Behind the lake, under a white blanket, was a pavilion. Five or six girls were sitting inside. Some were eating fruit and looking across the lake, covering their mouths as they laughed. Others were frowning, holding brushes in their hands as they pondered something. Judging by their clothing, they were either rich or noble. They were probably the daughters of officials in the capital. One of them wore a light yellow, tight-fitting jacket. Her eyes were unusually bright, like the translucent jade of the Western Sea. It was Ye Ling'er, the only daughter of the capital garrison, whom Fan Xian had caught a glimpse of from afar outside the capital.
Ye Ling'er's gaze swept across the lake. She turned her head to look at Fan Ruoruo. "Ruoruo, is that shameful child of yours here today?"
Hearing this, Fan Ruoruo felt an inexplicable anger rise in her heart. She slammed the brush in her hand onto the table. "Ye Ling'er," she said lightly, "your mouth is like those knives and spears in your house. It's one thing to have a few sharp edges, but what kind of sauce shop did you come from today?
Hearing this, the girls in the pavilion all fell silent. No one had expected that the beautiful and gentle young lady of the Fan family would speak in such a manner.
For some reason, Ye Ling'er hated the illegitimate son of the Fan family. That was why she had spoken so rudely earlier. Seeing the gentle young lady of the Fan family speak so harshly to her, she snorted. Anger rose in her heart, but she couldn't find the words to retort.
Princess Rou Jia was grinding ink by Fan Ruoruo's side. Hearing the conversation between the two girls, she giggled and said innocently, "You two are usually very good friends. Why do you look like you've eaten sulphur today?" Princess Rou Jia was the youngest of the girls, and her status was the highest. Her temperament was also the most gentle, so when she spoke, the two girls in the "atmosphere" were unable to make a move.
Ye Ling'er snorted. "Who knows what Young Lady Fan is like today?"
Fan Ruoruo smiled slightly, suppressing her anger. Her long eyelashes fluttered. Although she was the daughter of an official, and Fan Ruoruo had always been known as a talented woman, she was still a young girl of sixteen. Who could hold back? She replied gently, "My words concern my elder brother. I dare not be rude."
Ye Ling'er laughed coldly. "How am I rude? Could it be that the person who came with you today has already acknowledged his ancestry and entered the Fan clan's genealogy? "
Fan Ruoruo was exceptionally intelligent. She knew why Ye Ling 'er was venting her anger on her brother. She smiled coldly and didn't answer. She walked out of the pavilion, and for some reason, Ye Ling' er followed. Princess Rou Jia sighed quietly but didn't know what to do. The women in the pavilion also didn't know who Ye Ling'er was talking about. They also didn't know why the two of them were suddenly angry. They couldn't help but be confused.
Outside the pavilion, the servant girls did not follow them. Fan Ruoruo was much more direct with her words. Her face darkened as she said, "You are friends with Miss Lin, that is your business. She is not willing to marry my brother, that is her business. But if you speak rudely to my brother again, don't blame me for not caring about our past friendship."
Ye Ling'er wrinkled her nose beautifully and complained. "Yesterday, when you came to my manor, I told you that Chen'er doesn't want to marry your brother. I wanted you to go home and talk to him. Who would have thought that you would bring him to the Prince's manor today? Don't think I don't know what your family is thinking. I'm afraid you want to use this opportunity to make a name for yourself at the poetry meet, so that …" She stopped talking and waved her sleeve angrily.
Seeing her expression, Fan Ruoruo sighed inwardly. She realized that these young ladies saw things just as her brother had said. They were extremely simple. "Who do you want me to talk to? Father or brother? You know that for people like us, marriage is not something we can decide for ourselves. "
Ye Ling'er bit her lip and spoke with a glimmer of hope. "… Why don't you let your brother leave the capital?"
Fan Ruoruo frowned and looked at her. She realized that what Ye Ling'er was saying was absurd and laughable. She had no idea that she might have been influenced by Fan Xian, which made her appear much more mature. But Ye Ling'er was still the same noble girl who did not know the sufferings of the world. "Don't talk nonsense like that."
Ye Ling'er looked at her and laughed coldly. "Who is your brother? And who is my Sister Lin? "
Fan Ruoruo smiled. "My brother has no parents, and your Sister Lin has no parents. Who are they? And what are they? "
Although the young lady of the Lin family was the Prime Minister's illegitimate daughter, the Prime Minister did not dare to acknowledge her. He could not acknowledge her. As for her mother, it was a secret the Kingdom of Qing dared not speak of — so it was not wrong to say that she had no parents.
Ye Ling'er seemed to have never imagined that Fan Ruoruo would say something so sharp. Her lips trembled with anger. Lowering her voice, she said fiercely, "Do you think this marriage is settled? Who knows what will happen in the future? "
Fan Ruo's heart trembled slightly, but her face was still full of a gentle smile. She took a slow step forward, closing the distance between her and Ye Ling'er. She replied in an oppressive tone, "Perhaps you don't know my brother very well, but I advise you not to do anything inappropriate. As for this marriage... I don't think it's settled. Perhaps after my brother sees the young lady of the Lin family that you care so much for, he'll immediately flee the capital."
Although Ye Ling'er was a martial artist who had been passed down in her family, in front of this delicate woman, her imposing manner gradually diminished. "Your brother dares to be so picky about Chen'er?"
Fan Ruoruo sighed. Her expression was very much like Fan Xian's at times. "I just don't understand. This is a matter between Fan Manor and her family. Why are you so anxious?"
Ye Ling'er thought for a moment, then lowered her posture. "You know that Sister Lin's health is not very good. Since that's the case, why go against her wishes and marry someone she doesn't want to marry?"
These words pierced Fan Ruoruo's heart. What young girl did not want to fall in love? What young girl did not want to marry the person she wanted to marry? Putting herself in Fan Ruoruo's shoes, Fan Ruoruo knew that Miss Lin, who was powerless to control her own love, was indeed rather pitiful. But... "This matter should be decided by the adults first, and then by my brother's opinion. There's nothing I can do, Miss Ye."
She smiled in response to this last sentence.
At that moment, Princess Rou Jia, worried about the conflict between them, came out of the pavilion to look for them. Seeing that they seemed to be fine, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. "Let's go back," she said sweetly.
Fan Ruoruo's eyes suddenly became calm. "Miss Ye," she said softly, "I hear that your friend is in poor health. It just so happens that my father knows a famous doctor. Would it be convenient for you to visit her at her manor?"
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