At last, half an hour had been endured.
Imperial Physician Wei swiftly removed the gold needles from Ling Xiao. Tian Dong skillfully took the needles to clean them.
After all the gold needles had been removed, Ling Xiao’s face was once again covered in cold sweat.
Watching this, Ling Jingshu’s heart ached endlessly. No longer caring about the embarrassment of being teased by Jiang Shi and Ling Jingyan, she hurried forward and exchanged the cloth for a clean handkerchief to wipe Ling Xiao’s forehead.
“A’Xiao, how are you feeling now?” Ling Jingshu asked gently. “Does your head still hurt?”
After every acupuncture session, that sore, swollen, aching sensation would linger for a while. This time was naturally no exception.
Ling Xiao mustered his spirits and smiled. “I can move my head now. It’s much better than before.”
Ling Jingshu studied Ling Xiao closely for a few moments. Seeing color return to his pale face, she felt a wave of relief and looked up gratefully at Imperial Physician Wei. “Thank you for your trouble today, Imperial Physician Wei. My brother and I are deeply grateful.”
Imperial Physician Wei raised an eyebrow and asked with a faint smile, “Young Master Ling’s eye ailment will still require several more months of acupuncture. Does Miss Ling intend to thank me every single time we meet from now on?”
Ling Jingshu: “……”
Ling Jingshu coughed lightly, a little embarrassed. “You’re right, Imperial Physician Wei. A great kindness need not be spoken of in thanks. I should say fewer such polite words from now on.”
Imperial Physician Wei smiled and said nothing more.
Tian Dong had already packed up the medicine box and was waiting for Imperial Physician Wei to rise and leave.
This had long been Imperial Physician Wei’s habit. While treating a patient with acupuncture, he was very patient. But once the treatment was finished, he would leave immediately, with little interaction with the patient’s family.
After waiting a while, however, Imperial Physician Wei still showed no sign of rising to leave.
Tian Dong felt secretly puzzled and couldn’t help glancing up.
Imperial Physician Wei still sat unmoving, his expression calm and composed, yet the corners of his lips were slightly raised. It was clear that his mood at the moment was quite good.
Tian Dong’s gaze fell on Ninth Miss Ling beside him, and as if understanding something, he obediently closed his mouth and waited quietly.
In fact, they didn’t have to wait long.
This was the Crown Prince’s manor. Every visit required a heart full of gratitude and trepidation, with careful, cautious words and conduct. Except for the one time they had unexpectedly been kept for lunch, every visit ended with their leaving as soon as the needles were removed.
Today was no exception.
Everyone sat for a short while longer. After exchanging a few idle words, they all decided, without prior discussion, to rise and leave.
“It’s getting late, we should be on our way.” Ling Jingshu said, a touch of apologetic smile on her lips, looking at Imperial Physician Wei. “My brother and I would have liked to invite you to a restaurant for lunch, but you must return to the palace, and I’m afraid you have no time to spare……”
In truth, there was no absolute need to return to the palace immediately.
This was merely an excuse he used to fend off various social obligations. Otherwise, once the precedent was set, every time he left the palace afterward would bring no end of trouble……
Imperial Physician Wei’s heart stirred slightly. The words on the tip of his tongue changed into: “I appreciate Miss Ling and Young Master Ling’s thoughtfulness, but lunch won’t be necessary.”
As he spoke, he rose to his feet as well and gave an instruction. “Tian Dong, carry the medicine box properly and follow me back to the Imperial Medical Institute.”
Tian Dong responded, feeling somewhat regretful in his heart.
He followed Imperial Physician Wei all day long and had come to understand his temperament fairly well. He had thought Wei might make an exception and return a little later today, but it turned out he still intended to leave.
Just at that moment, the door was suddenly pushed open.
Everyone was startled and turned their heads in unison to look.
A young man in bright, fine clothes and handsome features strode in brazenly, a fan painted with a beauty swaying back and forth in his hand, every bit the air of the capital’s foremost dandy.
Ling Jingshu frowned almost instantly.
Who else could it be? This young man was, of course, none other than the noble Prince Yan.
Apart from Ling Jingshu, everyone else’s expressions varied as well. The last time they had run into Prince Yan at the Crown Prince’s manor, it could still be called, somewhat, a coincidence. But surely this time could not be called a coincidence again!
Prince Yan had clearly come on purpose, and clearly for Ling Jingshu’s sake!
Just as everyone was about to step forward to pay respects, Prince Yan spoke first with a smile. “All right, none of you need to bother with formalities. This Prince came especially today to visit Young Master Ling.”
As he spoke, he walked up grinning and patted Ling Xiao on the shoulder. “Imperial Physician Wei has already given you the needles today, hasn’t he! How are you feeling now?”
Ling Xiao was quite unused to such physical contact. Fearing that showing it might anger Prince Yan, he forced out a somewhat stiff smile. “It hurt a bit during the needling, but after resting a while, I feel much better now.”
“Good, that’s good.” Prince Yan ignored Ling Xiao’s distant, respectful expression and said rather warmly, “Since the needling is done, there shouldn’t be anything else pressing now, should there!”
Ling Xiao: “……”
A great wariness rose in Ling Xiao, and for a moment he didn’t know how to respond.
Prince Yan continued with enthusiastic warmth. “The other day we ate lunch right here at the Crown Prince’s manor, which was inevitably a bit restrained, not free and lively enough. Today, all of you come with this Prince to Prince Yan’s manor. This Prince specially requested several imperial chefs from the Imperial Kitchen, so you can taste just how skilled the imperial chefs are……”
“Many thanks to Your Highness for the generous invitation.”
Ling Jingshu quickly took up the thread. “However, we’ve already been out for half the day and must hurry back, lest our eldest aunt worry. And A’Xiao has just had the needling done and needs more rest; it isn’t suitable for him to be running about exerting himself. So we won’t impose any further.”
Prince Yan remained full of enthusiasm, not at all put off by Ling Jingshu’s refusal. “Even if you go back, you’ll still need to eat lunch somewhere! Don’t worry, this Prince won’t keep you against your will. Once you’ve eaten lunch at Prince Yan’s manor, you may leave. Prince Yan’s manor is very close to the Crown Prince’s manor — by carriage, it takes less than the time it takes to brew a pot of tea.”
He then said to Imperial Physician Wei, “Imperial Physician Wei need not rush back to the Imperial Medical Institute either. Come along to Prince Yan’s manor for lunch before leaving.”
His tone seemed casual, yet carried an overbearing air that allowed no refusal.
Having said this, without even checking everyone’s reactions, he turned and instructed the guard behind him. “Hurry back to the manor and tell the kitchen to prepare. Tell them this Prince is entertaining honored guests at noon today and they must prepare with utmost care. If the guests are not satisfied, I will hold them responsible.”
The guard acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Everyone: “……”
Was there ever such a way of inviting people to dinner!
And yet this Prince Yan was somehow able to make such an unreasonable thing seem perfectly natural, leaving no room for refusal!
Ling Xiao suppressed the urge to frown and secretly squeezed Ling Jingshu’s hand.
A’Shu, what should we do now?
Ling Jingshu took a deep breath and gently squeezed back in reassurance.
Don’t worry. When soldiers come, generals block them; when water rises, earth dams it. Since refusal is impossible, we’ll simply pay a visit to Prince Yan’s manor today. In broad daylight, surely Prince Yan wouldn’t go so far as to forcibly abduct a young lady of good family!
After the guard left, Prince Yan also turned and began to stroll off at a leisurely pace.
After a couple of steps, Prince Yan turned back with a look of surprise. “What are you all standing around for? This Prince is personally leading the way for you, and you still won’t hurry?”