Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Returning Home The next day, Ling Jiayue rose early. She first changed Ling Jiaxuan’s dressing and examined his wound, then instructed Lingxue to prepare some porridge for him. Just as Lingxue finished cooking and brought it over, Ling Taian and Madam Liu arrived at the Seventh Prince’s Residence. Ling Taian exchanged a few pleasantries with Mu Yuheng before getting to the point. “Seventh Prince, my son and daughter have troubled you for many days. Now that they are no longer in danger, I have come to take them home.” “That is only right, Prime Minister Ling. However, Young Master Ling’s injuries have not yet healed, and it will probably be inconvenient for him to walk. Why don’t I have the servants carry him out in a soft sedan chair?” Mu Yuheng suggested. “In that case, I’ll trouble you, Seventh Prince.” Ling Taian cupped his hands toward Mu Yuheng. “Prime Minister Ling, you’re too polite. Feng Yan, go and have Young Master Ling carried out carefully in a soft sedan chair. Make sure there is no jostling.” Mu Yuheng instructed Feng Yan. “Yes, Master.” Feng Yan accepted the order and left, thinking to himself, My prince wants to curry favor with his future brother-in-law and father-in-law. I must work hard too and help my master marry the woman he loves as soon as possible. And so, Ling Taian, Madam Liu, and Mu Yuheng drank tea in the reception hall while waiting for Ling Jiayue and Ling Jiaxuan to come out. Before long, Ling Jiaxuan arrived in a soft sedan chair, accompanied by Ling Jiayue. The moment Madam Liu saw them, she hurried forward with concern. “Yue’er, Xuan’er, how are you? Are you feeling better?” Ling Jiaxuan reassured her, “Mother, I’m perfectly fine. I’m all right, and so is my little sister.” “Yes, Mother. Older Brother and I are both fine,” Ling Jiayue added. “That’s good, that’s good. Let’s go home.” Madam Liu turned around and, together with Ling Taian, bowed to Mu Yuheng. “Thank you, Seventh Prince, for looking after them all these days. If you ever need anything from the Prime Minister’s Residence, we will come whenever you summon us.” “Thank you, Seventh Prince, for taking care of us these past few days. My sister and I will remember your kindness and never forget it.” Ling Jiayue and Ling Jiaxuan also bowed to the Seventh Prince. “There is no need for such courtesy. Feng Yan, see Prime Minister Ling and his family out properly,” Mu Yuheng instructed. “Yes, Master.” Feng Yan accepted the order and escorted Ling Taian’s family out of the Seventh Prince’s Residence. Once they reached the entrance, Ling Taian said, “Guard Feng, please stop here.” Feng Yan bowed to Ling Taian, then returned to the Seventh Prince’s Residence. Ling Taian’s family boarded the carriage home. As the carriage began to move, swaying and rocking along the road, it carried Ling Jiayue and the others back home. “Yue’er, Xuan’er, you two really frightened me this time. Cough, cough, cough…” As Ling Taian spoke, he began coughing. “Master, what’s wrong?” Madam Liu asked worriedly. “Father, are you all right?” Ling Jiayue and Ling Jiaxuan asked in concern. “It’s nothing. I’ve been like this for the past few days. Don’t worry,” Ling Taian said. “Father, are you still insisting on eating the medicinal cuisine?” Ling Jiayue asked. “Medicinal cuisine prepared personally by Yue’er for her father? Of course I eat it every day. Don’t worry, I haven’t missed a single meal.” Ling Taian smiled. “That’s good,” Ling Jiayue said. Before long, the carriage arrived at the Prime Minister’s Residence. Madam Wan and Madam Chen were waiting at the entrance with their children born to secondary wives for Ling Jiayue and the others to return. The moment Ling Taian got down from the carriage, Madam Wan and the others came forward to ask after Ling Jiaxuan. “Is Xuan’er’s injury better? And what about Yue’er? Was she hurt anywhere?” Ling Jiayue and Ling Jiaxuan spoke in unison. “Thank you, Concubines, for your concern. We’re fine now.” “That’s good. Hurry inside and rest,” Madam Wan said. “That’s right. Let the children go inside and rest first. We can discuss everything else later.” After saying this, Madam Liu instructed the steward matron to call several strong young male servants to carry Ling Jiaxuan into the residence. Ling Jiayue followed them inside. After returning to her room, Ling Jiayue flopped onto the bed and said contentedly, “Ah, sleeping on my own bed is still the most comfortable.” Hearing this, Lingxue covered her mouth and laughed. “Miss, if the Seventh Prince hears you say that, he’ll probably cough up blood. He put the finest bedding in your room, and even all the furnishings and supplies were the best he could find for you.” Ling Jiayue said solemnly, “So what? It’s more comfortable sleeping at home. I just like the beds at the Prime Minister’s Residence. What’s wrong with that?” “If you ever marry, I’m afraid we’ll have to move your bed along with you. Otherwise, the new son-in-law might not be able to marry you,” Lingxue teased. “Very well, you little minx. You actually dare tease me now? Just watch—I’ll marry you off as soon as possible. I’ll even give you a bed as part of your bridal entourage. Hmph.” Ling Jiayue pretended to be angry. At that moment, Lingzhu came in. Hearing Ling Jiayue and Lingxue’s joking conversation, she also smiled and said, “Miss, Lingxue is only talking nonsense. You should let her be. I think that if she’s talking about marriage, she probably already has someone she likes. Why don’t you grant her wish, Miss?” At Lingzhu’s words, Lingxue remembered sharing breakfast with Feng Yan that day. Her face flushed, and she suddenly felt embarrassed. However, the expression on Lingxue’s face did not escape Ling Jiayue and Lingzhu. The two of them pressed her, asking, “Lingxue, do you really have someone you like?” Lingxue immediately became bashful. She said shyly, “Miss, don’t listen to Lingzhu’s nonsense. I only want to serve you wholeheartedly and serve you for the rest of my life. I don’t want to marry anyone.” Ling Jiayue teased, “Don’t regret saying that. Since you’re saying this now, if you do find someone you like in the future, I won’t allow you to marry him.” “Oh, Miss!” Lingxue was still a young, inexperienced girl with delicate sensibilities. Unable to withstand Ling Jiayue and Lingzhu’s teasing, she covered her face and fled. Ling Jiayue and Lingzhu burst into laughter inside the room. The next morning, after washing and dressing, Ling Jiayue went to Madam Liu’s courtyard for breakfast. Since today was neither the first nor the fifteenth of the month, Madam Wan did not need to come to Madam Liu’s residence to observe household rules, and naturally did not need to eat breakfast there either. Thus, only Madam Liu, Ling Taian, and Ling Jiayue were having breakfast that morning. Because his injuries made it inconvenient for him to move, Ling Jiaxuan had breakfast brought to his room by young male servants. The three of them were eating breakfast when Ling Taian began coughing again. Madam Liu asked worriedly, “Why have you started coughing again?” “It’s nothing. I’ve been like this these past few days. It’s not serious,” Ling Taian said. “Father, once we finish eating, let me take your pulse again. I’ll prepare a prescription to help regulate your health,” Ling Jiayue said. “All right. I’m sorry to trouble you, Yue’er.” Ling Taian gazed at Ling Jiayue affectionately. At that moment, the steward came in to report, “Xu Hongjun has sent someone to deliver gifts again.” Ling Taian’s brows drew together. “Throw them out!” “Yes, Master. I’ll throw the gifts out immediately.”