Qiu Shuang and the others withdrew quickly, leaving only Rui Lian behind.
Rui Lian was truly Empress Xu’s most trusted and intimate confidante. Even when the Empress questioned someone in private, she never saw any need to avoid Rui Lian’s presence.
Ling Jingshu noted this quietly in her heart and waited in composed silence for Empress Xu to speak.
“I have heard that Imperial Physician Wei once examined you and even prescribed medicine for you. Has your ailment improved?” Empress Xu asked, her tone seemingly offhand.
So it was this matter she was asking about.
From the very first day she entered the palace, Ling Jingshu had prepared herself for this. She had long since rehearsed what she would say. Upon hearing the question, she feigned embarrassment, bit her lip lightly, and answered in a low voice: “In reply to Your Highness, this servant drank medicine continuously for over two months, but regrettably saw no improvement. It would seem this ailment of mine cannot be cured. After entering the palace, this servant stopped taking the medicine.”
Her ailment truly cannot be cured?
A flash of quiet satisfaction passed through Empress Xu’s heart, though her words said otherwise: “What manner of sense is there in abandoning treatment halfway? You are here in Jiaofang Palace — when I next summon Imperial Physician Wei for my own examination, I shall have him look you over as well, and you should continue taking whatever medicine he prescribes. You are still a young girl. You cannot remain unmarried and without children for the rest of your life.”
She was actually volunteering to have Wei Yan treat her ailment!
Could Empress Xu truly be so benevolent?
Ling Jingshu raised her head, eyes glistening with the sheen of tears, her face a picture of profound gratitude: “This servant is deeply grateful for Your Highness’s kind intentions. However, this servant’s entry into the palace was already an exceptional case, and there are no shortage of eyes watching this servant’s every move. Your Highness has already shown this servant more than sufficient generosity. If word were to spread that Imperial Physician Wei is treating this servant’s ailment, one cannot imagine what rumors would be set in motion — and this servant truly could not bear the weight of that.”
Outside the palace, when Wei Yan treated her condition, no one would raise an eyebrow.
But here in the palace, she held only the position of a female official. What standing did she have to receive Wei Yan’s medical attention? Wei Yan ordinarily examined only the Emperor and Empress; even the imperial consorts did not dare to casually summon him for a consultation.
Empress Xu’s so-called “kindness” would place Ling Jingshu directly at the center of controversy, and expose her every action to the scrutiny of all.
Whatever the reason, Ling Jingshu had to firmly decline this “favor.”
Ling Jingshu’s firm resolve was somewhat unexpected to Empress Xu. She studied Ling Jingshu with a look that carried a measure of deeper contemplation. “Are you truly unwilling to let Imperial Physician Wei treat you?”
Ling Jingshu answered without hesitation: “Yes. For this servant to be permitted to serve daily at Your Highness’s side is already a blessing accumulated over several lifetimes. This servant dares not harbor any further desires beyond that.”
Empress Xu’s brow smoothed, and she smiled. “Very well — since you are unwilling, I shall not insist. Besides, you are still young, and serving in Jiaofang Palace requires no contact with any man. There is no harm in leaving that ailment to be treated at a later time.”
Empress Xu would love nothing more than for her ailment to go untreated forever!
And yet, it was fortunate that this very ailment served as her shield. Even if Empress Xu regarded her with displeasure, there were for now no grounds to move against her.
Ling Jingshu expressed her gratitude graciously.
Empress Xu then inquired in a warm and attentive manner: “You have been in the palace for over a month now — are you settling in well here? Have you encountered any troubles? Has anyone deliberately made things difficult for you? If so, simply tell me, and I will see to it on your behalf.”
Without a moment’s pause, Ling Jingshu replied: “Everyone in Jiaofang Palace has been very kind to this servant. No one has caused me any difficulty. The duties assigned to me are not burdensome — this servant manages well enough.”
She had expected Ling Jingshu to use this moment to bring a complaint against Luoyan. But to her surprise, not a single word on that matter passed Ling Jingshu’s lips.
Empress Xu’s gaze flickered, and she spoke with implied meaning: “The peony courtyard has a number of newly cultivated varieties. You are only managing them with one maid — are you able to keep up? If the work is too much, do not force yourself to manage alone. I hold a flower-viewing banquet every year, and the new varieties of peony are absolutely indispensable.”
“It is not just this servant — the two maids who accompanied me into the palace also help tend the peonies in the courtyard each day,” Ling Jingshu replied with a smile. “When the peonies bloom in April, this servant will not disappoint Your Highness.”
Empress Xu curved the corners of her lips: “Since you have said so, how could I not believe you? Still, let it be stated plainly in advance: if the peonies flourish well, you will be rewarded handsomely. If anything goes wrong, I will not spare you.”
Ling Jingshu accepted this solemnly: “Please set your mind at ease, Your Highness. This servant will never disappoint you!”
Empress Xu dismissed her with a wave of her hand.
Once Ling Jingshu had taken her leave, the smile faded from Empress Xu’s face.
This Ling Jingshu was even more clever than she had anticipated. Just now she had tested her from every angle, yet Ling Jingshu had answered without giving the slightest opening — there was absolutely nothing to fault.
“Truly a clever girl,” Empress Xu murmured, half to herself, half aloud. “Rui Lian — you saw it all just now. She is even more sharp and capable than you were when you first entered the palace.”
Rui Lian had not risen to the position of Empress Xu’s most trusted confidante for nothing. She knew precisely when to say what, and responded with a smile: “Indeed, this servant thinks so too. This Ling Jingshu is far more capable than this servant ever was.”
Empress Xu glanced at Rui Lian with a look that was not quite a smile: “What I value most is not cleverness, but absolute loyalty. If anyone were to dare harbor other intentions behind my back, do not expect me to show any mercy.”
This was the true Empress Xu.
Never genuinely trusting a single soul.
Serving at Empress Xu’s side meant living in perpetual anxiety and trepidation, without a moment’s ease.
Rui Lian’s heart trembled inwardly, and she hastened to profess her loyalty: “Your Highness sees all clearly. This servant has always been devoted to Your Highness with unwavering fidelity, and has never harbored a single disloyal thought. Whatever Your Highness commands, this servant will fulfill with wholehearted dedication.”
Empress Xu curved her lips into a faint smile: “Look at you — I was merely saying it casually. Why are you so anxious? If I could no longer even trust you, where in the world would I find someone I could trust?”
Rui Lian offered a smile of flattered gratitude. As for what she truly felt in her heart — only she herself could know.
……
Walking out of Jiaofang Palace, Ling Jingshu found that her palms had already broken out in a cold sweat.
Every exchange with Empress Xu required her to marshal every ounce of her concentration, to exhaust every resource of her mind, never permitting herself the slightest lapse. What appeared on the surface as effortless composure and deft ease was, in truth, a situation fraught with hidden dangers on all sides.
Like walking along the edge of a blade — one misstep, and she would plunge into an abyss.
Of course, these past days had not been entirely without gain.
She had maintained a relationship of measured distance with Rui Lian, Qiu Shuang, and the others — neither too close nor too far — gradually securing her footing within Jiaofang Palace. She had quietly observed the people and affairs around her, and had come to understand Empress Xu’s methods ever more clearly.
Because so little time had passed, she had not yet managed to gather any information of particular importance.
But the most essential quality in an informant was patience.
Like a dagger concealed in darkness — unseen, unsuspected by anyone — revealing its edge only at the most critical and desperate moment, when least expected. Only then would it strike with devastating effect.