Ling Xiao’s expression shifted again and again. By the time he had heard everything, his face was filled with utter shock and horror.

No wonder A’Shu had no fondness whatsoever for the Lu brothers.

No wonder A’Shu had insisted on coming to the capital.

No wonder A’Shu kept her distance from both the Crown Grandson and Prince Yan.

So it turned out that A’Shu had contracted such a strange illness. He was supposed to be the person closest to her, yet he had been so careless and inattentive — he had remained completely oblivious all this time…

“A’Shu,” Ling Xiao groped for her hand and gripped it tight, his voice trembling: “Something this important — why have you been hiding it from me all along?”

Ling Jingshu let out a soft sigh: “This kind of condition is truly too difficult for me to speak of. If Father had not come to the capital, I still would not have said anything. A’Xiao, you need not blame yourself either. I was deliberately concealing it from you — how could you possibly have noticed?”

Ling Xiao’s nose stung with emotion, his heart aching with bitterness: “A’Shu, your life has been too hard.”

A young woman of marriageable age, afflicted with such a strange illness — what was she to do in the future? Was she to remain unmarried for the rest of her life?

No — that would not do!

He could not stand by and watch A’Shu suffer in pain.

Ling Xiao’s mind turned rapidly: “This strange illness is indeed one I have never heard of. But as long as it is an illness, there must always be hope of a cure. The capital has many renowned physicians — there will surely be someone who can heal you.”

At this thought, Ling Xiao rallied his spirits: “In a few days, when we see Imperial Physician Wei, I will beg him to treat your illness. Imperial Physician Wei is the youngest and most formidable physician in the Imperial Medical Academy — his medical skill is beyond compare, and he will certainly be able to cure you…”

“There is no need to beg Imperial Physician Wei.”

Ling Jingshu cut Ling Xiao off calmly: “Over a month ago, when Imperial Physician Wei took my pulse at Princess Changping’s residence, he had already discovered my strange illness. He too was at a loss.”

Ling Xiao was struck speechless.

“A’Xiao, this may not necessarily be a bad thing for me.” Ling Jingshu’s voice remained as tranquil as ever, carrying a note of firm resolve: “I have no wish to marry, and even less desire to let others arrange and dictate my fate. As long as my illness remains uncured, no one can force me into anything.”

As long as my illness remains uncured, no one can force me into anything…

Ling Xiao turned the words over silently in his mind. The more he chewed on them, the more profound their meaning seemed.

A’Shu’s illness was not that it could not be cured — it was that she simply had no wish to be cured at all!

Seeing that Ling Xiao appeared to have grasped something, Ling Jingshu gave a light laugh: “All right, stop letting your thoughts run wild. As for what is to be done, I have it all figured out.”

She paused, then added: “As for Father — I will handle him too. The most important thing for you right now is to recuperate in peace. Do not trouble yourself over any of this.”

It did not matter how strained and cold things became between her and Ling Wuye. But none of that should fall on Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao murmured a vague assent, yet in his heart he quietly made up his mind.

If Ling Wuye were to disregard everything and press Ling Jingshu into a corner, he would never stand aside and do nothing. Even if it meant an irrevocable falling out with his father, he would step forward and stand in front of Ling Jingshu.

That evening, the Ling household held a family banquet.

The men were seated at one table; the female members of the family at another.

The unpleasant scene that had taken place that afternoon — everyone tacitly pretended it had never happened.

Ling Jingyan, curious, asked about Ling Jingshu’s experiences during the outing. Ling Jingshu gave an account that downplayed the more significant parts. She glossed over Empress Xu’s deliberate difficulties, and the subsequent appearance of Imperial Physician Wei was not mentioned at all.

“Imperial Consort Wei Jieyu is truly approachable. She treats you so well!” A hint of envy crept into Ling Jingyan’s tone: “A’Shu, you really are fortunate.”

Jiang Shi also smiled and said: “Indeed, A’Shu is deeply blessed — to have won the favour of both Princess An Ya and Imperial Consort Wei Jieyu. If word of this got out, who knows how many young ladies of the capital would be secretly burning with envy.”

Even Sun Shi joined in, saying many flattering things.

Ling Jingshu smiled faintly without a word, and said little more. Not until the banquet was drawing to a close did she lower her voice and say: “Sister-in-law. Cousin Xian, there is something I have been hiding from you all this time. I am truly sorry — but now that the day has come, it is only right that I tell you the truth.”

Sun Shi’s heart gave a start. On instinct she opened her mouth to stop her: “A’Shu, let us speak of this another time.”

“Aunt, Father came all the way to the capital on account of my condition. If I continue to conceal it from everyone, I genuinely cannot live with myself.”

Ling Jingshu’s tone was mild, but her expression was unusually resolute.

Sun Shi opened her mouth, yet could not find a way to dissuade her, and could only sigh helplessly: “Very well — this is your affair after all. Since you no longer wish to keep it hidden, do as you see fit.”

Jiang Shi and Ling Jingyan had had their curiosity thoroughly piqued. They asked in unison: “A’Shu, what on earth is this about?”

Ling Jingshu lowered her voice and explained her condition in the most concise terms possible.

Ling Jingyan drew a sharp breath. The look she directed at Ling Jingshu was full of astonishment: “How can such a strange illness even exist in this world? A’Shu, you are not deceiving us, are you?”

Jiang Shi furrowed her brow and gave Ling Jingyan a mildly reproving glance: “A matter this serious — why would A’Shu deceive us?”

Making such a fuss was far too hurtful to Ling Jingshu.

Had she not noticed that Sun Shi had not uttered a single word? She had clearly known about this for some time already.

Aware that she had spoken out of turn, Ling Jingyan immediately bowed her head in apology: “A’Shu, I am sorry — I was not trying to doubt you. It was just so sudden to hear; I could not quite take it in at first.”

Ling Jingshu had long since grown accustomed to Ling Jingyan’s straightforward and impulsive nature. She smiled faintly at these words: “Cousin Xian, I am not blaming you. To be honest, if it were someone else who had contracted a strange illness and I heard of it, I would inevitably be startled too. I did not say anything before because I did not know how to bring it up.”

Ling Jingyan’s face took on a look of sudden understanding: “No wonder the Crown Grandson and Prince Yan were both trying to show you their regard, and yet you remained completely unmoved…”

Truly, she had touched on exactly the wrong thing!

Sun Shi shot Ling Jingyan a sharp look.

Ling Jingyan stuck out her tongue and dared not say another word.

Jiang Shi also worked out the reason behind it all, and could not help but sigh inwardly. Ling Jingshu was still so young — struck down by this strange illness, what would become of her in the future?

She thought it, but could not say it aloud. Jiang Shi went on at length with words of comfort.

Sun Shi also spoke to soothe Ling Jingshu: “There is no illness in this world that cannot be cured. The capital has so many renowned physicians — we can quietly invite them to the residence to treat you.”

Ling Jingshu tugged at the corner of her lips: “Thank you, Aunt. But there is no need to invite other physicians. I have already asked Imperial Physician Wei to treat me.”

Sun Shi’s eyes lit up, brimming with delight: “Oh? That is truly wonderful! Imperial Physician Wei excels above all others at treating rare and difficult conditions — his medical skill is peerless. If he is willing to treat you, nothing could be better. I will go at once and pass this good news on to your father — he will certainly be very pleased to hear it.”

Wei Yan really did serve as a most convenient shield.

A flash of enigmatic amusement crossed Ling Jingshu’s eyes: “Then I shall trouble Aunt to pass the word to Father.”

Sun Shi agreed at once. It did not even occur to her, for a moment, that this was something Ling Jingshu could perfectly well have told Ling Wuye herself — and yet she had gone out of her way to have it relayed through her instead.