Sun Shi, seeing how exhausted the Ling family matriarch looked, said quickly: “Grandmother has endured so much hardship on this long journey — please rest first and settle in!”
The Ling family matriarch was consumed with worry and had no heart whatsoever for rest, and insisted: “Let me go see my eldest son first — then we can talk.”
Sun Shi could not prevail against the Ling family matriarch and had no choice but to agree.
Since the Ling family matriarch was going to look in on Ling Daye, everyone naturally followed. The whole party nearly filled the room to capacity, and all the attending manservants were sent out.
When the Ling family matriarch saw Ling Daye’s face, where illness was plain to see, grief rose at once within her. Then her thoughts turned to her daughter confined in prison, her fate uncertain, and she was even more overcome with weeping: “My son! How have you come to be so ill! And my poor, poor daughter! Heaven is truly unjust, to visit such suffering upon my children. This is carving out the heart of this old woman!”
The Ling family matriarch’s weeping set off the whole room — one by one, every person’s tears began to fall.
Ling Daye too burst into tears in an instant, called out “Mother,” and could not manage another word through his sobbing.
In the midst of all the weeping, Ling Jingshu’s composure stood out with striking contrast.
Li Shi, in her habitual manner, looked for any fault she could find. As she dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief, she said: “A’Shu, you child — how can you be so cold-hearted? Your aunt by marriage and her entire family have met with disaster, and you feel not even a trace of sorrow?”
The moment Li Shi opened her mouth, Ling Wuye instinctively turned to look. Seeing that Ling Jingshu’s expression was indeed tranquil — without a single tear — he felt genuinely annoyed and said sharply: “A’Shu! Your mother is speaking to you — did you not hear her?”
“I’m not deaf. How could I not hear.”
Ling Jingshu gave back as good as she got, without yielding an inch: “But with things as they are, no one can save Aunt by marriage and her family. What good does weeping here do! Better to think about how to arrange things so they eat and live a little more comfortably in prison.”
Ling Wuye was so thoroughly choked by this that he could barely catch his breath: “You — you unfilial, disrespectful thing! How dare you speak to me like this! Now that you’ve secured yourself a good match, you’ve got a stiff backbone and no longer see me, your own father, as worthy of regard! I will not let this pass today!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Ling Xiao stepped forward and placed himself in front of Ling Jingshu, saying in a firm and measured voice: “There was not a single wrong word in what A’Shu just said. Father is hearing only one side from Mother and rushing to reproach A’Shu — that is hardly appropriate.”
Ling Xiao had grown to a young man’s height, standing a full half a head taller than Ling Jingshu. Like a tree newly grown tall, standing firm to shelter the person behind him from wind and storm.
Ling Jingshu’s heart warmed, and she said quietly: “A’Xiao, you don’t need to worry on my behalf. I know I’ve done nothing wrong, and I’m not afraid of Father’s reproach. Step aside — let me speak with Father myself.”
Ling Xiao did not move so much as an inch, and without turning his head said: “You stand right behind me. Today, with me here, no one will harm you!”
Then he raised his head and looked directly at Ling Wuye, his gaze clear and unwavering: “Father, the Ministry of Rites delivered the auspicious date two days ago — A’Shu is to be married on the twentieth day of the eleventh month. That leaves only two more months, and she will leave to be a wife. These two months are the last time she will spend in her family home.”
“I hope A’Shu will leave for her wedding in happiness, with no one making things difficult for her at this time. If Father insists without asking about right or wrong, if you must punish someone — punish me instead.”
“In any case, from the time we were small to now, we siblings have leaned on each other through everything. Except for Grandmother’s love, we have never known what parental tenderness feels like.”
Ling Wuye: “……”
That last sentence struck like a hard slap, landing squarely on Ling Wuye’s face.
Through all these years, he had indeed been somewhat neglectful of this pair of children. Yet he was a man — he could hardly spend every day confined to the inner quarters looking after his children! The affairs of the inner quarters were rightly delegated to Li Shi…
“Father is probably thinking that caring for us ought to be the stepmother’s responsibility.”
Ling Xiao no longer used the word “mother,” instead using the unsparing term “stepmother”: “The stepmother puts on a pleasant face in public, yet in private she has paid no attention to us siblings whatsoever. I was blind and in need of care. Only A’Shu loved me, and Grandmother kept some watch over me. If not for that, I — the legitimate son of the Fifth Branch — would have become a wretched creature with not a soul to ask after him.”
“Coming to the capital for treatment of my eyes — it was A’Shu who came with me. Father had to remain in Dingzhou to look after Grandmother and could not accompany me, his son. As a son, I would not dare and will not harbor resentment.”
“Now my eyes have been cured. I study diligently at the Imperial Academy and hope that in time I may carve out a future for myself — one that will allow me to be a support for A’Shu. Father has never thought to do anything for A’Shu. What has likely been foremost in Father’s mind is what practical benefit can be extracted from this match.”
“As for the stepmother — seeing A’Shu secure such a fine match must have left her deeply displeased in her heart. And so she picks at every grain of rice looking for stones, stirring up trouble on purpose, trying to incite Father. She would be only too glad to see Father humiliate A’Shu publicly!”
“I truly don’t know whether Father is genuinely muddled or simply playing at it. A matter this plain to see — can you really not make it out? Or is it that you are content to go along with the current and use this opportunity to press down on A’Shu, so that in future you can direct her to serve the family’s interests?”
“If it is the former, I urge Father to keep his eyes open going forward and not be so easily deceived by people. Hearing a few honeyed words and then turning in fury to reproach your own children — you will only chill their hearts toward you.”
“If it is the latter, then there is even less to be said. A’Shu has endured so much hardship these past years. After she is married, let her live quiet and peaceful days. Father — if you wish to advance in your career and establish yourself in the capital, it is better to plot those things yourself. Don’t scheme at your own daughter’s expense.”
Ling Wuye’s face alternated between crimson and ashen.
Li Shi wore an expression of undisguised mortification.
The veil of pretense that had concealed everything for so long was stripped away without mercy. She, as the stepmother, had not the slightest defense to mount against the accusations of the legitimate son by the original wife.
Ling Jingshu’s eyes had long since blurred with tears.
That timid boy of former days who always hid behind her had grown into a man of stature and uprightness.
It was she who had always taken careful, patient care of him. Now, it was his turn to stand before her, to speak justice on her behalf, to shelter her from every storm and wind.
For this one moment, everything she had ever given was worth it.
Ling Xiao’s words rang out clearly to every ear in the room. For a moment, all weeping had ceased.
Even the Ling family matriarch dried her tears, and before Ling Wuye could erupt in wrathful shame, she spoke: “Old Five, close your mouth.”
“What time is this? One thing after another falling on this family — we should all be drawing together as one, our hearts in one place, our strength directed at one point. Don’t go adding to the confusion at a time like this. Never mind chilling the children’s hearts — even I, this old woman of mine, feel far from pleased hearing this.”
Ling Wuye sulked into silence, disgruntled.
The Ling family matriarch turned a stern eye on Li Shi and rebuked her sharply: “And you — behave yourself and keep your peace. You’ve barely arrived in the capital and you’re already stirring up trouble, inciting Old Five to quarrel with his own children. Try this again, and I’ll send you back to Dingzhou. Never permitted in the capital again.”
Li Shi was roundly scolded until her face burned with shame. She hung her head low in chagrin, and did not dare utter another sound.