Chapter 18: Will Today’s Birthday Banquet Be Troubled?

“Indeed, Miss Ling San, where did you go just now?”
“Exactly. If you have a clear conscience, there’s no fear of ghosts knocking at your door. Yet you hesitate so much—it seems you have something to hide.”
“Still trying to save face? If you were straightforward, what could you not say?”

The crowd murmured in disapproval, casting contemptuous glances at Ling Huaishu, whispering among themselves.

At this tense moment, a childish voice called out from afar, “Big sister, do you think Song’er is pretty?”

The crowd turned toward the voice and saw the fifth young lady of the Mo family, still unsteady on her feet, toddling over, holding up a precious golden cicada bracelet.

Ling Qing, the Princess of Ling, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke to ease the tension, “Beautiful, beautiful! Our fifth young lady will surely grow into a great beauty and will undoubtedly marry the top scholar!”

Laughter erupted in the Water Pavilion.

Whether the theft was a self-orchestrated act by Mo Yuan or a deliberate frame-up by Ling Huaishu, no one cared to investigate further; they simply regarded it as entertainment.

Gradually, the crowd dispersed in small groups, and calm returned to the Water Pavilion.

Xiao Ming’s body was weak and unsteady; she barely held onto Chun’er and struggled to remain standing, overwhelmed by humiliation and grievance.

Huai Xi supported her gently. “Little Ming, let me help you rest.”

The two sat by the lake. Xiao Ming wept bitterly, tears falling one by one onto the ground. “Sister, I was foolish and greedy, rushing here and suffering this deliberate humiliation from those petty people.”

Huai Xi softly patted her back. “That’s not true. It’s all over now.”

“Thank you for standing by me. If Mo Yuan still had any conscience and feared the Ling family, I would have been wronged today.”

Huai Xi wiped Xiao Ming’s tears with a handkerchief. “That’s simply the truth. You came here in the Ling family’s carriage—no one could dare to mistreat you.”

Xiao Ming glanced at the sky; after a full day’s turmoil, dusk was near. The peach grove was serene, the setting sun casting golden ripples on the lake.

“What’s troubling you so deeply?” Huai Xi asked with concern.

Tears welled up again, but Xiao Ming quickly wiped them away. “Sister, you’re so learned—I want to ask you, do you know who Wei Sheng is?”

Huai Xi nodded gently. “You mean the promise of Wei Sheng?”

“Yes! Please tell me about it.”

Huai Xi smiled faintly, gazing at the shimmering lake as she began, “Wei Sheng was a man of old. Once, he arranged to meet his lover on a bridge. But a flood came, and his lover never arrived. He refused to leave, clinging to a wooden beam until he drowned on the bridge.”

Xiao Ming looked surprised. “Then his lover was so heartless!”

Huai Xi was unconvinced. “Why don’t you say Wei Sheng was foolish? Was it worth it, to sacrifice everything for love?”

Xiao Ming’s eyes flickered; she pressed her lips together, hesitating to speak.

Huai Xi noticed her unease. Her gaze flickered several times. “You don’t have a promise like Wei Sheng’s, do you?”

“No!” Xiao Ming stood quickly and turned away, hastily hiding the turmoil in her eyes. “Sister, you’re imagining things. I’m just asking.”

Huai Xi couldn’t help but smile.

In a low voice, Xiao Ming said, “Which woman doesn’t hope for a Wei Sheng to accompany her in this life?”

“Looks like I’m not a woman then?” Huai Xi laughed, covering her mouth with a handkerchief.

Amid their laughter, a call came from the Water Pavilion: “Second Miss, Miss Ming, it’s time to return home.”

The Ling family’s carriage slowly left the peach grove, and soon distant thunder rumbled.

Xiao Ming lifted the carriage curtain to look at the sky—rolling black clouds gathered, threatening lightning and thunder. She thought anxiously, Could it really rain so heavily now?

Suddenly, a loud thunderclap startled both her and Ling Huai Xi, making them shrink their necks. Then the coachman’s voice came from outside the curtain, “It looks like a heavy storm is coming. I’ll drive faster—please hold on tight.”

Before he finished, a fierce wind blew up, and heavy rain began to pour. Moments later, raindrops pelted the carriage roof like popping beans.

Another thunderclap shook Xiao Ming to her core.

“Don’t be afraid, little sister. It’s only thunder,” Huai Xi’s voice was soft and gentle. “But today, it feels like the Thunder God is striking down some demon…”

Though Xiao Ming kept a calm face, her heart was troubled. Could Yun Yin really be foolishly waiting for her at Buqing Bridge?

At last, the carriage stopped before the General’s Mansion.

At the same time, a swift horse galloped up. The rider wore a purple official robe, a silver crown binding his hair, radiating a noble and brilliant presence—like a ray of light piercing the rolling dark clouds.

“Big brother’s back!” Huai Ning exclaimed joyfully as soon as she stepped down from the carriage and saw Ling Zhao.

“Master Ling.”

“Brother.”

Xiao Ming and Ling Huai Xi bowed respectfully to Ling Zhao, then entered the mansion without lingering.

Ling Zhao glanced doubtfully at the listless Xiao Ming, then turned his gaze to Ling Huai Ning. “Not a peaceful day today?”

Once mentioned, Ling Huai Ning grew lively, immediately pouring out complaints like spilled beans.

“Big brother missed a great show today! The Mo family’s bracelet went missing, and they stubbornly blamed Sister Xiao. It turned into a huge misunderstanding—turns out her own sister had taken it to play with. Not only that, Ling Huaishu sided with the Mo family and bullied Sister Xiao instead of helping our Ling family. Honestly, Ling Huaishu really embarrassed us all! Fortunately, with me and the second sister backing her up, we managed to turn the tables for Sister Xiao!”

Huai Ning raised her chin, hands on her hips, proudly looking at her brother.

Ling Zhao’s face darkened. He gave Huai Ning a cold glare. “Too much talking. Come inside before you get drenched.”

Huai Ning was stunned, expecting praise but instead met disdain for her chatter. Annoyed, she snorted heavily and darted off.

After a moment of silence, Ling Zhao’s voice came without emotion or warmth, “Get out of the carriage.”

The curtain of the last carriage was lifted, and Ling Huaishu, trembling, bent forward to peer out.

Ling Zhao’s expression was inscrutable, but his deep eyes seemed to see through everything.

Ling Huaishu’s face was unusually pale, shaking uncontrollably, too frightened to meet his gaze.

“Speak.”

All arrogance was gone. Ling Huaishu looked at Ling Zhao in terror, trembling as she said, “Big brother, I was forced by the Mo family’s lady. I only acted out of concern that Sister Xiao would disgrace our Ling family’s reputation. It was a desperate measure, not my true intention!”

“What happened to her?”

Ling Huaishu’s face tightened; she swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but the aura radiating from her brother seemed to carry a deadly chill, making the hairs on her body stand on end.

“I—I saw Sister Xiao with the Mo family’s second young master in the peach grove…”