The memories buried deep in her mind, whistled sharply, and tore the scars at the bottom of her heart ruthlessly, revealing blood-dripping pain

Ling Jingshu’s eyes flashed with thick self-mockery and pain, her chest seemed to be pressed by a boulder, and she was almost suffocating.

Bai Yu was the most attentive and sensitive, and had already noticed Ling Jingshu’s strangeness, and asked with concern: “Miss, what’s wrong with you? Do you feel uncomfortable?”

Ling Jingshu stretched out her hand tremblingly: “Bai Yu, let me rest for a while.”

She hugged holding Bai Yu, she buried her head in Bai Yu’s warm chest, and her shoulders shrugged slightly.

Her mother died early, and her twin brother was blind and needed someone to take care of him. As the eldest sister, she had to protect her younger brother, try her best to compete for the favor of her grandmother, and gain a firm foothold in the face of the covetousness of her stepmother, aunt, and cousins.

She was diligent, and careful, and did not dare to make mistakes. When encountering grievances and sorrows, there was no one she could talk about, so she could only cry quietly in Bai Yu’s arms for a while.

Bai Yu subconsciously hugged the slender body in her arms.

Listening to Ling Jingshu’s sorrowful sobs, Bai Yu’s heart also tightened, and she said softly, “Miss, what’s wrong? If you have anything, please tell the servants. Although the servant is unable to mitigate the worries of the young lady, I can always share some worries for the young lady.”

The gentle whispers in her ears were as warm as those in her memory.

Ling Jingshu’s crying gradually stopped, she sat up straight, wiped her tears with her sleeve, and said slowly, “I’m fine, but I’m not feeling well. I’ll just cry for a while.”

The best thing about Bai Yu was that she never talked too much. What Ling Jingshu didn’t want to say, she didn’t probe about it, she just followed Ling Jingshu’s words and said, “It’s fine. Miss, take a rest, and the servant will go to the kitchen to cook some porridge.”

The meals of the masters of Ling Mansion were all prepared and delivered by the large kitchen. There was a small kitchen in each yard, which was convenient to boil some hot water or make some snacks and the like. It was okay to have a meal alone, but once you open a kitchen, you have to take care of it yourself.

Ling Jingshu’s body was weak, so it was not suitable to eat too greasy and meaty food, it was best to drink some light porridge.

Ling Jingshu also felt hungry, smiled, and nodded.

After Bai Yu left, Ling Jingshu restrained her smile and said to herself silently, “Ling Jingshu, tears are useless except to make those who love you anxious and worried.

From now on, she will no longer cry weakly and helplessly, and she will be strong to face everything that is coming.

…

Ling Jingshu was “rehabilitated” in Qiushui Pavilion and lay on the bed for three days.

The fifth room population was not small. Ling Wuye had four children in total. The eldest son Ling Ting was born to Concubine Xia, Ling Jingshu and his younger siblings were the direct descendants of the late main wife Madam Yao, and Ling Yu was from the present main wife Madam Li. He was only six years old this year.

Ling Wuye was a romantic literati. He drank and wrote poetry and invited friends to hang out with all day long, and he never asked how her health was. The stepmother, Madam Li, came here once to show her face. After only sitting for a while, she left saying a few words.

Ling Ting and Ling Yu were busy studying every day, so naturally, they didn’t have time to see her.

Only Ling Xiao came to see her three times a day, once in the morning, in the evening, and during lunch.

The intimacy was visible at a glance.

Ling Jingshu didn’t feel disappointed or sad either. Those who treated her with sincerity, she will return with sincerity. People who didn’t care about her, why should she care about their words and deeds?

Old Lady Ling also sent Mo Kui twice.

Mo Kui spoke rather euphemistically, implying that Ling Jingshu should get better soon.

There were distinguished guests in the mansion, and it was not polite for Ling Jingshu to avoid showing her face all the time. Old Lady Ling didn’t say it, but she was actually a little unhappy in her heart.

Ling Jingshu didn’t pretend that she didn’t understand Mo Kui’s suggestion and said with a smile: “Thank you, Sister Mo Kui, for the reminder. Speaking of which, my body is really unsatisfactory. I have been lying on the bed for the past few days and resting, making my grandmother worried. Please go back and report to my grandmother, Sister Mo Kui, tomorrow morning I will go and say hello to my grandmother.”

After saying that, she winked at Bai Yu.

Bai Yu immediately put the prepared purse into Mo Kui’s hand, and whispered affectionately, “Miss Mo Kui, in front of the old lady, please say a few words of kindness for our young lady.”

Mo Kui pretended to decline a few times before accepting it.

After Mo Kui left, Bai Yu sighed worriedly: “Miss, what Mo Kui just said is very clear. You have been avoiding your face, and the old lady is not happy.”

“The Old Lady was the sky above everyone’s head. If you want to live well in the mansion, you must not make old Lady Ling unhappy.”

Ling Jingshu knew this truth without Bai Yu’s reminder. No matter how much she resented the indifference of old Lady Ling in her heart, she could never show it. She must do her best to please her grandmother as she used to.

Otherwise, she will be in real trouble.

“I know what to do.” Ling Jingshu smiled at Bai Yu, her eyebrows rose with confidence: “You can rest assured.”

Seeing Ling Jingshu’s confident smile, Bai Yu’s uneasy heart also calmed down.

“Miss,” Xuan Cao came in and reported, “The Eighth Miss is here to see you.”

…

Ling Jingxian walked in briskly and called out to her cousin with a smile.

Today Ling Jingxian was wearing a light yellow dress, her face was lightly powdered, and it was radiant and charming. A pair of eyes flashed with a strange look.

A sarcastic smile flashed across Ling Jingshu’s eyes.

When a girl’s love first starts, she almost writes that joy on her face… She was so stupid back then!

Ling Jingxian and her have never been at odds with each other, so she came to “visit” her today, obviously with ulterior motives.

As expected, after a few gossips, Ling Jingxian quickly brought up the topic of the cousin from the Lu family: “…Shu tángmei^[1]female cousin younger to you from paternal side, you have been behind closed doors for the past few days, haven’t seen Hong biǎogē^[2]male cousin older to you from the maternal sideyet.”

Hong biǎogē… it was really affectionate.

Ling Jingshu twitched the corners of her lips, but there was no smile in her eyes, and she replied casually, “Why do you need to ask something so obvious, I haven’t seen him before. How could Xian tángjiě^[3]female cousin older than you from the paternal side suddenly mention this? Could it be that something is wrong with this biǎogē?

Ling Jingxian bit her lip, and her face flushed quietly: “There’s nothing wrong. It’s just… just…”

After a long time, she didn’t say the following words.

Ling Jingshu looked coldly at Ling Jingxian pretending to be shy.

When the Lu family in the previous life arrived at the Ling family, she greeted them along with everyone. Then, she and Lu Hong fell in love at first sight. Lu Hong only had her in his eyes, and could no longer tolerate others. Although Ling Jingxian fell in love with Lu Hong, it was a pity that Lu Hong was intentional and ruthless. She could only watch helplessly as she and Lu Hong fell in love with each other.

Lu Hong asked Ling to propose marriage to her. As a stepmother, Ling’s relationship with Lu Hong had always been lukewarm. Lu Hong was in love with her stepmother’s niece, and Madam Ling was naturally happy to see it happen and quickly proposed marriage to Old Lady Ling.

Old Lady Ling agreed without any hesitation.

The Lu family was a famous family among the great families in Zhou. Although the Ling family was not bad, compared with the Lu family, it was more than a step behind. Back then, when the Ling family married into the Lu family, it was only as a second wife. Now that the main eldest son of the Lu family wanted to marry the granddaughter of the Ling family, there was no reason for the Ling family not to agree.

What’s more, Lu Hong was young and handsome, personable and knowledgeable. Standing with Ling Jingshu they were like a pair of people made in heaven, and they will never humiliate Ling Jingshu. Furthermore, Ling Jingshu married into the Lu family, and her mother-in-law was her gūgu^[4]father’s sister from the same parents, so she would never treat her harshly.

Madam Ling also had some selfishness that was not for outsiders. The Ling family married far away and she was the second wife. Her relationship with her stepson was cold, which was always a hidden danger. Her niece became a daughter-in-law, and she would definitely stand on Ling’s side in the future. Ling’s control of the family can also be smoother and easier.

Old Lady Ling decided on the marriage. Fifth Master Ling was quite satisfied with the Lu family’s background. He admired Lu Hong’s literary style even more and was happy to see the marriage succeed.

At that time, who would have thought that this “golden and jade marriage” that everyone praised would end up like that?

……

The thoughts were free, and the thoughts were a little far away.

In this life, she had been avoiding appearance. Lu Hong has not met her yet, and naturally, there was no story of love at first sight. The first person to see Lu Hong was Ling Jingxian!

She thought, she probably guessed Ling Jingxian’s intention… 

Ling Jingxian was embarrassed for a moment, and finally summoned up the courage to say, “Tángmei, I have something important to tell you.”

She glanced at Ling Jingxian, that insightful look made Ling Jingxian feel guilty for a while, and lowered her head subconsciously.

“Bai Yu, you guys step back first. You are not allowed to come in without my order.” Ling Jingshu gave a light command.

The maids quickly left.

Only Ling Jingshu and Ling Jingxian were left in the room.

Ling Jingshu looked at Ling Jingxian and said calmly, “Xian tángjiě, what do you want to say? You can say it now!”

Ling Jingxian blushed and whispered, “Shu tángmei, I will be an adult in May. It’s time for my hairpin ceremony.”

After the hairpin ceremony, it was time to talk about marriage.

Ling Jingshu’s eyes flickered, and a sentence came out coldly: “Xian tángjiě, do you like that Hong biǎogē?”

Ling Jingxian: “…” 

Ling Jingxian suddenly struck in her heart. No matter how scheming, after all, she was still a girl in a boudoir, and her pretty face blushed suddenly. But she did not deny it.

After a long while, Ling Jingxian said in a low voice, “Tángmei, I’m not afraid that you will laugh at me. In the past two years, I have gone out with my mother as a guest, and I have met some young men of the same age. But I never thought about any of them. Three days ago, when I saw Hong biǎogē for the first time, I fell in love with him.”

“He is born as beautiful as jade, just like the bright moon in the sky. When he smiled at me, I fell in love with him. My heart almost jumped out of my chest. In the past few days, I’ve been fascinated by him, thinking about him all the time…”

Listening to Ling Jingxian’s emotional confession, it was as if she saw herself, as a naive idiot back then.

Ling Jingshu felt a little unstable and interrupted Ling Jingxian impatiently: “Xian tángjiě likes Hong biǎogē, you should tell your mother quietly, and think of ways to facilitate the marriage. Why are you telling me about it?”