The Lu family had already arrived in Dingzhou?

The old madam was both startled and delighted. She leapt to her feet. “Quickly, quickly! Have the carriage sent at once to meet them!”

“Mother-in-law is so overjoyed that she has forgotten there is already a carriage waiting at the dock?” Li Shi said with a grinning smile, picking up the thread.

The old madam laughed at herself in mock resignation. “Look at me — I was so happy I forgot myself and even let that slip my mind.”

Seeing that Li Shi had stolen all the attention, Yue Shi could not bear it and immediately spoke up with a smile. “The dock is a half-day’s distance from our Ling residence. Since the steward just came to deliver the message, it seems the carriage has already traveled halfway. They may well arrive in just a short while.”

Wang Shi also said with a gentle smile. “The guest rooms have been prepared long since. While we still have the time before they arrive, we ought to send the maids and senior servants to go over the rooms once more. Your daughter-in-law recalls that the young mistress was always most fond of cleanliness before she was married out.”

That last remark was precisely what the old madam most delighted to hear.

The old madam cast Wang Shi an approving glance. “You are still the most thorough in your thinking. These past few years, with Siye managing the shops and estates, you have followed along and learned a great deal.”

Wang Shi pressed her lips into a smile and answered with respectful deference. “Thank you for your praise, mother-in-law. The fourth master often says that being able to take some small burdens off your shoulders is the proper duty of a child. If he knew you had praised him so, he would be overjoyed beyond measure.”

Yue Shi and Li Shi both gave a cold inward laugh and, without any arrangement between them, each glanced sideways at Wang Shi.

This Wang Shi — she appeared to say little in ordinary times, yet when it came to flattering the old madam, she was by no means inferior to either of them.

Wang Shi seemed not to notice the thinly veiled resentment in Yue Shi and Li Shi’s glances. She lightly supported the old madam by the arm. “The Lu family will be arriving before long. Why does mother-in-law not return to her bedchamber to rest a while, change into fresh clothing, and tidy her hair and appearance? She will look all the more energetic and spirited.”

The old madam nodded with cheerful willingness.

Li Shi’s reaction was lightning-fast. She immediately took hold of the old madam’s other arm. “Fourth sister-in-law is right. Your daughter-in-law will see to your rest at once.”

Yue Shi was not quick enough to seize the moment and could only watch helplessly as this opportunity to curry favor slipped through her fingers, grinding her teeth in silent fury.

Ling Jingshu watched this familiar scene unfold and laughed coldly within herself.

The Ling family had never separated their household. Aside from the first branch, which had always lived in the capital Luoyang, the remaining three branches all lived together in the ancestral residence.

The management of household affairs had been delegated to the sons and daughters-in-law, yet the keys to the storerooms remained in the old madam’s hands. Beyond their fixed monthly allowances, every branch needed the old madam’s approval for any additional purchases or extra expenditures.

Among the daughters-in-law, Sun Shi of the first branch came from a distinguished family with a handsome dowry, and lived in Luoyang with her husband — her position was above the fray. Yue Shi and Wang Shi were both daughters of concubines; Li Shi came from an undistinguished family with a modest personal dowry. All three naturally had to use every means at their disposal to keep the old madam pleased, so as to win more advantage for themselves.

Yet unfortunate for them — though the old madam was aged, she was not the least bit muddled. She contentedly accepted the fawning attention of her daughters-in-law without ever easily granting any particular favor in return.

In short, for any of the daughters-in-law to think they could outmaneuver the old madam — they were still a long way from that.

Yue Shi withdrew her gaze in disgruntled ill-humor, and happened to meet Ling Jingshu’s eyes — clear with the knowing look of one who sees through everything.

Yue Shi felt a flash of flustered shame at being seen through, yet could not bear to lose the dignity of her elder’s composure. She gave a cough and said: “Shu Jie’er, the Lu family will be arriving today, and there will certainly be a welcoming banquet this evening. Your health has only just recovered — please do not stand about for too long and overtax yourself.”

Ling Jingxian spoke up with a smile. “Shu cousin, go back to Qiushui Pavilion and rest. I will come fetch you when the time comes.”

“There is no need to trouble Xian cousin.” Ling Jingshu said evenly. “My health has not yet fully recovered. I will not attend this evening’s welcoming banquet — it would be a shame to dampen the honored guests’ spirits.”

A flicker of delight flashed swiftly through Ling Jingxian’s eyes. She said: “Our aunt has brought her sons all this way from afar. How could you possibly miss the welcoming banquet? Grandmother would certainly be displeased if she heard. You should push through and come show your face, at least for a little while.”

Two-faced!

Ling Jingshu gave a small twist of her lips. “To be remiss in courtesy before honored guests would only bring shame to grandmother. Besides, with Xian cousin present, whether or not I make an appearance — I rather suspect no one would notice.”

Flattery, no matter how thin, always finds its mark.

All the more so when the words came from Ling Jingshu herself, who had always overshadowed her.

Ling Jingxian’s face broke into a faintly self-satisfied expression, and she put on a pretense of earnest sincerity. “How could that be? Shu cousin is the most outstanding of all our female cousins. The family banquet would lose a great deal of its luster without you.”

Ling Jingshu had no patience for this sparring. She folded her hands and bowed in parting to Yue Shi and Li Shi with their daughter, then withdrew.

She had only just returned to Qiushui Pavilion when Ling Xiao pressed her with an eager question: “A’Shu, our aunt’s family has come to visit. Why do you not want to go out and see them?”

Bai Yu, too, had a face full of puzzled incomprehension.

The young lady’s health was somewhat frail, true enough — yet she still had the energy to show her face at a welcoming banquet. What she had just said was clearly an excuse.

Ling Jingshu was quiet for a moment, then said lightly: “There is no hurry to meet them. When I am completely well, it will not be too late.”

In her past life, the Ling family lady had returned for a homecoming visit and stayed with the Ling household for a full three months. She could not possibly go on avoiding them indefinitely. But she was not yet prepared to face the Lu family.

In her present state of mind, if she were to come face to face with the enemies of her past life, her composure would crumble and she would not be able to control her own emotions — which would give everything away and arouse suspicion.

Before Ling Xiao could press her further, Ling Jingshu shifted to a tone of soft entreaty. “A’Xiao, if grandmother asks about me, could you offer some explanation on my behalf? Otherwise, grandmother will certainly be displeased with me.”

Ling Xiao’s heart softened at once. He asked no more questions, nodded, and agreed with a simple sound of assent. “Then rest well. When I have time, I will come and keep you company.”

The maidservant Jingyu, who had been standing to one side, came forward and carefully supported Ling Xiao as he left.

Bai Yu came quietly to stand beside her and spoke in a gentle voice. “Young lady, your health has not yet fully recovered. You ought not to exhaust your mind and spirit — please lie down on the bed and rest.”

Since she had used frail health as her excuse for staying in, she might as well commit to the performance entirely.

Ling Jingshu gave a nod.

At shen hour, the Lu family finally arrived at the Ling residence.

“When our young mistress married away, your servant had only just been born and never got to see her. But the household steward ladies have mentioned her many a time. The old madam gave birth to the young mistress after her fortieth year and cherished her like the apple of her eye. A pity that the young mistress married far away to Jizhou and has not once come home in all these years. The reunion of the old madam and the young mistress — it must have been an extraordinary thing to witness.”

The little maidservant Xuan Cao stood beside the bed, relating with vivid animation the news she had gathered. “Your servant did not dare push her way forward for a close look and only caught a few glimpses from far away. These are all things your servant heard from the other maids.”

“The scene was truly overwhelming. The old madam and the young mistress wept and laughed in turns. The fourth master and the fifth master shed tears. Several of the mistresses cried their eyes red as well. All the young masters and young ladies were dabbing at their own eyes — a whole weeping crowd of them.”

Xuan Cao was only twelve years old, nimble of tongue and quick-witted by nature. In ordinary times, she specialized in running errands and relaying messages. Entrusted with this “important mission” today, she was quite giddy with pride, and threw herself into running about and gathering information with exceptional enthusiasm.

Ling Jingshu sat on the bed, wrapped in a soft silk quilt, leaning at a slant against a thick cushion, listening with an air of casual indifference.

It was approaching dusk now, and the candles in the room had not yet been lit. The light was somewhat dim and unclear.

Ling Jingshu’s flawlessly beautiful face seemed also to be veiled in a layer of gauze — so close she was almost within reach, yet somehow strangely distant and unfamiliar.

Bai Yu quietly observed her own mistress, turning things over in her mind.

The young lady today, since she woke, had seemed different from before.

In the year she had turned ten, she had been sold into the Ling household. She had stood trembling with the other small maidservants, so nervous that she could barely speak a coherent word. The young lady, who had only been six years old herself, had chosen her and given her the name Bai Yu.

From that moment on, her fate had been bound inseparably with the young lady’s.

The maidservants’ bond of indenture was held in the hands of their masters. If one happened upon an ill-tempered mistress, being scolded and beaten was an everyday occurrence. The most frightening thing of all was being casually married off at a mistress’s whim, or sold out of the household and reduced to misery in some foul place. As a servant, one’s fate rested entirely on the passing thoughts of one’s master.

For eight years, mistress and servant had been together, and the young lady had treated her with generosity and forbearance. In her heart, she had long since come to regard the young lady as the most cherished and important person in the world.

Whatever form the young lady might take, she would follow her with unwavering loyalty, as she always had.

Xuan Cao continued with undiminished enthusiasm: “Afterward, while the Lu family’s servants were busy unloading luggage and getting settled, the young mistress led the two young master cousins to Yonghe Hall. Your servant is too short — even standing on tiptoe, she could not catch a glimpse of what the young master cousins looked like. Only heard that one of the young master cousins has a face like jade, as handsome as Pan An, and is dashing and distinguished-looking. A pity your servant could not get a proper look with her own eyes…”

“Xuan Cao,” Ling Jingshu suddenly cut off Xuan Cao’s torrent of words. “You have done well. Now go back to Yonghe Hall once more. If there is any latest news, come back and report to me at once.”

Receiving praise, Xuan Cao was pleased as could be in her heart. She gave a bright, cheerful response and withdrew in high spirits.

A face like jade, as handsome as Pan An, dashing and distinguished-looking… Ling Jingshu gave a derisive twist of her lips.

The beloved with whom she had fallen instantly in love in her past life. The man who had become her husband, her partner in pledging to share a lifetime together!

No one knew his face more intimately than she did.

She had once believed he would be her lifelong shelter and her future. But merciless reality had dealt her a killing blow.

After two short years of newlywed sweetness, he had traveled far to Luoyang to sit the imperial examinations. When word came that he had topped the exams as zhuangyuan, she had been so overjoyed that she had not slept for several nights. She had held their two-month-old son and murmured to him: “Your father has passed first in all the land. He will stay in the capital as an official now. He will soon come back and take the two of us to Luoyang together…”

Yet after that, for years upon years, he had never returned.

Gifted with both brilliance and looks, young and risen swiftly, he had caught the eye of the most exalted princess in all of Dazhou. Seeking to attach himself to imperial power and enjoy a lifetime of wealth and honor, he had abandoned his wife and child, who waited in Jizhou, praying for his return.

He had cast her aside in the filth and degradation of the Lu household, where she suffered every humiliation until she died in bitter resentment…

Until the moment she closed her eyes, filled with grief and indignation and pain, she had never laid eyes on him again.