The Taiji Hall was heavily guarded. Just as Xiao Cui attempted to follow inside, she was stopped by the guards. Another palace maid serving in the hall came forward to support Liu Chan by the arm, guiding her all the way to the Imperial Concubine Couch in the side chamber.
By then, Royal Physician Wang from the Imperial Hospital had already arrived with his medical kit.
He had followed the eunuch in such haste that he was drenched in sweat. After entering, he hastily paid his respects before urgently asking, “Which noble consort is feeling unwell?”
The young eunuch had dragged him along at a half-run, muttering incoherently without a clear explanation.
He nearly shook this old bones apart.
“She has a sprained ankle. Examine her,” Xiao Lin commanded.
Without time to ponder, Royal Physician Wang promptly acknowledged the order. When he lifted his head and saw Liu Chan’s face, he froze momentarily.
He was somewhat uncertain… which newly favored lady was this?
It wasn’t that he would be at fault for failing to recognize an imperial consort, but rather that, holding the highest position in the Imperial Hospital, aside from regularly checking the Emperor’s pulse or occasionally treating Jing Guifei or Consort Zhao, the other palace consorts were usually attended to by junior physicians.
“Miss Liu, you’ll need to remove your shoes and socks,” Huang Jiu reminded with a smile.
He intentionally clarified to prevent Royal Physician Wang from misunderstanding, while also hinting to Liu Chan about the next step.
Liu Chan’s delicate face flushed red.
She looked up at Xiao Lin and whispered, “Your Majesty, men and women should maintain proper boundaries…”
How could a woman casually remove her shoes and socks, revealing her fair feet, in front of a man?
Xiao Lin couldn’t help but glance at her once more.
He was now certain that this young woman truly kept her distance from him. Far from attempting to seduce him like other women, she probably wouldn’t even accept an opportunity if he offered it.
It was rare to encounter a woman unmoved by the palace’s luxuries and honors.
Xiao Lin gave a noncommittal hum, turned, and left for the small study in the adjacent side chamber, where he picked up a book and browsed casually.
Yet, after flipping through several pages, he still hadn’t heard the cries of pain he expected from the woman.
It seemed the injury wasn’t serious.
Despite this thought, Xiao Lin unconsciously set down the book and stepped to the other side, where he had a clear view of the Imperial Concubine Couch where Liu Chan rested.
With just one glance, Xiao Lin frowned.
The young girl’s ankle in the distance was severely swollen and crimson, clearly indicating a serious injury. As Royal Physician Wang pressed on it, her hands gripped the edge of the couch so tightly that her veins bulged faintly. His gaze traveled upward to find her almond-shaped eyes glistening with unshed tears, a single teardrop clinging to her lashes, poised to fall. She was evidently in extreme pain.
Yet, she stubbornly refused to make a sound.
Royal Physician Wang quickly confirmed that it was a ligament sprain and instructed her to rest completely for at least a month, avoiding any movement, lest it develop into a chronic injury.
Liu Chan took out a handkerchief, swiftly wiping away her tears. A trace of worry flickered in her eyes. “Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s birthday is in two days… Could you prescribe some medicine that will help me recover quickly?”
Before Royal Physician Wang could respond, Xiao Lin approached.
Xiao Lin said coldly, “Even for the Empress Dowager’s birthday, you need not move about. When the time comes, I… will have your elder sister make the necessary arrangements for you.”
Liu Chan’s small face showed a hint of dejection. “Yes.”
“Prescribe some high-quality topical ointment for her,” Xiao Lin ordered.
Royal Physician Wang immediately acknowledged the command. He could roughly guess Liu Chan’s identity, though he remained curious about her relationship with the Emperor.
His medicine chest did contain a commonly used injury ointment. He took it out and handed it to the palace maid beside him, “This ointment reduces swelling, but it has a thick consistency and requires patience to spread gradually.”
After a moment’s thought, he addressed Xiao Lin, “Later, I’ll have someone deliver herbal medicine for foot soaking. The swelling should completely subside within three days, but the rest will depend on Miss Liu’s gradual recovery.”
After Xiao Lin nodded, Royal Physician Wang turned and left.
By now, Liu Chan was flushed with embarrassment, repeatedly tugging at her skirt in an attempt to cover her exposed fair feet.
The palace maid approached with the ointment, “Let this servant apply it for you.”
Liu Chan quickly reached out, “I’ll do it myself.”
She scooped a small amount of ointment and carefully applied it to her red and swollen instep, moving with extreme caution. Occasionally, she would gently bite her lip, as if enduring pain.
The pain was indeed quite severe, and soon fine beads of sweat appeared on Liu Chan’s forehead.
Xiao Lin, standing nearby, couldn’t help but glance at her a few more times.
Perhaps it was his preconceived notion that women should weep pitifully when injured, or perhaps because women around him always tried desperately to gain his affection or sympathy – but this one before him… she was different.
When his gaze fell upon the maiden’s fair feet, for some reason, his heart stirred with an inexplicable itch.
“I heard from Huang Jiu that the Liu family’s daughters enjoy an excellent reputation in the capital,” Xiao Lin started a conversation.
Liu Chan thought to herself that since the Liu family was the maternal family of the Empress Dowager, who would dare speak ill of Liu daughters outside?
Privately, there was no shortage of rivalry among the Liu family’s young women.
Though thinking this, Liu Chan nodded, “Firstly, the matriarch maintains strict discipline, and secondly, all us sisters wish to secure good marriages in the future.”
This was indeed true – reputation, especially for unmarried maidens, was of utmost importance.
No matter what happened behind closed doors, they always maintained an appearance of virtue and sensibility on the surface.
“I heard you’re already engaged?” Xiao Lin asked as if making casual conversation. “When is the wedding?”
“In just over two months,” Liu Chan replied with a hint of shyness.
“Do you like him?” Xiao Lin pressed.
Liu Chan revealed the joy of a maiden soon to be married.
“Of course I like him. He treats me extremely well,” she said softly. “Just thinking about the upcoming wedding fills me with anticipation.”
Xiao Lin looked up at her.
Treats her extremely well?
He remembered Huang Jiu saying that the second son of Anyang Marquis Manor frequented brothels daily, not to mention spending all his time cockfighting and dog-walking in the streets – a complete profligate scoundrel.
This innocent young maiden was likely to be deceived by a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Liu Chan cupped her cheeks, looking utterly expectant. “I told him I wanted one love for a lifetime, and he promised me.”
One love for a lifetime?
Xiao Lin felt as if a feather had brushed against his heart, creating a tingling itch. The innocent maiden before him seemed to slowly awaken long-buried feelings of excitement.
Before he could ponder further, he saw Liu Chan attempting to stand up.
Perhaps her legs had gone numb – she hopped twice on one foot, but when trying to sit back down, she missed her step and stumbled forward.
Xiao Lin instinctively moved to catch her, but his hands closed on empty air as she crashed directly into his chest.
Liu Chan immediately let out a pained “Ah!” before quickly pulling back, raising her hands to cover her delicate nose tip.
Her nose, struck by Xiao Lin’s chest, throbbed with a sharp, aching pain, and tears immediately streamed down her face.
“Let me see,” Xiao Lin instinctively stepped forward, gently pulling her hands away to examine her closely.
Liu Chan’s originally fair nose was now flushed bright red, her two small hands tightly covering it, looking utterly pitiful.
“It hurts so much…”
The girl’s voice was soft and delicate, her brows slightly furrowed as she gazed at him with tear-filled eyes.
Xiao Lin stood so close he could even catch the faint, unique fragrance emanating from her.
His breath hitched, and he nearly had a physical reaction!
Completely unaware, Liu Chan extended a pale, delicate hand to push against his chest, whining in a spoiled tone, “Brother-in-law, you’re pressing on my foot.”
Xiao Lin finally snapped back to reality. He abruptly straightened up and stood firmly, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face.
She saw him as her brother-in-law, but he…