After their long separation, everyone’s emotions ran high.

No sooner had they entered the inner hall than each person began pressing questions, unable to wait a moment longer.

“A’Shu, when the Empress was deposed, we heard that those around her were also implicated. You didn’t suffer any grievances, did you?”

“A’Shu, are you still serving the Empress?”

“A’Shu, how have you been getting along in the palace?”

“A’Shu…”

Faced with all those concerned expressions and all those voices of concern, warmth flooded through Ling Jingshu’s heart. Knowing that someone had been caring about her all along — that she had never truly been alone — was a feeling that was simply very, very good.

“Don’t rush, all of you — let me tell it slowly.”

Ling Jingshu quickly steadied herself. Her voice was calm and unhurried: “After the Empress was deposed, a good number of those around her died, and about half were thrown into the imperial prison. I also spent two months inside the imperial prison…”

Ling Xiao drew a sharp breath and reflexively cut in: “You weren’t mistreated inside the imperial prison, were you?”

Ling Jingyan’s face was etched with anxiety and worry: “Of course — the imperial prison must be a place where you can neither eat your fill nor keep warm. And then what? How did you manage to get out?”

Ling Jingshu smiled reassuringly: “Don’t worry. I had only been there two months when the Emperor personally issued a verbal decree releasing me from the imperial prison. Afterward, he even kept me in Zichen Palace as a Female Official. And just over three months ago, Noble Consort Xian herself requested that I be transferred to Lingbo Palace. I now serve at Her Ladyship’s side.”

Those few simple sentences left everyone in the hall wide-eyed and stunned.

Ling Jingshu spoke it all in a light and matter-of-fact tone, yet the things that had happened to her over this one year were truly astonishing!

Three different places in a single year!

And Zichen Palace in particular — that was the Emperor’s own bedchamber. There were countless people within the palace who had racked their brains trying to secure a post there. And Ling Jingshu had come and gone from it so easily! And how had Noble Consort Wei suddenly spoken up to request her?

Ling Daye had spent many years navigating officialdom, and was far more perceptive than the others. After a brief moment of thought, he sensed all manner of irregularities in the account. His expression turned grave as he asked: “A’Shu, why would the Emperor suddenly issue a verbal decree summoning you to Zichen Palace? And why would Noble Consort Wei make such a request of the Emperor? If there is a reason behind all of this, tell us everything.”

Ling Jingshu had no intention of telling the whole truth, and answered with breezy understatement: “To be honest, there are some reasons behind it. But all of that is in the past now, and there is nothing worth dwelling on. All you need to know is that I serve Noble Consort Wei now, and that Her Ladyship treats me very well.”

Ling Jingshu refused to say more, and Ling Daye could not very well press her further.

Ling Xiao and Ling Jingyan also held their tongues, privately resolving to ask her properly when they found a quiet moment alone with her later.

“A’Shu, today is New Year’s Eve — can you stay the night here and return to the palace tomorrow?” Sun Shi asked with a smile.

Ling Jingshu replied apologetically: “Palace rules require that I return before the palace gates close, and I may not spend the night outside. So I can only stay until the afternoon before I must go back.”

Such a long absence, and she could only stay for half a day!

The brightness faded from Ling Xiao’s handsome face, and a pang of sadness moved through him.

Yet after a year of study at the Imperial Academy, he was no longer the innocent, unworldly boy he had once been. Getting out of the palace for a visit was no easy matter — who knew when the next time they would see each other would be? Better not to say anything more about it, lest it cause A’Shu grief and distress.

Ling Xiao rallied his spirits and changed the subject: “A’Shu, Father went back to Dingzhou about a month ago.”

Ling Jingshu’s attention was immediately drawn over: “Did something happen in Dingzhou?”

Ling Xiao gave a nod and, without concealment, laid out the full circumstances one by one: “A letter came from Dingzhou saying that the fourth younger brother had been mischievous — he climbed a tree and fell down from it. Though his life was not in danger, one of his legs was injured. He will walk with some difficulty from now on. Mother wept and begged Father to go back, so Father packed his things and set off for Dingzhou.”

Ling Xiao’s account was restrained, yet the implication beneath his words was perfectly clear.

Ling Fou had lost the use of one leg, and recovery was all but impossible from this point forward.

Just like Ling Xiao in years past, when he had been blind — Ling Fou would never be able to sit for the imperial examinations in this lifetime. He could only be kept in the estate in comfort, eating and drinking well, a useless person for the rest of his days.

For stepmother Li Shi, who had placed such towering hopes in her son, this must have been a blow that was difficult to bear.

Whether this had been a genuine accident or Ling Ting’s doing in secret — whatever the case, Ling Fou’s life was now finished. No matter how heartbroken and despairing Li Shi might be, she could only accept this “accident.”

In her previous life, Li Shi had been ruthless and vicious, and had taken Ling Xiao’s life. In this life, this could be considered her recompense.

Ling Jingshu responded with a quiet sound of acknowledgment, her face showing no grief or sorrow whatsoever. She could have put on a performance, and she might have managed to deceive the members of the Ling household. But her mood was genuinely good today, and she had no desire to go through the motions.

Ling Daye felt a flicker of displeasure.

After all, Ling Fou was Ling Jingshu’s own younger brother. Upon hearing that he had been injured, she showed this degree of indifference.

Yet she had come back so rarely, and he, as her uncle, was not in a position to scold her over it.

Sun Shi saw the atmosphere becoming slightly strained and quickly smiled and changed the subject: “A’Shu, there is a happy occasion in the household that we haven’t had the chance to tell you about yet! A’Yan has had her match settled — she is to be married next year in the third month.”

Ling Jingshu was genuinely surprised and delighted: “Really? And who is the future cousin-in-law?”

At the mention of her own marriage, the usually cheerful and forthright Ling Jingyan became somewhat bashful: “You know him.”

Ling Jingshu thought for just a moment before she knew: “It must be Young Master Zhang!”

Ling Jingyan nodded, cheeks flushed pink: “Yes. After I turned fifteen this year, the Zhang Family came to the door to formally propose the match. Father and Mother felt the Zhang Family’s conduct was proper and upright, so they accepted.”

Truthfully, Ling Jingyan had not had any particular feeling for him at first. Zhang Jian had brazenly come calling time and time again, and the two of them would exchange volleys of banter whenever they met — yet quite unexpectedly, feelings had quietly grown between them. A perfect pair of bickering sweethearts!

Ling Jingshu felt genuinely happy for Ling Jingyan.

The Zhang and Ling Families were also well-matched in standing. That Zhang Jian had fallen for Ling Jingyan at first sight, and having married her, would certainly treat her well for the rest of her days.

…

After lunch.

Ling Jingshu returned to her long-missed private chambers and had a quiet, intimate talk with Ling Xiao.

“A’Shu, what exactly happened to you in the palace?” Ling Xiao asked urgently: “You’re keeping it from the others — don’t keep it from me too.”

Ling Jingshu smiled, and sure enough, she did not hide it from him. She slowly recounted everything that had happened inside the palace, one thing after another.

This telling alone took more than half an hour.

Ling Xiao’s handsome face first went pale, his expression tense. When he reached the part where the Emperor had summoned her to Zichen Palace, his face filled with fury and his hands clenched into tight fists.

It was only as he heard the later parts that he gradually began to relax.

“A’Shu, the imperial palace is truly a place that devours people whole and leaves nothing behind.” By the time Ling Xiao had heard it all, the rims of his eyes had gone red: “I genuinely cannot imagine how you endured this past year.”