Chapter Seventeen: Doubt

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“Madam!” Hong Dou quietly returned from the front courtyard. “I’ve found out everything. The young master got his arm burned in a fire and is on his way to see the doctor.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Song Xirui smiled faintly. “Serves him right. With his fate, even if I didn’t go after him, Heaven would have dealt with him.”

“Hmph, now the old madam will be crying and wailing for a while!” Hong Dou said gleefully.

—

In Luo Yun’er’s chamber.

Their affair had been exposed, and Su Yun brazenly entered Luo Yun’er’s room.

Mrs. Li had been crying and fussing for a long time. After she left, Luo Yun’er sat beside Su Yun with a gentle affection. “My husband, why are you still not better? You’re causing Yun’er so much worry.”

“I don’t know. It’s so unlucky. Not only did the granary catch fire for no reason, I was about to flee when I slipped and fell flat on the ground!” Su Yun’s anger flared as he recalled it.

He lay weakly on the bed, his arm burned, his head injured. He could only rest and recover.

Truly, his luck was cursed.

Seeing him in such a state, though Luo Yun’er was inwardly disgusted, she still wore a gentle and tender expression, which Su Yun appreciated greatly.

But the strange events that followed made it impossible for him to smile.

On the first day of recovery, Luo Yun’er fed Su Yun porridge, but she spilled it, and it landed on his leg, forcing another doctor visit.

On the third day, Su Yun was jolted awake by a nightmare and kicked out reflexively, hitting his head again, leading to yet another doctor visit.

On the fifth day, with Madam Feng’s help, Su Yun got up but slipped just after getting out of bed, injuring his arm once more.

This time, the doctor arrived promptly.

That was because Su Yun could no longer endure the endless injuries and had someone summon the doctor to stay for several days.

On the seventh day...

Mrs. Li could no longer bear it. Seeing her son’s condition not only unimproved but worsened after seven days, she whispered mysteriously, “Yun’er, this is probably possession by a ghost. I’ll bring a Taoist priest to have a look. We can’t just waste away without trying!”

Su Yun gritted his teeth in pain, weakly saying, “Mother, please don’t interfere. I know what I must do.”

After some further persuasion, Mrs. Li finally left.

The reason Su Yun forbade calling a Taoist priest was that he knew his own wife was far more capable than any priest.

Song Xirui had long told him that his fate was ill-starred—born under a cursed star.

Not only would he attract trouble, but trouble would find him even when he sought none.

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Wasn’t Song Xirui supposed to be changing his fate?

Why wasn’t it working now?

Could it be because of Yun’er’s matter that she was angered and stopped shielding him?

Thinking of this, he called for his personal attendant. “Go to Haitang Garden and inquire how madam is now.”

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the attendant returned with Song Xirui’s message.

“Young master, the young madam says her health is poor now. The things from before, she can only do her best, but she lacks the strength.”

“This fragile body! Why is she so easily ill!” Su Yun cursed under his breath.

The attendant silently muttered to himself,

Don’t talk about the madam—right now, you’re much worse off than she is.

Not long ago, the scandal involving young master and that cousin girl spread, and all the servants secretly sympathized with the madam.

After his frustration, Su Yun felt helpless.

He lowered his voice, “Go, take the jade token on my desk to my mother. From today on, the best medicine in the Su household is for madam. If she refuses, send her to me. Then go to the young madam and deliver my message.”

Only if Song Xirui recovered first would his miserable life not be snatched away by this cursed old Heaven!

—

On Song Xirui’s side, upon hearing the attendant’s message, she smiled and said, “My husband is so considerate. Shitou, tell him that I’m unwell now and can only do my best. To be as before, I need to fully recover first.”

“Yes.” Though Shitou was somewhat confused, he wisely asked no more.

Sure enough, five days later, as Su Yun’s body was covered in wounds with not a single unscarred spot, the strange incidents on him gradually faded.

Though occasional minor issues still occurred.

“Seems like it really is Xirui who has the solution,” Su Yun said casually as he looked at the healing scars on his hand.

Glancing up, he saw Luo Yun’er’s resentful gaze and quickly soothed her, “Yun’er, don’t be angry. Song Xirui can help me. If she falls ill, my body won’t recover either. You must bear with it for now!”

“Husband, I understand,” Luo Yun’er shook her head lightly, forcing a smile.

But inwardly she thought: Song Xirui is definitely faking her illness!

I must find a way to test her!

Then Luo Yun’er found an excuse, took Nurse Li, and stormed into Song Xirui’s courtyard.

—

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Song Xirui was speaking with Hong Dou inside the room when they heard a loud voice outside, “Young madam, your health is so good—why do you stay indoors all day?”

Hong Dou was startled. “That’s Nurse Li’s voice!”

“She actually came to cause trouble in my courtyard.” Song Xirui’s eyes darkened.

Then they heard Luo Yun’er speaking softly, “Nurse Li, please don’t say that. How could cousin sister be faking it?”

Song Xirui sneered coldly, “Quick, have someone take them away. If she wants to imitate me, I’m not happy about it!”

Just then, Nurse Li was about to raise her voice, but Hong Dou suddenly flung the door open.

“Stop arguing!” Hong Dou shouted. “Madam is ill. Your noise is disturbing her!”

“Nonsense, Hong Dou. Don’t think you’re untouchable just because you’re madam’s family servant. Our cousin lady only cares for madam!” Nurse Li deliberately raised her voice.

Luo Yun’er smiled and stepped forward gently. “Little maid, please step aside and let me see cousin sister’s true condition. Is she just sulking because of cousin brother, pretending to be ill?”

“Guards! Remove them from the courtyard!” Hong Dou ignored her and shouted as Song Xirui had ordered.

Immediately, the servants in the courtyard rushed out and seized the two.

Luo Yun’er panicked. “I’m cousin lady! How dare you treat me like this?!”

“That’s right, you unruly servants! Don’t you fear young master punishing you?” Nurse Li shouted curses alongside.

Hong Dou made a mocking face at them. “Madam is the legitimate wife. Cousin lady hasn’t even married in yet and is already causing trouble. Shameful!”

The two were thus driven out.

“Cousin lady, you better go find young master. He never liked madam and will surely support you,” Nurse Li said, trembling with anger.

Luo Yun’er’s eyes fixed firmly on the gate of Haitang Garden as she shook her head, “No need.”

“What? Are we just going to let this go?” Nurse Li could not believe it.

Luo Yun’er smiled at her. “Husband is bedridden now. Making a fuss is useless. I will speak to him myself.”

—

That night.

After being intimate with Su Yun, Luo Yun’er lay in his arms. Seizing his good mood, she whispered softly into his ear, “Husband, Song Xirui is faking it.”