It was no wonder Bai Qingqing was surprised. Though her experience was limited, she still possessed common sense. Ever since they entered this inn, the rear courtyard had been conspicuously free of idle passersby, and the innkeeper had been unfailingly attentive—far beyond what would be expected even if they knew Ning Yan’s identity.
Curious, Bai Qingqing quietly asked Wen Jiang about it. Wen Jiang, unconcerned, replied, “The people here are old acquaintances of Ning Yan’s. Now that we’re here, there’s no need to worry. We’re among our own.”
Her admiration for Ning Yan deepened yet again. So this was the power of the Commander of the Embroidered Guards—truly, he was as all-powerful as the rumors claimed.
Knowing they’d be staying in Pingzhou for a few days, Bai Qingqing allowed herself to relax slightly. But she dared not slack off and seized the opportunity to confide in Wen Jiang.
“I’ve been using rest incense at night, but it hasn’t helped much. I really don’t know what else to do.”
Wen Jiang was alarmed. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? Being startled like this can be a serious matter. If you’re unable to sleep, it can do real harm to your health. What if something happens—”
Even as he spoke, he began checking her pulse. His expression shifted from worry to confusion. “From your pulse, it doesn’t seem too severe. Are you sure you haven’t been able to sleep at all these past few days?”
Bai Qingqing hesitated, then decided to tell the truth.
“At first, yes—I really couldn’t sleep. But strangely enough, when Lord Ning is around, I’m able to rest. So these past few nights, he’s stayed in my room. But this… this isn’t proper. I can’t ask him to sacrifice his rest for mine. That’s why I wanted to take advantage of our stop in Pingzhou and get this condition treated.”
Wen Jiang was stunned. His usually gentle and composed face froze in shock, and it took him a long moment to come back to his senses. He drew in a sharp breath. “What did you say? He went to your room—wait, no, why do you trust him so easily? That scoundrel—no, I mean—it’s clearly inappropriate!”
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His mind was in turmoil. Looking at Bai Qingqing’s pure, innocent face only made the roiling in his chest worse. He couldn’t help but curse Ning Yan inwardly, a whole storm of words ready to spill.
Did that man have no shame? Sneaking into a young girl’s room in the dead of night—if it weren’t for Bai Qingqing’s trust and admiration, he’d never get away with such things. The gall of him!
And don’t give him credit for helping her either—what could he possibly do that a proper physician like himself couldn’t? No, Ning Yan had kept silent on purpose, playing it off as assistance while secretly taking liberties. Wen Jiang was so furious, his jaw clenched tight.
“If this happens again, you come to me. What use is Ning Yan?”
Grinding his teeth, Wen Jiang said earnestly, “You shouldn’t treat Ning Yan like some paragon of virtue. Don’t place blind trust in him. You must always be on your guard—do you understand?”
Bai Qingqing nodded, though somewhat puzzled. Wasn’t Wen Jiang very close with Lord Ning? Why did it feel like none of what he was saying painted Ning Yan in a good light?
After carefully asking about her condition, Wen Jiang promptly performed acupuncture, inserting a few needles. “You’ve clearly been frightened. Thankfully, there are no signs yet of tinnitus or back pain. A few more days of medicine along with the acupuncture should ease it. What’s more important is to clear your mind. How about this—over the next few days, I’ll take you around Pingzhou City.”
Once the needles were removed and everything was tidied up, Wen Jiang made to pull Bai Qingqing out the door. She hesitated. “But… what about Lord Ning…”
“Forget him. He’s a grown man—he’ll survive without you. What you need right now is a change of mood. Don’t overthink it.”
Wen Jiang had been wondering why Ning Yan, out of nowhere, had decided to linger in Pingzhou for a few days—Mu Shu hadn’t mentioned any business here. Now he understood. So this was the reason.