As the Marquis's wife listened to Qiu Ling's words, her affection for her deepened. She put down the osmanthus flowers in her hand and said to Qiu Ling, "Qiu Ling, I treat you like my own daughter. We haven't been with Sister Wen for all these years. And you, on the other hand, would rather not marry in order to take care of Sister Wen. How can I thank you?"
After hearing this, Qiu Ling quickly shook her head and said, "It is my duty to take care of the young lady. Madam, you are being too rude to me."
Seeing Qiu Ling's apprehensive expression, the Marquis's wife stopped pushing and said to her, "Sister Wen now has a husband and a son, so she has someone to rely on. But if you remain unmarried, not only will you suffer, but it will also make Sister Wen feel uneasy. She might wonder if she's wasting your time."
Qiu Ling swallowed hard, startled by what she heard. She asked Madam Hou, "Madam, is the eldest daughter really uneasy and uncomfortable?" Seeing Madam Hou nod, Qiu Ling hurriedly said, "Then I will marry. I will marry as soon as I get back."
The Marquis's wife smiled and said, "Silly girl, you can't rush into marriage. You have to find a good man and give the betrothal gift before you can get married. If you are willing, the housekeeper's son in the Marquis's mansion can also let you choose."
Qiu Ling shook her head and said, "My marriage is decided by the eldest lady. Even if I get married, I will return to serve the eldest lady."
Seeing Qiu Ling's pious expression, the Marquis's wife nodded and said, "Okay, but you can take a look first. If Sister Wen chooses someone from the Marquis' Mansion after you go back, you can see what they look like first. Whether it's Sister Wen who finds you or the Marquis' Mansion, the person you choose must satisfy you."
Qiu Ling blushed and murmured, "No, that's not necessary. Thank you, Madam."
The next day, Qiu Ling encountered men frequently, until she encountered her fourth, a tall, muscular man. Blushing, she ran back to the guest room. She washed her face with cold water, then sat in a chair, staring blankly toward the capital.
Until the day she left the mansion, Qiu Ling hadn't said which one she'd chosen. The Marquis' wife glared at the Marquis with disappointment, and the Marquis turned his head away, pretending not to see.
The night before their departure, the Marquis's Mansion held a farewell banquet for Xu Lin and Qiu Ling. Qiu Ling excused herself to go to bed early and left after eating a little.
The next day, before dawn, Xu Lin and Qiu Ling arrived at the inn to await Princess Jinyi's arrival. Only after daybreak did Princess Jinyi's sedan chair emerge from the inn. Afterward, Princess Jinyi changed carriages and asked Qiu Ling to board, while Xu Lin followed on horseback.
After boarding the ship, Princess Jinyi and Qiu Ling lived on the upper deck, and Xu Lin was arranged on the lower deck.
The princess's travels were indeed different from those of ordinary people. The boat was three times larger than the one Qiu Ling had taken here. Sitting on the boat didn't rock at all, and standing on it felt like standing on flat ground. Qiu Ling couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
After boarding the ship, Princess Jinyi told Qiu Ling not to be too polite and not to serve her. She would summon Qiu Ling when she was free, and Qiu Ling obediently agreed.
Xu Lin, who lived on the next floor, thanked the person who showed him in: "Thank you for the guidance." Then he looked at Er in front of him, hesitant to speak. Why did Xu Lin feel that this face looked familiar?
After sending Xu Lin away, A'er was about to leave, but looking at Xu Lin's expression, he thought for a moment and said, "Yes, we have met before." After saying this, A'er turned and left, leaving Xu Lin standing there for a long time with a confused look on his face.
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