Wei Yan composed himself, stepped forward, and gave a bow. “This humble official greets Her Majesty the Empress.”
When facing Ling Jingshu, Empress Xu’s smile had been all surface and no warmth, but toward Wei Yan she was all pleasantness and unusual affection. “Imperial Physician Wei need not stand on ceremony — please rise.”
Once Wei Yan had straightened up, Empress Xu smiled with unmistakable intent. “Imperial Physician Wei seemed rather surprised to see Miss Ling here in Jiaofang Hall.”
In that brief moment, Wei Yan had already calmed himself completely, replying without a single gap in his composure: “Your Majesty has been suffering from a mild ailment and has been resting in bed for the past several days, even excusing the consorts from their morning greetings. So this official had not anticipated that Your Majesty would summon Miss Ling to an audience today — seeing her here naturally caught me off guard.”
Empress Xu’s gaze flickered slightly, and she smiled with an air of indifference. “This palace has been cooped up in the bedchamber all day and finds it stifling. Upon hearing that Miss Ling had entered the palace, I summoned her here for some conversation.”
She paused, then continued with unhurried ease: “Just now, with nothing better to do, this palace had a little chat with Miss Ling. Miss Ling mentioned a rather curious matter — she said she had contracted a strange ailment that prevents her from being touched by any man. If touched by a man, she suffers great discomfort throughout her body and vomits uncontrollably. This palace found it truly remarkable. How could there be such a peculiar condition in this world?”
“Imperial Physician Wei is skilled in medicine and possessed of wide learning. It so happens that this palace would like to ask you — have you ever heard of such a strange ailment?”
As expected — this visitor meant no good.
Wei Yan fought down the impulse to glance at Ling Jingshu, a rapid succession of thoughts flashing through his mind.
Ling Jingshu would never have raised this matter without cause. Judging by the Empress’s temperament, there was an eight or nine in ten chance she had found a pretext to deliberately make things difficult. To protect herself, Ling Jingshu had been forced to reveal her secret as a shield…
And the Empress’s purpose in summoning him here was certainly not as simple as merely asking a casual question.
Empress Xu wanted to confront him and Ling Jingshu face to face.
At this thought, Wei Yan felt a creeping chill of alarm.
If he had not thought it through carefully just now — if he had opened his mouth and denied all knowledge — would he not have brought ruin upon Ling Jingshu?
Wei Yan’s thoughts moved like lightning, yet his expression betrayed not a single moment of hesitation as he replied: “In answer to Your Majesty — this official not only has knowledge of it, but has witnessed it with his own eyes.”
The fist Ling Jingshu had been clenching gradually unclenched, while her back was already drenched in cold sweat.
Empress Xu narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, a gleam passing through them. “Oh? You truly witnessed it yourself?”
Wei Yan answered steadily: “Yes. Over a month ago, Princess An Ya visited Princess Changping’s residence as a guest and accidentally fell into the water. This official was summoned to Princess Changping’s residence at that time and first took Princess An Ya’s pulse. Afterward, I also took Miss Ling’s pulse. Miss Ling was in a dazed state at the time — when I rested my fingers on her wrist, she went pale in an instant, her lips moved, and she vomited on the spot.”
“This official realized something was amiss and inquired as to the cause. Miss Ling was reluctant to say at first, but eventually disclosed the condition. Such an ailment is vanishingly rare in this world. Having studied medicine for many years, this official had never heard of such a strange disease and was at a loss as to how to treat it.”
“Miss Ling also entreated this official to keep her secret, so this official has never mentioned it to anyone. This official had not expected Your Majesty to ask about it today, and naturally would not dare to conceal it.”
…
This account matched exactly what Ling Jingshu had said earlier.
It would seem that Ling Jingshu had indeed not lied.
Or… there was another possibility. Ling Jingshu and Wei Yan had already reached an understanding beforehand and had arranged this account in advance, so that no matter who asked, neither would slip up.
Empress Xu’s gaze shifted, sliding over Wei Yan’s composed and handsome face before coming to rest on Ling Jingshu’s slightly pallid pretty face.
A suffocating, heavy silence filled the bedchamber.
After a moment, Empress Xu finally broke it with unhurried speech: “Hearing what Imperial Physician Wei says — Miss Ling’s strange ailment is indeed real?”
A trace of bitterness surfaced at the corner of Ling Jingshu’s lips. “Such a matter — how would this commoner girl dare to lie about it?”
Wei Yan stepped forward, cupping his hands in a bow: “Your Majesty, every word this official has spoken is the truth. There is no falsehood.”
Empress Xu felt somewhat displeased within, smiling with an expression that was not quite a smile: “Imperial Physician Wei is truly benevolent, with exceptional care and consideration for his patients. Since Miss Ling suffers from this strange ailment, Imperial Physician Wei must devote more thought to curing her.”
The faint undercurrent of sourness and resentment in her tone grated on Ling Jingshu unbearably.
Empress Xu was the mother of the realm, revered throughout the land — her daughter Princess Changping was roughly the same age as Wei Yan, and by age alone, the Empress could easily pass as Wei Yan’s mother — yet she had the audacity to covet Wei Yan. As the saying goes, like mother like daughter: Princess Changping’s wanton and unrestrained behavior was an inheritance straight from Empress Xu.
Wei Yan had served in the palace for many years and had dealt with Empress Xu more than once or twice. As though he had heard nothing beneath her words, he replied mildly: “This official has never encountered such a condition before and is truly at a loss — only able to prescribe mild remedies to maintain her health. I am afraid there is little chance of achieving a cure, and I fear I will disappoint Your Majesty’s kind concern.”
Empress Xu pressed further, step by step: “Regardless, a try must be made. Very well — as it happens, this palace has some time today. You shall take Miss Ling’s pulse right here before this palace.”
At these words, both Wei Yan’s and Ling Jingshu’s expressions shifted ever so slightly.
…
What a vicious and calculating Empress Xu!
After all this exchange of words, she still refused to believe them entirely. She would not be satisfied until she had seen it with her own eyes.
This was nothing short of humiliating Ling Jingshu to her face.
A surge of blazing fury rose in Wei Yan’s chest.
In ordinary times, he had to be on his guard around Empress Xu — but now she had dragged Ling Jingshu into this as well. That made him even angrier than any insult directed at himself.
Ling Jingshu was still a young girl of only fifteen or sixteen — the most beautiful and lovely age, like a bud on the verge of blooming, deserving of care and tenderness. To take her pulse in front of Empress Xu could only have one result.
How was this any different from tearing open her scars with one’s bare hands?
No. He absolutely could not stand by and watch Ling Jingshu be humiliated.
“Your Majesty, please pardon this official’s presumption —”
“I thank Your Majesty for your kind consideration.” An unexpected voice cut Wei Yan off. “Then please, Imperial Physician Wei, take my pulse once more.”
Wei Yan’s heart lurched. He turned sharply toward Ling Jingshu.
Ling Jingshu raised her eyes toward him as well: “I shall trouble Imperial Physician Wei.”
Since entering Jiaofang Hall, this was the first time the two of them had met each other’s gaze directly.
Those bright, beautiful eyes, clear as autumn waters, were as calm and composed as ever. As though she could sense the anger in his heart, her gaze carried a faint, silent plea.
Do not act rashly.
The deeply suspicious Empress Xu wanted to witness this with her own eyes — then let her watch. Only in this way could her suspicions be set to rest, and only then could both their lives be truly preserved.
An indescribable ache welled up in Wei Yan’s heart.
He was truly useless and cowardly. He had not only failed to protect her — he had let her fall into a predicament like this.
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