After the delicate and soft-spoken wife gave up, the aloof and powerful minister embraced her and sh

Chapter 42 Play hard to get

To make the performance more convincing, after Granny Zhao left, Wen Jiayue planned to have Ruyi fetch the family doctor.

Ruyi asked, "Which physician would you like to see, Madam?"

There are four physicians in the Marquis's residence. One of them specializes in treating palpitations and is dedicated to treating the old lady. The remaining three...

Wen Jiayue recalled that before her death, the eldest princess ordered that she not be given any medicine, and all the other physicians in the palace avoided her like the plague.

Only a young physician from the prefecture secretly came to take her pulse, and he was the one who prepared the last bowl of herbal soup she drank.

At that time, she was in a daze and vaguely remembered that her surname seemed to be Su.

Wen Jiayue then asked, "Is there a physician named Su in the manor?"

After a moment of hesitation, Ruyi said, "The four doctors are surnamed Qian, Li, Zhang, and Wu respectively. There is no doctor with the surname Su that you mentioned."

Wen Jiayue pondered silently, "That doctor probably hasn't entered the mansion yet."

"Perhaps I've misremembered," she laughed. "Go and fetch the physician on duty today."

Ruyi agreed and soon brought over an elderly doctor with graying temples.

The doctor, looking quite spry, said, "Greetings, Madam. My surname is Qian, and this is my apprentice, Su Ye."

Wen Jiayue looked up in surprise. "Surname Su?"

She glanced over instinctively, and sure enough, it was the person who had taken her pulse in her past life!

Wen Jiayue immediately felt a sense of kinship and chatted casually while placing her hand on the wrist rest: "How old is Master Qian's apprentice?"

Mr. Qian calmly draped the handkerchief over his fair wrist before speaking.

"Sixteen is not yet qualified to serve you noble people. After he has studied for a few more years, I will give him my position and then I will travel the world."

Mr. Qian was a talkative man, and Su Ye stood aside with his hands clasped, making him seem like a taciturn person.

Wen Jiayue glanced at him a couple more times and smiled, "I feel like we're destined to be together."

Su Ye's expression then showed some change, and he looked up at her.

Old Qian chuckled and said, "If Su Ye has the opportunity to serve the madam in the future, that will be his good fortune."

Wen Jiayue nodded politely, but in her heart she thought that this was her good fortune.

It's nothing special to add flowers to brocade, but it's more appreciated to offer charcoal in the snow.

Old Qian withdrew his hand and said solemnly, "Madam is in good health and has taken excellent care of herself during her postpartum period. Madam need not worry."

Wen Jiayue sighed: "But lately I've been feeling quite exhausted and listless, and I don't know why."

Mr. Qian naturally understood the intricacies of the situation, and upon hearing her say that, he immediately changed his tune.

"You've just finished your postpartum confinement period, so it's best for you to rest for a while longer and avoid overexertion."

“I will naturally listen to you,” Wen Jiayue said. “If the old lady asks about this matter, we will need Mr. Qian’s help.”

She glanced at Ruyi, who then handed over the silver.

Mr. Qian chuckled and said, "It's only right, Madam, you don't need to be so polite."

Wen Jiayue personally saw them off at the door.

Seeing that the person had disappeared from sight, Ruyi quickly said, "Madam, you are truly amazing! How did you know there was a physician named Su in the manor?"

Wen Jiayue said mysteriously, "I feel like I've heard that somewhere before, probably in a dream. I can foresee the future."

Ruyi didn't believe it at all, and after a moment she asked expectantly, "Then what about my future?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Jiayue's smile froze, and the image of Ruyi's pale body flashed through her mind.

She lowered her eyes to hide her unease, and spoke mysteriously while fiddling with her fingers.

"I've done the calculations, and I predict you'll have a peaceful and safe life, and after marrying Changsheng, you'll give birth to two big, healthy boys!"

Ruyi's face turned so red it could boil shrimp: "Oh, Madam, please don't make fun of me!"

She ran away shyly, and Wen Jiayue watched her retreating figure and sighed softly.

Half past noon, Shen Fuhan returned to his residence.

Upon seeing him, Wen Jiayue's heart was still racing, her mind drawn to the spot he had sucked on the night before, leaving her flustered and at a loss.

But then she suddenly remembered where he had just gone, and Wen Jiayue pursed her lips.

After a moment's pause, she tried to find out about Li Zhilan.

"Your Excellency has been staying at the Princess's residence for so long, you must have seen the Princess by now, right?"

Shen Fuhan glanced at her and nodded slightly.

His expression remained indifferent, revealing no emotion.

Wen Jiayue asked with a smile, "Did you also have lunch at the Princess's residence?"

He walked into the inner room, and a faint smell of alcohol wafted over.

She clenched her fists. She'd even been drinking with Li Zhilan? So soon?

“No,” Shen Fuhan took off his outer robe, “I ran into a colleague on my way back to the manor and we ate at a restaurant.”

He appeared clear-headed and articulate, and his movements were methodical. Apart from a slight smell of alcohol, there was no indication that he had been drinking.

In the four years since their marriage, Shen Fuhan has never been drunk, whether it is a natural talent or something he has learned later in life is unknown.

Wen Jiayue's tense nerves immediately relaxed.

"How is the Princess?"

Shen Fuhan paused for a moment while hanging up his outer robe before speaking: "You seem to care about her a lot."

It's the same thing again; instead of answering the question, they leave the question to her.

Wen Jiayue pursed her lips and said stiffly, "It was just a casual question, is it not allowed by the Marquis?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, unsure whether it was from the effects of the alcohol or from feeling irritable.

Wen Jiayue was too lazy to guess and chose to ignore it.

Shen Fuhan sat down, slowly drank a cup of tea, and then spoke: "The Princess is very well."

Seeing that he had answered, Wen Jiayue immediately pressed, "What did the Marquis and the Princess say?"

Shen Fuhan looked directly at her, his expression calm.

"It's naturally a matter of repair."

He showed no impatience, nor did he beat around the bush, which left Wen Jiayue somewhat bewildered.

Can she believe what he says?

Wen Jiayue bit her lip and asked, "Then... is the Princess satisfied with the Marquis?"

These words made Shen Fuhan frown.

Wen Jiayue quickly said, "I was referring to the repairs."

"I don't know," Shen Fuhan said. "The renovation plans are still being revised, and construction has not yet started."

There was a hint of impatience between his brows, as if he was thoroughly annoyed by the eldest princess.

Wen Jiayue lowered her eyes; construction hadn't even started yet... No wonder it took three years to finish.

Who exactly is stalling for time? The Eldest Princess or... Shen Fuhan?

If it's the former, that's perfectly normal.

If it's the latter, is Shen Fuhan still playing hard to get?

Wen Jiayue pondered for a moment and asked, "My lord, may I take a look at the blueprints?"

Shen Fuhan scrutinized her and asked in a low voice, "Why are you looking at this?"

Wen Jiayue met his gaze without flinching.

"I was thinking that, as a woman myself, perhaps I understand the princess's preferences better."

Shen Fuhan refused: "You don't need to know her preferences."

Wen Jiayue said sincerely, "But I really want to befriend the Princess, so that I might be able to help the Marquis in the future."

Shen Fuhan said coldly, "I've said it before, you're not on the same path."

He was subtly angry, but Wen Jiayue clenched her fingers, refusing to back down.

"So, the Marquis and the Eldest Princess are on the same side?"