Ling Xiao nodded and suddenly said: "Ah Shu, do you want to keep our trip to the capital a secret, is it because you don't want Hong Tai to know?"

  The most important thing is to deceive Lu Qian and it will be fine.

  Ling Jingxuan responded perfunctorily with a murmur of assent.

  Ling Xiao thought Ling Jingyu was in a bad mood because of this, so he smiled and comforted her: "Since you have no intention of marrying Hong Shixiong, it's also reasonable to keep your distance from him. Otherwise, it would be unclear and lead to rumors. There's no need to rush the marriage proposal either, let's talk about it in a year or two."

  Carrying the grudge of her past life, she has now contracted a strange illness that prevents her from getting close to men. It seems that in this lifetime, she won't be able to get married again...

  Ling Jingxiao smiled self-deprecatingly, but in her heart, she didn't feel much loss or regret.

  Having a brand new life and a chance to start anew is already a blessing from heaven, so this little "flaw" doesn't even deserve mentioning.

  After arriving in Beijing, it's best if there's a chance to cure this strange illness. If it can't be cured, it doesn't matter.

  But this matter must be kept from Ling Xiang, lest he worry about himself.

  "In a few more days, Master and the others will set off back to the capital. We should also start packing our luggage. Tell Jingyu and the others to quietly pack their luggage without alarming anyone else."

  "I don't know how long I'll be staying in the capital this time, so I've packed clothes for all four seasons. Also, bring along the books you usually read."

  Ling Xiao obediently replied.

  ......

  In the following days, Bai Yu and other maidservants began quietly packing up their clothes and luggage.

  Ling Jingyu strictly ordered all the maids not to spread the news, and in order to keep the secret, even the number of times the maids entered and exited the Qiu Shui Pavilion was strictly controlled.

  Ling Xiao lived in the Yonghe Hall, where there were many people and much noise. Fortunately, Old Lady Ling had given strict orders, so due to his blindness and limited interactions with others, no one noticed that all four seasons' worth of clothes in Ling Xiao's room had been packed up, and the books he usually read every day had also been put away.

  Ling Wu's father went to find Ling Dajie privately, while Old Lady Ling secretly summoned her eldest daughter-in-law, Sun Shi, into the house to talk. What they specifically said, Ling Jingxian didn't know. However, when Sun Shi looked at her, there was a few more hints of sympathy in her gaze.

  That is the condescension of those who think they are superior towards the weak.

  As long as the goal of leaving Dingzhou for Luoyang can be achieved, self-respect and other things don't need to be considered for now. Moreover, in the future when they arrive at the capital and live in their uncle's mansion, it won't be a bad thing if their aunt Sun treats them with more sympathy.

  As for Lu Qian, he thought she was still "considering" and feared that if he urged her too much, it would provoke her to feel disgusted, so he didn't come to bother her these past few days.

  Ling Jingyu was also busy, and in the past few days, she had been secretly packing her luggage and would occasionally go to Yonghe Hall to tease Old Lady Ling.

  Mrs. Ling, who was usually meticulous and frugal, made an exception this time and generously prepared 5,000 taels of silver notes for Ling Jingyu: "...... Sister Yu, you and Ah Xiao will be leaving with your uncle tomorrow to go to the capital. You should bring more silver with you. These silver notes are from the Longsheng Bank and can be exchanged at any time in Luoyang. Each note is worth 500 taels, and there are ten of them. Take all of them and keep them safe. When you arrive in the capital and look for famous doctors, don't hesitate to spend as much silver as needed to cure your and Ah Xiao's illnesses. If these silver notes are not enough, borrow from your aunt or send someone back with a message, and I will arrange for more silver to be sent to you."

  Five thousand taels of silver is indeed a considerable amount. When the Ling family's daughter got married, her dowry was only around five thousand taels as well.

  However, in the previous life, Ling Dage was imprisoned, and to save people, the Ling family sold half of their wealth, spending tens of thousands of taels of gold and silver. These five thousand taels of silver are not a lot for the Ling family either.

  Ling Jing accepted the silver ticket with no guilt or burden, and her face naturally showed a grateful and tearful expression: "Thank you, Grandmother. These five thousand taels of silver are probably all from your own private savings, and now they're all given to me and Ah Xiao... I really don't know what to say..."

  The entire family property of the Ling family was in the hands of Old Mrs. Ling, let alone 5,000 taels, even if it were ten times that amount in silver notes, Old Mrs. Ling could produce them. This was something that Ling Jingxuan couldn't possibly be unaware of, yet she spoke with great pathos.

  Mrs. Ling felt relieved and comforted in her heart, and the lingering pain she had was gone. After thinking for a moment, she said: "You're going to the capital, and later you'll inevitably have to go out with Yan sister together as guests. Don't be too frugal either, new clothes that should be made will still be made. I also have two sets of crimson gold headdresses suitable for you at my place, wait a bit and let Mo Kui tidy them up and send them over to the Autumn Water Pavilion."

  That's the extra benefit of being nice and selling cute.

  When they were short of money, both sets of golden headdresses were sold for a considerable amount of silver.

  Ling Jingyu's eyes welled up with tears, leaning against Old Lady Ling's side, she choked and said: "I lost my mother at a young age, after my father remarried, he rarely paid attention to me. Fortunately, my grandmother pitied me. Being able to be your granddaughter must be the good fortune I've accumulated over several lifetimes."

  It's so corny that it makes me want to vomit.

  Mrs. Ling listened and was very pleased, and generously took out her purse: "You little girl, you've moved your grandmother to tears. I also have a box of the best South Sea pearls at home, and I'll give them to you too."

  This box of South Sea pearls is obviously worth more than those two sets of ruby headpieces.

  Ling Jingyu buried her face in Grandma Ling's bosom and sobbed: "Grandma, you're really too good to me. In the future, I'll definitely be doubly filial to you..."

  "All right, I'll let someone prepare some gold and silver for you." Old Lady Ling sighed with a tinge of pain.

  Don't cry anymore, if you keep crying, I won't be able to afford any more silver.

  She was able to get so much silver from Old Lady Ling, and Ling Jingxian was already satisfied. She then wiped away her tears and thanked her sincerely.

  Then went to Ling Wu's study.

  Old lady Ling has shed blood, after all, let her biological father also "show" a bit of "fatherly love"!

  ......

  "Father, I and Ah Xiao will be leaving Dingzhou tomorrow. We are going to Luoyang to find a famous doctor, I don't know when we can come back. I feel ashamed that I won't be able to take care of you in person. I came to say goodbye before I leave."

  Ling Jingxu's eyes welled up with tears as she spoke, and she knelt down, kowtowing three times with great respect.

  Ling Wu's father was not heartless, and he sighed with some self-reproach: "Ah Xiao fell ill, I as his father should have taken him to the capital. Now instead you, a young lady from a respectable family, have to travel thousands of miles, if anyone should be ashamed, it should be me, his father."

  Of course, Ling Wu's humility is just a matter of words. He would never give up his current life of leisure and travel long distances, that's absolutely impossible.

  Ling Jingxian was all too familiar with Ling Wuya's cold and unfeeling nature, and couldn't help but secretly sneer in her heart. However, she replied, "When parents are alive, one should not travel far. The old and young of the Ling family rely on Father and Fourth Uncle to stay at home and keep the household running; how can we easily leave? As twins born of the same mother, it is only right that I accompany Ah Xiao to the capital. Father need not worry."

  Limping Fourth Master Ling worked hard at the Tian Zhuang Pu Zhi shop, and the Lings couldn't do without him either.

  As for Ling Wu Ye, he was too lazy to manage these trivial matters. He spent his days reciting poetry, drinking wine and socializing, making great contributions to the prosperity of the brothels, taverns and pleasure boats in Dingzhou City.

  Ling Wu Ye's face still hadn't reached the point of being shameless, and after Ling Jing Xiu said that, his face felt a bit hot. He coughed and said: "In any case, this time you accompanied Ah Xiao to Luoyang, it can't be helped that you'll have to go through hardships and waste your time and energy. If Ah Xiao really has a day where she sees the light again, your contributions won't be in vain."

  "I only wish that Ah Xiao can recover from his eye illness, read and write like other young men, make good friends, go on outings and have fun, get married, have children and live a peaceful life."

  Ling Jingxu's voice was soft but firm.

  Ling Wu's expression changed, and just as he was about to say something, Ling Jingyu continued: "This trip to the capital is to seek medical treatment for Ah Xiao. Even if there's only a glimmer of hope for recovery, we can't give up. This means that we'll likely be staying in the capital for quite some time, and the expenses will definitely be enormous. Earlier at Yonghe Hall, Grandmother gave me some silver for my personal safety. If it's not enough to cover our expenses, I'll sell some of my jewelry - we'll get by somehow. Father doesn't need to worry."

  Ling Wu Ye: "......"