Qingyin and Qingbao's aggressive and bold emergence to protect Lu Zhaoling indeed caused the others to begin harboring thoughts of retreat.
None of them had known this was the case. Hadn't the rumors said that Prince Jin wouldn't care about Lu Zhaoling? If that were true, why would he send two maids to her?
Moreover, these two were clearly no ordinary servants; they were trained in martial arts.
Maids like these were undoubtedly cultivated with great effort and would never be given away lightly. Giving them to a future Princess Consort, however, was a distinct possibility.
This proved that Prince Jin had truly acknowledged this marriage.
"If you are from Prince Jin's Manor, then you should be teaching her a lesson on behalf of this Princess!"
While everyone else cowered, Princess Changning pointed a trembling finger at Lu Zhaoling, her face contorted with rage.
"She bullied me!"
The Princess's shriek was so high-pitched that her voice actually cracked.
She felt truly wronged.
Qingbao replied without a hint of hesitation, "I only see that your side has the advantage in numbers! So many of you are ganging up on our Miss alone!"
Who was bullying whom?
"You wretched slave! My mother is the Grand Princess! The Emperor is my uncle! Your Prince is also my uncle! What is she? How can she possibly compare to me? Even if I tore her apart and buried her today, she would only have herself to blame!"
Qingyin turned her head and whispered to Lu Zhaoling, "Miss, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Lu Zhaoling looked at Princess Changning. She felt that the Princess's breakdown was somewhat peculiar.
Even if no one had ever dared to treat her this way before, sparking a sudden explosion of fury, it shouldn't have led to such hysterical behavior. Either her personality was naturally pathological, or she was truly ill. Certain conditions could make a person prone to losing control in fits of violent rage.
"Princess, our Miss is the future Princess Consort of Jin. Based on status, you should be calling her Aunt."
Qingbao gave a small huff.
Regardless, the Prince had told them that their purpose in being sent to the Miss's side was to protect her. No person and no matter could be allowed to make her suffer grievance!
They were originally bound to obey the Prince's orders, and besides, this was a command they were more than happy to carry out from the bottom of their hearts!
Gu Qing and the others stared at the two maids, utterly shocked.
Were even the servants of Prince Jin's Manor this audacious? Or was it a case of the maids taking after their master Lu Zhaoling?
Princess Changning was so incensed she felt her vision blurring; she was truly about to explode!
"She's dreaming! What kind of thing does she think she is! The Princess Consort of Jin can only be Shen—"
"Princess!"
Before Princess Changning could finish her sentence, Shen Xiangjun had already walked to her side. She grasped the Princess's hand, her voice cutting in to interrupt.
Lu Zhaoling's sharp eyes noticed that as soon as Shen Xiangjun took the Princess's hand, the girl's spiraling emotions visibly stabilized.
Shen Xiangjun was as elegant as a plum blossom, her expression gentle and her voice soft. She seemed to possess a power that could soothe the human heart.
"Princess, do not upset yourself so."
Shen Xiangjun spoke again, beckoning someone to bring a cup of tea, which she pressed to Princess Changning's lips.
"Drink some tea to moisten your throat and calm your anger. We came here today for the purpose of Copying Scriptures. Word of this has already reached the Palace; we cannot let things go wrong."
Shen Xiangjun continued to persuade the Princess in a soft, low whisper.
Princess Changning took the cup of fruit tea and drained it in one gulp. After taking several deep breaths, she gradually calmed down. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the manor guards.
Seeing this, Qingyin and Qingbao also breathed a sigh of relief.
They wanted to protect their Miss, but if a full-scale fight had broken out in the Princess's manor, they didn't actually know if the Prince would protect them. The Grand Princess was not someone to be trifled with, either.
"What are you all standing around for? Eat the Vegetarian Feast and then get to Copying Scriptures!" Princess Changning swept her gaze across the crowd.
The young noble ladies truly had no heart left for Copying Scriptures, but who would dare resist? One by one, they hurriedly took their seats and began to eat.
Princess Changning looked at Lu Zhaoling, her eyes still burning with a trace of hateful fury.
"Get out of my sight."
For the sake of Xiangjun, she would let it go for now. But she would remember this little wench, Lu Zhaoling!
Lu Zhaoyun also rushed over to push Lu Zhaoling.
"Second Sister, you should hurry back home." It seemed her plan really couldn't be completed. However, hadn't Lu Zhaoling taken two sips of the fruit tea? Why was she perfectly fine?
Could it be that she drank too little and the dosage was too shallow?
Regardless, Lu Zhaoling had completely offended Princess Changning and Shen Xiangjun this time. Even if she escaped today, her future would be miserable. Princess Changning would certainly not let her off.
"Go back?" Lu Zhaoling dodged her hand and asked back in surprise, "Wasn't it you who told me to come and copy scriptures? I haven't even eaten the Vegetarian Feast yet, so why would I go back? After all that tossing about, I'm hungry."
Having said that, she walked straight toward the tables. Seeing an empty seat next to Gu Qing, she didn't stop her pace, sitting down beside her and picking up her chopsticks.
Well, this spread of vegetarian food looked quite exquisite; it should be delicious.
"You!" Princess Changning's temper nearly flared up again. How could anyone be this thick-skinned?
She had already told her to get out, and yet Lu Zhaoling actually had the face to sit down and eat!
"Qingyin, Qingbao, you two come and eat as well," Lu Zhaoling called out to her two maids.
Once she was no longer in danger, the two maids reverted to their servant roles. They exchanged a look and moved to stand behind Lu Zhaoling.
"Miss, we will go find some snacks later. Please eat."
There was no place for maids to eat at this table.
Lu Zhaoling, however, looked toward Qiuju, who was Lu Zhaoyun's maid. She remembered that Qiuju had been huddled with several maids from the Princess's manor earlier; the servants definitely had their own food.
"You two have Qiuju take you to eat."
Qiuju was startled upon hearing this. She didn't want to lead those two fierce maids anywhere!
But before she could refuse, Lu Zhaoling arched an eyebrow at her. "If she doesn't take you to eat, I'll skin her later."
Qiuju was speechless.
"Yes," Qingyin answered first. She turned to Qingbao and said, "You go first, then come back and replace me."
One of them had to remain guarding the Miss.
Qingbao didn't hesitate, walking over to Qiuju's side. "Where do we eat?"
Qiuju trembled, casting a pleading look at Lu Zhaoyun. Could she really take Qingbao with her? This was a maid from Prince Jin's Manor who had dared to draw a dagger against Princess Changning!
Lu Zhaoyun also hadn't expected Lu Zhaoling and her two maids to be so arrogant. They weren't even acting like guests anymore, were they? So proactive!
"You..."
Princess Changning was about to rage again, but Shen Xiangjun pressed down on her shoulder. "Princess, keep the big picture in mind."
Princess Changning threw her hand back. "I'm going to the latrine!"
She stomped away in a huff.
Lu Zhaoyun gave a secret sigh of relief and hurriedly signaled Qiuju to take Qingbao to the area where the maids were eating.
It was actually not far away; there were separate tables set up there. The maids' meals were simple, and they usually ate as quickly as possible to return and serve their mistresses.
Only now did Gu Qing's heart, which had been lodged in her throat the entire time, finally thump back into place.
She had been so nervous the whole way through!
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