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  After Ziling returned, Yonghe Hall was more lively than before.

  Mrs. Ling couldn't bear to part with her daughter, so she let the Lings stay in Yonghe Hall. Lu Hong and Lu Qian, the two brothers, lived in the guest room and came over every day to pay their respects. The daughters-in-law, grandsons, granddaughters, and even Master Ling Si and Master Ling Wu made an appearance every morning and evening.

  The main hall of Yonghe Temple is spacious, but with so many people inside, it also appears crowded.

  The elders sat and talked, while the younger ones didn't have a seat, so they stood together talking in low voices.

  Ling Jingxu habitually stood beside Ling Xiao and asked in a low voice, "Xiao, where did you go yesterday? Why didn't I see your shadow all day?"

  Ling Xiao usually comes to Qiushui Pavilion several times a day. But yesterday, he didn't show up at all.

  Ling Xiao smiled and replied, "Big Brother took Third Brother to attend family school, seeing me idle with nothing to do, so he let me go along to listen in." He paused for a moment, then sighed again: "However, there were many things I didn't understand."

  A look of disappointment and despair appeared on his handsome face.

  After losing his sight, he could no longer read or write characters. This was Ling Xiang's greatest regret.

  There were a few servants by Ling Xiao's side who could read and often read books to him. However, no one explained the meaning of the scriptures in the book, so he only half-understood it vaguely. When he arrived at the family school, more than half of them didn't understand what was being said.

  Ling Jingxu's heart ached, and she pulled Ling Xiao's hand, softly comforting him: "Ah Xiao, if you like reading books, there are ways."

  "A'xiu, don't comfort me anymore." Ling Xiao murmured listlessly: "I've lost my sight, how can I still read books?"

  Ling Jingyu smiled and said, "You have a young servant by your side who reads books to you every day. If there's something you don't understand, you can go ask Father for guidance or ask one of your older cousins. Or, you can ask Father to let a servant attend family school in your place and learn on your behalf, then come back and explain it to you again."

  Apart from being inconvenient for writing and practicing calligraphy, it's not much different.

  Ling Xiao's face lit up, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on Ling Jingyu's hand. His voice was filled with excitement and surprise: "Ah Yu, how did you come up with such a great idea!"

  Ling Jingyu saw Ling Xiao's delight and felt relieved in her heart: "I've been thinking about this for the past few days. Ah Xiao, you like reading books, so find a way to continue reading, don't waste your time. Also, let Father see your diligence and hard work."

  She had other plans in mind, but with so many people around, it wasn't convenient for her to discuss them with Ling Xiao.

  Ling Xiang's nature is simple and innocent, unable to hide his thoughts, and the joy in his heart is almost all displayed on his face.

  "Second brother, what are you and your sister talking about so happily here?"

  A clear and bright young voice sounded in his ear.

  Ling Xiao's hearing was extremely sensitive, and he accurately "saw" into the past, shouting out "Big Brother".

  Ling Jingxian's smile was slightly restrained, and she looked up at him with raised eyes.

  A fifteen-year-old boy wearing a crimson brocade robe, with a handsome face and a vigorous spirit, had a smile on his face as he looked at Ling Jingyu and her brother with a rather affectionate gaze.

  This young man is none other than Ling Feng, the elder brother born of a concubine!

  ......

  Ling Feng's birth mother Xia Yiniang, originally named Xia He.

  Xia He's flower-like face and moon-like beauty, had been serving Ling Wu Ye since childhood, with some emotional ties, later became Ling Wu Ye's concubine. Soon after Yao Shi entered the household, Xia He became pregnant.

  Mrs. Yao felt suffocated in her heart, but after all, she was a new daughter-in-law and had not yet stood firm in her husband's family, so it was inconvenient for her to take action against a maidservant who shared the same room with her master. A few more months passed, and Mrs. Yao also became pregnant, focusing on nourishing her fetus, and she didn't have time to ask about Xiaohua's pregnancy either.

  After giving birth to Ling Peng, Xia He Li naturally became Xia Yi Niang.

  Fortunately, in less than half a year, Madam Yao gave birth to a pair of dragon and phoenix twins, and the depression and grievance in her heart were instantly swept away. Although Xia Yiniang was favored, she could not shake Madam Yao's position.

  Unfortunately, Madam Yao's life was short-lived. When Ling Jingyu and her siblings were five years old, she fell ill and passed away. A year later, Old Master Ling married again to Li Shi.

  Mr. Li's father was only a sixth-grade official, and his family background was not as good as that of Ms. Yao. In terms of appearance and talent, he was far inferior. However, Mr. Li was clever and had a lot of tact, on the one hand, he carefully catered to and flattered the favored concubine Xia, and soon established himself in the inner house.

  Two years later, Li became pregnant and handed over all the trivial matters in the courtyard to Xia Yiniang.

  It was also in this year that Ling Xiang, who was exceptionally intelligent and talented, tripped over by the artificial hill and hit his head heavily on it, bleeding profusely. Afterwards, he lost his sight and could no longer see.

  Old Lady Ling was furious and interrogated all the servants who were around that day, but couldn't find any clues, so she had to give up reluctantly.

  Ling Wu's father was heartbroken over his beloved son, and all his anger was redirected at Xia Yiniang, who was in charge of the house. After scolding her severely, he ordered someone to lock her up, and from then on, he never set foot in Xia Yiniang's room again.

  Xia Yiniang could not hold on for two years and died of depression after a lingering illness.

  Li, who was taking care of her pregnancy, seemed to have nothing to do with all this. After Xia Yiniang was put under house arrest, she had even pleaded for leniency on Xia's behalf, playing the role of a good person to perfection.

  After giving birth to her son Ling Yu, Li finally stood firm in the Ling Mansion.

  The five houses have three sons and one daughter. Ling Feng is a bastard, his birth mother was also abandoned by the fifth master of the Ling family, and his status in the mansion is not high. Ling Xiao is a legitimate child, but because he is blind, he has become a useless person. Although Ling Jingxu is beautiful and favored by the old lady, after all, she is a daughter and will eventually be married off.

  As a result, Ling Yu, who was the youngest, became the highest-ranking and most favored by Old Master Ling among the five houses.

  From then on, no one in Ling Wu's courtyard could pose a threat to Li.

  After a few more years, Ling Jingxu married into the Lu family, and Ling Xiao "died suddenly" before the wedding. The thorns in Li's eyes were finally all removed, and her heart was filled with joy.

  ......

  Due to the accident that year, Ling Xiao became blind in both eyes, and Xia Yiniang also lost favor and her life.

  Ling Feng didn't say anything, but in his heart, it was impossible to have no resentment. He maintained a superficial courtesy with Ling Jingyu, and they didn't get along much on a daily basis, nor were they close.

  No one knew that all this was Li's behind-the-scenes machinations. Killing two birds with one stone, he not only harmed Ling Xiang but also eliminated the favored Xia Niang.

  Ling Jingxu had always had a knot in her heart towards Ling Feng. But now that she knew the truth of what happened back then, when she looked at Ling Feng again, the resentment and coldness were gone, replaced by a hint of pity.

  "......Big brother, just now Ah-shu thought of a way for me. Let the little servant by my side go to school every day and read books on my behalf, and then come back and tell me in detail." Ling Xiang excitedly told Ling Ting: "This way, I can continue reading too."

  Ling Tong's eyes flashed with a smile: "This method is indeed not bad. Your eyes can't see, and it's inconvenient to go home every day. Letting the young servant run errands for you is a good idea. Although you can't practice writing or take the imperial exam, reading more books is always good."

  Ling Xiao was originally full of joy, but after hearing the last two sentences, the smile on his face suddenly dimmed a few shades.

  Yes, what's the use of him reading more books? A blind man who can't even write is not qualified to take the imperial examination, let alone become an official... He can't even do ordinary things. He can only be a useless person raised in the inner courtyard!

  "Reading can make people understand right and wrong, distinguish between reason and event," Ling Jingxian's gentle voice sounded in Ling Xiao's ear: "It is always beneficial to read more books. As for what to do or become in the future, it's all about the future, no need to think too much now."

  While speaking, she glanced at Ling Feng with an expressionless face.

  The eyes that were originally warm and gentle suddenly revealed a few hints of coldness.

  Ling Feng's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously stopped talking.

  Ling Jingxiao smiled and coaxed Ling Xiao: "Xiao, later I'll accompany you to find Father, okay?"

  After Ling Xiao became blind, he stayed in the mansion every day, rarely contacting outsiders. He was naive and simple-minded, without the stability of a young man of his age, still having a child's temper. With some low mood, he was coaxed by Ling Jingxuan's soft voice for a few sentences, and soon became happy again: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

  ......

  Lu Hong stood beside Ling's side. The elders spoke, but Lu Hong was absent-minded and couldn't hear them at all, his eyes occasionally falling on Ling Jingxuan not far away.

  I don't know what Ling Jingyu said to Ling Xiao, but his face was full of warm smiles, and his eyes were as gentle as spring water, making people's hearts drift away...

  Unfortunately, such a warm and gentle smile was only for Ling Xiao. As soon as her gaze left his face, it immediately turned cold.

  Thinking of the previous setbacks, Lu Hong's heart was even more disheartened.

  Lu Hong, lost in his own thoughts, didn't notice Lu Qian beside him, who was also staring at Ling Jingyu.

  Her gaze was focused and complex, containing a secret joy and unease.

  The two brothers were both distracted and didn't notice what Ling was saying at all.

  "Ah Heng, Ah Qian," Ling shouted out loud but got no response. She couldn't help but furrow her brow and raised her voice a bit: "What are you two thinking about? Why aren't you responding when I call you?"

  Ling's loud voice instantly attracted everyone's attention.

  Lu Hongjun's face slightly flushed, and he quickly composed himself: "I don't know what instructions Mother has."

  Ling smiled and said, "On that day, we set out ahead of time and arrived in Dingzhou first. The old master was busy with official duties, and at the time, he told me to wait a few more days before leaving. I reckon it should take about two more days to arrive. You two have nothing much to do in the mansion, so pay attention to any news coming from the docks. When the time comes, go to the docks to meet your father."

  Lu Hong agreed without hesitation.

  Lu Qian also responded with a sound, quickly lifting his head to glance at Ling Jingxu.

  Ling Jingxu's pretty face turned stiff and pale in an instant, her body slightly trembling. She didn't want others to notice her abnormality, so she quickly lowered her eyelids, covering up all the pain and resentment at the bottom of her eyes.

  Everyone was listening to Ling's words. No one noticed Ling Jingxu's unusual reaction, only Lu Qian saw it clearly.

  Lu Qian's eyes flashed with shock and sudden understanding. Endless pain and helplessness surged in his heart, as if about to burst through his thin chest.

  ......