Remember "Bookworm" in one second.

  June 10th, the weather is fine, with a gentle breeze and warm sunshine.

  Ling Jingyan was dressed up carefully, looking like a spring lotus flower, with a sweet smile on her face, exceptionally delicate and charming.

  In comparison, Chiang's style is much more low-key. His attire is ordinary and unassuming, not drawing attention to himself.

  Before she got married, she was also a famous lady with both talent and beauty. Every time she went out to visit or travel, she had to dress up carefully to show off her elegance. After getting married, this strong desire for excellence gradually faded away.

  When Ling Jingxu appeared in front of them, both Ling Jingyan and Jiang Shi were somewhat surprised.

  "Ah-jiao, why didn't you even wear a new set of clothes before going out?"

  It's rare for her to go out, and even a few maids are wearing new clothes. Ling Jingxian is going out in a sky-blue robe... This dress, Ling Jingyan has seen Ling Jingxian wear at least twice before.

  That's not all!

  Ling Jingxu's face was without makeup, her long hair styled in the simplest way, not even wearing a single flower pin, let alone any jewelry.

  Simple and plain, almost to the point of being shabby.

  Ling Jingxiao smiled casually: "Today, I'm going to Hui Chun Tang, not attending some boudoir gathering, nor visiting someone's house as a guest, so it doesn't matter if I dress simply."

  "This is too simple!" Ling Jingyan pouted: "Even the maidservants around me are more particular about their dress than you. Going out like this, if we meet acquaintances, I'll be too embarrassed to introduce you as my cousin."

  Jiang asked cautiously: "Ah Jiao, are you worried that dressing up will attract unwanted attention?"

  Ling Jingxiao smiled but didn't speak, which was tantamount to acquiescence.

  Once bitten by a snake, for ten years one fears the hemp rope! If not for showing her face in front of the bandits last time, how would they have targeted her?

  Wearing such simple and unadorned clothes, and covering her face with a veil, she shouldn't attract anyone's attention anymore!

  Ling Jingyan was still trying to persuade Ling Jingxiao to go back inside and change into new clothes before going out again: "...It's still early, you can change into new clothes and head out again in time. You don't have to worry about running into any more bandits, Luoyang City is under the emperor's jurisdiction. It's very peaceful..."

  Ling Jingxian's expression suddenly became serious, and she looked at Ling Jingyan with a straight face: "Yan sister, actually I did all this for you. How come you don't understand my good intentions?"

  Ling Jingyan was stunned: "For me?"

  Ling Jingxu didn't wear new clothes or dress up carefully, so how did she get involved with him again?

  "Yes, it's all for you." Ling Jingxu continued with a straight face: "If I put on new clothes and dress up carefully, then everyone will be staring at me, won't that mean no one will look at you?"

  Ling Jingyan: "......"

  Jiang burst out laughing.

  Ling Xiao couldn't help but curl up the corners of his lips.

  "Fine, you actually dare to turn around and despise me for not being as good-looking as you! Don't hide, I'm going to kill you right now!"

  ......

  After laughing and making a fuss for a while, Ling Jingxu still didn't change into new clothes and got on the horse carriage just like that.

  Ling Jingxu sat by the window, carefully observing the streets outside through the dense bamboo curtains.

  Jiang sat diagonally across from Ling Jingxuan, and from her angle, she could see the side of Ling's face.

  Smooth and delicate skin, like the finest sheep fat jade, soft and bright. Thick and thin eyebrows, long eyelashes, slightly raised nose bridge, cherry red lips. The curved and beautiful small chin...

  Every place is beautiful.

  The lotus flowers come out of the clear water, and they are naturally without artificial decoration.

  Is such beauty something that can be compared to the meticulous carving of ordinary makeup?

  Chiang sighed silently in his heart.

  All the girls would like to have their own beauty, but if they are beautiful to this extent, it's not necessarily a good thing. If they attract the attention of people with ulterior motives, I don't know if the Ling family can protect this peerless beauty.

  It's no wonder that Ling Jingxian didn't want to dress up carefully and just went out in such simple attire.

  Ling Jingyu seemed to have noticed that Jiang Shi had been staring at her all along, and smiled as she looked at Jiang Shi: "Elder sister-in-law, why are you always looking at me?"

  Chiang smiled half-true and half-false: "I'm thinking, I don't know who will be lucky enough in the future to marry a beauty like you. They'll definitely treasure you like a precious gem and take good care of you."

  A complex and melancholic glint flashed in Ling Jingxu's eyes, and she pulled the corner of her mouth: "Emotions gained through beauty are ultimately short-lived. No matter how beautiful a face is, there will come a day when it ages and fades. When that time comes, won't life be even more desolate?"

  The tone is light but indifferent, as if it's not about oneself, but rather someone unrelated.

  Jiang was taken aback, and subconsciously opened his mouth to refute: "You think this way, it's a bit too extreme. There are men who are greedy for beauty and love to indulge in lust, but there are also good men who value relationships and loyalty, and won't abandon them easily. You can't generalize and condemn all men as the same."

  Ling Jingxian smiled slightly: "Elder sister-in-law is right. Elder brother is a good man who values relationships and righteousness, and it's indeed a great fortune that elder sister-in-law married him and they live in harmony."

  At the mention of Ling Xi, Jiang's cheeks flushed red and a happy glow flashed in her eyes.

  Apart from her anxiety about being unable to conceive, her life was almost without regret.

  Ling Jingyan, who was usually talkative, became unusually silent after getting on the horse carriage, her eyes drifting aimlessly as if lost in thought.

  "After hearing Ling Jingxian's words, Ling Jingyan suddenly opened her mouth and said: 'Ah Xian, if you have someone you like in your heart, but the other party is of noble status and cannot marry you as his legitimate wife, would you be willing to marry him as a concubine?'"

  Ling Jing's heart skipped a beat.

  Ling Jingyan's words were clearly inspired by her emotions. The "person she likes" in her words must be Yan Wang.

  Yan Wang was the eldest son of Empress Xu and also the most beloved youngest son of the Emperor. Among all the princes, he had the strongest momentum, even surpassing that of the Crown Prince who was recuperating in the Eastern Palace.

  The King of Yan is fifteen years old this year and has not yet married.

  However, as a mere fourth-rank official's daughter, she clearly didn't have the qualifications to be an imperial prince's consort.

  The imperial princess's side consort can also be included in the imperial family tree and is considered a proper imperial daughter-in-law. She also has the qualifications to raise her children personally. Her status is only below that of the imperial princess consort. However, in essence, she is just a concubine with a slightly higher status.

  Ling Jingyan's infatuation with the King of Yan had not ended well in her past life. If she could get rid of this notion early on in this life, it would be a good thing for her...

  "No."

  "I don't want a compromising relationship! I especially don't want to share my husband with other women! A man who truly loves me will not bear to wrong me!"

  "I'm looking at you, Ling Jingyan. If I really like someone, no matter their status or background, I will treat them the same from start to finish. They must also treat me the same way, in this life and the next, marry only me, and be wholeheartedly devoted to me. Otherwise, I'd rather not have it!"

  ......(。)，。