Tai Qing, typically hot-tempered, was unusually quiet today. The two walked carefully to Xu Zhen’s side, supporting her as they entered the inner courtyard.
“Has the little Taoist nun changed her nature today? Didn’t she take any fire nitrate pills?” Yan Junzhu asked.
“My lady, it seems inconvenient today. We might as well visit Miss Wei another time,” Xi Zhaoting said, still recovering from his shock. He recalled Tai Qing, who had once fought him with a sword and now appeared strikingly beautiful, like a celestial being.
“Does Your Highness want to wait for Miss Wei?” Xi Zhaoting asked.
Xi Linxuan shook his head.
As they descended the mountain, the bell rang, and soon after, many white cranes flew up, circling the Taoist temple.
Thirteen-year-old Wei Linxia, though decisive, didn’t need to help in the temple as the next master had already been chosen. She stayed to see off Master Xu Zhen, as taught since childhood, and was entrusted to take care of Tai Qing.
Tai Qing was lazy. Wei Linxia thought she would want to go down the mountain, but she said there were no good people below and that it was nice with food and drink. With her master passing, they weren’t strictly constrained. Wei Linxia suggested staying at the Wei residence, but Tai Qing scoffed, saying she couldn’t stand seeing Wei Fenzhì. She believed that if Wei Linxia wanted to follow her master’s wishes, she should remain on the mountain until Tai Qing felt better.
Wei Linxia stayed for half a month. During this time, Madam Wei came up the mountain to bring food and clothing. Xi Linxuan and others stayed away, likely too embarrassed to disturb them so soon after Xu Zhen’s death. Upon returning home, Wei Linxia found it stuffier compared to the cool mountain.
Everything at the residence was the same, but Wei Linxia felt troubled when seeing Xi Linxuan. Xu Zhen had asked her to perform acupuncture for him, but she was unsure how to navigate the boundaries between men and women. After much thought, she decided to find an acupuncture expert who would perform the treatment while she supervised. She chose a sunny day to visit Xi Linxuan.
While other rooms felt hot, Wei Linxia found Xi Linxuan’s room surprisingly cool. He wasn’t there but sitting in the corridor, looking up at the birds in cages that Madam Wei had brought, despite Wei Fenzhì’s objections.
A eunuch announced her arrival, and Xi Linxuan focused on the birds: “Miss Wei has arrived, please sit.” The eunuch brought a chair, which Wei Linxia thanked him for before sitting down.
Before Wei Linxia could speak, Xi Linxuan said, “I’ll trouble you in the future.”
“Your Highness is too kind. Today, I’ve come precisely because of this matter. Although Master Xu entrusted me, there are boundaries between men and women, and acupuncture is different from other methods. So, I thought we might find an acupuncture master in the country to treat Your Highness,” Wei Linxia said.
Xi Linxuan turned his head and waved his hand, and the eunuchs and palace maids immediately disappeared.
“Is that so? Can you ensure that this expert isn’t sent to harm me?” Xi Linxuan asked.
“This…
I cannot guarantee,” Wei Linxia said, thinking that even for a healthy prince, thirteenth in line and largely ignored, which royal would plot against him? But she couldn’t say this aloud.
“I never use people I don’t know,” Xi Linxuan replied.
Wei Linxia’s delicate eyebrows furrowed. Where would she find someone trustworthy? Master Xu’s entrusted task was indeed difficult.
Seeing her silence, Xi Linxuan continued: “Why don’t you teach me the method? You can guide me, and I’ll administer the needles myself.”
Wei Linxia’s eyebrows relaxed momentarily, then furrowed again.
“Rest assured, I have no grudge against you,” Xi Linxuan said.
“Very well, I’ll bring the materials later,” Wei Linxia said and withdrew. Xi Linxuan looked back at the canary, tied with a thin bronze chain, thinking it probably couldn’t fly even if released.
Wei Linxia brought a box and an acupoint diagram, instructing him to memorize the acupoints and practice on a wax figure, with a test in a few days. As she left, Xi Linxuan found the diagram densely packed and difficult to remember.
He suddenly recalled that on New Year’s Eve, Wei Linxia had been muttering acupoints in her dream, much more diligently than himself.
He thought that since she was engrossed in sword manuals, she must also be interested in the acupoint diagram.
Before Wei Linxia could check Xi Linxuan’s homework, Crown Prince Xi Zhaoting arrived at the Wei residence, formally stating that the King of Huo was summoning Wei Linxia.
Madam Wei, unaware of Xu Zhen’s previous entrusted matter, first wondered if her daughter had caused big trouble. She considered the summon might be about that matter but found it too early to discuss, as her daughter was only thirteen. Moreover, if it were to be discussed, the King of Huo wouldn’t need to summon her personally. Anxious, she hurried to ask Wei Linxia, who reassured her: “It’s nothing, it’s about Master Xu Zhen’s matter. I’ll be back soon.”
Wei Linxia calmly entered the sedan chair, her demeanor composed. Xi Zhaoting recalled the day of Xu Zhen’s ethereal passing when Wei Linxia had run breathlessly, her skirt hem still fluttering from her hurried movement. She had appeared vivid then, unlike her usual rigid self. As he mounted the horse, he wondered why he recalled her, noting that the little female Taoist beside her had clearly been the dazzling one, like a fairy descending to earth.
Drifting deeper in thought, he recalled the conflict caused by Wei Linxia, visualizing her dark expression, reminiscent of Tai Qing’s face smeared with ash and rice grains. They were indeed in cahoots. He hesitated to think about it; remembering her meant recalling the scolding he found infuriating. He decided to keep the Qilin for a few more days to see if the Queen Mother would indeed scold her today.
Xi Zhaoting brought Wei Linxia into the palace with this intention. Wei Linxia, sitting in the sedan chair, also recalled the Qilin she had long forgotten.
“Master Xu Zhen, if you have spirit in heaven, please make the Queen Mother forget about the Qilin,” she said with hands pressed together, but reconsidered, thinking Taoism lacked such etiquette. Instead, she consoled herself: “Sincerity is what matters.”
The Huo King, not yet forty, had a dignified appearance and intimidating eyes. Wei Linxia disliked meeting him and the Queen Mother, as their severe gazes seemed to probe her innermost thoughts. When the Huo King heard from Xi Zhaoting that “the daughter of the Wei family is seeking an audience” and looked up from his documents, he saw a round-faced young girl, appearing younger than his seventh daughter, with a simple hairstyle and plain dress.
Her slight plumpness meant the simple attire didn’t look shabby.
“This subject, Wei Linxia, pays respects to Your Majesty,” the young girl knelt, her voice steady, which pleased the Huo King.
“Wei Linxia, daughter of Wei Tafu, how old are you?” the Huo King asked, skeptical whether such a young girl could cure Concubine Ren.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, I am thirteen years old,” Wei Linxia replied, nervous about treating Concubine Ren as she had barely practiced.
“Have you ever treated anyone with acupuncture?” the Huo King asked.
Wei Linxia answered honestly, “Reporting to Your Majesty, I have only practiced on wax figures and treated myself once.”
“Oh? Treated whom?” the Huo King asked casually.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, I treated myself,” Wei Linxia said.
The Huo King was surprised, and Xi Zhaoting, nearby, looked at Wei Linxia. Had she gone mad treating herself?
“Where did you apply the needles? Was it effective?” the Huo King relaxed, leaning back in his throne. This girl had courage; even if not useful now, she might be in the future.
