Seeing her daughter finally lifted onto the sedan chair, Princess Derong’s expression eased somewhat. She was just about to urge the serving women to carry Xia Yan out of the Great Hidden Temple with all speed when, from outside the grove, several eunuchs with smooth, pale complexions came hurrying in. Derong looked up at once and recognized the one in the lead — it was Eunuch Mi, who served beside the Emperor himself.

Eunuch Mi’s expression was anxious in the extreme. He entered the grove and first scanned the surroundings for Kangping. When he saw she was standing right beside Derong and the others, apparently uninjured, he gave a great sigh of relief.

“Young Lord.” After paying his respects to Derong and the others, Eunuch Mi went directly to Lin Xiao and said: “Your Majesty has just heard of what happened in the temple. He was both shocked and furious, and has ordered Deputy General Zhang to mobilize two hundred Northern Guard soldiers to come and escort the princesses home. The soldiers and generals are already waiting outside the temple gates. His Majesty has also instructed this servant to relay an oral decree to the Young Lord: His Majesty asks that the Young Lord personally escort the princesses home.”

Lin Xiao lowered his eyes and gave a nod of assent.

Derong, hearing this, was instantly urging and pressing from the side: “Weixie, A’Yan looks very bad — don’t delay any further.”

Kangping was also calling out: “Eleventh Brother!”

Lin Xiao hesitated no longer. He gave Chang Rong a discreet look, then went to Derong’s side and had the serving women carry the sedan chair properly — and saw Derong and the others out.

Chang Rong understood. He glanced at Qin Yao and stayed behind with Wei Bo and the others, not following Lin Xiao out.

Before long, the city officials and soldiers of Chang’an arrived, bound everyone in the temple, and then conducted a thorough search of the entire Great Hidden Temple.

Though Venerable Yuan Jue had the imperial gift of the “Holy Monk” prayer beads to his name, today’s incident had involved several imperial princesses and commandery princesses, and so he was taken into custody at the Chang’an Constabulary along with the other monks from the temple.

Servants from the households of the Minister of Works, the Marquis of Ningyuan, the Grand Secretary, and the Marquis of Jinguo also arrived one after another. Most were fathers and brothers of the young ladies. Seeing the scene before them, they were all shaken to the core — some scolding the person behind this as too cruel and vicious; some pulling their own daughters close and sighing with emotion; some redirecting their anger at the temple monks; and there was even one who declared that he would burn the Great Hidden Temple to the ground.

Though Wang Yingning and most of the others were well-read young women, the kind of blade-and-blood violence they had witnessed at close range today was something they had never in their lives experienced before. Now, seeing their fathers and brothers, all the grievances they had been holding in came flooding to the surface at once, and they began to cry in earnest again. For a time the peach blossom grove was filled with the sound of weeping and sobbing.

By the time everyone had finished examining the bodies of the assassins, questioned Venerable Yuan Jue, and each taken their daughters and left the peach grove, half an hour had passed.

In the blink of an eye, only Qin Yao and Chang Rong with the others remained in the grove — along with a still-trembling Caiping.

Qin Yao struggled to her feet with one hand over her shoulder, and without bothering to straighten her disheveled skirt, she called to Caiping: “Stop crying. Let’s go as well.”

Caiping came to herself as if from a dream and hurried to support Qin Yao. Through her tears she said: “Young Miss, you’re injured — can you still walk? Shall I call Big Lü to come and help?”

Qin Yao had only brought Caiping with her when she came out today — plus a coachman named Big Lü — with no other servants in attendance. Hearing Caiping say this, she could only smile wryly and shake her head. “The injury is in my shoulder, not my legs. How could I not walk? Don’t fuss. Let’s go home first.”

Mistress and servant began making their slow way out of the grove. Suddenly from behind, Chang Rong’s voice called out: “Miss Qu, please wait.”

Qin Yao turned in surprise. Chang Rong came forward quickly and said: “Some of my companions have already gone to prepare a sedan chair. Though Miss Qu’s injury is in the shoulder, you’re bound to be jostled when you walk, and if that should disturb the tendons or bones, it would be very bad. Please allow us to see you out of the temple.” His face was expressionless as he spoke, but his tone was passably civil.

Before his words were even done, Wei Bo and the others had produced a sedan chair from no one knew where and set it quietly in front of Qin Yao, inviting her to be seated.

Caiping was slack-jawed with amazement. But Qin Yao had dealt with Chang Rong and the others enough times by now to know that they were people of exceptional training — whether in ability to improvise or in efficiency of action, they were far beyond the ordinary. It was not surprising at all that they could manage this within such a short time.

She gave an uneasy little cough. The pain in her shoulder was truly severe; obstinate display of pride under these circumstances would clearly serve only herself harm. After a brief deliberation, she thanked Chang Rong and the others, then with Caiping’s assistance settled herself onto the sedan chair.

Wei Bo and the others lifted the sedan chair steadily and began walking out. Sitting in it, Qin Yao felt as though she were walking on flat ground — not the slightest jolt could be felt. She couldn’t help but add a few more degrees of awe to her sense of Wei Bo and the others’ unfathomable inner cultivation.

At the temple gate, Chang Rong wanted to take over from Big Lü and personally drive Qin Yao’s carriage, but Qin Yao quickly called out to stop him. “Guard Chang, my injury isn’t that serious. This is not necessary — we can make our own way home.”

Chang Rong said: “We are simply following the Young Lord’s instructions. Miss Qu need not refuse.”

“Truly, there’s no need.” Qin Yao declined for the third time. If her parents were to suddenly see a strange young man driving their daughter home, it would seem suspicious.

Seeing Qin Yao’s unusual firmness on the point, Chang Rong had no choice but to give up. Once the Qu residence’s carriage had gone off quite some distance ahead, he and Wei Bo quietly followed at a distance, accompanying it all the way.

When she arrived home, Qu Chen Shi had not yet heard the news. The weather being unusually warm, she was chatting with the household maids in the small garden in front of the main hall while embroidering.

Seeing Qin Yao come in white-faced and leaning on Caiping’s arm, Qu Chen Shi’s face changed immediately. She rushed forward. “What happened? Where are you injured?”

Ever since her daughter had begun training under Qing Xuzi, it had been many years since she had suffered an injury like this.

“Miss is hurt.” Caiping said with a woeful expression, and gave a rough account of the events at the Great Hidden Temple.

Qu Chen Shi was dumbstruck. “In broad daylight — how can such a thing happen? Have these people no regard for law or order?” Suppressing her shock and fury, she called in rapid succession for someone to go and summon a doctor, then urgently sent word to Qu Enze and Qu Ziyu.

Back in her bedroom, Qin Yao let her mother bustle about her with a full retinue of people, and quietly went over the events of the day, her head slightly turned in thought. But after a while the pain in her shoulder disrupted her concentration, and she had no choice but to give in to it, calling out to Qu Chen Shi like a child: “Mother, why is the physician not here yet?”

“Coming, coming.” The Yelu attendant of Qu Chen Shi’s household led in a small elderly man in official attire — it turned out he was an Imperial Physician.

Qin Yao and Qu Chen Shi looked at each other in bewilderment. The Qu family’s rank was not high enough to receive an imperial physician from the palace, and judging by this physician’s official garb, he appeared to be the Chief Physician of the Imperial Medical Institute at that.

“How did this come about?” Qu Chen Shi was confused.

“This is Imperial Physician Yu from the Imperial Medical Institute,” the Yelu attendant said with vicarious pride. “He says he comes under special orders from Princess Derong to treat our Young Miss.”

Imperial Physician Yu? Qu Chen Shi was momentarily stunned. She searched her memory, and after a moment her eyes lit up. Could this not be the very Yu Ruoshui who was renowned for treating bone injuries — the one who had once successfully reset the bones of the late emperor?

“Oh my goodness.” Qu Chen Shi was so delighted she didn’t know what to do. She quickly rose and gave Yu Ruoshui a deep bow with great courtesy and a warm smile. “The Princess is too kind to have thought of us. Physician Yu’s name has long been known to me. Please come in.” She gave the Yelu attendant a meaningful look, indicating she should quickly prepare an honorarium.

Considering that Yu Ruoshui was an elderly man past seventy, there wasn’t really much need for Qin Yao to observe strict protocols of avoidance. But a sheet of silk gauze was still placed over Qin Yao’s face before she was instructed to expose her injury for the physician to examine.

Yu Ruoshui said there was no need for this, and — through her clothing — felt about her injury, then had Qin Yao test a few movements. He said: “Fortunately, the young lady is naturally well-built and robust in her bones and sinews — no bones are broken. It is merely some damage to the flesh and skin, along with a mild internal injury. Nothing to worry about. Rest and recuperation for a few days will restore her to full health.”

Since Yu Ruoshui’s medical skill was exquisite, and he had said so himself, Qin Yao would certainly be all right. Qu Chen Shi breathed a sigh of relief and continued expressing her gratitude to Yu Ruoshui with a beaming smile.

Yu Ruoshui drew from his sleeve a small porcelain jar and said to Qu Chen Shi: “Apply this medicine to the injury every day without interruption. Within half a month, the injured area will be fully healed.”

Qu Chen Shi reverently took the porcelain jar, then quickly instructed the Yelu attendant to present the honorarium, saying with a smile: “A humble token, insufficient to express my gratitude.”

Yu Ruoshui waved his hand repeatedly. “I too am merely acting on another’s behalf. Were it not for the earnest insistence of — ” He caught himself mid-sentence, realizing he had nearly misspoken, and quickly corrected: “Were it not for Princess Derong’s sincere and pressing instructions, I could not have arrived at your residence so promptly. Though the young lady’s injury is not severe, this sort of thing fears delay most of all. Please apply the medicine to the young lady quickly — do not let it drag on.” With that, he gave a salute to Qu Chen Shi: “I will take my leave.”

Qu Chen Shi could not keep him, so she had someone see Yu Ruoshui respectfully out of the residence, then returned to the bedside to apply the medicine to Qin Yao.

Qin Yao picked up the porcelain jar — its glaze beautifully decorated — and turned it carefully over in her hands for a long moment. At last she gave a quiet sigh, set it down to one side, closed her eyes, and looked at it no more.

The Wei Duke’s estate was in a state of frantic uproar.

The imperial physicians came in one wave after another, but Xia Yan continued to sleep on, unresponsive.

Xia Hongsheng and Princess Derong were beside themselves with worry. Even the Emperor and Consort Yi had heard the news and sent messengers to inquire repeatedly. Prince Wu even came in person from the palace to visit.

Kangping ran back and forth in agitation, grabbing one of the imperial physicians by the collar and yelling: “You’ve all taken turns looking at her for this long — why hasn’t A’Yan woken up yet? You’re all just rice barrels! Rice barrels!”

Prince Wu was frustrated and exasperated. He snapped: “At a time like this, all you do is make things worse — get out of the way!”

This was the first time his elder brother had spoken to her with such sharpness, and Kangping stood frozen. After a moment she pouted and went to Lin Xiao’s side — he was standing by the window, lost in thought — and shook his arm. “Eleventh Brother, Seventh Brother scolded me.”

Lin Xiao’s thoughts had long since drifted somewhere else entirely. He was oblivious to Kangping’s words.

Kangping found this thoroughly unsatisfying. Propping her chin in her hand, she looked out the window and said: “What’s wrong with A’Yan anyway? So many physicians and none of them can figure out what’s going on. Oh! Eleventh Brother, do you think A’Yan might have suffered some internal injury?”

These words seemed to stir something in Lin Xiao. He pulled his gaze back and instead of answering, asked: “What time is it now?”

Kangping said flatly: “It’s almost the hour of the Goat. Eleventh Brother, with everything that’s happened today, I didn’t even eat my midday meal properly. I’m nearly starving to death.”

Lin Xiao was distracted and said absently: “Tell a servant to bring you something to eat.” His gaze remained fixed on the window outside.

At this point a servant came to report: “Young Lord, one of your guards is requesting an audience outside.”

Lin Xiao’s eyes brightened, and he immediately turned and walked out. At the corridor, he found Chang Rong and the others waiting.

When Chang Rong saw Lin Xiao, he stepped forward and gave his report in a low voice.

After hearing Chang Rong’s words, Lin Xiao’s expression relaxed slightly. He instructed: “Keep everything as before. Keep close watch — no more mistakes.”

Chang Rong accepted the order and departed.

When Lin Xiao returned to the room, his expression was considerably more composed than before. Kangping was full of questions and doubts, and grabbed his arm wanting to get to the bottom of it. But from the inner chamber came Princess Derong’s sharp and demanding voice: “Where is Yu Ruoshui? He is chief of the institute — why is there no sign of him today?”

From within, someone replied with a fawning smile: “Physician Yu is currently on leave. Officials were sent to fetch him just now, but unfortunately Physician Yu happened to have gone out to attend to another patient. More people have been sent to request his return.”

“A physician of the Imperial Medical Institute — he should be available at all times to be summoned on command. Yet he apparently sees fit to attend other patients privately on his own initiative. Who gave him that presumption?” Derong was both anxious and angry. She ordered that Yu Ruoshui be found at once, without a moment’s delay.

Prince Wu’s expression also darkened. He commanded a servant in a low voice: “Go and find out who Yu Ruoshui went to treat.”

Lin Xiao stopped the servant and said: “No need. Yu Ruoshui went to attend to a friend of mine. He should be on his way here shortly.”

Prince Wu was taken aback.

Inside, Derong heard Lin Xiao’s words, and all her fury instantly turned to helplessness. She called Lin Xiao in, pulled him close, and sighed: “What sort of friend is so important to you? A’Yan is clearly not doing well — tell Yu Ruoshui not to dawdle any further, and have him come over at once to treat A’Yan.”

Lin Xiao consoled her: “Imperial Physician Yu is already on his way. He should be nearly here by now.” As he spoke, he glanced at the bed — whether it was imagination or not, he thought Xia Yan’s color looked even worse than before.

Xia Di volunteered at once: “Where does Yu Ruoshui live? I’ll go and fetch him personally!”

At this moment a servant reported with relief from outside: “Imperial Physician Yu has arrived!”

Everyone’s expressions eased.

Imperial Physician Yu entered the inner chamber unhurriedly in small steps. He first looked around the room, then paid his respects to the Marquis and Princess Derong and the others. After that he stepped forward and felt for Xia Yan’s pulse.

After a long moment, Yu Ruoshui lifted Xia Yan’s eyelid and looked, then after some deliberation, rose and said: “The Commandery Princess received a severe shock — her heart energy is scattered and her spirit has been displaced, and so she has been sleeping without waking. When the fright is soothed, the spirit will return. This servant will now prescribe medicine for the Commandery Princess. Let her try one dose first and see.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Xia Yan with a thoughtful expression, then rose and went to the outer chamber to write the prescription.

After a full bowl of dark, thick medicine, Xia Yan at last stirred slowly back to consciousness. Seeing Princess Derong and the others hovering around the bed with anxious, stricken faces, she said weakly: “Father… Mother…”

Princess Derong wept with relief, pulling Xia Yan into her arms. “You’re awake — thank heavens, you’re awake.” She hurried to call Yu Ruoshui in to examine her again.

Yu Ruoshui looked her over and said only that she should rest quietly for a few days without further fright, and then she would be perfectly well again.

Seeing that Xia Yan had recovered, Kangping was delighted — and inevitably reverted to her hyperactive nature. As she and Xia Di chatted, she began to act out the dramatic scenes from the Great Hidden Temple with broad, sweeping gestures.

“Suddenly a whole crowd of people came pouring in, every single one of them carrying a blade. I rushed straight up to them and fought — I knocked one down on the spot! What a shame there were so many of them, and my Xuenu and Hongnu weren’t with me. That’s the only reason I couldn’t manage later — otherwise, would I have let them take A’Yan?” She gave a vivid, dramatic account — and completely erased any mention of Qin Yao.

Lin Xiao was both exasperated and amused, but could hardly correct her outright, and could only let her rattle on as she liked.

“Did those thugs abduct anyone besides A’Yan?” Prince Wu had not been on the scene and had not yet gotten the full story. Hearing Kangping’s account now, he couldn’t help being curious.

“No one.” Princess Derong said with lingering fear: “Their target from first to last was A’Yan alone. I remember that a girl from the Marquis of Jinghai’s household also fell at the time, but they completely passed her by and went straight for A’Yan to climb over the wall with her. Thank heaven and earth — Weixie’s guards arrived in time, or else there’s no knowing what would have become of A’Yan.”

At this point, Derong suddenly thought of something. “How is that Miss Qu from the Grand Astrologer’s family? I must thank her — she was the one who held the villains up; otherwise, who knows what would have happened to A’Yan before then.”

“Miss Qu?” Xia Di said in surprise. “Miss Qu was there today too?”

Lin Xiao, listening, shot a look like lightning at Xia Di.

Kangping curled her lip, just about to speak, when from the bed Xia Yan suddenly covered her mouth with her handkerchief and began coughing violently.

“Mother, I still feel a little short of breath.” When her coughing had finally eased, Xia Yan tugged weakly at Derong’s sleeve.

Seeing this, the others had already forgotten all about whatever Miss Qu — they were calling at once for someone to summon Yu Ruoshui again.

Lin Xiao was not on duty this evening. He left the Wei Duke’s estate and went directly back to Prince Lan’s estate.

In the Siruzhuo study, Nanny Wen had everything prepared well in advance. The moment she saw Lin Xiao come back, she asked with warm eagerness: “The Commandery Princess is all right, I hope?”

Lady Cui had made quite a commotion when she returned to the estate that day — Nanny Li and the others had been summoning imperial physicians and preparing prescriptions, throwing Prince Lan’s estate into chaos — and Nanny Wen had found it impossible not to know.

Lin Xiao took the tea from Nanny Wen’s hands and said concisely: “She’s awake now.”

Nanny Wen nodded with relief. The Young Lord had stayed at the Wei Duke’s estate until this late precisely because he was worried about the Commandery Princess, which showed how much he valued her in his heart. It seemed Chang Rong was the one who had been reading things wrong — what business did some Miss Qu or Miss Melody have comparing themselves to a Commandery Princess who looked like an immortal?

She was thinking this and happened to glance out from behind the curtain, a mysterious smile spreading over her face. Tingfeng and Saoxue were still waiting in the side room for instructions. She had brought up the idea of making them the Young Lord’s chamber attendants last time, and both had shyly agreed — they couldn’t have been more willing. She had been coaching them on various matters over these past days as well. Tonight was a rare occasion when the Young Lord had come back to rest at the estate; she would have the two girls come and attend on the Young Lord shortly.

Lin Xiao was focused on puzzling out how to unravel the events at the Great Hidden Temple, and had no attention to spare for Nanny Wen’s quiet scheming. He drank his tea and went to wash up.

When he stepped out of the washroom with things heavily on his mind, he looked up — and to his surprise found two young serving women standing timidly before the bed.

The two women were dressed alike, each wearing only a single-layer, chest-high layered skirt, leaving vast stretches of their white shoulders and chests exposed. Their faces were flushed pink, their gazes shy yet carrying a faint warmth beneath.

“Tingfeng? Saoxue?” Lin Xiao’s first reaction was shock, followed swiftly by a cold, composed calm. He suppressed his anger and asked: “Who sent you in here?”

The two rose and gave their salutes in unison, and said softly: “We are here to attend on the Young Lord, at Nanny Wen’s instruction.”

Lin Xiao was speechless. He should have thought of this — if Nanny Wen hadn’t given the word, these two maids would never have dared come in uninvited. Nanny Wen — she was wonderful in every other way, except that she shared Chang Rong’s habit of always acting on her own initiative.

Thinking this, he said coolly to Tingfeng and Saoxue: “I don’t need you to attend me. Get out. Send Nanny Wen in — I have words for her.”

Tingfeng and Saoxue exchanged a dumbfounded look, their faces burning as if they might actually catch fire. The Young Lord didn’t want them to attend on him? Could it be that he found their looks unsatisfactory?

Seeing the two women dragging their feet and not moving, Lin Xiao’s expression hardened, and he raised his voice: “Did you not hear me?”

The two were startled into action, hurriedly made their bows, and retreated in flustered haste.

Before long, Nanny Wen came in looking bewildered, and said gently: “Were Tingfeng and Saoxue not attentive enough? Young Lord, don’t be angry — Nanny will give them a proper reprimand.”

Lin Xiao frowned. “Nanny, this is a one-time warning: do not ever act on your own initiative like this again.”

Nanny Wen was rarely confronted with such a stern expression from Lin Xiao in her presence, but she was not frightened — only thoughtful. She said: “Is the Young Lord not satisfied with Tingfeng and Saoxue’s looks?” At her reckoning, the looks of both were one in a hundred — Saoxue in particular had a complexion white and dewy as fresh jade, a figure admirably full and graceful. What man could see her without being pleased?

Seeing that Nanny Wen still didn’t understand his meaning, Lin Xiao raised his voice: “Nanny, listen carefully: I don’t like this sort of thing — and I especially dislike people around me presuming to decide my preferences on their own, no matter who they are. That includes you. Do you understand?”

Nanny Wen’s entire attention was fixed only on Lin Xiao’s first sentence. He didn’t like this sort of thing? She was baffled. The Young Lord had been chosen from the age of three by the late emperor to be trained by several great masters; he had grown up strong and healthy without a hitch — she had never seen him so much as sneeze. Could he have some hidden ailment after all?

Seeing Nanny Wen now wearing an expression of despair, Lin Xiao realized she had misunderstood entirely. He felt a wave of exasperation wash over him, and he said with irritable terseness: “In short: if you ever again dare to arrange people without my knowledge, I’ll sell every one of them off. One arrives, one goes.”

Nanny Wen heard this and slowly began to extract a bit of meaning from it. She sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at Lin Xiao with a smile. “Young Lord, you’re a sincere and decent young man. Now that you have someone in your heart, naturally you can no longer look at any other common, unremarkable face. And that’s good — once the Commandery Princess enters the household, you and she will live as one in mind and spirit, devoted to each other without distraction. Nothing could be better.”

Lin Xiao’s brow furrowed. “Commandery Princess? What Commandery Princess?”

Nanny Wen’s expression changed. “Commandery Princess Yishu! Have not His Lordship Prince Lan and Princess Derong both indicated as much?”

Lin Xiao shot to his feet. “Don’t say such things! There is nothing of the sort — not at all!”

Nanny Wen saw that Lin Xiao’s expression held shock and impatience, but notably no joy. She suddenly understood something and said slowly: “Could it be that my Young Lord still has his heart set on that Miss Qu?”

Lin Xiao froze. His face went red all the way down his neck. He muttered a silent oath at Chang Rong, was quiet for a moment, and then said with candor: “You’re right — I won’t deny it. Other than Miss Qu, there is no one else I can take any interest in. Nanny — I’m exhausted. Since what needed to be said has now been said clearly, please return to your room. I’m going to sleep.”

With that, he took off his shoes, lay down flat on the bed, and closed his eyes, paying Nanny Wen no further attention.

Nanny Wen took quite some time to recover from her shock. From the look of things, the Young Lord was truly set on marrying that Miss Qu. And yet — what was one to do with the Commandery Princess? And the Emperor and His Lordship — with a family standing like Miss Qu’s, the Emperor and His Lordship would never consent no matter what.

She fretted over this, lost in thought for a while. Seeing that Lin Xiao was now breathing with the steady rhythm of sleep, she could do nothing with him. She spread the embroidered quilt over him, then tiptoed out.

The moment Nanny Wen left, Lin Xiao opened his eyes and stared at the canopy above him.

The soft light of the sheep-horn lantern played gently over the bed curtains. Before his eyes, a figure gradually took shape — a dainty, radiant face, bright clear eyes, a white and delicate neck, and then further down, the tender, stirring curves of a young woman…

As Lin Xiao lay there thinking, his breath began to slowly grow unsteady, and a warmth spread through his body. He hurriedly turned over, forcibly shut his eyes, and drove that thought — wild and restless as some caged beast — out of his mind.