Chapter 1352: 1352: Sorry

Chapter 1352: Chapter 1352: Sorry

While Ling Ruonan was discussing matters with Luo Ziling and Wuyue, far away in the southern city of Yangcheng, father and son Ling Zhengping and Ling Haining were discussing a very similar topic.

“Dad, recently, Yanjing has become a total mess, and it looks like others share our sentiment in hoping things get messier,” Ling Haining said with a sly smile while sipping his tea, “No one would have thought that everyone would get involved. That bastard Luo seems to be quite the annoyance.”

“So what if he’s annoying? He still has so many people liking him,” Ling Zhengping snorted coldly and then said, “The Fang Family openly expressed support for that Luo, and Yang Yuanshan has met with the Luo kid several times. The matter is not that simple.”

“Too bad, Luo has a strong life; he didn’t die even after being shot. It would have been really fun if Yang Qingyin had shot him dead.” Ling Haining said with a look of regret: “In the future, an opportunity like that won’t come easy.”

“His survival may not necessarily be a bad thing,” said Ling Zhengping indifferently, “Perhaps, he’s the catfish that stirs up the pond.”

“You’re right,” Ling Haining nodded, then continued, “But with that bastard alive, he’ll cause trouble sooner or later.”

Ling Zhengping did not pick up on Ling Haining’s words, instead, he reminded him, “You’ve been performing well lately. During your return to Yanjing for the New Year’s celebration, make sure to leave the elders with a good impression. That way, it won’t be long before you can return to Yanjing.”

“I’ll remember that!” Ling Haining nodded, “After returning to Yanjing, I won’t meddle in anything and just be an idler, spending more time with Grandpa and Great-Grandfather.”

“Right, don’t do anything during your return to Yanjing for the New Year. Even if something does happen, just be an onlooker,” Ling Zhengping said, his mouth curling into a sinister smile, “Who knows, when they go back to Yuezhou for New Year’s, they might follow our lead and stir up some trouble too.”

“Dad, even if they don’t do it, we can make everyone think they are up to something.”

“Remember, don’t meddle in anything,” Ling Zhengping warned sternly, “No matter what happens in Yanjing, just play your role as a wastrel at home. Otherwise, if you get into trouble, don’t blame me for coming down hard on you.”

“Yes, Dad, I’ll definitely listen to you,” Ling Haining quickly agreed.

“Alright, go pack your bags. Get up early tomorrow to head to the airport.” Ling Zhengping seemed a bit tired, “You must be spirited tomorrow; don’t let the elders look down on you.”

The Ling Family’s New Year’s Eve reunion banquet is an extremely important family dinner.

The main members of the Ling Family will all dine with Ling Jinhua at the old residence.

In other words, those who are invited to dine with Ling Jinhua at the old residence are key figures of the Ling Family.

Ling Zhengping will definitely attend, and he’ll bring Ling Haining with him.

During the reunion dinner, Ling Jinhua will make some arrangements and reward or punish the offspring of the Ling Family.

If you receive compliments from the old master on New Year’s Eve, it signals that you’ll be favored in the coming year.

At least, this is the case while Ling Jinhua is still alive.

Although Ling Jinhua is already in his nineties, he’s still The Pillar of the Ling Family, and Ling Mingrui is still no match for him.

If Ling Jinhua wants to cultivate a junior, that person will be one of the future hopes of the Ling Family.

Last year, both Ling Zhengping and Ling Haining were punished by Ling Jinhua and sent to the south to work.

They hope that several months of ‘enduring hardships’ can win the recognition of Ling Jinhua and Ling Mingrui.

Ling Haining dared not say anything and obediently went back to his quarters to prepare his luggage and strategize for answering the old master’s questions.

Meanwhile, in Yuezhou, after Ling Ruonan finished speaking with Wuyue and Luo Ziling, she let them get back to their business.

She went to take a bath.

As Ling Ruonan entered the room to bathe, Luo Ziling and Wuyue snuck off to Wuyue’s room to discuss their plans.

“Young Master, can you tell me what you all are planning to do?” Wuyue asked with a hint of hesitation.

After her last investigative effort had ended without clarity, only for Lin Lan to snatch the credit, Wuyue felt dejected.

She feared that her “incompetence” would be admonished or belittled by Ling Ruonan, which caused her some distress.

This time, when Luo Ziling dispatched Yang Xiaodong and Wang Zhenjun back to Yanjing to cause trouble, and Ling Ruonan didn’t involve her, it made her even more downhearted.

She was an orphan and had followed Ling Ruonan closely after leaving the military.

Ling Ruonan treated her very well, and she had developed a deep attachment to her.

It could be said that Ling Ruonan was like a mother figure in her life.

After Luo Ziling arrived in Yanjing, she even felt jealous of him, thinking that his arrival had taken Ling Ruonan’s affection away from her.

Now, she felt that Ling Ruonan was somewhat colder towards her, worrying that one day she might become marginalized.

This was not something she could accept.

Just now, while the three of them were discussing matters, she didn’t dare say much, fearing she might irritate Ling Ruonan. Therefore, she could only turn to Luo Ziling with her questions. She believed that Luo Ziling wouldn’t be annoyed with her; this she could tell from the way he treated her.

“I don’t have many demands. Let them improvise. I think that’s their strong suit,” Luo Ziling smiled, “Their greatest expertise lies in these kinds of sneaky ops. Moreover, here in Yuezhou, we are providing cover for them, so I just hope they can stir up a bigger commotion.”

“Just the two of them, isn’t that too few people?” Wuyue whispered, “How about I go back to Yanjing too, to help them out?”

“There’s no need,” Luo Ziling shook his head, “You’ve been busy all year round alongside my mother, and now that the holiday season is here, you deserve a few days off. It looks like it’ll snow during the New Year’s holidays. The scenery will be beautiful then. Let’s go out and enjoy it. I bet you haven’t had much time to travel and relax throughout the year.”

“Alright,” seeing the sincere look on Luo Ziling’s face, Wuyue finally accepted his suggestion, “Then I won’t inquire further about this matter.”

“Wuyue, are you really an orphan?”

Wuyue quietly looked Luo Ziling in the eyes and eventually nodded gently, “My parents were also soldiers, naval officers. They both sacrificed their lives during a mission.”

“I’m sorry,” Luo Ziling felt a bit embarrassed, “I’ve never heard my mother mention your past, so I was unaware of all this.”

“It’s been many years now,” Wuyue said with a touch of sadness, “I am considered a martyr’s descendant. In the end, I also joined the military, but after I got injured, I was discharged… and then, I followed your mother, which has been almost four years now.”

“Oh? What injury did you sustain?”

Wuyue shook her head, unwilling to elaborate further.

Not giving up, Luo Ziling asked again, “Then, are there any lingering aftereffects?”

“Besides the pain in the injured area on cold and damp days, there are no other discomforts,” she replied.

“That still counts as an aftereffect,” Luo Ziling said with conviction, “I will find a way to heal you.”

“You don’t have to, it’s nothing!” Wuyue blushed slightly.

Her injury was in a rather private area, otherwise, she would have sought treatment from Luo Ziling long ago.

“Don’t doubt my medical skills. If I could pull the old patriarch of the Ling Family back from Ghost Gate Pass, how much more so for such a young lady like you?”

After a moment of hesitation, Wuyue modestly declined, “Let’s talk about it after the New Year!”