Speaking too deeply with a casual acquaintance was one of the great taboos of polite conversation.

Imperial Physician Wei clearly disliked discussing his own affairs, and she realized, the moment the words left her mouth, that the question had been rash.

Imperial Physician Wei evidently rarely spoke to anyone about such matters. He fell silent for a moment before saying, “Calling it an ancestral estate would be an exaggeration — it’s nothing more than a few dilapidated rooms. There’s no need to rebuild it.”

Of the two siblings, one was a consort in the rear palace with no chance whatsoever to leave the palace grounds. The other had become a physician at the Imperial Academy of Medicine, busy all day long — where would he find the time to go back?

Or perhaps there were circumstances behind it that outsiders were not meant to know.

Ling Jingshu, sensing the boundary, tactfully asked no further.

The carriage fell quiet again.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the carriage came to a stop.

The coachman climbed down and said apologetically, “We’re almost at the palace gate up ahead. The Imperial Guards are stationed there, and it really wouldn’t be convenient for our carriage to go through. Imperial Physician Wei, please get down and walk the rest of the way.”

Imperial Physician Wei smiled faintly and replied easily, “No matter, I’ll walk over myself.”

Then he turned to the others with a smile. “Thank you all for seeing me back to the Imperial Academy of Medicine. The guard here near the palace gate is tight, so there’s no need for you to get down. Better to avoid any unnecessary trouble.”

With that, he led Tian Dong down from the carriage.

Ling Xiao lifted the bamboo curtain and waved goodbye to Imperial Physician Wei.

Imperial Physician Wei had taken quite a liking to Ling Xiao, the simple, endearing boy, and even knowing Ling Xiao couldn’t see him, he waved back all the same.

Following the direction Ling Xiao was facing, Ling Jingshu happened to look out as well.

Imperial Physician Wei felt a touch of awkwardness.

He’d meant the wave for Ling Xiao, but now it looked as though he were waving at Ling Jingshu instead… If the young mistress of the Ling family and that Miss Ling Jingyan got the wrong idea, it wouldn’t reflect well on him.

Ling Jingshu took in every trace of Imperial Physician Wei’s awkward expression and couldn’t help pressing her lips together in a smile.

Compared to the cold indifference of their first meeting, Imperial Physician Wei seemed far more lively and endearing now.

The carriage turned back.

A smile lingered at the corners of Ling Jingshu’s lips the whole way. Her mood was clearly quite good.

Ling Jingyan, who had been holding her tongue for a while, finally spoke up with a teasing, wiggling-eyebrows grin. “A’Shu, ever since we left Prince Yan’s mansion, you haven’t stopped smiling. Looks like you’re in a good mood today! Too bad the ride was so short — you didn’t even get to say much to Imperial Physician Wei.”

The back of Ling Jingshu’s ears warmed slightly, though her face remained perfectly composed. “Imperial Physician Wei has worked so hard treating A’Xiao’s eyes. Seeing him back to the Academy was just a small token of our thanks, and naturally I’m glad of it. Cousin Yan, wherever are you taking this? It’s just as well Imperial Physician Wei has already left and didn’t hear any of this — otherwise, how would I ever have the face to bring A’Xiao to see him again?”

Ling Jingyan stuck out her tongue and laughed playfully. “I was just teasing a little — how would I dare talk nonsense in front of Imperial Physician Wei himself?”

“As for going to Prince Yan’s mansion today — once we’re back, let’s not keep it hidden. It’s best to tell Father- and Mother-in-law.” Jiang Shi glanced at Ling Jingshu. “Given Prince Yan’s temperament, there’s no telling what he might do later. They ought to be prepared, at the very least.”

Indeed!

The Crown Grandson was proud and thin-skinned, which made him relatively easy to handle. Prince Yan was an entirely different matter! Given his shamelessness and arrogance, it wouldn’t be at all strange if he simply showed up at the Ling family’s door.

At the thought, Ling Jingshu felt a faint headache coming on. After a moment’s thought, she nodded in agreement. “Cousin-in-law is right. Before, I kept the matter of Prince Yan hidden because I didn’t want Uncle and Aunt to worry. But things being what they are now, it can’t be kept secret any longer.”

“Once we’re back, please tell Aunt everything that happened today, Cousin-in-law.”

There were things she, as the person directly involved, couldn’t easily say herself — but Jiang Shi had no such reservations.

Jiang Shi nodded in understanding.

Having learned from last time, Sun Shi showed no impatience even after waiting most of the day. In fact, with a hint of suppressed delight, she asked, “Did His Highness the Crown Grandson keep you all for lunch at the Crown Prince’s residence again today?”

Jiang Shi coughed once and answered, “In answer to Mother, today we were warmly invited by Prince Yan, and we had lunch at his mansion.”

Sun Shi: “…”

Hadn’t they been at the Crown Prince’s residence? How in the world had this turned into something involving Prince Yan?

Sun Shi froze for a moment, then pressed urgently, “Yuniang, what in the world is going on here?”

“Mother, don’t worry, I’ll tell you everything that happened today, one thing at a time.” Jiang Shi’s account was tactful and carefully worded, but the very fact that Prince Yan had suddenly appeared and issued an invitation that allowed no refusal was, in itself, far from ordinary.

Sun Shi was no fool, and she quickly grasped the implication behind Jiang Shi’s words.

This Prince Yan — he had come for Ling Jingshu!

Sun Shi’s face nearly turned black with displeasure.

This simply would not do!

However exalted Prince Yan’s status, it still couldn’t compare to the Crown Grandson’s.

Moreover, the hidden tensions surging beneath the surface between Prince Yan and the Eastern Palace were already an open secret to everyone. Master Ling the Elder’s heart was set on the Eastern Palace, and he would never throw his support behind Prince Yan. If Prince Yan tried to force a marriage with a Ling family daughter, it would become impossible to ever distance themselves from him…

“Aunt, this is all my fault.” Ling Jingshu spoke up, looking apologetic. “Though I never meant to draw Prince Yan’s attention, I’ve brought this trouble upon the Ling family all the same.”

However vexed and displeased Sun Shi felt inside, she couldn’t let it show. She forced a comforting smile. “How could this possibly be your fault. Once your uncle gets home, I’ll discuss a plan with him myself. Go on back and rest properly, and don’t trouble yourself over it.”

Ling Jingshu obediently nodded her agreement, and took her leave together with Ling Xiao.

Once everyone had left, the smile Sun Shi had been forcing finally collapsed, and she let out a heavy sigh.

This A’Shu — attracting the Crown Grandson’s notice was one thing, but now she’d drawn Prince Yan’s attention too!

When Master Ling the Elder returned that evening from a social engagement and saw Sun Shi’s troubled expression, he asked in surprise, “What’s happened? Look at you, pulling such a long face.”

“My lord, something serious has truly happened!”

Sun Shi let out a long sigh, then quickly recounted everything that had happened during the day.

As Master Ling the Elder listened, his expression shifted again and again, and the effects of the wine vanished from him at once.

“…You, my lord, surely understand His Highness Prince Yan’s temperament better than I, a mere woman of the inner household.” Sun Shi said with a furrowed brow. “He’s not someone to be trifled with. With the Empress backing him, he acts however he pleases. If he truly has designs on A’Shu, I’m afraid there’ll be no end of trouble down the road.”

Master Ling the Elder’s face darkened too. “Absolutely not! A’Shu must not become entangled with Prince Yan, not under any circumstances!”

Sun Shi laughed bitterly. “My lord, this isn’t really a matter of whether A’Shu is willing or not. From what I can tell, whenever she speaks of Prince Yan, there’s only distaste and displeasure, no fondness at all. The crux of the matter is how Prince Yan himself intends to proceed!”

If Prince Yan was truly set on this, all it would take was persuading Empress Xu to issue an imperial edict, and however unwilling the Ling family might be, they would have no choice but to obediently prepare a dowry.

Master Ling the Elder’s face remained grim as he pondered for a long while, until at last an idea came to him. “This matter isn’t entirely without a solution, after all.”

Sun Shi’s spirits lifted at once. “What plan do you have, my lord?”