Madam Chen followed Granny Wang's gaze and glanced at Xiao Ling coldly. Her eyes were cold and displeased, but her voice was still gentle."Go warm yourself up. It's too cold.”
Granny Wang glanced at Jin Niang and Su Yan, who quickly helped Xiao Ling take off his cloak. When they were done, Granny Wang walked up and brought her to the fire."Young Lady, come over and warm yourself up before paying your respects to Furen.”
She said it with a smile and a respectful attitude, but she did not allow Xiao Ling to do anything, so she pulled him to the side of the stove.
When Xiao Ling looked up, he saw Miss Chen nodding in satisfaction. She looked over with a smile, but she was not looking at Xiao Ling. She was looking at Granny Wang.
It was because these words struck a chord in Miss Chen's heart. She had never treated Xiao Ling as her own child, but she still had to put on an act for outsiders. She was afraid that the cold air would come over and offend her, so she asked her to warm her body.
In the past, she had never been willing to do such fake things. Everything was done according to her own personality. She only had the reputation of being impetuous and not thinking about her stepmother, which caused her a lot of trouble later on. However, she would not do it now. At the very least, she had to know how to protect her reputation. Only after experiencing it once did she understand how important a girl's reputation was.
With this thought in mind, she obediently stood beside the stove. When her fingers were close to the stove, she felt a numbness. It was because she had been walking outside for too long that her fingers had begun to stiffen.
Miss Chen found it strange when she saw how well-behaved she was. She was well aware of Xiao Ling's temper, so she frowned and asked softly,""Last night, it was already late. After I fell asleep, I heard your servant say that she wanted to call a doctor for you. Even Xiao Xiao had been staying at your place.”
It was impossible for Miss Chen not to know what the Fourth and Fifth Ladies had done. However, she had asked this question to provoke Xiao Ling. If she saw Xiao Ling making a fuss, she could make things worse.
Sooner or later, she would remove this thorn in her side!
These words were soft, but they were exceptionally sharp. If she had let go of her when she was young, she might not have been able to suppress it.
However, how could Xiao Ling fall for it? She only looked at Fourth Young Lady and Fifth Young Lady obediently, then pursed her lips and smiled gently,""The two girls are insensible. They just caught a cold and made a fuss.”
Miss Chen saw that she was not angry and could not suppress it. She frowned again as if she was talking to herself, but her voice was not soft."I was already asleep yesterday, so I didn't get up for long. I only heard it this morning. I heard that Xiao Xiao was still staying at your place very late. The Xiao family only has this one male. If your father finds out, I'm afraid his heart will ache.”
As she spoke, she sighed again." Xiao Xiao has never been close to me. She doesn't tell me anything. Even if she's been wronged, I don't know.”
Everyone knew that Xiao Ling had always doted on her brother the most. Miss Chen only wanted to provoke her. After all, what happened yesterday was all because of Xiao Xiao.
It was still fine without makeup. She could not think of so many twists and turns. However, Jin Niang's heart suddenly tightened. Being forced by Madam's words, she was afraid that if it was someone else, they would have been angry long ago. It was not easy for the young lady to decide to endure it. She was afraid that she would also be angry.
Miss Four and Miss Five were also looking at Xiao Ling coldly.
At that moment, Xiao Ling was standing by the fire. The gold-plated bronze stove was burning brightly, and the flames were emitting a dazzling light. Xiao Ling's milky white fingers were slowly stretching out, and his quiet little face was as calm as if she could not hear anything. The flames of the fire cast a layer of golden light on her, making her look exceptionally mesmerizing.
In ancient times, women were more particular about having beautiful eyebrows, but Xiao Ling's eyes were so alluring that they could not take their eyes off him. The delicate women around him seemed to have lost their color.
When Xiao Feng saw this, she smiled mockingly, but she couldn't suppress the jealousy in her heart."Hmph, you really don't know the rules. Didn't you hear what Mother said?”
His voice was not loud, but everyone could hear him.
Xiao Ling followed the voice and looked at her strangely.""Fourth Younger Sister, yesterday you begged me not to tell Mother, why is it today?”
When Xiao Feng heard this, her face immediately turned red. She grabbed the handkerchief in her hand impatiently and said,"Don't talk nonsense! When did I beg you yesterday? I left earlier than Fifth Younger Sister!"
Xiao Xun, who had been enjoying the dogfight, did not expect to be dragged out so quickly. She looked a little embarrassed.""What nonsense are you talking about? How would I know what you're talking about?”
Xiao Feng was a little shocked when she heard this. She turned to look at Xiao Xun, her voice trembling."Fifth Younger Sister, what did you say?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Xiao Xun's cold face. Her words were stuck in her throat, as if she had just woken up. Xiao Ling was supposed to say all these things and let her bear the responsibility alone. Now, it was all on them.
Xiao Feng lowered her head, not daring to look at Miss Chen's face.
Xiao Ling's hands warmed up and moved slightly. He felt warm all over his body. However, he felt a little regretful. He thought that he had underestimated Xiao Xun. After all, she was taught by his wife. She had come to her senses so quickly. However, it was the same. Although the effect was not as good, it was not that bad.
"It's just a joke between sisters. Why does mother care so much?”Xiao Ling got up and walked over. He then bowed to Miss Chen.""Xiao Ling pays his respects to mother.”
His movements were smooth, and his eyes curved. His smile was exceptionally beautiful.
Xiao Xun's face turned red and she glared at her fiercely. She had just scolded her for not knowing the rules and not answering her mother's question, but now, she had returned the favor in a serious manner.
Miss Chen was frustrated by Xiao Ling's words. She wanted to find an excuse to flare up, but Xiao Xun's words were flawless. She was frustrated and was about to flare up when she saw the pomegranate hairpin on Xiao Xun's head.
She felt a chill in her heart, but she soon came to her senses. She knew how much Xiao Xun's mother loved her. If she had not passed away, she would not have been able to become the mistress of the family. She still had to worry about Old Master Xiao.
"Mother just wants to know more clearly. She's afraid that you've suffered some grievances. Alright, get up quickly.”Miss Chen smiled gently." The ground is cold. Your body is still weak."”
Miss Chen walked down as she spoke. Granny Wang immediately supported her and looked at the crowd with a smile. Miss Chen's gaze finally landed on Xiao Ling."Today, we had an appointment to go to Assistant Minister Liu's residence together. Seeing that your expression is not much different from usual, we'll go together. Otherwise, when your father comes back, he'll say that I'm biased.”
"When has Mother ever been biased? His mother cared about the sisters in the courtyard the most.”Xiao Ling knew what Miss Chen was trying to say. She was just trying to seduce him, but he could not go along with her. He simply smiled innocently."Father won't blame Mother."
She had a smile on her face, but she was sneering coldly in her heart. Even if she said that she didn't want to go, Miss Chen would probably bring her along. In her previous life, she wasn't seriously ill, but she couldn't go out either. Yet, she insisted on dragging her along and made her look bad all the way.
Miss Chen bringing her along was just a ploy, and she couldn't not go.
Her words were neither soft nor hard. They were clearly not very sharp, but they sounded unpleasant. Miss Chen calmed her mind and was a little surprised.
Xiao Ling was not usually like this. Could it be that he had really been tormented by Xiao Feng and Xiao Xun once and had been enlightened?
With that thought in mind, Miss Chen glanced coldly at Xiao Ling, but he still looked obedient.
"Madam, Third Young Lady's attire…" Granny Wang stood at the side, thinking that it was time."I'm afraid it's a little inappropriate to go out to meet guests.”
Miss Chen did not like her to begin with. Her food and clothing could not compare to the other sisters. Although the clothes she wore were not thin, she could not be a guest.
She was wearing a slightly tattered light pink, symmetrical short jacket with creamy white lace and green grass. There were long tassels hanging down from her knees. She looked like a pretty girl from a small family, but she looked like a small family when she wore it.
Miss Chen glanced at him coldly and stopped in her tracks. She had almost forgotten that if she really let Xiao Ling go out like this, her reputation of being harsh on Sugarcane Girl would spread after Pahas 'banquet. Besides, the plan she had been planning for a long time would be in vain.
Thinking of this, her eyes turned thoughtfully.
Granny Wang followed behind him and said carefully,""Furen, wasn't the sewing room rushing to make new clothes a few days ago?”
Miss Chen smiled. She had specially rushed to make a new set of clothes for Xiao Ling.
With this thought in mind, he casually called over a servant girl from the outer room and gave her instructions.
Xiao Ling had been secretly watching the whole time. When he saw this, he laughed to himself. He thought that he really could not hold it in any longer, so he took a step forward. After a few steps, a little girl was indeed guarding outside. She came up to him and bowed."Third Young Lady, Furen invites you to go with this servant.”
Xiao Ling chuckled to himself, but his face was confused and cautious.""What did Mother say? Why do you want me to go over?"
"I don't know." The servant shook her head.”
Before long, Xiao Ling was brought to an empty house. There were no decorations around except for a carved bed and a particularly large bronze mirror. It was polished to the point that it was slippery, and one could see the figure clearly.
"Third Young Lady, please wait a moment." The servant girl bowed and left.
Not long after, a sound came from the door. Granny Wang came in with a group of maids.
The servant girl held all kinds of clothes in her hands.
After taking two steps forward, Xiao Ling looked at the clothes and frowned in confusion.""Granny, did Mother call Xiao Ling over for something important?”
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]