“Your Highness,” Wei Linxia thought she was about to become the most embarrassing young lady in Huo City.
The narrative continues with complex interactions involving multiple characters, including a fight between Tai Qing and Xi Zhaoting, and concerns about the missing Qilin artifact.
Two cars moved slowly on the mountain road; the weather had warmed up, and the roadside trees were faintly showing green. The mountain was quiet, and Xu Zhen Dao Gu sat with her eyes closed in the hall, seemingly reciting some immortal text. When they entered, she opened her eyes and carefully applied needles to Xi Lin Xuan before inspecting Wei Lin Xia’s homework and teaching her acupuncture techniques. However, she seemed weak, with a light cold sweat on her forehead. Wei Lin Xia noticed and hurriedly helped her sit down, pouring her a cup of tea. Xu Zhen said, “I’m old and useless. This winter has been especially difficult. I think my time is near. I’m not afraid, but your homework is not yet complete, the prince’s leg is not yet healed, and Tai Qing is not yet grown. I cannot rest assured. Lin Xia, you are a careful child, so I decide to entrust this to you. In the future, if you meet a kind-hearted person, pass it on to help save people.”
Xu Zhen took out a book and placed it in front of her.
The book was unremarkable, with only “Mysterious Needle Technique” on the cover. “I will teach you the prince’s treatment method. If I am gone, you will treat the prince in my place and also care for Tai Qing. Her temperament is not suited for confinement. If she wants to leave in the future, I hope you can help her.”
“But it’s easy to get sick during seasonal changes. Why speak such inauspicious words? When we go down the mountain, I will send someone to call a doctor to examine you. A few doses of medicine will help,” Wei Lin Xia consoled.
The old Taoist nun smiled kindly. “I am eighty-one this year. Living to this age is a blessing from my ancestral master. Lin Xia, just promise me these things.”
Wei Lin Xia nodded, greatly admiring Xu Zhen Dao Gu, whose insights into life and death inspired her awe.
This journey weighed heavily on Wei Lin Xia. Death seemed distant, but Xu Zhen’s words and demeanor made her realize its closeness.
Wei Lin Xia informed her mother about Xu Zhen Dao Gu’s condition. Her mother, thinking she was worried, comforted her and agreed to invite an old doctor to the mountain for treatment.
Concerned about Xu Zhen, Wei Lin Xia practiced diligently with wax figures and mastered techniques from the “Mysterious Needle Technique” book. She melted countless red candles to cover the needle marks on the figures, though she remained uncertain about practicing on a real person.
By April, Xi Lin Xuan’s leg seemed to be improving, but Wei Lin Xia focused on perfecting her needle techniques and forgot about the Qilin until she accompanied her mother to visit the elderly empress who had caught a chill. When the empress inquired, Wei Lin Xia deflected with, “The rope has loosened, and the maids are making a new one.”
After sitting with the empress, the queen summoned her. While following the palace maid, Wei Lin Xia encountered Xi Zhao Ting. His displeased expression softened upon seeing her, and he mimicked holding a rope, indicating that the Qilin was still in his possession. With palace maids present, Wei Lin Xia could only pay her respects and continue on.
It appeared Xi Zhao Ting had no intention of returning the Qilin. During dinner, her mother reminded Wei Lin Xia to take good care of the Qilin, given by the empress.
Wei Lin Xia smiled slightly but felt helpless, troubled by recent events. After lying down for a while, she retrieved mysterious needles and sent her maid away. Sitting before the dressing mirror with candlesticks on either side, she began to treat herself. The night watch maid noticed the continuous light and informed Yu Mo, who rushed in, startled to see Wei Lin Xia with trembling needles in her head.
Wei Lin Xia gestured for silence, and Yu Mo closed the door, rushing to her side. Before Yu Mo could speak, Wei Lin Xia said, “I’ve studied for a long time and want to try the technique. I’ll practice on myself first. Don’t make a sound. See, I’m still breathing normally.” After a while, she removed the needles, feeling more clear-headed. “Yu Mo, do you have any discomfort? Let me help you…”
“No need, miss. I’m perfectly fine,” Yu Mo quickly responded, not out of distrust, but because the needles looked frighteningly black.
Encouraged by her first success, Wei Lin Xia wanted to try on Xi Lin Xuan the next day, but knowing the propriety between men and women, she felt she could never treat him. However, Wei Feng Zhi was a possibility. She cornered him in the study, asking if he had any discomfort.
Wei Feng Zhi said seeing her gave him a headache, and when she offered acupuncture, he escaped through the window.
“Hmph, running so fast. He’ll eventually fall into my hands like a rabbit,” Wei Lin Xia muttered, tidying up Wei Feng Zhi’s recently read book. Looking up, she saw Xi Zhao Ting standing outside, arms crossed, making her slightly uneasy.
“Your Highness has arrived,” Wei Lin Xia said.
“Today is the twenty-fifth,” Xi Zhao Ting replied.
“Your Highness, about the Qilin…” she began.
“Qilin? What Qilin?” Xi Zhao Ting looked bewildered.
“The one Your Highness picked up during the Shang festival,” Wei Lin Xia explained.
“Oh, I picked one up, but it’s not Miss Wei’s; it’s an ugly woman’s,” Xi Zhao Ting said. He kindly picked up her qilin to return it, but unexpectedly got into a fight, resulting in torn clothes without gaining the upper hand. Returning to the palace, he was scolded by his father. He blamed all of this on Wei Lin Xia, wanting her to be on edge for a few days.
“Your Highness…”
“Brother Zhao Huan, Sister Chenbi, what are you talking about? Sister Chenbi, did Uncle Wei allow you to come to school?”
Cheerfully bouncing over, Li Weiheng asked with a full smile, “No, I’m just here to get a book, and I’m leaving now,” Wei Linxia said, picking up the book and walking away.
Xi Zhaoting was in a good mood, seeing Wei Linxia’s gloomy expression made him feel less angry.
“But Sister Chenbi seems to have taken a sword manual!” Li Weiheng said.
Wei Fengzhi ran back again, searching for the book. Xi Zhaoting kindly told him that Wei Linxia had taken it. Wei Fengzhi held his head, feeling a headache, not wanting to contribute to Wei Linxia’s trouble.
With the book in hand, Wei Linxia returned to her room, passing through the garden. Casually opening the book, her gaze became fixed. She cursed Wei Fengzhi, realizing he must have been doing well lately to buy such a good thing and hide it from her. The sword manual—she always thought swords were the most elegant weapon, especially when paired with a white robe against desert yellow sand or mysterious deep blue water; such a scene was extremely beautiful.
“Wei Linxia!” someone called her.
“Wei Linxia!” the voice raised slightly. Wei Linxia shifted her gaze from the book and saw Xi Linxuan in a wheelchair, blocking his way.
“Your Highness.”
“Move aside.” Xi Linxuan was somewhat impatient. Wei Linxia hurriedly stepped aside to the stone path.
“Wei Linxia, come here,” Xi Linxuan said, halting and ordering the eunuch to wait. Wei Linxia, confused, approached him.
“Your Highness, what are your orders?”
“If I tell Wei Taifu that his daughter was holding a sword manual and blocking my path, causing me to be late, how many hours do you think he’ll make you kneel?” Xi Linxuan remarked, gesturing for the eunuch to step in.
Frustrated, Wei Linxia spat in his direction before refocusing on her book.
Wei Taifu didn’t punish her. However, Wei Linxia felt reluctant to accompany Xi Linxuan up the mountain. If not to see Xu Zhen Dao Nun and Tai Qing, she wouldn’t have assisted him.
