Chapter 54

Chapter Fifty-Four: Are You Tired? After a while, Mu Yuheng finally asked, “Are you tired?” “This subject does not understand what the Seventh Prince means.” “I’m asking whether you’re tired. I told you before: I’ll help you do whatever you want, as long as you come to my side. I think that becoming the Seventh Prince’s consort would make many things easier for you. You wouldn’t have to work so hard anymore. I won’t ask what you’re doing. As long as you come to my side, I’ll do everything in my power for you.” Mu Yuheng spoke with deep feeling. Ling Jiayue did not know how to answer the Seventh Prince. It would be a lie to say she was not moved. Of course she would be touched to have a man devote himself to her so wholeheartedly. However, when Ling Jiayue thought of Chu Chaoci, bloody memories surged sharply into her mind. Ling Jiayue felt such pain, as if she had jumped once more. “Thank you for the Seventh Prince’s kindness, but I already made my feelings clear last time. I broke off my engagement with the Third Prince precisely because I did not want to marry into the imperial family. I would rather marry a commoner and live out an ordinary life.” Ling Jiayue replied indifferently. Mu Yuheng’s face remained completely calm, but his heart ached. Forcing a smile onto his face, he said, “Mm, I understand. But I won’t change my mind. I’ll wait for you until you’re willing.” “Seventh Prince, there is no benefit in persisting with me. I have no interest in matters of love. I only wish to stay with my parents and live an ordinary life. This subject will take her leave first.” Ling Jiayue saluted and then returned. Madam Liu and Ling Jiaxuan were waiting in front of the carriage. Ling Jiayue turned around and boarded it with Madam Liu. “Set off.” At Ling Taian’s command, the carriage began to creak and roll forward. As Ling Jiayue sat in the carriage, she felt as though something had prompted her. She lifted the curtain and happened to see Mu Yuheng standing outside the carriage. Their eyes met. Mu Yuheng gazed silently at Ling Jiayue, and she seemed to hear him asking once more, Are you tired? Ling Jiayue did not dare meet Mu Yuheng’s eyes any longer. She immediately let the curtain fall, while Mu Yuheng simply stood outside the carriage and watched her leave. “Yue’er, what did you see?” Madam Liu asked with concern. “Nothing. It was nothing.” Ling Jiayue replied. The carriage continued onward with a creaking sound. Madam Liu seemed to have been thoroughly exhausted that day; she leaned against the carriage and closed her eyes to rest. Ling Jiayue, however, was still thinking about Mu Yuheng’s words. Ever since her rebirth, it seemed that Mu Yuheng had shown her particular care. Somehow, whenever Ling Jiayue wanted to do something, Mu Yuheng was always able to understand her intentions and cooperate with her. When she wanted to establish a reputation through her medical arts, he had presented himself for her treatment. When she wanted to go to the General’s Residence to treat someone, he had ordered the shopkeeper of Xinglin Pharmacy to deliver medicinal supplies. When she wanted to eliminate the Ling Ziqi sisters, he had given her a helping hand. Could she truly allow herself to fall in love once more? Ling Jiayue asked herself. But the pain of her previous life had been too sharp. Ling Jiayue was already afraid and did not want to experience it again. Forget it. She should seal her heart away and never fall in love again. Hadn’t the lesson from last time been tragic enough? Before she knew it, the carriage had already arrived at the gates of the Ling Residence. Ling Jiayue came back to herself and got down from the carriage with Madam Liu. “Yue’er, you’re tired today too. Go back and rest early,” Madam Liu said with concern. “Yes, Mother. You and Father should rest early as well. Yue’er will take her leave.” Ling Jiayue saluted Ling Taian and Madam Liu and took her leave. “I’ll take my leave as well. Yue’er, I’ll see you back,” Ling Jiaxuan said. The brother and sister took their leave side by side. “You may all go and rest as well. We’re tired today, so you needn’t come for the morning and evening greetings tomorrow. Steward matron, you’ll be responsible for arranging Ling Zixue’s exile to the borderlands tomorrow. You needn’t report back to me on every detail.” Madam Liu spoke to Madam Wan, Madam Chen, and the steward matron. “Yes, Madam,” Madam Wan, Madam Chen, and the steward matron replied. “Master, your concubine will accompany you back to rest,” Madam Liu said to Ling Taian. “Very well.” Ling Taian and Madam Liu walked back together to rest. After Madam Liu and Ling Taian had gone some distance away, Madam Wan said to Madam Chen, “Hmph, this eldest young lady is really something. In order to deal with the Ling Ziqi sisters, she actually disregarded the safety of everyone in the Ling Residence today. Are our lives not lives? She truly went too far.” “Mother, please stop talking,” Ling Pingzhang urged. “Yes, Older Sister, please stop. In the end, the eldest young lady was doing it for our sake,” Madam Chen advised. She was the most gentle and mild-tempered of them all and had always been amiable. Madam Wan seemed unwilling to accept this. She continued grumbling for a while before returning to her own courtyard to rest, still full of resentment. When Ling Jiayue returned to her room, Lingzhu and Lingxue helped her remove her clothing and jewelry. Lingzhu gently combed her hair while Ling Jiayue closed her eyes to rest. Lingzhu said, “There were so many twists and turns today. Are you tired, Miss?” Ling Jiayue smiled. “Why are you asking me whether I’m tired too? This young lady isn’t tired. You and Lingxue, go prepare some bathwater. I want to soak in the tub. After a bath, I won’t be tired anymore.” “Miss, why do you like bathing so much? It’s the dead of winter—it’s far too cold,” Lingxue said. “You clever little imp, how dare you meddle in your young lady’s affairs? Just go. I want to take a bath right now,” Ling Jiayue said. “Yes, Miss. I’ll prepare your bathwater at once and let you have a good bath to ease your fatigue.” Lingxue went to prepare the water. Lingzhu continued combing Ling Jiayue’s hair. Ling Jiayue asked, “Lingzhu, did you also think I was being reckless today, that I acted too aggressively?” “Miss, this servant wouldn’t dare say.” “Just speak honestly.” “I was only a little frightened. This servant is timid,” Lingzhu said. “That’s true. I was somewhat too aggressive,” Ling Jiayue said. Before long, Lingxue had prepared the bathwater. As usual, the surface was covered with rose petals. Rose petals were especially good for moisturizing the skin during winter. With Lingzhu and Lingxue attending her, Ling Jiayue finished bathing and changed into her undergarments for sleep before retiring. The days passed one after another, and in the blink of an eye, winter had ended. During this period, Ling Jiayue continued to leave the residence to treat Old Master Xu Hongjun and his friends. Gradually, distinguished officials and nobles also began coming to Ling Jiayue for treatment, and her reputation grew increasingly renowned. However, Ling Jiayue would sometimes still feel that someone was standing silently beside her bed at night, watching her. She vaguely knew who it was, but refused to admit it. She simply did not want to face him. Every night, she instructed Lingxue and Lingzhu to keep a careful night watch, but it still seemed as though someone was watching her from beside the bed. Ling Jiayue eventually let matters take their course and stopped concerning herself with it. Not long after, a peal of spring thunder rang out across the land. One by one, the tender yellow winter jasmine blossoms opened, looking exceptionally delicate and charming. Ling Jiayue knew that spring had arrived. That morning, while Ling Jiayue was having breakfast in Madam Liu’s courtyard, Ling Taian said, “In a few days, envoys from the Ye Kingdom will be coming to our country.”