Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 423 - 150: Luo Mingzhu (Part 1)_2

Standing by the side of Marquis Jingning must be Luo Mingzhu, who today was dressed in a long robe of bright red with golden thread embroidered flowers, making her unparalleled in splendor; around her waist was a gold-threaded belt adorned with eight small, hollow golden bells that would surely tinkle as she moved. Although she was still of tender age and not yet fully grown, her skin was as fair as snow and her untouched face bloomed like the just-opened begonia flowers in Begonia Garden—surely, she too would become a great beauty once she matured.

Ruo Lan rose with a smile and introduced, "Yajing, this is my cousin Yueyao. Yueyao, come, meet the Wife of the Heir of Marquis Jingning and Third Miss Luo."

Madam Ping sized up Yueyao, seeing her clear eyes and pleasant temperament, looking at her was instantly likable. She laughed and said, "Why so formal? Your cousin is my cousin too." After that, she slipped off the jade bracelet from her wrist and slipped it onto Yueyao’s slender wrist.

Yueyao looked at the lustrous sheen, feeling its warmth on her hand. Such fine jade was not cheap. Yueyao felt embarrassed and said apologetically, "This is too precious." Such valuable items could not be accepted casually.

Zhuang Ruolan too was somewhat surprised; offering a gold bracelet would have been sufficient to honor her, but she hadn’t expected her friend to give her own jade bracelet to Yueyao. Zhuang Ruolan smiled, suspecting her friend had something in mind.

The Wife of the Heir of Marquis Jingning laughed and said, "What precious or not precious, if I give it to you, just take it."

Ruo Lan nodded towards Yueyao.

With the nod of approval, Yueyao then accepted and thanked her, "Thank you, Princely Heir’s Wife." Yueyao also had her doubts—being close to her cousin-in-law did not warrant such an expensive gift. Was there something going on?

Luo Mingzhu looked at Yueyao with a scrutinizing gaze. She knew that the Empress Dowager had rewarded her sister-in-law with that bracelet and was surprised to see it given to this girl. Luo Mingzhu herself possessed many fine things and did not envy the bracelet; she simply found it odd.

Yueyao greeted with a smile, "Sister Luo, hello."

Luo Mingzhu did not respond, still scrutinizing Yueyao.

The Wife of the Heir of Marquis Jingning wore a warm smile as she said, "Mingzhu, this is the younger sister from the Lian family, two years your junior."

Luo Mingzhu opened her mouth to speak, "I’ve heard from my cousin, are you a ’disaster star’? Someone who brings misfortune to close relatives?" Luo Mingzhu’s cousin was a young lady from the Bai family, now residing at the Marquis’ household, and essentially Luo Mingzhu’s attendant. Today was just a whim of Luo Mingzhu to accompany Madam Ping to the Ma Family; she also wanted to see this Third Miss Lian, whose reputation preceded her. If it hadn’t been for this, Miss Bai would certainly have accompanied her.

Zhuang Ruolan’s face turned very ugly upon hearing this. She had always heard that Third Miss Luo was somewhat willful, but she had not expected her to lack such manners. Zhuang Ruolan had originally intended for Yueyao to become close with Luo Mingzhu, but now she completely discarded that thought.

Madam Ping also felt extremely awkward, not having expected her sister-in-law to be so thoughtless. It was highly impolite to mock the relatives of one’s host while being a guest in another’s home. Madam Ping felt helpless inside—this young lady was not only adored by her father-in-law and husband but was also cherished by the Empress Dowager, making her untouchable to others.

Upon hearing this, Yueyao’s face showed a hint of sadness.

Luo Mingzhu asked curiously, "Did I say something wrong?" In fact, Luo Mingzhu was very curious about Yueyao, such a young and famous talented lady, who also carried the reputation of being a calamitous star. She wanted to see what kind of person Yueyao was.

Yueyao gave a bitter smile and said, "If every child who has lost both parents must be labeled as a curse upon their parents, then I have nothing to say. However, if possible, I would willingly trade my life for the lives of my mother and father."

The topic had become somewhat heavy.

Yueyao turned to Zhuang Ruolan and said, "Cousin-in-law, if there’s nothing else, I will take my leave now." Although she wanted to befriend Luo Mingzhu, if the other person was averse, there was no need to insist. With a status like Luo Mingzhu’s, countless people were ingratiating themselves to her, and the more eager you are, the less she respects you.

Luo Mingzhu didn’t speak out, feeling as though she might have said something wrong.

Ruo Lan nodded and said, "All right, go and attend to your matters!" She wanted Yueyao to befriend Luo Mingzhu, but with Luo Mingzhu’s attitude, she didn’t want Yueyao to be wronged.

Madam Ping asked curiously, "What is the Third Young Lady busy with?" The use of the word "busy" suggested it was no trivial matter.

Ruo Lan was about to say that Yueyao was busy with painting but then remembered Yueyao didn’t want others to know she excelled at painting, so she said with a smile, "You don’t know this child, practicing calligraphy in the morning, learning embroidery before noon, studying cooking in the afternoon, and practicing calligraphy again at night. She’s even busier than I am."

Luo Mingzhu glanced at Yueyao and said, "Aren’t you a talented lady? Why bother learning these things?" She hated nothing more than being forced to practice large characters on ten sheets of paper every day; unfortunately, though her father and brother doted on her, they would never agree to her skipping this task.

Yueyao knew that Luo Mingzhu disliked needlework and reading and writing; it had even become a joke at the time, so Yueyao couldn’t possibly continue the topic. Instead, she asked, "If not these, then what should one do?"

Luo Mingzhu’s eyes gleamed as she said, "You could learn martial arts!" The Marquis Jingning’s family had produced generations of military generals, and both the current Marquis Jingning and the Heir of Marquis Jingning were skilled in martial arts, holding official positions in the Capital City. In addition, the two brothers of the Marquis held important military positions. The power and influence of Marquis Jingning’s Residence were not something ordinary people could match.

Yueyao’s eyes widened in surprise, "Learn martial arts?" The reason Yueyao was surprised was that in her previous life, she had never heard of Luo Mingzhu being proficient in martial arts.

After speaking, Yueyao understood; it was not considered boasting for ladies of seclusion to learn martial arts, so it was likely that Marquis Jingning’s Residence had kept it a secret.

Looking at Yueyao’s expression, Luo Mingzhu immediately felt displeased and challenged her, "What, do you also look down on those who learn martial arts?" Luo Mingzhu had no natural talent for martial arts; this was merely a pretext she had made up. She needed to see if Yueyao despised those who practiced martial arts.

Yueyao hurriedly shook her head and said, "No, how could I look down on it when I envy it? I also want to learn martial arts, but I just can’t find a master." In her previous life, she had looked down upon those military generals, especially the daughters of military officials; she thought they were crude. But with the experience of an extra lifetime, Yueyao believed that knowing martial arts could protect herself; it was her own narrow-mindedness that had made her scornful.

Madam Ping opened her mouth but, thanks to years of composure, refrained from speaking out.

Ruo Lan felt somewhat surprised but not as much as Madam Ping. She knew Yueyao was a very calculated person; there must be a reason behind her statement.