Rather than alarmed, Bai Yu was delighted. “Young Miss, you’ve finally woken up.” She hurried to support her body, patting her back continuously. “We pressed on you for ages earlier and never got the water out of your stomach—now it’s finally come out.”

Ling Jingyan’s voice also sounded in her ear: “That’s right! Getting the water out is a good thing too. A’Shu, you really scared us half to death this time. Your own swimming isn’t even that good, so how could you dare jump into the lake to save someone? Thank heavens neither you nor the princess came to serious harm. If something like this happens again, you must be more careful… ugh, no, no! There mustn’t ever be a ‘something like this’ again!”

Amid Bai Yu and Ling Jingyan’s chattering, Ling Jingshu emptied her stomach of water completely, and her muddled, foggy mind gradually began to clear.

Ling Jingshu raised her eyes and met Imperial Physician Wei’s gaze head-on.

Imperial Physician Wei was staring intently at her, his gaze holding surprise, confusion, and a trace of thoughtful consideration.

Feeling a bit guilty, Ling Jingshu instinctively avoided Imperial Physician Wei’s sharp gaze, her voice weak. “Bai Yu, where am I?”

Bai Yu quickly answered, “This is a guest room in Princess Changping’s courtyard. Princess Anya is right next door and still hasn’t woken up. Princess Changping and the other young ladies are all waiting over there. They should be coming over soon.”

That was only natural, after all.

She and Princess Anya had both been unconscious, but Princess Anya’s status was far more precious than her own. If anything had happened to the princess, even Princess Changping would have had no way to answer for it.

“Miss Ling needn’t worry—I have already checked Princess Anya’s pulse earlier,” Imperial Physician Wei said, his voice slightly lower than usual. “She’s merely overly frightened. With a few days of proper rest and some calming medicinal soup, she’ll be fine.”

“This time we owe a great debt to Miss Ling, who jumped into the lake in time to save the princess’s life. Allow me to thank Miss Ling on Lady Wei’s behalf.”

Ling Jingshu steadied herself and replied, “I’m rather ashamed to say it, but I’m not actually skilled at swimming. After jumping into the lake, I could only barely hold onto Princess Anya. The ones who truly saved us were those two palace maids. Imperial Physician Wei is thanking the wrong person.”

Imperial Physician Wei gazed at Ling Jingshu’s pale, lovely face, his voice quite gentle. “There’s no need for Miss Ling to be so modest. At such a dangerous and urgent moment, if you hadn’t been the first to jump into the lake and hold onto the princess, who knows how much more she would have suffered. I will never forget this debt of assistance.”

Princess Anya was Consort Wei’s only daughter, and also Imperial Physician Wei’s own niece, with deep affection between them—that went without saying. That Ling Jingshu, knowing full well her swimming wasn’t good, had still leapt into the water without hesitation to save Anya, was truly moving and worthy of gratitude.

Before Ling Jingshu could say anything more, Imperial Physician Wei spoke again. “It’s also a good thing that Miss Ling has emptied her stomach of water completely. I’ll step out for a moment and come back to examine you shortly.”

With that, he turned and left the room.

Ling Jingshu secretly let out a breath of relief.

After leaving the room, Imperial Physician Wei sat down in the side hall outside.

Tian Dong asked curiously, “Imperial Physician Wei, has Miss Ling already woken up? She’s not in any serious danger, is she?”

Imperial Physician Wei gave a brief acknowledgment.

“Miss Ling really is exceptionally brave.” Tian Dong couldn’t help but praise her. “An ordinary young lady faced with such a situation would likely be frightened out of her wits. Only she immediately jumped into the water to save someone.”

Indeed!

She truly possessed extraordinary courage!

Imperial Physician Wei’s lips curved slightly, but he said nothing. Instead, he lowered his head to look at his own right hand.

His hand was slender, clean, and elegant. This hand had checked the pulses of other women before, but none had ever reacted so violently as to vomit outright like she had—she was the first!

Ling Jingshu had just vomited quite a lot of water, soiling both the bedding and her own clothing considerably.

Fortunately, the guest room had everything on hand—the cabinet held a set of brand-new bedding. Bai Yu also went to ask the palace maids for a clean set of clothes, helping Ling Jingshu change into them, then busied herself changing out all the bedding as well.

Sitting amid the clean bedding, Ling Jingshu gave Bai Yu an apologetic smile. “Bai Yu, you’ve worked hard.”

“This is nothing for this servant to do,” Bai Yu sighed. “As long as Young Miss is safe and sound, this servant is content.”

Madam Jiang picked up the conversation. “That’s right, A’Shu—in the future, when something happens, you mustn’t act so impulsively and recklessly. Today you frightened all of us half to death. Thankfully Princess Anya was rescued and you’re fine too. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have had the face to answer to your grandparents and parents when I got back.”

Ling Jingshu said apologetically, “In the urgency of the moment, I admit I acted without thinking it through carefully and was a bit impulsive. I won’t do this again.”

Madam Jiang was only venting a little, after all.

The leap into the lake had already happened, and the person had already been saved—there was nothing more to say about it now. In fact, this was a good thing too. Ling Jingshu had saved Princess Anya! Once the Emperor and Consort Wei in the palace learned of this, how could they not reward her?

Ling Jingyan had clearly thought of this too, and asked excitedly, “A’Shu, do you think Lady Wei might summon you into the palace?”

Ling Jingshu let out a wry laugh. “Cousin Yan, you’re thinking too much. I merely did what needed to be done in the moment—it’s not worth mentioning. Why would Lady Wei specially summon me into the palace?”

Still, if there really were a chance to enter the palace, that would naturally be a good thing for her.

Bai Yu, who had been worrying about Ling Jingshu’s condition all along, said softly, “Young Miss, Imperial Physician Wei is still waiting outside—this servant will go call him in to check your pulse now.”

“No need. I’m already much better now—a few days’ rest will do. There’s no need to trouble Imperial Physician Wei.”

Ling Jingshu blurted this out reflexively.

Earlier, the moment Imperial Physician Wei had merely rested his fingers on her wrist, she had been unable to bear it and had vomited. He was sharp-minded and seemed to have already noticed something was amiss. If it happened again, it would be strange if he didn’t grow suspicious!

Bai Yu, who was usually gentle and obedient, rarely went against Ling Jingshu’s wishes, but did so this time. “That won’t do. Young Miss has fallen into the water—you really must let Imperial Physician Wei properly check your pulse to confirm there’s no problem, and ask him to prescribe a medicine to calm your nerves.”

Ling Jingshu kept her face stern, putting on the air of the mistress. “I said there’s no need, so there’s no need.”

With Ling Jingshu insisting so firmly, not only Bai Yu but even Madam Jiang and Ling Jingyan found it odd.

“Imperial Physician Wei has been specially waiting outside—we really must invite him in to examine you, or it would be far too discourteous.” Madam Jiang frowned slightly, voicing her disapproval.

Ling Jingyan repeatedly agreed. “Eldest Sister-in-law is right. A’Shu, don’t be so shy about it. It’s only a pulse check, and the rest of us will all be right here with you—it won’t damage your reputation as a young lady.”

Without waiting for Ling Jingshu to say anything more, she instructed Bai Yu, “Go and invite Imperial Physician Wei in right now!”

Ling Jingshu had no time to stop her, watching helplessly as Bai Yu briskly left the room, her heart filled with a bitter, helpless smile.

What was she to do in a moment?

Was the strange affliction she had worked so hard to hide about to be exposed before everyone today?