TRBDM -Chapter 16 Delivering the Medicine

In the study of Lan Courtyard, Shi Yi stared at the table full of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, the light in his eyes impossible to hide.

Xie Lan was the same.

“This was sent by Nanny Qi. She said it’s the best paper and ink in the capital. Shi Yi, I can barely bring myself to write on it.”

Shi Yi nodded eagerly. “Third Young Master, smell it—the ink is really fragrant.”

Back when Xie Lan lived in the rear courtyard, he and Shi Yi often played together. Whenever Shi Yi couldn’t finish his chores, Xie Lan would help him.

Since Xie Lan didn’t attend school, he spent his days mixing with the young servants in the back courtyard.

Still, he was selective. Among all the servants, only Shi Yi caught his eye.

“Shi Yi, Mother has agreed to send me to a private school. You’ll be my study attendant. You can stand outside the classroom every day, and you can listen and learn along with the teacher.”

Shi Yi’s eyes lit up. “I really can, Third Young Master?”

Xie Lan glanced outside and lowered his voice. “Shh, don’t let anyone hear. When I come back from school, I’ll give you half the paper. We’ll do our homework together.”

Shi Yi immediately dropped to his knees. “Thank you, Third Young Master. I’ll study hard.”

The two boys exchanged a smile, now sharing a secret that belonged only to them.

In the Eastern Courtyard, Dou Shuyao carried the freshly brewed medicinal soup to deliver it to Xie Chuan.

Xie Chuan was idly shooting birds with a slingshot. Whether on purpose or not, one pebble struck precisely at Dou Shuyao’s feet.

The hem of her skirt fluttered slightly, but her expression did not change in the slightest.

“How boring.” Xie Chuan tossed aside the slingshot and went back inside to lie down on the couch.

Hearing Dou Shuyao’s footsteps enter, he closed his eyes and turned his body away.

“Stop pretending. Get up and drink the medicine.”

Clang—the bowl of medicine landed heavily on the wooden table.

“Leave it there. I’ll drink it myself.”

Dou Shuyao knew her husband’s rotten temperament well—stubborn, single-minded to the extreme.

Even with Physician Xiao’s diagnosis beforehand and Liu Yi’er’s infidelity afterward, Xie Chuan would never admit that he suffered from kidney deficiency.

In the past, Dou Shuyao didn’t dare to confront him, because above her stood a biased mother-in-law.

The mistress of the household controlled everyone in the marquis manor. Dou Shuyao’s dowry and the first branch’s household allowances were all in Wei Zhaorong’s hands.

At the slightest sign of dissatisfaction toward Xie Chuan, she would receive either her mother-in-law’s cold glare or outright punishment. Though she was the legitimate daughter of the prime minister’s household, in the marquis manor she had to live cautiously, head lowered.

These past few days, however, Dou Shuyao had clearly sensed that the Old Madam had changed.

In the past, no matter how absurd or outrageous Xie Chuan’s behavior, Wei Zhaorong would either pretend not to see it or blindly shield and indulge him.

If it had been before, even if Wei Zhaorong had summoned Physician Xiao to examine Xie Chuan, she would have avoided letting her daughter-in-law know.

After all, family scandals should not be made public. As long as mother and son kept silent, Dou Shuyao would continue believing that the problem lay with her own body—that she was unable to conceive.

As a woman, unable to bear children for her husband’s family, she would surely struggle in the marquis manor, forever unable to hold her head high.

Yet Wei Zhaorong had arranged for both husband and wife to be examined together, and had Physician Xiao announce the results in front of them both. Dou Shuyao was certain that by doing so, Wei Zhaorong was, in another way, standing up for her.

So now, Dou Shuyao’s confidence was solid.

First, there was nothing wrong with her body—the problem lay with Xie Chuan.

Second, the Old Madam was on her side. She had backing.

“Xie Chuan, you must drink this medicine. If you don’t, I won’t leave.”

Wei Zhaorong had ordered Dou Shuyao to personally deliver the medicine each day for one reason—to ensure he drank every last drop.

How could the eldest branch of the marquis household be without a son?

Even if the heir had to be forced out with medicinal soup, there had to be one.

The “main account” had been ruined under Wei Zhaorong’s upbringing—no matter. She could discard it directly. But before discarding it, she had to secure a “secondary account.”

Starting from scratch with the younger one, Wei Zhaorong did not believe that after living two lifetimes, she still wouldn’t be able to raise a capable grandson.

“Dou Shuyao, what are you so smug about? I’m telling you—if there’s no Liu Yi’er, there’ll be a Huang Yi’er, a Sun Yi’er. But there will never be a Dou Yi’er.”

Xie Chuan cocked an eyebrow, putting on the full airs of a spoiled young master.

Instead of getting angry, Dou Shuyao smiled. “Fine. After these hundred days are over, you can look for whichever Yi’er you like. But Mother said that from now on, the entire allowance of the main branch will be handed over to me. If you don’t have shiny silver in your hands, do you think those Yi’ers outside the manor would be willing to fawn over you for nothing?”

“What?!” Xie Chuan shot up from the couch.

“Impossible. Mother would never do that. The allowance has always been given to me. Don’t try to trick me. Jealous woman—kicking me while I’m down, making up nonsense just to anger me while I’m confined by Mother.”

Dou Shuyao paid no mind to his blustering incompetence and continued calmly, “Mother said if you take your medicine obediently and correct your bad habits, your allowance can be discussed. But if you insist on smashing an egg against a rock, then you won’t get a single coin.”

“You—!!!!!!”

Like a wild goose with broken wings, Xie Chuan couldn’t fly out of the cage that was the Eastern Courtyard. Even his daily meals were now in Dou Shuyao’s hands.

He paced back and forth in the room, unable to believe Mother could be so heartless.

With a sweep of his sleeve, he snapped, “I want to see Mother.”

Dou Shuyao sat calmly in her chair.

“Whatever you have to say, tell me. I’ll pass it on to Mother.”

“What does it have to do with you? I want to speak to her personally.”

Dou Shuyao smiled. “Unfortunately, I just saw Mother before coming here. She said that seeing you gives her a headache. If you have anything to say, tell me, and I’ll convey it.”

Xie Chuan’s brows twisted into a knot. “Mother really said that?”

“Of course. Do you need Nanny Qi to testify?”

Xie Chuan fell silent.

Since Dou Shuyao dared to bring up Nanny Qi, she probably wasn’t lying.

She had always feared Mother; she wouldn’t have the nerve to use her as a shield.

“Stop dragging this out. Drink it. I’m busy,” Dou Shuyao said, tapping the table.

“You think I’ll drink it just because you tell me to? Where would that leave my pride?” Xie Chuan retorted.

As if remembering something, Dou Shuyao suddenly laughed. “You’re not afraid of the bitterness, are you? Xie Chuan, you’re a grown man—can’t even handle a little bitter medicine?”

“Nonsense. Why would I fear bitterness?”

“Then hurry up and drink.”

“Fine. I’ll drink.”

Unable to withstand the provocation, Xie Chuan lifted the bowl and drained it in one gulp.

Mission accomplished, Dou Shuyao had no intention of lingering for even a second. She stood and left at once.

At Anhe Courtyard, Nanny Qi was massaging Wei Zhaorong.

“Madam, over at the Eastern Courtyard, the eldest young master has finished the medicine. I didn’t expect the eldest young madam to truly have the ability to make him drink it. When you first suggested it, I almost tried to dissuade you. Now it seems I was shortsighted.”

Wei Zhaorong kept her eyes closed, enjoying the massage.

Nanny Qi’s hands were skilled; it had been many years since Wei Zhaorong had felt such comfort.

“Madam Dou has a brain.”

These three words of evaluation from Wei Zhaorong were extremely high praise.

Nanny Qi’s brows twitched. The eldest young madam had never been favored by Wei Zhaorong before, yet in recent days her attitude toward Dou Shuyao had changed considerably.

“The eldest young madam comes from the Prime Minister’s residence. Her upbringing was strict, and she studied under private tutors since childhood. Naturally, she is intelligent,” Nanny Qi followed along with Wei Zhaorong’s words.

Speaking of the Prime Minister’s residence—ever since the Prime Minister passed away, the Marquis Manor had cut off contact with them.

In her previous life, the Marquis Manor had truly owed Dou Shuyao a great deal.

“After a few days, go to the Prime Minister’s residence and invite Madam Dou’s younger sister over. Let the sisters have a gathering.”