“Wei Chenbi, you heartless one! Wuwu, we are siblings, how can you treat your brother like this?” Wei Feng Zhi said, mimicking a crying tone.
The two people clinging to the tree exchanged a glance and shivered.
“Love deeply, criticize earnestly,” Weilin Xia remarked, looking at the sun. “Almost there, two quarters of an hour left, hehe.”
Tai Qing, who had been leaning casually, yawned and said, “It seems disliking Wei Feng Zhi isn’t just my reason. A person even his sister dislikes must be quite annoying, hahaha.”
Xi Zhao Ting, clinging to the tree, noticed the stack of books burned by the maid, carefully jumped down, straightened his clothes, and said, “Feng Zhi? I heard you were ill…” He walked to the door, lifting his robe sleeve and feigning surprise. “What’s going on?”
Weilin Xia hurriedly stood to bow, but Tai Qing remained seated, smiling. “Isn’t there still one on the tree? Why not come down together?” As soon as he finished speaking, the Princess of Yan had already landed in the courtyard.
Weilin Xia turned to Tai Qing, her eyes narrowed. Tai Qing pretended not to notice and said, “It’s too hot down the mountain, with so many boring people. I’ll go back up today; tell my Fifth Uncle.”
Several people were kneeling or standing in the courtyard, momentarily at a loss for words. Xi Zhao Ting had originally come to check the book, but Tai Qing’s remark annoyed him. However, seeing Weilin Xia standing with her head lowered made him feel balanced. He was there for a friend’s drama, while she was watching her brother’s, which felt even more excessive. Only Wei Feng Zhi, with a slight smile, thought, “Naughty girl, since you’re not kind, I won’t be righteous. Let’s see how I tear off your mask and expose your true self.”
Just as everyone remained silent, the Princess of Yan called out in relief, “Master Wei, you’re here.”
Weilin Xia and Xi Zhao Ting both sighed, while Wei Feng Zhi looked pitiful.
“Feng Zhi, get up,” Master Wei said heavily, telling his son to rise and ordering the maid to burn the books and dispose of them. Seeing the situation, Xi Zhao Ting and the Princess of Yan quickly found an excuse to leave.
A distance from the courtyard gate, the Princess of Yan commented, “Wei Feng Zhi is really bad, and Weilin Xia didn’t even help him.”
Xi Zhao Ting heard but did not respond, thinking Weilin Xia must be seeking revenge for having to kneel last time. Her fake tone was cloying.
“What a pity it was all burned, I wonder what book it was!” the Princess of Yan said. Xi Zhao Ting was also curious but more interested in asking Wei Feng Zhi later if Weilin Xia could really imitate his writing so well that even Master Wei couldn’t tell.
“Let fate decide,” Wei Linxia said before putting on her shoes and leaving.
She was surprised to find Xi Linxuan so diligent; she thought he would still be sleeping. Entering, she apologized: “My mother has been ill, and my brother’s mistake yesterday caused my father to ask me to watch over things, so I couldn’t come. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
Xi Linxuan didn’t turn back, still inserting needles into a wax figure’s leg. “Sit,” he instructed.
Wei Linxia walked to his side and saw countless needles already inserted. Thinking to praise him, she said: “Your Highness is very diligent today.”
He glanced at her and replied, “I’ve been at this for two days, too lazy to remove them.” She realized she shouldn’t have praised him.
Looking carefully at the needles again, Wei Linxia praised, “Your Highness’s needles are getting more accurate. Only eleven positions are slightly off.”
“Hmm,” Xi Linxuan responded, watching her insert acupuncture needles and discuss the prescription. It was summer, and Wei Linxia wore a gauze dress, simple with light crimson embroidered flowers. He noticed the neckline was clean, devoid of embellishments that might have made her outfit vulgar; she had good taste.
“Does Your Highness remember?” Wei Linxia asked, slightly annoyed by his distraction.
“I don’t know,” Xi Linxuan replied. Wei Linxia removed all the silver needles for him to practice again. A palace maid brought chilled melon and retreated. “Sent from the palace. I don’t like it; you can eat it,” he said.
“Wei Linxia also doesn’t particularly like it,” she responded.
Xi Linxuan regarded her with a knowing expression before turning away.
“What do you mean, Your Highness?” Wei Linxia asked.
“Nothing,” Xi Linxuan curtly replied.
After standing for a while, Wei Linxia felt tired and sat down, watching Xi Linxuan insert needles. The cicadas outside were irritating, but the warm breeze and sweet fragrance in the room made her drowsy. She struggled to stay awake, sitting upright with her head slightly lowered—a posture learned from being punished by Master Wei during her mischievous childhood.
Xi Linxuan continued inserting needles, glanced at Wei Linxia, and smiled. After a while, seeing she hadn’t awakened, a mischievous thought crossed his mind.
“What is the matter, Princess?” Xi Linxuan interrupted, questioning if they considered him nonexistent and were about to chat about family matters.
“Ah? Oh! I forgot.” The Princess of Yan answered casually and ran back to ask her maidservant.
Wei Linxia slowly pulled the needle from her hand and handed it to Xi Linxuan. “Your Highness, do you know I have tinnitus, so you want to treat me with acupuncture?”
“No,” Xi Linxuan replied, his gaze falling on the plate on the small table. “I just suddenly wanted to taste the melon.”
This is what they call changing one’s mind, Wei Linxia thought.
After giving some instructions, Wei Linxia left Xi Linxuan’s main hall and returned to her room, feeling that Xi Linxuan was somewhat strange, though she couldn’t pinpoint why. In her room, Xi Linxuan bit into a piece of melon, reflecting on how calm Wei Linxia was and her ability to divert attention. It was odd how the rigid Old Master Wei and the simple-hearted Madam Wei could have such a daughter.
A few days later, Madam Wei’s illness had mostly recovered, and Wei Linxia resumed her medical practice. Shortly after sitting down, a middle-aged man she had previously treated rushed in, anxious yet relieved to find her. He said he had been waiting for her for several days. Wei Linxia found it odd since he appeared healed. The man explained that the young master of their medicinal shop, recently released from prison, had developed joint pain in his leg and requested her treatment, offering a generous reward.
Wei Linxia refused to make house calls, insisting that if the man wanted treatment, he must come to the clinic. The man left, and she didn’t give it much thought.
She reasoned that in the royal city, with numerous famed doctors, her demands might cause the young master to seek another physician.
The next day, a sedan chair arrived at the clinic, led by the same middle-aged man. Wei Linxia was shocked to see the young master, with his bronze-colored face, curved eyes, high nose bridge, and thin lips that would surely sound seductive. The woman beside him, Niao Niao, appeared gentle in public but was fierce privately.
The young master’s gaze made Wei Linxia uncomfortable, as if she were a commodity. The woman’s expression was even more unsettling, filled with disbelief.
The middle-aged man, nervous and eager to impress, stuttered during his report. Finally, the young master said, “Zheng Hai, go back and inventory the herbs. Niao Niao can accompany me here.” After Zheng Hai left, Wei Linxia invited them to sit. “Zheng Hai mentioned the issue; it seems to be rheumatism. While acupuncture can provide immediate relief, it only improves blood circulation and alleviates pain. For a complete cure, medication is necessary. However, this isn’t my expertise, so I’ll need you to…”
“Oh, Doctor Xia, aren’t I a doctor too? How could you forget?”
