11
Tang Cheng who was busy taking notes, looked up when she heard her father the marquis’s voice. A little surprised that he had come over so quickly, she asked with concern, “Dad, you finished eating so fast. Are you full?”
“I’m full.”
The Marquis of Nanyang was pleased by his precious daughter’s concern. His little girl had grown up and now knew to worry about her father—how delighted he was.
Of course, he would never admit that he had wolfed down his meal simply so he could sit back and watch his future son-in-law get “cooked.”
That boy, Wen Huai’an, had been completely captivated by Cheng’er, and the marquis couldn’t help feeling a little smug about it.
He knew his precious daughter was the best—what a lucky brat.
“Cheng’er, are you taking notes?” The marquis strolled over to Tang Cheng and glanced at the crooked handwriting on the paper. His eye twitched, and he briefly considered hiring a calligraphy teacher for her. But remembering that his daughter had always hated studying, he quickly dismissed the thought.
“Yes, I need to keep good records so I won’t have to worry when I prepare the medicinal bath.”
Tang Cheng made no attempt to hide the fact that she was using the child’s father as a guinea pig.
The Marquis of Nanyang shot a sidelong glance at Wen Huai’an in the large vat and said with a grin, “You’re doing the right thing, Cheng’er. You can try gradually increasing the dosage to test his tolerance.”
Thinking of the suffering he had endured himself, the marquis found Wen Huai’an, who was soaking comfortably in the medicinal bath, even more irritating.
“Young Lord Wen, this body-strengthening medicine is too precious to be used on anyone else. You’ll have to bear with it.”
Wen Huai’an in the vat: “…”
His earlier bad feeling had been right—the marquis was going to make him suffer.
“No complaints. You’re absolutely right, Marquis.”
The Marquis of Nanyang nodded with satisfaction.
The elderly physician: “…”
Nanny Gao and Nanny Cao, the maid tending the fire, exchanged worried glances when they heard the marquis’s words.
Fourth Miss Tang was so troublesome, and the marquis was largely to blame.
Tang Cheng thought her father’s reasoning was excellent. She turned to Wen Huai’an and offered some encouragement.
“Don’t worry. There’s a saying: ‘He who endures the hardest hardships becomes a true man.’ After you finish this treatment, you’ll be reborn—strong as an ox and hungry enough to eat a whole pig.”
The Marquis of Nanyang gave her a thumbs-up. “Cheng’er, your literary talent is getting better and better!”
He had clearly forgotten that Tang Cheng had said the exact same thing when he was the one soaking in the medicinal bath.
Wen Huai’an’s mouth twitched.
He could no longer look at the words “literary talent” without feeling unsettled.
A dignified high-ranking official like the Marquis of Nanyang who would have thought he could be so unreliable in front of Tang Cheng?
When it came to spoiling a daughter without principles, no one could beat him.
“Dad, I’m not the same person I used to be. In the future, you’ll see that I’m like a treasure trove—the more you explore, the more surprises you’ll find.”
Tang Cheng raised her chin with a proud smile.
She was a young lady from a family steeped in ancient culture—see? Even her father, a true ancient, praised her literary talent.
The Marquis of Nanyang smiled at Wen Huai’an. “Young Lord Wen, as the one about to explore this treasure trove, you’re truly lucky.”
Tang Cheng looked as if to say: You’re getting a great deal.
Wen Huai’an found the father-daughter duo difficult to handle. Meeting the marquis’s slightly threatening gaze, he forced out a response: “You’re right, Marquis. I am indeed very lucky.”
The Marquis of Nanyang showed a satisfied smile.
But that didn’t mean he would stop making things difficult for him. His gaze fell on Nanny Cao, the maid tending the fire. She really was skilled—she controlled the heat beautifully.
“Cheng’er, Nanny Cao was sent by the Duchess of Zhen to serve you. She’s not our household servant. Let’s find someone else to tend the fire.”
Nanny Cao, who had been stoking the fire, looked anxious.
Tang Cheng didn’t care who tended the fire. Hearing that her father wanted to replace her, she immediately agreed.
“Whatever you say, Dad.”
Wen Huai’an’s handsome face stiffened slightly. Here it comes—the marquis is going to torment him.
He was nothing more than meat on a chopping board, destined to suffer.
He smiled bitterly to himself.
“You—tend the fire,” the marquis said, pointing at a young servant.
The bewildered servant bowed in acknowledgment.
“Yes, Marquis.”
He walked anxiously to the stove and crouched down. Seeing that the flames seemed a bit small, he quickly threw in a few more pieces of firewood, then grabbed a round fan and fanned the fire vigorously. He was quite panicked—he had never tended a fire before. What if he lost control of the heat and accidentally cooked Young Lord Wen?
Upon seeing Second Servant Boy’s actions, Nanny Cao gasped sharply, her face turning pale.
The four senior maids couldn’t bear to watch.
Poor Young Lord Wen!
“Well done.” The Marquis of Nanyang gave Second Servant Boy an approving look, then sat down on a chair brought over by First Servant Boy.
Emboldened by the marquis’s praise, Second Servant Boy worked even harder.
The Marquis of Nanyang smiled with satisfaction.
Nanny Cao and Nanny Gao watched from the side, their hearts pounding in terror, until they could no longer hold back.
“Marquis, the fire is burning too fiercely. The young marquis may not be able to bear it.”
Inside the large vat, Wen Huai’an felt the water temperature rising rapidly and wished he could leap out.
Now he truly was a piece of meat waiting to be cooked.
He must not have burned enough incense before leaving the house today.
Tang Cheng waved her hand dismissively.
“No problem. I’m planning to increase his dosage anyway. A stronger fire will help speed up absorption.”
With that, Tang Cheng personally walked over and poured the medicinal powder into the water. Noticing that Wen Huai’an hadn’t fully submerged his body, she furrowed her delicate brows.
“Keep your head out. Everything below the neck goes into the water.”
Wen Huai’an: “…”
That was a horrifying way to put it.
Still, he complied.
The elderly physician: “…”
Hearing his precious daughter’s words, the Marquis of Nanyang cast a gloating smile at Wen Huai’an, then took a leisurely sip of tea. Ah, the weather is wonderful today.
Time passed slowly.
Wen Huai’an found himself in pure agony. Pain racked every inch of his body, his handsome face turned deathly pale, and large drops of sweat fell from his face into the water.
Tang Cheng stood beside him, asking about his condition and taking notes while cheering him on. “A real man can shed blood but not tears. A little pain is nothing worth mentioning. You’ll definitely get through this.”
The Marquis of Nanyang, who had been listening nearby, cleared his throat lightly and struggled to suppress a laugh.
“The water is too hot.”
Wen Huai’an barely managed to squeeze out the words. He was about to be boiled alive.
The servant boy tending the fire turned pale with fright and hastily pulled out a few burning pieces of firewood.
Nanny Cao and Nanny Gao watched the young marquis’s miserable state, tears welling up in their eyes.
Poor young marquis, you’re suffering terribly.
Too hot?
Tang Cheng was surprised. She stood up and walked over to take a look. Seeing the black water in the vat billowing with steam…
It was a bit frightening.
Tang Cheng: “…”
She quickly turned her head away and cleared her throat lightly.
“So that’s why I thought I smelled cooked meat earlier—it wasn’t my imagination.”
“Hurry up and lower the heat. Pour some cold water in. Don’t cook Young Lord Wen.”
The four senior maids: “…”
The Marquis of Nanyang let out a muffled laugh.
Wen Huai’an, his entire body boiled—no, scalded—red, had a dark expression on his face. He closed his eyes, unwilling to speak.
He looked rather pitiful.
Nanny Cao and Nanny Gao were heartbroken, but they were merely servants and could do nothing but watch helplessly as the young marquis suffered.
Second Servant Boy pulled out two more pieces of blazing firewood, while First Servant Boy fetched a bucket of cold water and poured it into the large vat.
The temperature inside the large vat dropped.
“Zhenzhu, go pour a cup of honey water for Young Lord Wen.” Feeling guilty, Tang Cheng decided to make amends. After speaking, she looked at Wen Huai’an apologetically and took out a clean, simple handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his handsome face.
“Maybe we should let Nanny Cao tend the fire after all?”
Wen Huai’an: “…”
“Mm!”
Upon hearing this, Nanny Cao quickly went over to tend the fire.
This time, the Marquis of Nanyang said nothing.
This future son-in-law had good character. Even after being tortured mercilessly, there was not a trace of resentment or anger in his eyes. The marquis was extremely pleased with such composure and bearing. It seemed he no longer had to worry about his precious daughter being wronged in the future.
Zhenzhu brought over a large cup filled with honey water.
Tang Cheng personally fed Wen Huai’an the water.
She was being remarkably attentive.
“I’ve never waited on anyone before. You’re the first.”
Tang Cheng’s beautiful apricot eyes stared straight at Wen Huai’an, her expression clearly seeking praise.
Wen Huai’an: “…”
“I’m deeply honored.”
The Marquis of Nanyang watched with a sour feeling in his heart and couldn’t help but glare at Wen Huai’an.
A quarter of an hour later, Wen Huai’an, having completed the final round of medicinal testing, finally climbed out of the large vat. As the excruciating pain vanished, he felt a dramatic transformation in his body and stood there completely stunned.
**