Ling Wan returned to her room and sat on a chair, lost in thought for a long time. It wasn't until Concubine Bai called her several times that Ling Wan finally reacted and responded.
"Mother, what is it?"
"What is it with you today, child? You've been sitting here in a daze since you got back. I called you several times and you didn't answer."
Concubine Bai found it increasingly strange. Her child had never returned home looking so distraught.
"I'm fine, Mother. What did you call me for just now?"
"The young madam sent a tailor over to take your measurements for some new clothes. Cai Qing also brought some jewelry just now. I've had them placed in your room."
"I'll go get measured." Fearing further questioning, Ling Wan hurried out.
After the tailor finished taking her measurements, Ling Wan confirmed the styles before they left.
"Why did the young madam specifically send a tailor to make clothes for you today? And those hairpins and dangling ornaments, each one is more precious than the last."
Just looking at the hair ornaments, Concubine Bai's eyes were dazzled. She quickly pulled Ling Wan's hand and asked, "Tell me, why did the young madam send you those jewelry?"
"It's nothing. Didn't our elder sister-in-law also send us a lot of things before? This is the same as before. Mother, I'm tired. I'm going back to rest."
"Don't try to fool your mother. Do you really think your mother is stupid? How can this be the same as before? Just look at how precious those jewelry are! I've never seen anything like them. You better tell me the truth quickly."
Concubine Bai keenly sensed that something was unusual. She held Ling Wan, determined to get to the bottom of it.
Unable to refuse, Ling Wan had no choice but to reveal everything: "It's... it's that elder sister-in-law wants to arrange a marriage for me. Coincidentally, the day after tomorrow is the polo match hosted by the Marquis of Wenchang's residence. Elder sister-in-law wants to take me to see it, which is why she sent these things."
"These are all good things! If the young madam is taking you to the polo match, you must perform well. If you can find a good family, and with the young madam making the decision for you, you will surely become the principal wife and live honorably. It's much better than being a concubine like me."
Concubine Bai's greatest wish in this life was for Ling Wan to marry into a good family and become a proper principal wife, escaping the fate of being a concubine.
"Mother, I'm just a庶女 (shù nǚ - daughter of a concubine). What reputable family would marry a lowly庶女 like me as their principal wife?"
Ling Wan knew her status and always kept her position in mind, reminding herself to survive in the vampiric inner quarters of the household.
"It's all my fault. It's my uselessness that has dragged you down. It's a pity to have me as a mother. If you were born to the principal wife, who would dare look down on you? But alas, you were born to me, a concubine."
If Ling Wan had been born to the principal wife, with her talent, how many people in the entire capital could have surpassed her? It was just unfortunate that she had her as a mother, which had burdened her for a lifetime.
"A parent's nurturing grace is greater than heaven. Mother gave birth to me and raised me to adulthood. How can I blame Mother for this? This is my fate. I never dared to wish for anything, nor did I dare to imagine marrying into a noble and powerful family. Even if it were a farming family that truly treated me well, I would be willing to marry him."
From childhood, she had witnessed firsthand how her mother suffered differential treatment and cold stares from others because she was a concubine. Ling Wan secretly vowed in her heart that even if she married into a poor family and ate coarse food in this life, she would never marry into a family of nobles and generals as a concubine.
"The young madam dotes on you so much. I'll go beg the young madam. She will surely help you."
In the vast Ling mansion, only Feng Jin could help the mother and daughter. Even if it meant losing face, she had to seek a good marriage for her daughter.
"Mother, elder sister-in-law has already helped us a lot. Please don't trouble her again for such small matters. I have my own plans for this. Please don't worry anymore."
Ling Wan pressed Concubine Bai, who was about to get up, back into her chair. Elder sister-in-law was already exhausted from taking care of the two children, and she couldn't trouble her further for her own trivial matters.
"But..."
"I have my own plans for this matter. Mother, please let me decide for myself and don't bother the young madam anymore."
As soon as Ling Wan finished speaking, a maid rushed in: "It's bad... it's bad... something has happened..."
Ling Wan's eyes tightened, and her body stiffened. She ran forward and placed her hands on the maid's shoulders: "What happened? Speak slowly."
"It's... it's the two young masters. I heard from the people serving the young masters that it was because the young masters wore the clothes sent by the second young lady that..."
"That what... Quickly tell me what happened, what exactly happened?"
Ling Wan's current worry was not whether this matter was related to her, but her heart was focused on the children's situation.
"This servant didn't get clear information, only that the young masters had an accident."
"You..." Ling Wan glared at the maid with disappointment, then hurried out. She had to see the children unharmed with her own eyes to feel at ease.
"Wan'er, you..." Concubine Bai's words of obstruction were not finished before Ling Wan had vanished.
Why was this child so impulsive? She rushed over without even finding out what had happened.
"You hurry and follow her. If something happens, come back and report to me immediately."
"Yes, Concubine, this servant will go now."
Ling Wan ran almost the entire way, searching for familiar figures in the courtyard with ragged breaths. Upon seeing Ling Muzhu outside the door, she hurried forward and asked, "What happened? Are the children alright?"
Ling Muzhu's scrutinizing gaze fell upon Ling Wan. The children had indeed worn the clothes sent by Ling Wan when the incident occurred, and it was likely that anyone else would have acted similarly.
"Why are you looking at me like that? I'm asking you, what is happening with the two children now?" Ling Wan asked anxiously.
With a creak, the door opened from the inside. Cai Qing saw off a white-haired doctor.
Ling Wan seized the opportunity and hurried into the room.
"Elder sister-in-law, how are the children?" Cai Qing asked hastily.
"They are fine now. They will be alright after taking some medicine."
"Elder sister-in-law, I really didn't tamper with the clothes. You must believe me, I never intended to harm the children."
Ling Wan hastily explained. She had never harbored any intention to harm the children, but the incident had started because of the clothes she sent.
All the evidence pointed to her, and no matter how she explained, no one would believe her.
"I believe you wouldn't harm the children, but the person behind this wanted to use a knife to kill. The clothes you sent were smeared with a medicine that causes skin to fester. Fortunately, I had Cai Qing wash them beforehand, which diluted the medicinal effect. Fortunately, they are unharmed, only experiencing some allergic symptoms."