This visit to the princess’s manor had proven most rewarding.

Besting Commandery Princess Fumin in a contest of skill and venting a belly full of pent-up frustration — that was, in truth, the lesser gain. What truly delighted her was having caught Princess Changping’s eye, which meant she might now come and go from the princess’s manor as a welcome guest in the days ahead.

As for getting acquainted with Su Ying and Jiang Rongyue — those were unexpected blessings on top of everything else.

After returning to the Ling household, without even waiting for Sun Shi to press her with questions, Ling Jingshu recounted every detail of the day’s events at the princess’s manor from beginning to end.

When Sun Shi heard this string of unexpected twists, she was both startled and overjoyed: “Oh? Such things actually happened! Thank goodness it all turned out well in the end, and Princess Changping even took a special liking to you. So you’re saying that from now on, you’ll have the chance to attend banquets and visit the princess’s manor often?”

This was wonderful news for both Ling Jingshu and Ling Jingxian.

Having the standing to come and go from a princess’s manor, forging ties with young ladies of distinguished families — who knew, perhaps it might even lead to a favorable marriage match someday!

Sun Shi’s thoughts were not difficult to guess. Ling Jingshu took in the expression of delighted surprise on Sun Shi’s face and said nothing to expose it, simply smiling as she replied: “Princess Changping said today that whenever she holds a banquet in the future, she will have an invitation sent over.”

Sun Shi beamed with joy, repeating the word “wonderful” three times in a row: “Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!”

Ling Jingxian cut in: “Mother, and that’s not all! Today at the lotus-viewing banquet, we met the Third Young Miss of the Duke of England’s manor, Jiang, and also the Second Young Miss of the Su family. Both of them have their coming-of-age ceremonies approaching, and they’ve invited us to call on them!”

For Sun Shi, this was yet another piece of good news.

The Third Miss Jiang’s distinguished background scarcely needed elaboration. Second Miss Su came from a family steeped in scholarly tradition — the Su family was the maternal family of Crown Princess Su, and in recent years they had earned quite a reputation as Dazhou’s foremost household of literary culture.

Being able to befriend and associate with such nobly-born young ladies was naturally a fine thing.

After chatting for a while, Sun Shi’s expression grew solemn, and she took care to admonish: “A’Shu. Tomorrow you and the others must go to the Crown Prince’s manor again. Remember to be circumspect in speech and conduct, and do not try to win arguments.”

And above all, do not bring trouble upon the Ling family.

That final unspoken thought — no one needed to say it aloud; everyone understood.

Sun Shi’s expression was earnest, and Ling Jingshu dared not be careless either, quickly composing herself and acknowledging the advice.

Sun Shi sighed softly, then eased her tone: “A’Shu. You are a clever and quick-witted girl. There are things I need not say at length — you already know how to weigh them. The Crown Princess is, admittedly, rather imperious, but then, who can fault her when she has every right to be! Whether one is willing or not in one’s heart, one must still yield a little.”

She paused, then added a meaningful remark: “No matter how magnanimous a woman appears, most of it is a surface performance. Things men would not bother to take seriously — put a woman in the same situation, and she just might hold a grudge.”

The implication of these words was plain enough.

The Crown Grandson would not bother to quarrel with a young girl, and the Crown Prince himself would certainly not take her occasional overstepping to heart. But the Crown Princess was a different matter.

If the Crown Princess were to “take notice” of her — then her future comings and goings at the Crown Prince’s manor would not be nearly so pleasant.

Ling Jingshu raised her eyes and replied with gravity: “Thank you for the counsel, First Aunt. I will be most careful.”

That Sun Shi had taken the trouble to say all this was not only out of concern for Jingshu herself. She was also thinking of Jingshu and A’Xiao’s interests.

Speaking plain truths was sometimes a little unpleasant to hear. But before a Crown Princess of such lofty rank and power, a mere young miss of the Ling family really carried very little weight.

She could not bring trouble upon the Ling family. She most certainly could not bring trouble upon herself and A’Xiao!

The Princess’s Manor.

All the young ladies who had come for the banquet had departed. Only Commandery Princess Fumin, with characteristic shamelessness, had lingered behind.

Commandery Princess Fumin had been stewing in a bellyful of grievance and indignation. Now that there were no outsiders present, she unleashed it all at once: “Cousin Sister, what has gotten into you today? You kept speaking up for that wretched girl Ling Jingshu and took my side not even once.”

Princess Changping gave a contemptuous laugh and replied without any softening: “If I had not spoken up for you today, you would have had to jump into the lake to pick those lotus flowers yourself.”

Commandery Princess Fumin: “……”

At the mention of that recent scene — so awkward and humiliating — Commandery Princess Fumin’s face flushed red, then went pale, then red again.

Princess Changping no longer spared any thought for Fumin’s dignity, mocking her: “Let today’s affair serve as a reminder. In the future, if you want to go up against someone, make absolutely sure you have the upper hand before you make your move. You had no idea of the person’s true capabilities and yet you recklessly provoked her with words — the result being that you brought humiliation upon yourself.”

“For an outcome like that, there is truly no one else to blame. You can only blame yourself.”

Commandery Princess Fumin’s pretty face flushed a deep crimson, and after quite some time she managed to squeeze out a few words: “I have taken what Cousin Sister said to heart.”

Inwardly, however, she was a little unconvinced.

As a member of the imperial clan’s nobility, as a true commandery princess, what was wrong with being a little willful? Was she really supposed to bow her head before some wretched girl who had appeared out of nowhere? In the end, the only thing that girl had going for her was a pretty face!

Every one of those petty thoughts was written plain on Commandery Princess Fumin’s face.

It was impossible for Princess Changping to pretend not to see it.

Very well — she was in rather good spirits today, so she would offer Fumin a few more guiding words.

Princess Changping’s eyes flickered, and she asked with studied nonchalance: “Fumin, what is the source of your grudge with the Ninth Young Miss of the Ling family?”

“It is all because of Imperial Physician Wei!”

Commandery Princess Fumin was not the least bit abashed, and stated it bluntly: “I have admired Imperial Physician Wei for not just a day or two. He is normally in the imperial palace, so when I want to see him, I can only go to the Huichun Hall. I have to pretend to be ill before I can catch even a glimpse of Imperial Physician Wei.”

“This Ling Jingshu, using the excuse of seeking treatment for her younger brother, also goes to the Huichun Hall for medical care. What is even more infuriating is that somehow she obtained the Crown Princess’s permission to visit the Crown Prince’s manor once every five days.”

“This means she gets to see Imperial Physician Wei once every five days, does it not?”

The very thought of it filled her with jealousy and resentment!

Princess Changping raised an eyebrow, smiling with a hint of mockery: “And so what if they meet? Does seeing each other once every five days mean Imperial Physician Wei will become enchanted by her? Imperial Physician Wei is famously immune to feminine charms. So many beauties in the palace and beyond have admired him, yet he has never shown the slightest sign of being moved. What is there for you to worry about with a mere Ling Jingshu?”

Commandery Princess Fumin was speechless.

Indeed — over these years, had there been any shortage of beauties, open or covert, who had admired Imperial Physician Wei?

If Imperial Physician Wei were so easily bewitched by beauty, he would not have remained unmarried all this time…

“What Cousin Sister says is quite reasonable. But I simply cannot stand the sight of that wretched girl!”

Commandery Princess Fumin admitted the truth readily: “From the very first moment I laid eyes on her, I felt uncomfortable. No matter how I look at her, something feels off. She is nothing but a country bumpkin from Dingzhou — on what grounds does she face me, a commandery princess, without a shred of deference? When all is said and done, she is merely trading on a pretty face.”

At that last sentence, a deep vein of envy surfaced unmistakably.

What an utter blockhead!

She had not grasped a single word of the hint being given to her. She was just mired in petty jealousy!

Princess Changping’s willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly, and she said, not too heavily but not too lightly: “In my view, Imperial Physician Wei is not your destined match. You would do best to put him out of your mind sooner rather than later.”