Chapter 8: Unique Insight (Part 2)

  Although she had made up her mind to meet with Yuandai, Xiao Chengyan was not the type of person who acted impulsively without thinking. She didn't mention this matter to anyone else except for Xiao Chengye. However, because of this, Xiao Chengye often heard her whispering in his ear during this period. After all, as a daughter, no matter how much her parents spoiled and indulged her, she still couldn't go out alone. But for Xiao Chengye, going out was simple, yet going to the Ling family's Miaofeng Mountain villa was not convenient at all.

  No matter what, the Miaofeng Mountain Villa is now inhabited by a concubine daughter of the Ling family, how can he come here for no reason.

  Xiao Chengye was entangled by his sister and couldn't get away, so he had to put in some effort on Ling Yuqing. Fortunately, Ling Yuqing was around the same age as him, and their families were somewhat related, so they had a good relationship. After Xiao Chengye subtly hinted at something, they quickly made plans to meet up. Originally, none of them had planned to invite Bai Lixi, but unexpectedly, on the day they were supposed to meet up, Bai Lixi just happened to show up.

  So they came to Miaofeng Mountain, and it became the same group of people, with all four of them present.

  Because of Xiao Xian's request, Ling Yuqing had not informed Yan Dai about his arrival beforehand. When he arrived at the gate of the other courtyard, Liu, the housekeeper of the other courtyard, received the news and hurried out to greet him. Upon inquiring, they found that Yan Dai was in the flower garden, so the four of them went there directly.

  Farewell Yuan Dai, but Xiao Cheng's feelings in his heart are even more different than before.

  In the garden, by the artificial hill, she stood alone by the water's edge, her figure elegant. Though she just stood quietly, her demeanor and bearing were refined and difficult to describe, making one feel inexplicably ashamed of oneself at first sight. This feeling was something Xiao Xing had only experienced before in front of her own aunt, Empress Dowager Xiang of Dazhou.

  She always thought that at the beginning of human beings, even if there were differences, they would be limited. The so-called "high-quality" temperament is only cultivated later in life. This is what is meant by "the air moves and the body changes".

  Zhen Yu Dai remained silent, and Xiao Cheng Yan chuckled again: "Sister's adoptive father must have put a lot of effort into sister, right?" This seemed to be the only explanation, although even so, it still didn't seem quite right.

  Suddenly hearing this, a subtle and indescribable expression flashed in Yuandai's eyes. After a long time, she let out a soft sigh: "My foster father was extremely good to me!" As for the old scholar who had adopted her, Xiao Xian called him foster father, while Yuandai respectfully referred to him as adoptive father. The difference of one word fully revealed the reverence in her heart towards that late old scholar.

  Xiao Chengxian also felt this point, and after a slight smile, she asked: "Sister actually doesn't care about the Ling family, does she?"

  Yan Dai avoided answering, and after a moment, she said faintly: "After all, Master is my biological father! Moreover, when I was at a loss, the Ling family took me in, how could I not care?"

  Xiao Cheng smiled and didn't ask any more questions. In fact, asking that question earlier was already overstepping for her. If she hadn't really wanted to know, she wouldn't have asked such a thing so rashly. However, Yu Dai's response was just as she had thought, evasive and indirect: "Are you planning on spending the rest of your life here, little sister?"

  After a faint smile, Yuandai countered: "If I really had such an intention, do you think it's possible, sister?"

  Xiao Chengxian did not expect her to ask such a question and was momentarily at a loss for an answer.

  Seeing her like this, Yuandai couldn't help but smile again and said: "Sister is curious about me, but doesn't know that I also have many doubts about sister, it's just that I don't know if sister will answer me truthfully?"

  Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "Since you don't know, why not ask?"

  After a slight nod, Yuandai inserted the knife directly and said: "I see that my sister is not a good person to manage trivial matters, why are you so concerned about me?"

  Although she asked directly, Xiao Chengyan also answered straightforwardly: "Because I think you're worth it!"

  As soon as she said this, Yuandai couldn't ask any more questions. Turning her head away, she gazed at the water lilies in the pool in front of her, their petals slowly closing: "Sister's words are really straightforward and refreshing!"

  Xiao Chengyan smiled and said: "I think sister seems to be a straightforward person too!"

  Yan Dai heard this and also smiled, turning around to face Xiao Cheng, giving a slight curtsy: "In the future if I return, I'm afraid I'll still need to trouble Sister to take care of me. This curtsy is considered thanks to Sister!"

  After a moment, Xiao Chengyan suddenly understood that Yuande's words were because she had already considered herself as a friend. As the eldest daughter of a noble family and with her aunt being the Empress, there were many young ladies in the capital who wanted to befriend her, but those who could truly gain her favor were actually very few.

  Yuandai's words today seemed humble and polite, but if someone else had said them, she would have been skeptical, even if she didn't show it on her face. However, when Yuandai said these words, she felt inexplicably pleased: "Sister, you're being too serious! As sisters, how can we talk about courtesy? To be honest, I'd rather have you return to the capital sooner!" If Yuandai were to stay in Miaofeng Mountain for a long time, coming and going ten or eight times a year would be too much. But if she returned to the Ling manor, it would be much more convenient.

  Yuandai naturally understood Xiao Cheng's implicit meaning, and the two exchanged a smile, suddenly feeling warm in their hearts.

  After the beginning of autumn, the days get shorter and shorter. When Xiao Chengyu and others came, it was already not early, and after drinking tea and eating some snacks, they went out for a walk and talked for a while, and saw that the western sky was already red with sunset, and the autumn wind was getting cooler.

  Shivering involuntarily as the autumn wind blew, Xiao Cheng suddenly seemed to remember something and reached out to pull Yuandai: "Autumn days are originally cool, and your body is not good, it's better if you come less often to this fake mountain!"

  Yan Dai smiled and shook her head, saying: "Sister is worrying too much! In fact, my body is not as bad as sister thought!"

  Although she spoke seriously, there was no hint of joking in her words, but Xiao Cheng looked at her face and couldn't believe it. In fact, if this were to be said out loud, perhaps only a few people would believe it. Even without being well-versed in medicine, anyone who wasn't too muddled could tell at a glance that the woman in front of them was already gravely ill, judging from her slender figure and pale complexion.

  To be honest, Yuanye's facial features are undoubtedly exquisite when examined separately. Her slender and delicate eyebrows, her clear and bright eyes like autumn water, her lips that curve slightly upwards like cherry blossoms... all of these combine to form a face that is flawless and without any imperfections. Yet, despite being so exquisitely beautiful, it somehow gives people the impression of being ordinary and unremarkable.

  Perhaps it was because of her slightly yellowish complexion, or perhaps it was because the distance between her eyebrows was a bit too wide, or maybe there were other reasons. In any case, this face of hers gave people a feeling of plainness at first glance. Even if this kind of plainness was an unobjectionable one, plainness was still just plainness after all.

  Without much hesitation, Xiao Chengyan said: "When sister returns to the capital, I will definitely ask a famous doctor for sister and must cure sister's illness!"

  Her eyes sparkled unexpectedly, and Yu Dai smiled with pursed lips: "With sister's kind intentions, I've already recovered from all my illnesses!"

  Xiao Chengxian smiled, just as she was about to speak, the lotus picker hastily came over: "Miss, Miss Xiao, Sixth Master is asking you both to return!" The two of them, disturbed by her words, simultaneously looked up at the sky, and then couldn't help but exchange a smile.

  As it was already late, the two of them didn't linger any longer and hastily returned to Yuandai's small courtyard. Ling Yuqing and others were already waiting at the gate, Yuandai hurriedly called Wenping to bring out the recipe for making tea to give to Xiao Zhengyan. This recipe, she had copied it out early on after Xiao Zhengyan and others left last time, thinking that there would be a day like this. Xiao Zhengyan didn't decline, after receiving the recipe, he hastily bid farewell.

  Miao Feng Mountain is not far from the capital, but it takes some time to get back. If only Ling Yuanqing and the other two had come out together, they could have afforded to be a bit late, but since there was also Xiao Chengyan in this group of people, they couldn't afford to delay any longer.

  After passing by, Xiao Chengye led his sister to hurry forward. Baili Yi, who had been silent most of the time, still didn't speak and walked beside them at a steady pace. On the other hand, Ling Yuqing quickened her pace for a few steps before suddenly remembering something. She turned around and hastily walked to Yuan Dai's side, saying in a low voice: "After I returned last time, I had someone check your mother-daughter's monthly expenses and felt that it was really too little. Now that you two are both ill, taking medicine will likely cost a lot of money. This time when I came, I specifically brought some money with me, which I just handed over to Wenping earlier. Use this money first, don't be polite with me, and focus on recovering your health!"

  Ling Yuancheng hastily finished speaking and quickly caught up with Xiao Chengye and the others, without even looking at Yuan Dai's expression. Yuan Dai stared blankly at Ling Yuancheng's receding back, her heart filled with a mix of emotions for a moment. It wasn't until after a long while that she shook her head with a wry smile.

  It turns out that the Ling family is not as bad as I thought it was before.