Ling Mohan was naturally somewhat cold, but he had never felt such dislike for anyone, especially since this person was his aunt. This made Feng Jin all the more suspicious.
She greatly wished to know the ins and outs of it, if there were hidden reasons she was unaware of.
"She is not easy to deal with. You should stay away from her."
Ling Mohan offered no further explanation, merely advising Feng Jin to keep her distance from Ling Changyi. The rest, he would arrange himself.
Seeing that he did not wish to elaborate, Feng Jin wisely closed her mouth and refrained from asking more.
With the topic concluded, silence fell between them. They tacitly avoided further questioning. After a while, Ling Mohan found an excuse and departed.
Ling Changyi looked at the dilapidated courtyard and a wave of sadness washed over her. Ever since she had married, no one in the Ling family remembered this courtyard. In such an out-of-the-way place, even the servants would be reluctant to linger. Who would bother to clean it? It was merely a case of people abandoning one when they are no longer of use.
"Madam, this place is too run-down, and the inside is overgrown with weeds. It would be best to have it cleaned first before you enter."
Hui Chun, following behind Ling Changyi, couldn't help but show a hint of disdain upon seeing the courtyard. She had no desire to step inside.
"You scoundrel! I lived in this courtyard for quite some years and never found it objectionable. When did it become your place to find fault?"
"Madam, please forgive this servant. I spoke out of turn…"
Ling Changyi did not dwell on her words, pushing open the door and stepping inside. The furnishings were as they had always been, not a single item moved. Only a thick layer of dust covered everything, indicating that no one had entered this courtyard for a very long time.
The offerings placed on the altar were of an indeterminate age, long since rotted and dried. The spirit tablets placed upon them were buried by dust, their inscriptions obscured.
Carefully, she picked up a spirit tablet, brushing away the dust with her sleeve to reveal the inscription.
"Mother, I have returned. Your daughter has returned."
A pang of sorrow struck Ling Changyi. Tears streamed down her well-maintained face.
She placed the spirit tablet back on the altar and knelt on the prayer mat, bowing three times.
"Madam, these incense sticks are all damp and unusable."
After searching the room for a while, Hui Chun found some incense sticks, but all of them were moldy and damp, none were usable.
"Bring them here for me to see."
Hui Chun brought the found incense sticks to Ling Changyi. "Madam, look, they are all damp and moldy. They cannot be lit at all."
Ling Changyi recognized them at a glance. These were the incense sticks she had made before her marriage and placed in this room. The quantity was exactly as she remembered.
This meant that from the time of her marriage until now, no one had entered this courtyard to light a stick of clear incense for her mother.
Thinking of this, Ling Changyi was filled with resentment. The Ling family had never truly regarded her or her mother with any importance. Otherwise, how could it be that in the twenty years since her marriage, no one had tended to this courtyard? How could her mother's spirit tablet have no incense lit before it?
During her twenty years of marriage, she had mentioned returning home for visits, but her father had always refused with various excuses. For a full twenty years, she had not set foot in the capital. In those two decades, her father had never written her a single letter.
It was as if she had never been his daughter at all. Ling Changyi felt a profound sadness, which was then replaced by a surge of indignation.
"Madam, let's leave. It's too dusty here; we cannot stay."
Hui Chun, having only been in the room for a short while, felt uncomfortable from the dust and coughed lightly, urging Ling Changyi to depart.
"Let's go. Indeed, this place is not fit to stay. Go find someone to clean out this courtyard."
Her father had not allowed her mother's spirit tablet to be placed in the ancestral hall, and allowing it to remain in the courtyard for her to worship at any time was already a great concession from her father. No matter how angry she was, she dared not voice any objections and could only swallow her resentment.
But today, since she had returned, as a daughter, she could not bear to see her mother's spirit tablet left in this state. Even if her father were to reprimand her, she would have this courtyard cleaned.
"Yes, Madam. This servant will go find someone now."
"Old Master, the eldest daughter has gone to pay respects and has also ordered the servants to clean out the courtyard."
The steward reported everything he knew to Old Master Ling.
Old Master Ling leaned back leisurely in his reclining chair, playing with a jade ruyi in his hand. He absorbed everything the steward reported but did not open his eyes, which remained half-closed.
"Alright… continue to have them watched. Every move must be reported. Also, send a few more maids to attend to her."
"This old servant understands."
After acknowledging the order, the steward bowed and retreated, taking a few trusted maids with him to serve Ling Changyi.
"This old servant pays respects to the eldest daughter."
"Uncle Wu, you are advanced in years and watched me grow up. I truly cannot accept your禮. Please rise quickly."
Ling Changyi hastily stood up and helped him to his feet, displaying the bearing of a noble lady.
"This old servant thanks the eldest daughter for her consideration. These maids are all capable individuals. The Old Master was worried that the eldest daughter lacked sufficient attendants, so he asked this old servant to select some good ones to serve you."
Ling Changyi's gaze swept over the four maids standing behind, instantly understanding the situation.
After twenty years, her father still did not trust her. Even for a few days of visiting her maiden home, he could not rest assured without having maids monitor her.
"That is naturally good. I was just worried about not having enough staff. This scattered money is for Uncle Wu's drinks. I must trouble Uncle Wu to put in a good word for me with Father."
Over the years, Ling Changyi had cultivated a smooth demeanor. Despite knowing everything, she feigned complete ignorance.
The steward weighed the money bag in his hand, estimating the amount of silver within. With a beaming smile, he accepted it. "This old servant can only accept your kind offer. Thank you, eldest daughter, for your generosity."
After outwardly scolding the maids a few times, the steward left with the money.
"You may wait in the outer courtyard for now. I will call for you if I need anything."
Ling Changyi waved her hand, finding a casual excuse, intending to push these four eyes and ears far away.
"This servant, Ju Qing, greets the eldest daughter. We four are here to personally attend to the eldest daughter as per the Old Master's command. However, if the eldest daughter dismisses us four to the outer courtyard, and the Old Master blames us, we will not be able to account for ourselves. We implore the eldest daughter to keep us four by her side."
"Can you not understand my words? My mistress has said she does not require your attendance by her side. Hurry and leave. Are you going to disobey your master and oppress her?"