It is autumn now, and there is still some time before next spring.
What's more, this life is very different from the previous life.
She did not marry Song Zhiqing, Ling Chuchu had already withdrawn from Song Zhiqing's engagement, and was now closer to Song Zhicheng. Ye Yun also disappeared, and Ling Feng was like a hopeless person, nothing to be afraid of.
Everything is different from the previous life.
Even so, it only alleviated some of the worries. Ling Qingwan still had to worry about what she should worry about.
On the way back to Ling Mansion, Ling Qingwan was in a daze, and kept thinking about things in her mind.
Until the carriage suddenly stopped.
"Miss! The Xu family stopped our carriage and said that Miss Xu wanted to see you." Mingyue reported.
Miss Xu? Xu Yuanyuan
I just heard from Tan Jiaojiao a few days ago that Xu Yuanyuan was coming back. Calculating the time, today is just right.
But Ling Qingwan couldn’t understand why Xu Yuanyuan wanted to see her for no reason when she had no connection with her.
Ling Qingwan had some respect for Xu Yuanyuan.
Xu Yuanyuan was the daughter of Duke Hao and the niece of Queen He. In her previous life, she married the eldest prince Song Zhicheng, who later defeated Song Zhiqing in the struggle for power and ascended the throne. She and Yuanyuan became the most noble women in Dai Viet.
Ling Qingwan had only met Xu Yuanyuan once, at the Queen's coronation ceremony.
Song Zhicheng had seized Song Zhiqing's position as the crown prince, and Ling Qingwan was Song Zhiqing's wife. The two should have belonged to two opposing camps. Unexpectedly, the two people who were incompatible in their previous lives could sit together and drink tea today.
God really knows how to arrange things.
"You are the second young lady of the Ling family, Ling Qingwan, right?"
As soon as she entered the box, Xu Yuanyuan stood up and greeted Ling Qingwan with a smile.
In her previous life, when Ling Qingwan saw Xu Yuanyuan at the ceremony of her coronation, Xu Yuanyuan was dressed elegantly and gracefully, with calm and dignified features. Now, when she looked at Xu Yuanyuan again, she was still just a little girl, without the restraint of her previous life, but a little more outspoken.
Although Ling Qingwan didn't know what happened in the power struggle between Song Zhicheng and Song Zhiqing, she was sure that Duke Hao must have played a big role in it.
It is sad that Duke Hao was the Queen's brother-in-law and should have helped Song Zhiqing, but he ended up becoming a solid support for Song Zhicheng to resist Song Zhiqing.
Xu Yuanyuan's ability to secure the position of queen has a lot to do with her family background and herself.
"Yes." Ling Qingwan nodded in response.
No matter what, she should first find out the purpose of Xu Yuanyuan inviting her to have tea today.
"I've heard a lot about you." Xu Yuanyuan's smile widened.
"Me too. I've heard that the daughter of Duke Hao is extremely beautiful and unparalleled. Now that I see her, it's true." Ling Qingwan replied politely.
Xu Yuanyuan was modest and said quickly that she didn't dare, while asking Ling Qingwan to sit down.
Xu Yuanyuan had heard of Ling Qingwan before she returned to Beijing. First, she had scandals with the Seventh Prince and the Crown Prince, and then she repeatedly appeared in the limelight, making her famous.
"Miss Xu invited me to tea, but what's the matter?" Ling Qingwan went straight to the point.
If Xu Yuanyuan had sent someone to the Ling Mansion to explain in advance and arrange a time, it would have been more appropriate. But today Xu Yuanyuan stopped her halfway. She was so anxious to meet, Ling Qingwan didn't believe that Xu Yuanyuan had nothing better to do and wanted to talk to her.
Perhaps because she didn't expect Ling Qingwan to be so straightforward, Xu Yuanyuan was stunned.
"Miss Ling is really a smart person. The rumors are absolutely correct." At last, Xu Yuanyuan smiled with her hands covering her mouth.
"You and I are both smart people. Miss Xu and I have never met before, but suddenly Miss Xu stopped me and said she wanted to meet me. It was a coincidence and intentional. Just think about it."
Xu Yuanyuan's expression was so obvious, but Ling Qingwan didn't think it was smart to guess her intention.
"Well, since Miss Ling likes to be straightforward, I won't waste my words beating around the bush with you." Xu Yuanyuan lowered her voice and her expression became more serious than before.
"I believe Miss Ling knows that your elder sister is engaged to the eldest prince, and her status is second only to mine. I have also inquired about you a long time ago, and I know that you and Ling Chuchu are not familiar with each other, and even have a grudge against each other. Since you and I have a common enemy, why don't we cooperate and pull Ling Chuchu down together..."
Ling Qingwan felt disdainful.
She was indeed confused when she was stopped just now, but when she saw Xu Yuanyuan, the memories of her past life flooded into her mind, and Ling Qingwan had already guessed Xu Yuanyuan's intention of stopping her today.
"How is it? What does Miss Ling think?" Xu Yuanyuan made her words clear and now she was just waiting for Ling Qingwan's agreement.
…
Xu Yuanyuan looked out the window and saw Ling Qingwan walk out of the teahouse and get on the carriage, with a cold look in her eyes.
"The Ling family has already fallen, but I didn't expect the second young lady of the Ling family is still so pretentious." The little maid snorted coldly, speaking in a very sour tone.
"Her family belongs to the General's Mansion, so they don't have to rely on the Ling Mansion." Xu Yuanyuan rolled her eyes at Ling Qingwan's carriage, then retracted her gaze and no longer looked at Ling Qingwan.
"So what did Miss Ling mean just now, is she agreeing or disagreeing?" the maid wondered.
Ling Qingwan didn't say whether she agreed or not, she just said she would think about it. But she didn't say how long she would think about it.
Moreover, Ling Qingwan's attitude seemed indifferent, and one couldn't tell anything from her tone and expression.
"She's not as stupid as I thought." Xu Yuanyuan's eyes were slightly dim.
From the moment Ling Qingwan came straight to the point and forced her to state her purpose directly, Xu Yuanyuan discovered it.
Ling Qingwan hated Ling Chuchu, this was a foregone conclusion. Logically speaking, with the help of another person, Ling Qingwan had no reason to refuse.
The words "think about it" are just excuses.
The marriage of Xu Yuanyuan and Song Zhicheng was decided since childhood. After Xu Yuanyuan returned, she would naturally marry Song Zhicheng and become the imperial concubine.
But I never expected that Ling Chuchu would appear out of nowhere.
If the former Marquis' Mansion was still there, Song Zhicheng would have had a use for marrying Ling Chuchu. Now the Ling Mansion has fallen into decline and is no different from an ordinary family. Who in the aristocratic circle of Beijing would still look up to the Ling Mansion? Without power or influence, Song Zhicheng still asked the emperor to grant him a marriage. Xu Yuanyuan could not think of any other reason except that he had feelings for Ling Chuchu.
Thinking of this, Xu Yuanyuan clenched her fists tighter.
On the other side, Ling Qingwan returned to the Ling Mansion and told Mingyue about the conversation she had just had with Xu Yuanyuan.
"It seems that Miss Xu also regards Ling Chuchu as a thorn in her side." Mingyue sighed.
Ling Chuchu offended Ling Qingwan, which was already a troublesome matter. Now she has also provoked Xu Yuanyuan. Her life will definitely not be easy in the future.
"The eldest prince and Miss Xu are already engaged, but he is going to marry Ling Chuchu, and they both entered the palace at the same time. Although Ling Chuchu is a concubine, she is no less popular than the main concubine Xu Yuanyuan. Miss Xu is also very proud, so how can she be willing to be dominated by Ling Chuchu?"
Ling Qingwan understood these principles very well.
"Then Miss, are you going to join forces with Miss Xu?"