As soon as these words were spoken, the garden instantly fell silent.
The young noblewomen who had previously looked down on Zhi Wan now regarded her with cautious eyes.
Coming from aristocratic families, they naturally understood the weight of Wei Shi publicly backing Zhi Wan.
This was a genuine show of regard for Zhi Wan.
Regardless of whether they were convinced in their hearts, at that moment, everyone set aside their contempt for Zhi Wan.
After all, they had to consider the power and influence of the Duke Dingguo’s household.
Several quick-witted young ladies immediately vied to take Zhi Wan’s hand.
“Miss Zhi Wan, let’s admire the flowers together.”
“Miss Zhi Wan must be more familiar with the Duke Dingguo’s residence than we are. Please show us around.”
Zhi Wan was not accustomed to such intimacy with strangers, but she did not want to let down her aunt’s efforts to elevate her. She smiled politely at the young ladies who had gathered around. “Alright.”
Wei Shi was very satisfied and instructed, “Wan’er, as the hostess, you must take good care of the guests.”
Her expression was amiable and kind, a stark contrast to her earlier sternness toward the young ladies. Yet her words made everyone even more cautious.
The Duchess of Dingguo had no daughters of her own; it was clear she treated Zhi Wan as her own daughter.
After today, no one would dare look down on Zhi Wan, the orphan girl. Those who sought to curry favor with the Duke Dingguo’s household would surely elevate her to the heavens.
Zhi Wan would no longer have to worry about marriage.
Understanding her aunt’s intentions, Zhi Wan felt grateful and said to Wei Shi, “Aunt, I’ll take them for a stroll.”
“Go ahead.” Wei Shi waved her hand with a smile, her face full of affection.
Not far away, Lu Xin, who had witnessed this scene, angrily crushed the flower in her hand.
That wretched Zhi Wan—what right did she have?
And her dear aunt-in-law, truly caring only for outsiders, elevating Zhi Wan so highly while she, the legitimate young lady, was made to seem inferior even to an orphan girl.
Lu Xin was consumed with jealousy and hatred.
Unaware that a pair of venomous eyes were watching her from afar, Zhi Wan was surrounded by a group of young noblewomen, admiring flowers, composing poetry, and chatting merrily in the garden.
The midday banquet was arranged in the waterside pavilion, with a screen separating the men’s and women’s seating areas. Everyone could drink, eat, enjoy the scenery, and compose poetry—a perfect arrangement.
Zhi Wan had just seated the young ladies, who were tired from walking, when a voice suddenly sounded beside her. “Is this seat taken?”
Turning her head, Zhi Wan realized that a round-faced girl had taken the seat next to her at some point.
“You are…” Zhi Wan looked at her in surprise. Among the young ladies who had admired flowers together earlier, she didn’t recall seeing this girl.
“My name is Ouyang Zhenzhu.” The round-faced girl introduced herself openly, resting her chin on her hand.
Zhi Wan nodded. “So it’s Miss Ouyang.”
Ouyang Zhenzhu looked at her with a smile. “I’ve heard about you for a long time but never had the chance to meet you. Today, I finally got to see you.”
Zhi Wan was surprised. “You’ve heard of me?”
“My brother, Ouyang Lei, is the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and works with your cousin. I heard about you from him,” Ouyang Zhenzhu explained.
“I see.” Zhi Wan nodded.
She had met Ouyang Lei a few times.
While eating, Ouyang Zhenzhu asked, “What do you usually do for leisure?”
What did she usually do for leisure?
Zhi Wan blinked and replied modestly, “I usually read books, paint, and admire flowers.”
“Sister Wan’er, even your pastimes are so refined.” Ouyang Zhenzhu suddenly felt a bit ashamed of herself.
No wonder her mother always criticized her—she couldn’t do this, couldn’t do that, and had none of the grace expected of a young lady.
In comparison, she really was quite useless.
“Then what about your cousin? What does he usually do?” Ouyang Zhenzhu seized the opportunity to ask further.
Zhi Wan paused, vaguely understanding why the other girl was being so friendly with her.
Another admirer of her cousin.
“I’m not close with my cousin, so I don’t know what he usually does,” Zhi Wan replied truthfully.
“Really? Living under the same roof, and you’re not close?” Ouyang Zhenzhu clearly didn’t believe her, nudging her elbow and winking. “I’m not like the others, just tell me.”
Zhi Wan looked at her sincerely. “Really, this time, I haven’t seen my cousin for half a year.”
Ouyang Zhenzhu’s face showed undisguised disappointment.
Zhi Wan glanced at her and couldn’t help but say, “If you want to know about my cousin, you’d be better off asking your brother. Isn’t he the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? He works with my cousin every day, so he should know him better.”
At the mention of her brother, Ouyang Zhenzhu pursed her lips. “My brother… he’s worse than an outsider.” She said this through gritted teeth.
Zhi Wan: “…”
Lu Xin, seeing the two whispering and chatting happily, felt a flash of malice in her eyes and deliberately chose to sit at their table.
Zhi Wan saw this, and a cold glint flickered in her eyes.
She had been wanting to teach Lu Xin a lesson, and now the girl had come to her on her own.
“Zhi Wan, Young Master Wang said you were the one who pushed him into the water!” Lu Xin glared at her hatefully, suddenly speaking loudly.
As soon as these words were spoken, the young ladies at the table looked at Zhi Wan in surprise.
Wang Zeren’s fall into the water had caused quite a stir earlier. Everyone had gone to watch and even laughed at him, but no one understood why he had fallen in.
Now, hearing Lu Xin’s words, the young ladies couldn’t help but wonder.
Could it really be that Zhi Wan had pushed Wang Zeren into the water?
But why would she do that?
Ouyang Zhenzhu also looked at Zhi Wan curiously. “Was it really you who pushed that Wang Zeren?”
Zhi Wan glanced at Lu Xin, who sat opposite her with a malicious expression, but she remained completely unruffled. Instead, she looked surprised. “Who is Young Master Wang?”
Before Lu Xin could speak, she looked at her with timid eyes, shrinking her shoulders. “I know you’ve never liked me, thinking I’m freeloading at the Duke’s mansion, and you’ve always looked down on me, treating me poorly everywhere. But I can endure all that. However, fabricating facts to slander me like this today is really… really too much… Could you… could you ask that so-called Young Master Wang to confront me face-to-face?”
Upon hearing this, the young ladies immediately felt sympathy for her. They hadn’t realized Zhi Wan’s situation in the Duke’s mansion was so difficult.
Although the Duchess of the Duke’s mansion cared for her, she couldn’t always look after her. Moreover, the servants below were adept at pretending obedience while acting otherwise. Zhi Wan, a young orphan girl, timid and meek, could only suffer in silence.
It seemed Lu Xin had bullied Zhi Wan quite often—look how frightened Zhi Wan was!
And now, she even wanted to frame Zhi Wan. It was truly too much.
For a moment, the young ladies were filled with righteous indignation and began to stand up for Zhi Wan.
“Lu Xin, don’t go too far,” Ouyang Zhenzhu was the first to denounce her.
“Exactly, what are you trying to achieve by slandering Zhi Wan with nothing but empty words?”
“One shouldn’t be so wicked. Bullying in private is bad enough, but to dare to falsely accuse someone in front of everyone—how shameless!”
“Lu Xin, you are truly malicious!”
Lu Xin watched as Zhi Wan played the victim in front of the young ladies, garnering sympathy, and her eyes widened in fury. Now, seeing the ladies chattering away as they condemned her, she gritted her teeth in hatred.
She pointed at Zhi Wan, exasperated and flustered, and said, “Don’t be fooled by her act. She’s nothing like this in private—she’s quite formidable.”
“So you mean to say that in private, you couldn’t outmatch Zhi Wan, and out of resentment, you deliberately slandered her in front of everyone? Lu Xin, you have no shame!” Ouyang Zhenzhu said with disdain.
Lu Xin, driven to the brink of reason, shouted loudly, “It was her who pushed Young Master Wang into the pond! I am not slandering her!”
“Lu Xin, who did you say pushed Young Master Wang?” Wei Shi, having heard the commotion, walked over and looked at her with a heavy gaze, filled with warning.