The next day, it was again Ling Xiao’s appointed day to go to the Crown Prince’s mansion to administer acupuncture.
Ling Wuye asked with some reluctance: “A’Shu, are you going to the Crown Prince’s mansion today as well?”
In his heart, Ling Wuye did not at all want Ling Jingshu to have too much contact with Wei Yan. Neither of them was yet married — they ought to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Even for the purpose of medical treatment, was it really necessary for them to be alone together? And at the Crown Prince’s mansion no less — right under the Crown Grandson’s nose…
No matter how he thought about it, it seemed improper.
Yet he, as her father, found himself increasingly without authority in the face of his ever more strong-willed daughter. Ling Xiao as well was wholeheartedly protective of Ling Jingshu. His own opinion had come to count for very little.
Thinking on all of this, Ling Wuye felt nothing but oppression.
Ling Jingshu’s response was unexpected: “I won’t be going today.”
She added after a brief pause: “Imperial Physician Wei, after my last consultation, reminded me that my condition must be treated slowly and carefully — it cannot be rushed. From now on, going to the Hall of Returning Spring once every half month will suffice. When A’Xiao goes to the Crown Prince’s mansion in the future, Father will accompany him. I need not make myself conspicuous going back and forth.”
Ling Wuye immediately let out a long breath of relief and said with an unfolding brow: “Very well then — since Imperial Physician Wei has said as much, stay at home at ease in your rooms.”
As though afraid Ling Jingshu might change her mind, he hastily led Ling Xiao away.
Ling Jingshu stood quietly watching the retreating figures of Ling Wuye and Ling Xiao, her thoughts swirling.
The words she had just spoken were an explanation she and Wei Yan had arranged beforehand.
The Crown Prince’s mansion was full of ears, and every move was visible to the Crown Grandson — and to the Empress Xu in the imperial palace. To be on the safe side, it would be better for the two of them not to meet in the Crown Prince’s mansion going forward.
The Hall of Returning Spring had been built up by Wei Yan with his own hands. The managers and assistants there were all deeply loyal to him. The two of them meeting there would be far safer.
Thinking of Wei Yan, Ling Jingshu could not help but think once more of the words the Crown Grandson had spoken the day before, laden with implication. The questions pressing at the bottom of her heart rose to the surface again.
What had Wei Yan said to the Crown Grandson? What was he intending to do?
For some reason, her heart was always heavy with an uneasy foreboding… She desperately wanted to see Wei Yan at once and ask him clearly. But she would have to rein in her impatience and wait a few more days until the fifteenth.
…
The days that followed, Ling Jingshu spent in a state of inner restlessness and unease.
The glad tidings of the engagement between the Crown Prince’s mansion and the Duke of England’s manor spread quickly to the ears of those in the Ling household.
Sun Shi had anticipated this long before, and hearing the news felt no surprise. She only murmured a few words in private with Ling Daye: “Given the Jiang Family’s standing, a match with the Crown Prince’s mansion is indeed befitting. Prince Yan’s wedding is at the year’s end — it seems the Crown Grandson’s wedding is not far off either.”
Ling Daye gave a sound of agreement: “Today at the Board of Works I heard from a well-informed colleague that the Crown Grandson’s wedding date has been set for next March.”
“One can only hope that A’Shu’s illness will be cured soon,” Sun Shi instinctively lowered her voice. “The Crown Grandson is to marry early next year. At the very least, one would have to wait half a year after the principal wife has entered the household before a secondary consort could be brought in. Reckoning this way, there is roughly a year’s time.”
Ling Daye said with an easy smile: “With Imperial Physician Wei treating her, A’Shu’s illness is sure to be cured quickly. Perhaps it won’t even take a year. By that time, A’Shu will have just passed her coming-of-age ceremony and will be old enough to be wed.”
The husband and wife were still talking when a servant came to report that Ling Wuye had arrived.
Ling Daye led Ling Wuye into the study to speak.
The two were full brothers by the same mother. Though they had seen little of each other in recent years, their bond ran deeper than with others.
Ling Wuye spoke without the slightest need to hold back, frowning as he grumbled: “Elder Brother, you said the Crown Grandson had quite a liking for A’Shu — so how has the Crown Grandson fixed his marriage arrangements and set a wedding date so soon?”
Ling Daye looked at him without ceremony and gave him a frank rebuke: “Look at yourself — already past thirty, and still this impatient. The Crown Grandson is of such a standing that he naturally must marry a principal consort from a prestigious and noble family. Only after the principal consort has entered the household can he take a secondary consort according to his own wishes.”
“What is the Ling Family’s position — surely you understand this in your own heart? You can abandon any wishful thinking about the dream of Crown Grandson’s principal consort. That A’Shu could marry into the Crown Prince’s mansion as the Crown Grandson’s secondary consort is already a tremendous blessing.”
“I made all of this perfectly clear in my letter. Don’t be muddleheaded about it. And moreover, this sort of matter must absolutely never be mentioned carelessly to others — keep it in your own heart.”
Ling Wuye nodded his head, somewhat sulkily.
Human hearts are greedy — there is no end to their satisfaction.
Before coming to the capital, he had thought it would already be splendid fortune if his daughter could one day become the Crown Grandson’s secondary consort. After entering the Crown Prince’s mansion and receiving the Crown Grandson’s regard, the ambition and greed in Ling Wuye’s heart had quietly grown. He had quietly fantasized that once his daughter became Crown Grandson’s principal consort, he would be the Crown Grandson’s father-in-law, and could look forward to boundless wealth and glory ahead.
What a pity the dream had not lasted even a few days before being mercilessly shattered.
Seeing the displeasure on Ling Wuye’s face, Ling Daye softened his tone again: “Fifth Brother, the matter of the Crown Grandson taking a wife is already decided. Stop letting your mind run away with itself. The most pressing concern right now is to cure A’Shu’s illness first.”
“A’Shu’s illness cured — that is the only hope of marrying into the Crown Prince’s mansion. Without that, everything is nothing but empty fancy.”
Ling Wuye rubbed his brow in frustration: “A’Shu is my daughter — do you think I don’t wish for her to recover quickly? A young girl, afflicted with such an illness — it is simply like being a monster. If it cannot be cured, her entire life is finished. The only path left would be to be sent to a nunnery to take up vegetarian meals and chant the Buddha’s name.”
When Ling Wuye grew agitated, his words were truly not pleasant to hear.
Even Ling Daye could not bear to listen, and fixed Ling Wuye with a displeased glare: “What monsters, what not monsters — how can you let such words slip from your mouth so carelessly? And here I thought you were A’Shu’s own father.”
Ling Wuye had scarcely finished speaking before he knew he had misspoken. Without much conviction, he defended himself: “There’s no one else here, just the two of us brothers — when I get anxious I’m bound to say things rather hastily.”
Ling Daye had no patience to lecture him further, and simply repeated his reminders: “In any case, treating A’Shu’s illness is the first and most important matter. In a few days, on the fifteenth, you accompany A’Shu to the Hall of Returning Spring.”
Ling Wuye knew this matter was urgent, and quickly nodded in agreement.
Of everyone, the one who was truly gladdened by this news was none other than Jiang Shi.
Jiang Shi was of the Jiang Family by birth, sharing a bond of mutual rise and fall with the Duke of England’s manor. Jiang Rongyue was her cousin — and the two were on close terms. Now that Jiang Rongyue had secured such a fine match, Jiang Shi as the elder cousin also had reason to feel proud.
With her maternal family’s influence growing, her own standing naturally rose along with it. Sun Shi’s manner toward her these past few days had also become noticeably warmer.
But none of this really amounted to much. What truly filled Jiang Shi with happiness was that her monthly cycle was already half a month overdue.
She had not made it known. She had quietly summoned a physician to take her pulse, and indeed — a joyful pulse had been confirmed.