Chapter 57 : I will treat you well, protect you, cherish you

Initially, everyone must have been supportive of the marriage. Just as Tan Qiqiu said, Liu Shiba seemed like the best choice at the time.

“He was from a military family and treated my sister so well, always gentle and considerate. When our father was sick, he often came to help out, showing great care.” As Tan Qiqiu spoke, he couldn’t help but clench his fists.

Cui Yunzhao could see his resentment and empathize with him. After all, who could have known that the husband chosen for his sister would turn out to be a monster in disguise?

“I know that my sister and brother-in-law had a good relationship. After my brother-in-law passed, it was a knot in my sister’s heart. She originally didn’t want to remarry, but Liu Shiba’s gentleness still moved her, and in the end, she agreed to marry him.”

“In the months they spent in Boling, life was good because my father and I were still around. Our families often visited each other, and Liu Shiba continued to be just as caring as before,” Tan Qiqiu said softly. “But just three months after their wedding, our father passed away.”

His voice was calm, but the calmness only deepened the sense of sadness.

“Liu Shiba’s parents had already died, he had relatives in Boling. When it was time to send troops to Wuping, Liu Shiba signed up and took my sister with him, leaving Boling behind.”

“And that departure lasted a year.”

It was during that year that Tan Qihong suffered cruel torment and abuse.

Tan Qiqiu bit his lip, lowering his head to wipe his eyes, unwilling to appear weak or cry.

“Wuping isn’t far from Boling, messengers could arrive in two days. My sister and I agreed to send a letter home at least once a month, but at first, she wrote every month, then changed it to every two months because she said home was too busy.” He pounded his leg in frustration. “Until the war broke out in Wuping, and the letters stopped completely. I even asked master to keep an eye out for my sister and brother-in-law, to see if they were doing well.”

Huo Tan replied that he couldn’t find them, with Wuping in such chaos, it was normal not to find anyone.

“I thought that before the new year, I would take leave to go to Wuping myself and see how my sister and brother-in-law were doing.”

“It’s all my fault. I was careless and didn’t pay enough attention to my sister, which allowed her to suffer so much.”

Tan Qiqiu raised his eyes, red with tears, and looked at Tan Qihong.

She had been given medicine and treated for her injuries, but now she lay in a deep sleep.

Perhaps knowing that Liu Shiba had been captured, she had let her guard down completely and was sleeping soundly.

Seeing his emaciated sister, with bruises and blood all over her body, Tan Qiqiu felt like crying again.

He reached out and suddenly slapped himself across the face.

“It’s all my fault.”

With their parents gone, he had become the eldest son. He should have taken responsibility for the family and protected his sister instead of only appearing after she was rescued.

This realization was too painful for Tan Qiqiu.

Moreover, in his mind, his sister should have been living well. Even if there were troubles in Wuping, they shouldn’t have affected her.

After all, his brother-in-law was part of the imperial garrison. If he had surrendered when Feng Lang invaded Wuping, he wouldn’t have faced any life-threatening dangers.

Li Fengnian was at the end of his rope and had no opportunities left. No one would choose him.

But who would have thought Liu Shiba was a desperate criminal?

Everything in Boling was an illusion. Upon arriving in Wuping, among Li Fengnian’s pack of wolves, Liu Shiba quickly found the path he wanted to take.

If there’s a devil inside someone, then given the slightest chance, they won’t follow the righteous path.

Cui Yunzhao didn’t know exactly what Liu Shiba had done, but she was sure that once he shed his restraints and lost his morals, nothing he did would be surprising.

Tan Qiqiu had finished speaking, and now he felt suddenly lost.

He tilted his head back, staring at the sleeping Tan Qihong, and fell silent.

Cui Yunzhao could guess what he was thinking.

“Your sister won’t blame you.”

Tan Qiqiu shivered slightly.

Cui Yunzhao’s voice was gentle “When Liu Shiba married your sister, he may have truly seemed like a good man. Your father, having experienced so much life and death, couldn’t have been blind to whether Liu Shiba was good or bad. Your sister had been married once before, she wasn’t an ignorant girl.”

Cui Yunzhao sighed. “One can change quickly, in the blink of an eye, a person can fall from grace into hell.”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but pat Tan Qiqiu’s shoulder.

“Liu Shiba’s malice was triggered in Wuping. Once he started abusing the common people, it naturally led to robbing and eventually to murder and arson, which became less frightening over time.”

“Perhaps your sister said something to him, and in a reflex, he hit her. After that…”

“After that, he no longer cared.”

“Especially when Li Fengnian was defeated and set himself ablaze, most of the thugs who had followed him were executed by the Boling army. Those who did not participate in the chaos surrendered directly. Now, they continued to serve as the garrison in Wuping, and Liu Shiba’s group surely did not want to be caught, because being captured meant death, with no opportunities for escape.”

“So they ran as refugees, and it must have been a hard journey. They had to hide their identities and couldn’t live well, and Liu Shiba’s resentment fell upon your sister.”

Cui Yunzhao felt a pang of sympathy for Tan Qihong as she said this.

“But your sister is very strong, Qiqiu. You should admire her. Compared to the tall and strong Liu Shiba, your sister is the true hero.”

“She is a frail woman who faced such torment and yet managed to survive, ultimately exposing Liu Shiba.”

“She is truly remarkable.”

At this point, Cui Yunzhao saw a glimmer of light returning to Tan Qiqiu’s eyes.

“She wasn’t crushed by pain or defeated by violence. In the end, she fought back fiercely, trying to escape the grasp of the demon.”

“She deserves our utmost respect.”

With Cui Yunzhao’s words, Tan Qiqiu’s tears fell once more.

The youthful boy’s face was still tender. Although he had joined the army, he was still just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old lad.

With his parents gone, his only relative was his sister. The early separation from loved ones had forced him to grow up quickly and become strong.

But at this moment, seeing his sister’s tragic condition, the walls he had built around his heart collapsed in an instant.

Pain, regret, and helplessness overwhelmed him.

Cui Yunzhao’s voice was gentle and soothing.

“Just now, Miss Cheng mentioned that your sister’s external and internal injuries can be healed. The medical skills of the Qingpu Pharmacy are well-known in Boling. I will take full responsibility for your sister’s treatment and care. You just need to look after her.”

“Xiao Tan, your sister is already so strong. You need to be strong too,” Cui Yunzhao said. “Even in such difficult circumstances, she managed to escape and found her only chance for survival. How can you wallow in self-pity?”

“You need to stay by her side, support her recovery, and help her return to her previous life.”

“You can do this, right?”

Tan Qiqiu suddenly lowered his head.

Cui Yunzhao saw him wipe his eyes with his sleeve, and then he said firmly, “Madam, you’re right. I can do it!”

After comforting Tan Qiqiu, Cui Yunzhao left the sickroom.

She went to find Miss Cheng and asked about Tan Qihong’s condition, paying three months’ worth of consultation and medicine fees in advance.

Upon returning to the sickroom, Cui Yunzhao said, “Your sister will need to use gold needles for the next few days and can’t be moved. I’ve discussed it with Miss Cheng, your sister will stay here for three to five days until her condition stabilizes before returning home.”

“You will stay here to take care of her and keep her company so that she can recover faster. There are also attendants here, if there’s anything inconvenient, just ask them for help.”

Cui Yunzhao carefully instructed, “I’ll go back and tell My lord to give you a few days off. Also, remember to return home and tidy up the house. When your sister comes back and sees everything neat and tidy, she will surely be very happy.”

Tan Qiqiu had no other relatives left, and Cui Yunzhao was worried he wouldn’t know how to manage, so she gave him many reminders. By the end, she felt quite exhausted and took a breath, saying, “If you don’t understand anything, you can come to the Huo family to find me. Both I and your master will help you.”

Tan Qiqiu suddenly raised his head, his red-rimmed eyes looking seriously at Cui Yunzhao, and then he stood with his hands together, bowing deeply to her.

“Thank you, madam, and thank you, master.”

After ensuring the safety of the suffering siblings, Cui Yunzhao felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. She started to feel dizzy and cold, instinctively leaning on Mother Xia’s arm as she walked out.

Mother Xia furrowed her brows slightly, noticing Cui Yunzhao’s pale complexion, and quietly asked, “Miss, are you feeling unwell?”

She reached out to touch Cui Yunzhao’s forehead and, finding it not hot, breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Cui Yunzhao felt a bit dizzy and just wanted to lie down for a while. She said, “Tao Fei, can you help me buy some medicine? Mother, let’s go home. I’m a bit tired.”

Mother Xia quickly agreed and helped her into the carriage while Tao Fei rushed off to get medicine.

On the way home, Mother Xia remarked, “I asked Miss Cheng. It seems you were startled and caught a draft. A dose of medicine and a good sleep should help you feel better.”

Cui Yunzhao leaned against Mother Xia’s shoulder, playfully saying, “You’re the best, Mother.”

“Mother, I’m actually very happy today.”

Mother Xia lovingly adjusted her cloak, her voice soft, “I know, Mother is very happy too.”

By the time they arrived home, it was already noon.

Cui Yunzhao felt both tired and drained, lacking any appetite. She just wanted to change her clothes and lie down for a bit.

Mother Xia ordered Li Qing to assist her with washing up and changing clothes. Once the medicine was ready, they made sure she took it, and then Mother Xia helped her settle down to sleep.

Cui Yunzhao fell asleep as soon as she lay down, not even noticing when Huo Tan returned home.

As soon as Huo Tan entered the house, he sensed the quietness. The main room in the east courtyard was closed, and the inside was dark.

Furrowing his brows, he asked Mother Xia and then pushed the door open to enter.

He washed his hands and face at the door, took off his outer robe, and quietly stepped inside.

The curtains of the bed hung low, blocking the light from outside.

Huo Tan walked very softly, making almost no noise as he approached the bed and gently pulled back the curtains.

Inside the bed lay Cui Yunzhao, her peaceful sleeping face illuminated faintly in the dim light.

Her complexion was still a bit pale, but in the darkened bed, she almost seemed to glow. Huo Tan sat on the footstool and reached out to tuck her blankets in.

In that moment, he felt a pang of heartache.

Cui Yunzhao slept deeply, likely due to the medicine and the warmth of home, and by the time she woke up, the body aches and dizziness had improved significantly. She felt much more awake.

However, she was still a bit fatigued and reluctant to get up, feeling unusually lazy.

Lying in bed quietly for a while, she suddenly heard her stomach growling.

Cui Yunzhao paused for a moment and couldn’t help but laugh. It was rare for her to be woken up by hunger.

As she chuckled, the curtain of the bed was suddenly pulled open a little.

Huo Tan’s low voice drifted over, “Has my wife awakened?”

Surprised to find him home, Cui Yunzhao asked, “My lord, you’re back? Is it already evening?”

She began to sit up.

Seeing that she was indeed awake and had no intention of going back to sleep, Huo Tan directly secured the curtain, came over to help her sit up at the edge of the bed, and carefully tucked the blankets around her.

It was still bright outside.

With the curtain lifted, the room was filled with light; the afternoon sun poured in, casting fluttering shadows on the floor.

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but squint at the brightness.

Huo Tan left for a moment and quickly returned with a white porcelain bowl.

“First, have some porridge to warm your stomach.”

Perhaps due to her illness, Cui Yunzhao suddenly felt like being pampered.

Leaning against the edge of the bed, she looked at Huo Tan and said softly, “My mouth feels bitter, I want to have tea first.”

Huo Tan glanced at her.

He didn’t say anything, just set the bowl of porridge on the bedside table and turned to get some tea.

Before long, Huo Tan returned with a teacup.

He seemed more than willing to cater to his wife’s wishes. After preparing everything, he naturally sat beside her, holding the teacup to feed Cui Yunzhao.

This made Cui Yunzhao feel a bit embarrassed.

She took the teacup from him and drank it all.

Only after finishing did she realize it wasn’t plain tea but red date tea.

Huo Tan explained, “Mother Xia was worried you caught a chill, so she specially made this warm red date tea.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded, saying, “I’m feeling much better.”

This time, Huo Tan shook his head. “You’re not fully better yet. I can still see your face is pale and you don’t look well. You’ll need to take another dose of medicine tonight.”

As he spoke, he took the bowl of porridge, stirred it with a spoon, and directly brought a spoonful to Cui Yunzhao’s lips.

“Try it, it’s not hot.”

Cui Yunzhao instinctively took a bite of the porridge, and the sweet flavor instantly flooded her throat.

The porridge wasn’t hot, but Cui Yunzhao’s face turned warm.

“I’m fine, I don’t need you to feed me,” she said, reaching out to take the porridge. “I can do it myself.”

This time, Huo Tan did not hand it over to her.

He stepped back a little, his expression resolute.

“My wife is ill, and I want to take good care of you.”

“Can you give me this chance?”

Huo Tan spoke sincerely and so openly that Cui Yunzhao bit her lip and, feeling a bit dazed, nodded in agreement.

Huo Tan wasn’t clumsy at feeding, he carefully scooped the porridge clean, feeding Cui Yunzhao bite by bite.

They sat in silence for a while, and then Huo Tan asked, “Is it tasty?”

Cui Yunzhao nodded, replying, “It’s very sweet.”

The millet porridge was flavored with goji berries and brown sugar, giving it a sweet taste that instantly warmed her stomach.

Seeing Cui Yunzhao say it was very sweet, Huo Tan relaxed slightly, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. He looked at Cui Yunzhao’s fair face and nodded in agreement. “It is quite sweet.”

After finishing a bowl of porridge, Cui Yunzhao felt much better in her stomach. Huo Tan took a handkerchief and gently wiped her mouth before saying, “It’s almost time for dinner. Have a small bowl to tide you over, we’ll have a proper meal soon.”

His tone was reminiscent of soothing a child.

Cui Yunzhao found it somewhat amusing and uplifting; she wasn’t quite sure how she felt but simply nodded, “Alright.”

“You returned early today, my lord.”

Huo Tan set the bowl down and poured her another cup of red date tea at the tea table by the window before returning to her side. “I came back at noon. When I saw you sleeping, I didn’t want to leave.”

As he spoke, his expression was calm, betraying no signs of worry or anything else.

Cui Yunzhao paused.

For some reason, she suddenly felt a bit wronged. The feeling came on so suddenly that she couldn’t comprehend it herself. Perhaps it was due to her illness or the tender atmosphere; it made her feel vulnerable.

“My lord, were you worried about me?”

Cui Yunzhao gazed at Huo Tan with her watery phoenix eyes, looking both fragile and yearning.

Huo Tan’s heart softened immediately. He reached out and gently took her hand.

When he returned at noon, he had cautiously touched her hand, which had been cold at the time. The icy feeling had pierced his heart deeply. He didn’t mention how he had sat holding her cold hand until it warmed up, only nodding sincerely.

“My wife is ill, how could I not worry?” Huo Tan looked into Cui Yunzhao’s eyes, gently tucking a stray hair behind her ear. “I am very worried.”

Cui Yunzhao bit her lip.

She felt her eyes warming and becoming moist. She choked back a sob but managed not to cry in front of Huo Tan.

Noticing her subtle movements, Huo Tan’s heart grew even softer.

He didn’t understand why, but the words came out anyway.

“My lady, you don’t need to be so strong.”

“If you want to cry, then cry, if you want to laugh, then laugh. This is your home, and I am your husband. You don’t need to force yourself to be strong and tire yourself out.”

Huo Tan spoke seriously, and every word touched Cui Yunzhao’s heart.

What he said reflected his past self.

In the Cui family, she lived cautiously, never allowing herself to relax. Even after marrying into the Huo family, she maintained her old habits, as if only by being strong and doing her best could she have what she wanted.

She didn’t want to be called the most useless daughter of the Cui family.

Cui Yunzhao sniffed, feeling a mix of emotion and sweetness, a sweetness even greater than the porridge she had just eaten.

Perhaps it was because her attitude was so different from her past life and she never hid anything from Huo Tan, allowing him to be more open, saying whatever came to mind. This fostered a deeper closeness between them, which made her feel more relaxed and secure.

Cui Yunzhao didn’t cry after all.

Life was good, what was there to cry about?

She sniffled, playfully scolding Huo Tan, “Why say such things? I’m so tired today, and you’re trying to make me cry.”

Seeing she hadn’t cried, Huo Tan sighed in relief.

He reached out and pulled Cui Yunzhao into his arms.

Her long hair brushed against his neck, causing a tickling sensation.

Huo Tan wrapped his arms around her fragile frame, gently patting her back, as if trying to help her illness improve this way.

“It’s my fault.”

Cui Yunzhao nestled into his embrace, feeling warm all over.

She slowly closed her eyes, completely relaxing.

“How’s the matter with Liu Shiba?”

Huo Tan didn’t mind that his wife was changing the subject. He answered seriously.

“Liu Shiba is quite bold, he turned to banditry and even dared to use his real name. The military’s investigation found him easily.”

Huo Tan continued, “His wife’s accusations are all true, there’s no need to investigate further in Wuping. Just scare those followers a bit, and they’ll confess.”

Huo Tan lightly patted Cui Yunzhao, his voice soft but his expression cold.

“These people are wicked and have committed numerous crimes. What they did warrants immediate execution and public display,” he stated. “Even if they confess and repent, the military won’t let them off.”

The military had its own rules.

When soldiers broke military law, crimes such as treason, rebellion, murder, arson, and oppressing the common people could lead to immediate execution without needing to report to the court.

Liu Shiba was on the run because he feared death.

“Such people only bully the weak and fear the strong. If faced with death, they’ll all cry like ghosts, unable to find peace.”

Huo Tan couldn’t help but sneer.

Cui Yunzhao asked, “If he’s afraid of death, why does he still cause trouble?”

After nearly getting hurt and being frightened today, Huo Tan was already filled with anger. He wouldn’t take it out on his wife, so he could only vent his frustration on those desperate outlaws.

“They’ve run out of money and have nowhere else to turn. As vagrants, they can only beg, living in shanties, enduring hunger and the elements, with no way home.”

“At first, they could hide for a while, but the longer it goes on, the less they can bear it.”

“Going from frugality to luxury is easy, but going from luxury to frugality is difficult. They’ve grown accustomed to power and wealth, living off the riches they plundered. Now that they have to live like this, they can’t stand it.”

Huo Tan’s gaze was icy. “So when they saw you distributing porridge today, they had crooked thoughts.”

“One reason is that they truly couldn’t endure it any longer, the other is that they’ve never failed to escape from Wuping, which has made them arrogant, thinking they could easily slip away from the Bó Lìng patrols and live carefree.”

“It’s simply a dream.”

It truly was a dream.

Although Huo Tan tried to keep his voice gentle, Cui Yunzhao could hear the underlying anger. She reached out and gently patted his back a couple of times.

Though her strength was still lacking, those two soft pats went straight to Huo Tan’s heart.

Cui Yunzhao’s voice was tender. “My lord, there’s no need to blame yourself, this isn’t your fault.”

Huo Tan was taken aback.

Since Cui Yunzhao had woken up, he had remained calm, not wanting to show how guilty or angry he felt. Doing so would only make him seem more incompetent.

He had failed to protect his wife, allowing her to be frightened, that was his fault.

Yet he hadn’t expected Cui Yunzhao to see right through him.

She even turned around to comfort him.

What could Huo Tan say?

He could only remember Cui Yunzhao’s kindness in his heart, recalling her cold hands and her pale face during her illness.

He couldn’t let Cui Yunzhao suffer any longer, not even a little.

In response, Huo Tan gently patted Cui Yunzhao’s back.

“Wife, how can you be so wonderful?”

Huo Tan sighed in admiration.

Cui Yunzhao smiled and replied, “If you know I’m good, then treat me well from now on. From now on, listen to me in everything.”

“Alright.”

Huo Tan replied without any hesitation.

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but laugh, and Huo Tan joined in as well.

But Huo Tan’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

He gently patted her back, his voice tender but his words firm.

“I will treat you well, protect you, cherish you, and ensure you never suffer again. I’ll listen to whatever you say.”

If anyone else had said such things, Cui Yunzhao would have thought it was just sweet talk.

But when Huo Tan said it, it felt like a promise.

Leaning against Huo Tan’s chest, Cui Yunzhao gently closed her eyes.

In that moment, her heart felt at peace.