An ugly girl starts off, then becomes a beauty

This welcoming banquet was just like the grand banquets in the past. Delicacies were placed on everyone's table. The waiter poured warm pepper wine from the wine cup. Except for Nie Chengyong, the elders and juniors present drank more or less. It was rare for the old man to want to stay longer at a family banquet - in fact, he was a drunkard. Later, he was persuaded by Madam Zhaoyu and Nie Shudi, so he didn't drink anymore. He just had a slightly drunk red face, frowned, and smiled, "It would be good if Bo Jue and Zhong Xu were here. The eldest son has gone west, and the second son is not around. Our family is falling apart."

It was the first time that the old man behaved like this in front of the younger generation. Everyone in the rooms below the wooden steps was sweating profusely. Nie Ce stood up slightly from his seat and wanted to speak, but was stopped by a look from Madam Zhaoyu. He turned to Grandpa Nie and said, "Didn't my second brother send a letter home some time ago, saying that when things are settled next year, he will find time to come to Beijing to visit—"

However, no matter how I say these words, they cannot comfort the old man. He only has two biological sons left, and the only one who has done something is no longer around. He says that he comes back to visit when he has time, but he can never compare to having him always by his side, especially as he is old, and who knows when he will die.

Even Madam Zhaoyu's answer was not satisfactory, let alone others. The only one who could take over the conversation was Third Uncle Nie Shudi.

"Dad, find some time and your son will go fishing with you."

"The river is frozen, what fish can we fish for?" The old man held up the wine bottle and wanted to take another sip, but after measuring it, he didn't swallow it. He was still aware of his own body.

Sang Ling stared at the lacquer plate in front of her, her face calm. Suddenly, she noticed a gaze moving towards her, and realized it was Grandfather Nie who was looking at her. The old man opened his mouth to say something, but was immediately suppressed by Nie Ce, "Grandfather, this time we were circling in the forest of Jiaozhou. It was very dangerous. We were almost ambushed by pirates in Gaoyao Gorge."

Sang Ling raised his eyebrows. He had never heard Nie Ce talk about this before, so he started to listen with some curiosity.

"There are many hills in that place. Unless we are locals, we can't tell the way. It rained for a few days, and there was miasma in the forest. Wu Zishi and I were trapped for four hours. The team was suddenly attacked and we found out that we were ambushed by pirates--" He stopped talking halfway. Several people in the room, including the servants waiting on the side, listened attentively. Nie Taigong's worried look just now faded away, and he frowned and said, "Then what?"

Nie Ce even had time to glance at Sang Ling, holding the wine glass and smiling, "Fortunately, the military physician who followed brought mugwort and pine and cypress to drive away the miasma, and our troops were able to escape from there in time. Sang was also there at the time..." He held Sang Ling's hand under the table, and his tone was not aware of being slow. "She was the accompanying female doctor and stayed with my grandson. Fortunately, she took good care of him afterwards. My grandson had a lot of rashes on his body at the time, and he applied medicine every day to remove the poison. It would have taken half a month to heal, but it was all healed in those few days, saving a lot of trouble."

As he was speaking, Sang Ling lowered his head and felt his palms sweating. He clenched his hands tightly and rubbed the sweat onto the man's hands.

Although she knew that he told this lie in order to prevent Master Nie from taking his anger out on her, she still couldn't help but shudder.

After the story ended, no one spoke in the room. Master Nie stammered for a while, then squinted his eyes and smiled incomprehensibly. It was unknown whether he had figured out something or not, but he did not say anything else.

"It's the second watch, Dad, go back and have some rest." Madam Zhaoyu chose the right time to finish the family dinner, and the family dinner ended with the departure of Grandpa Nie.

The couple from Wuyuan returned to their room. One of them went to the bathroom behind the barrier, while the other knelt in front of the couch to light incense. Sang Ling casually stirred the charcoal in the stove and said to the other end, "You still have to go to Liang's room."

This is nothing but love, it is a compromise she has to make to this era. As soon as she gets home, her mother-in-law nags about her openly and covertly, and at the family dinner, her grandfather is obviously dissatisfied with her - if she wants to live an easy life in this family in the future, she has to take this step back.

"Did mother tell you?" Nie Ce tied his belt and came out from behind the barrier, his eyebrows raised. Sang Ling glanced at her with the corner of his eye, and then his eyes returned to the fire. "She was taken in after all, and she is not an ordinary woman. It is unreasonable for you to ignore her for a long time."

"Who cares what others say?" The guy sat down and naturally took the fire hook from his hand, pretending to stir a few pieces of charcoal, which caused sparks all over the room. Sang Ling gave him a blank look, and the servant waiting in the corner could only dare to put out the fire silently.

"People's words are scary." The young lady sighed softly, "If others say anything, I won't care. I can just close my ears and forget about it. But after all, we live in the same family. If I make the old man unhappy for no reason, I will only suffer for myself. Nie Ce, I have figured it out now. As long as I live a comfortable life, that's enough." After a pause, she changed the topic, "No, as long as Le Yile and I live a comfortable life, that's enough. I don't care about other things that I can't control, and I don't think about being uncomfortable. As long as I am happy, that's the truth."

After all, she doesn't have the ability to control people or things other than herself, so she should just take care of herself so that she won't get hurt too much.

Then Nie Ce sneered and snorted. He was squatting beside the stove with a very casual posture. Even his tone revealed a bit of the laziness of a young man from the capital. "I think what you said that day might not be true."

"What?" She only watched Wei Chu and Zong Xiang finally put out the fire. Unfortunately, the thin blanket was burned with a few inconspicuous holes. She moved her eyes over and saw Cheng Lao, who was kneeling beside her, winking at her, as if hinting at something. However, she couldn't understand it for a while. She only heard Nie Ce mutter "Nothing." Then he stood up and pointed at Zong Xiang, "Come and change my clothes."

Although it was natural for women in the room to serve their masters, when the two maids Zong Xiang and Wei Chu were sent over by Madam Zhao Yu, Sang Ling had even guessed whether they were the family servants kept in the room. But later, seeing that Nie Ce never used them to do anything, he gave up these thoughts.

But then I realized: this guy is unhappy again.

Not only was he unhappy, he also tried to use this to make her unhappy as well.

Zong Xiang was suddenly at a loss, and looked at Sang Ling first. What else could Sang Ling do? He just raised his head and asked her to do it. Unexpectedly, the little girl looked at Cheng Ai timidly again, and the expression on her face certainly meant that she would not give in.

Nie Ce was getting impatient and shouted, "I can't order you around?"

"At your command." Sang Ling did not make things difficult for the subordinate. He supported himself on his knees and walked over. He skillfully unhooked the lapel on his waist. When he tried to unhook it upwards, his hand was grabbed.

"Why not let her come?" Nie Jialang took a step back and said coldly. She looked up and said, "If you want, I'll call her up." Then she looked at Zong Xiang and said, "Don't be afraid, come up and serve me."