Traditional Chinese medicine emphasises four methods: observation, listening and smelling, inquiry, and pulse-taking.
Ling Xiao’s blindness was apparent at a glance — one could see it plainly enough.
Even so, Imperial Physician Wei did not let his attention slip; he still examined Ling Xiao’s features and complexion carefully, leaving not the smallest detail unscrutinised.
Ling Jingshu stood at Ling Xiao’s side and, following Imperial Physician Wei’s gaze unconsciously, also looked Ling Xiao over with careful attention. During this time she neither fixed her gaze on Imperial Physician Wei’s face, nor used the opportunity to draw him into conversation.
In the ordinary course of things, women often used the pretext of accompanying a family member to seek treatment as a means of entering the inner hall, and would grow flustered with infatuation while he was treating his patients, their eyes wandering shamelessly, always trying to draw his attention through chatter. He had been plagued by this more times than he could count and had not hesitated on multiple occasions to turn on them and drive them out.
This Ling Young Miss was genuinely here to accompany someone for treatment.
Imperial Physician Wei was inwardly approving, and his tone became a few degrees warmer: “Young Master Ling, when did you lose your sight?”
Ling Xiao answered obediently: “I was eight years old. It has now been six years.”
Six years?
Imperial Physician Wei’s brow furrowed, then quickly smoothed. “Tell me the whole matter from beginning to end — the more detail, the better.”
“Let me speak for him!” Ling Jingshu reflexively blurted out.
Imperial Physician Wei looked at her. His expression shifted to a strange coolness, and his tone was less than courteous: “Young Miss Ling, is it Young Master Ling who is unwell, or is it you?”
Ling Jingshu: “…”
“Whatever I need to ask, I will ask Young Master Ling myself. You stand to one side and listen quietly. If you interrupt again without cause, you may leave.”
Imperial Physician Wei delivered these words with cold detachment, and without sparing Ling Jingshu another glance, shifted his attention away.
Ling Jingshu: “…”
How utterly unreasonable!
She had only opened her mouth out of concern for Ling Xiao’s condition — was he under the impression that she was attempting to strike up a conversation with him?!
In all her years, she had never swallowed such an undeserved grievance!
Ling Jingshu seethed inwardly — yet she quickly pressed her lips together.
There was nothing to be done; who asked him to be such a divine physician! However large his temper and however many his rules, she had to endure them all. If she truly got herself expelled, the embarrassment would be the smaller concern; what she truly could not bear was leaving Ling Xiao alone in the inner hall.
Fortunately, Imperial Physician Wei’s temper and his rules applied exclusively to Ling Jingshu; toward his patient Ling Xiao he remained quite warm: “Young Master Ling, please go ahead.”
The events of that year — Ling Xiao had recounted them more times than he could remember. Although six years had passed, they remained vivid in his memory as though they had happened just the day before.
Ling Xiao had not yet undergone the voice change. His voice was still the clear, bright sound of a young boy. He recounted the whole matter from start to finish: “…From the moment I regained consciousness after the coma, my vision gradually blurred; I could not see anything clearly. A few days later, I could not see anything at all. My family also sought the advice of many renowned physicians on my behalf; every one of them said my eyes could not be healed.”
At this point, Ling Xiao’s voice trembled. His clouded, dim eyes brimmed with hopeful longing:
“Divine Physician Wei. We heard of your remarkable skill and travelled thousands of miles to the capital precisely for this. My eyes — can they still be healed?”
Hope filled his face to overflowing.
He looked like a person about to drown, clutching at a lifeline.
Ling Jingshu felt an ache rise in her heart as she watched him, and for a moment she forgot entirely about Imperial Physician Wei’s peculiar temperament and his rules. Her words came out unbidden: “Imperial Physician Wei. As long as you can heal A’Xiao’s eyes, no amount of silver is too great. Even if it means ruining ourselves, we are willing.”
Imperial Physician Wei had been somewhat displeased. But when his gaze met those eyes shimmering with tears and full of supplication, the reprimand that had risen to his lips would not come.
This Ling Young Miss — her devoted love for and protection of her younger brother was written plainly across every line of her face; it was not something that could be performed.
Those eyes holding back tears were ones he had never seen before, and yet they carried a vague, inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Imperial Physician Wei did not know what this reminded him of; a thread of complex wistfulness flickered through his eyes. He no longer held Ling Jingshu’s unsolicited interruption against her, and said after a moment’s consideration: “Whatever the true nature of Young Master Ling’s eye condition, I must first examine his pulse before I can identify the cause. Regardless of the illness, the earlier one seeks treatment, the greater the likelihood of recovery. Now that six years have already passed, whether it can still be healed — I cannot say with certainty.”
When he spoke of treating an illness, Imperial Physician Wei’s manner was thoroughly serious and meticulous; he neither exaggerated the severity nor boasted of his own abilities.
Hearing these words, Ling Jingshu’s confidence in Imperial Physician Wei grew somewhat, and she said quickly: “Yes, yes — please examine A’Xiao’s pulse, Imperial Physician Wei. From this moment on, I will not speak out of turn again.”
With that, she immediately sealed her lips.
There is something rather interesting about this Ling Young Miss.
Imperial Physician Wei suppressed a quiet inner smile, swiftly collected his focus, and said to Ling Xiao: “Young Master Ling, please extend your left hand. I will take your pulse. There is no need for anxiety — simply remain calm and at ease, as you would in your everyday life.”
Ling Xiao nodded cooperatively and extended his left hand, resting it on the table.
Imperial Physician Wei extended his hand and gently laid his fingers on Ling Xiao’s pulse point, then lightly closed his eyes.
Ling Jingshu held her breath, fearing that even the faintest sound would disturb Imperial Physician Wei’s pulse-reading.
It felt as though only an instant had passed, yet also as though a great while had gone by.
Ling Jingshu watched Imperial Physician Wei’s face without looking away, not letting the smallest shift in his expression escape her. When his brow furrowed even slightly, her heart leapt with alarm.
Ever since she had set eyes on Imperial Physician Wei, she had harboured a faint premonition.
If there remained any hope of curing A’Xiao’s eye condition, it was Imperial Physician Wei and no one else. If even Imperial Physician Wei were without recourse, she feared there would be no one left in the world who could heal A’Xiao’s eyes…
Imperial Physician Wei at last opened his eyes, withdrew his hand, and his expression became one of deep contemplation.
“Imperial Physician Wei — what is A’Xiao’s pulse like?” Ling Jingshu blurted out immediately.
Imperial Physician Wei gave Ling Jingshu a mild glance.
The meaning of that glance was plain: if she spoke out of turn again, she would be better off leaving now.
Ling Jingshu did not dare express even a hint of aggrievement, and promptly fell silent.
Imperial Physician Wei then rose, moved to Ling Xiao’s side, and pressed and probed various points on Ling Xiao’s head with his slender, capable fingers, asking as he did: “Does this hurt? What about here?”
Ling Xiao answered obediently: “This doesn’t hurt. This doesn’t either… Ah!”
Ling Jingshu’s heart gave a sharp lurch. She seized Ling Xiao’s hand urgently: “A’Xiao, A’Xiao, what’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”
Ling Xiao had been struck by a sudden, sharp pain without warning; all colour drained from his face at once. He forced a smile: “It’s just near the back of the head — it hurts a little, just a little. Don’t worry.”
How could she possibly not worry!
She would rather every pain were multiplied and visited upon herself than see Ling Xiao suffer the smallest amount.
Ling Jingshu’s eyes had already reddened; the glimmer of tears was there.
Her entire attention was fixed upon Ling Xiao; she had not even noticed that she and Imperial Physician Wei were now standing very close, practically side by side.
She had not noticed — but Imperial Physician Wei had.
Imperial Physician Wei’s brow creased slightly. He lifted his hands, stepped back two paces, and unobtrusively put some distance between himself and Ling Jingshu.