Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Her First Display of Brilliance The old men no longer dared to look down on her. Huang Shiquan, in particular, became extremely respectful and hurriedly apologized to Ling Jiayue. “Miss Ling, I’m afraid I was too blunt just now. Please don’t take it to heart.” Lingxue was so angry she nearly spat blood. How could such ignorant, uncouth merchants possibly slander her young lady, whose body was as precious as gold and jade? She was just about to rebuke them when Ling Jiayue stopped her. “Each of you is a skilled merchant who has brought no small amount of convenience to the people of the Ye Kingdom over the years. I’m not worthy of being called Miss Ling. You may simply call me by my name.” Her appearance was as beautiful as a celestial maiden, and her heart was equally broad and magnanimous. Her tranquil, unruffled bearing left the several old men present feeling deeply ashamed. “I see that Miss Ling is about the same age as my granddaughter, so I’ll take the liberty of calling you Ling Girl,” said an old man beside them. His features were extremely plain, but his smile was warm and amiable. “Would that be acceptable?” Ling Jiayue’s eyes filled with amusement, and she nodded. “Of course. Elder Xu addresses me that way as well.” “I never expected Miss Ling to possess the beauty of a celestial maiden and yet be so humble and courteous. You’ve truly given me a new impression of the Prime Minister’s residence!” Xu Hongjun’s expression softened considerably. He laughed and scolded them, “Enough of your flattery, you old fools. Since you’re here to see a physician, who’ll go first?” Huang Shiquan immediately raised his hand high. “I will!” Seeing his appearance, Lingxue’s anger vanished completely, and she burst out laughing. She had never imagined that these wealthy merchants, who were usually so lofty and imposing, could look like children and be so amusing. The winter sun rose, its gentle light spilling over the tiled roof, while the plum blossoms released a faint, pure fragrance that lingered throughout the courtyard and rooms. Even so, the air outside remained bitterly cold. A charcoal fire burned inside, with a tea stove warming atop the brazier, while a maid carefully selected tea leaves and brewed tea for everyone. Huang Shiquan’s left arm was bare to the shoulder. He did not even dare to breathe too loudly, because Ling Jiayue was sitting opposite him and performing pulse diagnosis. The legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence possessed an extraordinarily noble status, yet those slender jade-like hands were now examining the illness of a vulgar man like him. Huang Shiquan felt both delighted and frightened. “Miss Ling, how is it?” Seeing her brows draw together slightly, as though she wanted to speak but hesitated, Huang Shiquan could not restrain his curiosity. Ling Jiayue smiled. A sly glimmer lingered at the corners of her lips. “It’s nothing. It’s just that you shouldn’t be nervous, Elder Huang. When you get nervous, your pulse speeds up, and I might easily make a misdiagnosis.” “Hahahaha! Huang Shiquan, you’re truly a coward!” “You were clamoring to be the first to have your pulse examined. Why are you nervous now?” … Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere grew even more harmonious. Huang Shiquan rolled his eyes and retorted with a few words, grumbling under his breath. Ling Jiayue felt his pulse gradually settle, and only then did she calm her mind and make her diagnosis. “Elder Huang, may I speak frankly?” After completing the pulse diagnosis, Ling Jiayue withdrew her hand. Her dark eyes were pure and clear, like a lotus rising from clean water, untouched by the dust of the mortal world. “Miss Ling, please speak freely.” Ling Jiayue took out silver needles and laid them out in a neat row. “Although Elder Huang’s physique appears normal, your body is actually deficient inside. You’ve taken too many tonics, which have done more harm than good and left you prone to qi deficiency. Do you often suffer from stabbing heart pains, difficulty sleeping at night, and cold hands and feet?” Huang Shiquan was shocked. His body immediately went limp, and he admitted, “Miss Ling is right. These ailments have tormented me for many years. I’ve consulted quite a few physicians, and they prescribed all kinds of formulas, filled with powerful tonics. They said that would help me live longer.” “Not necessarily, not necessarily.” Ling Jiayue shook her head with an air of solemn wisdom. “What is honey to one may be poison to another. Elder Huang, you’ve overdrawn your body for so many years that it can no longer bear the strain. You need gentle nourishment. How could your body withstand the stimulation of so many tonics?” Huang Shiquan sighed and asked bitterly, “Miss Ling, at my age, can I still be treated? Even if it only eases the pain for a little while, that would be enough.” His heavy tone caused the other merchants nearby to grow gloomy as well. When they were young, men like them had traded their health for wealth. Now, although they had no worries about food or drink and enjoyed every pleasure the world had to offer, they could not escape the torment of illness. Who said the rich had no troubles? Guarding mountains of gold and silver while plagued by disease was not even as carefree and happy as the robust woodcutter living deep in the mountains! Ling Jiayue took in their dejection and suffering. She withdrew a silver needle and held it between her fingers. “The art of acupuncture is too unusual, and few people dare to use it, so it has been lost for a long time. However, as long as the correct acupoints are used, it can greatly benefit the body. Elder Huang, there is no need to worry. I’ll regularly administer acupuncture and perform pulse diagnosis for you, then prescribe medicine to help regulate your condition. Within half a month, you will definitely feel that your body is vastly different from before!” At these words, Huang Shiquan was overjoyed. Even his beard trembled with excitement, and for a moment he forgot the difference in their status. “Ling Girl, are you serious? If I truly manage to suffer less from these heart palpitations, then whatever you need in the future, come to my residence and ask. I, Huang Shiquan, will support you with all my strength!” Covering her mouth, Ling Jiayue laughed. “All right, I’ll remember that, Elder Huang. Tomorrow, I’ll go to your residence and ask for a few blue-and-white porcelain vases to take home and arrange winter plum branches in.” After the consultation, Ling Jiayue used paper and brush to write out a prescription and instructed him on the dosage and other precautions. She then proceeded to perform pulse diagnosis on the other old men. She had thought there were only six or seven people and that she would finish quickly, but unexpectedly, the examination lasted until the afternoon. Xu Hongjun felt sorry that the girl had just recovered from a serious illness and was already working so hard. He treated her generously during the midday banquet, then prepared fresh fruit and pastries in the afternoon and had maids massage her shoulders and pound her back. This allowed Lingxue to steal a little rest. As nightfall began to descend, Lingxue suddenly came to her senses and hurriedly urged Ling Jiayue to return home. She did not want to be scolded by Master, and even less did she want to experience another assassination like the one that night. Ling Jiayue ignored her. Only after finishing the last prescription did she stretch her sore arms, a spark of delight appearing on her face. “That’s all. Gentlemen, be sure to take your medicine on schedule, and remember the restrictions I mentioned.” Everyone was immensely grateful and immediately agreed. “Ling Girl, we’ll escort you back to the Ling Residence this afternoon. Let’s see who would still dare to hurt you! At the same time, we old men can properly explain matters to Ling Taian, so you won’t be confined again after you return. Otherwise, our illnesses will have to remain untreated.” This time, Ling Jiayue did not refuse Xu Hongjun’s kindness. After all, she was still somewhat shaken by what had happened that night… However, once they set out for home, Ling Jiayue realized that she had made the wrong decision. She could simply have found a few highly skilled guards at the Xu Residence to escort her home. Why had she agreed to let these wealthy merchants accompany her? The market had not yet completely dispersed, and the streets were only sparsely populated. But when six or seven luxurious carriages appeared—especially with the guards and maids beside them all standing straight and carrying themselves like people of no ordinary status—people began poking their heads out from restaurants and buildings to watch curiously. Many even flooded into the streets, wanting to see who was so distinguished that several wealthy merchants had personally come to escort her. For a time, the crowd surged like a tide. “Elders, isn’t this procession a little too grand…” Ling Jiayue was caught between laughter and tears. She was merely going home, not getting married. The merchants had not been satisfied with driving carriages decorated in lavish and noble fashion; they had insisted on having several carts trailing behind them as well, loaded with all kinds of gifts—including the famous painting Plum Blossoms in Winter Snow. Elder Xu had noticed that she liked it and had specifically taken it down to give her. “What’s the big deal?” one of the hairpin-and-jewelry merchants said with a broad grin. “If Ling Girl likes it, I’ll pluck down the moon in the sky and make it into jewelry for you.” “Hahahahaha! Then I’ll go pick the stars and weave Ling Girl a splendid gown!” A fur merchant refused to be outdone and joined in the boasting. As Ling Jiayue listened to their outrageous nonsense, she knew there was a reason for their flattery. First, she had treated their illnesses. Second, her status was noble, and they did not dare offend her. Yet when she saw the old men laugh, their honest and amiable manner reminded her of her grandfather in her previous life. An intimate feeling rose within her heart. Suddenly, the carriage stopped. A man’s loud voice rang out from ahead, clear and bright as a rainbow, carrying in every direction. “May I ask whether Miss Ling, the Prime Minister’s eldest daughter, is inside the carriage?” Someone had called her by name. The voice seemed somewhat familiar and carried a hint of urgency. Ling Jiayue lifted the curtain, moved to the coachman’s side, and looked up. She recognized the man at once. He sat tall upon his horse, his body straight and his bearing vigorous. “Feng Yan?” Seeing that she was indeed inside the carriage, Feng Yan hurriedly urged his horse over beside it. His tone was urgent. “Miss Ling, you truly are here! My master is bedridden with illness. May I ask you to accompany me to Wuqing Hall?” It sounded like a request for her opinion, but his tone left no room for refusal, and his imposing air remained undiminished. No wonder he was a man who had followed the Seventh Prince into battle. Ling Jiayue’s expression turned slightly serious, and she felt somewhat conflicted. In terms of both emotion and reason, she ought to return to the Prime Minister’s residence at this moment. If Mu Yuheng’s condition was truly severe and he absolutely needed her to go, she should still inform Ling Taian and make proper arrangements first. Feng Yan was not as delicate and thoughtful as a woman. He merely argued his case directly. “Miss Ling, my master has twice disregarded his own life to save you. Now that he is bedridden, how can you stand by and do nothing? If you come with me, we will explain everything to the Prime Minister’s residence ourselves. We won’t put you in a difficult position.” After thinking it over carefully, Ling Jiayue felt that his words were reasonable. She was just about to agree when Xu Hongjun shook his head repeatedly. “No. It hasn’t been long since Ling Girl broke off her engagement with Mu Yuyang. If she enters Wuqing Hall at night, it will only invite more speculation and make the people of the world think that the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister is a woman anyone can have. How will Ling Girl face them then?” At these words, Ling Jiayue felt warmth spread through her heart. She had not considered the matter at all, yet Xu Hongjun had already thought it through on her behalf. Still, a physician’s heart was like that of a parent. Since Feng Yan had urgently intercepted her halfway, it seemed she had no choice but to go tonight. “Elder, it’s fine. I’ll go take a look and come right back. Once I’ve gone, could you help me with something?” As she spoke, Ling Jiayue leaned closer to Xu Hongjun and whispered a few words in his ear. Only then did Xu Hongjun’s expression ease. He relented and said, “All right, go. Leave this matter to me.” Ling Jiayue smiled, then left with Lingxue and boarded the carriage bound for Wuqing Hall.