The morning light filtered in through the thin window gauze.

When Ling Jingshu opened her eyes, she felt a moment of disorientation.

At this hour on any other day, she would already have risen and gone to wait upon Empress Wei and attend to her duties. Today she had woken rather late. Why had Bai Yu not come to rouse her in time?

Ling Jingshu began hurrying to get out of bed and put on her shoes, calling out as she did: “Bai Yu! Qiao Yun! It is getting late — why has neither of you come to wake me? I am certainly going to be late for duty today.”

Bai Yu pushed open the door and slipped inside, smiling as she said: “Young Miss, have you forgotten? We returned to the Ling household yesterday. This is not the palace — there is no duty to attend to anymore.”

Ling Jingshu paused, stopping what she was doing.

Of course — she had already left the palace and returned home. There was no more duty to attend to!

“I grew so accustomed to rising early for duty every day that coming back like this, I simply cannot adjust.” Ling Jingshu laughed with a touch of self-deprecation.

Bai Yu smiled: “Young Miss, you ought to go back to sleep for a while. The Lady said yesterday that for the next couple of days, Young Miss need not go to pay her morning respects. Rest more in the bedchamber.”

Ling Jingshu gave a sound of agreement, slipped off her shoes, and lay back down, sleeping a comfortable extra hour.

When she woke, Ling Xiao was already waiting outside the room.

“Why are you still at the household — do you not need to go to the Imperial Academy today?” Ling Jingshu was mildly surprised.

Ling Xiao smiled: “Older cousin has already gone back. Before I returned home, I specially applied for three days’ leave. For the next few days, I am not going anywhere — I’ll be right here at home keeping you company.”

Over the past two-plus years, Ling Jingshu had been living in the palace. The two siblings had only managed to see each other once, and that visit had been brief before they were parted again. Now that Ling Jingshu had finally come home, Ling Xiao was eager to spend as many days close to her as he could.

Ling Jingshu looked at Ling Xiao’s smiling face, and a gentle warmth surged through her heart; the corners of her own lips curved upward: “Very well. The studies at the Imperial Academy are so demanding — consider these few days a rest.”

The two siblings shared a simple breakfast together, then sat and spoke at length, catching up on everything they had missed.

There were things that were not easy to ask in front of everyone else. Now that it was just the two of them, Ling Xiao had no reason to hold back, and asked quietly: “A’Shu, is your illness truly cured?”

Ling Jingshu smiled and confirmed it: “Yes — it was Wei Yan who cured my strange affliction. I have completely recovered.”

At least, being in close physical contact with Wei Yan was no longer an issue.

As for other men, she neither had the occasion nor any intention of testing it.

Upon hearing this, however, Ling Xiao’s expression became hesitant. It was a long moment before he asked quietly: “Are you willing to marry Wei Yan simply because he once saved your life and mine?”

Of course not.

Ling Jingshu laughed: “Silly, why would you think that? Even if I were deeply grateful to him, I would never use my own lifelong happiness to repay a kindness. I am willing to marry him because he is sincere toward me, and I am sincerely fond of him.”

As Ling Jingshu spoke these words, her expression was open and calm, her gaze clear and true — evidently without any pretense.

Ling Xiao finally set his heart at ease, letting out a long breath: “That is good then.”

Two hearts in accord, walking through life together — this was the most beautiful thing in the world.

Ling Jingshu then recounted the events of the palace in careful detail, particularly the period when Empress Xu was deposed and she had been locked in the imperial prison: “…At that time, I was alone in the prison, lost and distressed, with no one even to speak to. Though I was not subjected to any torture, that loneliness and desolation was more terrifying than any punishment in the world. It was during that time that Wei Yan went to every effort to have a letter delivered to me inside the prison, and also entrusted the prison guards to keep watch over me and ensure my safety.”

It was precisely during that time that the fondness she had already felt quietly transformed into feelings she could no longer unravel.

And in the days that followed, little by little, they came to know each other more deeply, their feelings grew ever richer, until at last they pledged to be together until their hair turned white.

Ling Xiao listened quietly to all of this. The radiance in Ling Jingshu’s eyes could not be feigned, and the joy and sweetness that arose whenever she spoke of Wei Yan shone unmistakably at the corner of her eyes and the tip of her brow.

She truly loved Wei Yan!

And she sincerely longed to be married to Wei Yan!

A’Shu had suffered so much — and at last, she had waited to see this day.

The two siblings were mid-conversation when they heard the door knocked upon with three loud raps. Before anyone could respond, the visitor pushed open the door herself: “A’Shu! A’Shu!”

Only one person had such an impetuous temperament — none other than Ling Jingyan.

Ling Jingshu and Ling Xiao exchanged a smile.

“A’Shu,” Ling Jingyan — her belly round and full — came quickly striding in: “It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Today, we sisters absolutely must talk for a whole day’s worth.”

Ling Jingshu could only smile helplessly: “Cousin Yan, you are nearly ready to become a mother — how are you still this impatient? Walk more slowly and steadily; don’t disturb the child in your belly.”

Ling Jingyan broke into a grin, unconcerned, and gave her belly a firm pat: “Don’t worry — the child is very sturdy.”

…Truly the same Ling Jingyan from memory — breezy and careless as ever!

A temperament like that was probably impossible to change no matter what.

Zhang Jian, who had followed Ling Jingyan in through the door, could only shake his head in exasperated helplessness when he saw her forthright and unrestrained gesture: “A’Yan, why that much force? You must have startled the child.”

Ling Jingyan blinked, a playful smile rising on her slightly rounder face: “Children aren’t that delicate. Don’t worry — I know my own belly.”

Know it? Hardly!

The same thought flashed unbidden through everyone’s minds.

But the pat was already done, and there was nothing more to be said. Zhang Jian looked on with a kind of helpless resignation and sat down beside Ling Jingyan, watching her every movement with close attention.

With him watching so intently, Ling Jingyan did restrain herself considerably, even speaking in a gentler tone of voice than usual.

Ling Jingshu took in all of this and felt a quiet, inward contentment.

Seeing is believing. It was clear that the young couple’s feelings for one another were indeed very good.

Ling Jingyan’s concern was much the same as Ling Xiao’s: “A’Shu, are you truly willing to marry Wei Yan? Or, since this match was personally bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress, is it that you have no choice but to accept it?”

Ling Jingshu had no option but to explain once more how she and Wei Yan had come to hold each other in mutual regard.

Ling Jingyan listened with growing enthusiasm and began pressing for the details: “The two of you were both in the palace — the chances to meet were quite frequent. If you were often exchanging glances and meaningful looks, wouldn’t others have detected it long ago?”

“Nothing of the sort as exchanging glances.” Ling Jingshu shook her head with an amused laugh: “Wei Yan and I were so careful to conceal everything that when in front of others, we made certain to maintain a distance of at least three paces at all times. Never once stepping beyond the bounds of propriety.”

Ling Jingyan’s face was full of envy: “Hidden feelings, mutual hearts, a perfect understanding — and at last, Her Majesty the Empress bestowing the marriage in person, and the lovers finally united. It is exactly like something out of a stage play!”

Ling Jingshu was entirely unabashed and teased right back: “Was it not the same for you and your husband before you were married?”

Ling Jingyan’s face, for once, flushed with rare color, and she exchanged a glance with Zhang Jian — her heart sweet and warm.