Volume One, Chapter Six: A Serene Countenance

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“Mother, my eldest brother is blessed by fate; nothing will happen to him,” Luo Yan said reassuringly.

But Mrs. Yue couldn’t listen. Choking back tears, she said, “It’s all my fault for not explaining things clearly beforehand.”

Luo Qingming patted Mrs. Yue’s shoulder comfortingly. “Madam, don’t blame yourself. Perhaps this is simply Chen’er’s destiny.”

Meeting his father’s reproachful gaze, Luo Yan felt utterly wronged. They had merely been asked to stand in for his eldest brother to receive the bride—no special instructions were ever given.

His mother wasn’t crying over her eldest brother for the first time; he was worried too, but this couldn’t be blamed on him!

“Father, mother, the elder sister-in-law’s birthday is the same day as Yan Qingling’s,” Luo Yan said, deliberately raising his voice. After all, his mother was lost in self-blame, and his father’s heart was with her.

“The same day? So what… but didn’t you say she was the legitimate eldest daughter?” Mrs. Yue looked at her son in confusion.

Luo Yan nodded firmly. “I don’t know how it happened either, but it really is the same day.”

He had seen the family genealogy with his own eyes. It was clearly written there. Normally, only the legitimate eldest daughter’s name should appear, but Yan Qingling’s name shone brightly on the list.

“Perhaps they are twins,” Luo Yan speculated.

Hearing this, Mrs. Yue’s worried heart eased slightly, but she immediately looked anxiously at her husband.

“Husband, do you think when Chen’er recovers and learns that we arranged his marriage without telling him, will he resent us?”

“Don’t worry, he will understand,” Luo Qingming sighed. If it weren’t for necessity, they wouldn’t have done this.

If the master’s words were true—that the marriage could cure their son’s illness—they were willing to bear any blame.

Luo Chen’s eyes widened. What had he heard? His eldest brother didn’t even know he was marrying today; it was all his parents’ unilateral decision.

In the bridal chamber, after Jiumu finished washing up, she saw a man lying motionless on the bed—it was her husband for the marriage to bring good fortune, Luo Chen.

He lay flat on his back, a thin quilt covering his chest, hands folded on top, looking peaceful.

Jiumu glanced around the room; besides the bed, there was no suitable place to sleep, so she stepped over Luo Chen and climbed onto the bed herself, refusing to be humiliated.

“Is this man about to die?” she wondered.

Seeing Luo Chen showed no reaction, Jiumu pulled his wrist to check his pulse, then lifted his eyelids to examine his eyes.

She didn’t want to accidentally cause his death and be blamed for bringing misfortune to her husband!

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The next day—

Luo Chen woke feeling something pressing on his chest. Habitually, he reached out to touch it and felt something soft and smooth.

That texture was unmistakably human skin!

“How dare you! Who are you?” he said, pushing the person off him forcefully and sitting up quickly, his face full of caution as if he had encountered a venomous beast.

“Someone, call Sang Lin!”

Jiumu, still half asleep, was pushed away abruptly, her shoulder hitting the bedpost sharply, waking her instantly.

She knelt up angrily, fixing her hair with a scowl as she glared at the culprit who had pushed her.

“I only accidentally touched you once. Is it really necessary to be so dramatic? I haven’t even rejected you yet.”

Jiumu suddenly remembered that Luo Chen couldn’t hear or see her, making her words futile.

Annoyed, she slapped Luo Chen’s shoulder, “Don’t you dare push me again.”

“Who’s there? How dare you!” Luo Chen swatted the air, but caught nothing.

Jiumu dodged to the foot of the bed, smirking slightly with pride, but seeing Luo Chen’s confusion and helplessness, a flicker of pity stirred in her heart.

However, that feeling quickly vanished; she believed it must be the original owner’s body acting up!

She picked up an undergarment and put it on. If her wounds hadn’t been itching so badly last night, and if Luo Chen hadn’t been unable to see, she wouldn’t have taken off her clothes.

Perhaps she had unconsciously snuggled up to Luo Chen during the cold night.

“Why are you here?”

Jiumu looked up to meet a pair of clear, watery eyes by the bedside—it was Xia He standing there.

“Your Highness, I heard some noise and came to assist you in getting up,” Xia He said hurriedly, picking up clothes from the side.

Jiumu stepped down from the bed, took the clothes, and dressed while smiling, “Why be so nervous just to bring clothes?”

“I’ve never done this before and was afraid I wouldn’t do it well,” Xia He explained.

She dared not say that she was nervous because she had just seen the young lady hit the young master.

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This young lady’s boldness was extraordinary; if the marquis and madam found out, it would be troublesome.

Xia He resolved to be more careful from now on. As the young lady’s servant, if she got into trouble, she wouldn’t escape blame either.

“If you can’t do it well, learn slowly, but remember to be sincere,” Jiumu glanced at Luo Chen, who was trying to get out of bed barefoot, and said calmly, “Alright, go and call Sang Lin in.”

She circled to the table and sat down, looking at her reflection in the mirror—a face eight parts similar to her original self, not fierce at all!

However, the face did need some care; the skin was rough and a bit dark. She should find a way to nurture it.

Sang Lin soon entered and immediately reached out to support Luo Chen. “Young Master, be careful.”

Luo Chen grabbed his wrist and recognized him. “Sang Lin, who is in this room?”

“Your Highness, please sit down first. I will help you put on your shoes.” Although Luo Chen couldn’t hear, Sang Lin responded out of habit.

“Tell me, what exactly happened?” Luo Chen gripped his wrist tighter, his tone more urgent.

“Your Highness, I know I shouldn’t keep this from you, but the marquis and madam are doing it for your own good. When you recover, you can punish me however you want,” Sang Lin said, voice choked with emotion.

From their disjointed conversation, Jiumu sensed something was wrong. She looked back at Sang Lin and snapped, “Stop crying. What kind of appearance is that?”

Sang Lin was stunned and wiped his tears with his free hand. “Yes, I am just too worried about Young Master.”

“You said something was hidden from your young master. Could it be the marriage?” Jiumu guessed.

“Your Highness, the marquis and madam had no choice. Given the young master’s condition, there was no other way,” Sang Lin explained instinctively.

Previously, he would never have dared deceive the young master, but now that the young master was in this state, the master they hired said the marriage would help cure him, so they had to try.

“He really is pitiful!”

His situation was already miserable enough, and now he’s been “married,” bringing home a stranger as his wife.