If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

These things happened in my previous life as well.

But she didn't pay much attention to it at the time.

Human life is at stake. She is an excellent swimmer and didn't need him at that time. Saving another life was a good deed for him, so what was there to worry about?

As for childhood sweethearts...

If we consider boys and girls who grow up together as childhood sweethearts, then all of Xie Wanyi's dozens of young men, including both legitimate and illegitimate children from collateral branches of the Wang family, could be considered her childhood sweethearts.

Why don't I see her cultivating such relationships with others?

Lingxian thought she was insightful and saw things clearly, but she only realized after marrying him that she had been deceiving herself.

Her expression changed repeatedly, and Xi Yao noticed those subtle changes.

She felt like a bird was fluttering in her heart, so she pressed her lips together and leaned forward.

"Sister, I know you admire Young Master Wang. It's only natural that you're saddened that he ran to Miss Xie first in this time of crisis. But Miss Xie and Young Master Wang are childhood sweethearts, they grew up together, so their bond is naturally different. You've only known Young Master Wang for a few months since you returned to the capital, and that's where you've suffered."

Xi Lingxian's brow twitched, and her fingers curled slightly.

Seeing this, Xi Yao felt she had guessed correctly and became even more pleased with herself. "Sister, don't be discouraged." She patted Xi Lingxian's hand and her tone became even gentler. "Sister's beauty is far superior to that of the Xie family's daughter. If you put in more effort, in time, why worry about not being able to make Young Master Wang fall at your feet?"

These words, spoken by Xi Yao, were so ironic that they made Xi Lingxian want to vomit.

In her previous life, before she even breathed her last, Xi Yao was already eager to become Wang Jue's second wife.

To be honest, she didn't know when Xi Yao started having designs on Wang Jue.

What a disgusting person it must be to have such thoughts about their brother-in-law.

Lingxian slowly raised her head and looked at Xi Yao.

"You don't need to put on this act, Xi Yao. If you just openly say you're here to make a fool of yourself, I might look at you with more respect."

Xi Yao suddenly laughed, her eyes shining with an alarming light.

"You should have said so earlier. So you wanted to hear the truth, sister. Well then, I'll be frank. I'm here today to comfort you."

She leaned closer, her voice low, "My sister chased after Young Master Wang for over two months; everyone in the capital knew that. But what was the result?"

After a pause, Xi Yao's smile widened. "They say that you can see who a person cares about most in a moment of crisis. The first person Young Master Wang saved by leaping into the water was Xie Wanyi."

Xi Lingxian's eyelashes trembled slightly.

Xi Yao withdrew with satisfaction, straightened her skirt, and said, "Sister, you're so proud of being the legitimate daughter of the Xi family, and so beautiful. Do you think all the men in the world will fall in love with you...?"

"Are you done talking?"

Xi Lingxian interrupted her.

Xi Yao was taken aback.

Xi Lingxian propped her head up with her hand and said lazily, "You keep talking about Young Master Wang, do you like him too?"

Xi Yao's pupils contracted slightly, and her fingers gripping the handkerchief tightened abruptly. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Young Master Wang is as refined and elegant as a breeze, the most renowned person in the capital. I merely admire and respect him; how could I possibly be as shameless as you, chasing after men so eagerly?"

Xi Lingxian gave a sarcastic laugh. "Is liking Wang Jue such a shameful thing?"

"I said I didn't!"

Xi Yao, enraged and embarrassed, let out a low growl.

Lingxian chuckled, "Fine, if you don't like it, then I won't like it either."

Xi Yao thought she had misheard. "What did you say?"

Her first reaction was disbelief; she had witnessed firsthand how obsessed and crazy Xi Lingxian had been over the past two months.

I've never seen her care about anyone this much before, from childhood to adulthood.

How could I just dislike it like that?

"Sister, are you trying to spite Young Master Wang because of what happened when you fell into the water?" Xi Yao asked with disdain. "I advise you, sister, that it's important to know your own limitations. It's only effective to argue with people who care about you. Young Master Wang hasn't reached that level of affection for you yet."

Xi Lingxian knew that not only would Xi Yao not believe her, but probably none of the maids and servants around her would either.

"The past is the past. As for now... I've figured it out. I'm a dignified girl from the Xi family. What kind of man can't I have? There's no need for me to hang on to Wang Jue alone."

Xi Yao frowned and scrutinized her for a moment.

He whispered, "Could it be that his brain was damaged from the fall?"

I need to go back and tell my mother.

After seeing Xi Yao off, Ling Xian walked to the bedside, stretched out her arms and legs, and lay down on the bed.

She needs to find an excuse to go out these next few days. She doesn't trust the doctor her family found, so she can only go to an outside clinic.

"Young lady, Granny Zhou is back." It was Taozhi's voice.

Lingxian hummed in agreement, but made no move to get up.

A moment later, a woman in her late thirties or forties with a slightly plump figure slowly walked over. She was none other than Zhou Mama, Lingxian's wet nurse.

"The lady hasn't gotten up yet?"

Taozhi: "I'm already up. The second young lady just arrived, and the young lady chatted with her for a while."

Granny Zhou nodded, walked around the sandalwood Suzhou embroidery screen, and looked at the person on the bed with a soft but subtle gaze. "Now that you're awake, young lady, you should go to Shou'an Hall to pay your respects to the old lady. The old lady and madam have been worried about you because of what happened when you fell into the water."

Xi Lingxian lazily raised her eyes. "I had a nightmare, and I'm a little weak right now. Let's do it tomorrow."

Granny Zhou was slightly taken aback, a hint of anxiety and heartache appearing in her eyes. "What did the young lady dream about?"

Lingxian said with her eyes half-closed, "I dreamt that I was poisoned to death."

Granny Zhou clenched her fists, her face displaying just the right amount of surprise and reproach. "Everything in dreams is the opposite of reality, which means the young lady will surely turn misfortune into good fortune and have everything she wishes for."

Could it be that this girl knows something?

But she's so meticulous and cautious, it shouldn't be like that.

Not afraid.

Granny Zhou calmed herself down, poured a cup of tea, and handed it over.

Lingxian drank half a cup, her eyes lowered, and she said thoughtfully, "Where's Cailing? I haven't seen her at all."

Granny Zhou: "Breakfast in the kitchen will be ready soon. Cailing must be going to fetch the food box for the young lady."

"Wasn't it a secret visit to see Xi Hui?"

Granny Zhou nearly lost her composure, but thankfully she reacted quickly, "Young lady, what makes you say such a thing?"

"A few days ago, I heard from some of the old women who were on night watch that Cailing seemed to have quite close ties with the people in the Third Young Master's courtyard."

Granny Zhou frowned.

"This servant has never heard of this and knows nothing about it; Cailing is always mischievous and always chats and laughs with everyone she sees, so it may just be a coincidence."

As soon as he finished speaking, a maid wearing a green vest walked in.

It was time to pick water chestnuts.

In an instant, all three people in the room turned their gaze to her.

Cai Ling's lips curved into a smile, and the joy in her eyes almost overflowed.

Ling Xian gave a half-smile: "What good thing could there be?"

Cai Ling was taken aback.

"In reply to you, young lady, I just met a few maids I'm usually close to on the road. We chatted and joked around for a bit, nothing more."

"Seeing you all smiles, anyone who didn't know better would think some happy event is coming soon."

"Young lady, please stop teasing me. What joy could a mere maid possibly have?"

Cai Ling lowered her eyes.

The Third Young Master did indeed promise her a good thing; if she succeeded, she could serve him.

Thinking of the Third Young Master's dashing and unrestrained figure, Cai Ling's heart fluttered.

She would be willing to be a mistress to such a handsome and gentle man, even if it meant being a nameless and unrecognized concubine.

Xi Lingxian casually fiddled with the bright red coral bracelet on her wrist and said, "My third brother is young, but he has quite a few maids in the courtyard, all of them as pretty as spring onions."

Without hesitation, Taozhi said, "Madam feels sorry for Third Master, so she sent him a handy tool as soon as she got it."

Granny Zhou: "It's the same in the Second Master's courtyard; Madam treats everyone equally and cares about them all."

Lingxian suddenly laughed.

What a loyal dog.

How deaf and blind must she have been in her previous life to be able to deceive her?