As soon as Old Lady Ling finished speaking, Ling Jingxuan's heart sank.

  This is her real purpose for coming to find Old Lady Ling today.

  Lu Qian had already begged Ling's family to propose, and Ling must have blown wind in Old Lady Ling's ear. To thoroughly resolve the trouble of Lu Qian, starting from Old Lady Ling is the most suitable approach.

  "Thank you, Grandma." Ling Jingxian's eyes were moist with gratitude, her face filled with emotion, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulders. She then stood up and leaned against Ling Lao Tai Tai's side.

  This weak and helpless appearance, which is completely dependent on trust, can most win the favor of Old Lady Ling.

  Mrs. Ling held Ling Jingxu's hand and pondered for a moment.

  An unmarried girl contracted this strange illness, it's really not suitable to spread the news. Once it gets out, not only will Ling Jingxu's reputation be damaged, but also the face of the entire Ling family will be affected.

  Ling Jingyu didn't dare to tell Ling Wuya about this matter, and was worried that it would spread to Li's ears. Li was a sweet-faced but bitter-hearted person, who seemed to be doing a good job on the surface, but what was really going on inside, how could she possibly deceive her eyes?

  If Li knew about this matter, she might intentionally make a big fuss about it.

  So this matter must be kept confidential.

  But how should Ling and Lu be explained?

  "Granddaughter is unfilial, making it difficult for Grandmother." Ling Jingxu's voice sounded in Ling Old Lady's ear.

  Mrs. Ling came to herself, sighed and said: "Jie'er, grandma won't hide it from you either. Your aunt has already told me about Ah Qian's admiration for you and wants to propose a marriage between you two. I was worried that Ah Qian is two years younger than you and didn't want to agree to this marriage. But Ah Qian is stubborn and declared in front of your aunt that he won't marry anyone else but you. Your aunt also told me, let's first settle the engagement, and wait until Ah Qian turns 16 before getting married."

  "Although the Lu family can't be compared to those noble families in Beijing, it's still a prestigious family. A-Qian is the eldest son and is quite favored by your uncle. You'll be marrying into the Lu family, and as the legitimate aunt, your mother-in-law won't treat you harshly. It's actually a good match. So, I've already agreed to it with your aunt."

  It's just as I thought!

  Ling Jing's heart was secretly laughing, but her face showed tension and panic: "But I only have a sisterly affection for my cousin, and nothing more. Moreover, I'm now suffering from this strange illness. If it can't be cured, I'm afraid I won't be able to get married in this lifetime..."

  As she spoke, she covered her face with her sleeve and burst into sobs.

  Mrs. Ling was both heartbroken and helpless: "Don't worry for now. This strange illness, I've never heard of it before. However, there are many famous doctors in the capital, maybe they can cure it."

  If this illness cannot be cured, in the future, talking about marriage will indeed be a huge worry.

  Even touching fingers makes me feel nauseous and want to vomit, how can I get married and have children?

  Forget it, these are things for later. The most urgent thing is to solve the current trouble first.

  Fortunately, on that day, I only verbally agreed with Ling Shi and did not publicize the matter. The people in the Ling mansion still do not know about it. Find an opportunity to privately tell Ling Shi the reason behind this and cancel the verbal engagement.

  Mrs. Ling thought for a moment and said: "As for your aunt's side, I will make it clear to her myself. You don't need to worry."

  Ling Jingyu's crying gradually stopped, and with red eyes, she said: "Grandmother, Ling Buqi is still young, and it's the time when his temper is the most stubborn. If he finds out that this marriage won't happen, I'm afraid he'll make a big fuss. When the time comes, everyone will know about it, and both the Lu and Ling families will lose face. It will also hurt the relationship between our two families."

  "Why not try to placate him with kind words and drag this matter out. Wait until I go to the capital with Ah Xiao, he won't be able to see me, and his obsession will slowly fade away. After a while, Auntie will take him back to Jizhou and then tell him the truth. By that time, even if he wants to make trouble, there's nothing he can do."

  Mrs. Ling thought for a moment and also felt that this was a good idea. It's tactful, and it won't hurt each other's face or feelings.

  "All right, have it your way." Old Lady Ling smoothed out her eyebrows and said with a smile: "You little girl, after being ill for a while, you've actually become even more clever and quick-witted than before. You're also much more thorough in considering problems now."

  Ling Jingxu wiped away her tears with her sleeve and replied obediently, "As a granddaughter, I watch my grandmother's words and actions every day, and I can always learn one or two things."

  This flattering speech was quite to the liking of Lao Tai Tai. Thinking that Ling Shuang was in her youth and yet suffering from such an incurable disease, she felt even more pity for her: "When you go out, you have to ask for medical treatment, so it's better to bring some silver with you as a precaution. In the next few days, you can secretly pack your luggage, and before you leave, come to see me, Grandma will prepare everything properly."

  Ling Jingxu was deeply moved and tearfully thanked her: "Grandmother, you have been too good to me. I really don't know what to say."

  "Foolish girl, isn't it too impolite to say such things to your grandmother?" Old Lady Ling said with a smile: "In Grandmother's heart, she only wishes for you and Ah Xiao to be well. This time going to the capital, if Ah Xiao's eyes can be cured, and your strange illness can also be healed, then Grandmother will have no more regrets."

  "As for marriage...” Old Lady Ling paused, then continued: “You're still young, no need to rush into talking about it. Wait until you've recovered from your illness and returned to Dingzhou, I'll find a good match for you then.”

  Old Lady Ling still didn't know that this time she left Dingzhou, she had no intention of coming back.

  Ling Jing replied softly.

  The grandmother chatted on and on, saying a few more idle words before Ling Jingxu finally took her leave.

  ......

  After so much effort to persuade Ling Wu Ye and Old Lady Ling, everything was arranged properly, and the tightly strung bow in Ling Jing Xiu's mind finally relaxed a little.

  Lu Qian's temperament is eccentric and terrifying, directly refusing is useless. This way of dealing with it may not be able to completely resolve the issue, but at least it can temporarily get past this current predicament.

  "These things, Ling Jingxu didn't mention a word in front of Ling Xiao: '... Ah Xiao, I've already asked Father and Grandmother today and they agreed. They have already agreed to let me accompany you to the capital for treatment.'"

  Ling Xiao was overjoyed: "Really? Father and grandmother both agreed?"

  "En, Father will personally tell Big Uncle about it, and we'll follow them to the capital. Grandmother also said that she would prepare more silver for us as protection." Ling Jingxu held Ling Xiang's hand and softly said: "However, before we leave, we must keep this news a secret. Apart from Father, Grandmother, you, and me, no one else knows about it."

  Ling Xiao was taken aback: "Can't mother and big brother be told either?"

  Ling Jingyu's eyes flashed with a hint of coolness, and her voice also dropped: "Can't say, especially can't let mother know. She absolutely won't be happy to see you cure your eyes and recover as usual, must guard against her making trouble."

  Ling Xiao was taken aback again, and a chill ran through his heart: "Ah Jiao, why did you suddenly say that? Although Mother is cold to us two, she wouldn't harm me, would she?"

  Ling Jingxu didn't answer and instead asked: "Ah Xiao, do you really think that the accident of falling and losing your eyesight back then was just an accident?"

  Ling Xiao's whole body trembled, and his beautiful yet dazed eyes were filled with shock: "Ah Jiao... you're saying that back then, Mother secretly ordered someone to harm me? But back then, she was always in the courtyard nursing her pregnancy. The courtyard affairs were managed by Xia Yiniang, and the servants who attended to me were also chosen by Xia Yiniang. Later, I fell and fainted, and when I woke up, my eyes couldn't see anything, and she was more anxious than anyone else... She went everywhere to invite famous doctors to diagnose and treat me..."

  Ling Jingyu quietly interrupted Ling Xiao: "It's precisely because she did her surface work too well that no one suspected her."

  You sound so sure, have you found some evidence?

  The words had reached the tip of his tongue, but Ling Xiao swallowed them back in silence.

  As for the closeness or distance of their relationship, Li's flattery couldn't compare to Ling Jingxuan's. Ling Jingxuan had been thinking of him with all her heart; if he were to keep asking and not let up, wouldn't that hurt Ling Jingxuan's feelings?

  Ling Jingyu seemed to have seen through Ling Xiao's thoughts, and softened her voice: "This is just my guess, I really don't have any evidence to prove that she was the one who sabotaged us back then. However, being more cautious can't be a bad thing. Let's keep it from her for now, and we can let her know when we're about to leave."

  By then, Li Shi didn't have time to take action even if he was still angry in his heart.

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  There is still one more update at 6 pm tonight ~ O (∩ _ ∩) O ~ From now on, there will be two updates every day. The update time remains the same as before, 8 am and 6 pm. See you then!