Ling Jingyan hadn’t eaten a single grain of rice that evening, and tossed and turned all night without sleeping well. Sometime in the night she caught a chill, and by morning she was vomiting and suffering from diarrhea. She had only meant to feign illness, but never expected to actually fall sick.

Bitao didn’t dare hide it and hurried to report the matter to Sun Shi. Sun Shi immediately sent someone to fetch a physician.

Ling Jingyan lay listlessly in bed, her complexion sallow and her strength drained.

Fortunately, after a night had passed, the swollen redness around her eyes had faded, leaving no trace of anything unusual.

Sun Shi sat at the bedside, holding Ling Jingyan’s faintly cool hand, her heart aching with worry. “You silly girl, you’re old enough now and still don’t know how to take care of yourself properly. You even kicked off your blankets in the middle of the night. Just look at the state you’re in now…”

Ling Jingyan was already in a gloomy mood, and listening to Sun Shi’s stream of complaints only made her headache worse. She simply buried her head under the blankets, curling up like a giant silkworm cocoon.

Sun Shi was both annoyed and amused. “I only scolded you a little, and you act like this — you’re getting more outrageous by the day. The physician has already written a prescription, and I’ve sent someone to fetch and brew the medicine. Don’t you dare act like before and refuse to drink it…”

Ling Jingyan refused to move, her muffled voice coming from beneath the blankets. “Mother, my head feels like it’s about to burst. Please stop nagging. Just let me be quiet for a while.”

Sun Shi frowned. “You’re unwell, how can I just leave you by yourself…”

“Then let A’Shu stay and keep me company. The rest of you can go.”

Sun Shi was at a loss for words.

Standing to the side, Ling Jingshu spoke up gently. “Aunt, Cousin Yan is unwell and her spirits are low. Why not just go along with her wishes for now. Why don’t you all go back and rest, and let me stay and keep her company.”

Even as Sun Shi said, “How could I impose on you like that,” she had already risen to her feet.

Ling Jingshu suppressed a quiet laugh inwardly, though a touch of envy stirred in her heart as well.

Her own mother had died young, and her voice and face had long since faded from memory. She and her younger brother Ling Xiao had only ever had each other to rely on. She was somewhat older than Ling Xiao, and since he was blind, she had always looked after him in every way, acting as both an elder sister and a mother to him.

Her father was indifferent toward her, and her stepmother, Li Shi, was sly and harsh. Even Old Madam Ling only paid her a little extra attention because she seemed gentle and well-behaved.

This feeling of being doted on and cared for was something she had almost never experienced.

Once Sun Shi and the others had left, the room fell quiet at once.

Ling Jingyan poked her head out from under the blankets and let out a deep breath. “Finally, some peace.”

Ling Jingshu smiled faintly. “Aunt only nagged you because she cares about you. If anyone were willing to nag at me like that, I would be overjoyed.”

Only then did Ling Jingyan remember that Ling Jingshu had lost her own mother since childhood. She smiled apologetically. “I’m truly sorry. I shouldn’t have said that in front of you.”

Ling Jingshu, however, was quite at ease about it. “My mother has been gone almost ten years now. Never mind you — even Ling Xiao and I can hardly remember what she looked like anymore.”

Ling Jingyan thought it over for a moment before asking cautiously, “A’Shu, is the Fifth Aunt not kind to you and your brother these days?”

Not kind? Far from it!

Li Shi was vicious at heart. She had first caused Ling Xiao’s blindness, then taken Concubine Xia’s life. She hadn’t even spared Bai Yu, who served at her side, and in the end had poisoned Ling Xiao, nearly costing him his life as well…

Such an irreconcilable hatred could only be repaid in blood!

A flash of bone-deep coldness passed through Ling Jingshu’s eyes, though her voice remained light as she answered, “It’s not exactly unkind. We simply don’t interact much in daily life. Even when we meet, we barely exchange a few words.”

Ling Jingyan’s face showed sympathy. “After all, you weren’t born of her own womb, so some distance is only natural.”

Comparing herself to Ling Jingshu, she suddenly realized how fortunate she herself was.

Her own father and mother both doted on her. Her elder brother treated her exceedingly well, and her sister-in-law indulged her in every way.

“A’Shu, have I been too willful?” Ling Jingyan reflected deeply on herself, something rare for her. “I never do anything useful, always wanting the very best of everything without a single worry. And now I’ve even made myself sick out of spite, worrying Mother and everyone else. Just now Mother nagged me a little, and I wasn’t even willing to listen — I sent her away…”

The more she spoke, the more ashamed she felt.

Ling Jingshu took the opportunity to console her. “It’s good that you can see this clearly now. In this world, the only ones who think of you wholeheartedly and truly wish you well are your family. What does Prince Yan matter, when you’ve only met him once? Don’t go ruining your health over someone who has nothing to do with you.”

At the mention of Prince Yan, a wave of dejection passed through Ling Jingyan’s heart, but she forced out a faint smile. “A’Shu, you’re right. I was too foolish. I’ll make sure to forget him soon and focus on getting well.”

But could a young girl’s deep, heartfelt infatuation really be forgotten just by saying so?

Still, as long as Ling Jingyan could come to terms with it and was willing to take this step, it was a good thing regardless.

Over the next two days, Ling Jingyan stayed obediently in her room, recovering from her illness.

In the past, Ling Jingyan had always hated the bitter taste of medicinal soup and refused to drink it whenever she fell ill. Only when the people around her watched her closely and refused to let up would she grudgingly take a few sips with a pained expression.

This time, however, she had become much more obedient. Every time Bitao brought the medicine to her, she drank it all down without complaint.

Sun Shi noticed this and felt quite gratified, praising her warmly in front of Jiang Shi and Ling Jingshu. “A’Yan has truly grown up. Before, even when she was sick, she refused to take her medicine — every time I had to coax her with plums or other snacks before she’d take even a sip or two. Now she’s actually willing to drink it obediently.”

As she said this, her face carried an especially proud and pleased expression.

It took real effort for Jiang Shi to hold back her laughter, and she replied with a perfectly straight face, “You’re quite right, Mother. A’Yan has indeed grown more mature and sensible.”

Ling Jingshu couldn’t help the corners of her mouth curving up in amusement.

Feeling thoroughly embarrassed, Ling Jingyan covered her face with her hands. “Mother, please stop talking about it. I can’t even show my face anymore.”

Sun Shi laughed, unconcerned. “Why can’t you show your face? I’m praising you sincerely, not putting on an act. Now that you’re not making a fuss and you’re willing to drink your medicine obediently, it’s saved me so much worry. I’m truly very pleased.”

Ling Jingshu and Jiang Shi each turned their heads away to hide their stifled laughter.

Ling Jingyan’s face and the back of her ears burned with embarrassment, and waves of guilt rose in her heart.

A’Shu was right.

In this world, the people who truly cared about her were her family. How could she have let herself fall apart over a young man she had only met once?

Besides, she really had been far too immature and thoughtless before. Even something as small as taking her medicine had made her own mother worry…

With this thought, Ling Jingyan raised her head and said softly, “Mother, in the past I was thoughtless and always made you worry. From now on, I’ll take good care of myself and never let you worry over me again.”

Hearing such considerate and obedient words, Sun Shi felt more gratified than words could express.

Ling Jingyan turned and smiled at Ling Jingshu. “A’Shu, in two more days it’ll be the fifteenth of the sixth month. I’m going to get myself well so I can go with you to Huichun Hall. Come to think of it, I’ve never even seen this famous Imperial Physician Wei everyone talks about!”

That’s right — in two more days it would be the fifteenth. Waiting day after day like this, even she herself was growing anxious with anticipation.

Ling Jingshu nodded with a smile.