Did Miss become a nun today?

With so many people and eyes at the flower viewing party, Xie Yun Chu finally shook off Pei Chang Feng and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

She was urged to come by her aunt today and didn't want to have anything to do with anyone.

After resting in the pavilion for a while, they prepared to go back.

Pei Changying hadn't returned yet, so she strolled around the garden casually.

The flowers in the garden were in full bloom. She looked at a peony, delicate and fresh, and bent down to smell it when a hand reached out and plucked the flower off.

The woman held the flower in her hand, smelled it, and smiled, "The peony is beautiful; it's much prettier than those wildflowers and weeds of unknown origin."

Xie Yun Chu was slightly taken aback, but didn't reply.

Even the young lady from the Lu family would attend such a flower-viewing banquet? And she still can't find a husband?

Lu Zhaoran was already in a bad mood because her mother brought her here today, and when Xie Yun Chu bumped into her and refused to speak to her, her face immediately darkened.

"Xie Yun Chu, do you think that just because you live in the Marquis's mansion, you're truly a member of the Marquis's family?"

"If I'm not, then who are you?" Xie Yun Chu retorted.

"My father is the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty. I wouldn't even look down on a mere marquis's mansion."

She cursed Pei Changning in her heart, because of what she said last time, Lu Zhaoran regarded her as a thorn in his side.

"Miss Lu comes from a distinguished family and has a noble status. You are absolutely right."

She was sincere, but in Lu Zhaoran's eyes, it was a provocation.

Xie Yun Chu had no intention of making enemies with her, but this girl seemed unwilling to let her off the hook.

"Xie Yun Chu, even you don't respect me."

Huh? Is there anyone who dares to disregard the daughter of the Grand Tutor's family?

"That's not what I meant. Miss Lu and I are worlds apart, so why are you making things difficult for me?"

"My survival is thanks to Buddha's blessing, and has nothing to do with anyone else. Even if I die, I can't bring your brother back. What good will it do for Miss Lu to make things difficult for me?"

She could understand the pain of losing her brother, but that was no reason to make things difficult for others. Just because her brother died, did everyone else have to die?

Lu Zhaoran's eyes reddened, and her gaze towards her became increasingly extreme. Fortunately, a maidservant was there to persuade her, and Madam Lu arrived at that moment.

"Zhaoran, don't talk nonsense."

Upon hearing the voice, Lu Zhaoran wiped away her tears and bowed to her mother.

Madam Lu's attention was not on her daughter; her gaze remained fixed on Xie Yun Chu.

Xie Yun Chu recognized her too; wasn't this the lady who had been staring at her in Qingyun Nunnery that day?

I had spoken with Zhao Mingyue that day, and I never expected to run into her again today.

Madam Lu stared at her for a while before turning to her daughter. "I've already told you, your brother's death has nothing to do with anyone else."

"Miss Xie, please forgive me. Zhaoran is heartbroken at the loss of her brother. I apologize to you on her behalf."

Xie Yun Chu nodded, "You're too kind, Madam."

Madam Lu smiled gently and said kindly, "I had heard before that there was a cousin of the Marquis of Zhaoping's family. It is a rare opportunity to meet her today. She is indeed a stunning beauty."

This was the first time she had spoken to the Grand Tutor's wife, and she felt that she was too approachable, with a strange sense of familiarity about her.

"You flatter me, Madam."

"Miss Xie, may I ask where you are from?"

Xie Yun Chu replied respectfully, "Madam, I am from Jiangzhou. You should know about my aunt."

Lady Zhaoping was born in Jiangzhou, and she had many relatives and friends in her hometown, so it's not surprising that she had a niece.

"I see."

Madam Lu asked a few more questions, which Xie Yunchu answered respectfully and politely.

Seeing the two chatting so well, Lu Zhaoran tugged at her mother's sleeve in dissatisfaction, "Mother!"

Xie Yun Chu, being tactful, curtsied and took his leave.

After the person left, Madam Lu's face darkened.

Lu Zhaoran protested, "Mother, she's an orphan, why are you so polite to her?"

Madam Lu glanced at her. "What do you know?"

She had heard before that Cen Jingyan had a niece, who was said to be from her hometown of Jiangzhou. But when the old woman by her side came to Qingyun Nunnery to tell her that she seemed to have seen a familiar face.

An old woman who should have died back then appeared at Qingyun Nunnery.

She sent someone to follow her for a few days. The old woman lived in the courtyard of the worshippers at Qingyun Nunnery, and there were several young women with her.

She was worried and, just in case, had to send someone to investigate. If it was indeed related to that woman, then they couldn't be allowed to stay.

Unfortunately, not only did they gain nothing that night, they also perished at Qingyun Nunnery.

I saw that face with my own eyes at Qingyun Temple last time... it looked so much like it.

If she were recognized... Madam Lu felt uneasy. If Cen Jingyan brought her back, he must know her identity. Why has she been silent for so many years? What is she planning to do?

"Mother, what's wrong?"

Madam Lu's face was pale. "She's probably too hot. Let's go back."

The mother and daughter returned to the Lu residence, just in time to run into Grand Tutor Lu returning home.

Lu Zhaoran immediately went to greet him, "Father, you're back?"

Lu Heng finally smiled when he saw his daughter. "Where did you go today?"

Lu Zhaoran said sullenly, "I went to the flower-viewing banquet at the Marquis of Jing'an's residence."

"What are you going there for?"

She pouted, clinging to her father's arm and acting coquettishly, "Dad, please persuade Mom. She insists on arranging marriages for me. Didn't you say that I would choose my own husband in the future, and then you could take a look?"

"I don't want to look at those people."

Lu Heng was exasperated by his daughter's tantrum. "Alright, Dad promises you, I won't force you."

"Thank you, Dad!"

"Then tell me, is there someone you like? You're not young anymore, it's understandable that your mother is anxious."

Lu Zhaoran's cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip shyly.

It really happened?

Alas, a son is no longer under his father's control once he grows up.

"Then tell me, what's this person's name, where are they from, what do they do, when did you meet them, and what's their character like?"

Lu Zhaoran only knew his name and had only met him twice, but she still liked him.

"My daughter only knows that his name is Chen Yan, and that he has a father and a younger sister. He was originally a scholar, but his family was too poor to afford to study, so he now works in an incense shop."

Lu Heng was stunned. His daughter had always been proud and looked down on ordinary people, but in the end she had fallen for a poor boy.

Seeing her father remain silent, Lu Zhaoran shook his arm. "Dad, didn't you say you didn't care about social status? You're not going to go back on your word, are you?"

"Chen Yan helped me last time, he's a good person. Could you help him? Let him go back to school? He'll definitely pass the exam in the future."

As the Grand Tutor, Lu Heng was capable of teaching not only the Crown Prince but also all the students in the country. Finding a teacher for a commoner student was naturally no problem for him.

But we should meet them first.

"Then bring the person here another day, let's meet them first, and then make a decision."

Overjoyed, Lu Zhaoran threw herself into her father's arms, exclaiming, "I knew Dad was the best to me!"

The father and daughter had a good relationship, so they brought up Madam Lu, "Father, Mother isn't feeling well today, would you like to go see her?"

The smile that had been on Lu Heng's lips vanished. "Father has other matters to attend to, so I'll head back to my study first."

Lu Zhaoran wanted to say something, but seeing this, he didn't dare to speak anymore.

My father is good in every way, except he's very cold towards my mother.