Volume 3, Chapter 390 – My Sister Has the Bearing of a Noble Consort

By the time Lu Zhuxin opened her eyes again, it was already the second morning.

She stretched luxuriously.

Although her Eighth Realm cultivation meant she no longer needed sleep to rest, as someone who still valued the habits of an ordinary person, she liked to enjoy a good night’s sleep after finishing a full day’s business.

After a simple, familiar routine of getting dressed, she pushed the door open and walked out.

Outside, quite a few young ladies who had come to participate in the selection were gradually getting up one after another, pushing open their doors and stepping into the courtyard.

As Lu Zhuxin opened her door, a few of the young ladies cast curious glances her way.

Likely it was because Lu Zhuxin’s face looked rather young, which made people unable to help but take a second look.

But they quickly withdrew their gazes.

Anyone who could pass the first round of testing was no mediocre talent.

No one would look down on her simply for her young appearance.

Lu Zhuxin gave these people a brief glance and lost interest right away.

With two destined female leads present here, these young ladies were destined to remain mere background.

Cheng Yinyin also came out into the courtyard. Seeing Lu Zhuxin, she quickened her pace. “Second Sister, you’re up.”

Lu Zhuxin turned around and nodded at Cheng Yinyin. “Yinyin, did you sleep well yesterday?”

Cheng Yinyin’s makeup today was a touch heavier than yesterday’s.

Sleep well?

How could she possibly sleep well!

The mere thought that those two women, Cheng Lixia and Cheng Lixue, had passed the first round of testing so easily had kept Cheng Yinyin awake with anger.

Still, thinking of what she was about to do today, a smile rose to her face again.

She walked up beside Lu Zhuxin and circled around her once.

“What is it?” Lu Zhuxin raised a hand to smooth her skirt, asking in confusion, “Is there something odd about me?”

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Cheng Yinyin said, “Second Sister’s outfit today is even more beautiful than yesterday’s.”

“Really.” Lu Zhuxin said bashfully. “I’m not very good at dressing myself up.”

“Second Sister is putting herself down again.” Cheng Yinyin leaned in close to Lu Zhuxin’s ear and said quietly, “I think that when it comes to looks alone, there are hardly more than a handful of people in all of Huayue Court who could match Second Sister.”

“Still, Second Sister is missing just one small thing to be truly perfect.”

Hearing this, Lu Zhuxin understood at once.

‘This girl is about to stir up trouble again.’

She played along with Cheng Yinyin’s words. “Yinyin, tell me quickly, what am I missing?”

Cheng Yinyin smiled lightly and took out a box of rouge from her storage ring.

“What Second Sister is missing, of course, is this!”

“My special Winning Rouge!”

Lu Zhuxin looked at the rouge box in Cheng Yinyin’s hand.

‘Oh, so she wants to tamper with my face this time.’

But she had already tampered with the clothes, so why go to the trouble of tampering with the rouge too?

‘Does she feel that wasn’t enough, and wants to add another layer of insurance?’

Lu Zhuxin grumbled inwardly, but out loud she said, “What kind of rouge is this? It smells so nice.”

Cheng Yinyin said, “This is a limited edition rouge that Five Immortals House specially made for the young ladies taking part in the selection. I waited in line a long time to grab one.”

‘Five Immortals House? The Shuyuan Commandery branch of Five Immortals House?’

Lu Zhuxin was taken aback.

‘The yellow foxes really don’t let a single chance to scrape up some spirit stones slip by.’

She pressed her lips together. “Something this precious.”

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Before she could finish, Cheng Yinyin cut in directly. “Something this precious should absolutely be shared among us sisters!”

She pushed at Lu Zhuxin’s shoulders, leading her over to the vanity table.

“Come on, come on, Second Sister, let me help you.”

Lu Zhuxin did not refuse, letting her do as she pleased.

After about the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Cheng Yinyin held onto Lu Zhuxin’s shoulders. “Second Sister, I’m done! Come take a look at how it turned out.”

Cheng Yinyin stepped back two paces, the words on the tip of her tongue suddenly halting.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Zhuxin lifted her head and looked at herself in the mirror.

Then, her fine brows arched upward.

Lu Zhuxin didn’t know how to apply makeup and had always kept to a bare or light face.

The person reflected in the mirror now wore vermilion on her lips and a floral ornament on her forehead.

The earlier hint of youthful plainness had faded away, and that flawless foundation of beauty was now revealing the full charm it was always meant to have.

“This look is a bit unfair.”

She murmured to herself.

She had come to take part in the selection, but she had no real intention of actually entering the palace as a consort.

Lu Zhuxin turned to look at Cheng Yinyin, who had gone completely still. “Yinyin. Will this really be alright.”

Cheng Yinyin clenched her fists and pinched herself hard on the thigh.

She suddenly realized that she and her mother had both been wrong. Cheng Lixia was nothing to worry about.

This Cheng Lixue was clearly the greatest threat in this entire selection.

Even as another woman, she had felt a fleeting moment of being stunned the instant she saw this face.

Cheng Yinyin laughed dryly. “Second Sister is so beautiful that she wouldn’t lose out even compared to the Noble Consort herself.”

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“It’s not impossible that Second Sister might one day enter the palace and become a Noble Consort herself.”

“I’d really love to see the day Second Sister becomes a Noble Consort and stands as an equal beside Noble Consort Wei.”

Lu Zhuxin could hear the encouragement laced into Cheng Yinyin’s words.

“Yinyin, you’re joking. Whether I can even pass the selection is still up in the air. How could I ever dream of the position of Noble Consort.”

“Second Sister, everything I’m saying is the truth.” Cheng Yinyin’s eyes rolled, and she continued, “Still, if Second Sister wants to pass the selection, there is indeed one obstacle in the way.”

Lu Zhuxin tilted her head. “What obstacle?”

Cheng Yinyin glanced outside, then back at Lu Zhuxin, looking as though she wanted to say something yet was holding back. “Second Sister, I don’t know if I should say it.”

Seeing this, Lu Zhuxin’s expression grew a touch more serious. “Yinyin, please, just say it. I’m not a child anymore. I can tell right from wrong.”

Seeing this, Cheng Yinyin said, “Second Sister, right now, your only obstacle is Eldest Sister.”

Hearing this, Lu Zhuxin sneered inwardly.

‘So this is what Cheng Yinyin has planned.’

First, use the position of Noble Consort to stir up Chi Muxue’s greed.

Then encourage Chi Muxue to scheme against Chi Xiyan.

Once Chi Muxue had harmed Chi Xiyan, Cheng Yinyin would secretly stir up trouble and expose Chi Muxue.

This was a scheme to kill two birds with one stone.

That Cheng Yinyin could think of such a plan was really not the least bit surprising.

Lu Zhuxin lowered her eyes, a shadow settling over her face.

She said nothing, only staring quietly down at the rouge box before her.

Cheng Yinyin grew nervous.

‘This is bad. Could this girl still hold some lingering feelings for Cheng Lixia?’

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‘Mother told me to be careful and think this through over time.’

‘Am I moving too fast by encouraging her right now?’

Just then, Lu Zhuxin raised her head, her gaze turning sinister.

“Yinyin, you’re right.”

“Of all the people out there, the only one who could truly threaten me is Eldest Sister.”

Lu Zhuxin’s voice dropped low.

“All this time, I’ve been nothing but Eldest Sister’s puppet.”

“She controls me, orders me around, treats me as a servant.”

“And yet, I’ve always treated her as my closest kin.”

“How laughable. It wasn’t until I came back to the Cheng family that I finally saw her true face.”

Lu Zhuxin clenched her fists tightly.

“I’ve had enough of her control.”

“Yinyin, teach me!”

“Tell me how I can break through this obstacle she poses.”

Cheng Yinyin looked at Lu Zhuxin’s face.

In the eyes before her, she could see hatred and ambition.

The nervousness from a moment ago slowly faded away.

‘Mother was right. This girl really is restless by nature.’

Cheng Yinyin curled the corner of her mouth. “Good! Second Sister, lean in close. I’ll tell you everything in detail.”