Chapter 5: 5.第5章 青梅竹马

Yun Ling frowned almost imperceptibly. "I'm not going back." She wasn't the real Yun Ling; she was merely a transmigrator. She only wanted to find a way back, or perhaps, live out the rest of her life quietly in this beautiful Seven Star Village. Those great aristocratic families were never places she wanted to set foot in.

"Miss!" Mother Lin was highly disapproving. "You are the eldest legitimate daughter of our Yun family! How can there be any logic in wandering abroad and refusing to return?!"

Yun Ling gave a mocking smile. "I have already been wandering abroad for fifteen years! What does it matter if it's another fifteen, twenty, or thirty years!"

Knowing that Yun Ling was feeling resentful, Mother Lin could only persuade her in a soft voice, "Do not say such words out of spite. Miss, you are a phoenix among men; there will come a day when you soar through the nine heavens. Once the people sent by the Master arrive, you are not allowed to use any strange excuses to coax me!"

"I know, I know!" Yun Ling smiled indifferently. "If I have to go back, then I'll go back. I'll just treat it as going on a trip with Mother!" A little traveling and then she'd be back.

Only then did Mother Lin smile with satisfaction. For fifteen years, she had watched that tiny infant grow day by day, looking better with each passing day. While Mother Lin felt proud, she felt even more that it was a great injustice for her. She was clearly the eldest legitimate daughter of the Yun family, the most famous first family under heaven, yet she had been thrown into this place since childhood. Although she hadn't lacked food or clothing over these fifteen years, which daughter of a great family grew up in such an environment?

She didn't know what the Master and Madam were thinking, but Mother Lin felt that even if her young lady grew up in the wilderness, her talent and temperament would not be inferior in the slightest to the daughters of the great families in Chang'an. Once the Miss returned to Chang'an and found a man of outstanding quality to marry, then the Miss's life would be perfect from then on.

Yun Ling didn't care what Mother Lin thought. After finishing breakfast, she dove straight into her room. She wanted to sleep—a very long sleep.

…………Silly King, Poisonous Consort…………

The afternoon in Seven Star Village was very quiet. The sunlight shone brilliantly and unhindered from above, the wind had died down, and the insects had ceased their chirping.

Yun Ling was fishing.

The fishing rod was three inches from the water, and the hook held no bait.

Dressed in men's clothing, she held the rod motionless, her expression extremely serious. No one would ridicule a Yun Ling who had insisted on fishing by this method at the shores of Seven Star Lake for five years. Although the villagers' mouths held nothing but mockery and disdain at first, after five years, the villagers were either numb to her actions or filled with admiration; Yun Ling ignored them all.

She was fishing very seriously, waiting for that one fish that would willingly leap out of the water and onto her hook.

"Little Bell!"

A clear, youthful voice came from afar to near. Yun Ling's expression softened slightly, but her body remained motionless. The newcomer leaped over lightly, handed her a bamboo tube with both hands, and reached out to rub her hair. "You forgot to eat again!"

Yun Ling raised her eyebrows and gave a faint smile. That thin smile, which revealed neither joy nor anger, caused the youth before her to momentarily forget to breathe.

Unaware, Yun Ling said in a low voice, "Don't bring me food every single time, or be careful that your mother doesn't lecture you again later!"

The youth, Yu Liancheng, smiled somewhat sheepishly. Every time he brought her food, he was scolded or beaten by his mother upon his return. Yun Ling had told him several times, but he would only smile and say he understood, only to continue doing it the next time.

"Eat quickly, Little Bell. It's too hot today; it will definitely spoil in a little while!" Yu Liancheng forced the bamboo tube into her arms, then stood up and said somewhat hurriedly, "I hear my mother calling me. I have to go back. I'll come find you again tonight!"

Yun Ling frowned and said nothing more, merely setting the bamboo tube gently aside. Her eyes remained fixed intently on the calm surface of the water, motionless.

A gentle breeze blew past, and the calm water seemed to ripple. Yun Ling's brow twitched, and a hint of joy appeared in her expression. Today, would there be a sensible fish to take the bait?