Chapter 12: Strange

After lunch, Ling Jingshu reluctantly led the Lu brothers to the peony garden.

Ling watched the young men go away, with a smile in her eyes: "Sister Shu is indeed beautiful, much better than I was back then."

Lu Hong was just beginning to fall in love, and it was no wonder that he was tempted by a beautiful girl like Ling Jingshu...

Old Mrs. Ling was so smart that she had already seen some clues and smiled softly: "In my opinion, Ah Hong seems to be particularly concerned about Sister Shu."

There was nothing to hide when the mother and daughter talked together.

Ling's eyes flashed, and she smiled and said: "If Ah Hong has this intention, he will come to tell me. If we can get closer, it will be a good thing."

With the Lu family's status, it is really a good marriage for Ling Jingshu to marry the eldest grandson of the Lu family.

Mrs. Ling thought for a moment and said, "The marriage of your children is a matter of a lifetime. You can't make the decision alone. When the son-in-law comes, you can discuss it with him privately."

Ling nodded with a smile.

Speaking of the son-in-law, Mrs. Ling couldn't help but nagging a few words: "Ahui, you have been married to the Lu family for so many years and have never come back. Every year you send letters home, you always say nice things. I am worried, but there is no other way. Now it's just us, mother and daughter, so don't hide it. How does the son-in-law treat you?"

Ling's smile paused, and her tone revealed a bit of bitterness: "The master is the patriarch of the Lu family, and he has many affairs on weekdays. After serving as the governor of Jizhou, he has more social activities, so he inevitably returns to the inner house less. Moreover, the master has many concubines, so naturally he comes to my room less on weekdays..."

Although the words are euphemistic, how can Mrs. Ling not hear the meaning?

Old Lady Ling's face darkened quickly, and she gritted her teeth and said, "This Lu An was sincere when he asked to marry you. Why did he treat you like this after marrying you back home?"

Ling smiled bitterly, and her voice became more obscure: "In the end, it's my own fault, and I can't blame others."

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

When they were newly married, she and Lu An had a few years of love and sweetness. As time went by, Lu An's lustful nature was revealed. One concubine after another was taken into the mansion, and there were countless official social events and dramas.

Ling was not yet thirty years old, but she had already become yesterday's flower and was neglected.

This time Lu An was willing to come to Dingzhou to celebrate his mother-in-law's birthday because of his eldest brother-in-law who worked in the Ministry of Industry.

Ling was too embarrassed to say the last sentence. She smiled and said, "Mom, you don't have to worry about me. No matter what, I am the wife who was married in a formal way. Those girls in the mansion are just for fun, so you don't have to worry about them."

Old Lady Ling looked at her daughter who was forcing herself to smile, feeling distressed and angry, her voice choking slightly: "Ahui, you have suffered so much over the years. It's a pity that Dingzhou is too far away from Jizhou. I want to go to the Lu family to support you, but my old bones can't stand the running around. This time, my son-in-law is coming to my house, even if I have to risk my old face, I have to ask clearly..."

Before she finished speaking, Ling's face had darkened, and she quickly interrupted Old Lady Ling: "Mom, don't worry about these."

Old Lady Ling was choked, her face a little ugly: "Are you afraid that Lu An will be unhappy if I say these?" Ling's fear and awe of Lu An were revealed.

Ling didn't say anything, which was considered as tacit consent.

Old Lady Ling was furious and said with hatred: "Are you going to live your whole life in such a miserable way? There are so many beautiful women around him. If you are favored and have another son or daughter, won't your life be even more difficult?"

"Don't worry about that." Ling's eyes flashed with a trace of cruel anger: "I am the wife of the eldest house of the Lu family. No one can surpass me. Those concubines want to have a son or a daughter, but it depends on whether they have that blessing."

The words are sinister, and it makes people feel cold when they savor them carefully.

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

After hearing this, Old Lady Ling was relieved: "You know the importance."

As long as you can't give birth to a son, having more concubines is nothing.

"This time when I went back to my parents' home, I only brought Ah Hong and Ah Qian back. The two concubines were not yet ten years old, so I didn't bring them because the journey was too long. The master didn't say anything." Ling's expression returned to normal, and she smiled faintly: "In the master's heart, Ah Hong and Ah Qian are much more important than the two concubines."

Old Lady Ling's brows relaxed, and a smile appeared on her face again: "I am relieved that you can think clearly."

After a pause, she reminded: "Lu An is in his prime, and he is not restrained when it comes to women. This is also unavoidable. However, you can't just let it go. Pick some beautiful and reliable maids from around him and send them to him. Even if he is favored, they can become your helpers."

Ling nodded: "I will naturally save this little thing, mother, don't worry about me."

How can I not worry?

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... 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. The peony blooms 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. My 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 had been frail since he was a child, and Ling had 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.

...