Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Has Your Conscience Been Eaten by Dogs? “Master, this…” Madam Liu was thrown into a state of uncertainty after hearing the servants’ report, not knowing how to react. “Father, how did Ling Ziqi suddenly become the Third Prince’s concubine?” Ling Jiaxuan asked, bewildered. Madam Wan, Ling Zixue, and the others seated at the same table were also startled by the news. Ling Zixue rose timidly and said, “Father, let Elder Sister come in first, all right? I miss Elder Sister.” As she spoke, her voice already took on a sobbing note, and her eyes had reddened. Madam Chen, who had always been taciturn, spoke up. “Master, Ling Ziqi was originally sent to the nunnery to reflect on her mistakes. She escaped for no reason, and now she has suddenly become the Third Prince’s concubine. If we let Ling Ziqi enter the residence today, our family will be related to the Third Prince by marriage from now on.” Madam Chen looked at Ling Taian and continued, “However, the Third Prince only recently broke off his engagement with Miss Ling. Now Ling Ziqi is together with the Third Prince as well. Who knows what people outside will say? They may even think that the women of the Ling Residence are determined to marry no one but the Third Prince.” “That’s right, Master,” Madam Liu added. “This concerns the reputations of two girls from our residence. Ling Ziqi has already become the Third Prince’s concubine, so we can set that aside for now, but this will inevitably damage Yue’er’s good name.” “Father, Elder Sister didn’t mean it that way. She must have had her own difficulties. Please let Elder Sister in first,” Ling Zixue said. “Master, Ling Ziqi is now the Third Prince’s woman, and she has come today on the Third Prince’s behalf. If we refuse to let her enter, I’m afraid the Third Prince will hold it against our Ling Residence,” Madam Wan advised. While Ling Taian and the others argued endlessly over whether or not to let Ling Ziqi in, Ling Ziqi had already grown impatient waiting outside. Ling Ziqi said irritably, “Steward, the Prime Minister’s Residence has delayed letting me in for so long. I think we should forget it for today and come another day.” The steward, however, urged her, “Why don’t we wait a little longer? We belong to the Third Prince’s Residence. Prime Minister Ling will ultimately let us in. Besides, you are still the Prime Minister’s daughter. In the end, you must return home at least once.” Only then did Ling Ziqi suppress her anger and continue waiting outside. Ling Taian pondered for a long while before finally instructing the steward, “Open the gate and let her in. Take her to the reception hall. There’s no need for her to return to the inner quarters.” Having received the order, the steward went to open the gate. “This is a family matter. You should all come with me to the reception hall as well.” With that, Ling Taian led Madam Liu, Ling Jiayue, and the others toward the reception hall. Once Ling Taian and the others were seated in the reception hall, Madam Liu ordered the steward matron beside her to brew a pot of tea and had Ling Taian drink it slowly, afraid that excessive anger would harm his health. The steward led the former young lady of the residence—today’s Third Prince’s concubine, Ling Ziqi—into the reception hall. Ling Ziqi was dressed especially grandly today. She had selected the finest fabrics and jewelry from the gifts Mu Yuyang had bestowed upon her. Though she was only sixteen, she was decked out in glittering finery that seemed wholly at odds with her age and looked rather comical. Ling Ziqi entered the reception hall and curtsied toward Ling Taian and Madam Liu, who were seated in the seats of honor. Yet she said, “Ling Ziqi, concubine of the Third Prince’s Residence, pays her respects to Prime Minister Ling and Madam Ling.” “Hmph!” Hearing these words, Ling Taian angrily slammed the teacup in his hand onto the table. “Ling Ziqi, you were originally a daughter of the Ling Residence. You committed a grave offense and were punished by being sent to the nunnery to reflect on your mistakes. Even if you are now the Third Prince’s concubine, does that mean you are no longer a daughter of the Ling Residence? You keep calling him Prime Minister Ling—can’t you call him Father even once?” Madam Liu said furiously to Ling Ziqi. Ling Ziqi abruptly straightened. The flower ornaments in her hair seemed too heavy, and they swayed with her sudden movement. “Father?! The Father standing before me is the very person who ordered my mother’s execution. How could I acknowledge someone like that as my Father? Calling him Prime Minister Ling is already more than I can manage.” Ling Ziqi spoke mockingly. Looking at Ling Ziqi before him, Ling Taian felt an indescribable pain and humiliation. This was also the child he had cherished in the palm of his hand since she was little. She had once called him Father in a soft, sweet voice. Now she stood before him, filled with resentment and mocking him. Ling Taian closed his eyes, as though he did not wish to look at Ling Ziqi again. “Ling Ziqi, everything you have done today is the result of your own actions. How can you blame Father? Your mother, Madam Zhang, was also punished because she committed a grave offense. If you had quietly reflected on your mistakes in the nunnery, Father would still have forgiven you. But now you have clung to the Third Prince, thinking you’ve found a powerful backer. In truth, you are cutting off your own future.” Ling Jiayue, who had remained silent all this time, spoke up, her gaze toward Ling Ziqi filled with pity. Ling Ziqi seemed to have been struck where it hurt. She glared furiously at Ling Jiayue. “You’re merely a daughter of the Prime Minister’s Residence. How dare you lecture me? What happens to me is none of your concern.” “Silence, Ling Ziqi. You are now a member of the Third Prince’s household. I will order people to send your belongings from the past to the Third Prince’s Residence, and I will add some dowry contributions as well. Consider it my Prime Minister’s Residence marrying you off. From now on, you need not set foot in my Prime Minister’s Residence again. I will simply regard myself as having no daughter like you.” Ling Taian spoke with deep anguish, as if he had made a momentous decision. Ling Ziqi, however, froze when she heard his words. “Ling Taian, you truly are heartless. You were heartless toward Mother, and even more heartless toward me. You killed Mother, and now you refuse to acknowledge me as well. Fine. Very fine.” As Ling Ziqi spoke, she turned and walked outside. “Stop,” Ling Jiayue said. “What else do you have to say?” “You say Father is heartless and doesn’t want you? Why your mother was punished, and why you were sent to the nunnery—surely you know that better than I do. And you became the Third Prince’s concubine without informing Father. Where does that leave Father? Where does that leave the reputation of the Prime Minister’s Residence?” Ling Ziqi was stunned by her words, but Ling Jiayue continued. “Father took pity on you and feared that you would be lonely and helpless after marrying into the Third Prince’s Residence. That is why he allowed you in today when you came for your return visit to your family home. After entering, you kept calling him Prime Minister Ling. Did you ever respectfully call him Father? Even though you have become so utterly ungrateful, Father still intended to provide you with dowry contributions. Ling Ziqi, has your conscience been eaten by dogs?” “Yue’er, no need to say anything more. Steward, see her out. From now on, there is no need to open this gate for her,” Ling Taian said. At this moment, Ling Ziqi seemed to regret what she had done as well. She timidly called out, “Father…” “You flatter me. I am no longer worthy of being your Father. Return to the Third Prince’s Residence and live your life well.” Ling Taian waved toward the steward. Helpless, Ling Ziqi followed the steward out of the residence. Ling Jiayue, Madam Liu, and the others were all busy comforting Ling Taian, but no one noticed that Ling Zixue was glaring at Ling Jiayue and her mother with hatred.