Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Father’s Concern Mu Yuheng watched Ling Jiayue firmly insist on severing all ties with him. His heart stirred, and he blurted out, “Impossible. I’ve saved your life twice. Treating my poison can count as repaying one of those life-saving favors, but you still owe me for the other one, little girl.” Ling Jiayue seemed about to argue, but Mu Yuheng immediately continued, “Besides, I only went to the Prime Minister’s Residence this morning to ‘wholeheartedly promote’ your medical arts. You can’t turn your back on me and pretend not to know me.” “What exactly do you want?!” “Nothing much.” Looking at Ling Jiayue’s clawing, aggressive appearance, Mu Yuheng felt as though a little kitten were showing him its claws. Suddenly, he moved forward and pressed Ling Jiayue beneath him. Gazing into her eyes, he said: “I told you, whatever you want to do, I’ll help you accomplish it. Besides, you’re someone I went to great lengths to save twice. What could I possibly do to you?” Ling Jiayue’s ears turned red. She angrily scolded him, “You libertine, let go of me!” Mu Yuheng released her with a laugh. Outside the carriage, Feng Yan was driving. When he heard Ling Jiayue’s furious shout, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. His master really was direct and uninhibited. To make such improper advances toward the Prime Minister’s eldest daughter—what would happen once the Prime Minister found out? Would he simply marry her? Speaking of which, Miss Ling was charming and knew medical arts. It wouldn’t be a loss to marry her… Feng Yan was just imagining when Mu Yuheng and Ling Jiayue would have children when Mu Yuheng suddenly spoke from inside the carriage. “Feng Yan, go to the Prime Minister’s Residence and take Miss Ling home.” “Yes, master.” Feng Yan immediately drove the carriage toward the Prime Minister’s Residence. Inside the carriage, Ling Jiayue sat as far away from Mu Yuheng as possible. Mu Yuheng did not mind. He merely leaned against the carriage and closed his eyes to rest. For a time, the only sound was that of Feng Yan driving the carriage. Before long, they arrived at the Prime Minister’s Residence. Ling Jiayue hurriedly climbed out of the carriage, and Mu Yuheng followed her down. Ling Jiayue bowed to him and said, “Thank you, Seventh Prince, for escorting me home.” After saying that, she did not even bother to acknowledge Mu Yuheng again. She turned around and left. Feng Yan moved closer to Mu Yuheng and said, “Master, Miss Ling is angry. What should we do? When will you finally bring the beauty home?” Mu Yuheng shot Feng Yan a glance, and Feng Yan could only fall silent. Mu Yuheng turned and climbed back into the carriage, but said, “You drove quite well today. Remember to collect your reward when we return~” “Yes, master.” Hearing this, Feng Yan beamed and drove the carriage back to the Seventh Prince’s Residence. Meanwhile, as soon as Ling Jiayue entered the residence, she saw Madam Zhang and Ling Ziqi being escorted by servants to the ancestral hall to reflect. Madam Zhang and Ling Ziqi also saw Ling Jiayue. Intimidated by the lingering authority of the Prime Minister and the Seventh Prince, the mother and daughter did not dare to speak recklessly. They merely glared at Ling Jiayue with hatred. Ling Jiayue paid them no mind. She shrugged and returned to her room. “Lingxue, Lingzhu, bring me a tub of water. I want to bathe.” Ling Jiayue collapsed onto the bed, thinking how exhausting each day truly was. “Yes, Miss.” Lingxue and Lingzhu hurried to the kitchen to fetch hot water. They scattered bathing petals over the water and attended to Ling Jiayue as she bathed. Soaking in the water, Ling Jiayue quietly thought to herself: With her medical arts, she had now won over Xu Hongjun and a group of other merchants, but this strength was far from enough for her revenge. She had to gather even more power. Thinking of her relatives and soldiers who had died unjustly, Ling Jiayue felt the hatred in her heart surge endlessly. Before long, Ling Jiayue finished bathing. Lingxue and Lingzhu helped her change and dressed her properly. Lingzhu gently combed Ling Jiayue’s hair with a fine-toothed comb, carefully smoothing it into place. Lingxue opened a jar of rose hair oil, took a little with her finger, and spread it across her palm. She then applied it to the ends of Ling Jiayue’s hair, which was neither fully wet nor fully dry. After spreading it evenly, Lingxue used a hairpin to gently twist Ling Jiayue’s hair up. She looked both graceful and distinctive. The steam from the bath had yet to disperse. Mixed with the scent of the rose hair oil, the entire room was filled with a rich, fragrant rose aroma. Suddenly, a maid reported from outside the door, “The master requests your presence in the study.” Ling Jiayue understood that the Prime Minister Father was worried about her medical arts and wanted to question her thoroughly. Lingxue brought over a gorgeous rose-colored cloak embroidered with flowers and gently draped it over Ling Jiayue. With a smile, she said, “Miss, although it isn’t as cold as the depths of winter, you’ve just finished bathing. Don’t let the cold wind strike your warm body and make you ill. It wouldn’t be worth it.” Ling Jiayue smiled. “You’re the most thoughtful and attentive of all.” “That’s right, that’s right. Elder Sister Lingxue is the most attentive. I’m not even half as thoughtful as she is. If only I could think of everything too.” Lingzhu smiled as she spoke. “Lingxue is considerate and attentive, while you’re lively and playful. I couldn’t do without either of you.” Ling Jiayue pinched Lingzhu’s nose as she spoke. The three master and servants chatted and laughed all the way to the study. When Ling Jiayue arrived, she saw that not only Ling Taian, but also Madam Liu and Ling Jiaxuan were present. She removed her cloak and bowed to Ling Taian and Madam Liu. Madam Liu immediately helped Ling Jiayue up and asked with concern, “Yue’er, why are your hands so cold? Did you get chilled on the way here?” Ling Jiayue said, “Mother, there’s no need to worry. I just finished bathing, and the wind blew on me along the way. It’s nothing.” Madam Liu reproachfully said, “Lingzhu, Lingxue, too. Why didn’t you give her a hot-water warmer?” Ling Jiayue felt even warmer inside, but she defended Lingzhu and Lingxue aloud. “Mother, I’m not that delicate. A little wind is nothing.” Ling Taian spoke at that moment. “Yue’er, many things have happened since you returned home. You’ve suffered.” Hearing this, Madam Liu pulled Ling Jiayue closer into her arms. Ling Taian fell silent in thought for a while before asking, “When did you learn medical arts?” Ling Jiayue knew that the question she had been expecting had finally come. She had learned these medical arts in the life when she had been Empress, and with so many wounded people on the battlefield, her medical arts had improved day by day. But she could not tell Ling Taian that. Ling Jiayue considered for a moment before saying, “I was weak and sickly from childhood. Fortunately, Abbot Huiguang of Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple took a liking to me and brought me into the temple to cultivate, sparing me the suffering of constant illness. In everyday life, the abbot taught me to do good and accumulate virtue. To help me maintain my health, he also taught me medical arts so I would have a skill to rely on.” After a pause, she continued, “That is why I boldly ventured out to diagnose and treat people. I wanted to follow the abbot’s teachings, do good, and accumulate virtue. It can also be considered my blessing.” Hearing this, Ling Taian’s brows relaxed considerably. Madam Liu, however, kept murmuring “Amitabha,” determined to return to Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple to fulfill her vow and thank Abbot Huiguang once more. Ling Taian said, “Since that is the case, you may continue treating patients. That way, you won’t disappoint the abbot’s painstaking efforts, and it will also be a blessing for you.” Seeing the Prime Minister Father relent and allow her to continue treating patients, Ling Jiayue could not help but beam with delight. But Ling Taian continued, “It’s just that too many things have happened over the past few days. You were even injured last time. I can’t help feeling that it was related to the Third Prince. You broke off your engagement with the Third Prince, and he won’t let the matter rest. Yue’er, stay home obediently and spend some time with your mother.” Ling Jiayue was unwilling to obey. She merely said, “Father, I’m perfectly fine now, aren’t I?” “Yue’er, do you truly want your father to be unable to eat or sleep in peace?” Ling Taian glared at her, puffing out his beard. Ling Jiayue could only give up.