Meeting Ye Lingling's Mother (3k)

A few days later, outside Duke Tianya Mansion.

Ye Lingling gazed at Duke Tianya Mansion from afar. Summoning her courage, she walked softly to the gate.

"I... I'd like to see Mingyang," she told the guards.

The guards on duty outside Duke Tianya Mansion heard Ye Lingling's words and hurried to fetch the steward, who escorted the visibly nervous Ye Lingling into the reception hall to wait.

In truth, none of the guards knew Ye Lingling.

But as guards of Duke Tianya Mansion, they had sharp eyes.

One glance told them that Ye Lingling came from no ordinary family.

After all, nervous and hesitant though she seemed,

her bearing was exceptional. No ordinary household could have raised someone like her.

More importantly, the guards had clearly heard her call him "Mingyang."

Was that something just anyone could call him?

Add her striking beauty and soft voice, and they had to be close!

He was a duke, and a young one at that. How could he not have one or two...?

Besides, Jiang Mingyang had always enjoyed traveling. Meeting a noble young lady on his travels would be perfectly normal.

Deciding it was better to avoid trouble, the guards respectfully invited Ye Lingling inside.

When the steward reported that a woman named Ye Lingling had come looking for him, Jiang Mingyang emerged from his cultivation chamber in surprise.

He then strode toward the reception hall.

As soon as he entered, he saw Ye Lingling sitting stiffly in a chair, glancing around with nervous care.

At the sight of him, she visibly relaxed.

Jiang Mingyang smiled, walked over, and gently took her soft, fair hand.

"Lingling, how have you been?" he asked with concern. "Things have been a little unusual for me lately, so I haven't come to see you."

At his