By the time she reached the Ling residence, night had already fallen.

No one at the residence had expected Ling Jingshu’s sudden return; seeing her, everyone was at once startled and delighted.

Unfortunately, both Ling Xiao and Ling Ji were away at the Imperial Academy and not at home. Ling Daye was still at the Crown Prince’s residence and had not yet returned either. The only ones currently at the residence were Sun Shi and Jiang Shi, along with the now-married Ling Jingyan.

“A’Shu, how is it you have time to come home?” Sun Shi asked with concern.

Ling Jingshu briefly explained the situation.

Sun Shi sighed. “We went to the Crown Prince’s residence this morning and came back at noon. No wonder we didn’t run into you.”

Jiang Shi, whose eyes were already swollen from crying, asked in a hoarse voice, “A’Shu, you saw the Crown Grandson Consort one last time, didn’t you?”

Ling Jingshu nodded gently. “I did. She lay in the coffin, her face peaceful, as if merely asleep.”

“Actually, she could have survived. When the labor went wrong and the child wouldn’t come, the midwife said only one of them—mother or child—could be saved. The Crown Grandson clearly said to save her, but that foolish girl insisted on saving the child instead.”

As Jiang Shi spoke, tears slid down her face again, her voice choked. “How could she be so foolish? If the child had been lost, she could have had another later. Now the child is saved, but she gave up her own life for it. She wasn’t even eighteen yet this year—still so young…”

Jiang Shi and Jiang Rongyue were cousins, having grown up close and remained on good terms.

With Jiang Rongyue’s death, Jiang Shi’s grief went without saying.

Seeing Jiang Shi cry, Ling Jingyan beside her could not help bursting into tears as well. “Sister-in-law, please stop. It pains me to hear it.”

Crying, of all things, was the most contagious.

Ling Jingshu’s own eyes grew damp; she stepped forward and put her arms around Ling Jingyan.

Ling Jingyan buried her face against Ling Jingshu’s shoulder and wept openly. “A’Shu, Sister Rongyue was so good—why did she have to die so young? Heaven is so unfair. Why can’t good people live long? There are so many wretched, wicked people in this world—why not take one of them instead of taking her life?”

Wave after wave of bitterness rose in Ling Jingshu’s heart.

Indeed—Heaven had never been fair. Wicked people lived on at ease, while kind, lovely Jiang Rongyue had perished so soon, her life snuffed out like fading incense and shattering jade.

The group wept together for a long while before their emotions gradually settled.

Sun Shi steadied herself and said to Jiang Shi, “Yu’niang, don’t grieve too much. Have the wet nurse look after Lin Ge’er tonight—you should get a proper night’s rest.”

Lin Ge’er was the name of the son Jiang Shi had given birth to the previous year. He had just turned one.

At the mention of Lin Ge’er, Jiang Shi’s grief eased somewhat, and she nodded in acknowledgment.

Sun Shi turned to Ling Jingshu. “A’Shu, your room has been cleaned and tidied every day. Go rest early as well—you’ll need to head back to the temporary palace first thing tomorrow.”

Then, to Ling Jingyan, she said, “A’Yan, you’ve only just married—it isn’t proper for you to stay overnight at your parents’ home. You should head back shortly.”

Ling Jingyan wiped her tears with her sleeve. “Mother, I don’t want to go back. Tonight I want to sleep with A’Shu. I’ll send someone to deliver word right away. My in-laws are reasonable people—they won’t be upset.”

And even if they were upset, Zhang Jian would shield her from it.

Sun Shi was about to say more, but Ling Jingyan had already pulled Ling Jingshu away.

That girl! Even after marrying, she still had this same impulsive, headstrong temper.

Sun Shi rubbed her temples, looking helpless. It was fortunate that the Zhang family were all generous and even-tempered—otherwise, what family could tolerate such a willful daughter-in-law?

. . .

Back in the familiar room she hadn’t seen in so long, sitting across from Ling Jingyan, Ling Jingshu felt a faint sense that an entire lifetime had passed.

Ling Jingyan had stopped crying as well. She sat quietly for a long while before saying softly, “A’Shu, you didn’t come back the day I got married. You promised me beforehand that you definitely would.”

Ling Jingshu gave an apologetic, bitter smile. “I’m sorry, Cousin Yan. I had already spoken to Consort Xian about it. But then the Emperor suddenly decided to go to the temporary palace, and I had to accompany Consort Xian there. After that, getting leave to come out again became next to impossible.”

Ling Jingyan looked up at Ling Jingshu, her bright eyes still as sharp as ever, though carrying a new measure of tolerance compared to before her marriage. “I’m not angry with you. Serving in the palace, you’re restricted at every turn—how could you be as free as before?”

A woman, once married, was simply no longer the same as she had been while still unwed at home.

In the past, Ling Jingyan would never have said such a thing.

Not wanting the mood to stay so heavy, Ling Jingshu teased with a smile. “Cousin Yan, marriage has really made you grow up. Your husband deserves the credit.”

At the mention of her new husband, Ling Jingyan’s face flushed, a sweet smile flickering in her eyes. “He really is considerate toward me. It’s just that his mouth is still as exasperating as ever—he’s always bickering with me, and it often makes me so angry I could burst.”

“But I have my own way of dealing with him. All I have to do is put on a show of crying, and he immediately surrenders and starts coaxing me.”

Seeing her so sweetly intoxicated with happiness, Ling Jingshu couldn’t help pressing her lips together in a small smile.

A man willing to yield, willing to coax his wife, naturally did so because he cared.

It was truly good that Ling Jingyan had found her own happiness.

Watching Ling Jingshu’s smiling face, Ling Jingyan suddenly blurted out, “A’Shu, you and Wei Yan are already together, aren’t you!”

Ling Jingshu: “……”

Composed as Ling Jingshu usually was, she hadn’t expected Ling Jingyan to suddenly say such a thing, and for a moment she forgot to hide her reaction. The two of them simply stared at each other in stunned silence.

Ling Jingyan blinked, then burst out laughing. “Look at you—I’ve guessed right.”

Well then!

She really had guessed right!

For once, Ling Jingshu looked bashful. “Cousin Yan, how did you figure it out? I never mentioned a single word of him to you!”

“Need you even ask?” The tables had finally turned, and it was Ling Jingyan’s turn to put on the smug air of someone who’d been through it all. “Just look at you—your whole face seems to glow. The happiness and sweetness in your eyes can’t be hidden at all. You must have someone in your heart.”

“You keep your distance from Prince Yan, and you’ve never been moved by the Crown Grandson. So it could only be Wei Yan. What’s so hard to guess about that?”

Ling Jingshu’s cheeks warmed slightly, but she quickly composed herself. “Since you’ve already guessed it, I won’t hide it from you any longer. He’s already cured my strange illness, and he and I have pledged our hearts to each other.”

Ling Jingyan was overjoyed. “Your illness is really cured? That’s wonderful! Then you’ll be able to marry and have children in the future.”

Ling Jingshu laughed despite herself. “It won’t happen that quickly. Right now he’s at the Imperial Medical Institute, and I’m stuck in the palace. If we want to marry, we’ll have to wait until I have a chance to leave the palace.”

“Whatever the case, it’s still good news.” Ling Jingyan’s confidence and optimism always spread easily to those around her. “I believe the two of you will surely end up together, just as fate intends.”

Lovers united at last, as fate intended.

Ling Jingshu’s lips curved up slightly, her eyes shining with joy and hope.