So he pestered the physicians every day, asking when he could get up, when he could go out, when he could resume serving Lady Lin.
The physicians, hounded to no end, finally relented — and since his injuries were healing quickly, they said in a couple more days he could get up.
Delighted, Xiaoluzi recited the palace rules nonstop every day, hoping to leave a good impression on Qiu Gonggong.
Xiao Hezi, the borrowed eunuch living with him, couldn't make sense of it.
He thought: Being a eunuch is miserable enough, why would someone work so hard to become an even more diligent and hardworking eunuch?
It really showed how different people could be.
With Qiu Ming managing things, Lin Wanyi was finally able to focus on recovering.
Strangely enough, even though Chunqi and Xiaoluzi had more serious injuries than she did, both had already been cleared to walk around, while she was still lying in bed or on a couch every day.
The bruises on her leg faded much more slowly, and even after several more days, they still looked terribly fierce.
The attending physician often shook his head. There was nothing wrong with the prescription, nor the medicine — why wouldn't it heal?
Lin Wanyi was gentle by nature. She comforted the physician with a smile:
"My constitution has always been weak since childhood, so maybe that's why I recover a bit slower than others. Don't worry, Physician Fang, just take your time with the treatment."
Then she lightly tapped her own leg and added:
"See? It's not completely useless. It hardly hurts at all when I press on it now."
Physician Fang's white beard trembled with frustration, but he had no choice except to go along with her:
"My lady is right. It is probably just a matter of personal constitution."
After finishing taking her pulse, the physician returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Xia An stepped forward to change her bandages as usual, her movements still gentle. But Lin Wanyi suddenly grabbed her hand and pressed it firmly, then chuckled softly:
"I tricked Physician Fang. It stopped hurting long ago. This injury just looks bad, but I can feel it — it's almost healed."
Xia An glanced outside to make sure no one was around before whispering back:
"My lady, why deceive Physician Fang? Wouldn't it be better to recover sooner?"
Lin Wanyi sighed softly.
"I don't want to go watch the dragon boat races. If my leg is still injured, maybe I can use it as an excuse to get out of it."
Xia An was curious, and Lin Wanyi sighed again.
"These past days have been peaceful. The Left Hall feels like an iron-walled heavenly sanctuary. I really don't want to step back into that living hell outside."
Hearing this, Xia An couldn't help but laugh.
As it turned out, her mistress was still the same at heart.
Back then, the harshness toward her maids was really just to vent their grievances.
No one could have expected it would trigger this string of events.
Putting aside the people she had offended, just look at how Consort Lin tried to plant her own people here but failed — she must be furious.
If Lin Wanyi stepped out now, she would surely meet nothing good.
No wonder she was so determined to hide inside.
Xia An understood, but felt this plan would not work.
"My lady, if you keep dragging out the leg injury, Consort Lin will come eventually anyway. Have you forgotten what she expects of you?"
Those words snapped Lin Wanyi awake.
Of course she knew she was only fooling herself.
If Consort Lin got annoyed, it wouldn't just be sending a wet nurse next time — she might show up personally to discipline her.
When you live under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.
While Lin Wanyi was still tangled up in these thoughts, she suddenly heard Qiu Ming's voice outside.
"My lady."
"What is it?"
"Lord Dong has arrived."
"Quick, invite him in!"
Dong Yuzhong never visited for no reason, but ever since his apprentice was transferred to the Left Hall, he'd been showing up much more often.
He came in smiling broadly, even calling out as he walked:
"My lady, is your injury improving?"
"Much better. Physician Fang is taking very good care of me, and Qiu Gonggong manages everything so well that I can rest easy."
"That is wonderful, wonderful!"
As he spoke, he gestured for the eunuchs behind him to come forward.
"My lady, the nightwear you made last time — His Majesty couldn't stop praising it. These days, he wears it often in Wen Gu Ju, saying how comfortable it is. So he asked me to tell you, whenever you have time, make a few more for him. Nightwear, socks, sachets, anything at all!"
Lin Wanyi smiled on the surface, but inside, she was cursing the emperor out thoroughly.
When he came to the Left Hall back then to "uphold justice" for her, she really thought he was a fair and wise ruler.
Now it looked like he simply wanted to treat her as a dinner companion, a palace maid, and a personal embroiderer all rolled into one.
Make a few more? Would it ever end?
She had a sinking feeling that this needlework would go on forever.
"If His Majesty likes them, that's good. I was worried he might not like the colors or patterns. Since I'm idle anyway, I'll start making more for His Majesty soon."
"That's wonderful. I'll report back to His Majesty then."
Dong Yuzhong smiled brightly, while Lin Wanyi's own smile was even brighter.
"Oh right, the Dragon Boat Festival is only a few days away. If my lady can walk by then, that would be great. I heard there's even the young master from the Prime Minister's household on this year's dragon boat list. We've never seen him race before, so this time we'll surely be in for a treat."
Big brother?
He had actually made it onto the race list!
Lin Wanyi was shocked. In previous years, their family had spent all kinds of silver trying to get him on the list without success.
How could he be on it this time?
"Lord Dong, is that news reliable? Where did you hear it?"
"It was Jiang Heqing, who serves Consort Lin, who mentioned it to me while Consort Lin was seeing the Emperor."
Sure enough, Consort Lin truly knew how to strike at her weak spot.
If she couldn't plant a wet nurse, she would use Lin Wanyi's brother to lure her out.
That bait was a direct hook, and she, the big fish, was expected to bite.
"I haven't seen my family in so long. If there's a chance to watch my big brother's skills, even if I'm limping, I'll have to go."
Dong Yuzhong kept smiling as before, but in his heart, he understood perfectly.
It looked like Consort Lin and Lin Wanyi were about to face off.
The Lin family's secrets truly ran deep!
He made up an excuse and left soon after.
On his way out, Qiu Ming saluted him respectfully according to proper etiquette, without saying a single unnecessary word — far more composed than Xiaoluzi had ever been.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Wanyi called Qiu Ming back in.
"Qiu Gonggong, please go to Linzhi Palace and report to Consort Lin that I will definitely attend the Dragon Boat Festival, and ask her to arrange a seat for me."