Chapter 35 - Madam Wang’s Story (1/2)

They walked slowly. Madam Wang decided to talk first, ”I'm sure you are feeling confused at the moment. You can ask me any question about this family and I will answer you.” Madam Wang turned around and talked to Xiao Liu – her trusted maid, ”Stay a bit far from us! I need to talk alone with my daughter.”

”Yes, Mistress.” Without a second thought, she followed Madam Wang's order. She stood a bit far from Madam Wang and Yao Ling, but close enough to hear just in case the mistress would call her later.

Yao Ling followed Madam Wang's example. She only gave a signal to Xiao Yu and Xiao Yu already knew what she had to do. She went to stand beside Xiao Liu. When Madam Wang and Yao Ling walked again, they kept the same distance all the time.

After feeling satisfied, Madam Wang smiled softly at Yao Ling. ”You can start asking now.”

Yao Ling knew she had a lot to ask, but when the times came like this, she didn't know where to start. She heard here and there through the gossip from Xiao Yu, but she knew perfectly clear how some words could be exaggerated. It made the real truth become distorted. Madam Wang gave her the chance to know firsthand about the situation inside this household. In a way, this was an acceptance from Madam Wang. Having this good chance, she wouldn't refuse it.

She asked hesitantly, ”I… I heard that Father and Mother is childhood sweetheart. But why…” She trailed off, didn't know how to continue asking.

”Do you want to know why there are a lot of concubines?” Madam Wang continued her question. She knew that after listening to the matriarch's stories, this question must have been in Yao Ling's mind all the time.

Yao Ling nodded, feeling uncomfortable. She knew that she hit Madam Wang's sore spot. But if she wanted to build a great relationship, they had to be open their heart to each other. They needed to trust each other. She had been skeptical with Madam Wang's real intention because she had seen her scathing gaze when they first met. That's why she couldn't fully trust her yet.

”You are indeed right. We were childhood sweetheart.” After saying that, she looked away from Yao Ling and her gaze wandered over the flower garden in front of them. Her eyes glazed over, thinking back to her past. She didn't look at the blooming flowers in the garden, the movement of the small trees, or the flying buŧŧerfly. All she saw was her younger self who was being hugged by Wang Luo Hai in the middle of the same garden.

She told Yao Ling her story while walking slowly along the garden path. She remembered the first time she looked at Wang Luo Hai. For her, it was love at first sight. As long as she could remember, Wang Luo Hai always had two people beside him, Lin Zheng and that beautiful girl. It was always a taboo to say her name, so she didn't tell Yao Ling about that girl. She just skimmed through that part. She also didn't mention the fact that Wang Luo Hai loved that girl – it was her sore spot.

”Both of our families are in a good relationship, so as long as I can remember, we already have a betrothal agreement.”