Chapter 42: Emboldened

Yao’s health had gradually improved after a few days of recuperation.

“Madam, the Old Madam is here.” The maid came in to announce.

“Please come in.”

The Old Madam entered, Yao hurriedly got up: “Mother.”

Mrs. Lin pressed her back down: “This child, you’re fine now, no need to get up.”

Yao felt a little ashamed, she wasn’t really sick, although she was feeling better, she had been ill for a few days.

“I’ve told you not to work so hard, the affairs of the mansion, the business affairs, and I heard you’re even helping your brother with his manuscripts and compiling books. You’re not made of iron, you can’t take care of everything, you’ll end up exhausted and sick. What’s the point of that?”

Mrs. Lin held her hand, her words long and drawn out.

Yao’s heart ached, she held Mrs. Lin’s hand: “Mother, I’m fine, I’m just being lazy, I’ve been lying down all the time.”

Ever since she married into the Ling family, Mrs. Lin treated her like her own daughter. Yao felt guilty for hiding things from her, and her heart was filled with warmth.

“That’s good, you’re recovering well. Don’t let this illness delay the Dragon Boat Festival Palace banquet, it’s a lively event.”

Mrs. Lin smiled: “Last night, I even dreamt of your brother, perhaps he’s worried about you being sick, so he’s letting go, when he’s gone, the one who lets go the most is him.”

Yao’s fingertips trembled slightly, her throat felt tight.

She was in a dangerous situation, her husband saved her, bought her a bun shop, married her as his wife, loved and respected her, her mother-in-law treated her like her own daughter, and her brother-in-law also respected her.

She was only Ling Chen’s wife, but Ling Chen’s love for her was something she could never repay in a lifetime.

“How could I let my husband rest in peace, let my mother-in-law be disappointed, and let Ling Chen be ashamed?”

Suddenly, she made a decision, her eyes hardened, her hands clenched tightly around Mrs. Lin’s: “Mother, I won’t let you down.”

Yao’s illness finally recovered.

She was reading in the courtyard.

Ling Xiao was still discussing matters with his subordinates, investigating the case of the Morning Lotus Sect colluding with rebels. On the surface, the case had been closed, a few small fry were caught, and a facade of peace was maintained, but in reality, they hadn’t caught the big fish, and the case couldn’t be closed.

They had found some clues, perhaps, there was some connection with the Chen family. Ji Huai suddenly spoke.

Ling Xiao’s eyes narrowed: “The Chen family?”

“Last night, we just interrogated a scholar, and he let slip the name of the Chen family. It’s hard to say whether it’s true or false, the Chen family has always been loyal officials, never involved in party struggles, I never thought they would dare to collude with the King of Yong.”

Ji Huai said, looking at Ling Xiao and clicking his tongue: “But the Chen family is special after all, this matter, hmm, if we investigate further, we have to do it ourselves.”

Ling Xiao’s tone was indifferent: “Investigate.”

“Are you really willing to investigate the Chen family? What if something happens?” Ji Huai laughed playfully.

Ling Xiao looked at him: “You worry about yourself.”

“What?”

Just as they were talking, the sword-wielding guard knocked on the door and entered: “Marquis.”

Ling Xiao looked over: “What is it?”

“Madam is well today.”

His eyebrows slightly raised, his expression relaxed a little: “Where is she?”

“She’s talking to the Old Madam in the Longevity Garden right now.”

Ling Xiao immediately got up.

Ji Huai hurriedly said: “Hey, hey, hey, we haven’t finished discussing our business yet.”

“It can wait.”

Ling Xiao didn’t bother to explain, he walked directly out.

Ji Huai watched him leave, his head full of fog: “What’s going on? What does it matter if his sister-in-law is well?”

Longevity Garden.

Mrs. Lin was talking to Yao, when a maid came in to announce: “The Marquis is here.”

Mrs. Lin smiled: “Please come in.”

…

The curtain was lifted, Ling Xiao strode in, his gaze swept over Jiang Yao, sizing her up. He saw that her complexion was not bad, she didn’t look as frightened as a startled bird like before, and she hadn’t lost much weight either, she must have been recovering well these past few days.

Yao was sitting quietly beside Mrs. Lin, her head lowered, she didn’t look up.

“The Marquis is here, hmm, we were just talking about the Dragon Boat Festival, we should also hold a banquet then.”

Ling Xiao lifted his robe, his tone light: “Okay, the Palace banquet is on the afternoon of the Dragon Boat Festival, let’s hold the banquet then.”

“Ah, Mother’s illness is also recovering well, the Marquis has been studying hard, he should relax too, let’s all celebrate the festival together.”

“Mother, you decide.”

They chatted for a while, Mrs. Lin felt tired, so she asked them to leave first.

Yao left the Longevity Garden, and Ling Xiao was already waiting outside.

He walked over, his tone casual: “You’re well now?”

Yao raised her eyes, her tone distant: “I’m already well, thank you for your concern, Marquis.”

His eyebrows furrowed slightly, her words sounded very polite.

Yao reached out, took a box from her sleeve, and handed it to Ling Xiao: “The handkerchief isn’t worth much, the Marquis picked it up and returned it, there’s no need for such an expensive token of apology.”

Ling Xiao’s eyes cooled a little, seeing this, her courage had grown.

“This string of beads is for warding off evil spirits, wear it when you’re sick.”

Yao’s clear and bright eyes looked straight at him: “The Marquis is kind, but I’m a widowed woman, I should avoid suspicion.”

“The Marquis might as well put it away, what if you put it in your sleeve and the Censorate finds out? They might even impeach the Marquis. Now that the Marquis is in a high position, he should be more cautious.”

Every word was a warning, filled with distance.

Ling Xiao’s expression changed, he had been expecting her to be slow to recover, still afraid and worried about her injury, but he hadn’t expected her to be so adaptable.

This adaptability, she really had recovered.

Seeing that he didn’t take it for a long time, Yao simply placed the box on the side, then walked around him.

Ling Xiao’s eyes gradually darkened, he stared at the pear wood box, his restlessness growing.

Yao returned to the Xuan Courtyard, stopped in her tracks, and turned her head to see the sword-wielding guard following behind.

The sword-wielding guard was suddenly stared at, his breath hitched.

He knew, he would always encounter Ling Xiao, because he knew all her whereabouts.

Yao said in a clear voice: “Don’t follow me anymore.”

“But, this is the Marquis’ order…”

“Just tell the Marquis, let him not follow me.” Yao’s voice was clear, without any hesitation.

The sword-wielding guard froze, he didn’t dare to say anything more, he could only silently retreat.

Back in the courtyard, the sword-wielding guard went to see Ling Xiao with a pale face.

“Madam said, let me not follow her anymore.” The sword-wielding guard’s voice was shaky, perhaps Madam had informed him…

Ling Xiao was leaning against the corner pavilion, looking in the direction of the Xuan Courtyard, his expression indifferent: “Let him go back.”

The sword-wielding guard fell to his knees with a thud: “Madam is also your master, I dare not disobey, moreover, moreover…”

“Moreover, if you really anger this Madam, the Marquis will still deal with you.”

Ling Xiao held a box in his hand, his eyes dark.

“He sent the box back, he’s rushing to come here, what does he mean by drawing a line?”

“He’s recovering, his courage has grown fat.”

The sword-wielding guard sensed that the Marquis’ aura was gradually becoming chilling, he was afraid that the Marquis would really be angry, he was sweating for Madam, this might not have a good ending.

Everyone held their breath and dared not even breathe, for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

After a long time, Ling Xiao still didn’t lash out, he calmly retracted his gaze: “Okay.”

The sword-wielding guard raised his head in shock, inexplicably feeling a chill down his spine.

Yao wasn’t trembling with fear either, but she was determined to completely draw a line with Ling Xiao, so she was resolute in finishing all of this.

She waited for half an hour, she had imagined all sorts of scenarios, even imagined Ling Xiao throwing her into the well to feed the fish, but after half an hour, there was no movement.

He didn’t even come.

It seemed like he accepted everything.

Until nightfall, Yao’s heart, which had been hanging, finally settled.

Perhaps he also found it boring, so he simply didn’t bother, what did it matter to him, anyway, she was just a woman, what did it matter if he kept an eye on her?