Passing through the garden, Wei Lindxia headed to Xi Linxuan’s courtyard, wondering if he had been practicing diligently.
The courtyard was quiet, with no one in sight. She softly called, “Your Highness,” and Xi Linxuan’s faint voice responded, “Come in.”
Inside, she noticed the wooden box containing the red wax figure she had given him was on the table, with a candle still burning. Wei Lindxia found it odd to see a candle lit in September when the sun hadn’t set yet.
As she stared at the candlestick, Xi Linxuan raised his sleeve and extinguished the candle. He seemed a bit strange lately.
“Done?” he asked, not inviting her to sit. Wei Lindxia took her usual seat.
“Yes, I came to check on Your Highness’s homework,” she replied. She then recalled the Empress Dowager’s words and added, “The Empress Dowager mentioned an old doctor at the Imperial Medical Institute who is extremely skilled in acupuncture…”
“Wei Lindxia, from today, I will treat my leg myself,” Xi Linxuan said.
“Ah?” Wei Lindxia was surprised. The indifferent prince was expressing such determination.
“What ‘ah’? You’ve taught me for so long. Even if I’m slow, I’ve learned,” he said.
“Your Highness, why don’t we invite that doctor to observe…” Wei Lindxia’s words were interrupted by Xi Linxuan: “I’ve pricked myself several times. Aren’t I fine?”
“Your Highness, you can’t just…”
“Weren’t you the first to experiment on yourself?” Xi Linxuan countered.
“How can it be the same? Your Highness is of noble birth. If something were to happen…”
Today, Xi Linxuan seemed particularly inclined to interrupt her.
“In the end, you’re confident in yourself but not in me. Wei Lindxia, aren’t you going to bring the mysterious needle?” he added.
This was a day she had long anticipated, but now that it had arrived, she felt anxious about the potential consequences for the Wei family.
Holding the needle bag, Wei Lindxia took a deep breath and pushed the door open. A thick screen had been set up, and Xi Linxuan sat calmly in his wheelchair. Wei Lindxia gripped the needle bag tighter, her heart racing.
“You should trust me,” Xi Linxuan said, smiling.
Whether to trust him or not was moot now. He wouldn’t joke about his own body. Wei Lindxia solemnly placed the needle bag in his hands. Xi Linxuan’s smile widened: “Wei Lindxia, you don’t need to look so grave!”
A eunuch pushed Xi Linxuan behind the screen, and a palace maid brought Wei Lindxia a chair and a book. The rustling sounds from behind the screen soon stopped.
Wei Lindxia could see nothing and could only fold her hands, silently praying that nothing would go wrong.
Time passed slowly. She glanced at the copper water clock, feeling anxious, standing up and sitting down, trying to see through the screen.
“Wei Lindxia, if you can’t sit still, you can go out for a walk and come back later,” Xi Linxuan’s calm voice came from behind the screen.
“No need. I feel more at ease staying here,” she replied, her earlier nervousness fading as she settled more steadily.
“Thank you for the lotus pod that day,” Xi Linxuan said.
“Ah? It’s nothing,” Wei Lindxia responded, puzzled by the mention of the lotus pod again.
“With so many servants, why pick it yourself? The autumn water is cold. If you catch a chill, it’s no joke,” Xi Linxuan continued.
Wei Lindxia blinked in surprise. How did he know? She thought it must have been leaked by her maid.
“It’s fine now,” she said, neither confirming nor denying his words.
After a while, rustling sounds came again. When they stopped, a small eunuch came to remove the thick screen, revealing that they were sitting quite close, their fingertips almost touching.
Remembering the scene when they sat facing each other, their robes touching, she couldn’t help but blush.
Your Highness has indeed made progress these days,” Wei Linxia said.
“Just a bit more diligent,” replied Xi Linxuan. A palace maid brought hot tea and served it, but Xi Linxuan suddenly became angry with her, “What’s this? You haven’t served Miss Wei tea for such a long time? Useless thing.”
The palace maid knelt down, trembling in fear.
“She brought it, and I didn’t want it, so I told her to take it away,” Wei Linxia said. It was better to show some courtesy for a cup of tea, after all, this wasn’t her own servant.
“What does Your Highness think?” Wei Linxia looked at him. He was quite tall, almost as tall as Xi Zhaoting, and more handsome, though a bit pale.
“If it were effective immediately, I could probably hang a banner and call myself a divine doctor,” Xi Linxuan said, elegantly sipping tea.
“Indeed,” Wei Linxia smiled, the tea leaves in her cup swaying like seagrass in an aquarium.
As they spoke, a young eunuch announced that Lady Wei had come to visit His Highness. Wei Linxia quickly stood up. The eunuch invited Lady Wei in, whose smiling face flickered with suspicion upon seeing the two chairs placed close together. Wei Linxia didn’t notice, but Xi Linxuan did.
Lady Wei sat briefly before leaving with Wei Linxia, who linked arms with her mother as they walked to the embroidery room. Lady Wei reproached her for not fully recovering, worried she might tire herself out after visiting the palace in the morning and checking on the Thirteenth Prince’s studies. Wei Linxia happily reported that His Highness had mastered the mysterious needle technique and had already begun applying the needles.
Lady Wei felt a touch of unease as her daughter approached fourteen, and with the Thirteenth Prince nearing eighteen and his coming-of-age ceremony, she worried about the two young children spending time together. She hesitated to bring up her concerns, secretly hoping the Queen Dowager would soon issue a marriage decree.
With Xi Linxuan beginning treatment and Xi Zhaoting aware of her situation, Wei Linxia planned to treat Young Master Jing two more times before returning home to avoid complications.
After several days, Young Master Jing appeared to be in better spirits, more relaxed without the flirtatious girl around.
“Doctor Xia looks quite young to have such medical skills,” Young Master Jing remarked as needles were inserted into his calf.
“It seems Young Master’s leg has improved significantly. Probably one more treatment will be enough,” Wei Linxia replied.
“Doctor Xia’s complexion doesn’t look good. Has she been ill?” Young Master Jing asked.
Wei Linxia nodded, wishing the flirtatious girl who often soothed Young Master Jing were present. The plump doctor called for Wei Linxia to assist an elderly lady, allowing her to leave.
After Young Master Jing finished his treatment and departed, Wei Linxia checked the time and began packing her needle bag. The plump doctor called out, “Doctor Xia, someone’s here,” and Wei Linxia saw Xi Zhaoting sitting in a chair.
“I’m Zhao Ting; I’ve met Doctor Xia before. I’m here to request treatment for a friend,” Xi Zhaoting stated formally.
Reluctantly, Wei Linxia followed him outside, boarding an ordinary horse-drawn carriage with only the two of them. She touched her needle bag, not inquiring about their destination or the patient. The carriage swayed for some time before stopping at the entrance of an alley.
Getting out, she found the quiet alley was empty.
“Your High-“
“Zhao Ting,” Xi Zhaoting corrected in a low voice. Zhao Ting, Zhaoting – she wouldn’t call him that casually.
Wei Linxia smiled apologetically and asked, “Does Master Zhao’s friend live here?”
Xi Zhaoting glanced at her and muttered, “What ‘Master Zhao’? How strange. Follow me.”
The guards weren’t with them, presumably protecting from the shadows.
Stopping at a respectable door, Xi Zhaoting knocked. An old servant opened it, kneeling and greeting, “Welcome, Master.”
