The Crown Grandson’s momentary lapse of composure didn’t escape Wei Yan’s notice.
Wei Yan glanced at the Crown Grandson without changing his expression, then suddenly spoke up. “Your Highness will soon be married. This humble subject hasn’t yet had the chance to offer congratulations!”
The Crown Grandson came back to his senses, suppressing the urge to give a cold snort, and replied evenly, “A grown man should marry, just as a grown woman should wed. I’m no longer young, so marrying is simply natural. But as for you, Imperial Physician Wei, having remained alone all these years with no one close by your side to care for you—that’s truly regrettable.”
“Lady Jieyu in the palace worries about this all day long. Even I, watching from the outside, feel anxious on your behalf, Imperial Physician Wei.”
“Come to think of it, once this year passes, you’ll be twenty-five, won’t you, Imperial Physician Wei? At that age, if you still don’t marry, it really won’t do.”
Hmph! Let’s see how Wei Yan would answer this question in front of Ling Jingshu’s father and brother!
Ling Wuye pricked up his ears, listening intently.
This Imperial Physician Wei was highly skilled in medicine and remarkably handsome; with his looks and character, marrying the daughter of some official would have posed no difficulty at all. Yet he had never taken a wife! Word had it that he’d once sworn an oath to devote his entire life to the study of medicine, never to marry.
What an odd fellow!
He could perfectly well study medicine while also taking a wife and concubines!
Wei Yan seemed to see through the dark intentions in the Crown Grandson’s mind, and answered with a smile, skillfully sidestepping the point. “I thank Your Highness for caring so much about me. However, I have no intention of starting a family at this time.”
The Crown Grandson’s lips curled into something between a smile and a smirk. “Oh? Could it be that you still haven’t met the woman of your heart, Imperial Physician Wei? What a pity that would be. I had actually been thinking that if you had a woman in mind, I would personally act as matchmaker and help see the match through.”
Wei Yan smiled calmly and composedly. “Matters of marriage between a man and a woman can’t be forced. If fate hasn’t arrived yet, then living alone in carefree ease suits me fine. And if fate does arrive, things will naturally fall into place, and we’ll fly side by side like a pair of birds. I leave it all to fate.”
The answer was smooth and thorough, without a single loophole.
Having failed to gain the upper hand verbally, and seeing the smile on Wei Yan’s face that appeared casual but was clearly knowing, the Crown Grandson felt a touch of gloom and irritation.
Suddenly, everything seemed dull and tasteless, and he lost all interest in talking further.
“I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t keep you any longer.”
It was, in effect, a dismissal in disguise.
What a temper—truly as changeable as the weather! Just a moment ago everything had been fine. Why had he suddenly turned cold and sent them away?
Ling Wuye felt both surprised and somewhat put out, but didn’t dare show it. He forced a smile and took his leave.
Wei Yan didn’t linger either, and not long after Ling Wuye and his son left, he too departed from the Crown Prince’s residence.
···
Back at the residence, after eating lunch, Ling Wuye returned to his own courtyard to rest.
Ling Jingshu asked Ling Xiao quietly, “Father doesn’t seem to be in a good mood. Did something unpleasant happen at the Crown Prince’s residence today?”
Ling Xiao thought for a moment and replied, “Some things did happen, but they were all good things—nothing unpleasant, I’d say.”
As he spoke, he told her about how Wei Yan had refused the silver notes but instead made a strange request. “…Never mind Father—even I was surprised to hear it. I have no idea what Imperial Physician Wei actually wants Father’s help with, since he won’t say it outright.”
Ling Jingshu’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat, and a vague thought flashed through her mind. But she quickly suppressed this thought, which shouldn’t have arisen at all.
No, it couldn’t be!
No one understood better than Wei Yan how difficult her illness was to treat. Besides, with Empress Xu watching like a hawk nearby, Wei Yan had remained alone all this time—both to protect himself and because he didn’t want to implicate anyone else.
As for his feelings toward her… even if he had some fondness for her, surely he wouldn’t entertain any further thoughts!
Completely unaware of Ling Jingshu’s thoughts, Ling Xiao continued with a smile, “After the acupuncture session today, the Crown Grandson also came specially to visit and ask about my eye condition.”
At the mention of the Crown Grandson, Ling Jingshu’s tone grew slightly cool. “Oh? What did you tell him?”
Ling Xiao recounted the scene in full. His memory was excellent, and he even remembered the conversation between the Crown Grandson and Wei Yan clearly.
As Ling Jingshu listened, she suddenly felt a strange discomfort.
The two of them, with all their veiled remarks, almost sounded as if they were vying for someone’s affection…
“Wait! Father’s bad mood—could it be because of the Crown Grandson?” Ling Xiao suddenly frowned. “The Crown Grandson had us leave first, and on the carriage ride back, Father kept a sour face the whole way without saying a word.”
Ling Jingshu thought it over for a moment and understood at once, letting out a soft snort despite herself.
That little scheme of Ling Wuye’s!
Forget it! It wasn’t worth bothering with him over.
Ling Jingshu looked at Ling Xiao with concern. “Imperial Physician Wei told you to remove the cotton bandages once you got back and that you don’t need the ointment anymore, didn’t he?”
Ling Xiao laughed and gave an affirmative hum.
Ling Jingshu said at once, “I’ll take off the bandages for you right now.”
···
After Ling Xiao sat down, Ling Jingshu went to his side and gently removed the cotton bandages. Then, dipping a towel in warm water, she carefully and tenderly wiped the ointment from his eyes, bit by bit.
“A’Xiao, you can open your eyes now,” Ling Jingshu said softly.
Ling Xiao made a sound of agreement and slowly opened his eyes.
A beam of light struck his eyes abruptly.
Ling Xiao felt some discomfort and instinctively closed his eyes again. After a moment, he slowly opened them once more. At first he squinted, and only after adjusting to the soft light did he open his eyes fully.
Everything around him entered his field of vision in a blur.
It was as if seen through a layer of mist, hazy and unclear—he could only make out rough outlines.
Ling Xiao gazed hungrily at everything within his sight, his heart swelling with an excitement beyond words.
“A’Xiao,” Ling Jingshu’s voice sounded by his ear again, “can you see me?”
Ling Xiao turned his head slightly and stared steadily at Ling Jingshu’s pretty face. It was as though her face were veiled behind a thin gauze; her delicate features still weren’t clear to him.
But no matter what, he could now see her.
Tears glistened in Ling Xiao’s eyes, and his voice grew choked. “A’Shu, I can see you…”
He could finally see!
For more than eight years, he had lived in darkness, unable to see anything, needing someone to support him just to walk, and even needing to be fed at mealtimes. With no future and no hope, he had lived day after day in a daze, like a useless cripple.
If not for A’Shu’s encouragement, if she hadn’t insisted on bringing him to the capital to seek treatment, his eyes would never have recovered, and this moment would never have come…
“A’Shu, I can see!” Tears of joy slid from the corners of his eyes, and soon there were more and more of them. Before long, Ling Xiao burst into loud sobs. “A’Shu, I can really see now!”
Tears burst from Ling Jingshu’s eyes as well, and trembling, she reached out and embraced Ling Xiao. “A’Xiao… you can see! That’s wonderful!”
The wish she’d held since her rebirth had finally come true.
Ling Xiao’s eyes had been restored!
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