Zheng Lingbo serious face to the girl who followed Liu Linlin.
The little girl had been accustomed to seeing Liu Linlin bully Zheng Lingbo, but now she witnessed the bizarre reversal of this situation, her face stupefied as she struggled to react for a long time.
Zheng Lingbo furrowed his brow and looked at her, "Master has a mistake, you don't know to admonish him and instead are helping him, this would have long ago gotten you expelled from our Zheng family."
The girl was shocked by this and quickly replied: "I'm not, I…"
Zheng Lingbo interrupted her: "Hurry up and come here to support your master."
The girl subconsciously came to help support someone.
Liu Linlin was bent over and hunched up by Zheng Lingbo for quite some time, feeling that Zheng Lingbo's hand was extremely heavy, it took only a few minutes for the back to feel like carrying a heavy load and unable to lift it up. At this point, even if someone helped her, she felt excruciating pain and couldn't straighten her waist. When she recovered, she wanted to curse him again, but Zheng Lingbo interrupted her.
"The embroidered pouch is beautiful, but the one you make yourself is truly yours. Cousin, isn't that right?"
——A few years later, when that person came to find him, he clearly stated that Liu Ningning had taken his own embroidered pouch.
Liu Ningning was startled in terror, the insult on the tip of her tongue was swallowed back, and her mind was left with only one thought: she knows! She actually knows!
She dared not speak anymore, even when she heard the passersby discussing in confusion, she just tugged at the girl and turned to leave.
The crowd immediately became more noisy.
"I didn't expect her to actually…"
"The Liu family is at least a scholarly lineage; how could they have such a wicked habit."
Jin Er looked shocked at Zheng Lingbo and whispered to her, "Miss, is it true that Miss Liu number two really stole someone's things?"
Zheng Lingbo tapped her on the forehead and said, "Guess."
Jin Er: "…"
She covered her forehead, pursed her lips and said, "The girl loves to tease me."
Zheng Lingbo smiled benignly.
As the commotion ended, the owner of the cosmetic shop finally peeked out, looking at the stain on Zheng Lingbo's skirt and smiling apologetically.
——These rich girls' quarrels, he as a common people dare not participate.
Zheng Lingbo waved dismissively. "This is all because of Liu family's second daughter; what does it have to do with you."
The shopkeeper didn't dare to speak, only continuing to smile.
Zheng Lingbo didn't mind the few silver coins, so she picked a few more boxes of lipstick. She also settled the bill for the broken box from earlier and then turned to leave.
Before long, it was the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
During these few months, Zheng Lingbo took the opportunity to properly cultivate her body, and also picked up the gunmanship which had been neglected for several years by Li Chengwang.
In just a few months, her cheeks became full and rosy, and she even grew a few inches taller. Seeing this, Shiyue Ren was overjoyed and paid even more attention to her diet.
The 15th day of the eighth lunar month is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and it also coincides with the birthday of the emperor. On this occasion, various countries send tribute to the capital, and the emperor holds a banquet in the palace. It is specially decreed that officials of third rank and above can attend with their families.
Zheng Wei Min, a general of the first rank, has been stationed at the border for many years. The emperor shows favor and allows Zheng Lingbo to enter the palace as an envoy for her father, who holds the position of sixth-rank official.
Shiyue Ren was currently preoccupied with business due to the recent influx of merchants in the capital. He was unwilling to attend the palace banquet, so Zheng Linpo brought Zheng Lingbo along as a way to introduce her to the world.
In the previous life, Zheng Lingbo did not attend this palace banquet this time around.
Li Chengwang said that she lacked literary accomplishments and martial prowess, neither being virtuous nor elegant, so attending the banquet would only bring shame to the family.
Zheng Lingbo was greatly discouraged and heartbroken, so she didn't go to the palace.
But Li Chengwang deceived Zheng Linpo behind his back, convincing him to take her and Xin'er to the palace together.
Later, when Yuchi Huyan mentioned that the two of them showed off their literary and musical talents at the palace banquet, they gained face for the government in front of foreign envoys, making the emperor extremely pleased. This also benefited Li Chengwang to some extent and earned him a good reputation.
But in this life, Zheng Linpo would not give Li Chengwang the chance to take advantage of him.
She is currently in the process of dressing up.
In such an occasion, there are rules for clothing and accessories. Zheng Lingbo, as a commoner, naturally cannot dress too eccentrically, but some small details are harmless.
Jin Er looked at her in admiration: "Miss, you are so beautiful."
Zheng Lingbo pursed her lips and smiled, not saying anything.
The group quickly entered the palace.
There were many high-ranking people in the palace, and now the banquet had not yet officially begun, so everyone was chatting away.
There were a few people Zheng Lingbo recognized. One girl in pink saw her and started laughing sarcastically, "This is that little pest following behind Liu Sanjun, isn't it?"
This person is also 15 years old and dislikes Zheng Lingpo for the same reasons as her - because of Liu Chengwang's good appearance and talents. As a result, she looks down on Zheng Lingpo at every opportunity.
Zheng Lingbo retorted, "Oh, isn't this the flower-headed person who still wants to jump on a boat that's already been occupied?"
The several noblewomen around couldn't help but laugh at her words.
This girl has an ordinary appearance, and she has a sparse head of hair. She tries to cover it up by styling her hair in an elaborate manner, hoping to hide it, but she is secretly laughed at behind her back as a "flower-headed" person.
Her heart was wounded when she was mocked by Zheng Lingbo, and she immediately started crying.
She gave Zheng Lingbo a fierce glare, supported her head, and turned to run away.
Zheng Lingbo made a sound of disgust and scanned the surrounding area, seeing that other noblewomen were stirring up trouble and wanted to speak, she was ready to defend herself at any moment.
——She has already decided that she will not tolerate being bullied this life, and she will always respond to any insults she receives.
Unintentionally, she met a gaze of scrutiny.
The person used a handkerchief to cover their mouth and chuckled slowly, saying, "After many years, Miss Zheng has changed quite a bit."
She spoke, and the people around her exchanged glances and stopped their actions. Zheng Lingbo slowly lowered her head and gave a bow to the person, saying: "I have seen Her Highness Anping Princess."
This person is a daughter of a non-blood relative Wang, with the title of Anping.
She usually isn't in the capital, and only had a chance encounter with her two years ago. She didn't expect that this person would recognize herself.
The Anping Princess smiled faintly and waved off her curtsy, her beautiful eyes giving her a once-over, then in a nonchalant tone said: "This way of looking has a bit of taste."
Zheng Lingbo furrowed her brow, unsure of what the Anping Princess meant, and could only reply with a few casual sentences.
In the midst of her annoyance, someone called out Zheng Lingbo, turning to look and it was Mu Ronghuiyan.
Mu Ronghuiyan had just arrived.
"Anping Sister?"
She hesitated for a moment before calling out, "Anping Sister?"
The Anping Princess smiled and looked over, "Yan'er has grown up."
Mu Ronghuiyan blushed a little, "And you, Sister, are even more beautiful."
The two of them chatted about some trivial matters, and it looked like they were quite close. Zheng Lingpo's heart suddenly felt uncomfortable for some reason.
Probably because Mu Ronghuiyan seemed too intimate with the Anping Princess.
Zheng Lingbo dropped her gaze and unconsciously pulled at her mouth.
She is unclear if it is because of the many things she lost in the previous life, but in this life, she has become greedy and always wants to grasp hold of everything that belongs to herself, including family ties and friendships.
Before Zheng Lingbo could think more, the front event was soon over, and suddenly, the crowd became much larger.
The people took their seats according to their ranks.
