Chapter 6: A Little Excitement

Doctor Lu said, "It's estimated that today is his big wedding day, and he's a bit excited, which stimulated the airway, thereby triggering his cough. Once his mood stabilizes, he will naturally wake up. Madam, don't worry."

Madam Liu held a handkerchief, pretending to sigh and said, "As long as he's fine, just fine. Just now, when the child coughed, I thought..."

Seeming to fear that her words might be inauspicious, Madam Liu stopped and turned to feel melancholic, "Doctor, Cheng'er is so frail. Despite all the care for so long, there is no effect. I truly fear he might suddenly leave us one day."

The doctor comforted, "Life and death are predestined; how long one lives is up to fate. Madam Hou, please don't worry excessively."

Madam Liu said, "Doctor Lu, in this state, will Cheng'er be affected in terms of future offspring?"

She spoke subtly, but how could the doctor not understand. Was she not asking if it would affect the bridal chamber?

Having treated such wealthy and prestigious families, the doctor understood immediately, and while stroking his mustache, he said, "It's okay. As long as the timing is right and the young madam cooperates, having offspring is not an issue."

Very well then...

Doctor Lu wrote a prescription, and Madam Liu sent a maid to deliver it. She also sent her personal maid, Li Mama, to inform the busybodies outside that they should go enjoy the feast; the young master was fine and would wake up shortly.

Considering the young master's poor health, the wedding ceremony was directly skipped.

Those who came to watch the excitement understood and returned to their seats, whispering among themselves.

Madam Liu had no interest in staying in the room of this sickly twig and catching bad luck. Seeing the crowd dispersed, she also went to the small courtyard next door to rest.

Looking at the simplistic arrangement of the courtyard, she felt utterly disdainful. If it weren't for the image of being loving and generous, she wouldn't have come to this countryside to host a wedding for the bedridden boy.

The maid was busy wiping the chair repeatedly before Madam Liu finally sat down. The chief maid, Qing He, massaged her back and said, "Madam, it seems the sickly lad's health is truly poor and not just an act."

Madam Liu was depressed thinking about it. Doctor Lu already said that it was due to a congenital weakness, which must be true, given Doctor Lu's renowned impartiality and skilled medical practice.

The reason she came to the countryside this time, specifically inviting Doctor Lu along, was for the opportunity to check whether this sickly lad was truly frail or just pretending.

Unexpectedly, it's true. But coughing like this all these years, he hasn't gotten better nor has he died, which is truly exasperating.

Seeing the madam's depressed expression, a thought suddenly occurred to Qing He. She leaned over to whisper something.

Madam Liu glanced askance; this little girl sure had many cunning ideas.

"Go ahead, make sure it's done cleanly and done well, and there will be a reward."

Qing He's eyes lit up. She agreed and immediately set about the task.

In the bridal chamber.

Su An'an had already taken off her wedding veil, shaking her stiff neck. Seeing this, Cui Yan immediately went over and picked up the veil, "Oh, Miss, this is supposed to be lifted by the groom; you can't take it off yourself."

Su An'an laughed, "I know, I'll put it back on in a moment. Wearing this all the time is suffocating. Don't worry, it's just you and me in this room, it's not a big deal."

"Hurry and give me a massage. This phoenix crown is so heavy, my neck hurts."

Cui Yan helplessly indulged her lady for a while before starting to massage her shoulders, applying just the right pressure.

Su An'an boredly looked around the room.

It was a very spacious room, simply decorated with a set of tables and chairs, one or two paintings, and an orchid by the window, all very plain.

A minor official in the capital could probably have a more luxurious setup at home than this.

It shows how this Young Master Shen was treated.

Cui Yan wasn't in the mood to notice the layout; instead, she recalled the groom's condition during the wedding ceremony earlier.

It was rumored that the groom was critically ill and near death. Cui Yan once held a glimmer of hope, thinking it might be a rumor and not so severe, until she saw it firsthand just now.

She couldn't help but sigh, "Miss, the groom's illness seems worse than the rumors suggested. With such severe coughing just now, I'm really worried..."

"Worried he might suddenly pass away on the spot?" Su An'an joked nonchalantly.

Cui Yan immediately spat thrice superstitiously, promising, "When the lady was young, a good fortune teller once said that you have the look of a woman who brings prosperity to her husband. Even if the groom is sick now, maybe you'll bring him good fortune and improve him, so he won't suddenly pass away, and you won't become a widow."

Hearing Cui Yan talk about fortune telling, Su An'an suddenly wanted to laugh. It really did seem like something like that had happened.

When her mother was still around, she had taken her out for fun, and a Taoist insisted on reading her fortune, rattling on about how her fate was blessed, she had the looks of a noble, of bringing prosperity to her husband, making her mother so happy she rewarded a piece of silver.

Thinking back now, that Taoist didn't say a single thing accurately. It was all just a ploy to swindle money.

In her previous life, she drifted about and never met anyone who helped her become a noble, and in this life, marrying into the Shen family, she couldn't bring fortune to this Young Master Shen. She'd probably end up being blamed for being unlucky for her husband.

Because she knew this Young Master Shen wouldn't live long.

In a past life, while staying behind Qingyu Building's alley, where the news was the most widespread, she heard gossip and tidbits the most.

On a cold winter morning, when she got up to work, she accidentally heard that the Shen family's eldest son, Shen Juncheng, died of illness in the twentieth year of Yongjia...

And now, it was the eighteenth year of Yongjia, with only two years left before this Young Master Shen would pass away.

Su An'an sighed, not knowing if he truly died of illness in her past life.

The undercurrents hidden within such large and prestigious families could also take a person's life.

Since she was reborn in this lifetime, she would fulfill her duties for the next two years, and if she could help, she would lend a hand.

Turning back, she patted Cui Yan's hand, comforting, "Don't worry, once here, one must accept it."

Cui Yan understood, but it was just pointless worry.

No longer speaking on such sad topics, she continued focusing on massaging the lady. Suddenly, a maid's voice came from outside, "Miss Qing He."

Following the voice, there was a knock on the door.

Quickly, Cui Yan covered her lady's veil and said, "Enter."

Qing He came in, glanced at the mistress and maid, then slightly bowed and said, "Young Madam, I am Qing He."

Su An'an knew Qing He of course, as she was the chief maid around Madam Liu, who was her distant aunt.

She politely asked, "Miss Qing He, what brings you here?"

Qing He explained, saying that Madam feared she would worry about the young master's safety. She came specifically to reassure her that the doctor had already treated him and he was fine now, only a recurrence of an old illness, nothing serious, so please don't fret.

Su An'an thanked her politely, expressing relief that the young master was fine.

Qing He smiled faintly, suddenly saying that the kitchen had prepared some snacks for the young madam and asked Cui Yan to go check if they were ready.

This was obviously an excuse to send Cui Yan away.

Cui Yan glanced at her lady, not moving, while Su An'an motioned with her hand, "Go on, Cui Yan."

She was curious about what Qing He wanted to say.

Once Cui Yan left, Qing He came up close, secretly handing Su An'an a small medicine bottle, lowering her voice to say, "Miss An'an, Madam is concerned about the young master's offspring. She's worried he might not have the strength. Before the bridal chamber, you just need to add a bit of this invigorating medicine into the wedding wine."