Fu Qianqian joyfully cried out, then tremblingly attempted her first step.
Her movements were stiff, carrying the unfamiliarity of many years without walking, but her legs truly supported her as she moved forward.
One step, two steps…
“I… I can walk! I really can walk!” Fu Qianqian’s voice was filled with unbelievable ecstasy. She turned to look at Su Nuohan, tears rolling down like broken pearls. “Sister-in-law! I can walk! Thank you! Really, thank you!”
Overwhelmed with excitement, she tried to rush forward to hug Su Nuohan, but her legs were still weak. She staggered and almost fell, fortunately catching herself on the sofa in time.
At that moment, Madam Fu was also so excited that she could not speak. She could only keep wiping her tears. She had never imagined that her daughter would be able to stand and walk again.
Fu Chengyan was also looking at Fu Qianqian. A man who had not shown a smile for who knew how long suddenly let out a laugh, his eyes slightly red with excitement and joy.
At that moment.
Seeing that Fu Qianqian could not only stand but even walk a few steps, the tension in Su Nuohan’s heart finally relaxed. She closed her eyes—and fainted.
“Wife!” “Nuohan!”
The Fu family of three shouted anxiously when they saw her collapse.
“Quick! Quick, Yan’er, carry Nuohan to the room!” Madam Fu urgently ordered, then immediately sent someone to call a doctor.
Fu Chengyan carefully lifted her into his arms with unprecedented gentleness.
He quickly went upstairs, entered the room, and placed her carefully on the bed.
Madam Fu followed closely behind.
With the help of servants, Fu Qianqian also returned to the room.
All of them looked at the pale-faced, unconscious Su Nuohan, filled with worry and heartache.
Not long after, a servant hurriedly brought an old physician.
“Doctor, quickly, please check on my daughter-in-law!” Madam Fu urged anxiously.
The old physician nodded and quickly stepped forward to take her pulse.
After several breaths, he gently released her wrist.
“Doctor, how is she?” Madam Fu asked nervously.
The old physician shook his head. “Madam, there is no need to worry. The Young Madam is fine. She is only exhausted. I will prescribe some medicine for her to recover.”
Upon hearing this, the three members of the Fu family finally relaxed.
“It’s good she’s fine, it’s good she’s fine,” Madam Fu said happily, then gratefully thanked the doctor.
Fu Chengyan stood by the bedside, his deep gaze resting on Su Nuohan’s pale yet still breathtakingly beautiful face.
He recalled the fine beads of sweat on her forehead when she had been concentrating on acupuncture, and her utterly exhausted appearance at the end.
A complicated emotion surged within him—gratitude, guilt, and a trace of inexplicable heartache.
At that moment.
Fu Qianqian also looked at Su Nuohan’s pale face and said with guilt, “I’m sorry, sister-in-law. It’s all because of me that you fainted.”
Madam Fu walked over and gently patted her back.
“Qianqian, your sister-in-law is our family’s great benefactor, our lucky star. No matter what happens in the future, you must treat her well. Do you understand?”
Fu Qianqian nodded heavily. “Don’t worry, Mother. I will definitely treat sister-in-law well in the future.”
Madam Fu nodded in satisfaction. “Alright, let’s all go out. Let your sister-in-law rest well. Your legs have just recovered too—you should also go rest. Otherwise, it would be disrespectful to her efforts.”
“Yes, Mother,” Fu Qianqian replied obediently.
Madam Fu looked at Fu Chengyan. “Yan’er, stay and take good care of Nuohan. Don’t always think about official matters.”
Fu Chengyan nodded. “Alright.”
After the others left, the room became quiet, leaving only Fu Chengyan and the unconscious Su Nuohan.
Under the warm yellow light, her long eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyes as her breathing remained soft and shallow.
Fu Chengyan sat by the bed, quietly watching her.
“Have I really misunderstood you? Are you truly the young lady raised in the countryside of the Su family? Why are you completely different from the records we investigated?”
The way she handled everything made him increasingly curious.
……
Time slowly passed.
No one knew how long had gone by when a maidservant knocked gently on the door, holding a bowl of freshly brewed medicine.
“Young Master, the Young Madam’s medicine is ready.”
Fu Chengyan did not turn around. “Come in.”
The maidservant entered and handed him the bowl. “Young Master.”
Fu Chengyan turned and took the warm bowl. “You may leave.”
“Yes.”
The maidservant withdrew.
After a moment of hesitation, Fu Chengyan carefully lifted Su Nuohan’s neck, gently raising her head.
He then spoon-fed the medicine into her mouth.
In her drowsy state, Su Nuohan only felt a bitter taste entering her nose. She instinctively frowned, her eyelids twitching as if she wanted to open her eyes but could not.
Fu Chengyan patiently fed her spoonful by spoonful.
After finishing the medicine, he gently laid her back down and sat quietly by the bedside.
No one knew how long had passed.
A knock sounded again.
“Young Marshal, this subordinate has returned.”
Recognizing Qin Feng’s voice, Fu Chengyan looked at Su Nuohan once before stepping out.
“Young Marshal,” Qin Feng greeted.
Fu Chengyan nodded. “Over there.”
They walked to the corridor window on the second floor.
“Were the fifty silver dollars delivered?” Fu Chengyan asked.
“Yes, they were delivered,” Qin Feng replied.
“And their reaction?”
Qin Feng briefly described the Su family’s reactions in detail.
Fu Chengyan let out a cold laugh. “Even if I gave them one silver dollar, they would still have to accept it.”
Qin Feng nodded, then added, “Oh right, Young Marshal, the Su family suspects that the stolen assets were taken by the Young Madam.”
“What? Taken by her?”
“That is what the Su family claims.”
Fu Chengyan frowned slightly and fell silent.
Indeed, to completely empty the Su family’s possessions, it would require someone extremely familiar with the household. Otherwise, how could even the hidden compartments in the study be known so clearly?
But she was just a weak woman. How could she possibly empty an entire treasury without anyone noticing?
Even if she hired people, it would still be impossible to move everything without making noise. Carriages would be needed, and that would create sound. The Su family was not deaf.
Moreover, moving so many valuables would take more than one or two days.
Thinking of this, Fu Chengyan asked, “Did the Young Madam bring any dowry when she married in?”
“No. At that time, she came alone with me. Aside from the jewelry on her, she brought nothing.”
Fu Chengyan nodded. “I understand. You may go.”
“Yes, I take my leave.”
After Qin Feng left, Fu Chengyan returned to the room and sat again by the bedside, silently guarding her.