Dinner was late tonight, and after dinner Ling Xiao was called by Ling Feng to the study to talk about something. After all this, it was time to go to bed.
Given Ling Xiao's personality, he would not have come to Ling Qingwan at this time if there was nothing important.
"Grandfather was summoned to stay in the palace a few days ago, so you didn't get to see him today. Now that you're back, the emperor will definitely allow grandfather to come back to see you. When you see grandfather tomorrow, I'm afraid you'll still be as scared as when you saw your father, so I came to give you a few words of advice." Ling Xiao's tone was gentle, as if he could squeeze water out of it.
"Brother, are you going to pay a visit to the Emperor tomorrow?" Ling Qingwan asked.
"Yes." Ling Xiao nodded. "I won't be at home at that time, so I'm a little worried about you."
Ling Xiao's mind was completely on Ling Qingwan. He was afraid that she would melt if he held her in his mouth, and he was afraid that he would drop her if he held her in his palm. Ling Qingwan felt a warm feeling in her chest. Seeing Ling Xiao worrying about her so much, her nose felt sore and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Don't worry, brother. I didn't know the rules today, but after staying in the mansion for one night, I am more familiar with it and will not make the same mistake again." Ling Qingwan comforted Ling Xiao and told him to calm down.
"This is not a mistake." Ling Xiao's face was stern, but the smile in his eyes did not fade at all. "You are new to the Marquis' Mansion, so it is understandable that you are not used to it. I blame myself for not being able to stay with you and for letting you face this alone."
Speaking of which, there was a hint of self-blame in Ling Xiao's words.
"It's just to see my grandfather. You're not going to send me to the guillotine." Ling Qingwan giggled.
Ling Xiao, who loved his sister so much and regarded her as a treasure, felt a hundred times more uncomfortable than her when he knew that his sister was tortured to the point where her life was worse than death. Ling Qingwan recalled the past and her heart ached.
A lifetime has passed, but why can't I stop feeling aggrieved when I think about these things
Song Zhiqing, ah Song Zhiqing, how many people have you harmed
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Ling Xiao raised his voice, a little anxious. "Don't say such things in the future. How could Wan Wan be sent to the guillotine? You are the daughter of the Marquis' Mansion, and my biological sister. You should live a carefree life."
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything." Ling Qingwan was still laughing. As she laughed, she held back her tears.
"Grandfather is strict and not easy to talk to. You can go back tomorrow after you have performed the formalities. He won't make things difficult for you." Ling Xiao earnestly instructed Ling Qingwan. "When I am done with my work, I will accompany you to stroll around Tokyo City."
"Okay." Ling Qingwan agreed without hesitation.
The next day, before Grandpa Ling and Ling Xiao came back, Ling Chuchu asked Ling Qingwan to go out and play.
Ling Qingwan did not refuse. If she did not have some contact with Ling Chuchu, how could she find a good opportunity to take revenge? Neither Song Zhiqing nor Ling Chuchu could escape.
As the night passed, the snow gradually melted away, revealing the stone road beneath our feet.
The streets were bustling with people, and vendors lined both sides of the street, shouting their wares. There were dense crowds of pedestrians, and they would pass by Ling Qingwan from time to time.
Ling Chuchu held Ling Qingwan's hand affectionately, the two were so close, just like a pair of close sisters.
"This is the most prosperous street in Tokyo City - Suzaku Street." Ling Chuchu introduced to Ling Qingwan. "It's not very busy right now. During festivals or lantern festivals, we can hardly squeeze in."
There were a myriad of thoughts in his mind, and memories were like a flood, rushing towards Ling Qingwan.
"Your Highness."
Outside the study, Ling Qingwan said timidly.
She looked inside and saw Song Zhiqing in a blue robe, sitting at the desk, handling government affairs with his head down.
"What?" Song Zhiqing didn't even raise his head, and his words were extremely perfunctory.
"Tomorrow's Lantern Festival..."
"I'm not free tomorrow." Ling Qingwan was interrupted by Song Zhiqing before she could finish her sentence.
The words of plea went around his lips for a few times, but he finally swallowed them silently.
"Is there anything else?" Seeing that Ling Qingwan had not left, Song Zhiqing looked up and asked impatiently.
Ling Qingwan shook her head, told Song Zhiqing to take care of his health, and then prepared to leave.
"By the way, I will go to the palace tomorrow, and you go to the North Courtyard to take care of Chuchu. The weather is cold, and we can't let Chuchu catch a cold." Song Zhiqing instructed Ling Qingwan, as if it was a matter of course for her to take care of Ling Chuchu.
Ling Qingwan suddenly became angry and turned to face Song Zhiqing.
"My brother always took me to the Lantern Festival every year. If you don't want to accompany me, I can go by myself tomorrow. There are so many servants in the North Courtyard, why do you need me to take care of Chuchu?"
Song Zhiqing was furious and threw the document on the table at Ling Qingwan.
The corner of the text hit Ling Qingwan's forehead squarely, and blood immediately gushed out.
"How many times have I told you not to mention your brother?" Song Zhiqing shouted sternly. Even the servants around were startled and shivered. "If you want to like your brother, go and marry him, and you don't need to bother me here."
"What are you talking about, Your Highness? He is my brother!" Ling Qingwan never expected that Song Zhiqing would speculate about the relationship between her and Ling Xiao in this way.
Two lines of tears burst out of her eyes and Ling Qingwan burst into tears.
Later, a small crescent scar was left on her forehead. When Ling Xiao saw it one day, Ling Qingwan could only lie and say that she accidentally fell and hit the corner of the table.
This scar had not disappeared until Ling Qingwan's death.
"Wanwan?" Ling Chuchu called Ling Qingwan again and again.
Ling Qingwan came to her senses and quickly agreed.
"What were you thinking about just now? I called you several times but you didn't hear me." Ling Chuchu asked Ling Qingwan curiously.
"This is my first time walking around Suzaku Street, and I'm a little surprised." Ling Qingwan thought of an excuse to excuse herself. "The street in our town is only lively during market hours, but it's still not as lively as Tokyo City."
"I see." Ling Chuchu nodded as if she suddenly understood something.
As soon as she finished speaking, she pulled Ling Qingwan into a jewelry store.
There were all kinds of jewelry on the counter, including pearls and jade, which were dazzling. There were only a few girls in the store, but from their clothes, it was obvious that they were ladies from wealthy families.
Ling Chuchu picked up a gold-thread eight-treasure pearl hairpin and handed it to Ling Qingwan.
"This hairpin suits you." Ling Chuchu said with a smile.
Ling Qingwan had only been back to the mansion for one day, so she could not receive her monthly salary. Ling Chuchu knew this. Ling Qingwan knew what Ling Chuchu was going to do, and this hairpin almost killed her later.
However, Ling Qingwan in her previous life never imagined until her death that Ling Chuchu had been plotting against her since the first day she returned to the Marquis' Mansion.
She really endured humiliation and bore heavy burdens. Ling Qingwan secretly expressed her admiration to Ling Chuchu.
"I'll give it to you."
Ling Chuchu immediately put the hairpin on Ling Qingwan.
She held Ling Qingwan's hand, her eyes curved into crescents. Ling Qingwan couldn't remember how she felt at that time, but she must have been flattered.
"I was wondering why Chuchu came to greet grandma so early in the morning and then disappeared. It turns out that she was out for a stroll with this country girl."