Clad in nothing, she reached for her inner garment from the daybed.
As soon as her feet touched the floor, Jiang Wan’s legs gave way, and she stumbled forward uncontrollably.
Fu Ci reacted swiftly, catching her in his arms.
“Does it hurt badly?”
“It’s manageable.”
His gaze swept over the bed.
Faint traces still lingered on the sheets.
A particularly vivid crimson stain stood out.
The concern in Fu Ci’s eyes deepened. “If you’re unwell, don’t go to pay your respects.”
“I’m fine.”
Feeling somewhat awkward, Jiang Wan subtly withdrew from Fu Ci’s embrace. “Let’s have someone bring in water.”
She then sat before the dressing mirror, slowly combing her hair with a wooden comb.
If her memory served her right, the Old Madam had been poisoned this time, her condition critical. After the antidote was administered, it took her half a year to recover.
As for the culprit, Jiang Wan did not know.
In her previous life, Fu Ci had investigated everyone but found no answers.
Through the bronze mirror, she observed his tall, straight figure.
Jiang Wan said, “The Old Madam’s situation is urgent. Once you’ve freshened up, go to the east courtyard first. I’ll join you shortly.”
Fu Ci hummed in acknowledgment.
He pulled the bell cord, signaling the maids outside to prepare the water.
During the brief wait, Fu Ci simply watched Jiang Wan.
Her waterfall-like hair cascaded down her back, and as she combed, her sleeves slipped down.
Revealing half of her fair, delicate wrist.
On her wrist was a jade bracelet, the one he had given her three years ago when they were betrothed.
Back then, everything had been prepared, the betrothal gifts delivered, and a date set for their wedding.
But his father, while accompanying The Emperor on an incognito inspection, was assassinated.
He observed mourning at home, delaying the wedding until this year.
Little did he expect that Grand Tutor Jiang would harbor the intention of sending Wanwan into the Eastern Palace as the Crown Prince’s consort.
And even conspire with the Crown Prince to assassinate The Emperor.
When the plot was exposed, the Jiang family was bathed in blood.
If he hadn’t invoked his father’s merit in saving The Emperor, Wanwan would not have been spared.
Their eyes met in the bronze mirror, and Jiang Wan was the first to lower her gaze.
That strange feeling crept into his heart again. Fu Ci couldn’t shake the sense that Jiang Wan was avoiding him.
After much thought, the only reason he could think of was that he hadn’t been able to give her a grand wedding procession.
Instead, he had made her a concubine.
Fu Ci took two steps forward and took the comb from Jiang Wan’s hand. “Let me.”
Jiang Wan urged, “Hurry and change. We mustn’t delay the Old Madam’s matter.”
“It’ll be quick.”
The cool strands of hair slipped through his fingers, and Fu Ci inexplicably disliked this chilly sensation.
He voiced the question weighing on his mind.
“Wanwan, have I done something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why are you avoiding me?”
“That’s not the case. Don’t overthink it.”
As the words fell, both of them froze.
The response was too perfunctory, lacking any concrete reason.
Fu Ci even felt that Jiang Wan was unwilling to speak more than necessary with him.
“Wanwan, I’ll strive to give you whatever you want. Please don’t be so distant with me.”
Jiang Wan stopped evading and met Fu Ci’s profound gaze.
With a calm expression, she said, “I’m just not yet accustomed to married life. Moreover, the Old Madam fell ill as soon as I entered the household, which makes me uneasy.”
“I will handle Grandmother’s matter. Set your mind at ease; no one would dare criticize you.”
Jiang Wan nodded hastily, seizing the opportunity to retrieve the comb from Fu Ci’s hand.
“Go and attend to the Old Madam. If we delay any longer, others might start to resent me.”
Fu Ci’s expression darkened. “Let me see who would dare!”
“You are the current prime minister, so naturally no one dares to gossip in front of you.”
“You are my wife, so others wouldn’t dare either.”
Jiang Wan did not respond.
In her previous life, she had been so intoxicated by being called “wife” that she forgot her own worth, foolishly hoping to spend her life with Fu Ci, just the two of them.
Fu Ci also knew that lingering any longer would lead others to misunderstand Jiang Wan.
He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
“Take your time, don’t rush.”
“Mhm.”
Fu Ci strode out of the inner chamber.
Jiang Wan wiped her forehead with a handkerchief, reminding herself not to repeat the same mistakes.