Sun Wanzhu stood there, frozen. She had always imagined that a third-rank official would be an old man with a beard, or at the very least, someone old enough to be her father.
She had never expected such a young, handsome man.
He was even more attractive than any other man she had ever seen.
She watched him walk closer, and she caught a fresh, pleasant scent of grass wafting from him.
Shen Yunxuan also noticed the girl staring at him intently. He presumed this was Sun Wanzhu, Zhou's relative from her maiden family, as Shen Fei had mentioned.
He shifted his gaze and looked at Zhou on the bed. He walked over and asked softly, "How are you feeling now?"
"Much better," Zhou replied. "Sir, this is my sister-in-law's younger sister. I asked her to stay and keep me company."
Shen Yunxuan nodded. "Anything that brings you joy is fine."
Zhou blinked in surprise and then nodded. "Thank you, sir."
"Rest early. I'm off to court," Shen Yunxuan said as he stood up.
Zhou nodded and glanced at Sun Wanzhu, who was still lost in her thoughts. "Wanzhu, escort the sir out for me."
Sun Wanzhu snapped back to attention. "Yes, elder sister."
Seeing Sun Wanzhu's expression, Zhou felt a pang of bitterness. Even though she no longer cared, her heart still ached.
Had she, too, once looked at the sir like Sun Wanzhu?
Had she wished to be the sir's woman?
A surge of emotion rose in her chest and eventually reached her throat. She quickly grabbed a handkerchief from under her pillow and coughed into it. Bright red blood appeared on the fabric.
Her eyes were filled with a deeper sorrow.
Outside the door, Sun Wanzhu's heart pounded. She didn't know how to speak and could only follow the figure ahead of her.
"Take good care of your sister," Shen Yunxuan said suddenly as he reached the main door.
Sun Wanzhu froze, then looked up to meet his dark eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her gaze, curtsying. "Rest assured, sir, I will."
Shen Yunxuan said nothing further and left in his carriage.
Sun Wanzhu gazed at his retreating figure, her face flushing. A man in such a high position, yet he knew how to care for his family and his wife. How could such a man not be captivating?
Sun Wanzhu knew she was smitten.
This was the husband she had envisioned in her dreams, and now he had appeared before her in reality. She was filled with happiness and excitement.
However, the only imperfection was that the primary wife was not her.
But what did it matter? Elder sister Zhou seemed indifferent. If she just tried a little harder, perhaps...
She couldn't ponder further, as her thoughts frightened her. How could she have such ideas?
"Madam, Miss Sun escorted the sir to the door and then lingered there for quite some time," Hongyan told Zhou everything she had witnessed.
Zhou sighed upon hearing this. "I understand."
"Madam, why are you pushing the sir away?" Hongyan was perplexed. Madam had only been married to the sir for half a year. There was no need to rush into taking concubines, especially when the sir himself hadn't mentioned it.
Zhou smiled. "If I don't agree, do you think my sister-in-law would give up?"
"But Madam, you shouldn't allow others to stab you in the heart just to satisfy your sister-in-law!" Hongyan said indignantly.
"If I don't agree, Mother won't stop either. It's better to let her try now. As Mother said, it's better for her to be a concubine than someone else."
"Madam, I really think you shouldn't do this. If..."
"That's enough, stop trying to persuade me. This is all fate," Zhou said, lying back down on the bed.
Did her mother not know what Hongyan knew? Did her brother not know? They simply saw her as a stepping stone to their own advancement.
Who truly cared about her feelings?
Xue Xingyue was delighted to hear that Madam Xiao Min intended to take her to the residence of the Minister of Justice. She had already met Shen Yunxuan, the Minister of Justice, and if she could meet him in person, she could let him know she was a little princess.
Madam Xiao Min prepared everything and took Xue Xingyue into the carriage bound for the Minister of Justice's residence.
Zhou was delighted to hear that Madam Xiao Min was bringing the little girl, and her illness seemed to have improved by more than half.
A quarter of an hour later, the carriage stopped outside. Madam Xiao Min, holding Xue Xingyue, stepped out. Hongyan was waiting at the entrance and quickly went forward to greet them. "Madam Shi, you've finally arrived. My madam has been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
Madam Xiao Min said, "Take me to see your madam."
Hongyan nodded and led Madam Xiao Min towards Zhou's courtyard. "Hongyan, where are you going?"
Hongyan looked up at Sun Wanzhu and curtsied. "To Miss Sun, this is Madam Shi, the wife of the Assistant Minister of Justice."
"So it's Madam. Greetings," Sun Wanzhu said, curtsying.
Madam Xiao Min glanced at Sun Wanzhu and nodded faintly, then said to Hongyan, "Let's go!"
After walking for a while, Madam Xiao Min finally spoke, "What's the deal with this Miss Sun?"
Hongyan, finally finding someone to confide in, said, "Madam, you have no idea how much suffering my madam endures."
Madam Xiao Min quickly asked, "What happened?"
Hongyan recounted everything.
Madam Xiao Min sighed, "She's truly muddled!"
Upon arriving at Zhou's courtyard, Madam Xiao Min handed Xue Xingyue to Hongyan, asking her to take the child out to play. She then entered and looked at the pale, emaciated Zhou on the bed, saying with concern, "Sister, how did you become like this?"
"Sister..." Zhou couldn't help but shed tears upon seeing Madam Xiao Min.
Madam Xiao Min quickly took out a handkerchief she carried and wiped Zhou's tears. "Sister, look at how you've tormented yourself; you're barely recognizable."
"Sister, my heart aches," Zhou said slowly.
"You're more than aching; you're utterly foolish," Madam Xiao Min couldn't help but say.
Zhou blinked in surprise, tightly gripping the quilt. "Has Hongyan told everything to Sister?"
Madam Xiao Min stepped forward, took Zhou's hand, and said, "Sister, you are a shrewd person. How could you do something so foolish? Let me ask you, did Lord Shen demand to take a concubine?"
Zhou shook her head. "No."
"See, you are truly muddled! Since Lord Shen did not demand a concubine, why did you voluntarily keep her here? Do you want Lord Shen to have a house full of wives and concubines?"
"Sister, I... I just couldn't refuse my mother."
"Foolishness. Sister, let me tell you, you are married now. Although your maiden family can be your support, you must also be clear-headed, not everyone can be kept close. Especially since your Lord Shen is so outstanding, do you think that sister of yours would be indifferent?"
"Sister, she... she seems quite honest and virtuous."