Chapter 62 Marrying her as a wife, Qian, son Qian...

Wang Yan ate his bowl of wontons absentmindedly. What would he look like today, dressed in new clothes and wearing a crown? With that noble hat on his head, would he be one step closer to the court?

After setting down the bowl, Wang Yan helped dry, grind, and decoct the medicine, still thinking of doing something for Jishengtang, even if her efforts were meager. There weren't many patients today, so Xu Ning'an lay with her in the backyard, basking in the warm sunlight.

"Wenxuan, I actually envy you a lot."

"Hmm?" Wang Yan immediately opened his eyes and turned to meet her gaze.

Xu Ning'an looked at the wintersweet tree in the yard and said, "You are very important to your family."

Wang Yan smiled and said, "Who would think their family isn't important? They are just as important to me."

Xu Ning'an didn't answer, seemingly lost in memories. Wang Yan hesitated for a moment before asking, "Does your family live in your hometown?"

“I have no family.” Xu Ning’an reached out to stroke the yellow plum blossoms that were just beginning to bloom, as if she were actually picking up a piece of its fragrance. “My mother passed away many years ago.”

Wang Yan realized his mistake, apologized, and remained silent. Xu Ning'an closed her eyes and smiled, saying, "But I really like my life now. Being a doctor at Jishengtang, treating the sick and saving lives, is no easy feat."

“Your mother will be so happy for you.” That’s what her mother always said every time she came home from fooling around with Li Changling. She was only happy to see her, worried about whether she was hurt, and didn’t care what earth-shattering things she had done outside.

Wang Yan sincerely praised, "Ning'an, you are a very capable doctor."

Xu Ning'an reluctantly accepted, "It's alright. I'm still a bit far from being a master."

Wang Yan closed his eyes and joked, "I've heard that you're the next hall master."

Xu Ning'an jumped up, her eyes wide, "Who told you that?"

Wang Yan opened one eye, peeked out, then closed it again. "Everyone's talking about it."

"I'm going to ask Zhu Yu!"

The courtyard fell silent instantly, except for the yellow plum tree rustling in the breeze.

Realizing the time was running out, Wang Yan went to the kitchen and cooked a bowl of noodles, then stood in front of the door to shield herself from the cold air. Half an hour passed, and Wang Yan had no choice but to eat the cold noodles and make another bowl. When she opened her eyes and woke up, the noodles in the bowl were gone. Didn't she make another bowl...? Did she fall asleep after eating the first bowl and make it in her dream?

Just as she was wondering what was going on, someone came in without knocking. Shen Minghuai entered the room, his clothes damp with sweat, placed the bedding beside her bed, and then went to sit by the stove.

Why did you change your clothes so quickly?

Shen Minghuai raised his wet eyes, his features seemingly even more handsome. Looking at the handsome man emerging from his bath before her, she suddenly felt no regret at not seeing him in his official robes. Wang Yan coughed awkwardly, "Was the noodle good?"

It's clumped together.

"It's gone mushy again?!" Wang Yan frowned, then lightly scolded, "It's all because you're not punctual. The noodles have gone mushy from waiting."

Shen Minghuai slightly opened his nightgown and walked towards her. "It's my fault. I deserve to eat this lump of noodles."

She bent over to straighten the bedding, her collar wide open, revealing a glimpse of her skin. Wang Yan blushed crimson, and with her back to him, said, "When did I give you permission to spend the night here?"

Shen Minghuai slowly wrapped his arms around her waist, whispering softly in her ear, "I've already brought the bedding, are you really going to refuse me?"

Wang Yan had just turned her head when a crisp, snow-like kiss landed on her. She staggered back to a corner, his kiss following closely behind. Wang Yan's cheeks flushed crimson, like a ripe, red fruit waiting to be picked.

Shen Minghuai pressed his forehead against hers and asked in a hoarse voice, "Are you really going to reject me?"

Wang Yan wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled sweetly, "Happy birthday."

The candlelight dimmed in the room, and he lay down beside her bed, just like back in Shimen Village. Wang Yan turned to the side, finding his shadow in the faint candlelight.

What name did your elders in the clan give you?

Shen Minghuai mumbled incoherently, "Hmm? Ziqian."

"Ziqian, Ziqian..."

Wang Yan murmured his words repeatedly, a smile playing on her lips. She slept soundly through the night. When she rose at dawn, the bedding was gone, and his presence was nowhere to be found in the room. There was no trace of him, as if she had just had a long dream. As she changed her clothes, she noticed a red thread bracelet on her wrist, clearly telling her that everything that had happened yesterday was real.

Xu Ning'an has been rarely seen these days, especially when she's not seeing patients. It's said that foreign delegations have come to the capital, bringing back many novelties she's never seen before. Yesterday she brought back a silver-fox fur coat, today two ginseng roots, and tomorrow a bottle of rose water. Wang Yan was surprised that she had finally decided to indulge in such extravagance, until she saw Zhu Yu following behind her. She immediately understood: this was still the same Xu Ning'an who spent money wisely; the two ginseng roots must have been bought with her own savings.

Since that night at Jishengtang, Shen Minghuai hadn't stayed at her place for so long. He had to accompany Prince Wei to receive the delegation and also discuss matters with Prince Su; Wang Yan hadn't seen him for several days. On the other hand, Li Changling, despite not having been seen for days, Wang Yan knew he hadn't left the capital, but unexpectedly, he had gone to various restaurants to learn how to cook. This morning, he brought over a bowl of seven-treasure porridge and rattled off fifteen dishes, saying he would cook a different one every day for half a month without repeating a single dish.

"Senior brother, there's no need for this. I've never blamed you for this."

"I know, but this will make me feel better."

Before he could explain in detail, Li Changling went on another house call with a doctor. About two hours later, Wang Yan was solving the Nine Linked Rings puzzle when Li Changling rushed into the courtyard to recount his experience.

"Do you know where I just went? To the Prince Wei's residence!"

"The Prince Wei's residence?" Wang Yan was surprised for a moment, then became wary and asked, "The Prince Wei's residence has imperial physicians summoning them, so why would they seek out people from Jishengtang?"

"Don't worry, it's not the Prince Wei, it's the Princess Wei."

Li Changling warmed a pot of tea for himself before continuing, "The Princess Consort of Wei had a small dog that fell ill. The imperial physicians couldn't cure it, so they went to Jishengtang. Doctor Xu used to be a veterinarian, and he cured the dog in no time."

"There are quite a few nobles in the palace who keep cats and dogs. Doctor Xu is probably about to rise to prominence." Wang Yan put the untied ring aside, took out a cake of Longyuan Shengxue tea, and prepared to make tea.

Li Changling poured all the hot tea into the teacup. "Speaking of which, did you know that just yesterday, the Marquis of Anxi's in-laws suddenly returned to the capital?"

The Marquis of Anxi, the Xie family. Her elder brother hadn't come for several days; she wondered what he was busy with. But what did the Marquis of Anxi's in-laws returning to the capital have to do with her? Wang Yan was only curious when her senior brother had started paying attention to these things. Li Changling told her that Wang Zhen had been spending his time either with Prince Su or with that Xie family lady lately, and that something was likely to happen.

Three days later, Wang Zhen appeared along with a family letter. His mother, Li, had written an entire page full of admonitions, while his father only added a sentence at the end.

May your family be well.

Wang Yan carefully put the letter away and tentatively asked, "Brother, when can I return to the manor?"

Wang Zhen carried a box of newly made winter clothes into the house, avoiding her gaze, "It will probably be after the New Year."

No matter how beautiful the winter clothes are, I have no desire to wear them. Wang Yan slumped listlessly on the table. "Am I going to spend the New Year alone at Jishengtang?"

“Father and Mother can’t come, but I can keep you company on New Year’s Eve.” Wang Zhen stroked her head, staring at the red string on her wrist. “About you and Shen Minghuai—”

"Brother, what's going on between you and Lady Xie?" Wang Yan preemptively asked, catching him off guard.

Wang Zhen paused for a moment, "Was it Lan Zhi who told you this? I... want to marry her."

"Marry her?!" Wang Yan was truly stunned by this news. "How long have you known her? Do you know what kind of person she is? Do you know anything about the Xie family? Do you like her? And you want to get married like this!"

Wang Zhen comforted her and made her sit down, then smiled and said, "Aying, not everyone's marriage is based on love. But you only need to choose someone you like."

"You mean, your marriage is for personal gain?" Wang Yan couldn't understand. With the power of the Wang family, she could choose, so why couldn't her brother? Besides, their parents had never forced him to fight for power, so why would he sell his marriage for personal gain?

"What benefits does the Xie family still have? One is a neglected general, and the other is related to Prince Yi by marriage."

Wang Zhen hadn't expected her to be so angry, so he could only try his best to soothe her, saying, "Aying, you've never liked these things, so don't bother with it. Your brother knows how to weigh things."

"Brother!"

Wang Yan watched Wang Zhen's departing figure with resentment, wanting to return to the manor immediately to demand an explanation. She was so angry that she couldn't even eat lunch. When Li Changling returned from the market and saw her looking sullen, he quickly stir-fried two of Fenglelou's signature dishes and took them to the backyard.

Li Changling was very satisfied with his cooking skills and quickly finished a full bowl of white rice. Seeing that she hadn't touched her chopsticks, he asked suspiciously, "Is it because of Yi Heng, or is it not to your liking?"

Wang Yan picked at her rice with her chopsticks for a couple of seconds, then sighed heavily. Not wanting to disappoint him, she forced herself to eat half a bowl of rice, sighing all the while.

Li Changling nodded her head. "If there's a problem, solve it. Sighing is just a waste of energy."

“My brother made the choice himself, what can I do about it?” Wang Yan recalled Wang Zhen’s words just now, how could she not worry? Usually, this brother would protect her and let her do whatever she wanted, but she couldn’t let her brother have his way even once.

“It can’t be said that I chose it myself,” Li Changling said, lying on Xu Ning’an’s sun lounger. “It’s still because Heng is too proper and polite.”

Wang Yan quickly straightened up and asked, "Why are you being so proper and respectful? Why did you accept this marriage proposal, brother?"

“Just two days ago, Madam Xie accidentally fell into the water and was rescued by your brother who was passing by… So you have to take responsibility for this.” Li Changling was lying comfortably with his head on his hand, but upon hearing Wang Yan’s words, he suddenly sat up with a start, his eyelashes lowered as if he were about to fall asleep.

"Brother can't swim! How did he save Madam Xie? He must have been tricked by the Xie family!"

Upon learning the reason, Wang Yan was furious. He put on a sable fur coat and was about to confront the Xie family, but was stopped by Li Changling.

"Wait, wait, wait—Yi Heng can't swim? There must be some misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? I won't marry you!" Xie Ji slammed the door shut.