After discussing matters with Ling Daye, Sun Shi immediately set about preparing the clothes and jewelry for the next day, and instructed a maid to call Ling Jingyan and Ling Jingshu over.
The moment Ling Jingyan heard she could enter the palace, joy lit up her brow at once.
Ling Jingshu, however, sensed something out of the ordinary in the air, and quietly furrowed her brow.
“… A’Yan, when we enter the palace tomorrow, you must behave yourself properly. Don’t talk too much, and absolutely don’t cause any trouble.” Sun Shi went on with her nagging instructions for quite a while.
Ling Jingyan rolled her eyes and muttered with displeasure: “Mother, I’m not a three-year-old child anymore. Don’t you think I can tell what matters and what doesn’t? For something as important as entering the palace, how would I dare act up?”
That much, at least, was true. Ling Jingyan might be lively and mischievous in everyday life, but on important occasions, she always managed to play the proper young lady convincingly enough.
Sun Shi then turned to Ling Jingshu with a smile, her tone growing even gentler: “A’Shu, you’ve been into the palace several times already, and you’re far more familiar with how things work there than the rest of us. And with Consort Wei looking after you to some degree, there’s really nothing to worry about. When the time comes, have A’Yan stay close by your side, and give her some pointers on proper conduct and manners.”
Ling Jingshu, feeling this was simply her duty, nodded and agreed at once.
Sun Shi thought it over and said: “I recall that before winter set in, the two of you each had a few new outfits made. Get up at the third night watch tomorrow, and wear something bright in color. Put on your finest jewelry as well.”
“The ladies entering the palace tomorrow for an audience with Her Majesty the Empress will all be titled wives of rank three and above, and they’re bound to bring their daughters-in-law or unmarried daughters along as well. The two of you need to dress to stand out—we mustn’t lose face for our Ling family.”
It had already escalated to the level of the Ling family’s reputation.
Ling Jingshu and Ling Jingyan exchanged a smile and answered together in agreement.
Sun Shi, of course, had her own little scheme in mind.
This was a rare opportunity to enter the palace. If Ling Jingyan dressed up beautifully and stood out, she might just catch the eye of some lady or other, and a good marriage proposal might come knocking before long.
Ling Jingshu’s strange affliction had not yet been cured. However, this condition only flared up upon contact with men, and at tomorrow’s occasion, there would only be the palace’s concubines and the various ladies in attendance—no men at all—so there was nothing to worry about on that front.
After a moment’s deliberation, Sun Shi hinted to Ling Jingshu rather delicately: “A’Shu, going to the Pepper Chamber Hall tomorrow, you’re bound to run into the Crown Princess. Since the two of you are already acquainted, it wouldn’t hurt to grow a little closer to her.”
A faint chill crossed Ling Jingshu’s gaze, and a flicker of mockery passed through her eyes.
Before Ling Jingshu could say anything, Ling Jingyan frowned with displeasure: “Mother, the Crown Grandson is already engaged to Sister Jiang. A’Shu should be avoiding any suspicion of impropriety as it is—why on earth would she go out of her way to get closer to her? Wouldn’t that just invite gossip?”
That even she could see something so simple meant Sun Shi was the one being muddle-headed!
Ling Jingyan’s words were quite blunt. Sun Shi gave a rather awkward laugh, glanced at Ling Jingshu’s expressionless face, and opened her mouth to explain: “I didn’t mean anything else by it. I just hoped A’Shu’s relationships could be a little better, that’s all.”
Better relationships now would make things go more smoothly later, should she marry into the Crown Prince’s household.
Ling Jingshu couldn’t be bothered to call out Sun Shi’s little scheme, and answered briefly: “The Crown Princess has never liked me to begin with—why should I press my warm face against her cold backside?”
Sun Shi: “…”
Ling Jingyan burst out laughing at that, and teased: “A’Shu, I really never imagined you’d come out with something so blunt.”
An expression like “pressing a warm face against a cold backside” was plain and easy to understand—just a touch crude, that was all.
Ling Jingshu tugged at the corner of her mouth in a faint smile and said nothing more.
The atmosphere cooled quickly.
Sun Shi silently regretted having said the wrong thing. She knew perfectly well that, because of her condition, Ling Jingshu was deeply averse to the subject of marriage—why bring up such a topic now of all times! It was practically pouring oil on the fire!
“It’s getting late—the two of you should each head back and rest early!” Sun Shi shifted the topic somewhat stiffly. “You’ll need to rise at the third night watch tomorrow, so whatever you do, don’t be late.”
…
On New Year’s Eve, there had always been the custom of staying up through the night.
This year, however, was different from years past.
Ling Daye had to rise early to attend court, and Sun Shi had to lead Ling Jingshu and Ling Jingyan into the palace—if everyone stayed up all night without sleep, they would lack the spirit and stamina for the next day. For this reason, Sun Shi had specifically instructed that no one needed to keep vigil through the night, and that everyone should retire early instead.
Two charcoal braziers burned in the room, driving away the winter cold.
Ling Jingshu and Ling Xiao sat by the brazier warming themselves and chatting idly, while Bai Yu put a few sweet potatoes into the coals. Before long, the sweet potatoes were roasted through, and once their charred black skins were peeled away, heat and fragrance filled the room at once.
Just as Ling Jingshu was about to reach for one herself, Ling Xiao stopped her: “A’Shu, let me peel one for you to eat.”
In the past, it had always been Ling Jingshu looking after him in every little way—now, at last, he could return the favor.
Seeing Ling Xiao so enthusiastic and pleased with himself, Ling Jingshu felt a warmth in her own heart and didn’t try to stop him.
Ling Xiao clumsily peeled the sweet potato’s skin and placed the steaming hot sweet potato into Ling Jingshu’s hands. As their fingers brushed against each other, Ling Jingshu felt nothing amiss at all. She took the sweet potato, and found it tasted especially sweet and delicious.
Having eaten most of it, she happened to glance up at one point and found Ling Xiao watching her with curiosity.
“A’Xiao, why are you looking at me like that?” Ling Jingshu couldn’t help a small laugh. “Did I suddenly grow three heads and six arms or something?”
The two of them, being twins, shared a deep bond, and had no need to mince words with each other.
Ling Xiao laughed: “I just find it strange—the moment you touch any other man, you feel sick to your stomach and start retching. But touching my fingers doesn’t bother you at all.”
It wasn’t only their fingers touching—there were plenty of other intimate gestures too, like holding hands in their everyday life, and not once had Ling Jingshu shown the slightest discomfort.
Ling Jingshu hummed in acknowledgment: “Imperial Physician Wei says this affliction of mine arises from a malady of the heart. You’re the family member closest to my heart, so naturally it’s different with you.”
Aside from Ling Xiao, she kept her distance from every other man, without exception—not even her own birth father, Ling Wuye, was spared. Whenever she spoke with him, she had to keep a distance of at least two meters or so.
Of this, Ling Xiao was of course especially well aware.
Realizing that he was the only man able to touch Ling Jingshu, Ling Xiao felt both a sense of comfort and an indescribable pang of sorrow in his heart. He couldn’t help sighing: “I really do hope Imperial Physician Wei can cure your condition soon.”
That, in all likelihood, was not going to happen.
Ling Jingshu had no wish to dwell on the subject, lest it leave the sentimental Ling Xiao feeling troubled, and casually steered the conversation elsewhere: “A’Xiao, at the start of February next year, you’ll be taking the examination for the Imperial Academy. It’s only right that you should study hard. Still, you ought to limit how long you spend reading, too, or you’ll strain your eyes from too much time at it.”
Ling Xiao nodded obediently in agreement: “Don’t worry, when it comes to my eyes, I care about them more than anyone.”
The two siblings chatted idly for a long while before finally retiring, each to their own room.
Lying in bed, Ling Jingshu thought about the next day’s trip to the palace, and a heavy weight settled over her heart.
Ignorance breeds fearlessness.
Sun Shi merely believed this was a stroke of good fortune fallen from the sky. But upon hearing the news, the string in Ling Jingshu’s heart had quietly drawn taut. Just what did Empress Xu really intend by this?