Jiang Shi and the others waiting outside the door were growing increasingly anxious.

Ling Jing’yan glanced repeatedly at the tightly shut door, murmuring under her breath: “Sister-in-law, is it truly all right to just let Imperial Physician Wei and A’Shu stay alone in the room like this?”

Jiang Shi gave a wry smile and said quietly: “You saw it yourself just now. Imperial Physician Wei insisted on examining A’Shu’s pulse alone, and A’Shu did not object. If we were to interfere now, it would only be improper.”

Ling Jing’yan pouted: “So we just let the two of them stay in the room together like that?” This way, A’Shu was at rather a disadvantage. Should word get out, it would not sound too good regardless.

Jiang Shi sighed helplessly: “Let us wait a little while longer with patience. If Imperial Physician Wei still has not come out, I will go knock and prompt him to leave.”

That was the only thing they could do.

Ling Jing’yan closed her mouth and said no more.

Bai Yu was also a picture of anxiety, her gaze practically fixed unblinkingly on that door.

Just as everyone was waiting with mounting urgency, the door finally opened. Imperial Physician Wei emerged with a composed and unhurried expression.

Bai Yu felt a wave of relief wash over her, and she stepped quickly forward: “Imperial Physician Wei, the young lady hasn’t suffered anything serious, has she?”

Imperial Physician Wei replied calmly: “Miss Ling fell into the water and had a shock; she also has some lingering cold-damp in her body. She is to rest in bed for half a month. I have already written out a prescription to calm the spirit and dispel the cold — have the medicine prepared according to the formula and taken three times a day. Half a month of this will suffice.”

In other words, there was truly nothing seriously wrong after all!

Bai Yu expressed her grateful thanks and hurried into the room.

Jiang Shi straightened her skirts and bowed to Imperial Physician Wei: “We have troubled you today, Imperial Physician Wei. It is good that A’Shu has no serious ailment.”

As for what had been said and done between the two of them during their time alone just now — it was not appropriate to ask directly to his face. She would ask A’Shu about it later.

Imperial Physician Wei did not linger with further words, and soon made his way over to Princess An’ya’s side.

It was considerably livelier in Princess An’ya’s private chambers.

All the young ladies who had come to visit that day were present. Princess Changping stood guard personally at the bedside, her face etched with worry, her eyes slightly reddened, dabbing at the corners of her eyes from time to time with a handkerchief.

Su Ying was speaking in gentle, comforting tones: “…What happened today was purely an accident; no one could have anticipated that Princess An’ya would fall into the water. Moreover, Princess An’ya has now been rescued safely. Imperial Physician Wei has already taken her pulse. The princess received an excessive shock — as long as she rests quietly for a period of time, she will be fine. Why should Your Highness dwell on this and blame yourself so? If you were to injure your own health on account of it, that would truly not be worth it.”

The rest of the group also chimed in with words of agreement.

Princess Changping performed the role of the deeply devoted elder sister to perfection, before finally “rallying” under the others’ comforting words: “You are all right. An’ya has not yet regained consciousness, and I, as her elder sister, must hold myself together. If I were to collapse as well, would that not give Father Emperor and Mother Empress even more cause to worry?”

Imperial Physician Wei, just walking into the room, happened to catch every word of Princess Changping’s performance, and could not help but give a cold, disdainful laugh to himself.

This Princess Changping. She was truly worthy of being Empress Xu’s daughter. Mother and daughter alike — equally hypocritical, equally revolting!

Someone with sharp eyes spotted Imperial Physician Wei’s figure and let out a soft exclamation — “Imperial Physician Wei has come!” — and the room fell quiet at once, all the women turning to look.

With the distinction observed between men and women, only Imperial Physician Wei could enter and exit a lady’s private chambers with complete propriety.

Under the gazes of the women — each with their own expression — Imperial Physician Wei remained calm and composed, and bowing to Princess Changping with clasped hands said: “Your Highness, Miss Ling has regained consciousness.”

Princess Changping’s expression shifted: “Oh? She has regained consciousness already?”

Whatever the circumstances, an accident had still taken place within her residence. She had no desire for An’ya or Ling Jingshu to suffer any lasting harm.

Imperial Physician Wei answered: “This subject has taken Miss Ling’s pulse and written out a prescription; Miss Ling’s constitution presents no serious concerns. Your Highness need not worry.”

Princess Changping made a sound of acknowledgment, thought for a moment, then rose to her feet: “I shall go and look in on her.”

An’ya and Ling Jingshu had fallen unconscious at the same time, and she had been at Princess An’ya’s bedside throughout, without having visited Ling Jingshu. Neither sentiment nor propriety would stand for it.

With Princess Changping rising, the entire group rose along with her and departed.

With so many people no longer chattering away in her ears, the room became considerably more peaceful.

Imperial Physician Wei sat down in the chair beside the bed, his gaze resting on Princess An’ya’s pallid, bloodless little face. His eyes were full of tender concern.

At the time, when he was in the Imperial Medical Office and first heard news of Princess An’ya’s fall into the water, he had immediately volunteered to come to Princess Changping’s residence. It was only upon confirming that Princess An’ya was out of danger that he had let himself breathe again.

Wei Jieyu had only this one daughter. She cherished her as the apple of her eye. By now she would surely have learned of Princess An’ya’s fall — there was no knowing how anxious and frightened she must be at this very moment.

Princess An’ya suddenly murmured something — vague and indistinct, barely making sense.

Imperial Physician Wei’s expression stirred, and he said in a low voice: “Princess An’ya, are you having a nightmare?”

Hearing that familiar voice, Princess An’ya opened her eyes with some effort. She gazed at Imperial Physician Wei’s face in a daze, then after a long moment called out weakly: “Uncle, why have you come?”

In the palace on ordinary days, Imperial Physician Wei had to observe strict propriety when seeing Princess An’ya, without a single step out of place. It had been a very long time since he had heard Princess An’ya address him with such familiarity.

Imperial Physician Wei’s nose stung faintly: “An’ya, you have finally woken up. You must not be so mischievous from now on. If your mother consort were to find out, there is no telling how many times she would weep.”

His tone was warm and casual, yet carried within it a hint of reproach.

Princess An’ya’s face was flushed with shame and self-recrimination: “It is all my fault — I insisted on picking that lotus blossom myself, and that is how I fell into the water, causing Uncle to worry…Right, I remember that someone jumped into the lake to save me. Who was that person?”

The image of Ling Jingshu’s face flashed through Imperial Physician Wei’s mind, and his voice softened involuntarily by several degrees: “It was Miss Ling who saved you.”

Princess An’ya was somewhat surprised.

When she had fallen into the water, her consciousness had been hazy and unclear. She had only known that someone had jumped into the lake to save her, without knowing at all who that person was. In those moments when she was nearly drowning and suffocating, that person had held her tightly without letting go, right up until the last moment before she lost consciousness.

So it had been Ling Jingshu.

Princess An’ya had already felt quite favourably toward Ling Jingshu to begin with, and after this incident, that goodwill shot up to an entirely different level: “Uncle, how is Miss Ling?”

“She was unconscious for a while as well, but she has come to now.” Imperial Physician Wei answered with a smile.

Princess An’ya said immediately: “Then I shall go see her right now, to thank her for saving my life.”

She had just moved to rise when a wave of dizziness swept over her.

Princess An’ya’s vision burst with golden sparks, and she let out an involuntary cry.

“You have just regained consciousness and your body is still extremely weak — do not move about rashly.” Imperial Physician Wei was both worried and exasperated, and shot Princess An’ya a stern look: “Expressing your thanks can wait until you are feeling better. Right now you are to lie down obediently and rest.”

It was rare for Imperial Physician Wei to adopt such a serious expression — considerably more stern than his usual manner.

Princess An’ya did not dare utter a word, and obediently lay down to rest.