The Second Miss of the Su family was the niece of the Crown Princess Consort, whose maiden name was Su. The Third Miss of the Jiang family was the legitimate daughter of the Duke of England’s residence, and upon meeting the Crown Prince, she would address him as Cousin-Uncle.

These two young ladies were both of the highest caliber in both family background and appearance — each among the most celebrated noble daughters of the capital’s great families, and the most fitting candidates for the position of Crown Grandson’s Primary Consort.

In terms of family background, the Third Miss Jiang had a slight edge. The Duke of England’s residence had endured for two hundred years, its influence immense, its foundations deep and far-reaching. The Third Miss Jiang was the sole legitimate daughter of the Duke of England’s residence, and was deeply cherished.

In terms of looks and talent, however, the Second Miss Su was the stronger choice. The Su family was a household of scholarly tradition; the Second Miss Su had read widely and deeply, and was outstanding in her learning — she bore the distinction of being called the foremost literary talent among the young ladies of the capital.

It came down to how the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort chose to weigh it.

The Crown Princess Consort had no wish to discuss it further, and deliberately steered the conversation elsewhere: “Let us not speak of such things. By the way, Changping — how have you and the Prince Consort been lately?”

“Not well at all.” With no outsiders present, Princess Changping no longer felt the need to conceal anything; a shadow of impatience and gloom settled across her brows and eyes.

The Crown Princess Consort offered gentle words of counsel and comfort: “Husband and wife do not carry grudges overnight. Do stop being so cold — let the Prince Consort come to the princess residence more often.”

Princess Changping let out a sharp, cold laugh: “Last month the Prince Consort took two beautiful maidservants to his bed. He has been thoroughly enjoying himself these days. How could he possibly have the inclination to come to the princess residence and endure my cold temper?”

The Crown Princess Consort cast a glance at Princess Changping.

The Prince Consort took beautiful maidservants — and you have not been idle either! Not two months ago, had you not just replaced your latest handsome inner attendant?

Of course, such thoughts were fit only for the mind — they were absolutely not things that could ever be said aloud.

The Crown Princess Consort shifted to a different approach and continued persuading: “You and the Prince Consort have been married for several years now, and there has still been no child between you. The Prince Consort’s heart must naturally be anxious. If you were willing to lower yourself just a little, and conceive an heir sooner — give birth to a son — the Prince Consort’s wandering inclinations would return home.”

At the mention of an heir, Princess Changping’s expression grew even more indifferent: “I am still young. I do not wish to have children so early.”

Bearing a child was such an ordeal, and it would damage her beautiful appearance — she had no wish for any of that.

Besides, every time she laid eyes on Xu Yuan’s utterly vulgar face, revulsion welled up from the very bottom of her heart. Where would she find the mood to bear him any child?

Hmph! If it were not for Mother Empress’s persistent refusal to permit it, she would have long since dissolved this marriage with Xu Yuan.

Thinking of all this, Princess Changping’s mood grew increasingly foul. A measure of it showed plainly on her face.

The Crown Princess Consort studied Princess Changping. In her heart she quietly reflected: Changping had been married for four years, and this year she was already twenty. A woman of this age would ordinarily be the mother of at least one child by now. It was only Princess Changping who could be this willful.

The Xu family, no matter how anxious they might feel in their hearts, did not dare press her.

Who did not know that the Emperor doted on Princess Changping, and that Empress Xu regarded Princess Changping as the very apple of her eye? The Xu family — where would they find the courage to go up against Princess Changping?

Seeing that Princess Changping looked thoroughly impatient, the Crown Princess Consort said no more. She quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.

Inside the carriage.

Sun Shi and Jiang Shi turned to look at Ling Jingshu at the same moment, without any prior arrangement. Their gazes held a note of astonishment, a note of wonder — as though they were seeing Ling Jingshu for the very first time.

Ling Jingshu remained quite composed. She returned their gazes with a smile: “Big Aunt by Marriage, Sister-in-Law by marriage, why are you both looking at me like that? Has a flower sprouted on my face?”

Jiang Shi laughed and teased her: “No flower on your face — but one has certainly bloomed in your mouth. Look at you just now with Princess Changping. Your words came out one after another like honey, each line sweeter than the last.”

Sun Shi could not help adding: “That’s right, A’Shu. When did you become so eloquent?”

On ordinary days, Ling Jingshu was gentle and quiet. On the occasional moments when her sharpness showed itself, her words could be cutting as a blade. The kind of honeyed tongue and silver speech she had shown today — that had truly never been seen before.

It was as if she had suddenly become a different person.

It left people thoroughly unaccustomed to it.

Ling Xiao felt equally puzzled in his heart, but the words that came out of his mouth were a natural and instinctive defense of Ling Jingshu: “That Princess Changping had such a sharp and hostile manner — she was clearly looking to provoke trouble on purpose. It’s a good thing A’Shu is so eloquent. Otherwise, we would have come off badly today.”

Watching Ling Xiao rush to defend her the way he did, a wave of warmth surged through Ling Jingshu’s heart, and the corners of her lips curved upward without her noticing.

“A’Xiao has hit upon exactly what was in my heart.”

Ling Jingshu naturally had no intention of revealing the true reasoning in her mind. She followed the thread of Ling Xiao’s words and continued: “A wise person does not suffer losses that are right in front of them, after all! Princess Changping looked openly hostile — had I handled things poorly, I would only have drawn her resentment and displeasure, and brought trouble upon the Ling family. Better to steel myself, swallow my pride, and coax her into a good mood.”

The benefits of having done so were plain enough, as events had shown.

She had avoided making an enemy of Princess Changping at their very first meeting, and had even coaxed her way into an invitation from the Princess. In a few days, she would be able to go to the princess residence to attend the banquet with complete legitimacy.

There was reason in that, when put this way.

Sun Shi nodded approvingly: “A’Shu handled it exactly right.” The key thing was not to bring trouble upon the Ling family!

Jiang Shi understood Sun Shi’s thinking very well, and smiled upon hearing this: “Of course it was the right thing to do — only, it must have cost A’Shu a great deal.”

Ling Jingshu had never once bowed or lowered her head before the Crown Grandson or Prince Yan. Yet today she had endured it all and spoken with such submissiveness and humility. What a weight of grievance she must have swallowed inside.

Ling Jingshu gave a faint smile: “In truth, there was nothing particularly difficult about it. It is only that before, I was too willful and reckless — not knowing how vast the sky and earth truly are.”

It was also fortunate that the Crown Grandson had not held her earlier offenses against her, and that Prince Yan had not been angered by her sharp tongue. Otherwise, could she have gone on living safe and sound to this day?

The day before at Huichun Hall, the slap from the maid at Princess Fumin’s side had not landed on Bai Yu’s face — but it had struck her heart with full force.

The unyielding are easily broken.

If she wanted revenge, she would have to abandon pointless pride and stubborn defiance. To endure for a time, to comply and accommodate — it was to better protect herself, and also to draw closer to her enemies with greater ease.

Jiang Shi could not see through to Ling Jingshu’s true thoughts. Still, hearing Ling Jingshu say this, she felt a genuine warmth and gladness fill her heart: “A’Shu, you have truly grown and matured.”

“Honestly, before all of this, I had quietly worried for you. Luoyang is the city at the foot of the Son of Heaven — the capital of Dazhou — and high-ranking officials and members of the imperial family are everywhere one turns. To speak and act with too sharp and cutting an edge inevitably draws people’s attention, and easily invites trouble. If you were to offend someone of exalted status, I fear even the Ling family would be unable to protect you.”

“That you can think this way now is the very best outcome.”

These heartfelt, earnest words filled Ling Jingshu with a quiet, wistful melancholy.

Such an obvious truth — why had she not seen it before? She had only been headstrong and stubborn and coldly aloof, as though conducting herself that way was proof that she feared no one of power or status.

It was fortunate that she had come to her senses in time, and had not persisted endlessly in her own self-righteousness.

“Sister-in-Law, thank you for caring for me so much.” Ling Jingshu’s gaze was clear and sincere: “Before, I was too willful — I caused everyone to worry on my behalf.”

Jiang Shi pressed her lips into a smile: “We are all family. Back and forth with all these thanks — aren’t you tired of the fuss?”

The two of them exchanged a glance and a smile, and everything that needed saying was understood without a single word being spoken.