Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Unparalleled Medical Arts Prime Minister Ling led everyone back to the main hall of the Ling Residence. Now that only family members and servants remained, Prime Minister Ling finally spoke. “Yue’er, you just broke off your engagement with the Third Prince, and you were injured a few days ago. Don’t leave the residence for the next few days.” Ling Jiayue said unhappily, “Father, you said in the carriage just now that I could go out as long as Older Brother accompanied me.” Prime Minister Ling was just about to speak when Ling Ziqi cut in first. “Father, Sister only just broke off her engagement and is afraid she won’t be able to marry, so she’s throwing herself at the Seventh Prince’s Residence. Mother was right. It’s a pity about the reputation of our Ling Residence—I’m afraid Sister is going to ruin it.” “Shut up!” Ling Jiaxuan and Madam Liu rebuked her at the same time. Madam Liu scolded, “Ling Ziqi, you are a concubine-born daughter. How can you speak to your legitimate elder sister like that? Is this how a concubine-born daughter ought to behave? And who is your mother? Zhang-shi is merely Madam Third Wife. She is not worthy of being called your mother. It seems I have been far too lenient with you normally, allowing you to become so ignorant of your place.” Ling Ziqi, however, argued forcefully, “How could I not know that there is a distinction between legitimate and concubine-born status? It’s just that Ling Jiayue herself has behaved improperly. Today, she even made Father personally go to bring her home. That is what is truly unfilial!” Madam Third Wife Zhang would not stand by while her daughter was bullied like this. She immediately spoke up. “Madam First Wife, your own legitimate daughter is the one who behaved improperly. Why blame Ziqi for it? My poor daughter only has the reputation of the Ling Residence in her heart, yet you still reprimand her.” Madam Liu was so angry she nearly toppled backward. She glared furiously at mother and daughter. “Zhang-shi, our Ling Residence’s legitimate eldest daughter will not be slandered by the two of you. Yue’er is a good child. She suffered so much growing up, and now that she has finally returned, is this how you treat the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s Residence?” Ling Jiayue gripped Madam Liu’s hand tightly. This was Mother’s hand. It was so warm. Being protected by someone felt wonderful. Ever since she had entered the palace and become Empress, she and her family had often exchanged letters, but that was ultimately no substitute for having them by her side. As Ling Jiayue thought about it, sorrow welled up inside her, and tears began to fall. Seeing this, Madam Liu felt even more distressed. She glared at mother and daughter. “You two have shown such disrespect for the distinction between seniority and status. From today onward, go to the ancestral hall and reflect for a hundred days.” Zhang-shi was even more unwilling to accept this. “Madam First Wife, could it be that you feel guilty? If the eldest young lady truly has a clear conscience, why punish my daughter and me?” “That’s enough!” Prime Minister Ling shouted angrily. “No one is to argue about today’s matter any further. Zhang-shi, Ziqi, our Ling Residence’s legitimate daughter will not be slandered. Go to the ancestral hall and reflect as your madam has ordered. Everyone, disperse.” Zhang-shi refused to leave. She immediately fell to her knees and began to weep pitifully as she said to Prime Minister Ling, “Master, I have served you all these years. Even if I have no merit, I have certainly endured hardship for you. Today, the eldest young lady was the one who behaved improperly, so why must Ziqi and I kneel in the ancestral hall? How will the two of us conduct ourselves in the future?” “Behaved improperly?! May I ask whom Madam Zhang is saying behaved improperly?!” As soon as the words fell, Feng Yan followed Mu Yuheng into the main hall of the Ling Residence. When everyone saw the Seventh Prince enter, they hurriedly saluted him. Mu Yuheng raised a hand. “Everyone, dispense with the formalities.” Only then did they rise. After entering, Mu Yuheng casually found a chair and sat down. He looked at Zhang-shi with an enigmatic smile. “I did not know that I was so contemptible in Madam Zhang’s eyes. Merely examining me was enough to count as behaving improperly?” Although Mu Yuheng was smiling as he spoke, his final question was delivered in a raised voice. The majesty of a prince revealed itself without form, forcing Zhang-shi to hurriedly kneel and beg for forgiveness. She stammered, not daring to raise her head. Seeing this, Prime Minister Ling hurriedly apologized to Mu Yuheng. “Seventh Prince, please calm your anger. This subordinate has failed to keep order within his household, which is why such foolish words were spoken. I hope the Seventh Prince will forgive us.” The Seventh Prince merely smiled without replying. Prime Minister Ling bent his body even lower, hoping only that the Seventh Prince would pardon them. Amid the dispute, Mu Yuheng turned his gaze toward Ling Jiayue, as if he had sensed something. Ling Jiayue raised her head, and Mu Yuheng’s eyes met hers. Suddenly, Mu Yuheng smiled at Ling Jiayue. Ling Jiayue froze, thinking, Could this Seventh Prince have lost his mind? Yet in Mu Yuheng’s eyes, her expression looked exceptionally adorable. His mood instantly became extremely good. “Feng Yan, have the gifts for Miss Ling brought inside,” Mu Yuheng ordered. “Yes, master.” Feng Yan did as instructed and led a large number of people carrying gifts into the main hall of the Ling Residence. The sheer number of gifts was astonishing. They nearly filled the entire residence. Prime Minister Ling was bewildered. “Seventh Prince, what do you mean by this?” Mu Yuheng smiled faintly. “I owe Miss Ling’s miraculous hands a great deal. The ailment that kept me from sleeping at night has finally been cured. I have prepared a few modest gifts as a token of my gratitude.” Prime Minister Ling hurriedly said, “Seventh Prince, you mustn’t, you mustn’t. My daughter’s medical skills are poor. The fact that she did not cause you any trouble was already fortunate enough. She merely happened to cure you—she cannot possibly accept such a grand gift. Please take them back.” Mu Yuheng replied, “Prime Minister, what are you saying? Your daughter’s medical arts are unparalleled, and she even relieved my troubles. Naturally, she is worthy of these gifts.” Prime Minister Ling still wanted to decline, but Mu Yuheng’s expression suddenly changed. “What? Does the Prime Minister look down on the gifts I have sent?” Prime Minister Ling broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said that he would never dare. He then turned to Ling Jiayue and asked, “Yue’er, are your medical arts truly so outstanding that even the Seventh Prince cannot praise you enough?” Ling Jiayue was just about to answer when Mu Yuheng spoke first. “That is only natural. Miss Ling’s medical arts are unparalleled. I have suffered from this ailment for many years, and it was all thanks to Miss Ling’s miraculous hands that I was cured.” Only then did Prime Minister Ling stop pursuing the matter of Ling Jiayue’s medical skills. Mu Yuheng was all smiles as he said, “Now that I have delivered the gifts, it is time for me to leave. However, Miss Ling examined me and was unjustly given a reputation for behaving improperly. I truly feel troubled by this.” As he spoke, Mu Yuheng glanced at Ling Jiayue. Ling Jiayue felt warmth spread through her heart, but then she remembered Mu Yuheng’s improper behavior toward her that morning. For a moment, she could not figure out what he intended to do. Zhang-shi, still kneeling on the floor, felt as though sweat had completely soaked through her clothes. Madam Liu then said, “The disorder within the inner residence is indeed my fault. I have already punished Zhang-shi and her daughter by ordering them to kneel in the ancestral hall and reflect for a hundred days.” “Very good. In that case, I shall take my leave.” As Mu Yuheng spoke, he rose and prepared to leave. Everyone from the Ling Residence hurriedly saluted again. “We respectfully see off the Seventh Prince.” “Ling Jiayue, Feng Yan can’t quite understand the prescription you gave me. Go explain to him exactly what he needs to do.” After saying this to Ling Jiayue, Mu Yuheng turned and walked out. Hearing his master’s words, Feng Yan knew that his master had something to say to Miss Ling. He could only put on an ingratiating smile and say, “Miss Ling, there are indeed some parts of this prescription that I do not understand. In order to serve my master better, I hope you can give me some guidance.” Ling Jiayue muttered that this was bad luck, but she had no choice except to explain it to Feng Yan. Feng Yan knew that his master was waiting outside to speak with Miss Ling. He could only shamelessly continue, “Miss Ling, you spoke too quickly. I couldn’t remember everything. There are paper and writing implements in my master’s carriage. Let’s go outside and discuss it so I can write it down.” Ling Jiayue knew that Mu Yuheng wanted to speak with her in private, but after what had happened that morning, she wanted nothing to do with him. She said, “There are paper and writing implements in the Ling Residence too. Wait here while I go get them.” Feng Yan said, “Miss Ling, going back and forth will take too much time. Why don’t you come with me to get the paper and writing implements from the carriage?” Ling Jiayue was about to refuse again when Prime Minister Ling spoke. “Yue’er, since that is the case, go with Feng Yan. Don’t keep the Seventh Prince waiting in the carriage.” Ling Jiayue had no choice but to follow Feng Yan.