Lu An and his son have boarded the boat, the carriage is empty with no one on it.

  Ling Jingyu and Lu Qian got on the horse carriage one after another and closed the door.

  The noise on the dock was loud and became an excellent cover. As long as the two of them lowered their voices, they wouldn't have to worry about being overheard.

  "Time is limited, say what you have to say!" Ling Jingxu restrained her smile and said calmly.

  No outsiders around, no need to pretend anymore.

  It's strange to say, but looking at her cold demeanor, Lu Qian actually calmed down and didn't beat around the bush, saying directly: "You want to leave the capital, why do you have to hide it from me? Are you intentionally trying to avoid me?"

  "If you knew, would you be willing to watch me leave Dingzhou?"

  Lu Qian: “......”

  Of course not. If he had known about this matter earlier, he would have definitely tried every means to obstruct it.

  Lu Qian pursed his lips tightly, and his expression had already said it all.

  "So, what can I do if I don't hide it from you?"

  "The capital city has many famous doctors, and perhaps Ah Xiao's eye disease can be cured. Father doesn't care about Ah Xiao at all, and Li Shi is even more eager for Ah Xiao to be a useless person for the rest of his life. The only one who can take him to the capital is me. This trip to the capital, I must go. With your temperament, you will inevitably think wildly after knowing, and you will definitely try to stop me. That's why I deliberately kept this news from you."

  "This explanation was reasonable and also slightly improved Lu's depressed mood: 'You're leaving now, who knows when you'll be back. Maybe in a few months, maybe one or two years. What about our engagement?'"

  Ling Jingyu lightly replied: "This matter will be decided by Grandmother."

  Old Lady Ling would never agree to this marriage again!

  Unfortunately, Lu Qian was completely unaware of this. He even thought that Ling Jingxuan was tactfully hinting at agreeing to the marriage, and his face lit up with joy: "Ah-jun, you really agreed? That's great! No matter how long you go, I'll wait for your return."

  Ling Jingyu knew that Lu Qian had misunderstood, and didn't bother explaining further.

  Ling's family loved Lu Qian the most, regarding him as a vital part of their lives. As soon as Ling's family learned from Old Mrs. Ling that she had contracted a strange illness that made her untouchable to men, they would naturally give up on the idea of marrying her off without needing any further persuasion.

  By then, she was already far away in Beijing. Lu Qian could do nothing about it even if he knew the truth.

  Lu Qian continued to mutter: "...... The journey to the capital is long, fortunately you are taking the official boat with your uncle and his family. I suppose those unscrupulous scoundrels wouldn't dare to mess with an official boat either. Once you arrive in the capital, write a letter back immediately to let us know you're safe..."

  Ling Jingxu suddenly interrupted Lu Qian: "About that year's matter, was there really no inside story?"

  Under Lu Qian's sudden attack, his expression changed slightly before quickly recovering to normal. He promptly replied: "Of course not. If I had even half a word of deceit towards you, may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death."

  Ling Jingxu's gaze was fixed tightly on Lu Qian: "If you want to make a vow, then change the vow. If you clearly know the inside story but intentionally conceal it from me, then let us have no fate in this life and never meet again."

  Lu Qian's face suddenly changed.

  It turned out that there was indeed something fishy going on back then! Lu Qian clearly knew everything, but kept his mouth shut and wouldn't say a single word... Could it be that Lu Hong had some unspoken secret, which is why he never returned to Ji Zhou?

  Ling Jing's heart was turbulent, but her face remained calm as she pressed on: "Didn't you say that you wouldn't hide anything from me? Why are you afraid to swear now?"

  Lu Pian's heart was racing with anxiety, but he pretended to be calm and said: "Alright, I'll make the oath of poison just as you said."

  "Heaven is above, I, Lu Ping, make a vow to heaven, what I have said is absolutely true without any falsehood. If there is even half a sentence of deceit, let heaven punish me to spend the rest of my life in solitude, never to be with the woman I love, and never to see her again."

  After making the poisonous oath, Lu Qian's palms were all cold sweat, but his face was raised with a bright and beautiful smile: "Ah Jiao, you should believe me now, shouldn't you?"

  Yes! She thoroughly believed he had been keeping secrets from her all along!

  Ling Jingyu slightly curled up the corner of her lips and responded with a hint of meaning: "Of course, I believe you. The heavens are above, and the sun and moon can serve as witnesses. If you deceive me, heaven will punish you."

  Lu Qian's back also started to sweat, and his smile was involuntarily distorted: "How could I cheat you."

  Ling Jingxu didn't want to see Lu Qian's insincere face again, and said lightly: "It's getting late, I should get on the boat too." After finishing speaking, she stood up.

  It doesn't matter what Lu Qian is hiding anymore.

  Even if Lu Hong had more grievances, he still owed her in the end.

  Between her and Lu Hong, there was the unbearable pain of their past life, and the detestable face of the Lu family. In this life, they had no chance of being together again.

  ......

  Lu Pan's heart was reluctant to part with her, but he couldn't find any reason to stay, so he could only follow Ling Jingyu down from the carriage and send her off all the way onto the boat, still unable to bear leaving.

  Ling Jingyan also vaguely knew some of Lu Qian's thoughts, and couldn't help but laugh and tease: "Qian younger brother, if you really can't bear to leave, why not come with us to the capital instead."

  Lu Qian's heart was racing, but he hadn't gone crazy to the point of losing his rationality yet. He calmed himself and said: "Yan jie joked. I've already sent Ju jie onto the boat, it's time for me to leave too."

  Saying he should leave, his eyes lingered reluctantly on Ling Jingxu's body.

  Even Sun saw through it and coughed, saying: "Let's set sail soon!"

  Lu Qian's face was thick-skinned, but he couldn't bear to stay any longer and finally got up and left. Before leaving, he looked at Ling Jingxu with a lingering gaze: "Sister Xiu, when you arrive in Beijing, don't forget to write a letter back to report your safety."

  Ling Jingxuan murmured in agreement.

  After Lu Qian's figure disappeared from her sight, Ling Jingxu suddenly felt refreshed and her mood improved greatly.

  Ling Jingyan couldn't help but smile softly and say, "There's a young man who has been infatuated with you for so long, are you still not satisfied in your heart?"

  Although Ling Jingyan had made an effort to lower her voice, the cabin was small and Sun's family still heard it. Thinking of Lu Qian's reluctant departure, everyone showed a sympathetic smile.

  The union of the two families is a joyful occasion. Lu Qian, although two years younger than Ling Jingxuan, is also considered a good match.

  Ling Jingxian was teased by Ling Jingyan, but she didn't get angry or embarrassed, only slightly smiled and said: "Sister Yan, don't joke around. I treat Brother Qian the same way as Ah Xiao."

  It seems like the fallen flower has intention but the flowing water is heartless!

  Ling Jingyan shrugged and finally stopped teasing.

  The boat slowly set sail, leaving Dingzhou Wharf. Ling Jingyu looked through the wooden window frame of the cabin at the gradually distant and blurred Dingzhou City, quietly exhaling the suffocating air in her chest.

  Ling's home was a luxurious and exquisite cage, she was just a swallow in the cage that had been carefully fed. Wearing fine clothes and eating delicious food without worrying about livelihood, but also being locked in the cage, unable to move.

  After much deliberation, I finally left the Ling family and distanced myself from the Lu family.

  From now on, the sea is vast and the sky is wide, birds fly and fish jump.

  This is the path she has chosen for herself. Even if there are many dangers in the future, even if the future is uncertain and dark, even if one day she will fall to the ground and shatter into pieces, she will have no regrets.

  ......