Ling Xiao knew that General Shen had good intentions and agreed immediately.
When he returned to the Marquis' Mansion, he told Ling Qingwan about General Shen's birthday. Ling Xiao originally intended to prepare Ling Qingwan's gift as well, but Ling Qingwan refused and insisted on choosing it herself.
"This is my first time to meet my grandfather. If I let others choose the gift for him and I take it, wouldn't that go against my filial piety?" Ling Qingwan chuckled and poured a cup of tea for Ling Xiao.
It was cold outside and the wind blew in from time to time, lifting a corner of the curtains.
There was a bronze stove at the door of Ling Qingwan, boiling hot tea. The fragrance of the tea was so refreshing that it filled the whole room.
"Yeah, it's my brother who hasn't thought things through carefully enough." Ling Xiao took a sip of tea, and suddenly his eyes lit up.
"A few days ago, Chuchu sent me a batch of new tea, but I felt that the taste was too light. Since you came today, I made some. The snow left on the trees last night is used to make tea. The cleanest layer is used, so it is naturally fragrant and pleasant." Ling Qingwan explained.
Even though Ling Xiao didn't say anything, Ling Qingwan could guess what he was thinking.
In this Houyang Mansion, Ling Xiao was probably the most sincere person. Even Ling Shen, who was very gentle to others, had many secrets. For many years afterwards, Ling Qingwan was glad that Ling Xiao had learned martial arts and did not enter the court to experience the intrigues and deceptions.
But that was the case until Ling Feng and Song Zhiqing destroyed the General's Mansion and his dearest sister was tortured beyond recognition by Song Zhiqing. Only then did Ling Xiao react.
The battle of human hearts is not like fighting on the battlefield, it is either black or white, either win or lose. The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit. The powerful prince of Dai Viet did not lose to the Japanese pirates, but died at the hands of a group of people around him.
Ling Qingwan never blamed Ling Xiao for a single thing. She only hated herself for being stupid and cowardly. She first mistakenly trusted Ling Chuchu and then gave herself to Song Zhiqing.
With a crisp "pop" sound, the teacup fell to the ground.
Before Ling Qingwan could come to her senses, Ling Xiao had already stood up and walked forward, pulling her aside.
"Is it hot? Did your hand get hurt?" Ling Xiao was anxious.
Ling Qingwan was stunned. Seeing several people in the room busy with their work, some were helping her wipe the hem of her skirt, and some were sweeping up the debris on the floor, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Wanwan?" Ling Xiao looked increasingly worried, fearing that Ling Qingwan had developed a heart disease as a result of the poisoning incident last time.
"I'm here." Ling Qingwan withdrew her thoughts and smiled at Ling Xiao.
She didn't know what she was laughing at. Maybe she was laughing at the fact that someone still loved her instead of sleeping in the earth. She was laughing at her naivety in her past life. The days of being the center of attention were just a dream, but she mistakenly believed that she would be able to live like this for the rest of her life.
As she laughed, Ling Qingwan felt a little sad.
After two or three days of snow, it finally stopped. At noon, the sun rose.
Ling Qingwan saw the snow melting on the ground and led Qiao'er out. She first went to the jewelry store and returned the umbrella to the shopkeeper, and then wandered around to choose a birthday gift for her grandfather.
"What gifts do the other young masters in the mansion give when it is their grandfather or father's birthday?" Ling Qingwan talked to Qiao'er as they walked.
Gradually, more and more people came, vendors swept away the water stains and set up their stalls, and Zhuque Street returned to its former bustle.
Ling Qingwan was wearing a silver-white dress. Others only noticed that she was pretty, but could not tell that she was a daughter of a marquis's family.
"Usually they give precious gems, jade, and various flower carvings and antiques." Qiao'er thought carefully for a moment and told Ling Qingwan everything. "Some young ladies will give small things they made themselves, but they are not very pleasing."
"Precious jades, flower carvings and antiques. The mansion has no shortage of these things." Ling Qingwan smiled. "It's like giving two crucian carps to a fishmonger or five dou of rice to a rice merchant. What's so special about it?"
"But these are usually the gifts given." Qiao'er curled her lips. If she thought about it again, she couldn't think of anything else.
Ling Qingwan passed by a gallery and happened to see a scuffle at the door, and a man in plain clothes fell to the ground. Ling Qingwan stopped and looked at the people in front of her curiously.
"Please, just look at my calligraphy and paintings." The man had no time to care about the pain in his body. He quickly collected the calligraphy and paintings thrown on the ground and knelt down to beg the gallery staff.
"What kind of paintings are you making? You dare to come to our gallery to recommend yourself." The waiter waved his hand impatiently and kicked the man again. "You know that the paintings and calligraphy in our gallery are all from the literati in the world. Any one of them is famous. How can you be so confident that you can hang your paintings and calligraphy together with them?"
With that, the guy turned around and went back to the gallery.
The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving Ling Qingwan alone standing there, watching the man carefully put away the calligraphy and painting, then stood up tremblingly.
"Wait a moment."
Just as the man was about to leave, he heard a voice behind him. He turned around and saw Ling Qingwan looking at him with a smile in her eyes.
Although the girl in front of him was dressed simply, she still had a good temperament and was probably from a scholarly family. The man was panic-stricken and in a dilemma, not knowing what to do.
Ling Qingwan walked towards the man on her own.
"Are you selling this painting?" She raised the corners of her mouth slightly.
After hearing this, the man and Qiao'er were both surprised and looked at Ling Qingwan with wide eyes.
"If you want to sell it, just name a price." Ling Qingwan continued to speak to the man, pretending not to see the shocked expressions on their faces.
"Miss, you are not..." Qiao'er quietly pulled Ling Qingwan's sleeve.
Ling Qingwan had only been in the Marquis' Mansion for a month, and her monthly salary was not much, but fortunately Ling Xiao gave her some, which was enough to buy General Shen a decent birthday gift. If Ling Qingwan had used the money to buy calligraphy and paintings, what would she do with the birthday gift
"Do you really think my painting is beautiful?" The man had tears in his eyes and he almost cried in front of Ling Qingwan.
"The painting is so good, I think it's not surprising that it looks good." Ling Qingwan was still smiling, and her whole body seemed to radiate a kind aura. "Name a price, and I'll buy all of these."
The man lowered his head and carefully selected the two calligraphy and paintings that were not stained by the stains on the ground and handed them to Ling Qingwan.
"I feel very honored that the young lady is willing to appreciate my paintings. These two paintings are given to you as a token of my gratitude. Please accept them."
Ling Qingwan didn't listen, but tilted her head slightly, motioning Qiao'er to take down the purse. When she took the calligraphy and painting, she put two ingots of silver in the man's hand.
"Don't give up, you will achieve great things in the future."
After saying that, Ling Qingwan walked around the man holding two paintings.
She remembered this man. Half a year later, in the imperial examination, he became the top scorer in the examination and was promoted to the fourth rank official.
The streets were crowded with people, and no one noticed this scene. Knowing that Ling Qingwan was about to go home, Qiao'er was shocked.
"Miss, you are not going to take these two paintings as a birthday gift to General Shen, are you?"