Wei Jieyu belonged to Empress Xu’s faction, and Imperial Physician Wei, by extension, also fell within Empress Xu’s mother-and-son camp.
Prince Yan did not press further. He raised an eyebrow with a light smile and breezily shifted the subject: “Imperial Physician Wei still needs to return to the palace to report. This prince won’t intrude on your time any further.”
Imperial Physician Wei’s expression remained unchanged. He bowed and took his leave.
The moment Imperial Physician Wei departed, Ling Jingshu turned to the Crown Grandson and excused herself: “Your Highness the Crown Grandson, my brother and I have imposed quite a bit with today’s visit. Now that A’Xiao has finished the acupuncture treatment, we should be returning home.”
The Crown Grandson clearly had no desire to see Prince Yan linger any longer either, and gave a clean, decisive nod. “Very well.”
“Wait!”
His Royal Highness Prince Yan was not pleased.
He had gone to all the trouble of making his way to the Crown Prince’s residence, yet before he had managed to exchange more than a few words with the beauty, Ling Jingshu was already rushing to leave. The Crown Grandson, too, was wearing that expression of someone who had no wish for him to stay — it was truly humiliating:
“A’Yao, this is your fault. Guests are guests. It is nearly noon — at the very least, you ought to keep the Ling siblings for lunch before letting them go. Is the esteemed Crown Grandson so haughty that he refuses to lower himself to associate with others?”
Leave it to the famously troublesome Prince Yan to have such a ready supply of unreasonable arguments.
The Crown Grandson glanced at Prince Yan and asked with a smile that did not reach his eyes: “Then what would Sixth Imperial Uncle suggest?”
Prince Yan waved a careless hand. “Never mind! Today I shall take matters into my own hands and stand in as host — I’ll keep the Ling family for lunch before they go. Imperial Elder Brother and Imperial Sister-in-Law are both very busy; there is no need to trouble them over something so small. Have the kitchen prepare some fine dishes and send them to this courtyard. This prince happens to have nothing pressing at the moment — I shall stay and dine with everyone today.”
The Crown Grandson: “……”
Ling Jingshu: “……”
She took back what she had thought earlier.
The sheer thickness of Prince Yan’s skin was truly unfathomable, impossible to gauge by ordinary standards.
What made it all the more infuriating was that Prince Yan was a full generation above the Crown Grandson. Every word he spoke placed him at an advantage. The Crown Grandson’s naturally cold and stern countenance was almost entirely useless against His Royal Highness Prince Yan.
Ling Jingshu simply said nothing at all.
If she could not refuse, then staying for lunch — what of it.
She was set on revenge, and both Princess Changping and Prince Yan were unavoidable obstacles. No matter how deep her loathing and hatred ran, she had to suppress it and endure.
The Crown Grandson was not one to be manipulated either, and quickly gathered his wits: “Men and women should not be overly familiar. Since Sixth Imperial Uncle intends to stay for a meal, it would not be proper for him to share a table with the Ling family’s female relatives. I happen to have nothing on my schedule at noon either, so I will simply keep Sixth Imperial Uncle company over a few cups of wine.”
The last sentence carried a faint undercurrent — a cool, crystalline edge of provocation.
No matter how shrewd and composed he usually was, he was still a fifteen-year-old young man. The hot-blooded impulse to act on a moment’s passion was never far away.
A flash crossed Prince Yan’s eyes. He gave a nod, accepting the challenge.
It was at this very moment that Ling Jingyan, who had been growing increasingly impatient waiting in the guest room, came running out in quick steps. “A’Shu, what are you dawdling about — why have you not come back yet——”
The rest of her words were swallowed in the shock of seeing Prince Yan standing there.
Why was he here?!
An almost imperceptible tremor passed through Ling Jingyan’s entire body. She knew she should compose herself and step forward to pay her respects, yet she could not control herself at all. Her bright, clear eyes fixed on Prince Yan in a helpless, transfixed gaze.
The love a young girl had carved into her very bones — could that simply be severed on command?
Even though these past days she had been as lively as ever, even though she never once brought up his name — his shadow still lingered at the very bottom of her heart.
“Cousin Yan,” Ling Jingshu noticed at once that Ling Jingyan’s expression was not right, and without hesitation stepped forward. She grasped Ling Jingyan’s hand firmly: “His Highness the Crown Grandson and His Royal Highness Prince Yan were passing by and came in to have a look. Why haven’t you greeted them already?”
The violent pounding of Ling Jingyan’s heart finally quieted somewhat. She steadied herself and stepped forward to pay her respects: “This humble young woman, Ling Jingyan, greets His Royal Highness Prince Yan, and greets His Highness the Crown Grandson.”
Prince Yan cast a casual glance at the dainty and charming Ling Jingyan, still without any particular impression of her, and said indifferently: “Rise. No need for ceremony.”
Ling Jingyan thanked him and stood, her heart a tangle of indescribable feelings.
Prince Yan’s voice sounded again: “Where is Young Master Ling? This prince will go see him right now.”
Ling Jingyan startled and instinctively looked toward Ling Jingshu.
What game was Prince Yan playing now? Why on earth would he want to see Ling Xiao out of nowhere?
Ling Jingshu had no time to explain at length. She quickly composed herself and replied softly: “A’Xiao is in the guest room. Please follow me, Your Highness.”
Ling Jingshu and Ling Jingyan led the way ahead; Prince Yan and the Crown Grandson followed close behind.
The Crown Grandson was restrained and self-possessed. His gaze swept briefly over Ling Jingshu’s slender figure and quickly moved away.
Prince Yan, however, had absolutely no intention of tempering himself. His eyes moved boldly and without restraint, fixed openly on Ling Jingshu’s form — admiring her waist, so slender it could scarcely be spanned by one hand; admiring the graceful way she carried herself as she walked. The more he looked, the more he liked what he saw.
The Crown Grandson caught every one of Prince Yan’s movements from the corner of his eye, and could not help but furrow his brow. He lowered his voice and reminded him: “Sixth Imperial Uncle, men and women are different — you ought to show a little more restraint.”
With intentions so obvious, even a blind man could see them.
Prince Yan and the Crown Grandson were the same height, so there was no angling a sidelong look downward — instead he curved the corner of his mouth in a half-smile that was neither warm nor cold, and said with unhurried ease: “‘A fair, virtuous maiden — any noble man would seek to court her.’ If one is restrained all day long, what happens when the girl one has set one’s heart on is taken away by someone else?”
The Crown Grandson: “……”
Ling Xiao had finished the acupuncture treatment and was still suffering a stabbing pain in his head. He was sitting resting. Madam Jiang sat beside him, keeping him company.
At the sound of footsteps, Madam Jiang reflexively raised her head.
When she made out the two young men standing behind Ling Jingshu and Ling Jingyan, Madam Jiang was also startled. But her composure was far greater than Ling Jingyan’s — she steadied herself almost at once, and stepped forward with a warm smile to pay her respects.
When Ling Xiao heard Prince Yan’s name and title announced, he was genuinely surprised.
This was the Crown Prince’s residence. What was Prince Yan doing here?
Moreover, he and Prince Yan had only ever met once; they were barely acquainted at all. If Prince Yan had come specifically, surely it was not to see him?
“A’Xiao,” Ling Jingshu’s familiar voice sounded close by: “His Royal Highness Prince Yan heard that Imperial Physician Wei had come to treat your eye ailment and came especially to see how you were doing. Won’t you quickly thank His Highness?”
He truly had come to see him?!
Utterly bewildered, Ling Xiao stood, and guided by Ling Jingshu, stepped forward to bow before Prince Yan: “Many thanks to Your Royal Highness Prince Yan for coming to visit.”
“There is no need for such formality — rise quickly.”
Prince Yan was unexpectedly warm and familiar. He actually reached out and helped Ling Xiao up himself, then in the same motion rested his arm around Ling Xiao’s shoulder with a smile: “Indeed — just had the acupuncture, by the look of it — your complexion is quite pale. But Imperial Physician Wei’s medical skill is exceptional. Since he has already said he can cure your eyes, he will certainly cure them.”
Before Ling Xiao could respond, Prince Yan pressed on with equal warmth: “If there are any rare medicinal ingredients you are missing, just say the word to this prince. The palace has no shortage of medicines — this prince will go and fetch them from there.”
Ling Xiao: “……”