Wei Yan was warm and courteous in manner. He cupped his hands and addressed him as “Ling Wuye.”

Ling Wuye was rather flattered and flustered by this: “Imperial Physician Wei is far too polite — I am a few years your senior, so you may simply call me Elder Brother Ling.”

Wei Yan was twenty-four years of age, making Ling Wuye some eight or nine years his senior. Ling Wuye held no official post, while Imperial Physician Wei was the younger brother of Imperial Consort Wei Jieyu, and additionally held a proper official position — a physician of supreme skill whose name was renowned throughout the capital.

By either standing, Wei Yan and Ling Wuye were perfectly suited to speak as equals. And yet he had shown such regard and courtesy, subtly placing himself as the junior — which left Ling Wuye both touched and ill at ease.

Wei Yan smiled gently, his voice low and pleasant to the ear: “I have been acquainted with Young Master Ling and Miss Ling for some time now, and we have always treated one another as equals. Addressing you as Ling Wuye is thus perfectly appropriate. Please do not stand on ceremony.”

Ling Wuye protested that he could not possibly accept such treatment, yet felt quite pleased inside.

Being treated with respect was, after all, always a gratifying thing.

Ling Jingshu instinctively glanced up at Wei Yan, and happened to meet his gaze directly.

Those deep and fathomless eyes carried a light, shallow smile — along with a great many complex and nameless emotions.

Ling Jingshu’s heart gave a sudden quickened beat. She deliberately composed herself and looked away.

After Wei Yan had exchanged a few pleasantries with Ling Wuye, he walked over to take his seat before Ling Xiao as usual, his voice still warm: “Young Master Ling, I am now going to proceed with the acupuncture. Please prepare yourself.”

Ling Xiao unexpectedly spoke up with an earnest entreaty: “Imperial Physician Wei, please treat A’Shu first! My condition is not so urgent — I can wait a while.”

Wei Yan: “…”

Wei Yan looked toward Ling Jingshu in surprise.

You have already told everyone about the strange illness?

Ling Jingshu had not anticipated Ling Xiao’s sudden outburst either. She explained with a touch of helplessness: “Father came all the way to the capital on account of my condition. So I chose not to conceal it any further.”

Now that all those who needed to know already knew, there was nothing further worth concealing.

Wei Yan heard the meaning between her words and felt a mixture of emotions swirling within him — emotions he could not quite put a name to in that moment.

Ling Wuye hastily took up the thread: “I ask that Imperial Physician Wei do everything within his power to treat A’Shu’s condition. Whatever the consultation fee may be, no expense shall be spared.”

Before Wei Yan could say a word, Ling Jingshu furrowed her brow slightly and replied: “Father is anxious on his daughter’s behalf — I am of course moved by that. However, this strange condition of mine is one that even Imperial Physician Wei has never encountered before. To cure it — no one can say how much effort and thought it would require. I only ask that Imperial Physician Wei do his best. If it cannot be cured, then that is the ordeal that fate has decreed for me. Father, please do not place an undue burden upon him.”

At once Wei Yan heard the string and understood the melody.

What Ling Jingshu was saying plainly implied — do your best to treat her, yet fail to cure her. This way she could continue to use her illness as a shield, to protect herself under the watchful eyes of Empress Xu and Prince Yan…

“Ling Wuye need not worry — I will certainly do my utmost.” Wei Yan cooperated smoothly with her intent: “Young Master Ling need not be anxious either. I am in no hurry to return to the Imperial Medical Academy for now, so there is still time to see patients. However, Miss Ling’s condition is exceptionally rare. I am still researching methods to treat this strange illness, and it would not be wise to act in haste. Once I have finished the acupuncture treatment for you, I will then conduct a thorough examination of Miss Ling.”

These words were delivered with great earnestness, and coupled with Wei Yan’s reputation as a divine physician, they carried an especially convincing weight.

Ling Jingshu quietly let out a breath of relief, and directed a grateful glance at Wei Yan.

Ling Xiao was also supremely trusting of Wei Yan’s words. He fell silent and said nothing more after that. Ling Wuye still seemed inclined to press with a few more questions, but Wei Yan had already opened his medicine chest and brought out his golden needles, his expression grave and focused.

Ling Wuye had the good sense to close his mouth.

The process of the acupuncture treatment was accompanied, as always, by suppressed endurance and pain. Long and short, thick and thin needles of gold, flashing with cold light, were inserted one by one into Ling Xiao’s head. Ling Xiao clenched his teeth and did not move a muscle. Cold sweat was soon seeping across his forehead.

Ling Jingshu had witnessed this scene many times. Yet each time she saw it, her heart was wrung into a tight knot, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

It was Ling Wuye’s first time witnessing it. He was shaken to his very core, and asked in a low voice: “A’Shu, is it like this every time A’Xiao has his acupuncture?”

Ling Jingshu gave a sound of assent. Seeing the shocked expression on Ling Wuye’s face, she could not help but give voice to a cutting remark: “This is the first time Father has watched A’Xiao’s acupuncture treatment — it is natural to be shaken by it. I have watched it so many times now that I have grown quite used to it.”

Ling Wuye, for a rare once, looked somewhat abashed, and closed his mouth again.

Half an hour later.

The golden needles were withdrawn one by one, cleaned, and returned to the medicine chest.

Ling Xiao was covered in cold sweat, his head throbbing with a wave after wave of aching and piercing pain.

“How are you feeling now?” Wei Yan’s voice was very gentle.

Ling Xiao managed a smile: “Much better than just now. Imperial Physician Wei, if you are not in a hurry to return to the palace, would you please trouble yourself to see to A’Shu’s consultation?”

Wei Yan smiled mildly: “I am not in a hurry to return to the Imperial Medical Academy just yet — there is still time for a consultation. However, Miss Ling’s condition is rather unusual. It would not be appropriate for outsiders to be present while I examine her. “

Ling Xiao blinked in puzzlement.

Wei Yan then looked toward Ling Wuye: “I wonder whether Ling Wuye would be willing to agree to this?”

To examine a patient was one thing — but what was the principle behind a man and woman being alone together? And this Imperial Physician Wei was so young and so strikingly handsome… If word of this reached the Crown Grandson’s ears, how could he fail to take issue with it?

Ling Wuye was quite unwilling at heart, yet found it inconvenient to refuse outright, for fear of offending Imperial Physician Wei. So he gave a vague, non-committal reply: “As long as A’Shu is willing, I have no objections of my own.”

As he spoke, he shot Ling Jingshu a meaningful look.

Hurry up and refuse!

Ling Jingshu paid no attention whatsoever to Ling Wuye’s pointed gaze. She turned to Wei Yan with a slight smile: “Then I shall impose on Imperial Physician Wei.”

Ling Wuye: “…”

The corner of Ling Wuye’s mouth twitched. He wanted to say something but ultimately held himself back.

Ling Xiao sat for a moment, then quickly bundled the not-particularly-willing Ling Wuye out of the room. The maidservants and attendants withdrew as well.

The room was soon left with only Wei Yan and Ling Jingshu.

Wei Yan gazed at Ling Jingshu. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and the tip of Ling Jingshu’s heart felt as though it had been lightly brushed by a feather. She instinctively lowered her gaze, avoiding his.

Wei Yan’s deep, pleasant voice sounded close by: “Miss Ling, I was presumptuous just now. If, when you return, Ling Wuye is displeased and reproaches you for it, you may lay the blame entirely on me.”

“That was not presumptuous at all.” Ling Jingshu looked up and regarded Wei Yan steadily: “I should rather thank you for the way you covered for me just now. If you had not, Father would certainly have grown suspicious.”

Wei Yan said with a half-joking lilt: “I did give you my word, after all — and I do keep my word. In the future, no matter who asks, just use me as your shield. Say that I am already treating you, and there is no need to summon any other physician.”

Ling Jingshu gave a small cough: “I have already said as much.”

Wei Yan: “…”

The two of them regarded each other in silence for a moment, then burst into laughter at the same instant.

The slight awkwardness and tension that had existed between them earlier dissolved in that instant into nothing.