Once they were in the outer hall, Jiang Shi let out a long breath and remarked in a low voice: “I had long heard of Imperial Physician Wei’s reputation. Now that I have seen him in person, he surpasses even the accounts.”

The love of beauty is common to all people.

A beautiful young woman will always draw the gaze of men. The reverse holds equally true. A man as handsome as Imperial Physician Wei was difficult for a woman to look upon without being drawn in. Jiang Shi had been married four years now and shared a deep bond with her husband Ling Ji; even so, she had just seen Imperial Physician Wei and found herself unable to resist looking once, then once more.

Hearing his wife lavish such praise on Imperial Physician Wei, Ling Ji felt a slight twinge of jealousy and deliberately remarked in a vinegary tone: “If Imperial Physician Wei had also come to the Jiang family to propose marriage back then, I imagine there would have been nothing left for me.”

Jiang Shi nodded half-earnestly, half-playfully: “That is the truth of it. If such a handsome man had come to propose, how could I ever have agreed to marry you?”

The husband and wife engaged in their quiet, teasing banter.

Ling Jingshu listened and broke into an amused laugh.

Ling Xiao asked curiously: “A’Shu, you just saw Imperial Physician Wei. Is he really as incomparably handsome as our sister-in-law says? How does he compare to me?”

Ling Jingshu was entertained again: “How can one really compare? You and Imperial Physician Wei are entirely different kinds of people.”

“Tell me about it!” Ling Xiao tugged at Ling Jingshu’s sleeve and wheedled.

Ling Jingshu thought for a moment and said: “You have been pampered in silks and fine food since you were small — you are like a peony flower cultivated with care. Imperial Physician Wei, on the other hand, is like a stalk of bamboo growing in the wild hills.”

A peony flower is beautiful but precious and delicate; it requires devoted tending and cultivation before it blooms with dazzling splendour.

Bamboo is elegant and upright; growing unnoticed and unseen in the wild, it is only when it appears before people that they find themselves overwhelmed by its breathtaking grace.

The comparison was vivid and apt.

Ling Xiao listened and felt a growing admiration: “The way you describe it, I find myself wanting to see this Imperial Physician Wei in person!”

Ever since A’Shu had fallen ill that time, her temperament had changed considerably — most noticeably in how she now dealt with men. She was filled with open disgust toward the Lu Hong and Lu Qian brothers, kept a respectful distance from the Crown Grandson, and maintained an even more guarded wariness toward Prince Yan.

A beautiful young girl of fourteen was at the age when love first stirs; it would have been perfectly natural for her to feel her heart flutter and her thoughts wander at the sight of a handsome young man. Yet A’Shu showed not even a hint of bashful delight. Her coolness and detachment had gone far beyond what was ordinary.

It was rare indeed to hear her praise a man.

Waves of curiosity rose unbidden in Ling Xiao’s heart.

Ling Jingshu was always indulgent and fond toward Ling Xiao, and let out a soft laugh at his words: “Once your eyes are healed, you will naturally be able to see him.”

Ling Xiao looked ahead to the day he would be able to see, and his heart surged with excitement: “A’Shu, just now when Imperial Physician Wei was using the gold needles to save that person, did you see it clearly?”

“Yes, quite clearly.”

In truth, not entirely so. Her line of sight had been obstructed at the time and she had only seen Imperial Physician Wei’s needles flying with swift precision. “Imperial Physician Wei’s medical skill is truly remarkable. That doorman from the Liu residence — his whole body was convulsing, he was foaming at the mouth, and it looked as though he might not pull through at any moment. The moment Imperial Physician Wei acted, the convulsions stopped. He stopped foaming as well. By the look of things, he should be out of danger.”

Hearing this, a light of hope flickered in Ling Xiao’s eyes.

Imperial Physician Wei’s medical skill was so remarkable. Surely he would be able to cure his eyes as well!

Once Princess Fumin emerged from the inner hall, the smile she had been forcing on her face rapidly faded. She wore an expression of deep indignation.

That infuriating Wei Yan! For the sake of some mere doorman from the Liu residence, he had shown not the slightest courtesy in driving her out.

She was a princess — a noble princess — and she had come to Huichun Hall in person, setting her dignity aside, for no other reason than to see him once. Yet he treated her with such heartless coldness… Infuriating! How utterly infuriating!

In her thoroughly sour mood, Princess Fumin’s peripheral gaze happened to land on Ling Jingshu and her younger brother. Recalling the quarrel before Imperial Physician Wei had arrived, the direction of her fury instantly found an outlet.

“Yanqi, go and invite the ninth young miss of the Ling family over. This princess has something to say to her.”

They were barely four or five metres apart — the sound would carry clearly enough if one just raised one’s voice a little. Yet Princess Fumin insisted on putting on airs, imperiously instructing her lady’s maid.

The lady’s maid Yanqi acknowledged and stepped forward, giving a curtsy: “Ninth Young Miss Ling, the princess extends an invitation.”

Ling Jingshu’s brow creased almost imperceptibly. She gave a bland acknowledgement and followed Yanqi to stand before Princess Fumin. “Your Highness has called for me. What instructions does Your Highness wish to impart?”

Princess Fumin had been bottling up her frustration, and upon hearing this, she gave a smile that reached only her face and not her eyes: “Nothing of great importance. It is merely that I find myself with some idle time at present, so I thought I would offer you a bit of guidance on the proper manner of performing salutations.”

That overbearing, bullying expression of hers was truly loathsome and detestable.

Ling Jingshu had originally intended to hold herself back, but looking at Princess Fumin’s insufferably arrogant bearing, the suppressed rage that had been smouldering within her suddenly flared up.

“I thank Your Highness for the kind intention.” Ling Jingshu’s face was devoid of any smile; she replied coolly: “However, I believe I conduct myself without fault. When others treat me with warmth and courtesy, I return that courtesy twofold. And if I should encounter those of the sort who carry their eyes at the tops of their heads and fancy themselves above all else, I will not suffer it in silence either.”

This was not an oblique insult directed at one thing while meaning another.

This was a direct insult, aimed squarely at the target.

Princess Fumin’s pretty face flushed crimson with fury. The fire in her eyes blazed openly, and she could no longer be bothered with whatever composure a princess ought to maintain. She jabbed a finger toward Ling Jingshu’s nose: “What audacity! You dare humiliate this princess to her face! If this princess does not give you a taste of consequences, you will be emboldened to overturn the very sky. Come! Slap her mouth!”

At the command, Yanqi immediately stepped forward and raised her arm high.

Bai Yu’s expression shifted; without a moment’s hesitation, she threw herself in front of Ling Jingshu.

That palm was on the verge of landing on Bai Yu’s face when Yanqi’s raised arm was struck by a bamboo token that came flying from somewhere. Yanqi’s arm went suddenly numb; she let out a cry of pain and rapidly drew her arm back.

Princess Fumin’s expression also changed. She glared icily: “Steward Han, what is the meaning of this?”

The one who had thrown the bamboo token was Han Yi.

Han Yi’s expression remained composed. He clasped his hands in a bow: “Your Highness, please calm your anger. Imperial Physician Wei dislikes any noise when he is treating a patient. If we disturb Imperial Physician Wei’s treatment, I fear he will be angered.”

Imperial Physician Wei did not merely dislike noise; he also despised people of power and privilege who caused trouble and bullied others in Huichun Hall without cause.

This point needed no stating aloud — Princess Fumin naturally understood it well enough.

Princess Fumin let out a sullen snort and directed one last vicious glare at Ling Jingshu.

This grudge had now been firmly and thoroughly set.

Ling Jingshu’s anger ran no less deep than Princess Fumin’s — in fact it ran deeper. Her lips were pressed tightly together; her right hand clenched hard into a fist and then slowly opened again, as she asked in a low voice: “Bai Yu, are you alright?”

Bai Yu steadied herself and replied quietly: “This servant is fine, Young Miss need not worry.”

Ling Jingshu gave a soft sound of acknowledgement, her heart flooded with self-mockery and self-reproach.

Had Han Yi not stepped in just now, Bai Yu would have taken that slap.

She had fancied herself strong and bold and sharp-tongued now. And yet when she truly encountered someone overbearing, domineering, and utterly beyond reason, she could not even protect the people at her side.