Ling Xiao’s action took everyone completely by surprise.

The Crown Grandson raised an eyebrow slightly and took a measured look at Ling Xiao, then asked abruptly, “Are you and she twins?”

Ling Xiao and Ling Jingshu’s features were quite similar, yet subtly different.

Ling Xiao’s looks were refined and beautiful; Ling Jingshu’s were vivid and radiant with a striking clarity.

Ling Xiao answered that they were.

“You are the younger one, I take it.” The Crown Grandson’s tone was one of complete certainty.

“Yes — A’Shu was born a step before me.” Ling Xiao was not entirely sure of the Crown Grandson’s intent in asking, but he answered the question honestly and then added, “I was not born blind. At eight years old, I fell and struck my head in an accident, and have been unable to see ever since.”

Such a refined and gifted young man — and yet he was blind. It was truly a great pity.

A glimmer passed through the Crown Grandson’s eyes, and he asked in a casual tone, “The two of you do not live in the capital — why are you traveling with Official Ling to Luoyang this time?”

Before Ling Xiao could say a word, Ling Jingshu had already risen to her feet and knelt down in his place. “In reply to Your Highness — the most renowned physicians in the realm of medicine are largely concentrated in the capital. I accompanied A’Xiao to the capital in hopes of seeking medical treatment to restore his sight.”

Seeking medical treatment?

The Crown Grandson regarded the young woman kneeling before him with an expression of quiet contemplation, and asked in a mild tone, “You intend to take him to Huichun Hall and seek treatment from Imperial Physician Wei?”

Imperial Physician Wei had founded Huichun Hall, where he had taken in and cured a great number of patients who had been deemed beyond all hope, and he had successfully treated countless difficult and rare ailments. Over the past several years, his reputation had grown so great that it had long eclipsed that of all the Imperial Physicians within the Imperial Medical Bureau. Among common people, he was even celebrated as a divine healer. Even from as far away as Dingzhou, Ling Jingshu had heard of Imperial Physician Wei’s name.

Ling Jingshu lowered her head and responded with a yes.

At this moment, Ling Jingshu was gentle, deferential, and meticulously proper in her conduct — there was not the slightest thing to fault.

She was an entirely different person from the young woman of the previous night, who had been pale-faced yet cold-eyed and unyielding.

A flicker of interest passed through the Crown Grandson’s eyes. In a relaxed and unhurried manner, he said, “The two of you need not kneel — rise and speak.”

Ling Jingshu and Ling Xiao expressed their thanks together and rose to their feet. As she stood, Ling Jingshu very naturally took hold of Ling Xiao’s arm and murmured softly, “A’Xiao, be careful.”

The brother and sister were of an equal height, standing shoulder to shoulder. Their features were similar yet each possessed a distinct charm. The sight of them together was one of remarkable grace.

It was little wonder those bandits had taken notice.

The Crown Grandson’s gaze passed over Ling Jingshu and Ling Xiao, then shifted to Ling Ji. “It was you who released the distress signal last night, was it not? That we were able to rescue you all in time was largely thanks to the signal being released early.”

Had it been a moment later, the bandits would likely have seized their captives and fled long before anyone could arrive.

But Ling Ji was caught off guard. “The distress signal last night — it was not I who released it.”

“Perhaps it was released by the boatmen,” Ling Daye speculated. “We should ask around carefully afterward and find whoever released the signal — they must be well-rewarded…”

“The distress signal last night — I was the one who released it.” A clear, gentle, and composed voice rang out.

Everyone: “…”

Amid the stunned and bewildered gazes of all present, Ling Jingshu said calmly, “That day at the wharf, I had a nagging sense that someone was watching me. Over the two days that followed, I felt persistently ill at ease. So I had Bai Yu go to the boatmen and ask for a bamboo-tube signal. I had only thought to be prepared for any eventuality. I never imagined there would truly be a bandit attack in the night. When I was jolted awake by the commotion, I released the signal immediately.”

She made it sound effortless and simple.

Yet in circumstances like those — suddenly attacked by bandits in the dark of night, with everyone fearing for their own lives and scrambling to find a place to hide — how many people would still have had the presence of mind to release a distress signal? And yet this delicate young woman had kept her composure under crisis and, as the very first thing she did, released the signal…

Such courage and steadiness of mind was nothing short of astonishing.

Ling Jing’yan stared blankly at Ling Jingshu, as though seeing her clearly for the very first time.

Ling Ji’s gaze was even more complex.

He thought of how Ling Jingshu had responded with such calm composure when facing the bandits the previous night. He thought of the blood-soaked dagger…What kind of force was hidden within that willowy, seemingly fragile figure?

The Crown Grandson, too, was watching the young woman who now wore an expression of shy, gentle warmth — and a flicker of quiet amusement crossed his eyes, though he said nothing.

After a brief silence fell over the cabin, Ling Daye finally opened his mouth and broke it. “A’Shu handled it splendidly. To speak of it plainly — it is all thanks to A’Shu this time. If she had not stepped forward to take matters into her own hands, I fear we would all have been in far greater danger.”

The Crown Grandson raised an eyebrow slightly and gave a sound of quiet interest, the final note lifting upward.

Ling Daye had navigated the official world for many years and was exceedingly adept at reading expressions and discerning intentions. Seeing that the Crown Grandson appeared interested in the matter, he immediately recounted the events of the previous night in full detail. “…I am truly ashamed to admit it. At the time, this official was so frightened he lost all composure, and afraid of provoking the bandits, did not dare to make a single sound…”

“So you simply let an unmarried young woman follow the bandits away?” The Crown Grandson cut Ling Daye off in a mild tone, his expression unreadable, giving no hint of his feelings.

Yet a faint trace of disdain came through clearly, unmistakably.

Ling Daye had not expected this remark to come at him so suddenly and was left with nothing to say in reply. His old face burned as though it had been slapped.

Surprisingly, the person who came to Ling Daye’s rescue was none other than Ling Jingshu. She looked at him with a face full of gentle sincerity. “Given the circumstances at the time, that course of action was the only one that could preserve everyone’s lives. Uncle has endured much humiliation for the sake of the greater good — as your niece, I feel nothing but gratitude in my heart, and not a single word of grievance.”

Whether these words were genuine or not, Ling Daye’s dignity was at least somewhat restored.

If before he had felt only a measure of guilt toward Ling Jingshu, now it had undeniably risen to “she truly is one’s own family niece, who always knows to shield and protect her uncle’s face.”

The Crown Grandson gave Ling Jingshu a glance that hovered somewhere between a smile and something else entirely. In a languid tone, he said, “Miss Ling the Ninth — a feeble woman, yet daring to face down bandits directly. Commendable courage. Admirable.”

Daring to personally kill someone — calling it “commendable” was an understatement. She was something the world rarely saw.

Ling Jingshu acted as though she had not caught the hidden meaning in the Crown Grandson’s words, and tilted her head down with an affected air of shy deference. “Thank you for the praise, Your Highness.”

Putting on quite the performance.

The corner of the Crown Grandson’s lips curved faintly. There was no sign of displeasure in his eyes.

Wang Tong, standing to the side with his heart in his throat, finally relaxed when he saw that the Crown Grandson had not grown angry.

The Crown Grandson was by no means an easy master to serve. While other young men of his age were still absorbed in reading the four classics and five canonical texts, he had already taken charge of the Eastern Palace’s affairs, commanding its officials and handling the affairs of the court.

Young in years yet wielding heavy authority, deep in thought, brows faintly lowered even in repose — commanding without needing to show anger.

Everyone around him waited on him with perpetual wariness, afraid that a single misstep would displease him. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess doted on this eldest son and indulged his every wish; the Emperor held him in exceptional regard and favor. Second only to one, above all others — he was truly a son of heaven.

A Crown Grandson like this — the people around him were ordinarily too busy currying favor and flattering him to find the time for anything else, and naturally no one dared to go against his wishes. Even if he merely furrowed a brow, those around him would be trembling with apprehension.

Yet unexpectedly, today, when faced with this Miss Ling the Ninth — he was displaying a patience that no one had anticipated.