Having made the visit to the Crown Prince’s manor once before, everyone’s state of mind was considerably more at ease when they arrived again on this day. Even Ling Jingxian was no longer so nervous.

After they had settled smoothly into the guest room, Ling Jingxian could not help muttering: “Strange — why has His Highness the Crown Grandson not appeared today?”

Ling Jingshu: “……”

Lady Jiang coughed lightly and gave Ling Jingxian a stern look: “A’Xian, don’t say such things. Running into the Crown Grandson last time was a matter of chance. His Highness the Crown Grandson has a great many things to keep him occupied every day — how could he be deliberately waiting around for us?”

It’s probably because that last encounter was so embarrassing, and the Crown Grandson — feeling awkward — doesn’t want to show his face today. That would be quite understandable.

Ling Jingxian quietly turned this thought over in her mind, and thankfully managed not to say it aloud.

Ling Jingshu’s expression remained calm, and she said with a smile: “Imperial Physician Wei won’t be here for a while yet — let’s sit and wait a bit first.” As she spoke, she glanced toward Ling Xiao, who was sitting to the side in silence: “A’Xiao, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you nervous about the acupuncture coming up?”

Ling Xiao did not put on a brave front; he admitted it honestly: “I am, yes. During the acupuncture the feeling is both sore and swollen and painful, and it lingers for a long time even after it’s done. Just thinking about it makes me a little apprehensive.”

Ling Jingshu felt a great rush of compassion, and coaxed him gently: “It’s only once every five days — you endure it and it’ll be over.”

Ling Xiao nodded, then smiled: “A’Shu, I can bear this little bit of pain. Please stop treating me like a child who doesn’t know anything. I was only born just over an hour after you.”

Ling Jingshu pressed her lips together and smiled without a word.

Indeed — in her eyes, A’Xiao would always be that timid little brother who used to clutch at her sleeve, whose life had been extinguished in the prime of his sixteenth year.

His death had caused her a grief so devastating she had been unable to let it go.

Having been fortunate enough to be reborn and returned to this life, curing A’Xiao’s eyes had become the most important thing in her heart. Even more important than taking revenge!

“You two siblings — your bond is truly something special.” Ling Jingxian sighed with undisguised envy: “It makes others feel a pang of longing just watching you.”

Lady Jiang laughed and teased: “A’Xian, aren’t you a little guilty saying that? Is your elder brother not good enough to you?”

“That’s not so,” Ling Jingxian replied without a moment’s hesitation. “Elder Brother has always been extremely good to me. It’s just that Elder Brother is busy attending the Imperial Academy for his studies and rarely comes home. How can that compare to A’Shu and A’Xiao, who are together from morning to night every single day?”

Ling Xiao immediately protested: “Cousin A’Xian, once my eyes are cured, I will also be going away to study. Where would I find the time to be idle in the inner quarters wasting my days?” As he said this, he puffed out his somewhat slight chest, putting on the swaggering, valiant air of a proper young man!

Like a child imitating an adult — at once endearing and comical.

Everyone burst out laughing, nearly bending double.

“I am completely serious — what are you all laughing at?” Ling Xiao reiterated with some agitation: “When my eyes are better, I also want to attend the Imperial Academy like Elder Cousin Brother and further my studies.”

Ling Jingshu suppressed her laughter and soothed him: “All right, all right, all right. When your eyes are better, we will ask First Uncle to find a way to have you enrolled in the Imperial Academy.”

They waited for roughly half an hour, and then Imperial Physician Wei arrived.

Imperial Physician Wei was dressed as always in his half-worn plain garments and had not put on the official robes of the Imperial Medical Bureau. His clear and refined features carried no particular expression; he gave Ling Jingshu and the others a casual glance, then set about administering acupuncture to Ling Xiao.

Having gone through it twice before, Ling Xiao was gradually growing accustomed to the swelling, numbness, and piercing ache of the needles. Even so, cold sweat continued to seep from his forehead and temples without ceasing.

Imperial Physician Wei had many rules when treating patients, and Ling Jingshu did not dare speak up and disturb him at will, nor was it appropriate to step forward at this moment to wipe the sweat from Ling Xiao’s brow. Without thinking, she tightened her grip on the silk handkerchief in her hand.

Lady Jiang and Ling Jingxian also, without any prior arrangement, held their breath.

The room fell into complete silence. All that each person could hear was the sound of their own breathing and heartbeat.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps and a commotion arose outside the door. They were still some distance away, and it was difficult at that moment to make out who had arrived.

Imperial Physician Wei’s hands continued their work without pause. Yet his brow furrowed, and he ordered in a low, firm voice: “Ninth Young Miss Ling, go outside and see who it is — do not let outsiders come close.”

Imperial Physician Wei’s command was entirely matter-of-fact.

He had only brought his medicine apprentice Tian Dong with him; Tian Dong had to be on hand to pass him the gold needles. With no other attendant at his side, who else was there to send but Ling Jingshu?

Ling Jingshu’s brow had also furrowed slightly; upon hearing Imperial Physician Wei’s instruction, she responded without hesitation and rose to her feet.

Bai Yu said in a low voice: “Miss, let this servant go and have a look instead.”

This was, after all, the Crown Prince’s manor, and it was better for her, as a maidservant, to handle such an irritating matter. It would avoid the news reaching the Crown Princess’s ears and causing the Crown Princess displeasure.

Ling Jingshu understood Bai Yu’s concern completely and gave her a calm, faint smile: “It’s all right.”

With that, she stepped forward, gently opened the door, and walked out.

Bai Yu quickly followed.

Ling Jingshu walked a few steps and raised her eyes to look — and could not help but give a start.

There were only two figures in the lead; the great crowd behind them consisted entirely of palace maids, attendants, and guards.

Walking side by side were two young men, both fifteen years of age.

One was dressed in a black brocade robe. His features were cold and stern, his gaze deep and penetrating, his expression still as calm water. It was none other than His Highness the Crown Grandson, whose rank and position were of the highest order.

The other young man was dressed in a striking scarlet brocade robe. His narrow phoenix eyes carried a languid smile; when his gaze drifted, it seemed capable of drawing a person’s soul out of their body. Astonishingly, it was Prince Yan!

This was the Crown Prince’s manor — it was somewhat understandable that the Crown Grandson would appear here.

But what in the world was Prince Yan doing here? What was he here to join in on?

Ling Jingshu’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, then she quickly resumed her composure, stepped forward, and curtsied: “This young woman pays her respects to His Highness Prince Yan, and to His Highness the Crown Grandson.”

In terms of rank, these two young men were both scions of the imperial family, of the most exalted station. However, Prince Yan was one generation senior to the Crown Grandson, and by the conventions of propriety, one ought to greet Prince Yan first.

The Crown Grandson’s gaze settled on Ling Jingshu, and he was just about to speak when Prince Yan beat him to it with a smile: “Rise quickly. This is not the first time we have met — there is no need for these formal courtesies.”

Not the first time they had met?

Ling Jingshu had been in the capital for barely two months — when had she managed to make the acquaintance of the rakish Prince Yan?

The Crown Grandson’s brow shifted slightly, and a trace of what seemed like displeasure flickered through his eyes.

Ling Jingshu completed her bow in a composed and steady manner, then straightened and replied: “To think that Your Highness still remembers our brief encounter of a month ago — this young woman is quite overwhelmed.”

She said she was quite overwhelmed, yet not the slightest trace of the honor and joy of being remembered appeared on her face. Her lovely, flawless countenance was considerably cool and detached.

The Crown Grandson’s brow eased open slightly.

Prince Yan had met with a gentle rebuff, but took no offense. He raised an eyebrow and smiled: “That day at the Dingxiang Restaurant when we chanced to meet, this prince specifically gave you a calling card. If you had any matter to attend to, you were welcome to come to Prince Yan’s manor to find this prince. This prince waited in the manor for more than half a month, and still you did not call. Could it be that you look down on this prince?”