Before the sourness in Wei Yan’s heart could make itself known, Ling Jingshu’s soft voice came again: “Wei Yan, there is something I wish to ask you. Can you tell me the truth?”
The restless unease in Wei Yan’s heart immediately settled, and rather than answering, he asked in return: “What is it you wish to ask?”
His very reaction only confirmed the suspicion already forming in Ling Jingshu’s mind.
He was definitely concealing something important from her!
“Did you go to see the Crown Grandson?” Ling Jingshu fixed her gaze on Wei Yan, watching closely for any change in his expression: “What did you say to him?”
Unfortunately, Wei Yan’s expression remained utterly unchanged — exceptionally composed, without a trace of anything out of the ordinary: “How do you know I went to see the Crown Grandson?”
Ling Jingshu was somewhat displeased: “You are deflecting again. You still have not answered my question.”
There was an unconscious hint of a sulk in her tone.
It was the manner she showed only when her guard and wariness were lowered — toward those she was familiar with and close to.
Wei Yan let out a helpless sigh: “All right, do not be angry — I was in the wrong. I will answer your question first. Yes, I did indeed go to find the Crown Grandson. And furthermore, I told him about your condition.”
“Do not be angry just yet. I had my reasons for doing so. Before this, you had been concealing your condition from everyone. Both the Crown Grandson and Prince Yan each had designs on you, yet neither of them would take you as his principal consort. Knowing your pride, you would certainly not be willing to be a concubine either. So I felt it would be best to take this opportunity to quietly inform the Crown Grandson of your illness, to put an end to his intentions — and spare you from future worry.”
“As for Prince Yan’s side — with Empress Xu involved, there is no need to worry about that.”
Of course, he also had his own selfish reasons.
For as long as her condition remained uncured, she could not be married off. No matter how overwhelming the power and influence of the Crown Grandson and Prince Yan, they could hardly compel a young woman who could not bear to be near any man. Could they?
This also bought him a great deal of time. Time enough to do many things…
“Very well — now it is your turn to answer my question. How did you come to know that I had gone to see the Crown Grandson?” Wei Yan appeared casual, but inwardly his heart was quietly on alert.
What had been said between him and the Crown Grandson in the private chamber that night — surely the Crown Grandson would not have told Ling Jingshu everything?
No, that was absolutely impossible.
A man understands a man’s mind best. To do another’s bidding in such a matter — the Crown Grandson would never consent to that.
A rapid succession of thoughts flashed through Wei Yan’s mind, yet not a trace of it showed on his face.
Ling Jingshu looked steadily at Wei Yan and said mildly: “On the day of the Third Miss Jiang’s coming-of-age ceremony, I accompanied Great Aunt and the others to attend as guests. The Crown Grandson had someone come to find me, and said certain things that were not entirely appropriate.”
Not entirely appropriate?
What did that mean?
What had the Crown Grandson said to her?
Wei Yan’s brow unknowingly knitted as he probed carefully: “What did he say to you?”
The light in Ling Jingshu’s eyes shifted: “He said what needed to be said. When I heard it, I was greatly startled, and truly found it difficult to believe. So today, upon seeing you, I made a point of asking.”
If the Crown Grandson had truly told her everything, she would have kept it buried in her heart and never spoken of it. The way she was now so solemnly and formally raising the question betrayed the fact that she was bluffing — making a show of knowing more than she did.
She was trying to trick him!
The heart Wei Yan had held so tensely gently settled back into place. He let out a deliberately troubled sigh: “Since the Crown Grandson has told you everything, I will not conceal it from you either. What the Crown Grandson said is all true.”
Ling Jingshu: “……”
Infuriating, sly, feigning-ignorance Wei Yan!
Ling Jingshu stared back with wide, bright eyes, two tiny flames flickering in their depths.
Wei Yan returned the look with an expression of complete innocence.
After a long moment, Ling Jingshu finally spat out a few words with ill-concealed resentment: “Wei Yan. Stop pretending you do not understand.”
Wei Yan looked at her flushed, indignant face and could not help feeling an urge to laugh. He managed to squeeze out an expression of bewilderment: “What do you mean by those words? How am I pretending?”
Ling Jingshu could not account for the extra flush of indignation and embarrassment that rose within her. She pursed her lips with a huff and turned her head stubbornly away: “Fine! If you do not wish to say, I will not ask. It was none of my business to begin with — I was being presumptuous.”
She was worried about him. That must be why she pressed so persistently for answers — because she had heard a fragment of something and her heart had been in turmoil ever since.
Looking at Ling Jingshu as she nursed her pique with her face taut, something inside Wei Yan suddenly grew soft and warm, and his voice dropped to a low, gentle tone: “A’Shu, I know you are concerned about me. So when you caught wind of something, you were unsettled — that is why you made a point of asking me.”
“Who said I am concerned about you!” Ling Jingshu had not yet finished her performance, and her voice was muffled: “I was simply asking on a whim out of boredom.”
“Yes yes, it is all my fault regardless.” Wei Yan answered good-naturedly: “I should not have provoked you just now. However, what I discussed with the Crown Grandson involves matters of great gravity — one careless step could bring ruin to an entire clan. My reason for not telling you is that I do not wish you to spend your days fretting over it. You are still a young woman of a sheltered household — you ought to be living a peaceful and leisurely life.”
His voice was low and gentle, as though coaxing a child throwing a tantrum.
Ling Jingshu calmed somewhat, then suddenly became aware that she was behaving in a way that felt strangely out of place. Though she and Wei Yan had grown somewhat familiar, it had not reached the point where she could freely take her temper out on him.
Moreover, Wei Yan had been a benefactor to both her and her brother. How could she take advantage of his indulgence and behave so willfully?
Ling Jingshu drew a deep breath, turned back to face him, and offered an apologetic smile: “I am sorry — I was impulsive and willful just now, and caused you to be subjected to my temper needlessly. I offer you my sincere apology — please do not take it to heart.”
The smile was earnest and genuine, her eyes full of remorse.
Yet the young woman who had just revealed her true nature receded in an instant, and the mask she habitually wore returned — polite, yet tinged with a careful distance.
The warmth and ease of moments before seemed almost an illusion.
Wei Yan quietly sighed inwardly, and reined in the warmth and indulgence on his own face, replacing it with a composed and temperate expression: “I did not take it to heart. Do not dwell on it yourself either.”
In the end, he still did not reveal the truth of the matter.
She had thought too highly of herself — mistakenly believing she held a special place in his heart, which had given rise to a presumptuous impulse to pry into his secrets…
Ling Jingshu could not tell whether what she felt was disappointment or relief. She reached out to take the prescription that had long since dried, and said with a smile: “I have been here quite a while now, and there are still many patients outside waiting for you to see them — I will not take up any more of your time.”
Wei Yan smiled and nodded, adding a reminder: “On the first of next month, do not forget to come to Huichun Hall again.”
Ling Jingshu assented, then turned and departed.
He watched Ling Jingshu’s figure pass through the door and disappear from sight. The smile on Wei Yan’s face gradually faded, and all the complex emotions within him condensed in the depths of his eyes. After a long moment, they dissolved into a sigh.
She did not say so, but she must surely be disappointed.
Yet he would rather she be disappointed now than spend her days consumed by worry.
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