Inside Lingbo Hall.

Wei Jieyu had been waiting in anxious unease for quite some time when Ling Jingshu finally returned.

When Wei Jieyu saw Ling Jingshu, she could not help but give a start: “A’Shu, what happened to you in Jiaofang Hall? Why did you suddenly come back in a different set of clothes?” The outfit Ling Jingshu had been wearing when she left was certainly not the one she wore now.

And it was not only the change of clothes — the pallor on Ling Jingshu’s face was difficult to conceal as well.

Something must have happened.

Ling Jingshu knew that today’s events could not be hidden from Wei Jieyu, and she had no intention of hiding them. The matter of her strange ailment was becoming known to more and more people. One more person learning of it — Wei Jieyu — would not make much difference.

However, the matter also concerned Empress Xu’s sordid designs on Wei Yan. This was something Wei Jieyu must absolutely not be allowed to know.

Ling Jingshu gathered her thoughts, then lowered her voice and recounted what had just taken place, naturally omitting certain “details” and leaving the Empress’s true motive for making things difficult ready-made as a substitute.

“…Prince Yan intends to take me as a secondary consort and has approached Her Majesty the Empress to raise the matter. Her Majesty was displeased and summoned me there precisely to question me about it.”

Ling Jingshu put on no deliberate pretense — the exasperation and indignation on her face were entirely genuine: “I have only met Prince Yan a handful of times and have never taken the initiative to speak to him. Whatever ideas he has harbored — how can that be laid at my feet? Moreover, I have been afflicted with this strange condition and cannot come into contact with any man whatsoever. I keep my distance from all men — how could I possibly have taken the initiative to entice Prince Yan?”

The revelations packed into these words were truly staggering.

Wei Jieyu listened in open-mouthed astonishment, speechless for a long moment.

After quite some time, Wei Jieyu found her voice again: “This strange ailment you speak of — what exactly is going on?”

The same account was repeated once more: “…The last time, when Imperial Physician Wei took my pulse at Princess Changping’s residence, he already knew of my condition. As it concerns my reputation, Imperial Physician Wei has kept it strictly to himself and has never told Your Ladyship, has he?”

By the end of her account, Ling Jingshu could only smile in bitter resignation: “I never imagined Her Majesty’s suspicion would run so deep. She simply would not believe my word alone and sent for Imperial Physician Wei to confront me face to face. Then she instructed him to take my pulse. When my symptoms flared up and I vomited in Jiaofang Hall — that is why I had to change my clothes…”

Wei Jieyu drew a sharp breath.

Ling Jingshu’s visit had been fraught with danger indeed. Regardless of how pleasantly Empress Xu had appeared to smile and converse, she could turn on a person faster than a page of a book, ruthless enough to take Ling Jingshu’s life with casual ease.

Under such circumstances, Ling Jingshu’s strange ailment had actually turned out to be a stroke of fortune. So long as Empress Xu’s suspicions were laid to rest, she would have no further reason to deliberately make Ling Jingshu’s life difficult in the future.

And yet — what of Wei Yan now?

Only her wrist had been touched by his fingertips, and her reaction had been this extreme.

In this state… could she even marry?

At this thought, Wei Jieyu’s heart was filled with one sigh of regret after another. Such a beautiful, intelligent, and endearing young woman had come along — and Wei Yan had at last felt something. Yet heaven itself seemed to be playing this cruel joke on them both.

Wei Jieyu pressed down the turmoil in her mind and offered warm words of comfort to Ling Jingshu: “Never mind. As long as you have come through unharmed, that is all that matters. If illness comes, there will eventually be a way to treat it.”

Ling Jingshu roused herself and smiled at Wei Jieyu with gratitude: “Thank you, Your Ladyship. I feel terrible for causing you such worry.”

Wei Jieyu took Ling Jingshu’s hand and smiled: “There is no need for such formalities. I have already had the midday meal prepared. Come, let us eat first.”

…

After the midday meal, Ling Jingshu stayed and chatted with Wei Jieyu for a good while longer. By the time she took her leave and departed the palace, Wei Yan had not appeared again.

Given Empress Xu’s temperament, there was no telling how many spies she had planted throughout the palace. Wei Yan was right not to act rashly, lest he arouse her suspicions anew.

Ling Jingshu turned this over quietly in her mind, while that faint, vague sense of wistfulness lingered and refused to be swept away.

Bai Yu and Qiao Yun walked on either side of her. Seeing that Ling Jingshu had no desire to speak, neither maid interrupted the silence.

They were nearly at the Ling residence when Qiao Yun at last could not resist asking: “Miss, the gown you wore into the palace is different from the one you are wearing now. When we return, how should we explain that to everyone?”

On the surface it was a show of concern; in truth, she was inquiring about what had happened inside Jiaofang Hall.

The palace rules were strict, and although she had accompanied her mistress into the palace, she had not been permitted to remain at Ling Jingshu’s side throughout. What had occurred in Jiaofang Hall, she had no knowledge of whatsoever.

Ling Jingshu cast Qiao Yun a light glance: “I was careless while drinking tea and knocked over the cup. Her Majesty the Empress bestowed a fresh gown upon me, and the previous one had to be discarded.”

Was the matter truly so simple?

Qiao Yun’s heart was full of doubt, but she let none of it show on her face. She would first relay Ling Jingshu’s account to those awaiting the news. Whether Crown Grandson would believe it would depend entirely on his own judgment.

…

The carriage drew to a halt before the gates of the Ling residence.

After Ling Jingshu and her two maids stepped down from the carriage, the new carriage did not linger — it immediately turned and headed back toward the palace.

Ling Jingshu stepped through the gates of the Ling residence.

The gatekeeper steward of the Ling household came hurrying up with a jubilant expression: “Honored young miss, you are finally back! Ling Wuye arrived this morning and has been keeping Young Master Xiao company, waiting for you to return.”

Ling Wuye had finally arrived in the capital.

Half a month’s journey, yet Ling Wuye had somehow managed to stretch it to nearly a full month.

Ling Jingshu’s steps paused. Not a trace of joy at an impending family reunion crossed her face. She asked plainly: “Is my great-uncle also at home?”

The gatekeeper steward replied with a deferential smile: “Not only the master — the eldest young master has returned as well. They are all in the main hall now, speaking together, and waiting for you, miss.”

Ling Jingshu gave a mild sound of acknowledgment, her pace remaining as unhurried as before.

The gatekeeper steward observed this and felt a measure of puzzlement inwardly. But the affairs of one’s masters were not the place of a lowly servant to question. He promptly called a young manservant over and instructed him to run ahead and deliver the news.

The manservant ran all the way to the main hall and knelt down crisply to report: “Reporting to Master and Madam — the honored young miss has returned.”

The spirits of everyone sitting in the main hall rose at once.

Sun Shi smiled and instructed: “Yūniang, take A’Yan and go welcome A’Shu.”

Jiang Shi and Ling Jing’yan smiled in acknowledgment and rose together to go out and meet her. Ling Xiao’s eyesight was poor, but he too stood up and followed the sound of footsteps to join the welcome.

Sun Shi turned to the handsome and elegantly dressed man in splendid brocade robes beside her and said with a smile: “Fifth Brother, A’Shu has truly made something of herself now. She keeps company with both Princess Changping and Princess An Ya, and has entered the palace twice already. Among all of us in the Ling family, A’Shu is the most blessed.”

This man was naturally none other than Ling Wuye, who had come from so far away.

Ling Wuye, who had been waiting for so long that his patience had long since worn thin, felt considerably more settled upon hearing these words. He put on an air of nonchalance and smiled: “When it comes to blessings, it is truly too soon to say anything definitive.”