Ling Jingshu and her party had arrived early, and even after the treatment and filling the prescription, the day was still young.

Once they were aboard the carriage, Ling Ji smiled and proposed: “We rarely come out — there is no need to rush back too early. This place is very close to the South Market. How about I take you all to browse the South Market for a while?”

Jiang Rongyue was quite tempted at the suggestion.

But Ling Jingshu declined tactfully: “First Aunt is still at home waiting for our return. It would be better to go back earlier and tell her the good news that there is hope for A’Xiao’s eye treatment — so she need not worry.”

Last time she had run into Prince Yan just at the Dingxiang Pavilion. Who was to say what might be encountered at the South Market.

Every time she went out, some unexpected trouble invariably came along. It was better to avoid such outings.

Ling Ji had not yet grasped what was implied and was about to persuade Ling Jingshu to come along to the South Market. But Jiang Rongyue caught on quickly and immediately said with a smile: “A’Shu is right. The South Market can always be visited another time — let us go home early today.”

As she said it, she quietly tugged at Ling Ji’s sleeve.

The words already at Ling Ji’s lips changed course: “Yes, quite right — I was being thoughtless. A’Xiao had acupuncture treatment today and is not feeling his best. Better to return home and rest.”

Husband and wife, each one more considerate and warm-hearted than the other.

Gratitude and warmth swelled within Ling Jingshu: “Thank you, Cousin-Brother, Cousin-Sister-in-law.”

Ling Xiao, having just had the golden needles inserted into the acupoints of his head, felt the stinging pain slowly receding, replaced now by a languid drowsiness. Combined with the fact that he had been too agitated and anxious the night before to sleep much, he had barely slept a wink.

Now, nestled against Ling Jingshu’s side, fatigue washed over him in waves. His head drooped onto Ling Jingshu’s shoulder, and he drifted off into a hazy sleep.

Not wanting to disturb Ling Xiao, Ling Jingshu maintained the same posture all the way back.

By the time they reached the Ling Family residence, her back and waist ached and were nearly stiff.

The carriage drew to a stop at the Ling Family’s main gates, and Ling Xiao finally woke. With a bashful expression, he wiped the corner of his mouth: “Have I been asleep for a very long time?”

Ling Ji suppressed a laugh and answered with a perfectly straight face: “Not all that long — just a little over an hour.”

Which was to say, he had fallen asleep the moment they boarded the carriage and not woken until the carriage stopped.

Ling Xiao smiled a touch sheepishly, then seemed to suddenly remember something and turned toward Ling Jingshu: “A’Shu, I have been leaning against your shoulder the whole way. You must not have moved at all. You must be aching all over by now.”

The two siblings generally slept lightly. Once asleep, the slightest movement from anyone nearby would rouse them. He had slept soundly the whole way — all at Ling Jingshu’s expense.

Ling Jingshu made a show of being at ease: “Not at all. You must have been truly exhausted — you slept deeply just now. I shifted my position several times along the way and you still did not wake.”

As she said this, she quietly rubbed her stiff waist, and cast everyone a meaningful glance.

Do not give me away.

Everyone responded with knowing smiles.

Ling Xiao, unable to see, naturally could not perceive Ling Jingshu’s silent, unobtrusive little action.

One by one, they stepped down from the carriage and entered through the Ling Family’s main gates.

Ling Jingyan had not yet recovered from her illness and was still lying in bed convalescing.

Sun Shi, with nothing particular to occupy herself, was seated at the bedside chatting idly with her daughter. Then a maid came in to report: “This servant begs to inform Madam and Miss — the eldest young master and the others have returned.”

Before Sun Shi could say a word, Ling Jingyan’s eyes lit up like lamps and she rolled herself out of bed in a single fluid motion: “Elder Brother and the others have finally come back! I want to go see them right now!”

Sun Shi was both exasperated and amused. She threw her daughter a look: “Your body is not yet well — don’t go out. Lie back down on the bed like a good girl.”

“Mother, I have been lying in this bed for days now. If I lie here any longer I shall grow mould,” Ling Jingyan wailed in exaggerated, aggrieved tones. “They went to Huichun Hall today and I was not able to go with them. Now I want to come out and hear what happened — and you won’t let me do that either. Are you really trying to stifle me to death?”

“Shush, shush, shush! You dreadful child — all this talk of dying, such unlucky words.” Sun Shi scolded Ling Jingyan in a fretful, meandering stream: “When it comes down to it, it is your own fault. Who told you to kick off your blanket in your sleep and catch a chill in the middle of the night…”

The moment the cause of her illness was mentioned, Ling Jingyan felt a pang of guilt, and immediately changed the subject: “Mother, please stop going on. I am practically recovered now, and it is so stuffy and hot outside — going out will not freeze me again.”

“Bi Tao, come quickly and help me get dressed and do my hair.”

With this manner of carrying on, it appeared she would kick up a fuss without end if they did not let her out.

Left with no other option, Sun Shi could only instruct Bi Tao: “Pick out one of her thicker robes — do not let Miss catch a chill.” She then admonished Ling Jingyan: “Walk slowly when you go out, and no running about.”

Ling Jingyan nodded her head in rapid, cheerful agreement.

Once Ling Jingyan had been made presentable, mother and daughter made their way to the inner hall together.

Barely through the door of the inner hall, Ling Jingyan cast aside every word of her mother’s admonishment and flung herself over to Ling Jingshu’s side, bubbling over with excitement as she asked: “A’Shu, how did it go? Did you see Imperial Physician Wei today? Is it true that he is terribly handsome? How does he compare to His Highness the Crown Grandson?”

Ling Jingshu: “…”

Everyone present: “…”

So what Ling Jingyan had been so insistent about coming to hear was this particular “pressing matter”!

Sun Shi had been on the verge of putting on a stern face to deliver a rebuke, but could not keep the amusement from creeping into her eyes: “A’Yan, go sit over there and behave — no nonsense.”

Ling Jingyan put forward her case with great conviction: “I am not being nonsensical at all. Word has long since spread that Imperial Physician Wei is as beautiful as a celestial being descended from the heavens. I was not able to go and see him with my own eyes this time, and I genuinely regret it — of course I have to ask about it.”

A celestial being descended from the heavens?

Ling Jingshu broke into a helpless laugh: “Cousin-Sister Yan, ‘celestial being descended from the heavens’ is an expression used to describe women — why would you apply it to Imperial Physician Wei?”

Ling Jingyan shrugged her shoulders: “The immortals in the heavens cannot all be women — there are celestial maidens, so surely there must also be men who have ascended to immortality? Besides, that is what everyone says. Do not dodge the question, A’Shu, just tell me already — is Imperial Physician Wei handsome or not?”

The image of Imperial Physician Wei’s refined, handsome face flashed swiftly through Ling Jingshu’s mind.

“Very handsome.” This was nothing but the honest truth, and there was not the slightest strain in saying it.

Jiang Rongyue also nodded spontaneously in agreement: “Indeed — Imperial Physician Wei truly is extraordinarily handsome.”

Sun Shi pricked up her ears to listen as well.

Men gathered together and delighted in discussing the beauty of women; what they did not know was that women gathered together and most loved to discuss handsome men. It was simply human nature — no one could claim to be above it.

Ling Jingyan pressed on with eager curiosity: “And compared to His Highness the Crown Grandson?”

Ling Jingshu had no desire to answer this particular question, and deflected lightly: “His Highness the Crown Grandson is born with a natural majesty and commanding presence. Imperial Physician Wei has a healer’s touch and a compassionate heart for those who suffer. The two are entirely different — how can they be compared?”

Ling Ji immediately picked up the thread: “Exactly, exactly. A’Yan, it is not that your elder cousin-brother is speaking ill of you, but a person of your age — how can you still be so shallow as to judge only by appearances? One ought to value character and depth of substance. If you wish to admire and esteem someone, you should look to a person like me…”

Everyone burst into peals of laughter.