Chapter 37

Chapter 37: No Meat in the Morning “Seventh Prince, I wish to take Yue’er and Jiaxuan back so they can recuperate,” Madam Liu said to Mu Yuheng, tears glistening in her eyes. “Madam Ling is quite right, but Miss Ling has been exhausted all night and has only just been settled in. It would probably be unwise to move her now. As for Young Master Ling, his wounds have just been redressed. The jolting on the way might cause them to split open again. Why not let them recuperate at my residence for a few days?” Mu Yuheng advised after some thought. “This…” Madam Liu hesitated and looked toward Ling Taian. Ling Taian pondered for a long while before saying, “The Seventh Prince has a point. Madam, let’s return first and prepare Yue’er and Jiaxuan’s rooms. We can come and take them home in a few days.” “All right.” Madam Liu reluctantly agreed. “Then we’ll have to trouble the Seventh Prince for the next few days. The great kindness you have shown us will certainly not be forgotten by the Prime Minister’s Residence,” Ling Taian and Madam Liu said to Mu Yuheng. “Prime Minister, Madam Ling, you’re too polite,” Mu Yuheng replied. And so, Ling Taian and Madam Liu returned home. Afterward, however, they had the steward send over a large quantity of tonics and medicinal herbs for Ling Jiayue and Ling Jiaxuan to nourish their bodies. They also sent Mu Yuheng many gifts, saying only that they were a small token of their gratitude. Ling Jiayue woke up. She sat up in bed and looked blankly at the unfamiliar room before her. Her own room was not like this. Only then did she remember what had happened that night with Ling Jiaxuan. The moment she thought of him, Ling Jiayue immediately got out of bed. Without even bothering to put on her shoes, she rushed outside. At that moment, Lingxue had just entered with a basin of water for washing her face. Ling Jiayue charged out so quickly that she nearly collided with her. Seeing that Ling Jiayue was running outside without even putting on her shoes, Lingxue said, “Miss, what’s wrong? Why are you running out without your shoes?” Ling Jiayue was surprised to see Lingxue there. She asked, “Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to stay at the residence and prepare medicinal cuisine for Father?” Lingxue replied, “Guard Feng Yan came to the residence to inform everyone that you and Young Master were injured. Master and Madam hurried over to see you. Madam had the steward matron notify me in the kitchen and told me to come here to look after you.” “Then where are Father and Mother?” Ling Jiayue asked again. “After Master and Madam came to see you and Young Master, Madam wanted to take you both home to recuperate. But the Seventh Prince said that moving you back and forth would be detrimental to your recovery, and suggested that you recuperate here at the Seventh Prince’s Residence first. There’s no need to hurry back until you and Young Master have recovered.” “Where are they now?” “Reporting to you, Miss, Master and Madam returned home that very day. After all, this isn’t our own residence, so it wouldn’t have been appropriate for them to stay too long,” Lingxue answered. Only then did Ling Jiayue sit down in relief. Lingxue wrung out a face cloth and handed it to her, saying, “Miss, wash up and get dressed first. We can go see Young Master afterward.” “All right.” Ling Jiayue took the cloth from Lingxue and wiped her face. Lingxue then attended to her as she changed into another outfit. The mistress and maid went to see Ling Jiaxuan. When Ling Jiayue arrived at the room where Ling Jiaxuan was temporarily staying, she performed pulse diagnosis on him and checked his breathing. After confirming that he had passed the critical period and was gradually recovering, she finally relaxed. “Miss, how is Young Master?” Lingxue asked. “He’s fine. Older Brother is recovering. He’ll be well again soon,” Ling Jiayue replied with a smile. “That’s wonderful, Miss!” Lingxue said happily. “Yes, it really is wonderful.” Ling Jiayue was happy as well. At last, she had prevented the tragedy of her previous life from happening again. It was wonderful. In high spirits, Ling Jiayue said to Lingxue, “Let’s go eat. I’m hungry.” “Yes, Miss,” Lingxue replied. The mistress and maid had just stepped outside when they encountered the Seventh Prince, Mu Yuheng. Ling Jiayue sincerely said to him, “This young lady pays her respects to the Seventh Prince. Thank you for your great kindness in saving my brother and me in our hour of danger. I will remember your benevolence forever.” Looking at the radiant young woman before him, Mu Yuheng smiled knowingly. “Miss Ling, you’re too polite. Including this time, you owe me another debt of gratitude for saving your life.” Ling Jiayue felt embarrassed and said, “If the Seventh Prince ever has any orders for me, so long as they are within my ability, Ling Jiayue will do everything in her power to carry them out.” “Enough, enough. It’s not that serious. You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? Why don’t we eat breakfast together?” Mu Yuheng invited. “All right.” “Feng Yan, go to the small kitchen and have some food sent to the dining hall,” Mu Yuheng ordered. “Yes, master.” Mu Yuheng and Ling Jiayue then headed toward the dining hall. Before long, Mu Yuheng and Ling Jiayue had just taken their seats when Feng Yan returned with the food. He instructed the maids to arrange each dish, then Mu Yuheng looked at him and said, “You may go eat as well.” Feng Yan knew that his master merely wanted some time alone with Miss Ling. Just as he was about to take his leave, he caught sight of Lingxue standing beside Ling Jiayue. An idea flashed through his mind, and he said, “Young lady Lingxue, why don’t you come eat as well?” Mu Yuheng cast Feng Yan an approving glance, but Lingxue replied, “There’s no need. Miss can’t be left unattended.” Just as Feng Yan was growing frustrated, Ling Jiayue considerately spoke up. “Lingxue, go ahead. How will you serve me properly if you haven’t eaten your fill?” “Yes, Miss.” Only then did Lingxue follow Feng Yan to have breakfast. Meanwhile, Mu Yuheng and Ling Jiayue also began eating. Ling Jiayue lifted the bowl of porridge before her and sipped it daintily, one mouthful at a time. Watching her drink her porridge, Mu Yuheng suddenly picked up a piece of fatty meat and placed it in the dish before her. Ling Jiayue had not expected Mu Yuheng to serve her fatty meat and was instantly stunned. Mu Yuheng had not expected himself to serve Ling Jiayue fatty meat either, and he was stunned as well. After a long moment, Mu Yuheng said to Ling Jiayue, “Uh… you’re too thin. Eat more.” Ling Jiayue looked at the fatty meat before her. It glistened with oil, but eating something like that first thing in the morning was far too difficult for her. After swallowing the porridge in her mouth, she said, “Thank you for your concern, Seventh Prince, but this young lady doesn’t eat meat in the morning.” Mu Yuheng gave an awkward smile. “Then don’t eat it. Drink your porridge, drink your porridge.” And so, throughout the entire meal, Mu Yuheng and Ling Jiayue found themselves in a strange atmosphere. Each silently ate the food before them without saying a word, all the way until the meal was over. “Someone, clear away the food,” Mu Yuheng ordered. Ling Jiayue rose and said to Mu Yuheng, “Thank you, Seventh Prince. I still need to boil medicine for Older Brother, so I’ll take my leave first.” “All right,” Mu Yuheng said. At that moment, Feng Yan and Lingxue also finished breakfast and returned. Ling Jiayue took Lingxue with her to prepare medicine for Ling Jiaxuan, leaving Mu Yuheng alone where he sat, speechless and stifled. Seeing that Mu Yuheng’s expression looked rather odd, Feng Yan asked, “Master, what’s wrong?” Close