The Ling family’s matriarch had borne two sons and one daughter, and she had always cherished her only beloved daughter as one cherishes a precious jewel. To suddenly learn of the Lu Family’s disaster — one could only imagine how frantic with worry she must be. More likely than not, she would come to the capital.

Ling Jingshu gave a quiet acknowledgment and said nothing further.

Jiang Shi too had lost her mood for conversation. The two of them sat in silence for a moment, then each went their separate ways.

The Imperial Academy was the highest seat of learning in Dazhou. Those who studied there were predominantly the sons of officials and nobility, with access to information that left nothing to chance. Word of Lu Ping’s imprisonment and the Lu Family members being escorted to the capital spread quickly to Ling Ji and Ling Xiao’s ears.

The two brothers, shocked to the core, immediately requested leave to return home.

When Ling Ji caught sight of Ling Daye lying in bed, his face wearing the unmistakable pallor of genuine illness, he was greatly alarmed and hurried to sit at the bedside: “Father, how did you fall so seriously ill so suddenly?”

This was no performance at all — this was clearly a real illness!

Ling Daye coughed several times, then said in a low voice: “I reported sick to convalesce, so naturally I had to make myself genuinely ill. Does anyone actually take others for fools?”

If one is going to act, one must carry the act through entirely! He had gone and stood in the cold wind night after night until he had reduced himself to this state. That way, even if visitors came to call and check on him, there would be nothing to fault.

Ling Ji looked at the sickly Ling Daye and felt genuinely pained inside.

Ling Xiao too could not suppress a sigh: “First Uncle need not put his body through such ordeal.” To say nothing pleasant — Ling Daye was no longer young. If he truly pushed himself to the point of bringing on a real ailment, it would be he himself who would suffer for it in time to come.

Ling Daye, however, was unconcerned and gave a faint quirk of his lips: “All right, I understand both your intentions well enough. This is an extraordinary time, and this was the only way to shed all suspicion and trouble.”

“Both of you remember: going forward, be discreet and careful in all things. What should not be said must on no account be said carelessly. Should anyone deliberately bring up the Lu Family, simply profess complete ignorance across the board.”

Ling Ji furrowed his brow: “Though we were never especially close in our dealings with the Lu Family, we are nevertheless proper relatives by marriage. It’s impossible to sever that connection entirely. The way I see it, at this height of the storm, it would be better for me and Cousin Xiao to also keep a low profile. We could use the reason of Father’s illness as a pretext — I and Cousin Xiao will both request long leave together, on the grounds of remaining home to attend to the sick.”

Ling Xiao also nodded in agreement: “What Elder Cousin says is right. We’ll bring our books home with us. Reading and studying on our own every day won’t set back our learning.”

Ling Daye hesitated briefly, then nodded his assent.

……

Just as Ling Daye had anticipated, after he reported sick, a considerable number of people came to the residence to pay him sick visits. Old and trusted friends came out of genuine concern, but there was no shortage of those whose intent was less than honorable — using the pretext of inquiring after his health as a pretense to come to the Ling residence and fish for information.

Fortunately, Ling Daye was genuinely ill. That pallor of sickness on his face — it could not be feigned. Those who had come with ulterior motives were left with nothing to gain and slunk away embarrassed.

All this commotion had little impact on Ling Jingshu’s daily life.

She stayed in her chambers each day, embroidering pillow covers and silk handkerchiefs, stitching shoes and socks, quietly preparing for her coming marriage.

Ling Xiao, who had been somewhat uneasy and unsettled at the start, saw Ling Jingshu’s steadiness and quickly settled himself as well. He applied himself diligently to his books in his room each day, bringing to mind a kind of tranquil focus that could find calm within noise and pass through turbulence without being moved.

Half a month later, the Lu Family members were escorted into the capital.

Ling Daye and the others were not in a position to appear in public themselves, so they quietly dispatched the residence’s steward to gather information.

The steward was gone for much of the day before he returned and reported: “Counting young and old together, the Lu Family numbers well over a hundred people at the very least. After disembarking from the boats, they were loaded into prisoner carts and transported to the Ministry of Justice prison. This old servant did not dare go too near — however, the son-in-law, the young master, and the young mistress were all being held in the lead prisoner cart, and this old servant did catch a glimpse of them. Their clothing was still in reasonable order, but their spirits were poor, especially the young mistress — she has grown so thin she is nearly unrecognizable.”

A gleam of moisture flickered in Ling Daye’s eyes, yet he said nothing, and in silence raised a hand to dismiss the steward.

Sun Shi called the steward back and spoke in a low voice: “Go to the accounts room and withdraw a few hundred taels of silver, and send it to the warden of the Ministry of Justice prison. Ask him to see that the young mistress’s family of three is looked after, so they don’t suffer too badly while in prison.”

The steward quickly agreed and withdrew.

Sun Shi, seeing Ling Daye’s face was sunken in grief and dejection, softly offered comfort: “My lord, don’t be too distressed. With things as they are, this is all that is within our power to do.”

After a pause she continued: “Mother-in-law and the others set off the moment they received the letter. By the time you calculate the distance, they should be nearing the capital about now. I’ve already had the guest quarters prepared and ready.”

This time, the entire Ling family household was coming to the capital. Partly for the matter of the Lu Family, and partly to see Ling Jingshu off in marriage. At the very least, they would stay through the new year before departing.

Ling Daye mustered what little spirit he could: “With me laid up ill like this, all matters will require additional effort on your part.”

Sun Shi sighed: “My lord, please don’t say such things. Given the current circumstances, it is only right that I take on more.”

Now, Ling Daye found himself compelled to feel grateful that Ling Jingshu had secured such a good match.

On account of the marriage connection between the Ling Family and the Lu Family alone, Ling Daye would have struggled to explain himself even if he had mouths all over his body — he might well have been summoned to the Ministry of Justice to “explain himself.”

As it stood, all it had taken was falling ill, and the trouble and storm had passed him by. With everyone showing deference to Empress Wei’s feelings, they had been lenient in their treatment of the Ling Family. It was truly a stroke of great fortune within great misfortune.

……

Three days later, the Ling Family contingent finally arrived in the capital.

Ling Daye was still confined to his bed. Sun Shi personally led Ling Jingshu and the others to wait at the main gate. They waited for approximately half an hour before at last they saw a long procession of carriages returning.

Since the entire household had come, the dowry specially prepared for Ling Jingshu had also been transported to the capital alongside them — requiring a full ten carriages to convey it. At a single glance, the procession had an imposing and impressive air.

All except Ling Erye’s family, who remained at their post and could not come, had made the journey — even Ling Siye, whose legs were not entirely convenient, had come. Ling Wuye personally supported the white-haired, haggard-spirited Ling family matriarch as she descended from the carriage.

This was not the place for conversation, so Sun Shi led the whole party inside to the main hall.

When the assembled family members met, the usual pleasantries and greetings naturally followed.

But because of the calamity that had befallen the Lu Family, the air of bustle and reunion was suffused throughout with an underlying current of dismay.

The Ling family matriarch was already past seventy, and her body could no longer withstand the grueling jolts of a long journey. Added to this her constant anxiety over her daughter and her family — she did not know how many times she had wept along the road. Her face was a map of deep wrinkles, and she looked markedly more aged than before, none of the vitality that had characterized her in the past.

Li Shi had also grown considerably thinner, the beauty and sharpness she had once possessed now greatly diminished.

Ling Fou had completely lost the use of one leg and required someone to support her when she walked. She stood close behind Li Shi, looking timid and silent, small and withdrawn.

Ling Ting, however, had matured considerably. He stood at Ling Wuye’s side, his bearing spirited and assured, his features carrying a confidence that had not been there before.

It was clear enough that after Ling Fou lost the use of her leg, Ling Ting — the eldest son by a concubine — had risen to a standing within the Fifth Branch of the Ling family that was no longer what it had once been.

Ling Jingshu’s gaze passed over Ling Fou’s face — somewhat pale and gaunt — and she felt nothing but emptiness.

Whatever had happened, Ling Fou had at least kept her life. In her past life, Ling Xiao had been so terribly harmed by Li Shi — and now, Ling Fou had come to this end. One could not blame anyone else for it.