Tang Zhou sat down by the bed and took Shen Zhixi’s hand in his.
“You’re awake. How do you feel? Is your head still dizzy? Does the wound hurt?”
Shen Zhixi shook her head, not caring that he couldn’t see.
At the moment, she only felt a lingering fear.
Earlier in the deep mountains, her mind had been hazy, and she had said many things. Looking back now, she broke into a cold sweat. Thankfully, she hadn’t said anything that would expose her, or it would have been over.
Though her mind had been unclear at the time, she remembered every word and action vividly.
She touched her lips, and the scene of their kiss under the moonlight resurfaced.
And the words Tang Zhou had said to her.
Tang Zhou had said she was good to him, and he was willing to marry her.
At the time, it had felt like a dream. Now, recalling it, her heart inexplicably raced with anxiety.
“You…” She took Tang Zhou’s hands and began her act again. “What you said earlier about marrying me—was it real, or did I dream it?”
Tang Zhou slowly reached out and touched her forehead, pressing his hand against it.
“Did the snake venom get to your brain and make you foolish? Did you think everything I said was just a dream?”
“I just wanted to confirm. I was afraid…”
“Don’t be afraid.” Tang Zhou withdrew his hand and patted the back of hers. “You originally planned to marry… the day after tomorrow. Let’s not change it. The day after tomorrow, we’ll get married.”
“The day after tomorrow.”
Shen Zhixi felt a surge of excitement—this day was finally coming.
“Yes, the day after tomorrow.”
Shen Zhixi was too overjoyed to speak, but Tang Zhou seemed lost in thought. His heart skipped a beat, and his eyes darkened as he slowly said, “I forgot—I only said I wanted to marry you but never asked if you were willing to marry me. I have no money now, I’m injured, and I’m blind. You…”
“I’m willing.”
Shen Zhixi sat up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and hugged him, whispering into his ear, “Tang Zhou, I’m willing. I’m just afraid you’ll feel wronged.”
“I’m not wronged.”
Tang Zhou hugged her back, holding her tightly.
“I’m not wronged,” he repeated emphatically.
“That’s good.” Shen Zhixi rested her head on his shoulder, her gaze drifting to the window as she murmured to herself, repeating, “As long as you’re not wronged.”
After a day of rest, Shen Zhixi’s foot injury had almost healed.
Early in the morning, she went out.
With the wedding tomorrow, there were things to prepare.
As soon as she returned to the Shen residence, Mama Cui began to fuss. “My dear, you finally remembered to come back. Do you know what people outside are saying about you?”
Shen Zhixi didn’t even look up, focusing on the bird’s nest soup in her bowl.
“What else could it be? They’re probably saying I’ve abandoned Qin Mu for someone new, that I’m fickle and promiscuous. What else is there?”
“What else? What more do you want?”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
“You know what you’re doing, but I—”
“Mama Cui, must you bring up such unpleasant things when I’m happy? Tomorrow, I’ll finally have Tang Zhou completely. With such a joyous occasion ahead, why mention those people? By the way, Mama Cui, I need you to prepare two sets of wedding attire. To avoid Tang Zhou’s suspicion, make them a bit rough, and don’t use too fine fabric. Also, get wedding candles, dried longans, lotus seeds, red dates, and yes, wedding wine.”
“But it’s not a real wedding. You…”
Shen Zhixi glanced at Mama Cui. Even if it wasn’t a real wedding, they had to put on a show. After all, she wouldn’t marry anyone else in the future. It was as if… as if she had truly married Tang Zhou once.
Just as she was about to speak, a message came from outside.
“Miss, Miss Fang Rou is here.”
Her eyes flickered, and she set down her spoon, feeling nothing but annoyance.
Fang Rou was that cousin of Qin Mu’s.
“Miss, should we let her in?” Yuanyang asked.
Shen Zhixi pushed the bird’s nest soup away and stood up, heading to the outer room. “Since she’s already here, if I don’t see her today, she’ll just come again tomorrow or the day after. Let’s see what she has to say.”
Soon after, Fang Rou was led inside.
Shen Zhixi fanned herself as she reclined in the rocking chair, sizing up the person before her.
Fang Rou had a certain charm—not the breathtaking beauty of a legendary figure, but the delicate prettiness of a modest young woman. It was just that her clothing was too plain, though even these garments were originally gifts from Shen Zhixi out of kindness.
When she first arrived, she wore coarse hemp clothes, even worse than what Shen Zhixi had worn in the bamboo forest cottage.
Out of respect for Qin Mu, Shen Zhixi had furnished her with many things. Yet Fang Rou had not asked for anything extravagant, only selecting simple, unadorned jewelry and clothing. At the time, Shen Zhixi had been completely fooled, believing her to be unassuming and content.
“Miss Shen, my cousin has been bedridden for half a month. Could you go and see him?”
Her tone was soft and gentle, always sounding pitiful and fragile.
Shen Zhixi ignored her question and instead asked, “And you, Miss Fang? You’ve been working at my shop for some time now. Are you adjusting well?”
Seeing Shen Zhixi evade her question, Fang Rou furrowed her brows, looking as if she were about to cry.
“Miss Shen, is it true what people are saying outside—that you’ve taken a fancy to a young master from the capital and are planning to abandon my cousin?”
“And what if it is true?” Shen Zhixi smiled as she looked at her.
“You…” Fang Rou’s eyes reddened. She took a step forward, raising her voice. “You’re so fickle and materialistic, abandoning someone you grew up with the moment you find someone better. Aren’t you afraid of being gossiped about?”
Shen Zhixi raised the corner of her eye, sneering at her. “If even you aren’t afraid, why should I be?”
“Me? What have I done?” Fang Rou looked on the verge of tears.
“You and Qin Mu, a man and a woman alone, are constantly seen together. Aren’t you afraid of being gossiped about?”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Tears welled up in Fang Rou’s eyes, falling in large drops as if she had truly been bullied by Shen Zhixi. “My cousin and I are completely innocent. Don’t slander us. Just because you’re fickle and disloyal, you see everyone else as dirty.”
Being pointed at and insulted, Shen Zhixi’s expression also darkened.
“Don’t forget, the food you eat, the things you use, the place you live, and even the few taels of silver you earn each month—they all come from me. Instead of being grateful, you come to my home to insult me. Fang Rou, even a stray dog would wag its tail at me if I gave it a few pieces of meat.”
“I… I…”
Fang Rou’s face flushed red, and her tears fell even faster.
“I just feel sorry for my cousin. He’s been bedridden for half a month and has been thinking of you all this time. I only came to ask if you could go see him.”
“Fine. Since you care so much about your cousin, go back. From now on, you don’t need to come to the shop anymore. Go back and take good care of your cousin. Also, the courtyard I arranged for you is too far from your cousin’s home, making it inconvenient for you to look after him. You should move into his house and care for him personally. As for the courtyard, I’ll be taking it back.”
“You…”
“Mama Cui, escort her out and have someone inform the shop manager. Also, send someone to reclaim the courtyard and escort Miss Fang to Qin Mu’s home.”
“Yes.”
Fang Rou’s face paled with panic as she refused to leave. Perhaps she hadn’t expected Shen Zhixi to be so ruthless in cutting off her retreat—taking back the courtyard and forcing her to move into Qin Mu’s home would only confirm the improper nature of their relationship in the eyes of others. What would people think?
“Miss Shen, it’s not like that, it’s not…”
Mama Cui was also annoyed by her and, with considerable strength, dragged and pulled her out in a few swift moves.
“This infuriates me,” Yuanyang cursed, standing beside Shen Zhixi and panting with anger. “What is she crying about? She came up here shedding tears for no reason—anyone who didn’t know better would think you had wronged her!”
“What is she crying about?”
Shen Zhixi set down her folding fan and straightened up.
“She’s crying because if I truly abandon Qin Mu, his plan to seize my family’s wealth will fall apart. Without wealth and prospects, what will Qin Mu have to support her comfortable life in the future?”
Upon hearing this, Yuanyang grew even angrier. “Shameless.”
Shen Zhixi rose and walked to the doorway, watching Fang Rou’s figure gradually being led away. She exhaled softly and said, “Forget it. Tomorrow is a joyous day—I can’t let someone like this ruin my good mood. I’ll settle the score with her slowly later. Tomorrow night is the wedding, and the time for my child to arrive draws nearer.”
As evening approached, Shen Zhixi and the other returned to the bamboo forest cottage.
Lifting the carriage curtain to look, she spotted Tang Zhou standing behind the fence from afar.