Doctor Shen Yi’an, like Granny Ru, was a renowned physician of the time and had frequently treated members of the Lin family, thus earning Lin Fu’s deep trust.
Shen Yi’an wiped the sweat from his forehead and advised with utmost tact: “Prefect, I know how deeply you care for your son. But this common cold is truly not a serious illness and won’t require much silver to treat.”
He couldn’t understand why the Lin family was making such a fuss over Lin Chaoyu contracting a mere cold.
They had urgently summoned him from the northern part of the city early in the morning, making him think Young Master Lin had contracted some serious illness that required his personal attention.
Only after rushing over did he learn that Lin Chaoyu was suffering from nothing more than an ordinary cold.
He was truly exasperated with the Lin family. Any physician in the southern city could treat a simple cold—why did they have to summon him from so far away?
This was nothing but trouble-making.
Yet Lin Fu didn’t find this exaggerated in the slightest.
In his eyes, Lin Chaoyu was the hope of the Lin family. Even injuring a single finger would be a major event for the Lins.
He was completely different from that ill-omened Lin Xianyu.
Perhaps because early autumn was approaching, the wind carried a chill today.
Youen had secretly slipped back to the study room, wrapped himself in a crane cloak, and returned to the study hall to continue yawning.
Jiang Yunnan hadn’t originally felt the cold, but seeing Youen add another layer of clothing, he suddenly and inexplicably began to feel chilly too, and quietly ran back to the study room.
On his way to the study room, he bumped into someone.
This person was extremely thin and frail, with a complexion that looked quite poor.
Yet their features were so delicate that one might even mistake them for not being male.
In fact, they indeed were not male.
Unwilling to return to the Lin family, Lin Xianyu had no choice but to find a way to make a living for herself.
During her conversations with Youen over the past few days, she had incidentally learned about the existence of Huai Shu Academy in the city.
After some investigation, she discovered that this place not only provided food and accommodation but also offered education and the opportunity to take imperial examinations.
Thus, she decided to disguise herself as a man and enter the academy.
Little did she expect that upon entering the academy, she would be knocked down by someone.
Her body hadn’t fully recovered yet, and being bumped like this caused some of her wounds to reopen, staining her originally pristine long gown with several streaks of glaring red.
Seeing blood flowing from her body, Jiang Yunnan instantly panicked.
Could this person be trying to scam him? He had only bumped into her accidentally—even the most delicate person shouldn’t bleed so easily.
“Ahem, young master, I’m truly sorry. I was in a bit of a hurry and didn’t see you.”
Lin Xianyu didn’t speak, merely covering her wound with her hand, her expression appearing extremely pained.
Seeing this, Jiang Yunnan grew even more flustered.
“Young master, I really didn’t mean it. Let me take you to the academy’s medical clinic right away.”
As he spoke, he moved to help her up.
Lin Xianyu slapped his hand away and struggled to stand up on her own.
She never said a word to Jiang Yunnan, preparing to leave as soon as she was on her feet.
Jiang Yunnan quickly followed, cautiously walking beside her, his hands hovering about a palm’s distance from Lin Xianyu, afraid she might fall again.
“Young master, I should still take you to the medical clinic. You’re bleeding—if you don’t get it bandaged, what if it gets infected?”Lin Xianyu was growing weary of his nagging. She furrowed her brow, halted her steps, and looked at Jiang Yunnan. “No need to trouble yourself. I’m fine.”
Even if she weren’t, she couldn’t possibly visit a physician at this moment.
What if the doctor discovered she was a woman? That would be disastrous.
So, no matter how much it hurt, she had to endure it.
She rummaged through her bundle, pulled out a black outer robe, hastily draped it over herself, and continued toward Guangye Hall.
Jiang Yunnan had no choice. Unable to persuade her and worried she might encounter trouble along the way, he could only follow her closely.
Inside Guangye Hall, Zhu Huaishu was idly amusing himself with a cricket.
When someone entered, he didn’t bother to stand, remaining crouched on the ground, entirely absorbed in the insect.
Fortunately, Lu Ting was also present in Guangye Hall, so Lin Xianyu wasn’t left completely ignored.
As the two entered, Lu Ting spotted Jiang Yunnan first—the walking treasure trove.
Beaming with delight, he approached Jiang Yunnan and fawned, “Young Master Jiang, what brings you here at this hour? Is there something Lu can assist you with?”
Jiang Yunnan gestured toward Lin Xianyu. “I’m not here for anything. I just came with her.”
Only then did Lu Ting turn his attention to Lin Xianyu. “This young master seems unfamiliar.”
He didn’t look particularly wealthy.
But since he was a friend of Jiang Yunnan’s, Lu Ting knew he had to treat him with care.
“Might I ask what brings you to Guangye Hall today, young master?”
“To seek education.” With that, she retrieved a letter from her robe and handed it to Lu Ting. “This is a letter of recommendation from Master Shen Zhou.”
“Master Shen Zhou?!” Lu Ting exclaimed in astonishment, carefully accepting the letter.
He didn’t dare open it immediately, as if waiting for something.
Sure enough, within moments, Zhu Huaishu—who had been engrossed with the cricket—abandoned it upon hearing Shen Zhou’s name and hurried over to Lin Xianyu.
He took the letter from Lu Ting’s hands and eagerly unfolded it.
Though he already knew it was a recommendation letter, he was still thrilled to see its contents.
But as soon as he opened it, he found only six hastily written characters:
Arrange accommodations for him.
Beneath it was Shen Zhou’s signature.
This was the first time Lu Ting had seen a student present a recommendation letter from Master Shen Zhou to enter the Academy. He never imagined the esteemed master’s personal note would be so brief.
Truly, Shen Zhou was Shen Zhou.
“Master Shen is indeed sparing with his words,” Lu Ting marveled. Just then, he watched as Zhu Huaishu treated the note like a priceless treasure, carefully storing it in an embroidered box before turning to Lin Xianyu.
“How has Master Shen been lately?”
Lin Xianyu gave a slight nod. “He is well.”
Zhu Huaishu was overjoyed to hear this and decided to personally arrange accommodations for Lin Xianyu.
He assigned her a room with an excellent location and environment, instructing Lu Ting to furnish it properly and ensure she lacked for nothing.
Lin Xianyu was equally pleased.
Because this room would be hers alone.
After everything was settled, Lu Ting noticed Jiang Yunnan still following Lin Xianyu and pulled him aside. “Young Master Jiang, what is your relationship with this… person?”
He couldn’t contain his curiosity. If this individual could secure a recommendation from Master Shen Zhou, they surely couldn’t be an ordinary figure.
But he was dressed in a coarse cloth gown, with nothing of value from head to toe.
How could someone like this have come to know Mr. Shen?
Jiang Yunnan’s attention was entirely on Lin Xianyu, and he replied absentmindedly, “I have no connection with him. We just happened to meet on the road.”