Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Xu Hongjun “Father.” Ling Jiayue looked at Ling Taian, hesitating as though she felt his actions were inappropriate. “Yue’er, do you think Father is being heartless?” Ling Taian asked as he looked at his daughter. “Father, if you don’t like them, we could simply refuse them. Why throw everything out? Outsiders will think the people of the Prime Minister’s Residence are stingy.” “Yue’er, Father doesn’t care what others think of the Prime Minister’s Residence. But you’ve been injured several times because you went to treat Elder Xu. If Father doesn’t make our attitude clear, I’m afraid they’ll all think the people of the Prime Minister’s Residence are easy to bully.” Ling Taian had always been mild-tempered, but this time, his attitude was unusually firm. “Yue’er will listen to Father.” Ling Jiayue was increasingly moved. Ever since her rebirth, Ling Taian and Madam Liu had cared for her with meticulous devotion, while Ling Jiaxuan had been so badly injured protecting her that he still had not recovered. Ling Taian, Madam Liu, and Ling Jiayue continued eating breakfast, while the steward, following Ling Taian’s orders, went to throw out every gift Xu Hongjun had sent. The people from the Xu Residence who had come to deliver the gifts could only return home in disgrace, their arms full of the presents they had been unable to deliver. After all, the Prime Minister’s eldest daughter had been attacked by assassins twice because she had come to treat Xu Hongjun. When the gift bearers returned to the Xu Residence, the steward saw them carrying the gifts back and immediately understood that Ling Taian had thrown them out again. He did not dare delay and went straight to report to Xu Hongjun. Xu Hongjun’s expression darkened when he heard that the gifts he had sent had once again been returned. But when he thought about it, Ling Jiayue had been attacked several times because she had come to treat him. Moreover, she and the Third Prince had quarreled because of this incident. If not for that, Xu Hongjun would have personally seen her home. However, Ling Jiayue had mentioned the Third Prince, intentionally or otherwise, while treating him this time, and had been attacked after returning home. Could it really have something to do with the Third Prince? Xu Hongjun could not figure it out. Nevertheless, both reason and propriety demanded that Xu Hongjun personally visit the Ling Residence to see Ling Jiayue. But seeing the returned gifts made him feel even more vexed. “You may all leave for now. Steward, prepare another generous gift. Tomorrow, I’ll personally pay a visit to the Prime Minister’s Residence.” Xu Hongjun instructed the steward. “Master, the people at the Prime Minister’s Residence have thrown out the gifts we sent several times now. It’s truly humiliating. Besides, we have the Third Prince behind us. Why go to such lengths to curry favor with a mere prime minister?” the steward asked, puzzled. “What do you understand? Yue’er, girl, has been attacked several times because she came to treat me. If I don’t go in person, it would be terribly discourteous. Both reason and propriety require me to go see her.” Xu Hongjun sighed. “Master…” The steward still seemed reluctant to prepare the gifts. “Enough. Hurry and go.” Xu Hongjun waved him off. “Yes, Master.” The steward went down to prepare the gifts. Xu Hongjun shook his head and sighed, seemingly unable to understand how things had ended up like this. “Master, your meal is ready.” A maid entered carrying food and was about to set the dishes out. “Take it away. I don’t feel like eating today,” Xu Hongjun said. “Yes, Master.” The maid carried the food back out. “Ah…” Xu Hongjun sighed again before entering the inner room. At the Ling Residence, Ling Jiayue took Lingzhu and Lingxue to the garden to admire the plum blossoms. It was deep winter, and the red plum blossoms were at their most vibrant. The three stood quietly in the garden, appreciating the flowers. “Miss, although it’s deep winter, these plum blossoms are truly gorgeous. They don’t lose out to the flowers of spring at all,” Lingzhu remarked. “That’s right. The plum blossoms in winter possess the greatest integrity: they would rather die embracing their fragrance on the branch than fall amid the cold wind.” Ling Jiayue held the hot-water warmer in her hands. “There have been one setback after another lately. It feels wonderful to be able to admire the flowers quietly here.” “Yes, Miss. You must have grown tired during this time as well. It’s wonderful to be able to admire the flowers in peace now,” Lingxue said. The mistress and her two maids stood quietly in the garden admiring the flowers, unaware that the seemingly peaceful Ling Residence was anything but. “Linger, go pass the news to Lingxin. Have her bring it to Elder Sister,” Ling Zixue instructed her personal maid, Linger. Lingxin once again came to the entrance of the Third Prince’s Residence. She furtively glanced around and, after confirming that no one was paying attention to her, entered through the same small side door as usual. “Miss, Ling Jiayue and her brother have already returned home,” Lingxin told Ling Ziqi. “Don’t call me Miss anymore. I’m now the Third Prince’s concubine, Madam Ru. From now on, address me as Madam Ru whenever you see me. Do you understand?” Ling Ziqi ordered impatiently. Clearly, the failed assassination of Ling Jiayue had left her especially irritable. “Yes, Madam Ru.” Lingxin readily changed her form of address. “Are you still adding the poison powder?” Ling Ziqi asked. “Reporting to Madam Ru, yes. I only add a tiny amount each time, but the poison powder is nearly gone,” Lingxin replied. “By my calculations, it should be nearly gone. When you leave later, I’ll give you another bottle. You must add this poison powder every day. You cannot miss even a single day. Understand?” “Understood, Madam Ru.” “Very well. I already know everything you came to tell me. Take the poison powder and go back for now. Don’t stay too long and attract attention.” Ling Ziqi gave Lingxin another bottle of poison powder before sending her away. The next day, Ling Jiayue washed and dressed as usual, then went to Madam Liu’s courtyard for breakfast. It was the first day of the month, so Madam Wan and Madam Chen were there as well. With Ling Taian and Ling Jiayue included, the table was filled with people, making for a lively breakfast. Just then, the steward came to report, “Master, someone from the Xu Residence has come to deliver gifts again.” “You came to report something like this? Just throw them out,” Ling Taian said unhappily. “Master, this time Elder Xu has come in person. He says he is here to apologize to the eldest young lady,” the steward explained. “Hmph. That old bastard thinks I’ll meet him just because he came in person?” Though Ling Taian was a good-natured prime minister, whenever Ling Jiayue’s safety was involved, his temper was not nearly so mild. “Forget it, Father. Elder Xu has personally come to our door. We should at least meet him. Besides, your daughter is fine now,” Ling Jiayue urged. “Yue’er, Mother also thinks you should refuse to meet Xu Hongjun. You’ve been in danger several times, and he can’t escape responsibility for any of it. Besides, your Older Brother is still lying in bed,” Madam Liu said. “Father, Mother, I know that I was attacked each time after returning from treating him. But if someone is determined to harm me, there’s no way I can avoid it. As long as I leave the residence, I’ll be attacked.” To prevent her revenge plan from coming to a halt, Ling Jiayue did her best to persuade them, striving to make Ling Taian and Madam Liu agree to let Xu Hongjun enter the residence.