Chapter 10: Was He Deliberate?

Mrs. Lin asked with a smile, “Brother Ling, what do you think?”

Ling Xiao snapped out of his thoughts, lowered his eyes, and withdrew his gaze. His voice was cold and detached, “His Majesty intends to have the old officials marry the princesses to help them integrate into the new court. The Princess’s matchmaking card hasn’t been sent yet, so naturally, it’s not under consideration.”

Mrs. Lin was stunned, “You’re so thoughtful. I saw the Princess come here personally, and I thought…”

“I thought they were old friends.”

Mrs. Lin continued, “What about Miss Chen? Miss Chen is well-educated and well-mannered, and she’s a noble lady. I’ve said it before, out of all the matchmaking cards sent, she’s the best in every way.”

Ling Xiao suddenly felt restless and couldn’t bear to talk about this anymore, “We’ll talk about it later.”

Mrs. Lin frowned, “This… you’re not very enthusiastic.”

Yao pursed her lips, a hint of suppressed annoyance in her eyes. She didn’t want to ask about his preferences anymore. She had said that she would choose whatever he liked, but now he was making a fuss about it, as if she had done something wrong.

If he was so particular, why didn’t he just choose himself?

Deliberate.

He should have just accepted her choice.

“…”

“I still have some things to deal with. I’ll go first.”

Mrs. Lin wanted to ask more, but she was also busy, so she could only nod, “Okay.”

Ling Xiao stood up and left directly.

After Ling Xiao left, Mrs. Lin said, “He doesn’t seem very enthusiastic about choosing a wife.”

Yao blushed, “He probably likes it. Your Highness, you should just handle it yourself.”

Mrs. Lin frowned, but she sighed, “Alright, let’s put it aside for now. He’s probably too busy with court affairs, and he really doesn’t have time to manage these things. I heard he’s going hunting soon. We’ll talk about it when he has some free time.”

Yao nodded obediently, “Okay.”

She didn’t want to bother with this anymore.

Yao completely put this matter aside and didn’t ask about it again.

Now that the housewarming banquet was over, the mansion was relatively quiet. She was busy organizing her husband’s manuscripts and also making medicinal concoctions for Mrs. Lin.

Her father had been a shopkeeper, and she had often played in the shop when she was young. She had learned a little about making medicinal concoctions from the shop’s master.

Later, when she came to the Ling family, Mrs. Lin always felt unwell. The medicinal concoctions sold in the town were expensive, so Yao tried making some herself, and Mrs. Lin liked them very much.

Her husband had also praised her medicinal concoctions, saying that she should open a medicinal concoction shop in the future.

Everything her husband said was good.

Unlike Ling Xiao, who could find fault with everything!

Yao snorted, and the sound of her turning the pages of the book was a little louder.

Ling Xiao had been busy again these past few days. There were indeed many troublesome matters in the court. Lately, whenever he had free time, a strange restlessness would fill his mind, making him even more agitated.

He rode back to the mansion, dismounted, and the guards rushed forward to take his horse, “Your Highness has returned.”

Jian also dismounted and followed behind.

The Military Marquis seemed to be in a good mood these past few days, and Jian and the other guards were extra cautious in serving him.

“The hunting list has been prepared. Your Highness, please take a look.”

This was the first hunting trip since the emperor ascended the throne. All the officials would be there, so it would naturally be a grand event.

“Put it aside for now.”

Ling Xiao strode into the mansion, his expression indifferent.

“Yes.”

He had just passed a section of the corridor when he suddenly stopped at a corner, turning his head towards another direction of the corridor, the one leading to the inner courtyard.

He hadn’t entered the inner courtyard for several days, and he hadn’t even looked at Mrs. Lin.

He was deliberately avoiding Jiang Yao.

“How is the Old Madam?” he asked suddenly.

Jian was stunned, “The Old Madam is in good health. There’s nothing wrong with her.”

“The Old Madam is living a pampered life in the inner courtyard. Now she even personally tends to her garden. Your Highness is still worried about her?”

Ling Xiao’s gaze swept over him, sharp as a blade, making Jian feel like he had said something too general.

He quickly added, “The steward of the inner courtyard said that the Old Madam is doing very well. She’s also in good health. She can even eat a bowl of rice with chopsticks. Madam accompanies her every day, and Your Highness often visits her. The Old Madam even invited a troupe of actors to perform in Fushou Garden. She’s very happy.”

Ling Xiao asked, “Madam invited a troupe of actors?”

Jian was puzzled. Was a troupe of actors worth mentioning?

Jian answered truthfully, “Yes. Madam has been organizing her husband’s belongings these past few days. She also made some medicinal concoctions for the Old Madam. She was afraid that the Old Madam would be bored, so she invited a troupe of actors to perform in the garden. It’s a way to entertain her. Madam has always been very attentive to the Old Madam.”

Ling Xiao didn’t interrupt him. As Jian spoke, he seemed to remember something, “This time, the hunting list also specifically mentions the Old Madam. It says that Princess Huaining specifically requested it.”

Ling Xiao’s eyes widened slightly, and he said, “She’s not idle at all.”

Jian was a little confused, but he still asked cautiously, “Does Your Highness want to see the Old Madam?”

Ling Xiao pursed his lips, silent for a moment, then he took a step forward and turned towards the inner courtyard.

The Old Madam’s Fushou Garden was next to Yao’s courtyard, Xuan. So, if he went to the Old Madam’s courtyard, he would definitely pass by Xuan.

Ling Xiao walked along the corridor into the inner courtyard, circled the courtyard, and arrived at Xuan.

The courtyard was quiet. The branches of the trees inside the wall were draped over the wall, and a few sparrows chirped on the branches, but he didn’t feel bothered by the noise.

He unconsciously quickened his pace, as if the suppressed restlessness in his heart had calmed down a little.

Jian was used to his master’s swift pace, and he almost didn’t react in time. He quickly slowed down his pace.

He was almost at the Military Marquis’s side.

Jian wiped the sweat from his forehead, even though he wasn’t sweating. This job was getting harder and harder.

Suddenly, he heard a maid’s voice from inside the courtyard, “Madam?”

“Yes, I’m bringing the medicinal concoctions.” Jiang Yao’s voice was soft and soothing.

Ling Xiao’s footsteps paused, and he unconsciously quickened his pace.

Yao was carrying a basket, her footsteps light as she walked out of Xuan. She raised her head and saw Ling Xiao standing in the distance.

He was wearing a dark blue robe and a silver crown. His sharp aura had softened slightly, adding a touch of elegance. From afar, he looked quite handsome.

She frowned, a battle raging in her mind. She pretended not to see him, thinking that he probably wouldn’t speak to her anyway.

She thought that if she ignored him directly, would he think she was being provocative?

If it were anyone else, she would definitely care, but he was different. He was different from anyone else.

Yao bit her lip, then she greeted him, “Your Highness.”

Ling Xiao stopped in his tracks and said calmly, “What is it?”

Yao’s attitude was respectful, “I was just about to go see my brother. He’s been studying hard, so I brought him some medicinal concoctions to help him feel better.”

Ling Xiao chuckled inwardly. She had just said that she was going to see the Old Madam, but now she was going to see Ling Shen. She was changing the subject, pretending to be going to see the Old Madam, then changing her mind.

She was really good at acting, and she was still pretending to be innocent.

“He’s also studying hard. Don’t bother him if you have nothing to do.” Ling Xiao said.

Yao: “…”

She rolled her eyes.

She saw him, why bother?

Yao swallowed her anger and said, “Okay, I’ll go back first.”

Then she turned and left.

But Ling Xiao spoke again, “The hunting list has arrived. Princess Huaining specifically requested you to go.”

Yao’s brows furrowed. The Princess still remembered this?

She thought she would have forgotten about it. After all, the Princess was childish.

Why was Ling Xiao bringing this up?

Was he using this to teach her a lesson about clinging to the Princess?

Yao’s alarm bells rang. She said cautiously, “The Princess was probably just being impulsive. But hunting is a big event, it’s very grand and formal. I’ve never been before, and I’m afraid I don’t know the rules. I might mess things up. Please ask Your Highness to excuse me on the grounds of illness.”

She didn’t want to go anyway.

Ling Xiao’s voice was sharp, “The Princess specifically requested you, how can you excuse yourself on the grounds of illness?”

Yao: “…”

Deliberate.

He was deliberately picking on her!

Yao’s lips tightened, her face was a little stiff, and her respectful voice was tinged with a smile, “Thank you for reminding me, Your Highness.”

Ling Xiao lowered his eyes. He saw that her eyes, which had been distant, were now filled with a hint of anger, and she was a little agitated.

He felt inexplicably better. He raised his chin, “The hunt will be in a few days. Get ready. We’ll leave at the hour of the dragon.”