Ling Jingyan’s pretty face was flushed red with anger as she glared fiercely at Zhang Jian.
Zhang Jian, not the least bit offended, brazenly explained, “My purse was stolen, so I’m penniless right now. That’s why I had the nerve to say such a thing. If Miss Ling isn’t willing, then never mind.”
Not willing! Not willing at all!
Ling Jingyan thought bitterly to herself, but the fact that Zhang Jian’s “purse was stolen and he was now penniless” was indeed because of her…
“Fine, I’ll treat you to lunch then.”
Ling Jingyan agreed reluctantly, then, as if suddenly remembering something, turned to Fifth Master Ling. “Fifth Uncle, since we rarely get the chance to come out, let’s go to a nearby restaurant for lunch today! We can all eat together before heading back.”
The important thing was, she had no silver on her at all. She needed to bring Fifth Master Ling along to pay the bill!
Fifth Master Ling saw through Ling Jingyan’s intentions but didn’t point it out, agreeing with a smile. “Sounds good.”
Having achieved his goal, Zhang Jian stopped teasing further, lest Ling Jingyan truly grow angry. He moved closer to chat with Fifth Master Ling and Ling Xiao.
Fifth Master Ling, already quite the talker, naturally thought a bit more highly of Zhang Jian upon learning he was the son of the Vice Minister of Justice, and treated him with considerable courtesy. Ling Xiao, too, took quite a liking to the sharp-tongued, handsome Zhang Jian, and the three of them chatted lively and warmly.
Ling Jingshu tugged at Ling Jingyan’s sleeve and pulled her aside to whisper quietly.
“Cousin Jingyan, what exactly is going on between you and this Zhang Jian? How did it end up involving a purse and silver?”
“Don’t even bring it up!” Ling Jingyan felt she could hardly bear to mention what had just happened. But since Ling Jingshu had already asked, there was no hiding it, so she recounted the whole story in a low voice.
Ling Jingshu listened, unable to suppress her laughter. “So that’s how it was. Cousin Jingyan, when will you ever change that impulsive temper of yours? How could you charge in like that without finding out the truth first? Fortunately this Zhang Jian was reasonable and didn’t nitpick or hold a grudge — otherwise, wouldn’t you have ended up tangled in no end of trouble?”
Ling Jingyan pouted and gave a light snort. “How was he reasonable at all? You didn’t see it with your own eyes just now, so you don’t know how vile he was. He deliberately scared me, saying his purse had a three-hundred-tael banknote and twenty taels of cash silver, plus some jade pendant. In a fit of anger I said I’d pay it all back to him. I’d already arranged it with Fifth Uncle, and then he said it was all a lie to fool me — there was really only a few taels of loose silver in the purse. And now he’s even making me treat him to lunch!”
“Tell me, isn’t a person like that especially detestable!”
Ling Jingyan’s face was full of indignation.
Rather than agreeing aloud, Ling Jingshu only smiled meaningfully. “Cousin Jingyan, don’t be angry just yet. When it comes down to it, it’s not such a big deal. Treating him to one lunch is nothing much — think of it as making a new friend.”
Ling Jingyan kept pouting. “I refuse to be friends with someone like that.”
In her agitation, her voice inevitably rose a little.
Zhang Jian, not far away, caught a faint trace of it and glanced at Ling Jingyan without any visible reaction.
Ling Jingshu took in Zhang Jian’s expression entirely and couldn’t help but smile slightly.
···
With Zhang Jian present, Fifth Master Ling found it inconvenient to ask anything. Only after they’d left Huichun Hall did he ask quietly, “A’Shu, how did today’s consultation with Imperial Physician Wei go?”
“After Imperial Physician Wei asked about my recent symptoms, he changed my prescription.” Ling Jingshu replied with a calm expression. “The medicine has already been prepared; the attendants will bring it to the carriage shortly.”
Hearing that the prescription had been changed, Fifth Master Ling perked up at once and said with a smile, “Changing the prescription is good. Take it for another month or two and see — perhaps your illness will soon be cured.”
Ling Jingshu glanced at Fifth Master Ling and said, with a look that was almost but not quite a smile, “Father had better not hold out too much hope. I’m afraid this illness of mine won’t be easy to cure.”
Fifth Master Ling’s expression turned serious, putting on the stern yet loving authority of a father. “Nonsense! Whatever the illness, there’s no such thing as one that can’t be cured. Imperial Physician Wei’s medical skill is superb, renowned throughout the Imperial Academy of Medicine, known by everyone in the capital without exception. I believe he will surely cure your illness.”
Ling Jingshu picked up on his words and said, “So Father trusts Imperial Physician Wei this much. Next time I see him, I’ll be sure to tell him exactly that — so he doesn’t need to worry, since Father never had any intention of hiring another renowned physician.”
Fifth Master Ling: “…”
Fifth Master Ling’s old face flushed with embarrassment, and he coughed once. “Of course it is.”
Having teased Fifth Master Ling a little, Ling Jingshu’s mood greatly improved. Once in the carriage, she began chatting idly with Ling Jingyan and Ling Xiao.
Fifth Master Ling waited outside the carriage for a moment, and sure enough saw two attendants approaching, their arms full of medicine packets. Only then did Fifth Master Ling feel reassured. After the medicine packets were loaded onto the carriage, he climbed aboard himself.
···
Zhang Jian, having brought no guards or attendants, leisurely rode a white steed behind the carriage.
From inside the carriage came the faint sound of Ling Jingyan’s voice.
Her voice was crisp and cheerful, as pleasant to the ear as a silver bell, occasionally mixed with light laughter. She spoke rather quickly, so it was hard to make out exactly what she was saying. But even just hearing her voice alone was enough to bring delight to body and mind.
Without realizing it, Zhang Jian’s eyes filled with a smile.
The carriage stopped in front of Dingxiang Tower.
Dingxiang Tower was as bustling as ever, with people coming and going in a steady stream. The restaurant attendants stood at the entrance, greeting guests with attentive enthusiasm.
Ling Jingyan and Ling Jingshu stepped down from the carriage, and seeing this familiar scene, both of them, without meaning to, recalled the time they had come to Dingxiang Tower over half a year ago. For a moment, each was filled with wistful emotion, hearts stirred with deep feeling.
Back then, Ling Jingyan had still been hopelessly infatuated with Prince Yan, her heart full of hope of running into him at Dingxiang Tower.
Back then, Ling Jingshu had only just arrived in the capital, lost and uncertain about what direction her future life would take.
In the blink of an eye, all of that had already become the past.
“Cousin Jingyan, let’s go in!” Ling Jingshu said softly, taking Ling Jingyan’s hand.
Ling Jingyan brushed Prince Yan’s figure from her mind and smiled at Ling Jingshu. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I already forgot the people and things I needed to forget long ago.”
“What people and things have you forgotten?”
A young man’s voice suddenly rang out.
Startled, Ling Jingyan looked over sharply, and once she made out Zhang Jian’s curious face, her pretty features immediately tightened. “Young Master Zhang, surely you know the principle of not speaking, looking, or listening to what is improper! How dare you eavesdrop while my cousin and I were talking!”
Zhang Jian wore an expression of being utterly wronged. “Miss Ling, you’re being far too unfair to me by saying that. The attendant led my horse away, so naturally I had to come over on foot. The two of you weren’t deliberately hiding in some corner to talk — I just happened to pass by and overhear it. It’s not as though I deliberately set out to eavesdrop.”
“You did it on purpose!”
“I did not!”
“You did!”
“I really didn’t…”
The two of them kept bickering all the way, not letting up even once they reached the private dining room.