That same night, Ling Wuye drank himself into a stupor. He was supported back to his room by his maidservant Chun Tao to rest.

The following day, Ling Jingshu heard the “joyful news” that Chun Tao had been taken into Ling Wuye’s bed.

Upon hearing this, Ling Jingshu felt not a single flicker of surprise — she merely gave a contemptuous little laugh.

Ling Wuye was a man of notoriously libertine reputation. Back in Dingzhou, he had made a habit of going with like-minded friends to pleasure houses and painted boats to drink and revel, and his collection of so-called “beloved confidantes” was beyond counting.

Li Shi was narrow-minded and jealous by nature. She could not rein in Ling Wuye’s dalliances outside the home, yet she refused to allow him to take any concubines under her roof.

If Li Shi were to learn that Ling Wuye had taken his personal maidservant to his bed the very night he arrived in the capital, one could only imagine the state she would be driven into.

As the elder sister-in-law, Sun Shi found it equally inconvenient to comment on Ling Wuye’s amorous affairs, and simply laughed it off casually with a remark that “men are all like this — they can hardly be without someone to attend on them.”

When Chun Tao came to pay her respects, shy and bashful, Sun Shi even made a rather magnanimous show of gifting her a pair of gold bracelets.

It was likely because of his new favourite that Ling Wuye was in rather good spirits over the next two days. He no longer pressed the matter of Ling Jingshu’s earlier impertinent words, and even made a point of summoning Ling Jingshu to his study for a talk.

“A’Shu, tomorrow A’Xiao is to go to the Crown Prince’s residence for his acupuncture — it will be enough if I accompany A’Xiao.” Ling Wuye said in a pleasant and affable tone. “You are a young lady of the inner chambers; it would not be appropriate for you to appear in public. There is no need for you to come along.”

Ling Jingshu replied in a flat tone: “Thank you for your consideration, Father. However, Imperial Physician Wei is normally on duty in the palace, and his opportunities to leave are extremely rare. For my condition to be treated by Imperial Physician Wei, I can only take advantage of the day A’Xiao goes in for his acupuncture, or else visit Hui Chun Tang.”

Ling Wuye immediately changed his position: “If that is the case, then you shall come along.” After a brief pause, he smiled and added: “These past days, the two of you have been coming and going from the Crown Prince’s residence so frequently. You have caused no small amount of trouble for His Highness the Crown Grandson. Tomorrow, I really must personally offer my thanks to His Highness for his generous kindness.”

Fine-sounding words on the surface.

What a pity — the gleam of eagerness flashing in his eyes betrayed Ling Wuye’s true feelings in that moment.

Expressing gratitude was only a pretext. The real intention was to use the opportunity to get closer to the Crown Grandson!

Ling Jingshu regarded Ling Wuye’s greedy and calculating expression with cold eyes, and offered a cold reminder: “Father may express his thanks as he wishes, but it would be best to say as little as possible of what ought not to be said.”

Ling Wuye’s face fell. He shot Ling Jingshu a glare: “What can and cannot be said — do you think I am not clear on that myself?” Even with all his desire to attach himself to the powerful, he still had to take Ling Jingshu’s condition into account. Otherwise, if the prospect of a marriage alliance fell through, they would end up making an enemy instead.

Ling Jingshu saw through Ling Wuye’s thinking entirely. She tugged at the corner of her mouth and said: “So long as Father is clear on it himself.”

The anger inside Ling Wuye surged upward in hot waves. He truly wanted to give this unfilial and disobedient daughter a thorough tongue-lashing. But on reflection, the Ling family’s prosperity and his own brilliant future were most likely going to depend on Ling Jingshu — and so he could only force himself to swallow it back down.

Pressing his fury down, Ling Wuye made a great effort to squeeze out the gentle expression of a loving father: “Oh, and there is one thing I have not yet had the chance to tell you. News of my coming to the capital has reached your aunt and uncle on your mother’s side as well. They specifically sent me a letter, saying they would like Lu Hong to come to the capital with me…”

Lu Hong?

What was he coming to the capital for?

If Lu Hong came, Lu Qian would likely not be able to keep still either.

Ling Jingshu’s brow creased. There was not a trace of pleasure in her expression.

Things were already complicated enough as they were. Add the two Lu brothers into the mix — would that not be even more of a headache?

“I was in a hurry to get to the capital at the time, so I set out first. Lu Hong departed from Jizhou a few days after me. By the reckoning of the days, he should be arriving in the capital soon.”

Seeing that Ling Jingshu’s expression was one of displeasure, Ling Wuye quickly guessed the reason behind it. He cleared his throat and said: “Lu Hong’s second uncle is serving in an official post right here in the capital. Once Lu Hong arrives, he will be staying at Lu Ping’s residence — he will not be coming to the Ling household. You need not worry.”

Ling Jingshu pressed her lips together. A chill crept into her voice: “I am not worried. I simply have no wish to see him, nor my cousin Lu Qian.”

Ling Wuye was somewhat taken aback: “Your aunt only said that Lu Hong wanted to come to the capital to broaden his horizons. She made no mention of Lu Qian coming as well.”

Ling Jingshu had no desire to discuss the Lu brothers. She closed her lips and said nothing.

Ling Wuye was also a man of perceptive wit, and he quickly worked it out: “You mean to say — Lu Qian will make a fuss and tag along to the capital as well?”

Ling Jingshu lowered her eyes, concealing the chill beneath them: “I am only guessing.”

As for the reason Lu Qian would insist on coming to the capital — one need not think too hard to work that out.

Only now did Ling Wuye finally feel that things had become a little troublesome and worrisome. He furrowed his brow for a long moment before saying: “If those two brothers do come to the capital, they are bound to call on the Ling household. When that time comes, I will deal with them personally. You just keep out of their way.”

If it were not for the Lu brothers, how would Ling Jingshu have contracted this strange illness!

The thought of it filled Ling Wuye’s heart with deep displeasure.

In the past, he had seen that Lu Hong was talented and handsome with an excellent family background — a fine candidate for a son-in-law, and he had naturally been happy to see things go in that direction. But now, with the Crown Grandson as a far superior alternative, Lu Hong had suddenly lost all his lustre.

Ling Jingshu could not have wished more fervently to never lay eyes on the Lu brothers again. Ling Wuye’s words were exactly to her liking: “Then I thank Father.”

The following morning, Ling Wuye led Ling Jingshu and her brother to the Crown Prince’s residence.

It had been far too long since he had spent time alone with these two children of his. Ling Wuye made an earnest effort to perform the role of a loving father, yet found himself at a loss for what to say.

After a moment’s thought, Ling Wuye forced a gentle smile: “A’Xiao, does it hurt when you have the acupuncture done?”

Ling Xiao had a bellyful of resentment toward Ling Wuye and had absolutely no desire to engage with him. He gave a brief reply: “It does not hurt.”

Ling Wuye had met with a polite brush-off, and felt a flicker of irritation. He was on the verge of assuming a stern expression and scolding Ling Xiao. But Ling Xiao had already turned his head away and begun talking quietly to Ling Jingshu.

Ling Wuye suppressed a cold snort and turned his own head away, full of dissatisfaction.

For some reason, he now found himself feeling a measure of unease around Ling Jingshu. Beneath that bright, perceptive gaze that seemed to see through everything, he always felt an inexplicable pang of guilt that was difficult to put into words…

This state of affairs would not do!

He had not come to the capital to sightsee. He needed to find a physician as quickly as possible to cure Ling Jingshu’s strange illness, and then arrange a fine marriage for her.

He was Ling Jingshu’s birth father — it was only right and proper that her marriage should be decided by him. What was more, from what the elder Master Ling and his wife had said, setting aside the dignity of his exalted station, the Crown Grandson was also an exceptionally outstanding young man. To marry the Crown Grandson — that was a blessing accumulated across several lifetimes.

What reason did she have to be displeased? What right did she have to be unwilling?

The only regret, at most, was that she would not be able to become the principal consort.

Although the Ling family could be counted among the noble clans, it had been declining in standing with each passing year. Even the most accomplished of them — the elder Master Ling — had only risen to a fourth-rank position in the Ministry of Works. A daughter of the Ling family truly did not have the standing to become the Crown Grandson’s principal consort.

But none of that mattered. What mattered was winning the Crown Grandson’s favour. As long as she had his affection and her position was secure, and she bore a son early, who knew what greater fortune might yet await her in the future…

As these pleasing thoughts took shape in his mind, Ling Wuye’s brow and eyes relaxed into a satisfied expression.