Two days later.

The invitation sent by the Su family was placed neatly on the table.

The Su family was a family of scholars, and even the steward who delivered the invitations was polite: “In two days, our Second Young Lady will have her coming-of-age ceremony, and she specifically asked me to deliver the invitations. We would also like to invite the Young Madam of the Ling family and the two Young Ladies to come to our house as guests.”

Sun Shi quickly responded with a smile.

After the steward left, Sun Shi couldn’t help but praise him, “As expected of a steward from the Su family, his conversation and manners are much better than those of the eunuchs from Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ’s mansion.”

Ling Jingshu smiled slightly and took over the conversation: “Aunt is right. The family tradition and style of the Su family can also be seen.”

Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ was domineering and overbearing, and the eunuchs around her naturally followed suit.

Jiang Shi also smiled and said, “They sent an invitation for Miss Su’s coming-of-age ceremony to the Ling family, but it was all for Ah Shu’s sake. Ah Yan and I are also lucky enough to be here.”

Ling Jingshu smiled and said, “My tangsao is teasing me too.”

Everyone was talking and laughing, but Ling Jingyan, contrary to her usual behavior, remained silent and looked unhappy.

“Ah Yan, what’s wrong with you these days?” Sun Shi looked at Ling Jingyan with some surprise: “You always look so depressed, and you can’t get excited about talking or doing anything.”

It was really strange that even the invitation to visit the Su Mansion did not make Ling Jingyan happy.

Ling Jingyan smiled to cover up: “The weather is hot and I feel a little depressed.”

Ling Jingshu naturally knew what the real reason was.

Two days ago, she met King Yan by chance in the Crown Prince’s Mansion, which brought back the girlish thoughts that Ling Jingyan had hidden deep in her heart. After coming back, Ling Jingyan seemed much more quiet and lonely.

Sun Shi also noticed that Ling Jingyan was in a bad mood, but it was not appropriate to ask further questions in front of everyone, so she quickly changed the subject.

After Jiang Shi and Ling Jingshu left, Sun Shi deliberately kept Ling Jingyan and questioned her carefully: “Ah Yan, there are only the two of us here, mother and daughter. Tell me the truth. What’s really going on with you two? Did something happen at the Crown Prince’s residence that upset you?”

Ling Jingyan was not willing to tell the truth: “That’s not true, Mom, don’t make random guesses.”

Sun Shi rolled her eyes at Ling Jingyan and said, “You came out of my belly. Do you really think you can hide your thoughts from me?”

Ling Jingyan’s heart skipped a beat and her pretty face turned slightly pale.

Could it be that Sun Shi knew that she secretly admired King Yan?

Sun Shi looked at her daughter lovingly and said, “Since Ah Shu came to the capital, she has been showing off everywhere. In a short period of time, she has made friends with such noble figures as the Imperial Grandson and Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ. Miss Su is also very courteous to Ah Shu. Although you are taking advantage of this opportunity to go out as a guest, you must be feeling upset…”

It was a complete misunderstanding.

Ling Jingyan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at first, but then she changed her mind and decided to let Sun Shi’s misunderstanding continue so that she wouldn’t have to find other excuses to cover it up. She pretended to be depressed and lowered her head: “Mom, don’t say anything.”

Such a reaction was undoubtedly a tacit agreement.

Sun Shi felt distressed and a little annoyed. She pointed at Ling Jingyan with her finger and said, “Look at you. You are one year older than Ah Shu. I don’t know where your brain has grown. No matter who is relying on whom, as long as you have the opportunity to go to places like the Crown Prince’s Mansion, the Gōngzhǔ’ Mansion, and the Su Mansion, it is a good thing for you. Why think so much?”

After a pause, she continued, “From the looks of it, Ah Shu will definitely have a good marriage in the future. Maybe the wealth of our Ling family will all depend on her. You should be more tolerant and coax her in everything.”

Ling Jingyan nodded at first, then thought about it again and felt something was wrong. She frowned and asked, “Mom, what do you mean by that? Are you and Dad planning to plot against Ah Shu?”

“What calculations! Why do you say that so harshly?” Sun glared at Ling Jingyan and said, “Ah Shu is the daughter of our Ling family. As her aunt, how can I not care about her lifelong affairs?”

Ling Jingyan muttered, “Ah Shu’s lifelong affairs should be decided by Grandma and Uncle, it’s not Dad’s or your turn to decide!”

Sun Shi: “…”

Sun Shi was almost choking and blurted out, “Your father and I have sent a letter back to Dingzhou. Let your Grandmother and Fifth uncle decide.”

What?

Ling Jingyan was startled, her eyes wide open: “Mom, you didn’t even ask Ah Shu, and you sent someone to send the letter back privately. What if Ah Shu has no interest in the Imperial Grandson?”

It was easy to imagine that the power-obsessed Mr. Ling wanted Ah Shu to marry the Imperial Grandson. But looking back these days, Ah Shu didn’t seem to have any special feelings for the Imperial Grandson…

Sun Shi smiled indifferently and said, “Silly girl, such a good marriage is something that others can’t ask for. How could Ah Shu not be willing to be favored by the Imperial Grandson?”

“But……”

“No problem. The letter has been sent to Dingzhou. Your Grandmother and Uncle will consider it carefully. We’ll talk about it after we get a reply.” Sun Shi warned Ling Jingyan: “Don’t tell Ah Shu about this. Do you hear me?”

Ling Jingshu was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside, and very opinionated. It was better to keep this matter secret for now.

Ling Jingyan nodded reluctantly.

…

As it turned out, Ling Jingyan was someone who couldn’t hide her thoughts at all.

Being together day and night, keeping a secret from the person you were familiar with, it felt like several cat paws were scratching her heart, it was so uncomfortable.

The two of them were doing needlework together. Ling Jingyan would steal a glance at Ling Jingshu from time to time, and then make a “hiss” sound.

The fifth time she poked her finger!

Ling Jingshu was so careful and perceptive that she had already noticed something was wrong with Ling Jingyan. She put down her needlework and asked tentatively, “Yan tángjiě, do you have something to tell me?”

“Yes… No, no no!”

It would be strange if there wasn’t one!

Ling Jingshu thought for a moment and whispered, “Is it related to me?”

Although it was a question, the tone was very affirmative.

Ling Jingyan opened her mouth, not knowing what to say, so she simply kept silent.

It seemed that she guessed it right!

Ling Jingshu thought about it again and continued to guess: “Did my aunt tell you something and told you not to tell me?”

Ling Jingyan opened her mouth so wide that an egg could almost fit in.

Ling Jingshu pulled the corners of her lips and said calmly, “It seems that it is related to my lifelong event! Are my uncle and aunt still planning to marry me to the Imperial Grandson as a concubine?”

Ling Jingyan: “…”

Ling Jingyan reached out her hand, lifted her chin which was about to drop, and then exhaled quietly: “You guessed all this yourself, I didn’t say anything! I also didn’t tell you that my father and mother had already written about this in a letter home and had it sent back to the old house in Dingzhou. My Grandmother and Fifth uncle may reply soon. I didn’t say anything!” ^[1]she reminds me so much of Minglan’s di sister from the series Story of Minglan. Have you seen it?

Ling Jingshu: “…”

(End of this chapter)