With a tremble, the Fifth Princess opened her mouth, but lacked the courage to speak. She poured herself another cup of tea, swallowed it in one gulp as if steeling her resolve, and then said, "Eldest Miss Ling, I have fallen for someone, and I want you to help me bring us together."
"Oh." Ling Luo Yi was not surprised. When the two sisters had taken her to the beast arena last time, she had noticed that both of them had a different look in their eyes when they saw a certain person. She hadn't understood it then, but now she knew it was the look one's eyes held when seeing the person they loved.
Having said the beginning, the rest came more easily.
Shangguan Yu Ning said, "I've loved someone for three years. Eldest Miss Ling, you know him too – he's your fourth brother, Ling Luo Xiao. I've known him for four years, ever since he first entered Nan Xin City. I've hinted at my feelings for him many times, but he's never responded. However, he doesn't like anyone else, so I don't want to give up. At least, I won't give up until the person he likes appears! But after the New Year, I'll be eighteen. Once I turn eighteen, my father will send me away for an arranged marriage, and I'll never see him again. Eldest Miss Ling, please, help me."
Shangguan Yu Ning's voice choked with emotion, and Shangguan Yu Xuan comforted her. Ling Luo Yi, however, remained calm and said lightly, "Fifth Princess, I understand your request, but there's one thing I don't understand: what's so good about liking a block of wood?"
After speaking, Ling Luo Yi guiltily scanned her surroundings with her divine sense. Relieved to find no one, she relaxed.
*Fourth brother, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that about you.*
But Ling Luo Yi wasn't wrong. Apart from being somewhat sharp around his own family, Ling Luo Xiao was very rigid and unemotional towards outsiders, like a block of wood. Ling Luo Yi even suspected that he hadn't noticed Shangguan Yu Ning's hints at all.
Hearing Ling Luo Yi's words, Shangguan Yu Ning and Shangguan Yu Xuan paused, their gazes towards Ling Luo Yi becoming peculiar. They hadn't expected her to speak of her brother like that.
Seeing their expressions, Ling Luo Yi felt a little awkward but maintained her composure.
Shangguan Yu Ning initially found it difficult to hear her beloved spoken of in such a way, but out of respect for Ling Luo Yi being his sister, she suppressed her feelings. However, seeing Ling Luo Yi's nonchalant expression, she felt a touch of dissatisfaction and said, "Eldest Miss Ling, he may be a bit dull, but you can't call him a block of wood."
Ling Luo Yi smiled slightly and replied, "Fifth Princess, the 'he' you speak of is my fourth brother. I can say whatever I want about him. By what right do you accuse me?"
"I..." Shangguan Yu Ning was momentarily speechless. She indeed had no right to accuse her.
Shangguan Yu Xuan said, "Eldest Miss Ling, your fourth young master is indeed a bit dull, but he is a good person. Yu Ning was once protected by him, and they spent a long time together, so affection grew over time. I also asked Yu Ning why she liked Fourth Young Master Ling, and she couldn't quite explain it, but once she realized she liked him, she couldn't help herself. This has caused quite a stir, but Eldest Miss Ling, rest assured, it hasn't affected Fourth Young Master Ling."
Seeing Ling Luo Yi's slight displeasure, Shangguan Yu Xuan added the last sentence.
Upon hearing this, Ling Luo Yi's expression improved slightly, and she said faintly, "I understand."
Ling Luo Yi said nothing more, which left Shangguan Yu Ning feeling anxious, unsure if Ling Luo Yi had agreed to her request. She looked worriedly at Shangguan Yu Xuan.
Shangguan Yu Xuan couldn't quite decipher Ling Luo Yi's intentions either. Seeing Ling Luo Yi's expressionless face, she felt uneasy and dared not speak further.
Ignoring their anxiety, Ling Luo Yi poured herself another cup of water and drank it under their watchful eyes before saying, "Speaking of which, the two princesses didn't come to see me just for the Fifth Princess's matter, did you? Fourth Princess, what is your purpose?"
"Me?" Called upon, Shangguan Yu Xuan was taken aback and gave a wry smile. "It seems I couldn't hide anything from Eldest Miss Ling's eyes."
"Fourth Imperial Sister," Shangguan Yu Ning said worriedly, looking at Shangguan Yu Xuan.
Shangguan Yu Xuan gave her a reassuring look, then said to Ling Luo Yi, "I also like someone. It's different from Yu Ning; it was love at first sight. He saved my life, but that's not why I like him. At first, it was his appearance, but the more I interacted with him, the more I felt he was a good person, worthy of my affection."
At first, Shangguan Yu Xuan was speaking to Ling Luo Yi, but later she began speaking to herself. "I've liked him for four years, staying by his side. I've also asked him if he ever liked me, but he refused. With my eighteenth birthday drawing closer, I still couldn't move him. I had already decided to give up, but that day, I couldn't control myself."
Shangguan Yu Xuan gave a bitter smile at this point, then looked at Ling Luo Yi and said, "Eldest Miss Ling, you don't need to ask me why I like him. He is elegant, dashing, exceptionally talented, knows rules and etiquette, his demeanor is generous and proper, and he excels in all six arts of a gentleman. How could one not like such a person? Eldest Miss Ling, you must know who I'm talking about, right?"
Upon hearing this, Ling Luo Yi smiled faintly and said, "I know."
She had realized it during their outing to the beast arena last time: Shangguan Yu Ning liked Ling Luo Xiao, and Shangguan Yu Xuan liked Ling Luo Yu. However, the more Ling Luo Yi listened, the more she doubted if they were truly talking about her third brother.
After receiving Ling Luo Yi's confirmation, Shangguan Yu Xuan gave a wry smile. "However, we did come to see you for Yu Ning's matter. I no longer have any hope. As long as Yu Ning can achieve her wish, I will have no regrets."
Seeing the two sisters, Ling Luo Yi felt a sense of emotion. She didn't think they were lying; their eyes were clear, without any trace of the panic that comes with lying. It was evident they were speaking the truth. Most importantly, Ling Luo Yi wore a ring, and the gem on it showed no reaction.
However, despite her emotions, Ling Luo Yi would still refuse what she needed to refuse.
"Two princesses, you admire my two brothers. I thank you on their behalf. To be admired by princesses of a nation is their good fortune. However, I am, after all, just their sister, and it is not appropriate for me to interfere in my brothers' marriages. Moreover, as the two princesses have said, they do not like you. How can I put my brothers in a difficult position? Therefore, I regret that I cannot grant your requests."
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yu Xuan was relatively calm, having long prepared for rejection. Shangguan Yu Ning, however, was devastated, her entire being as if she had lost her soul.
Seeing this, Ling Luo Yi said, "I will not agree to the two princesses' requests, nor will I obstruct them. If you can make them accept you, I have no objections. However, while the Fourth Princess's situation is easier to handle, Fifth Princess, you need to think clearly."
Hearing Ling Luo Yi's words, Shangguan Yu Ning's eyes seemed to regain their luster.
"Fifth Princess, although my fourth brother is of the Ling family's direct lineage, he was born to my second uncle's concubine. Although my second aunt treats him as her own, it cannot change the fact that he is of concubine birth. Even though my second uncle has now been granted a noble title, it will be my second brother who inherits it in the future. Fifth Princess, you need to think carefully. You are a princess of a nation. Even if you truly love each other in the future, will Emperor Long Qing agree to let you marry a commoner of concubine birth?"
Hearing this, Shangguan Yu Ning didn't know how to answer, but she still retorted unyieldingly, "But I am also of concubine birth."