After that, Ling Jingshu remained quietly in her seat without speaking.

Ling Daye expressed, in tactful and roundabout terms, his wish to travel back to the capital together with His Highness the Crown Grandson.

After the terror of being attacked by bandits in the night, the Ling family’s guards and boatmen had suffered considerable casualties — they had neither the courage nor sufficient hands to set off for the capital on their own. Bringing them along posed no real inconvenience.

The Crown Grandson nodded in casual agreement. “Rest and recuperate for half the day. Set out after midday. Your official boat may follow along when we depart.”

Ling Daye was privately delighted.

Under ordinary circumstances, Ling Daye had few opportunities to come into contact with this esteemed Crown Grandson, though he had heard no shortage of rumors about him.

It was said that the young Crown Grandson’s temperament and disposition were the very image of the Emperor in his younger days — his moods difficult to read and his thoughts profoundly deep. The fear and reverence the Eastern Palace’s officials held toward this Crown Grandson even surpassed what they felt toward the Crown Prince himself…

Yet looking at things today, the rumors had greatly exaggerated the matter. The Crown Grandson was not so difficult to approach as all that!

Everything that needed to be said had been said; it was time to take their leave.

Ling Daye rose to his feet, bowed his hands, and made ready to take his leave. “This official has troubled His Highness the Crown Grandson for quite some time and is genuinely uneasy at heart. We shall now take our leave with the rest of the household.”

A glimmer crossed the Crown Grandson’s eyes. He gave an order. “Wang Tong, see Official Ling off and back to his boat on this king’s behalf.”

His Highness the Crown Grandson is showing quite special regard for this Official Ling!

Wang Tong was quietly astonished, yet answered at once without hesitation.

“Those rumors are not to be believed at all. Who ever said His Highness the Crown Grandson has unpredictable moods and is difficult to approach? He is clearly gracious and attentive, treating worthy guests with the greatest of courtesy!”

After returning to the cabin of their official boat, Ling Daye said with a face full of joy, “What was said about a blessing in disguise — how true those words are, not even by half!”

By way of this night’s events, a completely natural and justified connection had been forged with the Crown Grandson, and now they could travel back to the capital together all the way. Though they were not riding the same boat, when the boats moored to rest, going aboard to pay one’s respects to His Highness would be entirely unavoidable — and that was an excellent opportunity to ingratiate oneself and find favor…

Thinking of all this, Ling Daye was even more beaming with delight.

Sun Shi understood Ling Daye’s thoughts better than anyone, and said with a soft laugh, “My lord has served in the Ministry of Works for many years. The position of Director in the Bureau of Works has not moved up in rank for several years now. If he can cultivate a relationship with His Highness the Crown Grandson, once Vice Minister Qiao retires — so long as His Highness the Crown Grandson says the word — that position will in all likelihood be his.”

These words struck right at the deepest longing in Ling Daye’s heart.

Even so, with a group of younger family members present, Ling Daye felt the need to maintain a certain air of dignity and propriety as the elder of the household. He cleared his throat and said, “Having the opportunity to draw closer to His Highness the Crown Grandson is something I am naturally pleased about. Whether or not I receive a promotion is of no particular consequence.”

Not a word of it sincere!

Ling Jingshu let out an inward scoff.

Ling Daye with his whole heart set on rising in rank and amassing wealth — now that he had laid eyes on this great tree that was the Crown Grandson, he could not wait to attach himself to it. Even the sheer terror of last night, when they had narrowly escaped with their lives, seemed to have been completely forgotten.

But for her, this was in fact something of a stroke of good fortune as well. If Ling Daye were to forge a relationship with the Crown Grandson, it would be considerably more convenient for her in the future when she wished to seek an audience with the Crown Grandson herself…

Just as she was thinking this, Ling Daye had already looked over at her with a genial expression and said, “A’Shu, today in his presence, you conducted yourself with great propriety. What happened last night was entirely sudden and caught us off guard. I would never have thought that you, a delicate young lady of the inner chambers, would prove yourself more capable than both Ling Ji and me — two grown men.”

From the formerly indifferent “Shu Jie’er,” to the presently warm and affectionate “A’Shu” — it spoke volumes as to how much Ling Daye appreciated what Ling Jingshu had shown in both last night and today’s conduct.

Ling Jingshu pressed her lips into a gentle smile and replied softly, “Your niece only did what was within her duty. To receive such great praise from Great-Uncle is enough to leave your niece overwhelmed with gratitude.”

Sun Shi immediately smiled and joined in. “What is there to feel overwhelmed about? It is not only my lord who wishes to praise you — even I, as your Aunt by marriage, have prepared quite a store of words of praise!”

“Composure without panic or confusion under crisis, boldness paired with careful thought, calm and steady in her response.” Jiang Shi looked at Ling Jingshu with eyes full of admiration. “This quality of spirit and nerve is rare in the world.”

Even Ling Jing’yan spoke up to agree, however unwillingly. “Indeed — at the time, I was frightened senseless. All I could do was cry.”

After this series of events, everyone’s impression of Ling Jingshu had changed significantly for the better.

Ling Jing’yan’s feelings were likely the most complicated of all. Before, the most she had thought was that Ling Jingshu’s looks were perhaps just a touch better than her own. Now, she suddenly found that the gap between them was by no means a mere touch.

It was more like the difference between a wild roadside flower and a tree peony in full bloom…

That feeling — sharp, stinging and sour all at once!

She could not even summon any real jealousy. Only a heart full of dejection and wistful sighs.

At lunch, Ling Jing’yan was entirely unlike her usual self and barely said a word the whole time. Like an eggplant hit by frost, she was wilted and listless without a shred of energy.

Ling Jingshu took in every shift in Ling Jing’yan’s expression, thought it over for a moment, and guessed what it was that had put Ling Jing’yan in such low spirits.

Ling Jing’yan was of a reasonably kind nature at heart. It was only that her family had spoiled and indulged her to the point of developing a proud and haughty temperament. Now, finding herself so thoroughly outshone, it would have been strange if her mood were anything but sour.

She would be staying at her uncle’s residence going forward and would inevitably find herself needing to rely on them at various times. Maintaining good relations with the main branch of the family was an absolute necessity. That was precisely why Ling Jingshu had been cultivating Ling Daye’s goodwill at every turn up to this point.

So Ling Jingshu did not mind coaxing Ling Jing’yan a little.

After lunch, Ling Jing’yan returned to her cabin, and Ling Jingshu followed her in, calling out, “Cousin Yan.”

Ling Jing’yan gave a listless sound in reply.

Ling Jingshu took Ling Jing’yan’s hand and said with a soft, smiling inquiry, “Cousin Yan — are you angry with me? Why have you refused to acknowledge me all day today?”

“Of course not.” Ling Jing’yan answered quickly, then paused and, with obvious reluctance, offered a quiet explanation. “I was terribly frightened last night. I haven’t quite recovered my wits all day today. I simply haven’t been in the mood to talk. I certainly wasn’t intentionally snubbing you.”

This wasn’t entirely untrue, either.

The harrowing events of the previous night were still vivid before her eyes. Even now, the memory made her heart pound.

Yet how had Ling Jingshu found the courage to follow those bandits of her own accord?

And today, she had remained perfectly composed while helping to smooth things over for her father…

Comparing people truly is infuriating enough to bring one to death’s door!

Ling Jing’yan pressed her lips together in a vexed pout.

Ling Jingshu had seen through Ling Jing’yan’s thoughts, but chose not to expose them. She only said quietly, “In truth, I was also very frightened at the time. But when things had already come to that point, being frightened was of no use. Those bandits had come specifically for me — I had no choice but to brace myself and face it.”

After a pause she added, “On such a desperately dangerous night as last night, your family stayed together, and there was no way to spare any attention for me and A’Xiao. That was entirely understandable. And with me and A’Xiao together, neither did we have the courage to call any of you over.”

Ling Jing’yan listened to these words, and the furrow between her brows smoothed out. The guilt that had been lingering in her heart dissipated by more than half, and she found herself letting out an involuntary sigh. “A’Shu, your heart is generous and broad. As long as you don’t hold it against us, I am relieved.”

Even though she still felt somewhat stung inside, she certainly had no face to let it show.

Ling Jing’yan rallied her spirits and said with a smile, “We encountered His Highness the Crown Grandson — that counts as a blessing born of misfortune.”

Ling Jingshu picked up on Ling Jing’yan’s lead. “Even so, this Crown Grandson does not seem particularly easy to approach!”