Huichun Hall was divided into three sections. The outer hall was where ordinary patients came for diagnosis and to purchase medicine; through the side door lay the inner hall.

The inner hall was only half the size of the outer hall, kept spotlessly clean and orderly. Here too stood several rows of wooden medicine cabinets, holding many rare and precious medicinal herbs.

A few chairs were arranged in the inner hall, and in the center stood a wide, sturdy long table.

After Liu Laoshi had been carried into the inner hall, he continued to convulse without pause, foaming more and more at the mouth, his face flushed red, his pupils unfocused, his groans growing weaker and weaker — he did indeed seem to be at death’s door.

Hearing these sounds, Ling Xiao felt a stir of fear and instinctively moved closer to Ling Jingshu’s side.

Ling Jingshu gently took Ling Xiao’s hand and comforted him in a low voice. “Don’t be afraid, Ling Xiao. Imperial Physician Wei should be here soon.”

Ashamed of his own timidity, Ling Xiao gave a soft murmur of acknowledgment.

As chief steward, Han Yi had to manage all the affairs of Huichun Hall, both inside and out, and had no time to remain there with the group. He instructed two assistants to look after Liu Laoshi and then left again.

Ling Ji glanced around and remarked quietly with admiration, “This is my first time at Huichun Hall. Seeing it in person really does surpass hearing about it — this place truly is different from other medicine halls.”

Take just the assistants here, for one thing — every one of them worked diligently without idle chatter, and none of them displayed the usual tendency to flatter the wealthy while looking down on the poor. Even knowing this group came from privileged backgrounds, they made no special effort to curry favor. The two assistants tending to Liu Laoshi showed no sign of disdain either, caring for him with considerable attentiveness and care.

Ling Jingshu took all of this in as well, and her curiosity about this Imperial Physician Wei, who had yet to appear, only grew.

Footsteps sounded outside the inner hall.

Could it be that Imperial Physician Wei had arrived?

A flicker of anticipation crossed Ling Jingshu’s face as she rose and looked toward the door.

But what came into view was not a man at all, but a young lady in the bloom of youth, dressed in a purple gown.

The young lady brought only two maidservants in with her, and as soon as she entered the inner hall, she removed her veiled hat.

Beneath her willow-leaf brows were a pair of alluring eyes; her nose was elegantly upturned, her lips full and red, and her figure tall — possessing a fullness and vitality rare among young women. The thin, soft gown clung close to her body, only further accentuating her lovely figure.

Every man present couldn’t help but glance at her a second time.

The moment their eyes met, Jiang Shi recognized the newcomer and hurried forward to greet her with proper courtesy. “Jiang Shi greets Princess Fumin.”

Princess Fumin smiled and replied casually, “No need for such formality, please rise and speak freely.” Yet her gaze passed over Jiang Shi and settled on the young lady in the bamboo-green dress.

After entering the inner hall, Ling Jingshu had also removed her veiled hat, her beautiful face now fully revealed.

So that Liu Jiaoniang hadn’t lied after all. This young lady was indeed quite lovely… falling only the slightest bit short of herself.

A flash of jealousy crossed Princess Fumin’s eyes as she asked Jiang Shi, “What brings you here today? Is that young lady from the Ling family?”

Inwardly, Jiang Shi sighed with a bitter, wry smile.

This Princess Fumin was notoriously sharp-tongued and overbearing, yet her exalted status meant ordinary people simply couldn’t afford to provoke her. The young ladies of the capital, upon meeting her, invariably had to defer and yield, which had only further nourished her spoiled, willful temperament.

It was just unfortunate that, with looks as stunning as Ling Jingshu’s, no amount of low-profile caution could spare her from attention.

Even without seeking trouble, trouble had a way of finding its own way to her door.

Jiang Shi rallied herself and replied with a smile, “Indeed, she is my cousin from the fifth branch of the Ling family, the ninth child in the household. Her given name is Jingshu.” As she spoke, she turned and shot Ling Jingshu a meaningful look. “A’Shu, come and greet Princess Fumin.”

That look carried a rather profound meaning.

Summed up, it amounted to roughly this: this woman is spoiled and dangerous to provoke.

Ling Jingshu understood Jiang Shi’s hint and gave a noncommittal smile. She had no intention of stirring up trouble on her own, but if anyone treated her with contempt and deliberately sought to humiliate her, she certainly wouldn’t simply submit to it.

Having been reborn into this life, she meant to take her revenge and settle old scores with satisfaction — not to live cramped and put-upon at every turn as she had in her previous life.

“This humble girl is Ling Jingshu. Greetings to Princess Fumin.” Ling Jingshu stepped forward and bowed properly, smoothing her skirts in a formal curtsy.

Her etiquette had been instilled by the strictest of governess-nannies — every aspect of how she stood, sat, spoke, and carried herself was refined and courteous, beyond reproach. At a glance, she appeared every bit the dignified, well-bred young lady of a great household.

Only when provoked without cause would she shed her gentle, refined mask and reveal her sharp edge.

Lacking any real discernment, Princess Fumin naturally couldn’t see anything formidable about Ling Jingshu. She thought disdainfully to herself that Liu Jiaoniang was truly useless — this delicate, soft-spoken young lady from the Ling family, who spoke so slowly and gently, hardly seemed sharp-tongued at all.

Still, this Ling Jingshu was indeed quite good-looking… and her coming to Huichun Hall today was obviously, like everyone else, drawn by Imperial Physician Wei’s reputation.

With this thought, Princess Fumin grew even more displeased, and deliberately ignoring Ling Jingshu, she turned to Jiang Shi with a smile instead. “Come to think of it, it’s been about half a year since we last met, hasn’t it!”

Jiang Shi suppressed the unease and anxiety in her heart and replied with a smile that it had indeed been that long.

Just as Princess Fumin was about to continue speaking, the corner of her eye caught sight of Ling Jingshu, who had already straightened up and was standing at ease.

How arrogant and disrespectful!

She clearly didn’t think much of her status as a princess at all!

Princess Fumin’s expression changed, and she let out a cold snort. “Ninth Miss Ling, I don’t believe I told you that you could rise.” The hostility in her tone was unmistakable.

How strange indeed! They had never crossed paths before — where could this baffling hostility possibly come from?

Huichun Hall had a great many rules, and not just anyone could enter this inner hall — Third Miss Liu, after all, had been turned away at the door. Yet this Princess Fumin had walked straight in without anyone stopping her, which clearly meant this was far from her first visit here…

It seemed she, like Third Miss Liu, had also mistaken her for one of Imperial Physician Wei’s admirers, which was why such heavy hostility had arisen.

And yet this was precisely the sort of thing that could never be explained away.

She could hardly announce in front of everyone, “Don’t worry, I’ve never even met Imperial Physician Wei and harbor not the slightest improper thought toward him!”

Thoughts raced through Ling Jingshu’s mind, and within a brief moment she had made up her decision. No matter what, she would not back down weakly or allow herself to be looked down upon and pushed around.

“I grew up in Dingzhou since childhood, and the governess-nanny who taught me etiquette told me that when paying respects to an elder, one must not rise without permission if the elder hasn’t spoken. But toward a peer of similar age, a bow is simply a matter of courtesy and upbringing, with no need to be so rigidly formal about it. Could it be that the customs in the capital differ from those in Dingzhou?”

Princess Fumin: “…”

Ling Jingshu maintained the same gentle, courteous demeanor, a faint smile at the corner of her lips, as she said evenly, “Since this is our first meeting, if there’s any lapse in my manners, I would be grateful for the Princess’s guidance.”

What a sharp tongue indeed!

Princess Fumin was left utterly speechless, and her embarrassment quickly turned to fury. Imperious and unyielding, she snapped, “Fine, then this princess shall personally teach you some proper manners today…”

At some point, the door on the other side of the inner hall had been pushed open.

A young man stood in the doorway, his brow faintly furrowed. “Huichun Hall is a place for treating patients. If you want to argue, take it outside.”