Everyone at the Ling residence had been waiting with eager anticipation.

Even Li Shi, seething with bitter jealousy and resentment, had no choice but to force a smile onto her face and stand at the gate to welcome them — the misery of it plain to see. What stung most was that Ling Wuye had specifically instructed her: “Don’t stand beside me — take A’Fou and stand at the back. We don’t want A’Shu to feel unsettled when she sees you.”

Li Shi’s face twisted with fury she could scarcely contain.

Why should she be treated this way?

She was Ling Wuye’s lawfully wedded second wife, Ling Jingshu’s legitimate stepmother. And yet now she was to be outranked and pushed aside by that wretched girl? Just because that wretched girl had caught Empress Wei’s eye during a palace visit, and happened to marry into a good match?

That Ling Wuye would fawn on that wretched girl to this extent, treating her — his own wife — like this, was infuriating beyond endurance.

Ling Jingshu could be triumphant for a time, but not for a lifetime. Once the fresh excitement of the new marriage faded and Wei Yan took concubines and bedchamber attendants, she would see what face Ling Jingshu had left to strut about with then!

Li Shi brooded in furious indignation, while pulling Ling Fou along to stand at the very back, an expression of wounded grievance on her face.

Ling Fou was still young. Looking up, she asked: “Mother, Big Sister and her husband are coming home — why aren’t we standing at the front to welcome them? Why do we have to be at the very back? Is it because Big Sister doesn’t like us?”

Li Shi felt the remark land squarely on her rawest nerve. She darkened her expression and shot Ling Fou a sharp look: “Quiet! If your father hears that kind of talk, he won’t spare you a scolding.”

Ling Fou shrank back slightly and dared not make another sound.

……

Before long, Wei Yan arrived with Ling Jingshu.

Seeing that the household had opened the main gates to welcome them, Ling Jingshu was not particularly surprised.

She was now the sister-in-law of Empress Wei — the Empress’s own younger brother’s wife — which meant her opportunities to enter the palace for audiences would be plentiful. That standing and prestige was more than enough to earn her a place of special honor and extra regard from the Ling family. Knowing the natures of Ling Daye and Ling Wuye, they would certainly do everything to dote on and elevate her, as a daughter of the house who had married brilliantly.

She let her gaze pass over Li Shi, standing there at the back with a face full of suppressed misery, and felt a brief flash of satisfaction in her heart.

“A’Shu, you and your husband have finally come.”

With Li Shi serving no useful function, the task of greeting and making welcoming conversation fell naturally to Sun Shi.

Sun Shi stepped forward warmly, took Ling Jingshu’s hands and looked her over, smiling with relief: “Look at you — your cheeks are so rosy. Your husband must be treating you very well. We can all put our hearts at ease.”

Ling Wuye also wore a beaming expression, greeting Wei Yan with cheerful pleasantries.

Ling Xiao could not find an opening to speak just yet. His gaze was fixed closely on Ling Jingshu.

Before coming, Ling Jingshu had applied a generous amount of powder and rouge, concealing most of the weariness from a nearly sleepless night, the shadows under her eyes largely covered as well. But to a careful eye, some traces still showed.

Ling Xiao was seventeen now. Though not yet married, he had some vague understanding of the matters between men and women. His heart welled with both protectiveness and a sort of sour feeling — that sensation of “A’Shu has been taken away by someone” came over him again.

And so the younger brother-in-law found himself nursing a subtle, inexplicable dissatisfaction toward the brother-in-law who was making his first proper visit to the family. His manner in speaking to him remained cool and remote throughout what followed.

Ling Wuye kept shooting meaningful looks in Ling Xiao’s direction.

This was a son-in-law of such distinguished standing. They should be fawning on him at every turn — how dare Ling Xiao show him a sulky face? Did he not understand that his future prospects depended largely on Empress Wei’s patronage? Could he not manage to squeeze out a smile?

Ling Xiao paid no attention, keeping his face impassive, his heart in a dark, sulky mood.

Wei Yan was acutely perceptive and quickly noticed something amiss. He simply said with an easy smile: “Father-in-law, there is something I presume to raise — though I’m not sure whether I should.”

Ling Wuye immediately smiled in return: “We are family now. Whatever it is, my dear son-in-law, speak freely.”

At the words “dear son-in-law,” Ling Xiao’s mouth gave an involuntary twitch. He shot Ling Wuye a sidelong glance and quietly turned his head to the side.

Wei Yan caught this and could not help an inward laugh.

This Ling Xiao — though he and Ling Jingshu were twins born of the same mother, he was far less composed than Ling Jingshu, his feelings written openly on his face. He would need a great deal more tempering before he was ready.

With that level of inner composure, how was he ever going to enter officialdom and navigate its currents?

But such matters of Ling Xiao’s temperament and personality — those could wait to be addressed gradually in the days to come. What mattered most right now was first to settle the matter of moving Ling Xiao into the Wei residence.

“Your son-in-law is newly married. The Emperor has been especially gracious and granted me a half-month holiday. After that half-month, I must return to duty at the palace. With the Emperor gravely ill and in need of constant care, it is not unusual for me to go ten days or more without being able to return to the residence. The Wei estate is not small, but with only A’Shu living there by herself, I truly cannot feel at ease.”

Wei Yan continued with a look of sincere earnestness: “And so I would like to ask A’Xiao to also reside at the Wei estate going forward. For one thing, the Wei estate is very close to the Imperial Academy, so he would not need to live in the Academy’s dormitories — with A’Shu to attend to his daily needs, it would be most convenient. Furthermore, the Wei estate is quiet with few people, making it well suited for study. For another, with A’Xiao there for company, A’Shu would not feel lonely.”

“This request is somewhat presumptuous, and ordinarily I would not raise it. However, knowing that Father-in-law cares most for A’Shu and values A’Xiao’s future, I have thought it over carefully and have come to take the liberty of asking. I hope Father-in-law will consent.”

This matter was something Ling Jingshu had mentioned before the wedding.

Ling Wuye had already been mentally prepared, and hearing Wei Yan put it so thoroughly and thoughtfully, he was happy to go along with it — he agreed without hesitation: “How admirable that my son-in-law has thought of everything so carefully. From now on, it is A’Xiao who will be in your debt.”

Wei Yan smiled and replied: “Father-in-law need not be so formal. It is A’Xiao who would be doing me the favor, by staying at the Wei estate to keep A’Shu company. I am the one who should be thanking A’Xiao.”

Saying this, he turned to Ling Xiao and said with full sincerity: “A’Xiao, I — your brother-in-law — am taking the liberty of asking this of you. I hope you will keep A’Shu company from here on and not let her feel lonely and isolated.”

There was no denying it — Wei Yan truly had a gift for words and deeds.

That speech went straight to Ling Xiao’s heart, and the earlier resentment was swept clean from his mind in an instant: “Brother-in-law, rest easy at the palace. With me here, A’Shu won’t be lonely.”

And so he finally got those words out — “Brother-in-law.”

A pleased and satisfied light flickered in Wei Yan’s eyes.

……

On the other side, the women were also seated together in conversation.

Li Shi — predictably ignored and unseen by all — sat nursing a smoldering fury in her chest, listening as Sun Shi and Jiang Shi asked Ling Jingshu warmly about the small affairs of married life.

“Is your husband treating you well?”

“Did you go to the palace yesterday to see Empress Wei?”

“The Wei estate is a residence bestowed by the Emperor — I imagine it must be even grander than our Ling residence.”

Ling Jingshu answered each question with a smile: “Yes, Wei Yan treats me very well. Yesterday when we went to the palace for the audience, both Her Majesty and the Emperor bestowed generous gifts. The consorts of the various palaces also gave gifts. The Wei estate is very spacious — more than double the size of the Ling residence.”

That happiness and sweetness were brimming from her every feature, almost overflowing.

Li Shi was wearing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes and was just about to add an acidic remark or two, when she saw Bai Yu come hurrying in, leaning close to Ling Jingshu’s ear and whispering a few words.

Ling Jingshu’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly.