Chapter 14 – Was She Dreaming?:

Wanru was feeling stifled and irritable. She didn’t even want to glance at the medicine.
“Pour it out.”

“But keeping on like this isn’t a solution either.”

“The longer I can drag it out, the better.”

If he couldn’t bear it, he would naturally look for another woman. It wasn’t as if there weren’t others.

Her head ached from overthinking. She truly didn’t want to waste more energy on this.

---

The next morning, Xie Xiulin came to visit Wanru again.

“Why do you look worse than yesterday? You seem even paler—the physician must be a quack!” Xiulin touched her wan little face, deeply worried.

“Don’t blame the physician. It’s my body that’s weak.”

Wanru took her hand and smiled, trying to change the subject. “Was the poetry gathering yesterday fun?”

“Of course it was! That Third Miss Jiang truly lives up to her name as a gifted woman—poetry, painting, everything. Yesterday, she even won first place! What a pity Big Brother was too busy with court matters to attend.”

Xiulin giggled. “But I heard Big Brother and Third Miss Jiang’s marriage is about to be settled. She’s such a kind person too—she even sent gifts to us sisters! Look, she gave me this dangling pearl butterfly hairpin. It’s the newest design from Cai Die Xuan.”

Wanru reached out and touched the delicate butterfly wings on the hairpin, which fluttered lightly as though alive.
“What a beautiful pin.”

“If you had gone, you would have received one too. Miss Jiang is generous and gentle. No wonder the Madam chose her.”

Wanru smiled faintly. “Seems I don’t have that fortune.”

“Oh! There’s another thing,” Xiulin suddenly remembered.

“When I returned to the manor today, I saw a scholar standing at the gate. I asked who he was looking for, but he stammered without answering. Then I recalled seeing you speaking with him in the woods at the spring banquet, so I asked if he was looking for you.”

Xiulin laughed behind her hand. “The moment I asked, his face turned red and he hurried to deny it, saying no, and that I shouldn’t say such things that might ruin your reputation.”

Wanru froze. “Lin Han?”

“Oh? I never mentioned his name, yet you knew it? Wanru-jie, something’s fishy!” Xiulin teased.

Wanru chuckled softly. “Don’t make fun of me.”

“I told him, luckily you weren’t who he was looking for—since you’re sick now, you can’t receive visitors. The moment he heard you were ill, he panicked and asked frantically what was wrong.”

Wanru hadn’t expected Lin Han to come looking for her so quickly. He seemed easier to deal with than she thought.

She felt a little relieved. If she must marry, she wanted someone simple. She couldn’t imagine spending her whole life trembling in fear, serving that ancestor (Xie Xianyu).

“Wanru-jie, are you hiding something from me? What’s going on between you and this Lin Han?”

Wanru averted her gaze. “Nothing at all. Just met him once at the spring banquet, that’s all.”

“Then it’s love at first sight? I knew it! No wonder you’re uninterested in all those banquets—you already have someone in your heart.”

Wanru flushed, quickly grasping her hand. “Xiulin, don’t say such things.”

“Of course I won’t. Don’t you trust me? I was only teasing.”

Xiulin then produced a small packet of medicine. “Here. When he heard you were sick, he rushed to buy this, worried no one would get medicine for you since you’re under others’ roof. I left Hongliu waiting at the gate and brought it in for you.”

Wanru accepted the packet, lips curving faintly. “Thank you.”

“He seems awfully poor though. If you marry him, you’ll live a life of hardship.”

Wanru dismissed it lightly. “That’s still better than now.”

“You’re right. At least he has some scholarly rank, so your stepmother and clan won’t dare sell you again. Since you’ve already made up your mind, why not go ask Grand Madam to let you marry out now? That silly scholar clearly likes you.”

Wanru quickly grabbed her hand. “No, not now. We’ve only met once—I don’t truly know him yet. Besides, his exams are coming soon. It must wait until after. Xiulin, you must keep this secret for me, don’t tell anyone, alright?”

Xiulin blinked, then nodded. “You’re right, I was being careless. For us women, marriage matters must stay quiet until the very end.”

She smiled brightly. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul.”

Wanru exhaled in relief. “Thank you.”

“Why so polite between us? I’m happy for you. He may be poor, but he seems sincere. He even said he picked up something of yours and wants to return it personally. Once you’re better, you can go to the Penglai Inn to find him. He’s staying there.”

Wanru nodded. “Mm, I understand.”

After chatting with her for a while longer, Xiulin finally left.

Now that Third Madam was under house arrest, Xie Xiuyun no longer dared to stir trouble, making Xiulin’s days much easier.

“Miss, you should rest a bit. Talking so long has tired you out,” Suyue coaxed, helping Wanru lie down.

Wanru, indeed weary, handed the little medicine packet to her maid. “Put this away.”

“Yes.”

Suyue grinned. “That Lin-gongzi really is a fool—imagine buying medicine just because you’re sick. Did he think no one here would care for you?”

“He was only afraid I’d be too cautious to ask for it.”

“At least he cares. If you married him, it might not be so bad.”

“A kind heart never leads too far astray.”

Wanru felt she was fortunate after all. With Lin Han’s character, perhaps it was worth the risk.

Suyue tucked her in and let down the bed curtains before leaving quietly.

---

Her eyelids were heavy, and she sank into a deep, muddled sleep. When she woke again, it was already dark.

Struggling to open her eyes, still half-dazed, she vaguely saw a tall, familiar figure—silver-gray robe, silver crown binding his hair, strikingly handsome, ethereal in presence.

She must be dreaming… she was dreaming of Xie Xianyu.

She closed her eyes again, but something felt wrong. Suddenly she forced her eyes open—only to see him really sitting by her bed.

Cold sweat broke out all over. “C-cousin, why are you here?”

Though they had carried on in secret for a year, Xie Xianyu had never once come to her quarters. His every move drew attention, and this place was far too shabby for him to tolerate.

He reached out, cool fingers brushing her burning forehead, brows knitting tightly. “Several days and still not better?”

She hurried to sit up. “It’s only weakness, I’ll recover with rest. Cousin, why did you come? What if someone sees—”

She darted a look at Suyue guarding the door. The maid shook her head discreetly.

Xie Xianyu pressed her firmly back onto the bed, face grim. “So you do know your body is weak? And yet you let a mere chill reduce you to this state.”

Forcing calm, she answered faintly, “I’ve worried you. If I just rest a little longer, I’ll be fine. These days, I may not be able to attend you…”

His expression turned colder. “Living in this broken place—how could you possibly recover? If you die here one day, no one would even notice.”

She bit her lip, swallowing the anger.

“Qiu Shui Courtyard is too crude. Cousin, someone of your station can’t endure it here. You should go back quickly.” She forced herself to be meek.

Xie Xianyu’s voice was low, commanding. “I think your illness lingers precisely because of this place. If nights are so cold, why isn’t there even a brazier prepared? You’ll move to Songhe Garden to recuperate.”