Chapter 33 Ripples (XI) In your household… only you and Ling…
Zhi Rou hadn't expected this matter to be unresolved yet. Judging from his expression, he seemed impatient. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she asked, "Apologize? Are you serious?"
“How could Her Majesty the Empress’s decree be false?” Wei Yuanzhan glanced at her, seemingly unwilling to discuss the matter further with her.
Zhi Rou stopped talking and looked away, unwilling to reveal anything more.
After he left, she raised her face, her gaze fixed on his figure, which grew taller year by year.
For no apparent reason, an idea popped into her head.
She hoped Wei Yuanzhan could stay by her side for a while longer; she wanted to see how such a high-ranking figure would end up. She hoped he wouldn't fall from grace.
When I arrived at Qiyun Garden in the afternoon, the orchid had already been delivered and placed on the stone table.
Holding the care instructions given to him by the shopkeeper, Xue Nan, a dignified seven-foot-tall young man, actually looked a little helpless in front of a potted plant.
Zhi Rou stepped into the courtyard and encountered this scene. She smiled and suddenly jumped out from behind him like a kingfisher: "Master, do you like it?"
Although Xue Nan was somewhat lost in thought, she knew she had arrived the moment Xue Nan stepped into the courtyard.
Therefore, he was not startled. He turned his head slightly to take a closer look at her face and sighed, "You little rascal... how can you be so honest?"
Asking her to buy flowers was a way of letting her go out for a walk and clear her head.
He was relieved that she didn't come back yesterday; he had achieved his goal and felt quite pleased with himself as a good teacher. But then he received this this morning... which is truly perplexing.
Zhi Rou thought he was just being lazy, so she smiled and took the care sheet from his hand, quickly glancing at it: "I'll take care of it, it'll bloom eventually."
"Is your hand feeling better?" Xue Nan stared at her wrist for a moment.
"It was nothing serious, just a minor sprain."
If it were really that simple, why was her thumb, wrist, and palm trembling? Xue Nan turned her gaze and slowly instructed, "Don't practice swordsmanship today. Go for a walk around Xiao Cang Mountain and come back before dark."
Xiaocang Mountain wasn't far, nor was it too high; it was located about a mile outside the city. When she first became a disciple, she and Wei Yuanzhan often ran up and down there, ostensibly to train their physical strength, but secretly to compete with each other, neither willing to lose.
As far as I can remember, she defeated Wei Yuanzhan only a handful of times.
Unable to bear the memory, his dark eyebrows furrowed, and his tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction: "Does Master think I'm weak?"
Xue Nan intended to let her rest for a few days, but he knew this child couldn't stay idle, so he would definitely assign her something to do.
"Just go when I tell you to, don't ask so many questions."
Zhi Rou pouted, took a pear from the table, took a bite, and went out.
The western gate leads towards Xiaocang Mountain.
Zhi Rou sat in the carriage, opening the wooden window halfway to let the cool breeze and the scenery outside flow in. The spring sun was just right, giving it the feel of a picnic.
Further ahead, after turning a street, there is a very well-organized mansion that stretches from one end to the other, with blue bricks and gray tiles, exuding a majestic and dignified air.
Zhi Rou leaned closer to the car window and saw a very sharp "Ling" carved in the center of the exterior wall.
Ling Ziheng. The name suddenly popped into her mind.
So this is how big the Ling family's house is; it occupies an entire street. The walls are extremely high, like a city.
After thinking for a moment, Zhi Rou moved to the door and said to Pei Cheng, who was driving outside, "Brother Pei, have you ever heard of the Ling family of Qinyang?"
Pei Cheng turned his head to the side, his eyes glancing at the high courtyard wall. He thought for a moment and realized that there were indeed members of the Ling family, but he had never seen any of them as people talked about.
“Madam Zheng, do you still remember her?” he added, “the Third Miss’s wet nurse.”
Zhi Rou lowered her eyes slightly. Of course she remembered, and she still felt indebted to Song Hanjin for this matter.
"Before Madam Zheng fell ill, she often came to my house to do embroidery with my mother. I always heard them talking about Miss Ling, as if she were her former mistress... saying how kind and virtuous Miss Ling was, with a free and easy personality, and was the most prestigious and talented woman in the capital at that time."
"Unfortunately, she entrusted herself to the wrong person. The general that Miss Ling married was disloyal to the court and was sentenced to be cut in half at the waist. His son was only seven years old and was exiled to the north, where he eventually froze to death on the way."
As Zhi Rou listened, her body swayed slightly with the jolting of the carriage.
With her seven-year-old frame carrying heavy shackles, trekking through the frigid land, she dared not even imagine the hardship she endured.
Zhi Rou frowned: "Then... what about Miss Ling? Is she alive?"
"Who knows? She's probably gone. Every time Madam Zheng talks about Miss Ling, her eyes well up with tears."
This happened fourteen years ago, and few of the younger generation know about it.
Pei Cheng had heard his father and the others mention it when they were off duty, saying that after the verdict in the "Chang Yu case," the wife of the traitor, Ling, disappeared without a trace, along with a baby girl.
The proper course of action was to eradicate the threat completely, but overnight, the entire Ling clan withdrew from the capital, leaving behind only a sprawling, labyrinthine mansion. It's unclear what consensus the Ling family reached with the Emperor, but ultimately, they ceased investigating Ling Xi and the infant's whereabouts, sealing the case and forbidding any further discussion.
At Zhi Rou's age, she had never heard of such a shocking case. Leaning against the wall, she felt a pang of unease despite it being something that clearly had nothing to do with her.
A few days later, the family school had its ten-day break, and Xinghui was in the room tidying up Zhirou's books. She pulled out a pink invitation card and looked up to ask, "Miss, do you still want this?"
Zhi Rou and Song Hanjin were playing chess on the couch when she heard this. Her gaze shifted and she saw the invitation that Ling Ziheng had given her. To be precise, it was the thirteenth daughter of the Ling family who had asked him to deliver it.
Song Hanjin glanced at her for a moment, following her gaze, and slowly placed her piece: "Are you going?"
Zhi Rou did not answer immediately. She had to admit that she was somewhat wary of that young master Ling, but she also had a strange curiosity about the Ling family.
The scales eventually tilted to the right, and she went to the Ling residence.
When Ling Ziheng received the news, he was reading the articles of Hanlin scholars at Jixian Academy.
His return to the capital this time was indeed motivated by a desire to pursue an official career.
But then he recalled his travels, passing through Youzhou, where he saw a young lady driven to her death after her grievances were denied; and a "righteous official devoted to the people" with his head resting on gold. He felt that staying in the glittering and decadent Qinyang for too long would be a shameful thing for him.
He doesn't want comfort.
He wants to become an official.
He fought with his father and uncles for a long time, but they still didn't agree, so he left on his own.
Thirteenth Sister was originally spending the New Year at her maternal grandmother's house. He happened to run into her while passing through Jiangdong, and after enduring her threats and pleas, he had no choice but to take her with him. In the end, his disobedience was already established, and this one more stroke wouldn't make a difference.
Upon hearing the servant's report, he paused slightly in his hand holding the scroll, said "I understand," and only after finishing reading the articles on his desk did he step out of the Jixian Hall and head back home.
Although the Ling family's courtyard had been vacant for more than a decade, loyal servants refused to leave and maintained it day after day. Apart from the emptiness, the entire mansion remained spotless and solemn as ever.
When Zhi Rou entered, she experienced for the first time what a grand mansion truly meant. Dozens of courtyards were nestled within, and she could almost imagine how many people had once lived here. The stark contrast of their current emptiness was truly regrettable.
After walking for a long time, we finally met the thirteenth daughter of the Ling family in a spacious waterside pavilion.
She doesn't resemble Ling Ziheng in appearance, but this is probably what is meant by "the beauty of a goddess".
Ling Hewei had heard from her Ninth Brother that Miss Song might come, but she hadn't expected it to take so long.
Upon seeing Zhi Rou, she went up to her, exchanged greetings, her clear eyes sparkling, and smiled, "We're about the same age. If you'd like, why don't you call me He Wei? That's what all my sisters call me."
"Okay." Zhi Rou was very straightforward. When dealing with sincere people, she could always easily let down her guard, which she had developed since childhood.
Ling Hewei scrutinized her subtly.
Her simple and understated attire, with a touch of youthful innocence befitting her age, made her eyes particularly unique, possessing a blend of nobility and innocence.
A servant brought over a fruit bowl. Zhi Rou glanced at it casually, then looked back at Ling Hewei, meeting her gaze at eye level.
"Excuse my boldness, but in your household... are only you and Young Master Ling present?"
"Too quiet?" Ling Hewei said. "Qinyang is not like this, but in our family, there are many rules and complicated etiquette. I think it's better to be like this now, so much more free."
As she spoke, she rested one hand on her cheek and stared intently at Zhi Rou, without making anyone feel uncomfortable at all.
She lifted her eyelashes slightly and smiled, "Excuse me for being presumptuous, but you really do look a lot like my aunt."
The portrait in my grandfather's study was painted by the master painter Chi Wenqiu. He specialized in capturing the spirit of people, able to outline the features hidden beneath the surface, as if imbued with soul, making them seem to leap off the page.
For Ling Hewei, taboos and secrets held an irresistible attraction. Her family avoided talking about Aunt Ling Xi, but her grandfather cherished that painting.
Both siblings said the same thing, which confused Zhi Rou. She subconsciously touched her face and asked, "What does your aunt look like?"
"I'll draw it for you next time you come."
Ling Hewei was particularly skilled in painting.
Zhi Rou had no objection to this, and after chatting with her for a while, she suddenly suggested going to the courtyard to play pitch-pot.
Zhi Rou is skilled in everything related to games, and this time she has met her match. Ling Hewei slightly raised his wrist and gently tossed the arrow, which drew an arc in the air and flew into the mouth of the pot.
Looking at that radiant face, Zhi Rou praised without reservation: "Beautiful, excellent aim."
Ling He smiled slightly and stepped aside, saying, "Please."
Zhi Rou casually picked out an arrow, but before she could aim at the pot, a green snake suddenly appeared and slithered towards her.
Ling He was startled. Before the servant beside him could come up, a beautiful figure rushed into view.
She was skilled with swords and staffs, but now that she had nothing else to use, she held the arrow in her hand and used it like a sword to throw the green snake into the artificial hill.
The servants of the Ling family quickly tidied up the mess and explained to Zhi Rou that the courtyard was backed by water and was infested with insects and snakes, so they asked her and her mistress to move to another place.
Zhi Rou returned the arrow, her gaze falling on Ling Hewei's face. After a moment's pause, she suddenly asked, "Young Master Ling said that the Thirteenth Miss is fond of martial arts, is that true?"
Based on what she had just observed, Ling Hewei was good at pitch-pot and skilled, but he lacked both agility and focus.
A martial artist should not behave like this.
Realizing that she had changed how she addressed him, Ling He turned his head slightly and stared at her in surprise for a long time.
Zhi Rou met Ling Hewei's gaze without leaning to one side, staring at the girl's face. She suddenly remembered bumping into Ling Ziheng on the street that day.
I seem to smell that faint scent of agarwood again, growing stronger and stronger.
Just as she was about to turn around, Ling He smiled helplessly, his voice tinged with reproach: "Ninth Brother, what exactly did you say to Miss Rou with my invitation?"
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