What truly was the hidden nature of this medicinal liquid?
Wei Yan had not explained it. Ling Jingshu had not pressed him. She simply nodded gravely: “Don’t worry. I know the weight of this matter and will not let anyone discover it.”
Wei Yan considered for a moment, then said softly: “You should also prepare yourself for the worst. If it truly is discovered and there is no way to conceal it, then give me up. Say that I exploited the gratitude you owed me and coerced you into this. Whatever happens, the most important thing above all else is to keep yourself safe.”
Ling Jingshu’s brow furrowed slightly. She was about to speak when Wei Yan pressed on quickly: “You have been in the palace only about three months. You spend your days in Jiaofang Palace tending to flowers — you have barely set foot outside it. Your every move is under Empress Xu’s watchful eye. Empress Xu did not summon you into the palace with any kind or benevolent intent. No matter how well you conduct yourself, you will never become one of Empress Xu’s trusted intimates.”
“As for me — you need not worry. I have spent many years in the palace, and I have built my own connections in the shadows. Even within Jiaofang Palace, I can pass messages to whoever I need without Empress Xu ever catching wind of it. And I have His Majesty and my elder sister to stand behind me. There is nothing Empress Xu can do against me.”
“So if the time comes when it truly matters, do not hesitate for even a moment. Lay everything at my feet. Preserve your own life first, and then wait for me to come and get you out.”
Wei Yan spoke with great gravity and sincerity.
Ling Jingshu did not make any pretense of being indifferent to her own safety. She nodded in agreement without delay.
Only then did Wei Yan let out a quiet breath of relief. He lowered his voice further and gave her the name of a eunuch: “If something urgent arises, send Bai Yu to find him. He will get word to me.”
Ling Jingshu repeated the name several times in her mind, committing it firmly to memory.
Alone together — time was precious and rare.
Wei Yan had said everything that needed to be said, and now he ought to leave. But he could not bring himself to move. His gaze lingered on her face, unwilling to pull away.
If only time could stop here, just like this.
Wei Yan suppressed a quiet sigh and steeled himself: “All I can say is — take good care of yourself. I should not stay here any longer. I am leaving now.”
Ling Jingshu felt a reluctance in her heart that she could not quite name, and gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.
Since coming to the palace, the two of them had in fact been closer in proximity than before — yet their opportunities for private conversation had become far fewer.
After this, she did not know when next they might have a chance to speak alone like this.
……
After Wei Yan had gone, Bai Yu came quickly into the peony courtyard and explained in a low voice: “Just now, when this servant was moving the potted peonies outside, Imperial Physician Wei arrived. He told this servant and Tian Dong to stand guard outside and keep watch, saying he had something to speak with Miss about privately. So this servant agreed.”
“And fortunately this place is secluded and quiet, and almost no one comes here. Imperial Physician Wei came and went — it should not have been noticed by anyone.”
She then ventured carefully: “Miss, did Imperial Physician Wei come especially to see you about your condition?”
Ling Jingshu maintained a perfectly composed expression and nodded: “Yes — he wished to continue prescribing medicine for me, but I declined his offer tactfully. After all, we are in the palace. If I were to brew and drink medicine every day, it would certainly not go unnoticed by others — it would attract far too much attention.”
Bai Yu suspected nothing, and let out a sigh: “That is true enough. The medicine will just have to wait.”
“Also — what happened with Imperial Physician Wei coming to see me today, please do not mention it to Qiao Yun.” Ling Jingshu said quietly.
Bai Yu agreed with a nod.
After they had finished attending to all the work in the peony courtyard, the day was growing late.
Ling Jingshu and Bai Yu had been moving flower pots for half the afternoon, and were both sweaty and thoroughly exhausted.
Qiao Yun came to meet them with a smile: “Miss, you and Bai Yu must be both tired and worn out. I fetched two buckets of hot water from the kitchen and have already mixed them with cold water — go and take a bath and soak away some of the fatigue!”
Qiao Yun usually accompanied Ling Jingshu to the peony courtyard each day. Every few days she would disappear for an afternoon, as she had today — very likely slipping away to covertly relay messages to whomever the palace contacts were in order to pass information to the outside.
Ling Jingshu never asked about this, and smiled in response: “You are so thoughtful. I was just thinking about a bath!”
Qiao Yun turned to Bai Yu with a smile as well: “You go back to your room and wash up too. I will attend to Miss.”
Bai Yu caught a whiff of her own perspiration and did not stand on ceremony with Qiao Yun: “All right, then.”
……
Qiao Yun came forward and helped Ling Jingshu change her clothes.
The embroidered pouch containing the porcelain vial was tucked into the hidden inner pocket of her dress.
As Qiao Yun set aside the garments, she quite naturally retrieved the pouch first, and remarked casually with a smile: “Miss, what have you got in your pouch today? It seems just slightly heavier than usual.”
And the feel of it was a little unusual as well.
The soft embroidered pouch seemed to contain something shaped like a bottle.
Ling Jingshu’s heart gave a sudden lurch, but not a trace of it showed on her face. She replied with an offhand air: “I go to the peony courtyard every day and worry about getting sunburned — so I brought along a small vial of scented lotion to apply to my face and arms.”
Vanity was in a woman’s nature.
No matter how attentive and perceptive Qiao Yun was, she would never have imagined the intricate and hidden significance of this. She smiled at the reply: “We maids have been far too careless until now. We should have reminded Miss long ago to bring along some scented lotion.”
As she spoke, she set the embroidered pouch down on the table.
Only then did Ling Jingshu release a quiet, imperceptible breath of relief. She made a private note to herself that she must store the porcelain vial somewhere more secure from now on.
Once her clothes were removed, she settled into the warm water and soaked for a while, sighing with quiet, comfortable contentment.
Qiao Yun moved with gentle, careful hands — washing Ling Jingshu’s long hair, helping her dry off and change into a fresh, clean set of clothes, then toweling her hair dry.
When all this was done, Qiao Yun produced a slender, small bamboo tube from within her sleeve and pressed it into Ling Jingshu’s hand.
Inside the bamboo tube was a tightly rolled slip of paper.
Ling Jingshu blinked in surprise and looked up at Qiao Yun: “What is this?”
Qiao Yun answered respectfully: “His Highness commanded this to be passed to Miss. He asks that after Miss has read it, she burn the letter to prevent any future trouble.”
With that, she withdrew.
Ling Jingshu held the bamboo tube in her hands, a complex and indescribable feeling rising in her heart.
Today was his wedding day. He was the groom at the center of all eyes, in resplendent glory, taking a bride for his wife… And yet on this day of all days, he had arranged for someone to deliver a letter to her here in the palace?
The bamboo tube was light and insubstantial. And yet, held in her hand, it carried a strange and inexplicable weight.
Ling Jingshu hesitated for a long time before at last drawing the rolled paper from the tube and opening it.
On the thin slip of paper, there were only a few brief lines. The handwriting was strong and forceful, yet slightly unsteady. Clearly, his heart had not been at peace when he wrote these words.
Ling Jingshu, I am being married today. I am taking my cousin Miss Jiang as my wife. The woman I truly care for is you. The person I wished to marry was you. But fate has not been on my side, and the one who has become my wife is another — not you.
You were the one who refused me.
Now, you stand by and watch as I marry someone else. Do you feel any regret? Even the smallest amount?
Ling Jingshu stared at the paper in silence for a long moment, then brought it toward the flame of a candle.
The paper burned swiftly, completely, leaving nothing but a scattering of ash on the floor — as though it had never existed at all.