“Young lady, are you all right!”

Bai Yu hurried to the bedside and took hold of Ling Jingshu’s hands, which were somewhat cold to the touch.

Jiang Shi and Ling Jing’yan also pressed close from either side, both wearing expressions of deep concern.

Ling Jingshu felt a warmth rise in her heart, and she replied quietly: “There is no need to worry — my body is in no serious state; a good rest for some days and I shall be well.”

Jiang Shi hesitated briefly, but finally voiced the question she had been holding: “A’Shu, why did Imperial Physician Wei insist on examining you alone? Is there some reason behind this?”

Ling Jingshu was silent for a moment before she answered: “Sister-in-law, I do not wish to deceive you. There is indeed some matter behind this that is not fit for others to hear. I cannot tell you yet, but you will all know in time.”

She had a faint premonition. The matter of the unusual ailment she carried would likely not remain hidden for much longer…

Sun Shi had known of it for some time, and Ling Daye must know of it by now as well. Today she had also revealed herself before Imperial Physician Wei — perhaps within a few days, those close to her around her would all come to know.

She would speak of it when the day came that it could no longer be concealed. Right now she truly had no heart to bring it up.

Seeing Ling Jingshu frowning with a burdened expression, Jiang Shi sensibly refrained from pressing further. She put on a lightened, carefree smile and said: “Very well then — let us not speak of these things. As long as you are safe and sound, that is all that matters.”

Jiang Shi’s considerateness was truly moving.

Ling Jingshu gave her a grateful smile, and was just about to say something when she heard a clamour of footsteps outside the door.

Bai Yu hurried to open it.

Princess Changping and her entourage had arrived!

“Miss Ling, thanks to you this time, I do not know how much suffering An’ya would have endured otherwise.” Princess Changping sat at the bedside, clasping Ling Jingshu’s hands, her voice and expression both impeccably performed.

Ling Jingshu felt goosebumps rise all over her body. She suppressed the urge to pull her hand back and replied with feigned shyness: “I have a rough ability in the water, and at the time I happened to be standing nearest to her — seeing Princess An’ya fall into the water, I acted without a second thought and jumped in after her. Unfortunately, my swimming is not very proficient. Fortunately, Your Highness promptly instructed two palace maids to jump in to help. Otherwise, I am afraid I would have only added to Princess An’ya’s predicament.”

With a light and understated manner, she attributed all the credit to Princess Changping.

Princess Changping felt a pleasant lift in her heart upon hearing this, and the furrow of her brow smoothed out: “Whatever the case, this act of kindness — I shall remember it on An’ya’s behalf.”

The onlookers standing nearby began to add their praise of Ling Jingshu, one after another.

After today’s events, Ling Jingshu had a life-saving debt owed to her by Princess An’ya, and had also earned the special regard of Princess Changping. In the days ahead, who was to say what greater fortune might not be in store — and all of them were people of perceptive and quick minds. Naturally, none of them would look down on this Ninth Miss Ling any longer.

Amid the chorus of praise, Jiang Rongyue’s face — filled with guilt and self-reproach — stood out in particular.

“Today’s events were all set off by me,” Jiang Rongyue said, her eyes red, as she made her apology: “If not for my startled cry, An’ya would not have been frightened into falling into the water, and none of this chain of events would have followed. I am sorry!”

Her voice broke into sobs even as she spoke.

Jiang Rongyue, after all, was only a girl of fourteen or fifteen — when had she ever encountered a situation like this? For half a day she had been wracked with shame, grief, and fear, and her tears had not stopped the entire time.

Ling Jingshu said in a gentle, soothing voice: “How can you be blamed for all of this? Even if it had been me, I would have been greatly startled to see Princess An’ya leaning over the railing. You did not cry out in alarm on purpose; and once An’ya awakes, she will certainly not hold it against you either. Please set your heart at ease — there is no need to reproach yourself.”

Jiang Rongyue’s sobbing gradually quieted.

Su Ying gave a smiling sigh: “I was telling Jiang younger sister the very same thing earlier, and she would not listen to me. Now that she has heard it from Miss Ling’s own lips, her heart should feel more settled.”

Jiang Rongyue had the most prominent family standing among all the young ladies present — even Princess Changping had condescended to offer a few words of comfort.

Under the soothing of those around her, Jiang Rongyue finally stopped her weeping and dried her tears with a handkerchief.

Princess Changping looked over at Ling Jingshu again, and said in a warm and pleasant manner: “You took a fall into the water today and should rest and recuperate properly for some days. There is no need to rush back to the residence — do stay here. It will not be too late to return to the Ling household once your health has recovered.”

Ling Jingshu had no intention of staying, and declined without a second thought: “Many thanks for Your Highness’s kind consideration. My body is in no serious condition; I can manage the carriage ride home. Once I have recovered, I shall come to call and pay my respects to Your Highness.”

Princess Changping saw that Ling Jingshu was quite insistent and did not press further, instead bestowing an array of costly tonics and restorative supplements before letting the matter rest.

Upon returning to the household, everyone could not spare a moment to pay their respects to Sun Shi and instead helped Ling Jingshu back to her private chambers first.

Ling Xiao heard the commotion and immediately came over, his voice bright with cheer: “A’Shu, you are finally back — I have been waiting the better part of a whole day!”

Ling Jingshu had no energy for lengthy words, and gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment.

Ling Xiao’s hearing was acute, and he immediately detected something amiss, and furrowed his brow: “A’Shu, what is wrong with you? Your voice sounds utterly without strength.”

There was no concealing the matter of falling into the water.

Ling Jingshu explained the events lightly and briefly. She had little strength, and her voice was considerably weaker than usual.

Ling Xiao heard her out, both anxious and pained: “Do not speak anymore — rest properly.”

As he spoke he felt his way to the bedding and drew it up over Ling Jingshu. He also did not forget to remind her: “Let this matter pass this time — but if you encounter something like this in the future, do not act impulsively. No matter how precious a princess’s life is, it is not worth taking such a risk.”

Ling Jingshu felt her heart fill warmly to the brim, and she obediently agreed.

Sun Shi came quickly upon hearing the news.

“A’Shu, are you feeling any better now? Yuniang just now told me everything about what happened today — I was beside myself with worry and fright when I heard it. Thank goodness you are safe and sound, otherwise I truly would not know how to face your grandmother and the others.”

Sun Shi’s look of anxious concern was not feigned.

After several months of living together, some genuine affection had grown between them. Besides, if anything serious had happened to Ling Jingshu, she, as her elder uncle’s wife, would truly have been unable to answer for it.

Ling Jingshu apologised with a smile: “I was rash and impulsive for a moment, causing Sister-in-law and elder cousin-sister to worry, and now troubling elder aunt as well.”

Sun Shi sighed: “What is all this talk of being an outsider among family. In a situation like that, you jumping into the lake to save Princess An’ya right away — it shows how kind-hearted you are.”

What mattered above all was that Ling Jingshu had saved a princess of the imperial family this time. What glory and honour and prestige that was. Though Sun Shi still felt a lingering unease in her heart, it quickly dispersed like smoke.

Ling Jingshu did not miss the quiet joy concealed in Sun Shi’s expression, and gave an inward, wry smile — though not a trace of it showed on her face.

Sun Shi gave her instructions in an orderly manner: “From now on, you are to lie quietly in your room and rest and recuperate peacefully. The matter of A’Xiao going to the Crown Prince’s household for his acupuncture treatments — you need not worry about that. I shall lead him to the Crown Prince’s household myself.”

With Sun Shi handling it in person, it would indeed be more reliable.

Moreover, after what had happened last time, it was unclear what attitude the Crown Grandson now held. It was best to keep her distance for a while and see how things stood.

A weight in Ling Jingshu’s heart settled: “Many thanks, elder aunt.”