Young Master Jing, no pharmacy prepares prescriptions more reliably than ours,” the fat doctor chimed in, beaming.
“Okay,” the young master replied.
Since it was a knee joint issue, several acupoints on the lower outer side needed to be targeted, requiring him to roll up his pants. Wei Linxia prepared her silver needles, taking deep breaths to calm herself. She was dressed in male attire, with her throat covered, no earrings, and her chest bound. Still, seeing those muscular legs made her slightly embarrassed due to gender boundaries.
“Doctor, are you really confident?” Miss Niao Niao noticed her nervousness.
“No,” Wei Linxia blurted. Then she remembered how Xi Linxuan often responded similarly to her questions.
“Niao Niao,” the young master called, and Niao Niao stood beside him, looking hesitant.
Wei Linxia began the needling, being careful not to touch his leg. The patient remained quiet. After finishing, she chatted with the fat doctor, considering buying medical books to broaden her knowledge.
The young master, after the treatment, collected his medicine and left with Niao Niao. Wei Linxia tidied up and left through the back door, where the Wei family carriage was waiting. Sitting in the carriage, she recalled borrowing a set of clothes from a maidservant during the Shang festival, which resembled a Jing family maidservant’s outfit. Niao Niao thought she was infiltrating the Jing household, leading to their family being falsely accused of spreading rumors about an epidemic, resulting in the young master’s arrest. She wondered if he would think the maidservant who “infiltrated” was framing them.
Her luck seemed quite bad; among so many maidservants, she had borrowed that specific set. Fortunately, she still had a trick: “deny to the death.”
As Wei Linxia headed home, a thundering sound echoed beside her. She lifted the curtain to see who was driving so fast but only caught a glimpse of a small back, an ordinary carriage like her own.
Those swift horses and carriages stopped in front of the royal palace. A person jumped down and ran inside, waiting for a long time before his master returned.
“Any discoveries?” Xi Zhaoting asked.
“Your Highness, the medical clinic has changed staff. Someone resembles her a bit. More importantly, the person who was disrespectful to you during the Shang Festival has come to the medical clinic for acupuncture.”
“I asked Stone Guard, and he said he’s absolutely certain,” the eunuch said.
“Oh? Haha, interesting.” Xi Zhaoting paced in the hall, growing delighted.
“Your Highness, should we send someone…” the servant hesitated.
“Send whom? It’s just a misunderstanding. I was just frustrated that we didn’t determine a clear winner last time, and I want to compete again,” Xi Zhaoting said.
“Your Highness, if the Empress Dowager and the King were to know…”
“Deng Ping, I believe you won’t let them know about this, right?” He glared, and the eunuch fell silent, feeling bitter.
At the medical clinic, another day began. Wei Lindong finished placing needles for Young Master Jing and then retreated to the back. Recently, she felt an invisible pair of eyes watching her, making her uncomfortable. Through the curtain, Young Master Jing and Miss Niao whispered and glanced her way. Wei Lindong wondered if he had discovered her identity and sent someone to watch her. Did he really think she was responsible for the closure of his family’s medicine shop?
If they kept watching her, her identity would surely be discovered… Alas, why was the world so small?
After a while, Niao called her. Wei Lindong thought something was wrong and followed her out.
To her surprise, Young Master Jing narrowed his long eyes and curved his thin lips, saying, “I have something today, so can we remove the needles earlier?” Wei Lindong was startled but nodded, gently removing the needles. Focused on her task, she didn’t see Young Master Jing’s gaze fixed on her hands. After she finished, Wei Lindong turned to pack her needle bag while Niao helped Young Master Jing put on his socks and boots.
“Doctor Xia, I’ll come again tomorrow,” Young Master Jing said.
“Okay,” Wei Lindong replied. The fat doctor approached, reminding him not to forget his medication, showing more enthusiasm than for other patients. After Young Master Jing left, the fat doctor said regretfully, “If only I were ten years younger. This young master of the Jing family is truly handsome and well-mannered.”
Wei Lindong smiled, “Perhaps Young Master Jing wouldn’t mind marrying an older wife, hehe.”
“You little monkey, you’ve been here for a few days and already dare to tease me,” the fat doctor scolded playfully.
Chapter 19
August was approaching, and the summer heat was slowly dissipating. This was good for Wei Lindong, who was afraid of heat. After returning home and having a meal, she briefly rested before going to see Xi Linxuan.
Passing through the garden, Wei Lindong smelled a fragrance and noticed several newly bloomed jasmine flowers, pure white clusters reminiscent of jade hairpins. She had always loved these flowers but wondered why the gardener had planted them on a steep slope. At thirteen, she often had to jump to reach them.
Seeing the lovely flowers made her want to pick one. She jumped multiple times in frustration and decided to give up for now to see Xi Linxuan instead. Upon arriving at the courtyard, a eunuch informed her that the prince was taking a walk in the garden and would return soon.
With nothing else to do, she examined the acupuncture techniques on a wax figure. Less than a quarter of an hour later, Xi Linxuan returned, calm and composed. Wei Lindong expressed her delight, praising his progress and saying he might be able to apply needles in fifteen days, feeling as if the improvement was her own.
Xi Linxuan looked at her, still picturing a scene he had just witnessed: on the path below the slope, the wind carrying fallen lilac petals, a girl in a light-colored dress jumping to pick flowers swaying in the gentle breeze, failing multiple times and reluctantly looking back at the flowers.
“…Your Highness, are you listening to me?” Wei Lindong asked, frowning slightly.
Recalling the romantic young girl now furrowing her brow and looking at him, he knew she wouldn’t throw a tantrum. Wei Xiaoshi would never act mature alone but would be well-behaved when with a group.
“No,” Xi Linxuan said.
Wei Lindong twisted her mouth, with an “I knew it” expression, then repeated patiently: “Just be serious. Your leg will definitely get better.”
After treating Zheng Hai and Young Master Jing, Wei Lindong felt confident.
“Really?” Xi Linxuan wasn’t very interested. He wondered when he might see Wei Lindong express her happiness or unhappiness openly, like Miss Li.
“…Your Highness?” Wei Lindong frowned again.
“What?” Xi Linxuan asked.
Wei Lindong looked at his indifferent expression, perplexed. Although he usually liked to argue with her, he had never been so distracted. What was wrong?
“Your Highness, are you unhappy today?” Wei Linxia asked.
“No, why do you ask?” Xi Linxuan replied, looking at Wei Linxia, who seemed about to become sentimental again.
“Your Highness seems absent-minded today, so I thought so,” Wei Linxia said.
“I’m thinking about someone,” Xi Linxuan said.
“Oh.” Wei Linxia nodded, intrigued. This aloof prince had never seemed to care about anyone before.
“Aren’t you going to ask who I’m thinking about?” Xi Linxuan inquired.
“It’s not appropriate for me to ask about Your Highness’s personal matters,” Wei Linxia replied, sighing inwardly, truly wanting to know.
“If you ask, I will tell you,” he said.
Wei Linxia shook her head. If only Wei Fengzhi were here, she could interrogate him. Xi Linxuan snorted, indeed a well-mannered young lady.
