Su Mei’s bowl of sweet soup turned the main branch of the Wei Duke’s household upside down.
Lin Henglǐ suffered vomiting and diarrhea, struggling for over two hours before collapsing into exhaustion. He had barely fallen asleep when the physician discovered he was running a mild fever.
“Send someone to tie up that madwoman!” Princess Jiaxi shouted, seeing her grandson in such a state, furious beyond measure.
Hearing that her grandson had been drugged, the Wei Duke also came to check. He sneered, “You want to act now? How will you explain this to the Zhongyi Marquisate later? The Wu family is here as well. This isn’t a time to let you twist the truth.”
“Duke! At a time like this, you’re siding against me? Isn’t this your eldest grandson?!” Princess Jiaxi almost choked, her face flushed a dark red.
“Mother wants to protect Henglǐ, yet she’s trying to kill him to be satisfied!” Madam Li sat on the edge of her son’s bed, crying out loud.
The maids in the room shrank back, afraid to speak, while Lin Yizong, holding his head, said, “She’s so stubborn, fixated on Third Miss. Why bother letting her harm Henglǐ? The whole capital is laughing at us. Honestly, Third Miss might not be able to calm her either. If anything goes wrong at the banquet, our family will be utterly embarrassed!”
The Wei Duke listened to his son’s resentment, still speaking coldly, “I warned you at the start. You should have let her go with Third Miss. Instead, you all jumped around like grasshoppers, insisting on your own trouble. Now you know it’s impossible to turn back? Henglǐ brought this upon himself!”
“Third Miss, Third Miss!” The husband’s words cut deeply into Princess Jiaxi’s heart. She grabbed a cup from the table and threw it at him. “Your heart belongs only to that wretched Third Miss! The legitimate heir and eldest grandson must give way to her! What kind of person is he? I can’t handle Su Mei, but can’t I deal with a concubine-born son?!”
She shouted, ordering Lin Yian to be brought over.
It wasn’t Lin Yian. How could Su Mei have done such a thing to her eldest grandson, attacking him and giving him medicine? Maybe it was that wretched brat stirring trouble.
The cup flew toward Wei Duke’s face. He turned his head, but shards still scratched his hand, leaving a small cut.
Hui Momo, watching anxiously, called for the young maid to fetch ointment.
The Wei Duke finally lost his temper. Pointing at Princess Jiaxi, he scolded, “Shrew! This is not the imperial palace. You have no right to act this way! Today, it’s the eldest who suffers. Who insisted that the Third Miss take her place? You, the legitimate mother! Now the concubine-born son is injured and ignored, yet you trouble matters repeatedly. If I have to send a memorial to the throne, cutting off the careers of the eldest and second sons, will that satisfy you? Your family’s maddest one is you. If you dare touch the Third Miss again, I will risk my life and go to the palace to demand justice and divorce you!”
The couple’s long-suppressed grievances exploded, and Princess Jiaxi staggered back. When she regained her senses, the Wei Duke had already left.
Breathing heavily, she was finally somewhat subdued, staring at her grandson who lay like a wooden doll in a dreamy stupor.
Madam Li, seeing the argument, lowered her crying voice, secretly cursing Su Mei and Lin Yian. She occasionally signaled her husband to further reason with Princess Jiaxi.
The invitations for the banquet hadn’t been sent out yet. There was still time to manage everything.
Lin Yizong buried his face in his hands, sighing. Now, as his father had said, they were truly trapped between a rock and a hard place.
While the elders fought, Lin Henglǐ drifted in strange dreams. Su Mei appeared in them, delivering a hard slap to him.
He turned his head in shock, and a pair of brightly burning dragon-and-phoenix candles came into view. Panic and pain twisted inside him. He tried to speak, but the dream ended when he saw Su Mei wearing her bridal headdress and gown.
“Grandson awake!”
A voice full of joy came to his ears. A tiny candlelight flickered before him. It took him a moment to see the maid holding the candle, bowing to him.
It felt like a nightmare. He had dreamed of being slapped by Su Mei, perhaps on their wedding night.
Lin Henglǐ sat up slowly, feeling ridiculous. Even if he married Su Mei, there would be no wedding night like that. But the pang in the dream was clear, a mix of regret and resentment gnawing at him, impossible to shake off.
The next day, news of Lin Henglǐ’s recovered health reached Lin Yian.
Su Mei was being guided in answering exercises, with absurd questions about how she would react to certain people in different situations. She was losing patience. Upon hearing one question, she grew even angrier, tossed her pen down, and snorted, “It’s already fine? I should have poured the whole bag in. He wouldn’t have gotten out of bed for three days!”
Lin Yian flicked her forehead with his fingers.
“Who allowed you to throw the pen? Pick it up. No matter how angry, you can’t take it out on objects.” His expression was serious.
Su Mei froze, then held her forehead and exaggeratedly cried, “Ow, ow! Xu Langzhong, I think I’ve got another bump on my head. Quick, come give me acupuncture!”
Wu Zisen, wiping a sword nearby, trembled. His cousin’s theatrics were enough to make him kneel. He asked Lin Yian, “Are you sure she can behave in front of others like this?”
Lin Yian had no answer for her constant antics. Watching his cousin nearly in tears, he remained silent.
Su Mei, seeing neither responded, pouted and stood from the chair. She walked toward Wu Zisen expressionless.
Wu Zisen, intimidated, froze. Su Mei had a history of sudden attacks, even on Lin Henglǐ. Was she about to do the same to him? Maybe she would secretly slip him laxatives?
She smiled faintly, hands folded gracefully, and performed a flawless bow.
“You’re exaggerating, cousin. The third Master is a senior. Speaking to a senior, you don’t address them casually.”
Her etiquette was perfect. Lin Yian looked at Wu Zisen with a teasing glance, silently saying: Who says you can’t do it?
Wu Zisen, satisfied, clapped. Su Mei’s skill was undeniable.
Suddenly, she slapped his head hard. He yelped. She grabbed her skirt and laughed, hiding behind Lin Yian. “You deserve it for insulting me in front of my husband!”
Her hair, loosely tied, brushed Lin Yian’s forehead. The soft touch sent a shiver down him. He gently pushed her hair aside, pointing at the desk. “You look more like yourself now, but finish your exercise.”
Su Mei pouted and returned to the desk. The room fell silent except for the scratching of her pen. Lin Yian leaned back, watching her concentrated expression, recalling how she had respectfully addressed him as Third Master earlier. That was her true temperament.
Before her engagement to Lin Henglǐ, Su Mei had been gentle, intelligent, and admired among the capital’s young women.
Lin Yian instinctively tried to grasp something, imagining their life together once all returned to normal. His chest felt heavy, yet he refused to dwell on the emotion, caught in inner conflict.
“Third Master, the Duke has sent for you.”
Shi Tou’s arrival snapped him back. He composed himself and went to see his father.
He could not remember the last time he met his father alone. In the study, seeing his father’s aged face brought clarity.
He was about to bow when the Wei Duke pressed a hand on his shoulder. “I know you feel wronged, but don’t be dispirited. I’ve spent half a month looking for a specialist for injuries. The doctor is on the way to the capital.”
The Wei Duke had not seen him since his return. These words were unexpected.
Moved, Lin Yian bowed his head. “Thank you for your concern.”
“You are my son. This concern is natural. I only ask you this: what are your feelings toward that young girl from the Su family? If you like her, I can act on your behalf.”
The Duke’s offer was genuine, not a test.
Lin Yian’s heart skipped. This was a real opportunity to claim someone he cared for.
“I only want to be true to myself,” he replied, smiling. His eyes were clear and sincere.
The Wei Duke paused at that, then sighed, instructing him to care for his health and wait for the specialist.
Their meeting lasted only a few minutes, typical of father and son.
Later, his stepmother summoned him. Princess Jiaxi said nothing, only letting Hui Momo show him a list: “There will be a banquet in five days. Be present when needed.”
He saw that Su Mei’s stepmother Du Shi and Su Qin were on the guest list. At such a formal occasion, they would appear.
Returning to the courtyard, he understood why Princess Jiaxi had spared him trouble. Lin Henglǐ was with Su Mei in the study. Their interaction lacked past friction, and Su Mei even smiled at him.
Lin Henglǐ left courteously, calm as if the previous chaos never happened.
Lin Yian’s eyes darkened. Wu Zisen whispered, “He must be mad, telling her to cooperate for a day, not call you husband in front of others, then the wedding will be completed afterward. He even got the Lin family’s approval!”
“If not for the clarification being necessary, I would flip him off,” Wu Zisen muttered.
Lin Yian pressed his lips. “Let him handle it. Xu Langzhong said the swelling on Su Mei’s head is gone. Once the blood clots clear, she may even recall things herself.”
Wu Zisen worried. “Are you sure this will prevent her from marrying into the Lin family after clarification?”
Lin Yian, smiling faintly, said, “I suppose…”
Wu Zisen frowned. “Stop being vague. What do you mean, ‘suppose’?”
After a moment, Lin Yian promised, “She will not marry Lin Henglǐ. That is certain.”
Wu Zisen nodded, satisfied.
Su Mei leaned on Lin Yian’s shoulder, asking playfully, “Husband, how did we not have a wedding? Did we elope?”
She blushed, tugging his sleeve. “You’re foolish. Just get her pregnant. Who would dare deny it? Maybe even two in a year!”
Lin Yian stiffened, pulling his sleeve back, determined not to understand her suggestion. He resolved to lock all doors and windows at night.
The banquet date arrived as planned.
All the ladies who received invitations understood the purpose and came with anticipation. Many young women, curious or hoping for scandal, also attended.
When Su Mei reached Princess Jiaxi, she passed by Madam Li, smiling sweetly. “Good morning, sister-in-law.”
Madam Li’s eyes widened.
Lin Yian coughed softly, explaining, “Sister-in-law, Third Miss speaks plainly. You just need to supervise.”
Su Mei smiled, feeling cherished by her husband.