The Crown Grandson and Prince Yan continued their battle of words, thrust and parry, going back and forth.

When Jiang Rongyue came in, the two of them stopped without any prior agreement.

The Crown Grandson’s gaze swept the room — he saw no sign of Ling Jingshu. He frowned slightly but said nothing. He only said to Jiang Rongyue: “Your constitution is weak — you should not over-exert yourself. Sit down and rest a while.”

Jiang Rongyue assented compliantly and sat down to wait.

The side hall quickly fell quiet.

Half an hour later, the Emperor finally woke. Upon hearing that the Crown Grandson had come with the Crown Grandson Consort, the Emperor immediately summoned both of them to enter.

The Crown Grandson offered a round of warm inquiries about the Emperor’s health and wellbeing, then informed the Emperor that Jiang Rongyue was with child.

Upon hearing this good news, the Emperor was filled with imperial delight and bestowed a heap of tonics.

After accompanying the Emperor through the midday meal, the Crown Grandson and Jiang Rongyue departed the palace together and returned to the Crown Prince’s residence. Once in the carriage, the husband and wife each let the smiles slip from their faces and sat in silence.

After a long while, Jiang Rongyue was the first to break the silence: “Doesn’t His Highness want to ask what I said to Ling Jingshu today?”

The Crown Grandson’s thin lips were pressed tightly together, his eyes blank and cold: “Does it still matter what was said?”

He had already been forced to sever all his reluctance to let go, and had steeled his heart to turn a blind eye to Ling Jingshu’s situation. Whatever Jiang Rongyue would say to Ling Jingshu was already perfectly evident.

Jiang Rongyue looked at the Crown Grandson’s handsome, cold face and felt a surge of pain in her heart. She said softly: “Your Highness — I know you blame me in your heart. But what I did was for you, for our child, for the sake of the Crown Prince’s household. Aside from her — in the future, no matter whom Your Highness might like or wish to take into the household, I will never stand in the way!”

The Crown Grandson closed his eyes, unwilling to open his mouth and speak further on this subject.

What followed was an entire journey of wordless silence.

……

From that day onward, Ling Jingshu officially began her duties.

The tasks she performed each day were much the same as when she had been at Jiaofang Palace. There was only one addition: every morning she had to go to the Emperor’s bedchamber to “tend to” those few potted plants and, in passing, show her face before the Emperor.

In the blink of an eye, three months passed.

The Emperor’s gaze fell upon her more and more often.

Fortunately, the Emperor’s imperial body was weak, and even if his heart was willing his body lacked the capacity — and as the Son of Heaven, he would not behave in the hasty, rash manner of a man driven by lust. At most, he would simply look at her a few extra times.

Wei Yan spent the greater part of each day at Zichen Palace as well, taking pulses, applying acupuncture, adjusting his prescriptions, and sometimes keeping the Emperor company in idle conversation to relieve his boredom.

She and Wei Yan crossed paths frequently. Yet Zichen Palace had many people and many eyes, and both of them were exceedingly careful — in the presence of others, they maintained only the formality of a salute and a brief exchange of pleasantries.

Only in those occasional moments when their gazes met could they allow themselves a brief indulgence — just a fleeting instant — as sweetness known only to each other surged within their hearts.

Though the circumstances were difficult, though the road ahead was treacherous, though hardships and obstacles were plentiful — none of it could stop two hearts entwined in love from quietly supporting one another.

The Emperor had also privately asked Wei Yan on two occasions: “Imperial Physician Wei — how is Female Official Ling’s condition? Do you have confidence in curing her?”

Wei Yan answered respectfully with cupped hands: “Reporting to Your Majesty. Because Female Official Ling’s condition is unusual, this official cannot take her pulse and can only inquire about the symptoms to form a diagnosis. This official has prescribed a formula for her and has her drink the medicine daily. In the short term, results have not yet been seen. This official asks Your Majesty to grant a few more days of patience.”

The Emperor did not grow suspicious, and his tone carried a note of tender pity: “Such a young girl, and she has contracted such a strange ailment — it is truly lamentable. Give it more of your care and attention, and cure her no matter what. If you need any rare medicinal herbs, simply send someone to the Imperial Medical Academy to search. If the Academy doesn’t have them, dispatch someone outside the palace to find them.”

Wei Yan replied with a smile: “This official will respectfully follow Your Majesty’s instructions. Your Majesty’s benevolence and virtue are boundless. For Female Official Ling, being able to serve at Zichen Palace while receiving such favor and esteem from Your Majesty is also her great fortune.”

This was a pleasure to hear no matter which way one listened.

The Emperor’s mood brightened, and his brow relaxed with a smile: “When did you learn to flatter and fawn as well?”

Wei Yan smiled: “This official has served Your Majesty for many years, and has always been tongue-tied — that much has been true for longer than a day or two. This official only knows how to speak truthfully and knows nothing of flattery. Your Majesty need not mock this official.”

The Emperor was coaxed into a hearty laugh: “If even you count as tongue-tied, then there is no one in this palace whose words suit our heart.”

Eunuch Ding added from one side with a touch of amusement: “Indeed, your servant sees that of all the palace, the person who most has the Emperor’s trust and delight is Imperial Physician Wei. Oh — and now there is also Female Official Ling.”

Wei Yan flicked a subtle glance at Eunuch Ding.

This Eunuch Ding had a notorious reputation for being crafty and troublesome, and was the most adept at pleasing the Emperor. If Eunuch Ding were to detect the secret and unspoken feelings between himself and Ling Jingshu, it would be very, very bad indeed.

Fortunately Eunuch Ding said nothing more — as though what he had just said had been merely an offhand remark.

An attendant came in to report: “Consort Wei and Princess An’ya have come to pay their respects to the Emperor and are waiting outside.”

Upon hearing that Wei Jieyu and Princess An’ya had arrived, the Emperor’s eyes and brows immediately softened: “Let them come in!”

……

Consort Wei wore a pale pink palace gown. Her features were elegant and beautiful, her bearing gentle and graceful, a smile at her lips as she bowed: “This consort pays respects to Your Majesty.”

The Princess An’ya who followed close behind was young and adorable, her face radiating guileless innocence: “Father — is your body feeling somewhat better?”

The Emperor smiled warmly: “Seeing you, our body instantly feels several degrees better.”

The Emperor had only two daughters. After his most beloved eldest daughter Changping had been sent to the Ciyun Convent, that paternal love had quite naturally been transferred to Princess An’ya.

Princess An’ya could not match Princess Changping’s eloquence and quick tongue, but she surpassed her in simple-hearted innocence, kindness, and lovableness. The Emperor had grown weary of women with scheming hearts, and found his youngest daughter increasingly pleasing to his eye.

Princess An’ya sat down at the edge of the bed and began chatting quietly with the Emperor: “Father — I have begun learning needlework these past few days. I want to give Father the first handkerchief I embroider as a gift — would that be all right?”

She paused, then flushed with shy embarrassment: “It’s just that the embroidery is not very pretty — Father must not find it lacking.”

“A handkerchief embroidered by An’ya’s own hand — how could Father find it lacking?” The Emperor smiled warmly.

Consort Wei looked on as the Emperor and An’ya chatted and laughed together, her own heart quite pleased. She stepped forward and said: “The Emperor’s birthday celebration is nearly upon us. This consort came today precisely to ask for Your Majesty’s guidance — how should the birthday banquet be arranged?”

In previous years, the matter of organizing the birthday banquet had always been presided over by Empress Xu.

This year, that task fell to Noble Consort Li and Consort Wei. Noble Consort Li was getting on in years and lacked the stamina — and knowing she was no longer in favor with the Emperor, she had simply passed this conspicuous task over to Consort Wei.

The Emperor thought of the banquet, inevitably thought of Empress Xu, and unconsciously furrowed his brow: “Previous years were far too lavish and wasteful. There is no need for that this year. Pass our word — everything is to be kept simple.”