The lady nodded, as if she wanted to say something, but she took it back and turned to Xia Qinghe, saying, "Lingzhi has good character, but his temperament is like that of a child, and his mind is unstable. You should bear with him."

Xia Qinghe said gently and submissively: "Don't worry, Auntie, Lingzhi is a steady and sensible girl. I like her very much and will take good care of her."

Looking at her hypocritical appearance, Lingzhi curled up a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth.

With such acting skills, he would definitely win an award in the film and television industry.

But acting is still acting, no matter how real it is, it is still fake.

As soon as she came out of the lady's yard, Xia Qinghe started to show her power like a tiger.

"Lingzhi, I'm telling you, your aunt has already given me your indenture. You'd better obey me, or I'll sell you off when we get back to Beijing."

As soon as these words came out, Lingzhi looked at the man in purple standing beside Xia Qinghe and trembled.

Lingzhi looked at her and couldn't help but secretly sigh.

I'm selling me, not you, why do you have such a bad mental state!

Have you ever been scared like this?

Perhaps seeing Lingzhi was too calm, Xia Qinghe vigorously moved her red lips, which were painted with bright red lipstick, and continued to spread anxiety:

"If you are my man, you must follow my rules."

Lingzhi remained indifferent, thinking to himself, what are the rules? It may know me, but I don't know it!

“I’m not like Shen Furong, who lets you be so presumptuous.”

Lingzhi rolled her eyes and said, "Of course you are not my lady. You are not even as good as one of her toes."

"I'm sure you've learned this last time. I'm not a kindly master. I'm not lenient when it comes to punishing my servants. From now on, do whatever I ask you to do. I don't like to act on my own."

Lingzhi blinked. What a coincidence, isn't it? I'm not a pure and innocent person either.

If someone bullies me or takes advantage of me, I will not suffer in vain. I will make them pay a heavy price.

"Also, stay away from Master Xiao from now on. You're not worthy of his favor!"

Lingzhi shook his head, it is not easy to curry favor with someone. If he can do it, then of course he will be favored. But if he can't do it, then that would be a dead end.

However, since you are truly in love with Xiao Qingyun, I will definitely help you two be together.

Xia Qinghe spoke until her mouth was dry and Lingzhi felt drowsy.

Finally, she glared at Lingzhi and said sarcastically, "Never mind. Wild boars can't eat fine bran."

"Little chaff, little chaff, you will not have a good ending." Lingzhi shook his head in a loud voice.

"You..." Xia Qinghe was about to get angry.

"Cousin."

Nanny Zhang came over quickly and said, "I heard that Lingzhi is going to the capital with the young lady, so my young lady asked her to go over and give her some instructions."

Xia Qinghe calmed down and turned to look at Lingzhi: "In that case, Lingzhi, you can go!"

Lingzhi left with Aunt Zhang.

Zi Yi took two steps forward and whispered to Xia Qinghe, "Young lady, although this maid has a clean background, she is not someone you can easily control. Why do you insist on bringing her with you to the capital?"

Xia Qinghe snorted coldly: "Even if I don't say anything, someone will take her to the capital anyway. It's better to just keep her under my watch."

Zi Yi: "You mean the Regent..."

Xia Qinghe glanced at her, the corners of her lips curled up coldly.

She accidentally overheard the conversation between the two imperial envoys, and only then did she realize that the Regent Xiao Qingyun was unwilling to give up and wanted to take the Ganoderma lucidum with him before leaving.

Although she wanted to replace him, she also knew that she couldn't act hastily.

Since Xiao Qingyun values Lingzhi, it would be better to tie this girl to her side so that she can have more opportunities to meet Xiao Qingyun.

Besides, there are dangerous and treacherous places waiting for her in the capital.

Lingzhi is beautiful, and it would be perfect to let her go to Prince Ning's Mansion in his place.

Thinking of this, Xia Qinghe smiled viciously.

Doesn't that girl want to be associated with a rich and powerful man? Then why not give her to that old man, Prince Ning?

…

…

Lingzhi followed Aunt Zhang into the house and said goodbye to the young lady.

The rash on the lady's face had not yet disappeared, and she lay quietly on the bed, looking a little pitiful.

After hearing Lingzhi's explanation, her frail figure trembled, and she slowly said, "I understand."

Lingzhi forced a wry smile and said, "Don't be sad, young lady. I'm only going to the capital with my cousin temporarily. Maybe I'll be back next summer."

"Besides, my cousin is the daughter of Minister Xia, a wealthy family with no worries about food and clothing. Others would envy her too much. I will definitely have a good life in the future."

The young lady smiled faintly and said, "Don't say such things again in the future. The Shangshu Mansion is very strict in its management. It's not like home. You have to be careful about your words and actions."

"I will remember your instructions, young lady."

The young lady continued, "You have been with me since you were little. Although you are nominally a maid, you and I are more than sisters. If you have any difficulties in the future, just send a letter back."

Lingzhi's eyes moistened as she said, "My lady has been so kind to me that I've long considered her someone I'd protect with my life."

Chunmei, who was standing by, also lowered her head and wiped away her tears secretly.

The young lady reached out her hand with red eyes, slowly wiped the tears from Lingzhi's face, and patted her hand: "Okay, you've been tired all day, you should go and rest too. You still have to go to Beijing with your cousin tomorrow."

Lingzhi nodded, and together with Chunmei, she changed the young lady's clothes for the last time, made the bed, and then left.

As soon as she walked out of the young lady's courtyard, she was blocked by the eldest son Shen Yuchao.

His eyes were red as he asked her, "You, want to leave?"

Lingzhi felt her throat burning and was unable to speak. After a long while, she corrected him hoarsely, "She was sent away."

His hand trembled, and the folding fan in his hand broke into two pieces: "I don't agree, but I can't change my mind with my parents. Minister Xia is taking care of the Shen family's business, so he is also doing a favor to the family..."

Lingzhi lowered her eyes in despair: "I know."

"I heard Rong'er talk about what happened yesterday. I'm afraid your life with your cousin won't be easy in the future. You have to be careful..."

Shen Yuchao's voice was very low, like a child who had made a mistake.

Lingzhi was stunned for a moment, then nodded again: "I know..."

Shen Yuchao suddenly approached Lingzhi and held her wrist: "Lingzhi, wait for me. I will work hard for the imperial examination. When I pass the examination, I will go to the capital to find you."

"ah?"

Realizing that there was something wrong with his words, Lingzhi looked up and was caught off guard by the pair of deep eyes.

He only has eyes for her...

Seeing her staring at him in a daze, Shen Yu raised the corner of his mouth, outlining a beautiful arc: "Wait for me."

Lingzhi pulled her hand back in panic, forced herself to stay awake, looked at his affectionate face and stammered: "It's... getting late... I should go back."

After saying that, she turned and ran away.

"Lingzhi." Shen Yuchao called her name again.

Lingzhi did not stop.

But he felt that his heart was beating even faster, and there was even a tingling sensation spreading from his brain to his tailbone, all over his body.

She felt a little strange, but couldn't figure out why...

Could it be that she had some inappropriate thoughts about the eldest young master?

Lingzhi cursed herself inwardly as a beast.

Even rabbits don't eat grass near their burrows, so how could she have no moral integrity at all?