After Ling Jingshu finished speaking, the carriage was silent.

Ling Jingyan listened blankly, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but she finally didn’t open her mouth.

Jiang Shi was also shocked by Ling Jingshu’s words. After a long while, she sighed and said, “Ah Shu, which woman is willing to compromise? Which woman is not willing to grow old with her husband and be a couple for the rest of their lives?”

“But this world has never been fair to women.”

“The common people, for the most part, due to their impoverished circumstances, cannot afford to marry a second wife and spend their whole lives with their humble wives. But for those who were wealthier, how could they content themselves with just their lawful wives? They can’t help but bring in those beautiful concubines. As for the noble and privileged sons of the royal family, even before they come of age, they already have lovely and understanding maidservants by their side. After marrying their lawful wives, taking concubines, and maintaining mistresses is all the talk of the town.”

“If you can meet a man who treats his first wife well and will not pamper his concubines and destroy his wife, for that woman, that is the greatest blessing.”

“What you just said, it’s okay to talk to us in private. In the future, you must not mention it casually in front of others. Otherwise, you will get the reputation of being arrogant, wanton, and ignorant of the importance of opening branches for your husband.”

“I know these words are not pleasant to hear, but they are all spoken from the bottom of my heart. I hope you won’t be unhappy after hearing this.”

Jiang Shi said these words with great sincerity.

The smile on Ling Jingyan’s face completely disappeared, her head lowered and she didn’t know what she was thinking.

Ling Jingshu smiled at Jiang Shi: “Tángsǎo’s sincere words are all for my own good. I am touched and grateful. How could I be unhappy?”

Before Mrs. Jiang could breathe a sigh of relief, she continued: “It’s just that, I don’t agree with these words, tángsǎo.”

Jiang Shi: “…”

Ling Jingshu had a calm and composed countenance, with a tranquil expression, but the words that she spoke were resolute and forceful: “It is precisely because there is so much unfairness towards women in this world that, as women, we must uphold self-respect, self-love, self-strengthening, and self-reliance.”

“No matter how others might think or act, in any case, I will stick to my own thoughts. If I meet someone I truly love, we’ll be together till old age. If I don’t meet such a person, I’d rather remain single for life!”

Jiang Shi gasped, her heart filled with shock.

Ling Jingshu was not just quick-witted and resolute, but she also possessed a rare determination and stubbornness among women. She paid no heed to the traditional Confucian principles of “Three Obediences and Four Virtues,” making her a true maverick in the eyes of society.

With such a temper, she was afraid she would have to suffer a lot in the future.

But somehow, she also vaguely envied and admired Ling Jingshu.

How much courage did it take to dare to say such words?!

Ling Xiao, who had been sitting silently next to Ling Jingshu, suddenly opened his mouth: “Ah Shu is right. If I meet a woman I like in the future, I will treat her wholeheartedly and will never be half-hearted.”

Ling Jingshu smiled slightly. She stood up, took Ling Xiao’s hand, and said affectionately: “Ah Xiao should think so.”

Ling Xiao raised the corners of his lips and smiled cleanly and purely.

…Jiang Shi looked at the pair of siblings and didn’t know what to say at all, so she simply stopped talking.

Probably because this topic was a bit heavy for everyone, no one said anything during the whole journey. Each had their own concerns. Everyone had their own thoughts.

Ling Jingshu was not affected at all. She quickly turned her head and looked at the street outside through the thin bamboo curtain. Later, she felt that she couldn’t see clearly enough, so she simply lifted a corner of the car curtain.

Fortunately, the carriage was not moving slowly, and the curtains were only raised a little, exposing at most the neck and chin.

Before the passers-by could clearly see the face of the girl in the carriage, the carriage had already moved away smoothly and quickly.

……..

An hour later.

The carriage left the main gate of the imperial city and entered the outer city.

The streets were still flat, but a little narrower than those in the inner city. There were more people on the streets. The speed of the carriage also slowed down.

Ling Jingshu didn’t want anyone to see her face, so she lowered the bamboo curtain.

Ling Jingyan couldn’t hold it in for long. She opened her mouth to break the silence: “Ah Shu, what have you been looking at for so long?”

“Looking at Luoyang City.” Ling Jingshu said with a smile: “Looking at the streets and pedestrians in Luoyang City, looking at the shops, looking at the vendors, and looking at the customers. Seriously… Luoyang City is indeed prosperous. Looking from this way, everywhere there is hustle and bustle, but there is no secluded place.”

Ling Jingyan felt a surge of pride in her heart. “Of course. However, merely observing from the carriage is like seeing the scenery in passing; it lacks excitement. When we arrive at Huichun Hall, we’ll don our veiled hats and step out of the carriage. Perhaps we could take a stroll in the nearby South Market. That’s where the real liveliness is…”

“Ah Yan, I’m afraid it’s inappropriate!”

Jiang Shi hurriedly stopped her: “Before we left, my mother-in-law specifically told us to visit the Huichun Hall and then go back. The outer city is mostly made up of ordinary people, and there are many eyes. Once we show up, what if we cause trouble?”

Ling Jingyan smiled disapprovingly and said: “Dàsǎo, we brought so many guards and maids out, anyone with a discerning eye will know we are from an official family at a glance. Ordinary people can’t hide in time, so who will come to provoke us.”

“But…”

“Besides, as long as we don’t say anything when we go back, how will my mother know that we went to look around in the outer city? “

Jiang Shi still looked hesitant.

Ling Jingyan reluctantly gave in: “Let’s do this! We won’t visit those satin and rouge shops. We will only go to the most famous Dingxiang Building in Nanshi for lunch. We will go back immediately after eating. That’s all right!”

Jiang Shi breathed a sigh of relief: “Will you really leave after eating?”

Ling Jingyan nodded seriously.

“Okay! After visiting Huichun Hall, we will go to Dingxiang Tower.” Jiang Shi finally agreed.

Ling Jingyan carefully concealed the joy in her heart. But she couldn’t hide the shining light in her eyes.

Ling Jingshu’s heart moved quietly.

Ling Jingyan tried her best to persuade Jiang Shi to go to Dingxiang House in Nanshi… What was so special about this Dingxiang House?

Ling Jingyanwu didn’t know that she had exposed her flaws and smiled excitedly: “Ah Shu, you are in for a treat at noon today. There are many restaurants in the southern city, which are more famous than those in the northern city of inner city. Especially this Dingxiang restaurant, which cost a lot of money. There are several famous chefs from various places. They launch different new dishes every month, and the business is very good. Many nobles living in the inner city also like to go to Dingxiang House.”

“I also heard my husband mention it .” Jiang Shi took over the conversation with a smile: “Those supervisors from the Imperial College will also go to Dingxiang Tower to eat and drink. Today we go to Dingxiang Tower, maybe we will meet some acquaintances!”

Hearing the word acquaintance, Ling Jingyan’s eyes flashed with hope.

Ling Jingshu’s heart suddenly became clear!

Ling Jingyan pestered Madam Sun about going out yesterday, and today she dressed up carefully and insisted on going to Dingxiang Tower… All these abnormalities converged into an obvious fact.

Ling Jingyan once met a young man who made her heart beat in Dingxiang Tower!

This time she tried her best to go to Dingxiang Tower again, hoping to see that person again.

...(To be continued.)