10
In the courtyard
Wen Huai’an’s brow twitched the moment he saw the servants carrying over a spotlessly clean ceramic vat. A sudden sense of foreboding arose in his heart.
“This vat…?”
“It’s for you to soak in the potion,” Tang Cheng said as she directed the servants to place the vat on the stone-built stove.
Wen Huai’an froze. The sense of foreboding in his heart grew stronger.
“Why not a wooden bathing tub?”
Tang Cheng looked at him quizzically. “Didn’t you say you wanted to finish soaking in the potion and leave quickly? That’s why I had them prepare a vat. While you soak, we’ll add some fire to heat it up, helping your body absorb the potion faster. Don’t worry, it’ll only take about the time it takes to burn one incense stick—very quick.”
The Marquis of Nanyang, hearing his precious daughter’s words, silently felt a moment of sympathy for his future son-in-law, then strolled back to the main hall with a rather cheerful mood to have his meal. He left behind his trusted servant Jia to attend to Wen Huai’an.
He felt that his appetite was now so good he could easily finish five big bowls of rice.
Wen Huai’an: “…”
“I think the wooden tub would be better.”
The thought of himself soaking in a potion bath inside a vat while someone else added firewood below made him feel like a piece of meat being cooked. Wen Huai’an’s scalp tingled.
Tang Cheng furrowed her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows and made her own decision. “I need to take my afternoon nap soon, so we’ll go with the vat. Everything’s already prepared.”
“I can take the potion back to my residence and soak there,” Wen Huai’an quickly responded.
Tang Cheng looked at him sharply, her beautiful apricot eyes full of distrust.
“No. You’ll soak right here. Don’t try to find loopholes.”
Wen Huai’an: “…”
Nanny Cao and Nanny Gao: “…”
The four maids: “…”
The elderly physician, continuing to pretend he wasn’t there: “…”
“Fourth Miss, when it’s time to tend the fire, let this old servant do it. I’m quite skilled at tending fires,” Nanny Cao said with a light cough, volunteering herself.
Tang Cheng glanced at Nanny Cao. She knew exactly what Nanny Cao was thinking but didn’t mind. “Fine.”
The servants worked quickly. In no time, everything was ready. As they left, they silently sympathized with the Heir of Wen. Now, only trusted people remained in the backyard. Tang Cheng stared directly at Wen Huai’an and urged him:
“Hurry up and get in.”
Wen Huai’an hesitated for a moment, then, with the help of Servant Jia, removed his brocade robe and upper garments.
Everyone else in the courtyard turned away, but Tang Cheng widened her apricot eyes and unabashedly looked Wen Huai’an over from head to toe, several times.
Feeling Tang Cheng’s gaze following him everywhere, Wen Huai’an’s mouth twitched. He quickly stepped into the ceramic vat filled with hot water.
“Nanny Cao, light the fire,” Tang Cheng said, reluctantly withdrawing her gaze.
Nanny Cao hurried over, crouched in front of the stove, and skillfully lit the fire. Before long, the firewood was burning steadily.
Tang Cheng sauntered over with Zhenzhu and Hupo and praised her approvingly.
“Not bad. You really are skilled at tending fires.”
Nanny Cao: “…”
Wen Huai’an inside the large vat: “…”
“Wen Huai’an, tell me how you feel as you go. This is very important, because I’ll be soaking in the potion myself afterward. For the sake of the child in my belly, you, as the father, should also contribute.”
Tang Cheng stood in front of Wen Huai’an, lightly patted his shoulder with her delicate, fair hand, and spoke with a smile.
Wen Huai’an’s handsome face suddenly tightened. He was so startled he nearly jumped out of the vat.
“You’re going to soak in the potion?”
“Yes. This body-strengthening potion was originally meant for myself. I’m very protective of what’s mine. Aside from Father, only you, the father of my child, get to enjoy this benefit. No one else gets that treatment. Aren’t you touched?”
Touched?
Wen Huai’an, who was about to be “cooked” in front of everyone, didn’t feel touched at all.
“Speechless with emotion, are you?”
Tang Cheng patted Wen Huai’an’s shoulder again and cheerfully misinterpreted his silence.
Wen Huai’an: “…”
Why had he stayed to be tormented by Tang Cheng? Wen Huai’an suddenly wondered if his mind had gone foggy. How did he end up acting so unlike himself whenever he encountered Tang Cheng?
After all, what happened between him and Tang Cheng had been an accident. Wen Huai’an had been the victim of a scheme and was about to leave when he came across Tang Cheng, who had drugged the Fourth Prince but was foolishly betrayed by her own maid. He had a rare moment of kindness and rescued her from a lecherous libertine with peculiar tastes, only to be wrap around by Tang Cheng, who was delirious from the drug.
The two of them spent several rounds of passion in the nearest side room.
What followed was the scene of being caught in the act. Later, Tang Cheng became pregnant, and he became engaged to her.
Regarding the child in Tang Cheng’s belly, Wen Huai’an had complex feelings. This might be his only child in this lifetime. To say he didn’t care would be false. A few days ago, when Tang Cheng made a fuss about aborting the child, he appeared indifferent on the surface, but no one knew how much anger and grief he felt inside.
Zhenzhu and Hupo: “…”
Nanny Cao continued to tend the fire with her head down.
“Don’t worry. I won’t joke around with the child in my belly. The body-strengthening potion is very mild in nature. Using it is extremely beneficial for pregnant women—it ensures a safe and smooth delivery of a healthy child.”
Tang Cheng was quite satisfied with Wen Huai’an as the father of her child. For once, she took the trouble to explain. She turned and instructed Zhenzhu.
“Zhenzhu, go get the brush, ink, and paper. I’ll need to take notes.”
Zhenzhu acknowledged the order and left.
Wen Huai’an looked at the elderly physician from Jihe Hall, who had been pretending to be invisible. The old physician nodded at Wen Huai’an.
“What Fourth Miss Tang said is correct. The potion is mild in nature. As long as the dosage is appropriate, the Marquis’s situation won’t occur.”
The elderly physician was very attentive to the body-strengthening potion.
Tang Cheng hadn’t kept the formula a secret, so the old physician was naturally fully aware of it.
Hearing this, Wen Huai’an felt somewhat reassured.
A moment later, Zhenzhu returned with paper and brush, and had even prepared a table and chair—quite thoughtful.
Tang Cheng began her experiment. She added the dark, murky body-strengthening potion into the large vat according to her estimated dosage.
The elderly physician observed from the side.
Nanny Cao truly was skilled at tending fires. She controlled the heat perfectly—the water temperature in the large vat was neither too hot nor too cold, ensuring Wen Huai’an wouldn’t be scalded.
Wen Huai’an soon began to feel the effects of the body-strengthening potion. It seemed as though something was seeping into his limbs and bones, tingling and numb, yet extremely comfortable.
“I didn’t lie to you, did I? It’s very comfortable, isn’t it?” Tang Cheng sat on a chair, propping her chin on her hand, her beautiful apricot eyes full of pride.
Wen Huai’an suppressed the shock and disbelief in his heart and answered truthfully, “Indeed, it’s very comfortable.” Then he described his sensations in detail.
Tang Cheng diligently took notes.
The two were very close. Wen Huai’an could easily see Tang Cheng’s handwriting—those crooked, uneven characters made the corner of his mouth twitch. His gaze inadvertently fell upon Tang Cheng’s beautiful, delicate face. With her head lowered and focused on taking notes, she looked elegant and serene, giving off a sense of tranquil beauty. Wen Huai’an’s mind wandered for a moment.
“Ahem!”
A light but deliberate cough interrupted Wen Huai’an’s gaze.
He snapped back to reality and met the knowing, almost teasing look of his future father-in-law. His handsome face stiffened slightly, and a sudden sense of foreboding arose in his heart.
**