Who was staring at her?

Ling Jingshu seemed to sense something and looked back with unease.

The triangular-eyed man was extremely alert; almost the instant Ling Jingshu turned her head, he had already turned away.

Ling Jingshu’s gaze swept rapidly around. As far as she could see, there were only the laborers and peddlers common to the docks, along with passengers boarding and disembarking from ships — nothing unusual.

That unsettling feeling of being watched intently also vanished without a trace.

“A’Shu, what’s wrong?” Ling Xiao had noticed Ling Jingshu’s tension and unease.

Ling Jingshu steadied herself and smiled: “Nothing. It seemed for a moment as if someone was staring at our group. I was probably just being overly suspicious.”

Ling Jingxian giggled and chimed in: “You were always overly suspicious to begin with. In broad daylight like this, with us on an official vessel and this many guards with us — would any senseless bandit dare to have any ideas?”

Madam Jiang also laughed and said: “Cousin Shu is so beautiful that even with a veiled hat on, one can tell she is a ravishing beauty. The people on the docks can’t help but take a few extra looks.”

Being teased like that by Madam Jiang, Ling Jingshu found it hard to voice the faint unease remaining in her heart, and smiled self-deprecatingly: “It seems I was too on edge — I kept feeling as though someone was watching us.”

Ling Ji laughed in spite of himself: “Even if there were some ill-intentioned ruffians, they would absolutely not dare to set their sights on an official vessel. Don’t worry.”

River travel was convenient and well-developed, which had also given rise to a band of river pirates. These outlaws not only had boats but were agile and skilled swimmers, carrying out their raids in the dead of night at quiet and secluded stretches of the river.

However, no matter how bold river pirates might be, they would still give official vessels a wide berth and go around them.

Thieves do not fight with officials — what kind of bandit would dare to rob an official vessel?

Ling Jingshu pressed her lips together into a small smile and said nothing more.

Everyone returned to the ship and retreated to their respective cabins to rest.

The cooks who had gone to purchase supplies soon returned as well. They had bought fresh ingredients, and the midday meal was made exceptionally delicious. One dish in particular — steamed white fish — was especially fragrant and savory.

Ling Xiao loved fish above all else, and this steamed white fish suited his palate perfectly; he ate nearly all of it himself.

Ling Jingshu carefully picked out the fish bones for Ling Xiao and placed the tender, fresh fish meat into his bowl.

Sun Shi watched Ling Jingshu’s every move and felt her fondness for this quiet and gentle niece grow by several degrees. “Taking care” was not simply a phrase one said aloud — Ling Jingshu’s tender solicitude and unfailing attentiveness toward Ling Xiao was something everyone could see plainly.

“A’Shu, stop picking out fish bones for me.” Ling Xiao said quietly: “I’m almost full, and you haven’t even eaten yet!”

Ling Jingshu gave a perfunctory response, but her hands did not stop for a single moment.

To others watching her care for Ling Xiao, they would surely be praising her inwardly for being a gentle and considerate elder sister. But to her, all of this was the most natural thing in the world. She had never once regarded looking after Ling Xiao as a burden.

It was precisely because she had Ling Xiao that she had become stronger.

After lunch, everyone gathered as usual to chat idly.

Ling Jingxian smiled ingratiatingly: “Mother, I was wandering around the docks today and spotted a rouge shop with many fine quality products — I bought some specifically for you!”

Sun Shi’s eyes clearly showed a smile, but her mouth teased: “I think you bought too much and are splitting some off to give to me, trying to make a fool out of me so you can get me to replenish all the silver you spent.”

Having her scheme seen through, Ling Jingxian showed not the slightest embarrassment, and laughed unabashedly: “She who bore me knows me best. So, Mother — are you going to reimburse me or not?”

Everyone was tickled into laughter.

Sun Shi gave a gentle smile: “Oh, fine. Since you’ve had the nerve to come and beg, how could I possibly say no?”

Playful teasing laced with warmth and affection.

Ling Jingshu listened with a quiet smile, but her heart stirred with a faint wistfulness.

Only a young woman with a mother’s doting could afford to be willful and spoiled. Her own mother had passed away early; her father only cared about indulging himself in pleasure and entertainment, paying her no attention. And her grandmother, who seemed kind on the surface, had a cold heart beneath…

Compared to the thoroughly pampered Ling Jingxian, she was truly at a great disadvantage.

Fortunately, she still had A’Xiao, and they had each other.

Ling Ji deliberately coughed: “Mother cannot play favorites. It wasn’t only my sister who bought rouge and powder today.” Madam Jiang, his daughter-in-law, was too thin-skinned to say anything herself — but he, as her husband, had no such qualms about speaking up.

Besides, Madam Jiang had been subjected to no small amount of ill-treatment from her mother-in-law these past days. By speaking up now, Ling Ji was not without the intention of putting in a good word on his wife’s behalf.

Could Sun Shi fail to see what was on Ling Ji’s mind? She feigned exasperation and scolded him half-seriously: “A son who takes a wife and forgets his mother — that saying is completely true. All you know is how to dote on your wife. I really raised and loved you for nothing.”

Ling Ji did not argue back, simply smiling contentedly as he let Sun Shi scold him.

But Madam Jiang’s heart was warm and tender, and she cast a loving glance at her husband.

In those days before she had left her family home, her background had been distinguished and her looks and talents superior — suitors calling at the door had been more than a few. The Ling family had been among them. She had hidden behind a screen and, at a single glance, had set her heart on Ling Ji.

As it turned out, she had indeed not married the wrong man.

After their marriage, Ling Ji had always been warm and considerate toward her. Her in-laws had also been rather accommodating. Though she had not married into the splendor of a great and powerful clan, life had been comfortable and smooth.

If only she could carry a child sooner — that would be even better!

Ling Jingshu, who had been smiling and listening in silence all along, sighed with a tone of envy: “Cousin Xian and sister-in-law can both charge things to the family account — it’s genuinely enviable.”

Sun Shi immediately laughed: “Fine, fine — whatever you and A’Xiao spent today, have it added to my account as well.”

Ling Jingshu said “Oh, I couldn’t possibly” with her mouth, but her face was beaming with delight.

And so, the generous Sun Shi was all the more pleased.

In truth, the silver spent was nothing to speak of. The way the younger generation carried on like this was simply to amuse her. That sentiment was what truly made Sun Shi happiest.

Everyone talked and laughed, and the atmosphere was very warm and harmonious.

Ling Jingxian then recounted the scene at the docks to Sun Shi as an amusing story: “…At the time, I don’t know who it was that kept staring at Cousin Shu without looking away. It frightened Cousin Shu so much she was practically frozen in place. She even thought some bandits had set their sights on us!”

Sun Shi laughed: “In broad daylight, in full view of everyone, with us on an official vessel — what thief would dare to set his sights on an official vessel? Shu Jie’er doesn’t need to frighten herself.”

Subjected to yet another round of teasing, Ling Jingshu smiled helplessly: “Cousin Xian isn’t planning to mock me all the way to the capital, is she?”

Ling Jingxian was not the sort to press her advantage relentlessly. Hearing this, she raised her right fist with mock solemnity and swore an oath: “From now on I’ll only bring it up once a day to give everyone a laugh — not a second time.”

The moment she said it, everyone burst into laughter.

Amid the laughter and banter, the official vessel departed the dock and glided steadily forward.

River traffic was constant, with official vessels, private vessels, and merchant vessels coming and going. Nobody noticed that shortly after this official vessel departed, three civilian boats had followed quietly in its wake.