Loyang Jin

After lunch, Ling Jingshu reluctantly led the Lu brothers to the Peony Garden.

Mrs. Ling watched the young men go away with a smile in her eyes: "Sister Shu is indeed beautiful and outstanding. She is much better than me back then."

Lu Hong was just in love when he was young. When he met a beautiful girl like Ling Jingshu, it was no wonder that he became attracted to her...

Old Mrs. Ling was so shrewd that she had already seen some clues. She laughed softly and said, "From what I see, Ah Hong seems to be particularly interested in Sister Shu."

When mother and daughter talk together, there is nothing to hide.

Ling's eyes flashed, and she said with a smile: "If Ahong has this heart, he will come and tell me. It would also be a good thing if we can kiss each other."

Given the Lu family's status, it was indeed a good marriage for Ling Jingshu to marry the direct grandson of the Lu family.

Old Mrs. Ling thought for a moment and said: "The marriage of children is a life-long matter. You cannot decide this matter alone. Wait until my uncle comes and you can discuss it with him in private."

Mrs. Ling nodded with a smile.

Speaking of her uncle, Mrs. Ling couldn't help but say a few words: "Ah Hui, you have been married to the Lu family for so many years and you haven't come back. Every year when you send home letters, you always choose something nice and pleasant to say. I'm worried, and there's nothing else. Way to go. Now that we are just two people, please stop hiding me. How is my uncle treating you?"

Ling smiled, with a bit of bitterness in her tone: "I am the patriarch of the Lu family, and I have a lot of things to do on weekdays. After I became the governor of Jizhou, I had more social activities, and inevitably had less time to go back to the inner house. Moreover, the master's concubine There are also many rooms, so naturally fewer people come to my house on weekdays..."

Although the words were euphemistic, how could Mrs. Ling not understand the meaning?

Old Mrs. Ling quickly darkened her face and said through gritted teeth: "This Lu An was considered sincere when he asked to marry you that day. After I married you and returned home, why did I treat you like this?"

Mrs. Ling smiled bitterly, her voice becoming more and more obscure: "In the final analysis, I am the one who brought the blame on myself. I can't blame anyone else."

Back then, Lu An came to Dingzhou for a business trip and paid a visit to Ling's family. As soon as she saw him, she fell in love with Lu An. Later, the Lu family came to propose marriage. Mrs. Ling wanted to refuse the marriage because the Lu family was too far away, but she insisted on marrying Lu An. Old Mrs. Ling couldn't resist her, so she nodded and agreed to the marriage.

When they were newly married, she and Lu An also had a sweet love for several years. As time went by, Lu An's lustful nature was revealed. Concubines were brought into the house one after another, and there were countless official affairs and entertainments.

Ling was not yet thirty, but he had already become a thing of the past and was neglected.

This time Lu An decided to come to Dingzhou to celebrate his mother-in-law's birthday because of his elder brother-in-law who works in the Ministry of Industry.

Ling was really ashamed to say this last sentence. She cheered up and said with a smile: "Mom, you don't have to worry about me. No matter what, I am the real wife that the matchmaker is marrying. Those warblings and swallows in the house are just things for men to make fun of, so don't take it to heart at all."

Mrs. Ling looked at her daughter who was forcing a smile. She felt distressed and angry at the same time. Her voice was slightly choked with sobs: "Ah Hui, I have suffered so much for you all these years. Unfortunately, Dingzhou is too far away from Jizhou. Mother wants to go to Lu's house." I'll support you, this old bone can't stand the torment. This time my uncle comes to visit, even if I risk my old face, I have to ask clearly..."

Before she finished speaking, Ling's face darkened, and she quickly interrupted Mrs. Ling: "Mom, don't worry about this."

Old Mrs. Ling choked and looked a little ugly: "Are you afraid that Lu An will be unhappy if I say this?" Ling's awe and fear of Lu An were clearly revealed.

Ling didn't say a word, which was regarded as acquiescence.

Mrs. Ling held back a ball of fire in her heart, and said bitterly: "Are you going to live a life of embarrassment and humiliation like this? There are so many warblers around him, if he is favored and has a son and a half, you Aren’t the days more difficult?”

"Don't worry about this." A trace of fierce anger flashed in Mrs. Ling's eyes: "I am the wife of the head of the Lu Mansion, and no one can get past me. Those concubines just want to have a son and a half daughter. It also depends on whether they have that blessing.”

The words are so sinister that if you savor them carefully, you will feel chills in your heart.

Lu An only has two sons, Lu Hong and Lu Qian, and the rest of his concubines have also been pregnant, but most of them miscarried due to various "accidents" within a few months. Those who were lucky enough to give birth to children also died in infancy. The only ones who grew up safely were two concubines. Naturally, it is not a threat to the Ling family who has a legitimate son.

After hearing these words, Mrs. Ling felt relieved: "As long as you know the severity."

As long as a son cannot be born, having more concubines is nothing.

"This time when I went back to my parents' home, I only brought back Ah Hong and Ah Qian. The two concubines were under ten years old, so I didn't take them with me because of the long journey. The master didn't say anything." Ling's expression returned to normal. , smiled lightly and said: "In my heart, Ah Hong and Ah Qian are much more important than those two concubines."

Old Mrs. Ling's brows relaxed, and there was a smile on her face: "If you can understand it, I feel relieved."

After a pause, he warned: "Lu An is in his prime, and he is indiscreet with women. There is nothing he can do about it. However, you can't just let it go. Pick some beautiful and reliable maids from around you, have their faces opened, and send them to Go to him. Even if he is favored, he can be your help."

Mrs. Ling nodded: "Of course I can save this little thing. Mom doesn't have to worry about me."

How could you not be worried?

Mrs. Ling sighed secretly. She is just such a daughter, who has grown up like a pearl in the palm of her hand. After being married into the Lu family for so many years, life has been so unhappy!

Originally, I just mentioned the matter between Lu Hong and Ling Jingshu as a joke, but now I think about it, if Ling Jingshu can marry into the Lu family, she can help the Ling family to a certain extent. It's a good thing that kills two birds with one stone.

...

Ling Jingshu took Ling Xiao's hand and entered the peony garden.

Four eyes fell on her back, making her feel like a light on her back.

Ling Jingshu frowned slightly, feeling strange and wary in her heart.

Just like in his previous life, Lu Hong still fell in love with her at first sight and paid attention to her everywhere... She was disgusted in her heart, but she didn't find it strange. But Lu Qian's enthusiasm for her was a little abnormal.

Even if Lu Qian would have strange feelings for her, it would be a few years later. Lu Qian now is just a twelve-year-old boy. He is not as tall as her, and he is still a child in her eyes...

A vague thought flashed through my mind. Before I could think about it carefully, I was interrupted by Lu Qian's slightly excited voice: "Cousin Shu, this peony has green buds. Will it be green too?”

Compared with Lu Qian's joy of surprise, Ling Jingshu seemed less interested and responded casually: "This peony is called Bean Green, and the flowers it blooms are indeed rare green."

There are many varieties of peonies in different colors. Green peonies are undoubtedly rare treasures.

Lu Qian didn't mind Ling Jingshu's indifference at all, and smiled happily: "The peony flowering season is coming soon. Mother said she would stay in Dingzhou for a few months before leaving. It seems that I can feast my eyes on it."

Then he pointed to another peony and asked, "Cousin Shu, that one has blue buds. I wonder what kind it is?"

"That one is called Lantian Jade." When talking about her favorite peony, the expression on Ling Jingshu's face softened a little, without the indifference that repulsed others: "I cultivated it last year. When the flowers bloom, the red pistils The blue flowers are very delicate.”

When looking at her favorite peony, there was a hint of tenderness in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows.

Lu Qian looked at Ling Jingshu like this, and the joy in his heart almost overflowed from his chest. Just as he was about to say something, Lu Hong's voice rang in his ears: "Cousin Shu, the one with the purple buds must be Ge Jin Zi!"

Hearing Lu Hong's voice, the smile in Ling Jingshu's eyes immediately disappeared and she responded briefly.

Anyone with eyes can see the disgust and impatience in Ling Jingshu's eyes.

Lu Hong smiled, but his heart seemed to be blocked by something, feeling extremely depressed and uncomfortable.

What did he say or do wrong? Why does cousin Shu hate him so much? Not even willing to cover up even a little bit, just showing it clearly on his face...

Ling Xiao couldn't see clearly Lu Hong's gloomy expression. Lu Qian didn't know whether it was intentional or not. He also ignored Lu Hong's ugly face and smiled at Ling Jingshu and said, "Cousin Shu can grow so many famous peonies. It's really amazing."

Ling Jingshu's attitude towards Lu Qian was quite gentle. She smiled lightly when she heard this: "This is not a big deal. It's just that I have nothing to do and like peonies, so I spent more time on it."

She hated everyone in the Lu family, and she hated Lu Qian to a lesser extent.

After marrying into the Lu family, she and Lu Hong were very affectionate. She loves her uncle Lu Qian very much. Lu Qian was also very affectionate to her, his eldest sister-in-law.

At that time, she didn't think much about it.

In her eyes, he was just a lively, cute and willful child.

I don't know when he started to have an undesirable yearning for her. He looked at her with more and more eager eyes, and would suddenly come to her room when Lu Hong was not around, pestering her and refusing to leave.

When she realized what he was thinking, she was both shocked and ridiculous. She didn't dare to tell others about this kind of thing, even in front of her husband. He could only alienate Lu Qian quietly.

Lu Qian was frail since he was a child, and Mrs. Ling doted on him in every possible way. As long as he wanted it, even the stars in the sky would be picked with his own hands. This also developed Lu Qian's willful temperament, and he must keep what he likes as his own.

This abnormal feeling that shouldn't exist not only did not become cold because of her alienation, but instead became more intense.

...