Ling Jingshu had paid little attention to the matter of Prince Yan’s grand wedding.

Still, there was no shortage of people who couldn’t hold their tongues, chattering away in her ear about it.

“Yesterday, Eldest Brother went to Prince Yan’s residence to deliver a gift. I heard there were so many guests coming to offer congratulations that there was barely room to stand. The gifts piled up together like a small mountain.”

“I heard that the dowry of the Second Young Lady Wang from the Duke of Pingguo’s household was enormous — just the procession carrying the dowry numbered over a hundred people!”

“I heard…”

Once Ling Jingyan opened her mouth, she wouldn’t stop talking.

Ling Jingshu suddenly cut her off: “Cousin Jingyan, now that Prince Yan is getting married, are you sad about it?”

Ling Jingyan was instantly struck speechless, all her words caught in her throat.

A young girl’s first stirrings of love for a man—how could she simply forget him at will? Even knowing full well that Prince Yan’s dissolute nature made him no good match, she still couldn’t entirely erase that figure from her heart.

Yesterday, on the day of Prince Yan’s wedding, she had appeared unaffected on the surface, but in truth she’d spent the whole day in a daze, her spirits scattered. Today she finally couldn’t hold it in any longer and came to find Ling Jingshu.

Ling Jingyan, who had been chattering nonstop, fell silent almost at once.

Ling Jingshu secretly regretted it. She knew Ling Jingyan’s temperament well—how could she have suddenly blurted out something like that!

“Cousin Jingyan, I’m sorry.” Ling Jingshu said apologetically. “I spoke without thinking just now. I never meant to pick at your old wound.”

Ling Jingyan steadied herself and laughed self-deprecatingly. “Prince Yan never liked me. It was all wishful thinking on my part, my own foolish attachment. His marrying the Second Young Lady Wang truly has nothing to do with me at all. I only told you all that just now because I felt so stifled inside. If I didn’t tell you, I wouldn’t know who else to tell.”

She paused, then forced a light laugh. “Never mind! It’s all in the past now, better left unsaid. It’s already the end of the year — once the new year arrives, the two of us will both turn fifteen. My mother told me privately that once I come of age, she’ll start arranging a marriage for me.”

Ling Jingshu laughed despite herself. “A young lady talking about marriage at every turn — if anyone else heard you, wouldn’t you be embarrassed?”

Ling Jingyan retorted righteously, “There’s no one else here, just the two of us — what’s there to be embarrassed about. A woman who reaches a certain age has to marry sooner or later; surely she can’t stay an old maid her whole life.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized her slip.

No one knew when Ling Jingshu’s illness would be cured. As long as she wasn’t well, the topic of marriage could not be raised for her. Speaking so carelessly was practically jabbing at Ling Jingshu’s sore spot.

Ling Jingshu, however, didn’t mind at all. She smiled casually. “Cousin Jingyan, there’s no need to feel embarrassed. I never had any intention of marrying or bearing children to begin with. Even if my illness is cured, I still won’t marry.”

“What woman doesn’t marry?” Ling Jingyan shot her a look. “You shouldn’t say such things carelessly.”

Ling Jingshu graciously changed the subject. “Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s talk about something happier. A’Xiao’s eyes are improving day by day. Tomorrow I’m going to Huichun Hall and planning to bring him along. If you feel stifled staying in the household, why not come out with us — think of it as a way to clear your mind?”

Ling Jingyan’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly in agreement.

···

With Fifth Master Ling leading the younger generation out, Madam Sun naturally felt at ease. She only gave Ling Jingyan one piece of advice as they were about to leave: “A’Yan, while you’re out, listen to your Fifth Uncle and don’t cause any trouble.”

Ling Jingyan protested with some displeasure. “Mother. Every time I go out, you always have to say a few words like this. When have I not behaved myself? When have I ever caused trouble?”

Madam Sun couldn’t help laughing. “Yes, yes, yes, I spoke wrongly. Our A’Yan is gentle, virtuous, and well-behaved by nature — how could she ever cause trouble.”

Her words were full of teasing.

Ling Jingyan boasted without the slightest blush, “Of course.”

Ling Jingshu and the others were all amused into laughter.

Unexpectedly, Madam Sun’s words turned out to be a prophecy. At Huichun Hall, Ling Jingyan really did stir up a bit of trouble — not too big, not too small. This matter deserves to be told in detail.

Ling Jingshu was led by Han Yi to the inner hall. Ling Xiao, quite curious about Huichun Hall, wandered around everywhere. With nothing else to do, Fifth Master Ling simply accompanied Ling Xiao on his wandering.

Left alone with nothing to do and feeling bored, Ling Jingyan got up and walked to the entrance of Huichun Hall.

By this time, quite a few patients were already waiting outside the entrance.

The cold wind was bitter, and some patients were shivering from the chill. Ling Jingyan couldn’t bear to watch and said to a nearby attendant, “Huichun Hall is such a spacious place — why not let them wait inside? In such cold weather, waiting outside for half a day would make even a healthy person sick.”

The attendant quickly replied with a smile, “Steward Han already gave the order just now. I was just about to invite them in.”

That was more like it.

Ling Jingyan nodded in satisfaction. But when she turned her head again, she suddenly saw a sight that infuriated her.

A young man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, coldly berating someone. A thin, small-framed woman was kneeling and kowtowing repeatedly, begging for mercy. Beside the woman knelt a boy under ten years of age — by their ages, they appeared to be mother and son.

The young man’s back was turned to Ling Jingyan, so she couldn’t make out his expression clearly. But the terror and fear on the faces of the pitiable woman and child were plain to see.

This was simply too much!

It was obvious that the young man was bullying the mother and son!

Indignant, Ling Jingyan strode forward. “Hey! In such cold weather, making a woman and a child kneel like this is going too far! Whatever you have to say, can’t you let them stand up and talk it through properly?”

This sudden voice startled all three of them.

The young man turned around, his gaze settling on Ling Jingyan’s pretty face with some hostility. “Miss, do you know what just happened here?”

Ling Jingyan was momentarily at a loss for words.

The young man gave a light snort. “You don’t even know what happened, so what gives you the right to decide that I’m the one bullying these two?”

Ling Jingyan glared back angrily. “No matter what it is, you shouldn’t make them kneel. What you’re doing is bullying them.”

Without waiting for the young man to argue, she continued aggressively. “Just look at how you’re dressed — anyone can tell at a glance you’re a young master from a wealthy family. Yet this mother and son are dressed in rags. As if they’d dare provoke you? You must be the one bullying them with your status!”

The young man was so angered he laughed instead. “Quite the sharp-tongued girl! By your logic, everyone in this world who’s well-dressed is a bad person, and everyone in rags deserves sympathy?”

Ling Jingyan glared with her bright, watery almond eyes. “When did I say that! Don’t twist my meaning.”

The young man gave a cold laugh. “Forget it. Today, let me show you, a sheltered young lady who knows nothing of the world, what true human malice looks like. Go ask them yourself why they’re kneeling and begging me.”