Chapter Four: Ruining Her Reputation

Today’s event was a garden banquet. The Marquis of Yong’an’s residence had just renovated its garden and invited many families to come and admire it. When Mrs. Zhao arrived, leading Lu Yunzhu, Lu Yunyao, and Jiang You’an, quite a few guests were already present.

The lady of the Marquis’s household personally came forward to greet Mrs. Zhao. Lu Yunzhu and the others then mingled with the young ladies there.

Lu Yunzhu walked confidently at the forefront, as if Lu Yunyao and Jiang You’an were merely her little attendants.

With Lu Xuanheng’s rise to prominence, the entire Lu family had soared in status. Even a second-branch daughter like Lu Yunzhu had become a sought-after figure in the noble circles.

As soon as she appeared, several young ladies eagerly approached her.

After some polite exchanges, Lu Yunzhu pointed behind her and introduced, “This is my younger sister, Yunyao, and this is…”

When she spoke of Jiang You’an, her voice rose noticeably, “This is my eldest aunt’s cousin’s daughter, You’an. She was once the daughter of a minister’s household but now stays with us temporarily. She’s not fond of socializing; I’m afraid you might have forgotten her.”

Her words dripped with malice, drawing the attention of the crowd to Jiang You’an.

“Oh, You’an indeed! Long time no see. Living under others’ roof must be tough; you must be quite pitiful,” one sneered.

“Why come dressed like this to the banquet? So shabby—it makes us sisters feel quite uneasy just looking at you.”

Jiang You’an sensed their eagerness to mock her, so she smiled first. “Since sister knows I’m in a sorry state, why not lend me some silver to spend?”

The woman was taken aback, pretending not to hear as she fiddled with her hair.

Jiang You’an then caught another by the wrist, eyes sparkling as she gazed at the bracelet, “Sister, your bracelet is lovely. Give it to me, won’t you? You do care for me, don’t you?”

The other coughed awkwardly and snatched her hand away.

Those who had been waiting to see her humiliated now feared being asked for money and fell silent.

Jiang You’an curled her lips, “I’m fallen on hard times, see? I don’t even have jewelry to wear—unlike Sister Yunzhu, who steps out adorned with pearls and gold.”

She shifted the topic deliberately to Lu Yunzhu, “It’s a pity her head only has so much space; otherwise, Sister Yunzhu could pin on several more jeweled hairpins and surely outshine all the others. Don’t you think?”

Subtly exposing Lu Yunzhu’s vanity, someone scoffed, “Dressed like an opera performer—so tacky.”

“So flashy, afraid no one knows her family just struck it rich. If it weren’t for the prowess of the eldest son from the main branch backing the Lu family, who would even know her?”

Suddenly, Lu Yunzhu became the center of ridicule once more. Jiang You’an watched the fickle crowd’s shift with a smile and walked away cheerfully.

Lu Yunyao glanced at Lu Yunzhu, whose face flushed red and pale in patches, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh.

Fuming, Lu Yunzhu hurried to the eaves and swiftly pulled out the golden hairpins from her head.

“That wretched woman!” she spat.

By her side, Chun Tao comforted her, “Miss, don’t be angry. Don’t let this throw you off balance and ruin the bigger plan.”

Lu Yunzhu took a deep breath and whispered, “Is everything ready?”

“All set.”

“Later, I’ll drug her. You lead the others away,” Lu Yunzhu sneered. “Today, I’ll ruin her reputation!”

Jiang You’an had come with the hope of meeting a worthy gentleman. Hearing that many of the young male guests had gone to the western part of the garden to recite poetry, she headed that way.

The Marquis’s garden was truly vast; before long, she found herself lost.

Dizzy and disoriented, she wandered into a bamboo grove. As she looked around, she suddenly heard voices.

“Fourth Young Master, all the young ladies are at the front tasting tea. Madam would like you to meet them. If any catch your fancy…”

“I’m tired.”

“Please, Young Master, just take a look…”

“Everyone, leave!”

The voices faded, and Jiang You’an then heard the creak of a wheel.

Curious, she followed the sound and saw a young man sitting in a wheelchair, moving along the corridor.

He stopped in front of a low step and tried several times to ascend but got stuck, finally sighing heavily.

“I’ll help you,” Jiang You’an said, approaching from behind and pushing the wheelchair up the step.

The young man looked at her in surprise.

Jiang You’an studied him. He had delicate, refined features; his eyebrows and eyes were particularly gentle. His complexion was somewhat pale, and seeing his legs, she guessed who he was.

“You’re the Fourth Young Master of the Marquis’s household?”

The youngest son of the Marquis of Yong’an had suffered an accident in his youth, injuring his legs and rarely ventured out afterward.

Su Mingxiu gave a polite, distant smile. “Indeed, I am. May I ask your name, Miss?”

Jiang You’an hesitated, “I’m Jiang You’an.”

Usually, one would mention their family when introducing themselves, but she only gave her name. Su Mingxiu understood her plight without further questions.

“Ah, Miss Jiang. Thank you for your help just now. My legs are weak, and I’m not very mobile. I hope you won’t think poorly of me.”

It was Jiang You’an’s first time meeting this Fourth Young Master. His gentle voice sparked some fondness in her heart.

“What’s there to mock? I’m just an orphan with no home myself.”

Su Mingxiu looked at her with a touch of pity, but Jiang You’an had no time for self-pity.

“Where are you headed, Fourth Young Master? Need me to push you there?”

He smiled and shook his head. “I’ll stay here a while. Please continue your stroll. The northwest corner has a newly built waterside pavilion—quite charming.”

Sensing his kindness, she thought he was a decent person. A shame about his condition; otherwise, he might have been her target.

In any case, she had no interest in him and could not afford to waste time.

After bidding Su Mingxiu farewell, she felt a pang of sympathy for his loneliness. Spotting plum blossoms on the tree, she reached up and picked a branch.

“Plum blossoms in the snow smell especially sweet. Here, Fourth Young Master, take one to brighten your mood.”

Su Mingxiu extended his slender, pale hand from his muff and accepted the branch still dusted with frost.

He looked up at her. She smiled softly, her eyes bright and sparkling, her nose and chin flushed from the cold. Amid the icy landscape, she possessed a vivid and fragrant beauty.

“Thank you.”

Once Jiang You’an left the bamboo grove, intending to follow her plan to watch the young gentlemen compose poetry, she unexpectedly ran into Lu Yunzhu.

Their relationship was strained. Jiang You’an pretended not to see her, but Lu Yunzhu insisted on following her.

“Young An, where have you been? I was looking for you. What I said earlier was thoughtless—I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Don’t be angry.”

Jiang You’an was unsure of her game and replied coolly, “Sister Yunzhu, you flatter me…”

“Enough. I apologize. There’s fruit wine in the heated pavilion. Let’s go taste some together.”

Lu Yunzhu warmly linked arms with Jiang You’an and led her inside.

Jiang You’an glanced around uneasily. As she turned, a full cup of fruit wine was placed before her.

Lu Yunzhu wore a benevolent smile. “This cup is a toast to you, as my apology.”

Jiang You’an looked at the wine before her, then at Lu Yunzhu’s cup, and inwardly sneered.

Feigning distraction, she said, “Oh? Is someone coming?”

Lu Yunzhu’s heart skipped a beat. She hurried to the door to check.

Thankfully, no one was there.

She returned and coaxed Jiang You’an to drink. “Come, Young An, let’s see how this wine tastes.”

They raised their cups together. Lu Yunzhu drained hers first, then watched as Jiang You’an slowly finished the cup—laced with an aphrodisiac—with a faint, triumphant curl at the corner of her mouth.

Jiang You’an, this is your just deserts.

Just the other day, she had overheard from Mrs. Zhao that Jiang You’an once had a little-known past with Shen Heping, nearly becoming his wife-in-name.

No matter how noble Jiang You’an had been, she was now a pitiful wreck, ruined and broken—no match for Lu Yunzhu even in the slightest. She would never allow Jiang You’an to covet her man.

Today, she intended to destroy Jiang You’an’s reputation. Having drunk the wine, it would only be a matter of time before…

“Ugh—”

Suddenly, Lu Yunzhu felt dizzy, clutching her forehead as the ground seemed to sway beneath her.

What was happening?!