Recalling her earlier words, she felt too ashamed to even think about them. How could she have said such things? It was truly mortifying.
Having finished speaking, Feng Jin lost interest in lingering and walked directly into the mansion. Ling Muzhu, having seen enough of the spectacle, followed Feng Jin inside.
Ling Wan hesitated, delaying her return to the mansion. She clutched her skirt tightly, wavering before heading towards Sheng Xubai's direction. Then, Ling Muzhu's voice called out from behind, "Second Sister, what are you still dawdling here for? Those Sheng family people are all so arrogant, we're not fit to breathe the same air as them. We should hurry back."
Ling Muzhu had once held a favorable impression of the Sheng family, but after learning about this matter, he genuinely disliked them from the bottom of his heart. He directly pulled Ling Wan's hand and steered her back into the mansion, then promptly ordered a servant to quickly close the main gate.
"All of you, keep your eyes sharp from now on. No one from the Sheng family is allowed to step foot in this mansion again, or I'll break your legs!"
"Yes, Second Young Master!" The servants quickly responded. They all knew how unruly Ling Muzhu used to be and were a little intimidated by him. They hastily agreed.
Ling Wan still appeared preoccupied, and was thus pulled back by Ling Muzhu.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, you shouldn't have spared Sheng Xubai. You should have let him fend for himself. Look at how arrogant the Sheng family is. If they truly had backbone, they wouldn't be here begging for favors..."
Ling Muzhu, unable to vent his boundless anger, could only resort to verbal lashing, which made him feel a bit better.
After a round of scolding, he felt his throat dry. He gulped down several mouthfuls of hot water, which soothed his throat.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, why aren't you saying anything?"
"What do you want me to say? You've said it all. I see how passionately you're speaking; if I were to say more, wouldn't that be stealing your thunder? It wouldn't be appropriate!"
She felt as if he wanted to say everything himself. What else could she say? Any further words would be redundant. Besides, being a listener felt quite good. It was wonderful that the speaker was already present.
Ling Muzhu sat opposite Feng Jin, looking somewhat dejected. "Eldest Sister-in-law, even a simple response from you would be good. You're making me feel quite awkward. And Second Sister, why are you also..."
It was then that Ling Muzhu realized Ling Wan was no longer there. He looked around, a little confused, and asked, "Eldest Sister-in-law, where is Second Sister? Wasn't she just here? Where did she go?"
Feng Jin put down her teacup, a knowing look on her face, and said softly, "Naturally, she has matters to attend to. You're a man, why are you so insistent on probing into everything?"
After being chided by Feng Jin, Ling Muzhu sheepishly shut his mouth. If he wasn't supposed to ask, then he wouldn't. What was the big deal?
...
"Open the gate." Ling Wan ran over, panting, and said to the servant guarding the gate.
"This..." The servants exchanged glances, unable to make up their minds, and no one dared to step forward. They all stood frozen in place.
"What are you all still gawking at? Haven't you understood my words? Open the gate!"
Having spent more time with Feng Jin, Ling Wan had picked up about two or three parts of Feng Jin's imposing manner. Indeed, with her display of anger, the servant quickly opened the mansion gate.
Ling Wan dashed out of the gate with great speed. However, the area outside the gate was empty; the Sheng family members were long gone.
She looked around, scanning the surroundings, but still couldn't find any familiar figures. Ling Wan's brow furrowed slightly. She stopped someone and asked, "Madam, did you see a family that was here just now?"
"Little girl, they left a long time ago. Do you know them?"
Ling Wan shook her head instinctively and denied, "No..."
"It's good that you don't know them. That family is not easy to deal with. If a gentle young girl like you were to go there, wouldn't you be like a lamb entering a tiger's den? It's better not to know them."
The old woman muttered this, shaking her head continuously, and slowly ambled away.
Ling Wan was left standing alone, the light in her eyes gradually dimming. With a slight sigh, she slowly began to walk away.
"Second Miss Ling... Second Miss Ling..."
Ling Wan walked slowly forward, seemingly not hearing someone calling her from behind. It was only when a man suddenly appeared before her that she abruptly snapped back to reality.
"Who are you?" Ling Wan looked at the man who had suddenly appeared in front of her. She was surprised for a moment, then regaining her composure, she quickly asked, her voice full of astonishment.
"Second Miss, I am someone who serves Young Master Sheng. My master asked me to wait here and give this to you when I saw you."
"I cannot accept it. Please return..."
Before Ling Wan could finish her refusal, the man shoved a blue box into her hand and quickly departed.
"You... you stop!"
Ling Wan shouted after him, but to no avail. The person had already disappeared without a trace.
Looking at the blue brocade box in her hand, Ling Wan felt as if it weighed ten thousand pounds. For a moment, she didn't know what to do with it. Now that the people were gone, she didn't know how to return it even if she wanted to.
"Why are you standing outside the mansion!"
A familiar and frightening voice reached her ears. Ling Wan instinctively shivered and hastily hid the box in her sleeve. She turned around flusteredly and, her voice trembling slightly, called out, "Eldest Brother."
Ling Mohan nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "What are you doing standing here alone? Why aren't you returning to the mansion?"
"I... I was just looking... looking to see if the Sheng family had left..." Because she was extremely afraid, Ling Wan's back teeth were chattering slightly as she spoke. She was terrified in her heart but tried her best to appear calm.
"You're a young lady. From now on, you should have less to do with the Sheng family. It's not good for your reputation."
This was the first time her eldest brother had spoken to her in such a manner. Ling Wan was shocked and almost forgot to reply, her dazed eyes fixed on Ling Mohan.
Ling Mohan also noticed Ling Wan's strangeness and turned to look. He saw Ling Wan staring at him foolishly, and his thoughts were instantly drawn back to more than ten years ago, when Ling Wan was only three or four years old.
She was short and small, and especially fond of sticking close to their mother, always peeking at him from behind their mother. When discovered, she would nervously hide behind their mother like a frightened little rabbit.