Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Draw the Snake Out into the Open Madam Liu clutched her handkerchief and began to cry falsely at Ling Jiayue’s bedside. Meanwhile, in the ancestral hall, Madam Zhang and Ling Ziqi, who were kneeling there in reflection, exchanged a smile when they heard that Ling Jiayue had been bitten by a snake. They did not know that a storm was about to descend. At that moment, aside from Madam Zhang and Ling Ziqi, who were confined to the ancestral hall to reflect on their actions, everyone else came to visit Ling Jiayue after hearing that she had been bitten. Madam Wan brought her son, Ling Pingzhang, as well as Madam Zhang’s daughter, Ling Zixue, while Madam Chen brought Ling Yuwan. Madam Wan and Madam Chen consoled Madam Liu, saying only that Ling Jiayue was blessed and had a strong fate. She had been raised in a Buddhist temple for many years and possessed great karmic blessings, so nothing would happen to her so easily. Ling Jiayue lay on the bed, not daring to move a muscle for fear of exposing herself. As she listened to the madams talking by her bedside, she grew anxious, hoping only that Ling Jiaxuan would hurry back with Doctor Lin. Ling Pingzhang, Ling Zixue, and Ling Yuwan stood behind Madam Wan and the others. In the sorrowful and oppressive atmosphere, they did not dare to speak and merely stood silently to one side, until Ling Jiaxuan finally brought the physician back in a great fuss. As soon as Doctor Lin entered the room, Madam Liu looked at him earnestly through her reddened, tearful eyes and said, “Doctor Lin, I’m entrusting my daughter to you.” Doctor Lin bowed and said, “This old man understands. Young Master Ling already informed me of Miss Ling’s condition on the way here. To make it easier for me to treat her, I ask that the madams and the young master and young ladies wait outside.” “Can’t I stay in the room?” Madam Liu asked. “Mother, we must trust Doctor Lin. He will surely bring my little sister back from the brink of death with his miraculous skills,” Ling Jiaxuan comforted her. “Yes, yes. Yue’er is a blessed child. She will surely pull through. We must trust Doctor Lin,” Madam Wan and the others all chimed in to comfort Madam Liu. Madam Liu could only agree. She led everyone outside, still worried that Doctor Lin might see through the fact that Ling Jiayue had not truly been bitten by a snake. Ling Jiaxuan, however, gave Madam Liu a meaningful glance, and she relaxed slightly before leading Madam Wan and the others out. “Young Master Ling, you must go outside as well. Do not obstruct this old man’s treatment.” Doctor Lin drove Ling Jiaxuan out too. After closing the door, he turned toward Ling Jiayue, who was lying on the bed, and said, “Girl, you must be tired of lying there. Get up and move around.” Ling Jiayue immediately sprang up and smiled at Doctor Lin. “I imagine Older Brother has already told you everything. Ling Jiayue is truly grateful to Doctor Lin for helping me out of this predicament.” “There is no need for thanks, Miss Ling. This old man has another matter to ask you about. I once examined Elder Xu’s pulse and treated him for many years, but I could never cure the root of his illness. How did you manage to treat it at its source?” “Acupuncture,” Ling Jiayue replied. “Acupuncture?! You actually know acupuncture? You have truly opened this old man’s eyes!” Doctor Lin exclaimed. Ling Jiayue smiled. “Doctor Lin, you are my elder. Just call me Yue’er. I merely learned a few skills from Abbot Huiguang at the Buddhist temple when I was young. If you are interested, Yue’er would be happy to explain a thing or two to you.” Ling Jiayue thought to herself, Fortunately, I was not raised here from childhood. That Buddhist temple has allowed me to use it as an excuse time and again. Doctor Lin, on the other hand, became as excited as a child. “Excellent! Excellent!” Ling Jiayue knew that treating a few merchants with her medical arts was far from enough. Doctor Lin had always treated prominent figures in the imperial court, and he was also a rather upright man. If she could befriend him, it would be greatly beneficial to her. One old and one young, the two of them began discussing medical arts in the room. Outside the door, Madam Liu, Madam Wan, and the others all waited for the results of Doctor Lin’s treatment. Ling Jiaxuan stayed with Madam Liu and the others outside the room, his sharp eyes fixed intently on everyone who passed by. Suddenly, he saw a furtive figure heading toward the ancestral hall. His eyes lit up, and he quietly followed. By then, Doctor Lin and Ling Jiayue had already discussed medical arts for two hours. Doctor Lin was still reluctant to stop and wanted to continue learning acupuncture from Ling Jiayue. Ling Jiayue, however, said, “Doctor Lin, it’s getting late. Why don’t we continue our discussion another time?” Doctor Lin nodded in agreement. Ling Jiayue then said, “I hope Doctor Lin can keep everything that happened today to himself. Yue’er would be deeply grateful.” Doctor Lin waved his hand. “Yue’er, rest assured. This old man understands. In the future, I hope you will come by often. This old man still does not understand acupuncture thoroughly enough.” His tone was full of familiarity and affection. Ling Jiayue nodded happily. After Ling Jiayue lay back down on the bed, Doctor Lin opened the door and said to Madam Liu and the others, “Miss Ling is no longer in danger. The madams may rest assured.” “That is wonderful. We have troubled you, Doctor Lin. Steward, see him out properly,” Madam Liu said. Doctor Lin bowed and took his leave. Madam Liu then said to Madam Wan and the others, “Thank you all for coming to worry over my daughter today. I will certainly visit each of you another day to express my gratitude.” Madam Wan and the others all said it was unnecessary, and the group departed in a grand procession. Madam Liu entered the room and closed the door. Ling Jiayue had already been unable to hold back and had sat up. “How did it go?” Madam Liu asked. Ling Jiayue smiled slyly. “Now, it all depends on Older Brother.” Mother and daughter leaned against each other affectionately. Ling Jiaxuan followed the furtive figure all the way to the ancestral hall. The person looked left and right, and only after confirming that no one was around did he quietly open the ancestral hall’s door and enter. Ling Jiaxuan thought, So it really is you. He stepped forward and listened to the movements inside from outside the ancestral hall. The man slipped into the ancestral hall and bowed to Madam Zhang and Ling Ziqi, who were kneeling inside. Madam Zhang smiled and told him to rise. When he lifted his head, it was none other than Xiong Yong, the garden steward. Xiong Yong put on a fawning smile and said, “The matter arranged by the two masters has already been completed. I respectfully ask the two masters to set their minds at ease.” Madam Zhang said smugly, “Did you go and look outside that wretch’s room? Are you certain she was poisoned?” Xiong Yong replied, “I went to look. The eldest young lady was definitely poisoned. The poisonous snake I released was extremely venomous. Even if she survives, she will certainly be left with lasting problems.” Madam Zhang nodded in satisfaction. Ling Ziqi said happily, “It was all thanks to Mother remembering that wretch likes plum blossoms and habitually uses rose hair oil. That allowed us to eliminate this great threat. I also won’t have to be punished by the Third Prince.” Madam Zhang put an arm around Ling Ziqi and said, “You are your mother’s darling. How could I bear to let the Third Prince punish you? You are destined to soar to the branches and become a phoenix. The rest of your mother’s life depends on you.” Ling Ziqi grew increasingly smug at the thought, and her words became even more unrestrained. “Mother, once we are allowed out, let’s wait and watch Ling Jiayue suffer. I truly can’t wait!” Just as Madam Zhang and her daughter were basking in their triumph, Ling Jiaxuan kicked open the ancestral hall door and shouted furiously at them, “So it was you! Come with me to see Father and await his judgment!” Madam Zhang and Ling Ziqi panicked when Ling Jiaxuan suddenly appeared. But when they remembered that Ling Jiayue had already been bitten by the snake, they could not help becoming smug again. “So what if we go see Master? Ling Jiayue is already ruined, while my Ziqi has won the Third Prince’s favor. What can he possibly do to us?” Ling Jiaxuan sneered. “Is that so? Then we’ll go and see.” He ordered the servants to bind Xiong Yong and brought Madam Zhang and her daughter to Ling Taian’s study.