Huichun Hall.

Han Yi came forward with a smile: “Miss Ling, Imperial Physician Wei has not yet arrived — please follow me to the side room inside to wait a moment.”

Ling Jingshu gave a nod.

Ling Wuye raised his head and stepped forward, ready to go inside. Han Yi tactfully and politely hinted: “This must be Fifth Master Ling. When Imperial Physician Wei examines a patient, it is not appropriate for family members to be present. I must ask Fifth Master Ling to wait here for a while.”

Ling Jingshu also turned her head and said softly: “Father, please wait for me here — I will come out shortly.”

Ling Wuye felt vexed but had no recourse; he could only watch helplessly as Ling Jingshu entered the inner hall.

A nearby attendant was quick-eyed and perceptive, immediately stepping forward: “Fifth Master Ling, please sit this way — I will bring you a pot of fine tea.”

Ling Wuye gave a reluctant sound through his nose and followed the attendant with barely concealed displeasure.

It was the same quiet room as the last visit.

Ling Jingshu pushed open the door and stepped inside. Qiao Yun was about to follow her in when Bai Yu gave a small cough and said: “Qiao Yun, Imperial Physician Wei will be here shortly. The two of us need not go in and cause distraction — let us wait outside.”

Qiao Yun was momentarily taken aback, then quickly understood: “You are right, let us wait outside then.”

Bai Yu smiled, linked arms with Qiao Yun, and walked a few meters away.

With Qiao Yun present, Ling Jingshu’s every move could not be hidden from the Crown Grandson. But by keeping their distance, Qiao Yun would be unable to hear what Ling Jingshu and Imperial Physician Wei were saying.

These past few days, Bai Yu had been quietly observing Qiao Yun’s actions without letting on. Unfortunately, Qiao Yun was cautious and meticulous in everything she did, and Bai Yu could not determine how she was passing messages out.

……

Ling Jingshu waited with a restless and agitated heart for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before Wei Yan finally pushed open the door and entered.

She looked up, and Ling Jingshu could not help but pause in surprise.

Every time they had met before, Wei Yan wore either a half-worn set of plain clothes or his green official robes. But today he wore a pale blue long robe.

The robe was fashioned from Songjiang cotton of fine, soft, and sturdy weave — its quality in no way inferior to any brocade. The brand-new robe draped and fell softly, setting off Wei Yan’s tall, slender figure, and making his refined and handsome features all the more brilliantly striking.

Wei Yan noticed Ling Jingshu staring at him with a dazed expression and felt a quiet pleasure within, the corner of his lips curving slightly upward: “Why are you looking at me like that? This is not the first time you have seen me.”

The words carried a light, teasing quality.

Ling Jingshu quickly collected herself. With a deliberately composed smile she said: “Every time I have seen you before, you were always wearing half-worn plain clothes or official robes. Today you have suddenly changed into new clothes — it is as though you are a different person entirely. I found it so novel that I could not help but look a moment longer.”

Look at that air of forced composure she was putting on!

There was no mirror in this room — she certainly did not know that a faint blush had spread across her cheeks, like the first light of dawn breaking. Utterly captivating.

Wei Yan suppressed the stirring in his heart and said with a smile: “All right, no more teasing. Sit down first, and I will write you a prescription. Afterward, have the medicine prepared right here at Huichun Hall. Three times a day, decoct and take the medicine. Drink it for a month or two first and see what effect it has — if there is no improvement, I will change the prescription for you.”

Ling Jingshu sat down as instructed.

Wei Yan walked to the table, lowered his head, and began writing the prescription.

His fingers were remarkably slender, holding the fine brush. As he wrote, his movements were unhurried, his characters elegant and forceful — rounded, yet carrying a distinctive character all their own. Just like the way he spoke and conducted himself in daily life.

As the saying goes, one’s handwriting reveals one’s character — and it was absolutely true.

After Wei Yan had finished writing the prescription, Ling Jingshu finally opened her mouth to ask: “Will the medicines in this prescription be able to treat my condition?”

Wei Yan set down the brush and, while waiting for the ink to dry, replied offhandedly: “This prescription can calm the mind and settle the spirit, and also has the effect of regulating the appetite. It uses all precious medicinal ingredients — a so-called tonic prescription for the privileged. It will likely be of little use for your actual condition. However, drinking it will cause no harm.”

Ling Jingshu gave a helpless laugh: “In that case, it would make no difference whether I drink it or not.”

“You wish to keep up appearances — so this medicine must be taken.” Wei Yan looked up, his gaze soft and clear, yet carrying a quality that brooked no argument: “Those you must conceal this from are not only your family, but also the Crown Grandson, and the Empress Xu in the palace who watches with predatory eyes. You must take great care and must not let any hint of it slip.”

Wei Yan’s admonishment was grave and earnest, and a measure of the concern he carried within him could not help but surface.

Ling Jingshu felt something in her heart stir gently, and she nodded in obedient agreement almost without thinking.

Seeing her so compliant and attentive, something within Wei Yan stirred quietly.

The two of them sat like that without speaking, yet the silence held not the slightest awkwardness. Something warm and soft flowed slowly through the air between them — tranquil and still.

……

After a moment, Ling Jingshu’s voice rose softly: “My condition must be concealed from Empress Xu — but why must it also be concealed from the Crown Grandson?”

Wei Yan answered before thinking: “So that he will stop pursuing you.”

Ling Jingshu: “……”

Wei Yan: “……”

Their eyes met, and Ling Jingshu stared back in startled wide-eyed surprise, while Wei Yan, who was ordinarily composed and steady, felt heat rising repeatedly across his face.

Damn it! How had he carelessly let what was in his heart slip out just like that?

But words spoken were like water spilled — once out, there was no taking them back.

Wei Yan inwardly berated himself, cleared his throat, and continued: “What I meant to say is, you are averse to any man coming near you, and it would be inadvisable to speak of marriage before your condition has been treated. That being the case, it is better to be more cautious. There is absolutely no intention of specifically targeting the Crown Grandson.”

That last sentence was rather like explaining something that needed no explanation — and only made things worse.

“Actually… compared to Prince Yan, the Crown Grandson is considerably better. Prince Yan’s character was heavily influenced by his mother and eldest sister — dissolute and wanton in his ways, given to indulgence. He has not even taken a principal consort yet, but already has a whole retinue of beauties at his side. The Crown Grandson is far more upright in comparison. After his marriage, the Crown Grandson will likely take secondary consorts… But of course, being a secondary consort is nothing to speak of. At the end of the day, it is the position of a concubine. If one encounters a mistress of particularly narrow disposition, life would be quite unbearable. Given your temperament, you would surely be unwilling to marry a man as a concubine… Uh, I do not mean to interfere with your thoughts on the matter. I simply feel that you deserve a man who will devote his whole heart and soul to you exclusively. The Crown Grandson’s position makes it impossible for him to do that…”

It was all over the place!

No matter what he said, it all came out wrong.

Wei Yan could have bitten off his own tongue.

Ling Jingshu had initially felt somewhat ill at ease, but now, seeing Wei Yan’s mortified expression, she found herself unable to suppress a smile and said with warm understanding: “I understand what you mean — I will not misinterpret it.”

Hearing this, Wei Yan felt even more out of sorts.

Why would she not misinterpret it?

Did she truly never once consider that he had taken a liking to her? Did she simply have no wish for any man to come near her at all?