An ugly girl starts off, then becomes a beauty

The little girl trembled with fear. She took just two steps on her knees when she was stopped by Cheng's cough. The bedroom was terribly quiet. The firelight from the stove was reflected in the young lady's eyes. She could only shout, "Cheng, go back and rest."

"My lord, my madam, I dare not." Zong Xiang immediately kowtowed, "My lord, I am clumsy and have never served you, my lord. I am afraid I won't serve you well--" There was a cry in her voice at the end. Sang Ling felt sorry for her. After all, this girl was loyal and there was no need to involve her.

He had no choice but to wave his hand to dismiss all the servants in the room, and then sighed to Nie Ce, "It's normal for them to be scared when you suddenly act like this. If you really want her, you don't have to do this--"

"I don't understand you." Nie Ce interrupted, "You won't feel bad?"

"What's wrong with you?" This time, she asked the question even though she knew the answer.

"I feel bad for you to associate with Gongsun Zhang and accept his kindness. Sang Ling, I can take a concubine and call maids to serve me. Otherwise..." Nie Ce swallowed, unable to hide the thing he deliberately didn't want to think about, "Others speculated whether I kept a private prostitute in Jiaozhou, but you were indifferent. Not only that, you also promoted these things."

If the Sang family girl liked him as much as he did, why wouldn't she feel bad? Or was it just as she said that day - she was ready for him to betray her, and also ready for each other to abandon each other.

After all, running away from home is no longer a difficult thing for the girls of the Sang family.

The drumbeats came from the distant watchtower, and the sound of the clappers at the third watch startled the copper bells on the eaves. Sang Ling paused for a moment, then came back to his senses. His fingertips had already pinched into his palms, and the sleeves embroidered with dogwood patterns slid down his elbows. His tone was filled with helplessness, "Do you know that you are torturing yourself by doing this?"

She could only sigh, "The focus of life should be on yourself. Only when you focus on yourself, you won't have so many worries."

"Then what does this have to do with happiness?" In Nie Ce's feelings, it was not like that. He just felt bitterness in his throat. He didn't want Sang Ling to be jealous and mad, and quarrel like those people in the market. He just hoped that the two of them could have each other in their hearts. Obviously, Sang was worried about him and traveled through mountains and rivers to Jiaozhou. Why was she so generous in these things?

"Then can you really stay with me forever?" The flame on the copper crane lamp in the corner swayed gently, clearly depicting the beautiful face of the Sang family's daughter. She was calm, as calm as if she had never been moved by emotions.

"Why don't you believe it?"

Yes, why not? Sang Ling lowered her eyes and smiled softly, not knowing how to answer for a moment. She had very little emotional experience, but her heart was full of holes, as if she had suffered a lot - perhaps it was because she had heard too many rumors and had a natural distrust of people in this era.

Even if Nie Ce was different from other noble sons and had certain requirements for the person beside him, she didn't believe he could remain like that for the rest of his life. A marriage that was sustained by love for a lifetime simply didn't exist. After the novelty wore off, the days that followed were nothing more than the responsibility of both parties to each other.

So even if she admitted her feelings, she was also suppressing them at the same time. Instead of waiting until she gets hurt later, it is better to understand these principles early on.

Suddenly, there was a sound of light footsteps outside the bedroom. At this time, Old Lady Cheng must be outside. How dare someone walk around? After a while, Old Lady Cheng whispered something, but the figure in the corridor still did not leave. Sang Ling couldn't help but glance sideways, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." An unfamiliar voice followed behind Cheng's voice, "Madam, please forgive me. I am here to deliver a peace amulet. Aunt Liang was supposed to deliver it during the day, but I was not able to because I was not free—"

It was a good opportunity to arrive at this time. Sang Ling nodded and just asked to "bring it in". Cheng Ai would not let the maid enter the house, so she asked Wei Chu to bring it in.

Two pieces of gold foil with runes written on them sparkled in the flickering candlelight. Sang Ling couldn't help but smile in her heart. Look, the competition for favor has begun. Liang is still anxious. In fact, even if she doesn't take this step, she has been servile in front of Madam Zhaoyu for the past six months, and she will be taken care of by the Madam Zhaoyu. It is only a matter of time before she is favored. Even if she can't compete with her yet, it won't be like before, where she can hardly see her husband - why would she do this tonight, which makes people see through her clumsy little thoughts?

"Look at this." Nie Ce picked up the gold foil and sneered, "You want to push me out, but I'm eager to welcome you. Aren't you angry?"

As soon as the words fell, the charcoal in the stove crackled, just covering up the doubts in Sang Ling's heart. Sometimes she couldn't help but wonder - is Nie Ce really a person of this era? This guy's brain circuit is so different. In Sang Ling's stereotype, when men are fought over by women, don't they just enjoy it silently without saying anything?

Men of all ages and all places are like this. Those who behave better are just pretending.

"It has nothing to do with competing for favor." She slowly let out the breath she had been holding. After this little episode, the tense situation between the two of them no longer existed.

She casually found a felt mat at her feet and knelt down, her tone slightly tired, "The old man arranged for her to come in, and my mother has had a good impression of her over the past six months. If you ignore her for no reason, they won't blame you, and in the end they will only think it's my fault. Rather than causing a lot of unhappiness, it's better to let go."

And it doesn't mean that she won't fight at all and let the concubines oppress her - now that she has Le Yile, she still needs to fight for many benefits. Therefore, taking this step back appropriately is for the sake of longer-term peace.

"Only by working together can we solve these problems." Nie Ce said something unexpected, "I told you a long time ago that I would send her away. It's only been a short while and you're doing this again. I really don't know--"

This was mentioned again and again, and even Nie Ce felt that he was being fussy, but if he didn't mention it, he couldn't get over it. He couldn't see the word "care" from Sang's actions - although she went to Jiaozhou to find him - but it didn't seem to be completely true. When she was at the border of Panyu, she resolutely stayed there just because she heard the news of Zhongcun halfway.

What if he hadn't taken that step back? Would she have followed his lead?

The answer was obviously no. The Sang family girl always listened to him. He had to suspect that she was also calculating their relationship. Maybe she was happy, but she could also see clearly that she might have already made plans to withdraw safely.

Although it is understandable that smart people make long-term plans, who can stand facing a lover who is ready to back out?