Ling Jingshu and Ling Jingyan stared at each other in silence. After a moment, they both burst out laughing at the same time.

Ling Jingyan seemed as though a great heavy shackle had suddenly been lifted from her. She relaxed all at once, and said under her breath: “A’Shu, I know it was wrong of my father and mother to handle this the way they did. They are hoping you will climb to a loftier branch and that they can benefit from it in turn. Now that you know, you must be feeling quite aggrieved inside. Just look at me and Elder Brother and Elder Sister-in-law’s faces, and let it go — do not hold it against them.”

“After all, this is your lifelong affair. If you truly have no wish for it, write a letter home quickly, to prevent Grandmother and Fifth Uncle from being misled by my father and mother’s words…”

Ling Jingyan’s heartfelt, earnest sincerity sent wave after wave of warmth surging through Ling Jingshu’s heart.

“There is no need to rush and write home.” Ling Jingshu smiled lightly, her expression composed, and cut Ling Jingyan off: “In this matter, Grandmother will make the decision for me.”

She carried a strange affliction that prevented her from drawing close to men — marriage was simply out of the question. As long as the Old Madam of the Ling family had not gone completely senile, she would absolutely not dare to entertain such thoughts at a time like this.

Before leaving Dingzhou, the Old Madam Ling had already told Sun Shi of this matter. Sun Shi, bent on exploiting this niece of hers to climb toward power and influence, had clearly never truly taken the matter to heart.

A trace of contempt flickered through Ling Jingshu’s eyes.

These words, however, were not something she could say plainly to Ling Jingyan.

Ling Jingyan saw how confidently Ling Jingshu spoke and was quite taken aback, unable to resist pressing further: “A’Shu, if you could marry the Crown Grandson, it would be a match that others could only dream of and never attain. How can you be so certain Grandmother will not be moved by the thought?”

The Old Madam Ling’s desire to revitalize the family was no weaker than her own father’s, after all!

Ling Jingshu would not answer this question and casually shifted the subject: “Let us not speak of this anymore. Tomorrow we are going to the Su household — Elder Aunt has already made ready the gift for the coming-of-age ceremony, has she not?”

Ling Jingyan widened her dewy, bright eyes in protest: “Hey — do not change the subject. You must certainly be hiding something from me.”

Did she think her a fool? How could anyone miss such an obvious deflection?

Ling Jingshu composed her expression and looked at her directly and seriously: “Yan Elder Cousin, you are right — there is indeed something important I have not told you. However, this matter involves weighty concerns, and it is not yet convenient for me to speak of it now. When the day comes that I am able to say it, I will not hide it any longer — you will be the first I tell. Please do not ask now, all right?”

Ling Jingshu spoke with candor, sincerity, and openness.

Facing those honest, calm, and clear eyes, whatever small measure of displeasure Ling Jingyan had felt vanished instantly without a trace: “Very well. If you do not wish to say, I will not ask.”

After a pause she added: “At any rate, I also find my father and mother’s behavior distasteful. I stand on your side.”

A warmth spread through Ling Jingshu’s heart as she pressed her lips together in a quiet smile.

The next day. The Su Household.

For a young woman, the coming-of-age ceremony was an affair of the utmost importance.

On this day, the female elders and relatives of the household were invited to call, and young women of the same generation were invited to attend and pay their respects. A coming-of-age ceremony marked the moment a girl grew into an adult — and signaled that she was now of marriageable age.

Marriage at a young age was the prevailing custom of the era, with most women taking a husband at fifteen or sixteen. Those who remained unwed past eighteen were regarded as spinsters who had failed to find a match. For a young lady still waiting to be betrothed, the coming-of-age ceremony would become the grandest and most glorious memory before marriage.

Even in an ordinary family of common folk, every effort would be made to stage a proper ceremony when a daughter came of age. This was all the more so for a prominent household like the Su family.

The Su household had thrown open its main gates since early morning to receive guests, and esteemed visitors arrived one after another in a continuous stream.

Ling Jingshu, Ling Jingyan, and Jiang Shi — the three of them — arrived at the Su household at the Hour of the Snake.

It was the time when the guests were most numerous. Fortunately the Su household had been well prepared, and the welcoming matron steward came forward eagerly and graciously to receive them. After accepting the gift list, she led the three of them to the inner quarters of the Su household.

The matron steward had a maidservant go ahead to announce their arrival, then accompanied the three of them to wait outside the Drooping Flower Gate.

Ling Jingshu took in her surroundings without making it apparent.

The Su household could not match the grand, imposing scale of the Crown Prince’s estate, nor could it rival the opulent refinement of Princess Changping’s estate. Yet a scholarly family with a heritage of a hundred years had its own depth of culture.

With so many guests coming and going, everything was arranged in perfect order without a trace of flustered confusion. That alone was enough to command admiration.

After a brief wait, a small maidservant came hurrying over and said a few words quietly to the matron steward.

The matron steward smiled: “The Second Young Lady’s chambers are just ahead, not far. Please follow this servant inside.”

Ling Jingshu replied with a smile: “We thank Matron for leading the way.”

That matron steward, exchanging pleasant courtesies as she went, led all three of them into the inner quarters. Passing along a long covered walkway and rounding two bends, they arrived at Su Ying’s courtyard.

The coming-of-age ceremony had not yet formally commenced, and Su Ying was seated properly in her private chambers.

The room was filled with quite a number of young ladies in the flush of youth, speaking and laughing in hushed tones with considerable liveliness. Several familiar faces could be seen among them — all women who had appeared at Princess Changping’s banquet.

The Third Young Lady of the Jiang household was also among them, plain to see.

After the three of them entered, Su Ying rose with pleasure to welcome them: “I have been waiting for you since first thing this morning — and here you are at last.”

Whatever truth lay in those words, a greeting this warm and fond was always pleasing to hear.

Ling Jingshu smiled in reply: “Today is your great day of coming of age — how could we not come early? It is only that we were held up on the road for some time, and the streets outside the Su household were packed full of carriages from all the other estates. We could barely squeeze through, and were in such a rush we nearly worked up a sweat the whole way!”

These playful and amusing words set everyone in the room laughing.

Jiang Rongyue kept waving the three of them over: “I have saved you seats — come quickly and sit down and talk.”

With a whole room full of young women, each chiming in with a word and another adding a comment, it was lively enough indeed.

Very soon, another set of honored guests arrived.

“Report to the Second Young Lady — Princess Changping and Princess An’ya have arrived.” A maidservant came hurrying in to announce.

The Su family was already a distinguished scholarly household of high standing, and now that they had produced a Crown Princess in Su Shi, their prestige had risen greatly. For the coming-of-age ceremony of Su Ying, the two most exalted princesses in the Great Zhou dynasty had both come in person.

With a princess in attendance, Su Ying could not afford any lapse in propriety. She rose at once and walked out of her chambers to receive them, and all the others followed Su Ying out as well.

Ling Jingshu moved quite naturally to a position at the back of the group.

Today, Su Ying was the undisputed focus of all attention. And with the attention-seeking Princess Changping present, and that Princess An’ya — whom she had heard of but never yet seen in person — this was of course a moment to keep a lower profile.

“Paying respects to Princess Changping and Princess An’ya.” Su Ying smiled with gracious lips and curtsied in greeting.

Princess Changping wore a splendidly ornate palace gown, her makeup elaborate and precise, dressed in vibrant, eye-catching beauty. Her eyes drifted and shimmered with allure as she laughed coquettishly: “Please rise quickly. We two sisters have come today to celebrate your coming-of-age ceremony — there is no need to be so ceremonious.”

Su Ying expressed her gratitude and straightened up.

Together with all the others, Ling Jingshu paid her respects in salute, and as she raised her head, she stole a swift glance at Princess An’ya.