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.”
