After breakfast, Madam Sun told Ling Jingyan: “Ah Shu and Ah Xiao are new here and are not familiar with the environment. Today you will lead them to have a good tour.”

Ling Jingyan agreed with a smile.

Ling Jingshu was actually not interested in the Ling family’s house. What she wanted to go to most was Huichun Hall.

However, that day was only the fifth day of the lunar month, and there were still a few days until the fifteenth. Even if you went to Huichun Hall, you might not have been able to see Imperial Physician Wei. Moreover, the Imperial Grandson had just returned to the capital, and if you wanted to visit him and request the name card, you had to wait for a few more days…

She had been waiting for so many days, so there was no need to rush, just be patient and wait!

Ling Jingyan didn’t notice Ling Jingshu’s absent-mindedness, and introduced the Ling family mansion with great interest: “…I heard from my mother that this house was originally the residence of a minister of the Ministry of Rites. Later, the minister of the Ministry of Rites retired. He returned home and the house was empty. When my father just joined the Ministry of Industry, he happened to hear that this house was for sale, so he spent money to buy it…”

As for the money, of course, it was from the far away in Dingzhou. Old Lady Ling ordered it to be delivered.

Just such a house cost a full thirty thousand taels of silver.

When Uncle Ling was imprisoned for his crimes, the house was sold at a low price of fifteen thousand taels to save Uncle Ling from prison. A lot of the ancestral property of the Ling family’s old house in Dingzhou was also sold off. The huge Ling family suddenly took on the desolation of a sunset.

It was only through the efforts of the Lu family that Uncle Ling was rescued. The Ling family also owes the Lu family this huge favor and kindness. Under such circumstances, what qualifications and confidence do they have to fall out with the Lu family? How could they offend the Lu family for her?

Thinking of the past, Ling Jingshu twitched the corners of her lips sarcastically.

Ling Jingyan didn’t notice it and pulled Ling Jingshu around the Ling family’s house.

Finally, they stopped in the Ling family’s garden.

Calling it a garden was stretching it a bit far.

There was a small rockery with an exquisite pavilion next to it. Next to the pavilion was a small pond with some lotus flowers planted in it. It was just June and the flowering period had not yet arrived. A few lotus leaves were floating sporadically on the pond.

There were many flowers, plants, and trees planted in the garden, and a special place had been set aside for planting peonies.

At this time, the peony flowering period had not yet passed, and some flowers that bloomed slightly later were blooming vigorously. Looking from a distance, it was gorgeous and dazzling.

Ling Jingyan said proudly: “Ah Shu. Although this peony garden is not big, there are dozens of kinds of peonies planted! I planted some of them myself, let me show them to you.”

Then she pointed at the plants one by one.

Of course, Ling Jingshu would not disappoint Ling Jingyan and praised Ling Jingyan deliberately.

Ling Jingyan was filled with pride.

Ling Xiao, who had been silent all this time. He suddenly said: “Yan tangjie, can you also grow peonies? It’s a pity that I can’t see, otherwise I can enjoy it.”

Ling Jingyan was about to show off her beauty.

Ling Xiao politely asked again: “By the way, Ah Shu can also grow peonies. I wonder how the peonies grown by Yan Tangjie compare with those grown by Ah Shu?”

Ling Jingyan: “…”

Even if Ling Jingyan had thick skin, she couldn’t say something like, “Of course, the peonies I grew are better.” After a long pause, she managed to squeeze out a few words, “They are both excellent.”

Several maids lowered their heads in unison.

If the master caught them laughing, they would definitely get scolded.

Ling Jingshu kindly held back her laughter and came to Ling Jingyan’s rescue: “The peonies planted by Yan Tangjie are so beautiful. The petals are huge, colorful, and fragrant. All are rare and top quality. Ah Xiao, when your eye disease recovers, you can see it with your own eyes.”

Ling Xiao always heard the words “eye disease healed” very frequently recently and was full of longing for the future life. Hearing this, he nodded obediently and stopped saying anything.

Ling Jingyan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly changed the topic: “I have been showing you two around for a long time. I’m also a little tired, let’s go back and rest first!”

…

In the next few days, Ling Jingshu stayed in the Ling family.

Ling Ji was a supervisor of the Imperial College. He took a long leave to return to Dingzhou. After returning to the capital, he immediately returned to the Imperial College.

Uncle Ling was an official in the Ministry of Industry. His official position was not obvious, but he was quite busy with work. He also had to do a lot of socializing every day. He left early and came home late every day. He had not had dinner at home for several days. There were a lot of female relatives left in the Ling family, plus the blind Ling Xiao.

Originally there were only three people in the house; Madam Sun, Jiang Shi, and Ling Jingyan, which made the house feel a bit deserted. However, after the addition of Ling Jingshu and her brother, it became more lively. Ling Xiao was obedient and quiet, and Ling Jingshu was smart and well-informed. It was easy to win over Madam Sun. She had a good impression of her and soon started to speak with her casually and informally.

“Auntie,” Ling Jingshu asked with a smile, “How many days will it be before Tangxiong can come back from his regular studies at the Imperial College?”

Madam Sun smiled and said: “In the Imperial College, you have three days off every month, and you can go home every ten days.”

Jiang Shi was clever and quickly guessed Ling Jingshu’s thoughts, and said with a smile: “You want to ask, when will you go to the Prince’s Mansion to ask for a name card?”

“You don’t have to worry about this, your cousin has always kept it in mind! He will definitely be back in the next two days…”

Before she could finish his words, a maid came to report: “The eldest young master is back.”

Talk about Cao Cao, and Cao Cao was here!^[1]a Chinese proverb similar to talk of the devil and the devil is here

Everyone laughed.

When Madam Sun heard that Ling Ji was back, she felt happy and led everyone to greet him at the door.

Ling Ji strode over and grinned: “No wonder I am anxious to come back today. You must all be thinking about me in your hearts.”

While speaking, he winked at Jiang Shi.

There was a sweet feeling in Jiang Shi’s heart, and a light blush appeared on her face.

Madam Sun was not that evil mother-in-law who didn’t want to see the harmony and love between her son and daughter-in-law. She just pretended not to see this scene: “Stop standing outside and come in quickly to talk.”

“Wait! I want to give Ah Shu something first.” Ling Ji smiled at Ling Jingshu and took out a thin, glittering name card from the secret pocket in his sleeve.

Ling Jingshu’s heart beat faster and her voice trembled: “Tangxiong, this is…”

“This is His Royal Highness Taisun’s famous name card. Ling Ji said with a smile: “I know you have been anxious about waiting these past few days, and you can’t see me, so you can’t rush me.”

“So I specifically took leave this afternoon and went to the Prince’s Mansion to ask for an audience with His Highness the Imperial Grandson. It is a coincidence that His Highness Taisun entered the palace today and was not in the mansion. I originally thought that the trip would be in vain, but unexpectedly, His Highness Taisun had already had his name card prepared. After I went there, someone gave me this name card.”

Ling Jingshu took the thin name card with a touched face and said her thanks cautiously: “Thank you very much, Tangxiong.”

Ling Ji smiled nonchalantly and said, “Why are you so polite to me? Hurry up and take the name card! It will be the 15th of the sixth lunar month in a few days. Just take this name card and go to Huichun Hall.”

Ling Jingshu held the name card tightly in her hand.

With this name card, she can see Imperial Physician Wei as soon as possible! (To be continued.)