Chapter 12: Ah, the second male lead appears. (2/2)

How could she forget the kind of person her elder brother was? Zhu Fengyin was as heartless as her father, how could she expect anything more from a power-hungry man like him.

Her death back then was of her own doing, she let her guard down. That was the only way She ended up the way she did. She forgot the two rules of survival in the Zhu Family ”Never let your guard down or you would die” and 'power begets power”.

Zhu Fengyin sighed ”We have to be careful around the third brother.”

Su Liya nodded”To beat a master manipulator like him, we have to make sure we have all the cards on our table. Starting with the sixth Prince”

*******

On the day of the banquet.

Members of the noble families all stepped out in grand style to attend the Emperor's banquet. Carriage after carriage rode into the palace, as various high ranking families attended in mass.

The banquet was to celebrate thirty years of the Emperor's rule. It was a major event of the year that a lot of foreign dignitaries were invited.

The Zhu family arrived at the events in two carriages, Minister Zhu and madam Zhu were both seated in the carriage in front while the young mistresses were in the second carriage.

The carriages were allowed in order of seniority, carriages belonging to members of the royal family and high titles families such as Dukes, earl's and viscounts were allowed inside before everyone else.

The Zhu family were titled Earls but since minister Zhu wasn't from the primary line of the family but the fifth son of the family he was only a mare Lord. They had to wait until it was their turn.

A short while later it got to its turn, the carriage moved forward and came to a stop at the gate. Two servants rushed down from the carriage, brought down a step each and placed it at the foot of each carriage.

Minister Zhu came down first, hr stretch out his hands and helped Madam Zhu down the steps. Minister Zhu and madam Zhu put on the pretence of a loving couple for the public to see but privately were always in discord.

After the couple were out their daughters followed them closely. Zhu Fei'er who was closest to the door came down first. Servants were not allowed to ride with the family so Su Liya and the other maids followed the carriage on foot.

Su Liya a modern time day who even though was used to the hard life, had a difficult time getting accustomed to life in ancient times. Su Liya cursed the heavenly empress and the author of the book dizzy scholar all through the trip.

”Ahh! My legs are on fire. Why Why Why did she have to name a cannon fodder Su Liya and then make her a maid! Living in these ancient times as a maid was pure torture!”, Su Liya thought as she stood by the step and helped Zhu Fengyin come down.

Zhu Fenfang was the last to come down and like all white lotus female leads out there she made sure to slip down the step. As she fell Zhu Fenfeng was caught by a tall lanky male dressed in black.

Su Liya rolled her eyes when she saw who caught the tumbling female lead.

”wow like every idol drama out there, dizzy scholar never disappoints,” Su Liya said watching as the female fell into Lu Yaozhu's arms. ”Ah, the second male lead finally appears”