Four days later.
The sky was overcast, and a fine, misty rain had been falling since early morning.
Ling Jingshu boarded the carriage first, then reached out and helped Ling Xiao up as well, softly reminding him, “A’Xiao, be careful.”
Ling Xiao’s eyes were wrapped in gauze. He settled into his seat beside Ling Jingshu.
Ling Jingyan, dressed in a pink dress with her hair arranged in double-loop buns, promptly climbed in after them and sat down across from Ling Jingshu, grumbling, “This awful weather — it was perfectly fine yesterday. Why on earth did it have to start raining first thing this morning?”
Ling Jingshu smiled casually. “We are sitting in the carriage, so we will not get wet. Besides, the rain today is not heavy. It will not really affect anything.”
Ling Jingyan pouted, her displeasure plain. “How can it not affect anything? I specially applied the new rouge I bought this morning. One splatter of rain and it will run into a painted mess — and my whole morning of effort will have been for nothing!”
Ling Jingshu: “…”
Jiang Shi, who had gotten in after them, pressed her lips together, smiling.
Wherever Ling Jingyan was, there was always laughter. She was genuinely fond of this younger sister-in-law.
Ling Jingyan grumbled for a few more sentences, then looked out at the hazy misty scenery in the rain, and her mood swiftly brightened. She grabbed Ling Jingshu’s arm and exclaimed excitedly, “A’Shu! A’Shu, look outside quickly! The fine rain falling like this — it is like a layer of light gauze. It really is so beautiful!”
Having been confined to her room for more than half a month recovering from her illness, and now finally well enough to go out, Ling Jingyan’s spirits could not have been higher.
Ling Jingshu followed Ling Jingyan’s gaze outward and nodded in agreement. “You are right — it truly is beautiful.”
Ling Xiao sighed with heartfelt longing. “I wish I could see it with my own eyes.”
“Do not be impatient.” Ling Jingyan smiled and reassured him. “Give it three months, and Imperial Physician Wei will have your eyes healed. Then you can look at whatever you like, for as long as you like.”
Ling Jingyan was vivacious by nature, and her words carried a matter-of-fact confidence.
That confidence and brightness could so easily infect those around her.
Ling Xiao pictured the day his eyes would be healed, and broke into a grin.
The carriage rolled swiftly and steadily toward the Crown Prince’s residence.
Sun Shi had not come, and everyone was a little more relaxed and cheerful than usual. Even the ordinarily composed and self-possessed Jiang Shi seemed livelier than her customary self.
“Sister-in-law, Eighth Sister Yan — I have troubled you both again.” Ling Jingshu said with a note of apology. “Really, I could have accompanied A’Xiao to the Crown Prince’s residence on my own. There was no need for you two to come along with us…”
“Do not say such things ever again — there is no need for such courtesy between us.” Jiang Shi quickly cut Ling Jingshu off, gave a little wink, and offered a knowing smile. “Neither Yan nor I find it the slightest bit troublesome.”
Rarely did they have a legitimate reason to go out — and inwardly she and Ling Jingyan were delighted about it.
What was more, for the next several months they would be able to go out once every few days — there was hardly anything more wonderful to look forward to!
“Right, not troublesome in the least!” Ling Jingyan beamed. “A’Xiao’s eye condition can take a year and a half to treat and it would still be fine!”
Ling Xiao: “…”
Ling Xiao raised an objection. “Eighth Sister Yan — I am looking forward to being healed quickly and seeing the world again! I most certainly do not want treatment to drag on that long!”
Ling Jingyan stuck out her tongue and hastily apologized with a placating smile. “I’m sorry — I spoke without thinking. Do not take it to heart.”
Ling Xiao had only been speaking offhandedly, and with Ling Jingyan making such a solemn apology, he became awkward and flustered instead, his face reddening slightly as he replied, “It is all right. I was the one being too petty just now — it was clearly said in jest. I know Eighth Sister Yan hopes for my recovery. You did not mean anything by it.”
Ling Jingyan looked at Ling Xiao, and suddenly let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
“Eighth Sister Yan, why the sudden sighing?” Ling Jingshu asked with a smile.
Ling Jingyan replied with a miserable expression. “Not being as beautiful as you has already troubled me greatly. And only today did I realize that even A’Xiao is a bit better-looking than me. What am I supposed to do with myself?”
At that, everyone burst into laughter.
The journey was filled with cheerful voices the whole way, and the distance did not seem long at all. It felt like only a few sentences’ worth of time before they had arrived outside the Crown Prince’s residence.
Jiang Shi sent a maid ahead with the calling card to the gatehouse. The gatekeeper’s steward had already received his instructions and came out to welcome them promptly.
Jiang Shi was the eldest, so the group naturally deferred to her as their lead. Ling Jingshu held Ling Xiao’s hand, while her other hand was held in Ling Jingyan’s.
It was Ling Jingyan’s first visit to the Crown Prince’s residence. Her eyes quietly took in the surroundings, and she was inwardly overwhelmed with admiration.
Fortunately, though she was lively and unrestrained among family, she exercised considerable discretion before strangers and would never do anything to bring shame upon the Ling Family.
The gatekeeper’s steward led Ling Jingshu and her party to the ornamental inner gate.
A maid went ahead to announce their arrival, and very soon Lady Ye appeared and walked out to meet them. Her bright, beautiful eyes lingered meaningfully on Ling Jingshu for a beat longer than necessary before she smiled and said, “The guest room has already been arranged and is ready. Please follow me.”
Ling Jingshu, perceptive as she was, caught the subtle quality of Lady Ye’s gaze, but gave nothing away, responding with a composed smile and a gracious expression of thanks.
So it seemed the Crown Princess truly had no favorable impression of her — even Lady Ye’s gaze carried a faint, half-concealed disdain.
Lady Ye led the way, explaining as she walked, “Each time Imperial Physician Wei takes the Crown Prince’s pulse, it is done in the study. The Crown Princess specifically gave instructions that a guest room be arranged in the courtyard closest to His Highness’s study, to spare Imperial Physician Wei the inconvenience of having to go back and forth.”
Ling Jingshu responded quickly with a warm smile. “The Crown Princess is truly kind-hearted and benevolent. She is so busy every day, yet she still keeps our siblings’ situation in mind — we are truly most deeply grateful.”
Lady Ye smiled with a touch of restrained composure. “It is a small matter, hardly worth mentioning.” She paused, then added, “Just around this bend ahead and we will be there…”
Before she could finish, Lady Ye’s footsteps halted abruptly.
Ling Jingshu started slightly and looked up ahead.
Not far in front of them, a figure in black had appeared — at some point, unnoticed.
Fine rain drifted through the air, veiling everything in the world in a soft, hazy curtain, achingly beautiful. The young man in black stood in the rain with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze deep, his bearing vivid with an arresting energy.
Why had the Crown Grandson suddenly appeared here? No — wait. This was the Crown Prince’s residence. His presence here was the most natural thing in the world…
Lady Ye quickly recovered herself and hurried forward to bow in greeting.
The Crown Grandson acknowledged her with an easy sound of assent, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the group before settling at last on Ling Jingshu’s lovely face.
Ling Jingshu steadied herself and stepped forward with Jiang Shi and the others to pay her respects. She lowered her head and composed her expression with quiet decorum. “This humble woman pays her respects to Your Highness the Crown Grandson. Many thanks to Your Highness for the calling card you so generously bestowed upon us some days past — we anticipate that we will impose upon you again in the future.”
There was little surprise in her manner, and not a trace of panic.
The Crown Grandson was silent for a moment before saying with measured detachment, “Rise.”
The moment his words fell, unhurried footsteps were heard approaching.
The Crown Grandson’s gaze moved past Ling Jingshu toward the arriving figure.