Chapter 4: Still Innocent?

Lu Zhaoling regained consciousness. The moment she opened her eyes, she felt her chin being gripped tightly by someone.

Her face was lifted up.

Lu Zhaoyun stared at her face. Despite the injury on her forehead and the water splashed across her features, she was still so beautiful that it made Lu Zhaoyun feel as sour as if she had eaten a dozen bitter green oranges.

"My dear second sister, you certainly have quite the knack for trouble!"

Lu Zhaoling swatted her hand away and glanced around the room.

It was a cramped space with dilapidated furniture, a paint-peeling bed frame, and faded curtains. There was a small round table and four worn-out round stools.

This couldn't possibly be the Prince Jin's Manor, could it? No royal residence would be this shabby.

Hearing the young woman before her call her "second sister," Lu Zhaoling realized this must be the Lu residence.

"Did Prince Jin send me back?" she asked, reaching up to wipe the water from her face. "Was it you who splashed me?"

Lu Zhaoyun, not expecting Lu Zhaoling to be so calm upon waking, reflexively retorted, "So what if I did?"

"I see."

Lu Zhaoling raised her hand and slapped her across the face.

*Smack!*

The blow landed solidly on Lu Zhaoyun’s cheek with a crisp sound.

Lu Zhaoyun was stunned, and once she recovered, she erupted into a rage, screaming in disbelief.

"Lu Zhaoling!!! How dare you hit me? I am your older sister—"

The maid, Qiuju, was also shocked.

The letters from the countryside had claimed that Lu Zhaoling had grown up to be unpleasant, like a sullen mute with no temper, never smiling, and burying her head in labor just to earn two square meals a day. They said she would certainly be nervous and ill-at-ease upon arriving in the capital, acting like a country bumpkin, cowering and unable to look people in the eye.

But the Lu Zhaoling before them, despite looking disheveled and pitiful, showed no signs of the behavior described in the letters.

Qiuju couldn't help but tug on Lu Zhaoyun’s sleeve and whisper, "Eldest Miss, could there be a mistake? Is she really the Second Miss?"

Lu Zhaoyun felt a jolt of alarm at the question.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to suppress her fury, and held her slapped cheek while staring at Lu Zhaoling.

"Tell me, are you really Lu Zhaoling?"

"What, has no one in the Lu household seen what I look like until now?"

Lu Zhaoling sat down on a chair, reached up to touch the back of her head, and frowned.

After she had lost consciousness, she must have spent the entire journey in the carriage with Prince Jin, nourished by his 'purple energy,' which left her feeling slightly better now.

However, the fact that he had sent her back to the Lu residence without tending to the injury on her head—was that not a bit too irresponsible?

Lu Zhaoling mentally deducted two points from Prince Jin.

Prince Jin was of top-tier appearance and physique—a true specimen—worth a hundred points. But his cold temperament and excessive murderous aura cost him ten points, and now, dumping her back at the Lu house without addressing her injury cost another ten.

Hm, she was left with eighty points.

Lu Zhaoyun gritted her teeth as she watched Lu Zhaoling. How could she remain so composed under these circumstances?

"You were sent to the countryside when you were six. You look completely different now compared to when you were a child; who could have recognized you?"

"So, after ten years of total neglect and never checking on me once, you think you’re in the right?"

Hearing Lu Zhaoling say this, Lu Zhaoyun confirmed her identity. It made sense; who would be stupid enough to impersonate a completely unloved daughter of the Lu family?

Thinking of the promise she had made to her father to get to the bottom of things, Lu Zhaoyun swallowed the insult of the slap.

"Father and Mother clearly sent people to pick you up. Why were you with Prince Jin?"

Lu Zhaoling was dizzy and remained silent.

Observing her appearance, Lu Zhaoyun guessed with malicious intent, "Second sister, surely you didn't run into bandits on the road, did you?"

She covered her mouth with an exaggerated gasp. "Heavens, are those injuries from the bandits? Did they... did they touch you? Second sister, are there any other injuries on your body?"

Lu Zhaoling looked at her, seeing the clear malice on her face. "What are you trying to say?"

"Second sister, if something like that really happened, you should just say so. I will go to Father and make sure he finds those bandits to avenge you!"

Lu Zhaoling couldn't help but laugh. "Are you trying to ask if I’ve been defiled?"

The bluntness of the question made Lu Zhaoyun blush, yet her eyes brightened, clearly wishing it were true.

"Disappointed, are you? I am perfectly fine, and far more virtuous than you," Lu Zhaoling replied.

Had her body not been so weak, she would have kicked Lu Zhaoyun out long ago.

"Second sister, you can't hide something like this. If you were truly tainted, we would need to prepare contraceptives. Otherwise, if you were to carry the spawn of those thugs, you would be drowned in the pond—"

"Zhaoyun, Physician Fu is here. Is your sister awake?"

Madam Lu’s voice drifted in from outside.

Lu Zhaoyun was startled. "How did Physician Fu get here so quickly?"

"Mother, please bring Physician Fu in! Second sister is awake!"

Lu Ming and Madam Lu walked in, accompanied by an old man with gray hair and a white beard.

Lu Zhaoling scanned the three of them.

Lu Ming and Madam Lu looked much as they had in her memory. It seemed they were living quite comfortably in the capital; they hadn't aged much and appeared prosperous and carefree.

As the old man entered, Lu Zhaoling caught a faint scent of medicinal herbs. He was indeed a physician.

However, there was a wisp of dark, grayish energy swirling slowly around the old man's forehead.

Lu Zhaoling’s gaze sharpened as she stared directly at Physician Fu.

Physician Fu noticed Lu Zhaoling the moment he stepped inside.

Anyone who could make that brat Zhou Shiyue send for him before even entering the manor couldn't be an ordinary young girl.

One look confirmed it. What a pair of beautiful, sharp, and spirited eyes the girl had.

"I heard she was severely injured? Why isn't she lying in bed?" Physician Fu asked in a stern, reproachful tone.

Madam Lu quickly gave Lu Zhaoyun a look.

"Zhaoyun greets Physician Fu," she said, flashing a standard smile and bowing gracefully.

To her surprise, Physician Fu didn't give her a pleasant look at all. "This is no time for pleasantries! I asked about the young girl!"

Lu Zhaoling didn't know Physician Fu, but seeing the reaction of the Lu family, she immediately understood that he was no ordinary doctor—most likely, he had been sent by Prince Jin.

Hm, he hadn't forgotten to send a doctor for her; she added five points back.

"Physician Fu, I was just trying to persuade my sister to lie down, but I don't know what kind of trauma she suffered; she’s acting out and won't let anyone near her. Could it be that she encountered something terrible?" Lu Zhaoyun said, her tone dripping with feigned concern.

Physician Fu’s expression darkened.

Madam Lu’s eyes rolled, and she immediately lunged toward Lu Zhaoling, wailing, "My poor daughter! After such a thing has happened, how will you ever be able to marry or face anyone again!"