The imperial palace was truly a place that devoured people whole and left nothing behind.

Over this past year, Ling Jingshu had certainly struggled terribly inside those walls. And he, her own brother, had been able to do nothing — only watch helplessly as she suffered.

Thinking of these things, a bitter, aching feeling settled inside Ling Xiao.

Ling Jingshu smiled faintly: “Whatever the case, I’ve endured through it. I can say now that the bitterness is past and the sweetness has come — Noble Consort Wei truly treats me very well. I will live carefully and look after myself in the palace. A’Xiao, you must do the same. I do not know when I will be able to leave the palace, so you must look after yourself on your own. As long as you are well, I will have nothing left to worry about.”

Ling Xiao replied with reddened eyes: “I will study hard and take good care of myself. You already have enough hardship in the palace — don’t spend any more of your worry on me.”

Ling Jingshu gave a small sound of agreement, drew out her handkerchief, and gently dabbed at the teardrops at the corners of Ling Xiao’s eyes: “After today, you will be sixteen years old. How can you still act like a child — getting all worked up and crying at the slightest thing?”

Teased by Ling Jingshu like this, Ling Xiao felt a twinge of embarrassment, and took the handkerchief himself, wiping every trace of wetness from his face. He thought for a moment, then lowered his voice: “You’ve heard what happened with Cousin Lu Hong, haven’t you?”

Ling Jingshu’s expression did not change. She nodded.

After she had been released from the imperial prison, she had learned that Lu Hong had taken monastic vows.

“In truth, Cousin Lu Hong is quite pitiable.”

Ling Xiao let out a sigh tinged with regret: “His talent and learning were outstanding, and his name carried great weight at the Imperial Academy. He had only to wait for the metropolitan examinations the following year, and with his abilities, he would certainly have passed and brought glory to his family. Yet who could have foreseen that he would become entangled in a private affair with Princess Changping, throwing away his brilliant future for nothing? And to end up in such a state!”

Ling Jingshu tugged at the corner of her mouth, and spoke with cool detachment: “If he had not become so thoroughly embroiled with Princess Changping, none of this would ever have come to pass. For the outcome he has reached today, there is no one else to blame.”

Granted, part of it came from the Emperor’s displaced anger — yet Lu Hong was no innocent party either.

Once might be called an unavoidable circumstance. But the second time, the third time — was someone truly forcing him to go to Princess Changping’s residence on each occasion?

In such matters, it takes two willing parties. Lu Hong’s character was weak, and he could not hold himself firm in the face of Princess Changping’s beauty. The fate he had fallen into was entirely of his own making.

Princess Changping had made up her mind to kill Prince Consort Xu, and it was indeed for Lu Hong’s sake. Even if Lu Hong had known nothing of it beforehand, his second uncle Lu Ping could not escape involvement. The Emperor’s fury was great, and the fact that he had not taken Lu Hong’s life on the spot was already an exceptional act of grace.

Thinking of herself in her previous life — having suffered humiliation and torment until death because of such a weak and selfish man — Ling Jingshu could not help but let a derisive smile twist at the corners of her lips.

A light knock came at the door.

Bai Yu’s voice came from outside: “Young Miss, Miss Yan is here.”

Ling Jingshu went to open the door herself.

Ling Jingyan stood outside, vivid and bright, her smile warm and radiant: “I was going to wait for the two of you siblings to finish talking before I came over. But I grew too impatient, so I came anyway. I haven’t interrupted your conversation, have I?”

Looking at that familiar, lively face, Ling Jingshu felt warmth bloom inside her, and she lifted the corners of her mouth in a smile: “Not at all — how could you be an interruption? I couldn’t be happier to see you here. Come in quickly.”

…

Now that Ling Jingyan had arrived, Ling Jingshu had to go over everything she had just said all over again.

Hearing it a second time, Ling Xiao’s emotions had finally settled somewhat.

But Ling Jingyan wept openly, throwing her arms around Ling Jingshu and sobbing: “Poor A’Shu — who could have imagined you were living such hard days inside the palace. That imperial palace is not worth going back to! Stay home from now on — no one can bully you here.”

Ling Jingshu was at a loss for words but smiled, and coaxed her gently: “The imperial palace is not a place one enters or leaves by one’s own will. I serve in Lingbo Palace now, and Noble Consort Wei treats me very well — I am not suffering in the least. And today, it is precisely because Her Ladyship was especially gracious that she let me come back for a visit. I owe it all to her.”

Ling Jingyan knew she had been saying foolish things, and sniffled, her voice somewhat nasal: “If you are doing better, we can rest easier. By the way — has Noble Consort Wei ever said anything about when she might let you leave the palace?”

This was precisely the question that had been sitting at the very center of Ling Xiao’s heart as well.

He too looked over with an expression full of anticipation.

Once you entered the palace gates, it was as deep as the sea — and leaving the imperial palace safely and soundly was no easy matter at all!

Ling Jingshu sighed inwardly, yet on the surface she showed a light and easy smile: “A few years at most!”

A few years?

Ling Jingyan muttered under her breath: “Easy for you to say. A young woman’s most beautiful spring lasts only these few years. If you grow into an old unmarried woman inside the palace, then even when you do come out, there will be no good prospects waiting for you.”

Ling Xiao also knitted his brows: “What Cousin Yan says is true. A’Shu, can you not beg Noble Consort Wei to release you from the palace sooner?”

What a pair of foolish things — saying such foolish words!

As long as the Emperor was alive one more day, she would have to remain inside the imperial palace one more day. No matter how bold Noble Consort Wei was, she would never dare let her leave the palace privately.

Ling Jingshu sighed quietly inward, yet she could not say the truth, and answered evasively: “All right. If there is ever an opportunity, I will certainly beg Noble Consort Wei to let me leave.”

She had no wish to go on with these heavy subjects, and her tone lightened as she changed the topic: “Enough about me. Cousin Yan — weren’t you and that Young Master Zhang at odds, rubbing each other the wrong way, not long ago? How is it that barely a year later, you are already betrothed? Come and tell me all about it.”

Teased like this, Ling Jingyan’s cheeks turned thoroughly red, and she muttered hesitantly: “It was just… it just happened! There’s nothing particularly special about it.”

Ling Xiao cleared his throat and said with exaggerated solemnity: “Cousin-in-law came to the Ling estate every few days, shamelessly staying and refusing to leave. Before long, everyone knew that Young Master Zhang was utterly devoted to Cousin Yan. The matchmakers all stopped coming to the door after that. With no other option, Cousin Yan had no choice but to accept the Zhang Family’s proposal. Cousin Yan — would you say I have the right of it or not?”

The thoroughly insincere Ling Jingyan nodded with a perfectly straight face: “That is exactly how it happened!”

Ling Jingshu burst into laughter.

It was as if she had gone back to the old days — the three of them sitting together, chatting idly, jumping from one topic to the next with no particular direction, saying whatever came to mind.

Hearing Ling Jingshu laugh, Ling Jingyan stopped blushing entirely and made a perfectly reasonable demand: “The twelfth day of the third month next year is my wedding day — a most auspicious date. You absolutely must come back for it.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ling Jingshu agreed: “I will. When I return to the palace, I will bring it up with Her Ladyship in advance. On that day, I will definitely come back and see you wed.”

Ling Jingyan was delighted to hear her agree so readily and cleanly, and beamed: “Now that’s my dear sister. Oh — don’t forget to prepare a gift for me, either.”

Such frank and direct gift-requesting was entirely in keeping with Ling Jingyan’s style.

Ling Jingshu laughed with delight and nodded again and again.