After Ling Jingshu finished speaking, the carriage fell into complete silence.

Ling Jingyan listened, stunned, her lips parting as though she wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing.

Jiang Shi, too, was shaken by these words. After a long pause, she sighed. “A’Shu, what woman would willingly settle for a compromised kind of love? What woman doesn’t wish to grow old together with her husband, to be one man’s only wife for an entire lifetime?”

“But in this world, things have never been fair to women.”

“Among ordinary common folk, most families are too poor to afford a second wife, so they make do with one humble spouse for life. But among those with enough wealth, who only keeps to a single principal wife? Sooner or later, beautiful concubines get brought into the household. As for the sons of imperial relatives and noble families, even before they come of age, they already have beautiful, accommodating chamber maids by their side; after marrying a principal wife, taking concubines and keeping mistresses outside the home is considered perfectly admirable behavior.”

“To find a man who treats his principal wife well and never favors a concubine at her expense — that alone is the greatest fortune a woman could hope for.”

“What you just said, it’s fine to say it privately among the three of us. But going forward, you must never bring it up in front of others. Otherwise, you’ll earn yourself a reputation for being arrogant and reckless, with no sense of propriety.”

“I know these words aren’t pleasant to hear, but they come straight from the heart. I hope you won’t be upset by them.”

Having finished this earnest speech, Jiang Shi fell quiet.

All the smile had drained from Ling Jingyan’s face; she sat with her head lowered, lost in her own thoughts.

Ling Jingshu, however, smiled at Jiang Shi. “Cousin-in-law, I know your heartfelt advice was all for my own good. I’m moved, and grateful — how could I possibly be upset?”

Before Jiang Shi could even feel relieved, Ling Jingshu continued: “It’s just that I don’t agree with what you said.”

Jiang Shi: “…”

Ling Jingshu’s expression remained calm and composed, yet her words rang out clear and firm: “It’s precisely because this world is so unfair to women that women all the more need to respect themselves, value themselves, and stand strong and independent.”

“No matter what others may think or do, I will hold to my own convictions. If I meet someone I truly love, I will walk hand in hand with him until our hair turns white together. And if I never meet such a person, then I would rather remain alone for the rest of my life, and never marry at all!”

Jiang Shi drew in a sharp breath, utterly stunned.

Ling Jingshu wasn’t merely sharp and decisive — she possessed a kind of resolve and stubbornness rarely seen in a woman, brushing aside notions of feminine virtue and submission as though they meant nothing at all. By conventional standards, this was practically scandalous.

A temperament like this would surely bring her no small amount of hardship down the road.

And yet, somehow, Jiang Shi also felt a quiet flicker of admiration and even envy toward Ling Jingshu.

To dare speak such words aloud — how much courage must that take?

Ling Xiao, who had been sitting silently beside Ling Jingshu the whole time, suddenly spoke up as well: “A’Shu is right. If I ever meet a woman I love in the future, I will devote myself to her completely, with my whole heart, and never waver.”

Ling Jingshu smiled and took Ling Xiao’s hand affectionately. “It’s wonderful that A’Xiao feels this way.”

Ling Xiao’s lips curved into a smile, pure and unguarded.

Looking at the two siblings, Jiang Shi truly didn’t know what else to say, and simply let the matter drop.

Perhaps the topic had grown too heavy for everyone, because no one spoke again for the rest of the journey. Each of them sat lost in their own thoughts.

Ling Jingshu, however, seemed unaffected, and soon turned her head again, gazing out at the streets through the fine bamboo blinds. Eventually finding the view not quite clear enough, she went ahead and lifted one corner of the carriage curtain.

Fortunately, the carriage was moving along at a steady pace, and only a small corner of the curtain was lifted, revealing at most her neck and chin.

Before any passersby could get a clear look at the young lady’s face inside the carriage, it had already moved smoothly and swiftly past.

An hour later.

The carriage passed through the main gate of the Imperial City and entered the outer city.

The streets remained level, though somewhat narrower than in the inner city. The crowds on the streets grew thicker as well, and the carriage slowed its pace accordingly.

Not wanting anyone to catch sight of her face, Ling Jingshu let the curtain fall back down.

Unable to hold her silence any longer, Ling Jingyan finally spoke up: “A’Shu, what were you looking at out there for so long?”

“I was looking at the city of Luoyang,” Ling Jingshu said with a smile. “Watching the streets and the people, the shops, the peddlers, the workers calling out to customers… Luoyang truly is a prosperous city. The whole way here, everywhere I look is bustling with life — there isn’t a single quiet, desolate corner to be found.”

A swell of pride rose in Ling Jingyan’s chest. “Of course it is. Still, watching from inside the carriage is just a passing glance — not much fun at all. Once we get to Huichun Hall, why don’t we put on our veiled hats, get off the carriage, and take a stroll around the nearby South Market? Now that’s where the real bustle is…”

“A’Yan, I don’t think that’s quite appropriate.” Jiang Shi quickly spoke up to stop her. “Before we left, Mother specifically told us to just take a look at Huichun Hall and then come straight back. The South Market is full of ordinary common folk, with all sorts of people about — if we’re seen there, what if it causes trouble?”

Ling Jingyan waved this off dismissively. “Sister-in-law, with this many guards and maids and servants accompanying us, anyone with eyes can tell we’re from a wealthy household at a glance. Ordinary folk would be too busy steering clear of us — who would dare provoke us?”

“But still…”

“Besides, as long as we don’t mention it once we’re back, how would Mother ever find out we went to the South Market?”

Jiang Shi still looked hesitant.

Reluctantly, Ling Jingyan relented a little. “How about this — we’ll skip the silk and cosmetics shops entirely. We’ll just go to Dingxiang Restaurant, the most famous place in the South Market, for lunch. As soon as we finish eating, we’ll head straight back. That should be fine, shouldn’t it?”

Jiang Shi relaxed slightly. “And you really mean it — straight back after lunch?”

Ling Jingyan nodded earnestly.

“Alright then. Once we’ve been to Huichun Hall, we’ll go to Dingxiang Restaurant.” Jiang Shi finally agreed.

Ling Jingyan carefully masked the excitement bubbling up inside her, though she couldn’t quite hide the bright sparkle in her eyes.

Something quietly clicked into place in Ling Jingshu’s mind.

Ling Jingyan had gone to such lengths to talk Jiang Shi into visiting Dingxiang Restaurant in the South Market… what exactly was so special about this restaurant?

Completely unaware that she’d given herself away, Ling Jingyan went on excitedly, “A’Shu, you’re in for quite a treat at lunch today. The South Market has no shortage of restaurants, even more renowned than those in the North Market of the inner city. Dingxiang Restaurant especially has hired several famous chefs from all over at great expense, and rolls out new dishes every month — business is always booming. Plenty of the fine young gentlemen living in the inner city like to go there too.”

“I’ve heard my husband mention it as well,” Jiang Shi added with a smile, picking up the thread. “The students from the Imperial Academy go there too, to eat and drink. Who knows, maybe today we’ll run into someone we know.”

At the mention of “someone we know,” a hopeful gleam flickered in Ling Jingyan’s eyes.

Realization dawned suddenly and clearly on Ling Jingshu!

Ling Jingyan pestering Sun Shi yesterday to let them go out, dressing so carefully and deliberately today, and insisting on going to Dingxiang Restaurant… all these unusual behaviors converged into one obvious truth.

Ling Jingyan must have once met a young man at Dingxiang Restaurant who had caught her heart!

This time, she was going to such trouble to return to Dingxiang Restaurant in hopes of seeing that person again.