to the capital, you didn't look down on me because I'm a young lady from a small place. I feel very content..."
Su Lufu's words extinguished Gao Xiyue's anger like a gentle breeze and drizzle. Gao Xiyue sighed helplessly, patted Su Lufu's hair, and softened her tone: "You really have a gentle nature; anyone who meets you will be overwhelmed by your tenderness..."
Su Lufu blushed, but Zeng Xiwen saw it as affected and pretentious.
Throughout the day, Gao Xiyue and Su Lufu were inseparable, making Zeng Xiwen feel somewhat lonely. Zeng Xiwen disliked Gao Xiyue and Su Lufu intensely, but being no match for Gao Xiyue, she constantly made things difficult for Su Lufu in private. Su Lufu, being gentle by nature, could only silently endure it; if Gao Xiyue discovered this, another fierce argument was inevitable.
The next day was the first examination for the imperial concubines. The matron delivered the clothes, and it turned out that all the women's clothes were the same.
Gao Xiyue and Su Lufu hugged their clothes and compared them, their faces showing the expectant and excited joy of young women. At this moment, Zeng Xiwen returned. She heard the laughter coming from inside the house from afar, so she deliberately pushed the door open forcefully, interrupting Gao Xiyue and Su Lufu's conversation.
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