Ling Jingshu instinctively looked up as well.

Through the misty rain, a young man approached at an unhurried pace, dressed in a robe of bamboo-green cloth, holding an oil-paper umbrella. His face was clean-featured and gracefully refined, with a mild, serene smile resting upon it, his gaze clear and at ease.

Tian Dong, the medicine apprentice, followed behind him, carrying a medicine chest on his back.

It was Imperial Physician Wei who had arrived!

Ling Jingyan stood at Ling Jingshu’s side, her eyes going wide as she screamed inwardly in disbelief: Was there truly a man this handsome in the world?

She could not help but steal another glance at the Crown Grandson.

Well — His Highness the Crown Grandson was also exceedingly, extraordinarily handsome, with a noble bearing that few could match — dazzling and outstanding. And there was that boldly handsome Prince Yan as well… Every single one of them was so exceptional and remarkable. Which one on earth should A’Shu choose in the end?

What a headache.

Eighth Miss Ling — you truly think too much!

“This humble official pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Grandson.”

Imperial Physician Wei stepped forward and bowed with cupped hands.

The Crown Grandson was notably courteous toward Imperial Physician Wei, the faintest smile crossing his lips as he said, “Imperial Physician Wei need not stand on ceremony — please rise.”

Were this an ordinary imperial physician, the Crown Grandson would naturally not have had to give him any particular regard. But the man before him was different. Imperial Physician Wei was supremely skilled in his art and enjoyed an impeccable reputation — not only did he carry tremendous esteem among the common people, but his acquaintances among the high officials of the court were not few, making him a person not to be taken lightly. To say nothing of the favored yet low-profile Wei Jieyu who resided in the imperial palace — the Emperor’s trust and reliance upon Imperial Physician Wei was known to all.

Furthermore, Imperial Physician Wei had been coming to the Crown Prince’s residence on a regular schedule for two years to tend to the Crown Prince’s health. Over those two years the Crown Prince’s condition had improved steadily and his old ailments seldom flared up — Imperial Physician Wei’s contributions to this were beyond dispute.

For all of these reasons, the Crown Grandson’s manner toward Imperial Physician Wei was remarkably approachable.

Imperial Physician Wei nonetheless maintained his proper decorum and completed his bow before standing straight.

“It has been raining since early morning today. Yet Imperial Physician Wei has taken the trouble to come out of the palace especially to take my father’s pulse — I am deeply grateful.” The Crown Grandson’s voice was quite warm.

Imperial Physician Wei replied with a smile, “This is within the bounds of this humble official’s duty. Your Highness’s repeated expressions of gratitude make this official feel entirely unworthy of receiving them.”

The Crown Grandson smiled faintly. “Imperial Physician Wei’s medical skill is consummate, and his medical virtue even more so — a model worthy of emulation by all physicians under heaven. What could there possibly be that is unworthy?”

He paused and then continued, “The young Ling gentleman presented this prince’s calling card at Returning Spring Hall, and Imperial Physician Wei saw him ahead of the others, breaking the hall’s usual custom — a considerable favor to this prince’s standing. Should Imperial Physician Wei have a matter to request of this prince in the future, as long as it is within this prince’s power, this prince will not refuse.”

A promise from the Crown Grandson — its weight was considerable, as one could well imagine.

Such a gesture of gratitude was also not something one could decline.

So it seems this Ninth Miss Ling holds rather more weight in the Crown Grandson’s heart than he had imagined. Otherwise the Crown Grandson would not have so readily taken the favor upon himself…

Imperial Physician Wei’s eyes flashed with a look of quiet understanding. He did not refuse. With a smile, he replied, “Since Your Highness puts it so, then many thanks to the Crown Grandson.”

While the Crown Grandson and Imperial Physician Wei spoke, no one else had any right to interject.

Ling Jingshu had not intended to speak either — until she heard the Crown Grandson’s words, at which point her brow furrowed ever so slightly before quickly returning to its usual stillness.

Ling Jingshu stepped forward and said, “Your Highness the Crown Grandson has bestowed a calling card upon us, and we siblings carry that kindness in our hearts. We have not yet had the chance to repay Your Highness’s grace, and yet we would shamelessly accept yet another debt of gratitude from Your Highness?”

Then she looked toward Imperial Physician Wei. “Should Imperial Physician Wei succeed in healing A’Xiao’s eye condition, we siblings will hold that gratitude close in our hearts and do everything in our power to repay him.”

The Crown Grandson: “…”

Imperial Physician Wei: “…”

The Crown Grandson, thoroughly accustomed to holding authority and having his will followed, was clearly not at all accustomed to having his goodwill refused. A flash of displeasure crossed his eyes, and his voice turned markedly cold. “Ninth Miss Ling must be misunderstanding this prince’s meaning. The promise this prince made to Imperial Physician Wei was because Imperial Physician Wei broke the hall’s custom as a courtesy to this prince — it has nothing to do with you siblings. There is no need to be so presumptuous!”

The words were hard and icy, searing against the ears of those who heard them.

Ling Jingyan felt a burning heat creep up behind her ears and wanted nothing more than to find a hole in the ground to disappear into.

Even someone as thick-skinned as herself found it hard to bear hearing those words — A’Shu, having heard them, must feel even more mortified…

Imperial Physician Wei also seemed not to have anticipated that things would take such an awkward turn, and wore an expression of frank surprise.

This esteemed Crown Grandson clearly held some fondness for Ninth Miss Ling — and yet spoke to her with such a lack of courtesy. That was truly unexpected.

No matter how clever and spirited Ninth Miss Ling was, she was still a young woman who had yet to be wed. Having heard such harsh words, she would surely in her humiliation turn and flee in tears…

Contrary to all expectation, Ling Jingshu remained entirely composed. She gave a self-deprecating smile and said, “So that was Your Highness’s meaning. I truly was being presumptuous. Please forgive me, Your Highness!”

With that, she gathered her skirts and bowed deeply with meticulous propriety, her bearing one of complete and sincere deference.

The Crown Grandson stared fixedly at the young woman bowing low before him, and a storm of emotions flickered through his eyes — vexation, anger, and a fury whose source he could not himself determine. Whether it was directed at himself or at Ling Jingshu, he did not know.

The Crown Grandson said nothing.

And so Ling Jingshu held her bowing posture and did not rise.

This formal deep bow — every daughter of a well-bred family had undergone strict training in it.

When Ling Jingshu had been learning etiquette under Nanny Liu’s instruction, this posture was practiced at length. As long as Nanny Liu did not give her leave to rise, she could not move — even if her whole body ached and grew rigid, even if her brow was beaded with sweat.

Ling Jingshu was capable of holding this posture for the full duration of a burning incense stick.

Every eye in the gathering was now fixed upon Ling Jingshu and the Crown Grandson.

Ling Xiao’s face was etched with anxiety. He wanted to step forward and plead on Ling Jingshu’s behalf, but Jiang Shi took firm hold of him. Unable to speak, she gave his sleeve a hard tug.

Things are already unsettled enough — do not make it worse. If you step in now, there may be no way to recover the situation at all.

Ling Xiao bit down hard on his lip, his eyes growing warm and wet beneath the gauze.

Ling Jingyan, too, understood what mattered here.

The Crown Grandson was clearly in the grip of anger. If he could not let that anger pass, there was perhaps no chance they would ever be permitted through the doors of the Crown Prince’s residence again…

Thinking on this, Ling Jingyan pressed down every bit of anxiety, heartache, sorrow, and reluctance inside her, fixed her wide, round eyes on the Crown Grandson, and silently willed him in her heart to relent and ease.

Imperial Physician Wei was also watching Ling Jingshu.

As though seeing her properly for the first time, he studied her carefully with a frank, attentive gaze.

He had long since grown accustomed to beauties of every variety in the imperial palace. His own elder sister, Wei Jieyu, was a woman of breathtaking, unparalleled beauty, while he himself was a strikingly handsome man.

He had long since lost any sense of response to beauty — had lost all interest in it — and could without exaggeration be said to look upon it with indifference.

And yet this Ninth Miss Ling was genuinely extraordinarily beautiful.

Without a trace of rouge or powder, her clothing plain and simple, her appearance was one of crisp, luminous, unrivaled loveliness.

Standing in the fine rain now, her hair lightly dampened, a gentle moisture resting on her forehead, cheeks, and the tip of her nose — like a flower bud glistening with dewdrops, fresh and alluring, graceful and captivating.