Missed

After leaving the palace, Qi Lingheng did not take a carriage, but rode away on horseback.

A Fu chased after him, asking, "Your Prince, where are you going?"

Qi Lingheng said, "Take Master Li to the Lin Residence."

A Fu, of course, wanted to go with them. He got into the carriage and said to the driver, "Let's go, let's go."

The coachman also heard Qi Lingheng's words and drove the carriage along.

Lin Residence.

Lin Yunwan returned suddenly, and Lin Yunyi arrived after she had reached the backyard.

"Sister, why are you back today?"

The letter said he would come back when he had time, but he didn't expect it to be today.

Where is your mother?

Lin Yunwan couldn't wait to see her mother.

Lin Yunyi grabbed her hand and rushed into Madam Lin's Courtyard, chirping excitedly like a sparrow. "Mother is applying medicine, sister, Mother says she can see the light again!"

When Lin Yunwan rushed in, the maid was applying medicine to her mother's eyes.

"Is Yun Wan back?"

Madam Lin wanted to get out of bed.

Lin Yunwan pressed her down and said, "You should lie down."

Madam Lin grasped her hand and said with a smile, "Physician Li is coming to give me acupuncture, and it seems to be working. I can really see again." Although it's just a faint light, it's so much better than when I couldn't see anything for the past few years!

Lin Yunwan wept with joy.

But she dared not cry out loud, for fear of upsetting her mother.

Lin Yunyi patted Lin Yunwan's shoulder and whispered, "Sister, it's alright. Mother will be fine."

Lin Yunwan nodded.

Hearing the siblings whispering, Madam Lin smiled and asked, "What are you saying? Why can't I hear you?"

Lin Yunwan smiled and said, "I'll bring Chang Gong to visit you next time."

Madam Lin quickly asked, "Why didn't you bring him along? I'd like to see him."

"He's about to enter the Lu Clan School and is very busy. He'll have to wait until the next holiday to come see you."

Madam Lin nodded and said, "The young master's studies are the most important thing. I was just saying it casually. It's alright if he doesn't come."

Lin Yunwan was concerned about her mother's condition and carefully inquired about the things that Seventh Master Li had instructed her to do.

After listening for a while, she said, "Seventh Master Li is indeed formidable."

According to him, his mother will be able to see people before the end of this year!

Madam Lin, feeling somewhat guilty for burdening her children, said, "It's just that I've put you two through this."

Lin Yunyi was the one who worried most about family matters, since Lin Yunwan was, after all, a woman who had married out of the family.

Lin Yunyi over and said casually, "Mother, what's so difficult about this? It's your discomfort that's causing me distress."

Lin Yunwan felt even more guilty. "I have even less to ask for, Mother. I can do less than Yi-ge'er."

"You two siblings shouldn't say that."

After looking at the prescription, Lin Yunwan quickly came up with a plan in her mind.

She discussed with her mother, "There are a few precious medicinal herbs that are hard to buy even if you have money. Mother, as I mentioned before, I wanted to sell the shop in Zhongzhou. I brought the deed with me; let the steward of the household make the trip for me."

"Yun Wan, it's best if we part ways."

Madam Lin hesitated. She wanted to cure her daughter's eyes, but she didn't want her to spend her dowry.

Lin Yunwan said, "It's not all going towards buying you medicine. Didn't I say I was going to open a spice shop?" She tucked the blanket around her mother and lied, "I've actually discussed it all with Lady Guo, and she's made some preparations for me. If I change my mind now, I'll be breaking my promise."

"Oh well."

I can't help it Madam Lin said helplessly.

Lin Yunwan and Lin Yunyi went out together to give instructions to the Lin Family Steward.

She still trusted her own family, and she didn't want the Lu family to know the amount of money in her dowry.

"Old manager, the shop needs to be sold quickly. My mother urgently needs medicine; a lower price is fine."

The steward accepted the contract with both hands and said, "Don't worry, Great-Aunt, I know what I'm doing."

Lin Yunwan also reminded him, "Manager Luo manages the shop, mentioned to me before that he has a relative who is interested in taking over my shop. However, that was a few years ago, and I didn't want to sell my dowry at the time, so I didn't agree to it."

"If his relatives still have this idea when he goes to Zhongzhou this time, you might as well ask him first."

"They're an old acquaintance, so selling them will be much less troublesome."

The steward nodded and said, "I've got it all in mind. If you have no other instructions, Great-Aunt, I'll go pack my things now and come back as soon as possible."

"Go ahead."

Lin Yunyi also reminded him, "Please be very careful on the road; safety is the most important thing."

The manager smiled and agreed, then quickly left.

The siblings strolled leisurely, Lin Yunwan asked, "Why didn't you tell me that it was Seventh Master Li who was invited by Prince Huan?"

Lin Yunyi looked worried, but said like a little adult, "Elder Sister, Father's illness has already delayed your marriage, so Mother's eyes will naturally depend on me. I'm all grown up now, not as little as you were when you first got married."

Lin Yunwan smiled, "Why are you being so formal with your older sister?"

The usually lively Lin Yunyi silent. It wasn't that he was being distant; he just couldn't bear to see his sister suffer any more injustice.

Lin Yunwan wanted to ask him about his time at the Academy.

Lin Yunyi spoke first, saying, "Elder Sister, you don't need to worry about Mother's medicine. The shop in your dowry was left to you by Father and Mother. If you really want to do a spice business in the Capital, then go ahead and do it. I have my own way of treating Mother's eye disease."

Those medicines were quite expensive. Lin Yunwan asked him, "What's your idea? Tell me first, and I'll only entrust them to you if I'm comfortable with them."

Lin Yunyi refused to say, only saying that he had a solution.

Lin Yunwan then asked about his family's situation, as she didn't know how much silver the Lin Family currently had in their accounts.

Lin Yunyi was very familiar with the family's accounts and explained them to Lin Yunwan item by item.

"The clansmen have managed things quite well, so I won't interfere further, lest my uncles and elders think I'm meddling. However, the Lin Family should personally go and express our gratitude to Prince Huan, Old Madam Xia, and Seventh Master Li."

"You don't need to worry about Old Madam Xia. The Xia family is having Housewarming party soon. I'll take a gift from the Lin Family there. You should personally visit Prince Huan and Seventh Master Li."

"Elder Sister, I know everything. Mother has already given instructions."

Lin Yunwan was very gratified. Fortunately, she still had a younger brother at home. Otherwise, with her father gone and her mother's eyesight failing, who would support the family?

Lin Yunyi asked her to stay for dinner, "Elder Sister, please eat before you go."

Lin Yunwan shook her head. "It's getting late, I'll come see my mother another day." She came today mainly to exchange the shop for medicine for her mother.

Lin Yunyi, knowing his sister had her own difficulties, didn't try to keep her any longer. He simply told her, "Write to me if you want to come back; I can ask for leave anytime."

Although Lin Yunwan agreed verbally, she was still worried that it would interfere with his studies.

Just as Lin Yunwan left, Prince Huan arrived. He brought Seventh Master Li over and began to administer acupuncture to Madam Lin.

Madam Lin knew that a guest had arrived at her home, and it was the same person who had brought the Physician last time.

Thin needles were inserted into the acupoints around her eyes. She held Lin Yunyi's hand and asked, "Yi-ge'er, he's not your brother-in-law, is he?"

"Yes, Mother is Father's student."

Madam Lin gave a slight smirk and said calmly, "I knew it."

She smiled again and asked, "Which student of your father's?"

"Your father taught too many students—several private schools and the Imperial College. I remember some, but I don't. Where did he study?"

"Mother, it's Prince Huan. Father taught him when he was the Grand Tutor in the palace, back when the Prince was still a young prince. Do you remember?"

Madam Lin was somewhat surprised.

She smiled and said, "Prince Huan, of course I remember. Your father used to be very proud of him."