Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Bring Her Home as His Wife At daybreak, Ling Jiayue finally finished treating Ling Jiaxuan’s injuries. Her face was utterly exhausted, yet she smiled. She knew that Ling Jiaxuan was out of danger; he only needed to rest quietly for some time. Finally, finally, I didn’t let you leave me again. Ling Jiayue thought to herself. “Creak~” Ling Jiayue opened the door and walked out of the room. “How is he, Miss Ling?” Mu Yuheng asked with concern when he saw her emerge. Ling Jiayue looked up and smiled. She had just said, “He’s fine,” when her body went limp and she collapsed. Just as she was about to hit the ground, Mu Yuheng reached out and caught her securely. Ling Jiayue had already lost consciousness, exhausted to the point of fainting. Looking at Ling Jiayue in his arms, Mu Yuheng felt his heart ache terribly. How could such a fine young girl have suffered so many hardships? “Master, should we notify the Prime Minister’s Residence about Young Master Ling and Miss Ling’s condition?” Feng Yan asked cautiously as he watched his master hold Ling Jiayue without letting go. “Mm. Go notify them. Explain it slowly, and don’t frighten Madam Ling. Tell her that Young Master Ling and Miss Ling are both fine,” Mu Yuheng said. “What about Miss Ling? Should I summon some maids to take her to the guest room to rest?” Feng Yan asked. “No need. I’ll do it myself,” Mu Yuheng refused. “Master, you…” Feng Yan hesitated, his expression clearly saying that this was improper. “When did you start managing me? Hurry to the Ling Residence and deliver the message.” Mu Yuheng grew impatient under Feng Yan’s gaze and sent him away. “Yes, Master.” Feng Yan obediently went to the Ling Residence to deliver the news. Mu Yuheng lifted the unconscious Ling Jiayue into his arms and carried her toward the guest room nearby. Although his heart ached to see her so exhausted, he was delighted to be able to hold her like this. The upward curve of his lips was the best proof. Mu Yuheng gently kicked open the door and carried Ling Jiayue inside. He settled her on the bed, tucked the covers around her, and then sat beside the bed, quietly watching her. It was as though he had returned to Ling Jiayue’s boudoir, where he had watched her sleeping face in silence every night. But when Mu Yuheng thought of Ling Jiayue lying on a bed in his own residence, his mood grew even better. And if he could marry Ling Jiayue and bring her home, letting her lie beside him every day, wouldn’t that be even better? Mu Yuheng made up his mind: he absolutely had to marry Ling Jiayue and bring her home. By then, Feng Yan had arrived at the Prime Minister’s Residence and met Prime Minister Ling Taian and Madam Liu. He explained Ling Jiaxuan and Ling Jiayue’s condition to them. “What?!” Madam Liu was so shocked that the teacup in her hand slipped and shattered. “Madam, please don’t panic. Young Master Ling’s injuries are severe, but Miss Ling has already drawn out the poison and treated him. He only needs to recuperate. Miss Ling is merely exhausted. My master said that you need not worry,” Feng Yan quickly reassured her. “Master, what are we going to do?” Madam Liu asked anxiously, clutching Ling Taian’s sleeve. Holding on to it seemed to give her a little peace of mind. “Madam, don’t be anxious. Let’s go and take a look first,” Ling Taian said, though he was anxious as well, comforting her before anything else. “Master, then let’s go now. Have the steward prepare the sedan chairs. We’ll leave at once,” Madam Liu said anxiously. “Good. We’ll leave immediately,” Ling Taian replied. “Steward matron, call Lingzhu and Lingxue as well. Tell them to stop preparing the medicinal cuisine for now and come with me to the Seventh Prince’s Residence to see Miss,” Madam Liu instructed after thinking for a moment. “Yes, Madam.” The steward matron immediately went to the kitchen to notify Lingzhu and Lingxue. Ling Taian, Madam Liu, and the others then went to the Seventh Prince’s Residence to see Ling Jiayue. Back at the residence, when Ling Zixue heard the news that something had happened to Ling Jiayue, she instructed her personal maid, Linger, “Linger, hurry and tell Lingxin that something happened to Ling Jiayue, but she managed to survive. Have her go tell Older Sister.” “Yes, Miss.” After receiving her instructions, Linger went to the kitchen to find Lingxin. When Ling Ziqi heard from Lingxin that Ling Jiayue was fine, she was so furious that she smashed every cup in sight. She cursed angrily, “Those assassins are truly useless. I spent so much money on them, and they’re completely incompetent.” “Please calm down, Miss,” Lingxin urged. “Forget it. Did you put that poison powder into the medicinal cuisine?” Ling Ziqi asked. “I naturally wouldn’t dare neglect your instructions, Miss,” Lingxin replied. “Enough. Go back for now. Don’t let anyone discover you.” “Yes, Miss.” Ling Ziqi sent Lingxin away and sat alone on the bed, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Feng Yan brought Prime Minister Ling Taian and Madam Liu to the Seventh Prince’s Residence. “Greetings, Seventh Prince. Thank you for saving my son and daughter,” Ling Taian said, bowing to the Seventh Prince. “Prime Minister, please rise. You’re being too serious,” Mu Yuheng said as he helped Ling Taian and Madam Liu to their feet. “Seventh Prince, I would like to see Yue’er and Jiaxuan. Could you take us to them?” Madam Liu asked. “Of course. Please follow me.” Mu Yuheng then led Ling Taian and Madam Liu to the guest room to see Ling Jiayue and Ling Jiaxuan. Ling Taian felt that Madam Liu had been rather abrupt, but he was also worried about and thinking of the two children. Thus, the group arrived at the guest room. Once they reached the guest room, Mu Yuheng first took Ling Taian and Madam Liu to see Ling Jiayue. Looking at Ling Jiayue on the bed, Madam Liu said, “Yue’er, your mother told you not to go treat anyone, but you insisted on going. Look at you now—what am I supposed to do? Aren’t you just driving a knife straight into my heart?” As she spoke, Madam Liu secretly wiped away her tears. Ling Taian stepped forward and said to her, “The child is resting now. Let’s not disturb her. We’ll talk after she wakes up.” Mu Yuheng also consoled her. “Madam Ling, Miss Ling isn’t seriously hurt. She’ll recover after getting some rest, so you can rest assured. I’ll take you to see Young Master Ling.” “Thank you, Seventh Prince. Madam, let’s go see Jiaxuan,” Ling Taian said to Madam Liu. “All right.” Madam Liu tucked the edge of Ling Jiayue’s quilt around her, gazed at her lovingly, and then followed Mu Yuheng to see Ling Jiaxuan. When Ling Taian and Madam Liu saw Ling Jiaxuan lying on the bed, his face pale and drained of color, Madam Liu could no longer hold back her tears and burst into sobs. Ling Taian’s eyes reddened as well. At that moment, a maid happened to enter to change Ling Jiaxuan’s dressing. When she lifted the covers and undid Ling Jiaxuan’s bandages, his wound was completely exposed before Ling Taian and Madam Liu. Madam Liu felt as though her heart and guts had been torn apart. The child she treasured above all else had been injured to such a state. “Madam, don’t cry. Our Jiaxuan is a good child. He would rather suffer injury himself than fail to protect his younger sister. We should be proud of him,” Ling Taian comforted Madam Liu. He could not bear to see her suffer so much either. After some time, the maid finished changing Ling Jiaxuan’s dressing.