Two days later.
The invitation sent by the Su household was placed neatly on the table.
The Su family was a scholarly household of refinement, and even the steward who delivered the invitation spoke with cultured and courteous propriety: “Two days from now is the coming-of-age ceremony of our Second Young Lady. The Second Young Lady has specifically instructed this servant to deliver the invitation. We respectfully invite the young mistress of the Ling family and both young ladies to come as guests.”
Sun Shi hurried to accept with a warm smile.
Once the steward had departed, Sun Shi could not help but remark in admiration: “As one would expect of a steward from the Su household — the manner of speaking, the courtesy — far superior to the eunuchs sent from Princess Changping’s estate.”
Ling Jingshu smiled slightly and took up the thread of conversation: “Elder Aunt is right. The family conduct and household etiquette of the Su family are evident at a glance.”
Princess Changping had a domineering and imperious temperament, so it was naturally to be expected that the eunuchs around her would follow suit.
Jiang Shi also smiled and said: “The Second Young Lady of the Su family specifically sent an invitation to the Ling family — it is all because she regards A’Shu so highly. A’Yan and I can be said to be benefiting from the association as well.”
Ling Jingshu smiled with a hint of amusement: “Elder Sister-in-law is also teasing me now.”
Everyone was chatting and laughing, but Ling Jingyan, contrary to her usual self, had not said a word, her expression flat and dispirited.
“A’Yan, what has come over you these past few days?” Sun Shi looked at Ling Jingyan with some surprise: “You have been like this — listless and joyless — the whole time, unable to muster any enthusiasm for anything you say or do.”
Even the news of the invitation from the Su household, which meant an outing to someone’s home, had failed to bring a smile to Ling Jingyan’s face. It was truly strange.
Ling Jingyan covered her feelings with a thin smile: “It is just the heat of the weather making me irritable and restless — nothing more.”
Ling Jingshu naturally understood what the real reason was.
The chance encounter with Prince Yan at the Crown Prince’s estate two days ago had stirred up the secret tender feelings Ling Jingyan kept buried deep in her heart. Upon returning home, Ling Jingyan had grown noticeably subdued and melancholy.
Sun Shi also perceived that something was off with Ling Jingyan’s mood, but with the others present it was inconvenient to press further, and she quickly changed the subject.
After Jiang Shi and Ling Jingshu had left, Sun Shi deliberately kept Ling Jingyan behind and began to question her carefully: “A’Yan, it is just the two of us here now. Stop being evasive and tell me the truth. What on earth has been the matter with you these past two days? Did something happen at the Crown Prince’s estate that upset you?”
Ling Jingyan was hardly about to tell the truth: “Nothing of the sort, Mother — you are imagining things.”
Sun Shi gave Ling Jingyan a look: “You came from my own womb — do you truly think you can hide your little thoughts from me?”
Ling Jingyan’s heart gave a lurch, and the color drained slightly from her pretty face.
Could it be that Sun Shi had found out about her secret admiration for Prince Yan?
Sun Shi looked at her own daughter with fond pity: “Ever since A’Shu came to the capital, she has been drawing attention everywhere. In a short span of time she has formed acquaintances with the Crown Grandson and Princess Changping — figures of such noble standing — and now this Second Young Lady of the Su family also holds A’Shu in considerable esteem. Even though you have gotten to go out and make calls on their coattails, you must be feeling stifled and discontented inside…”
What a thorough misunderstanding.
Ling Jingyan’s first reaction was to feel simultaneously amused and exasperated, but then she thought: she might as well let Sun Shi go on misunderstanding — it would spare her from having to find some other excuse to cover her feelings. She let her head droop with a suitably dejected air: “Mother, say no more.”
A reaction like this was as good as a tacit confirmation.
Sun Shi felt both tender concern and a measure of vexation. She pointed at Ling Jingyan with her finger: “Look at you — you are a full year older than A’Shu, and I do not know where you keep your head. What does it matter whose reflected glory you benefit from? As long as you have the opportunity to visit places like the Crown Prince’s estate, the Princess’s estate, and the Su household, that is a good thing for you. What is there to think so much about?”
She paused, then added: “By the looks of things, A’Shu will certainly secure a fine marriage in future. It is not impossible that the Ling family’s fortune may eventually rest with her. You should be generous and accommodating toward her in all things.”
Ling Jingyan nodded first, then thought about it again and felt something was not quite right. She frowned and asked: “Mother, what do you mean by that? You and Father are not scheming over A’Shu, are you?”
“What scheming! What an unpleasant way to put it.” Sun Shi shot Ling Jingyan a look: “A’Shu is a daughter of our Ling family. Could I, as her elder aunt by marriage, not concern myself with her lifelong affairs?”
Ling Jingyan muttered under her breath: “A’Shu’s lifelong affairs should be decided by Grandmother and Fifth Uncle — it is not yet your and Father’s place to make the decision.”
Sun Shi: “…”
Sun Shi was so thoroughly silenced that she nearly could not catch her breath. Before she could stop herself, she blurted out: “Your father and I have already sent word back to Dingzhou and left the matter for your grandmother and fifth uncle to weigh and decide.”
What?
Ling Jingyan startled, her bright eyes going wide: “Mother, you sent word back without asking A’Shu a single thing first? What if A’Shu has no feelings for the Crown Grandson?”
It did not take much to imagine — Ling Daye, with his mind consumed by official ambitions, hoped A’Shu would marry the Crown Grandson. But watching events unfold these past days, A’Shu seemed to have no particular feelings for the Crown Grandson whatsoever…
Sun Shi waved this away with a smile: “You foolish girl — this is such a fine match that others could only wish for it and never have it. With the Crown Grandson showing her favor, how could A’Shu possibly be unwilling?”
“But…”
“There is nothing to ‘but’ about. The letter has already been sent to Dingzhou. Your grandmother and fifth uncle will consider it carefully themselves. We will wait for word to come back.” Sun Shi urged Ling Jingyan: “Do not say a word of this to A’Shu. Do you hear me?”
Ling Jingshu was gentle on the outside yet resolute within, with a very strong will of her own. For an affair like this, it was better to keep it hidden from her first.
Ling Jingyan nodded with some reluctance.
As it turned out, Ling Jingyan was simply not the sort of person who could keep a secret.
Living side by side with someone day in and day out, keeping a secret bottled up and unspoken before a familiar and close companion was like having several cat’s claws scratching away relentlessly inside one’s chest — there could be nothing more miserable.
The two of them sat doing needlework together, and Ling Jingyan kept stealing glances at Ling Jingshu at intervals, followed by a sharp hiss.
That made five times she had pricked her own finger!
Ling Jingshu was sharp and perceptive at the best of times and had long since sensed that something was off with Ling Jingyan. She set down her needlework and ventured cautiously: “Yan Elder Cousin, is there something you want to tell me?”
“It is… no, no — there is nothing!”
Of course there was!
Ling Jingshu thought for a moment, then said in a low voice: “Is it something to do with me?”
Though phrased as a question, her tone was quite certain.
Ling Jingyan opened her mouth, not knowing what to say, and chose simply to say nothing.
That means the guess was right!
Ling Jingshu thought for a moment more and continued: “Could it be that Elder Aunt said something to you and told you not to tell me?”
Ling Jingyan’s mouth dropped open wide enough to fit an egg inside.
Ling Jingshu tugged lightly at the corner of her lips and said calmly: “It seems related to my own lifelong affairs. Elder Uncle and Elder Aunt are still thinking of having me marry the Crown Grandson as a secondary consort?”
Ling Jingyan: “…”
Ling Jingyan reached up and lifted her almost-dropped jaw back into place, then let out a long, despondent breath: “You guessed all of this yourself — I did not say a single thing. I also have not told you that my father and mother have already written all of this in a family letter and had it sent back to the old Dingzhou household, and that Grandmother and Fifth Uncle may have a reply very soon. I have not said a word of it!”
Ling Jingshu: “…”