Yi Qing thought that after being bitten by the bug once, Ling Xuer would know to rein herself in. Unexpectedly, she dared to come again.
Today, she was wearing a goose - yellow cross - collared Ruqun dress and had a simple snake - coiled hair bun. A frost - flower hairpin bounced up and down with her movements, making her look charming and cute.
"Sister Yi, this is the famous hibiscus cake from our Gelingkou. Sister, have a taste." Ling Xuer put down the food box and sat opposite Yi Qing.
"First of all, I'm now Lady Xiao, a first - rank imperial consort personally bestowed by the emperor. You should bow when you see me. Secondly, don't enter my room without my permission. Also, I don't have a younger sister, nor do I want one." Yi Qing looked at Ling Xuer indifferently.
Hearing what Yi Qing said, Ling Xuer pouted, looking extremely aggrieved. It seemed that she was about to cry.
Some things should be nipped in the bud, especially the matter of someone having designs on her man. It's better to be over - cautious than to let it slide. Could she just wait for them to become confidants and then get cuckolded?
"Does Sister Yi dislike me?" Ling Xuer held back her grievance and stood up at a loss. She timidly looked at Yi Qing, looking so pitiful as if she was too scared to say a word after being bullied.
On one side, Wu Min was observing intently. So the women in the Great Jin Dynasty were like this. She even felt pity for them.
"I don't know you, so it's not about like or dislike. I just hate people who don't follow the rules." Yi Qing said casually.
If we were to talk about not following the rules, Yi Qing was the worst offender. But the rules she was talking about were not the rigidly - defined ones, but the principles of doing things.
"I've heard about General Xiao's great achievements since I was a child and have always admired him very much. Lady Xiao, who was able to marry General Xiao, must be an extraordinary woman. I just want to get closer to Lady Xiao." Ling Xuer lowered her eyes and said sincerely.
"If that's the case, then I'll give you a piece of advice. General Xiao doesn't like others getting too close to him. It will make him dislike them." Yi Qing thought that since she had said so much, if the other person had a bit of sense, she wouldn't continue to pester.
Ling Xuer lowered her eyes and gently bit her lips. "Oh, then Lady Xiao must be quite tired, right?"
Wu Min almost bit her own tongue. "Can't you women in the Great Jin understand what people are saying? What she means is that you should stop having designs on her man. Are you stupid?"
"I didn't..." Ling Xuer looked at Yi Qing in panic. "Lady Xiao, don't slander me like this."
Wu Min was stunned. This woman had made her intentions so obvious, yet she still said that others were slandering her.
"Which ear of yours heard me slander you?" Yi Qing said and glanced at Wu Min. What she said was right, but obviously she was no match for this kind of woman. "If you don't want others to slander you, stay away from those who might slander you. Don't do everything in front of others and then say that they are slandering you. It's really embarrassing for others."
Ling Xuer immediately started to sob.
"Alright, don't you come here early in the morning to annoy me. I don't like this hibiscus cake. Take it away." Yi Qing said lazily.
No matter how thick - skinned Ling Xuer was, after hearing what Yi Qing said, she felt embarrassed to stay. "If Lady Xiao needs anything, please feel free to summon me." She curtsied, looking very well - behaved.
Wu Min was stunned when she heard Yi Qing talking like this. She felt as if she didn't know Yi Qing anymore.
"Close your mouth." Yi Qing saw Wu Min's surprised look.
"You can actually talk like this?" Wu Min said excitedly.
"After spending so much time with those women in the capital, you learn everything." Yi Qing watched Ling Xuer leave. "After all, we're living in the Ling family now. We can't be too disrespectful to them."
Wu Min thought that this was still being respectful?
Ling Xuer sobbed and went to find Ling Hong. Ling Hong was just discussing things with the centurions below. When he saw Ling Xuer like this, he felt a pang of heartache.
Ling Xuer went to the military camp to play every day and was very familiar with these people.
"Brother—" Ling Xuer held back her tears, looking aggrieved.
"I have something to deal with. Go back first." Ling Hong told Ling Xuer to retreat first.
"What's wrong with Xuer? Tell your Brother Chen. Brother Chen will avenge you." Chen Fengnian said lovingly.
"Yes, who in Gelingkou would dare to bully our Xuer?" Someone on the side echoed.
...
Ling Hong was a bit angry when he heard them making a fuss. Then he turned to Ling Xuer. "Go down first. We're discussing important matters."
"General Ling, it's a big deal that Xuer has been bullied." Chen Fengnian said directly.
Ling Xuer looked at Chen Fengnian gratefully, which made Chen Fengnian overjoyed.
He knew that Xuer would never marry him, but it was good enough for her to look at him a few more times. So he became even more energetic.
"General, you should think about it. If we can't even protect our own family, what's the use of being a soldier?" Chen Fengnian said indignantly.
"Exactly!" Someone on the side echoed.
Ling Hong looked at them, not wanting to make things worse. Who else in Gelingkou could make Xuer suffer?
The day General Xiao came, he had seen Xuer's thoughts. She had been bitten by a bug and had stayed in the room for a few days. Just yesterday, she said she wanted to show Lady Xiao around. What could have happened?
"Brother—" Ling Xuer still looked at her brother. After all, her brother was in charge here.
"General..." Chen Fengnian also urged.
"Speak." Ling Hong wanted to let his sister give up.
"I kindly brought hibiscus cake to see Lady Xiao today. Who knew that Lady Xiao would sneer at me and say that my intentions were impure." Ling Xuer sobbed.
"Lady Xiao?" Chen Fengnian was a bit dumbfounded. "Xuer, those nobles are so arrogant. Why do we have to provoke them?"
Ling Xuer looked at Chen Fengnian, who had just been so determined but now immediately changed his attitude. "I was just showing the hospitality of a host."
"If they look down on our small place, so be it." Chen Fengnian advised. "That Lady Xiao is a first - rank imperial consort personally bestowed by the emperor. The emperor even announced to the world that he would reward her with an eight - dragon golden bell. She doesn't even need to kneel when seeing the emperor. Now, except for the queen, Lady Xiao should be the most noble woman in the Great Jin Dynasty."
Chen Fengnian liked to hear about these things, especially those about Xiao Jinghan. All of them soldiers had an aspiration: To be a general like Xiao Jinghan.
Hearing what Chen Fengnian said, Ling Xuer even forgot her grievance. Her eyes were wide open, not knowing what she was thinking.
"You should go back quickly. Don't delay our discussion of important matters." Ling Hong thought that his sister was scared and would be more obedient in the future.
This time, Ling Xuer didn't say anything else. She turned around, covering her chest, extremely excited. She didn't expect that marrying Xiao Jinghan would make one so noble. Thinking of Xiao Jinghan's peerless appearance, she couldn't hold back any longer. She must marry Xiao Jinghan.
Yi Qing didn't go out of the mansion either. She just walked around the yard every day, practiced calligraphy with Wu Min, and then they would dislike each other. At most, they would also tease Lord Ghost. The days were passing by so slowly.
Lord Ghost strode in. The maids at the yard gate scurried away in a hurry. He walked towards Yi Qing, who was feeding the fish by the lotus pond. "I heard something interesting today. Do you want to hear it?"