Mu Wanting stood her ground, her smile as unreadable as a mask.
“Not only that, but I also know you were punished by the emperor under the charge of letting the Prince of Tartary escape. You must feel it is terribly unfair. After all, the treaty they signed was based on the condition that prisoners of war be released, and the emperor had agreed to it at the time.”
Shen Xinglan narrowed his eyes and pulled Mu Wanting closer, studying every expression on her face closely.
He wondered if she had a hand in his being harshly disciplined by the emperor. How else could she know the details so clearly?
However, she merely smiled faintly, meeting his gaze with absolute fearlessness, and he could find no flaw or trace of deceit in her demeanor.
He frowned and fell silent, then released her, turning around to let her tend to his injuries. His eyes, sharp as an eagle’s, remained fixed intently on her.
The pressure radiating from his gaze was immense. Most people, when stared at like that, would have their legs tremble and would likely fall to their knees begging for mercy.
Yet Mu Wanting remained perfectly composed as she examined his wound. He had been slashed across the abdomen, the cut deep enough to nearly injure his internal organs. The previous physician had merely wrapped the injury in bandages and had not even stitched it up at all—no wonder the wound had become infected.
This explained why, in her past life, even a man as robust and strong as Shen Xinglan had not survived this.
He frowned, watching her go about her work in a strictly professional manner. His earlier sense of unease faded considerably, and he began to cooperate with her, yet a growing restlessness stirred within his heart.
She took antiseptic solution and cleaned away the dead tissue, before properly cleaning and suturing the wound anew.
Throughout the entire process, because Mu Wanting had applied an anesthetic, Shen Xinglan felt not a hint of pain.
He was only aware of a pair of hands touching his skin.
A tingling, itching sensation spread through him.
Looking at Mu Wanting again, seeing her focused attention as she treated his injury, he felt that strange tingling sensation grows even stronger.
And with it came greater agitation.
He had a strong urge to distance himself from her, yet when his eyes fell upon her thick, long eyelashes, he could not help but linger his gaze upon them.
It was the first time he had looked closely at this woman whom he had cast aside and treated as worthless.
When Mu Wanting finished her work and straightened up, she found Shen Xinglan with the tips of his ears and the corners of his eyes flushed red.
It was truly said that the Prince of Pingxi was the most handsome man in the capital, and indeed, he had a captivating allure.
She was about to speak when the door was pushed open.
Mu Wanting calmly closed the front of his outer robe.
Madam Shen, along with Shen Yujiao and Shen Xingchi, hurried in with anxious expressions.
Madam Shen said, “Xinglan, I heard from the gatekeeper that the Emperor had given you a hundred strokes of the cane. I have already sent for the physician.”
Shen Xinglan replied, “She has already treated my injuries.”
Only then did Madam Shen turn her gaze toward Mu Wanting, who was standing to the side dressed in red inner garments. Her expression changed drastically.
“Mu Wanting! How… How could it be you? To be found in your brother-in-law’s bridal chamber on the very wedding night—this is highly improper!”
Shen Yujiao frowned sharply. “Mu Wanting, you simply refuse to give up your delusions, don’t you? How dare you still harbor thoughts about my second brother, especially since you have already married Zhao Zhiyuan! Where is Sister Rongrong? What have you done with her?”
She and Mu Wanting had never gotten along. Ever since she learned that Mu Wanting had been pursuing Shen Xinglan, she had never missed a chance to mock or belittle her. Now, seeing Mu Wanting in her second brother’s wedding chamber, she was absolutely furious.
Shen Xingchi knit his brows tightly and immediately ordered the servants to seize Mu Wanting.
No matter how much Shen Xinglan disliked her, she had just tended to his wounds.
“She claims it was Murong Rong herself who insisted on swapping the marriage partners. Regardless of the truth, we ought to investigate the matter first. To arrest her rashly is hardly the conduct expected of a distinguished and respected household.”
Shen Yujiao said with great distress, “Second Brother, do not be deceived by her! She is malicious through and through, and has a glib tongue. I am certain she resorted to underhanded tricks and forced Sister Rongrong to do this.”
Shen Xinglan fell silent. Such a scheme did indeed seem like the kind of thing Mu Wanting would do.
Madam Shen let out a long, soft sigh, her eyes fixed heavily upon Mu Wanting.
“Lady Mu, if it was truly Murong Rong who insisted on this exchange, then from this day forward, you must dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to your life with Xinglan. Otherwise, our Prince’s Manor will not let you off lightly.”
Shen Xinglan frowned. “Mother, Mu Wanting and I have already agreed to annul the marriage. Choose an auspicious day, send a matchmaker, and invite her parents here.”
Madam Shen was so shocked she nearly lost her composure. “What did you say?”
She then turned her gaze toward Mu Wanting. “Is what Xinglan says true?”
To seek an annulment so soon after marriage—she had never heard of anything so absurd in all her years.
Mu Wanting smiled with gentle grace. “Mother, it is true.” Though whether the annulment would actually happen was still uncertain.
But for the moment, whether the marriage ended or continued made no difference to her; there was no disadvantage in either outcome.
Madam Shen could not help but study Mu Wanting more closely. The Mu Wanting she knew in the past was passionate and unruly, with not a trace of the elegance and poise expected of a young lady from a noble family. She had only known how to use every possible means to chase after Xinglan, and had committed countless acts that brought shame upon herself and her family.
Yet the woman standing before her now was calm, elegant, and mindful of propriety; Madam Shen could not find a single fault with her conduct.
If only Mu Wanting could remain as she was now in the future, then perhaps she was not entirely unacceptable as a daughter-in-law.
She took a deep breath and said, “We shall discuss this matter later. The most pressing concern right now is Xinglan’s health and his injury.”
Madam Shen then spoke to the physician. “Dr. Li, could I trouble you to examine Xinglan’s wound?”
In Madam Shen’s view, an injury as severe as Shen Xinglan’s was certainly not something a young woman raised deep within the inner chambers could properly treat.
Shen Yujiao wore a look of triumph. Dr. Li was known for being strict and old-fashioned. She was certain Mu Wanting’s reckless actions would earn her a severe scolding.
Dr. Li pulled back the bandages to inspect the wound, and immediately furrowed his brow.
Shen Yujiao’s lips curled upward in anticipation.
“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Why did I never even think of stitching a wound like this?” Dr. Li’s brow smoothed out, and he began to praise the treatment repeatedly.
Afterward, he even politely sought advice from Mu Wanting for quite some time, completely ignoring the members of the Prince’s Manor standing nearby.
The smile froze on Shen Yujiao’s face. Why had he not scolded Mu Wanting? Instead, he was asking her for guidance?
Shen Xingchi was rather stunned. That a woman like Mu Wanting could command such respect that Dr. Li would lower himself to learn from her—could her method of treating the wound really be so innovative and remarkable?
After a brief moment of astonishment, Madam Shen smiled with deep satisfaction.
Xinglan risked his life on the battlefield and was often wounded. To have someone by his side who possessed such superb medical skills would bring her great peace of mind.
Shen Yujiao was not yet ready to let the matter rest, but Madam Shen pulled her away.
That night, Mu Wanting went to sleep without any pretense or reserve. She knew she needed enough rest so she would be in a good state of mind to handle important matters the next day.
Shen Xinglan, on the other hand, had intended to leave the wedding chamber, but Madam Shen had insisted he stay there and even ordered guards to stand watch outside the door.
He had no choice but to lie on his side and attempt to sleep.
The effect of the anesthetic had not yet worn off, so he felt no pain, and Mu Wanting slept soundly and properly, never once touching him.
He should not have had any trouble falling asleep, yet a faint scent of lemon balm kept drifting into his nostrils.
Every time he closed his eyes, the fragrance seemed to take on a life of its own, drifting deep into his heart and mind.
He could only open his eyes in frustration. Thinking of all the troublesome things Mu Wanting had done in the past filled him with even greater irritation and distress.
In a state between waking and dreaming, he heard Mu Wanting speak softly.
“The condition for me treating your injury is that you accompany me when I return to my family home to pay respects.”
There was still something of her mother’s in the possession of Mu Guozhong, something she needed to retrieve. To do that, she required Shen Xinglan to be there to lend her his status and authority.
Shen Xinglan scoffed. They were about to annul their marriage, yet she expected him to accompany her back to her family?
“Name another condition.”
Mu Wanting turned over, turning her back to him. “This is the only condition I have.”
Early the next morning, when it came time to pay respects to the elders, Madam Shen did not make things difficult for Mu Wanting at all.
Shen Yujiao, who had been ready and eager to find fault and cause trouble, was also stopped by Madam Shen.
She pouted, glared at Mu Wanting furiously, and wore an expression that clearly said, Just you wait and see.
After the ceremony, it was time for the newlyweds to visit the bride’s family. Shen Xinglan had refused her request the night before, so Mu Wanting had not held out any hope that he would come.
In her past life, Shen Xinglan had been knocked unconscious and had not accompanied Murong Rong back to her family home. Even though Murong Rong had flown into a violent rage, it had changed nothing.
And in this life, though Shen Xinglan had not lost consciousness, his injuries were still extremely serious. Added to that was the fact that he already detested her—so why would he ever agree to go with her?