My Husband Never Oversteps The Bounds Of Propriety - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Scheming

Rain fell throughout the night, a continuous, fine thread tapping against the glazed tiles of Yuanlan Pavilion. It gathered into strings, dripping from the upturned eaves and splashing into blossoms on the bluestone slabs below. In the misty rain, the flora in the courtyard appeared exceptionally lush the greens were strikingly vibrant, and the reds and pinks grew more vivid.

Shen Jiuyuan sat on a chaise longue by the window, holding a ledger of the Su Manor’s social gift exchanges from previous years. Lady Lin had given this to her so she could familiarize herself with the family’s complex social network. Although her eyes rested on the lines of text, half of her mind was tied to the incident of the servant falling into the water at the second branch’s residence.

Lily (Linglan) entered carrying a cup of freshly brewed Biluochun tea, placed it gently on the small table by the couch, and whispered: “Young Lady, news has come from the second branch. Sister Su-luo’s high fever has subsided a bit, but she is still groggy and occasionally mutters nonsense. The Second Mistress has invited a Taoist priest from Baiyun Temple outside the city to perform a ritual at the manor tomorrow.”

Shen Jiuyuan set down the ledger and took the tea cup, her expression shifting into deep thought. In the middle of winter, though the South was not as frigid as the North and the lake water had not yet thinned into ice, why would a maid like Su-luo go to the lakeside for no reason? According to her sister, she had even brought a man along and then suddenly fell into the water. There was absolutely more to it than met the eye.

It had only been a few days since Shen Jiuyuan arrived at the Su Manor, yet such an incident had already occurred. This could not help but make her alert. It seemed the Su Manor was not as peaceful and prosperous as it appeared on the surface.

“A ritual? It seems Second Aunt is convinced the manor is ‘unclean’.”

“Indeed,” Lily lowered her voice. “The servants are all whispering in private now; they say all sorts of things. Some say a maid drowned here years ago, others say someone offended a deity. Everyone is on edge.”

As mistress and servant spoke, a somewhat noisy set of footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard, accompanied by hushed voices in dispute.

“Matron Song, I beg you to announce me once more. Su-luo… she seems to be failing!” a female voice pleaded through sobs.

“Hasn’t a physician been called already? The Eldest Young Grandmother was also startled today and has just rested. Whatever it is, speak of it tomorrow.” This was Matron Song’s slightly displeased voice.

Shen Jiuyuan’s eyes flickered, and she raised her voice: “Lily, go see what is happening outside.”

Lily went out and returned a moment later with a strange expression on her face. “Young Lady, it is Su-luo’s younger sister, a small maid named Su-juan. She is crying and begging to see you, saying Su-luo’s condition is critical. She vomited up the medicine the physician prescribed, and it looks like she won’t make it. She heard you were kind today and wants to beg you to take a look; perhaps there is a way…”

Su-luo’s sister actually came to beg me? Shen Jiuyuan was slightly surprised. She was a newcomer, a substitute bride who in the eyes of others could barely protect herself. Why would Su-juan resort to such a desperate measure and seek her out? It was truly odd. Could it be that because she had rewarded a maid with a bracelet yesterday, Su-juan felt the Eldest Young Grandmother was an easy person to work with?

Shen Jiuyuan hesitated whether to involve herself in Su-luo’s affairs. Some matters are worth stepping forward for, but meddling too much can easily draw fire upon oneself.

Lily said anxiously: “Young Lady, you cannot go. Everyone in the manor says Su-luo was struck by something evil. If—if you catch something ‘unclean’ or if she cannot be cured, it will only bring disadvantage to you.”

Shen Jiuyuan pondered for a moment, then slowly rose: “Change my clothes; I will go take a look.”

“Young Lady!” Lily gasped.

“A human life is at stake.” Shen Jiuyuan dressed composedly, her expression subtle and inscrutable. “Go and fetch that small red sandalwood medical box I brought that day.”

The box was a relic from her mother. Inside were some common pills and powders Shen Jiuyuan had formulated based on her mother’s journals. While they couldn’t cure “unclean” supernatural phenomena, they were effective for alleviating acute symptoms. More importantly, this was an opportunity an opportunity to break the stalemate and demonstrate her value.

Risk existed, certainly. But if she was timid and hesitant, she would forever remain a “transparent” person in this Yuanlan Pavilion, despised by the crowd and rejected by her husband.

Shen Jiuyuan donned a lotus-green cloak embroidered with lotus patterns. Lily carried the medical box and held an umbrella by her side. Two senior female servants followed behind, and Su-juan ran along at the rear. The group hurried through the rain toward the Splendid Pavilion of the second branch.

Inside the pavilion, the servants were not as chaotic as the day before, yet everyone looked heavy-hearted and uneasy. Lady Wang sat in the outer room with her palms together and her eyes closed, muttering something, her face pale. Hearing the commotion, she jerked her eyes open. Seeing Shen Jiuyuan entering with her attendants, she was stunned for a moment before forcing a smile.

“Jin-er’s wife, why have you come? The rain is so heavy…”

“I heard Sister Su-luo’s condition is poor. My heart was unsettled, and since I know a bit of medical theory, I came to take a look; perhaps I can help a little.” Shen Jiuyuan untied her cloak and handed it to a matron as she spoke.

Lady Wang was half-doubting, but seeing Shen Jiuyuan’s calm and sincere expression, and seeing Su-luo on the bed truly at death’s door, she sighed: “It is thoughtful of you. Go and see, but… sigh…”

The inner chamber was thick with the scent of medicine mixed with the heat radiating from the patient. Su-luo lay on the bed with her eyes tightly shut, her cheeks flushed a deep, unnatural red, and her lips cracked and peeling. Her breathing was rapid and weak—truly a sign of critical danger. Beside her stood two helpless physicians and several terrified maids.

Shen Jiuyuan stepped forward. She carefully observed Su-luo’s complexion, eyelids, and tongue, then placed her hand on the girl’s wrist to check her pulse. The pulse was floating, disorganized, and rapid; her skin was incredibly hot.

Shen Jiuyuan was no miracle doctor, but her mother’s journals recorded such things in great detail. This was a case of “wind-cold entering the interior and turning to heat,” coupled with signs of convulsions—it was not the work of some evil spirit. She looked at the prescription the physicians had written; it was appropriate for the symptoms, but Su-luo was overly startled and her spirit was unsettled, causing her “stomach qi” to rise, which made it difficult for her to keep the decoction down.

Shen Jiuyuan opened the medical box, took out a small white porcelain bottle, and poured out two cinnabar-red pills. She said to Su-juan: “Fetch some warm water to dissolve these pills. Give them to her slowly in small, frequent amounts. This medicine has the effect of calming the spirit, settling fright, and stopping vomiting.”

These pills were carefully prepared by Shen Jiuyuan using cinnabar, coptis, and pinellia. She had prepared them for her own emergency use or for those close to her, but now they proved useful. Cinnabar settles fright, coptis clears heat, and pinellia descends the “rebellious qi”—exactly what was needed for this condition.

Su-juan hurriedly followed the instructions. Perhaps the pills were effective, or perhaps Shen Jiuyuan’s calm demeanor provided a form of reassurance, but the feeding process went much more smoothly than before. Though Su-luo remained unconscious, she no longer vomited violently. Shen Jiuyuan then instructed them to dampen cotton cloths with warm water to gently wipe Su-luo’s forehead and limbs to help dissipate the heat.

Her movements were gentle and her expression focused, as if she were performing an ordinary task. Her composure invisibly influenced the panicked crowd.

After nearly an hour of work, Su-luo’s breathing seemed to stabilize, and the high fever showed signs of receding. Lady Wang came in to check, and seeing the progress, she could not help but show surprise. She took Shen Jiuyuan’s hand and said: “Jin-er’s wife, it is truly thanks to you. I didn’t expect you to have such skill!”

Shen Jiuyuan replied modestly: “Second Aunt overpraises me. I merely happen to know a little bit of the basics; I am glad I could help.”

At that moment, a maid announced from the outer room: “Madam, the Eldest Young Master is here.”

Shen Jiuyuan’s heart stirred. Since marrying into the Su Manor, it had been three or four days, yet she had only seen Su Jin once, when he came with Su Yu. In other words, though she was his wife, seeing Su Jin was no easy task. Hearing the announcement now brought her a secret flash of pleasant surprise.

She looked up to see Su Jin entering. He wore dark, casual clothes, his shoulders damp with rain clearly, he had just returned from outside and rushed here upon hearing the news. Su Jin’s gaze swept across the room and rested on Shen Jiuyuan for a moment. He remained as detached and emotionless as ever. He said to Lady Wang: “Second Aunt, is Su-luo any better?”

Lady Wang hurriedly recounted Shen Jiuyuan’s rescue efforts, her tone carrying a hint of genuine gratitude. After listening, Su Jin’s gaze fell on Shen Jiuyuan once more. This time, he lingered a bit longer, and a faint trace of surprise seemed to cross his deep eyes, though it vanished quickly.

He merely nodded slightly and said: “I trouble you.” His tone remained distant.

Shen Jiuyuan bowed in return: “Husband overstates, it is merely my duty.”

Su Jin did not say more. He turned to speak with Lady Wang about the arrangements for tomorrow’s ritual and how to appease the servants, then turned and left. He came and went like the wind, as if he were merely fulfilling a necessary procedure.

Shen Jiuyuan watched Su Jin vanish through the door and hurry into the rain, feeling a strange sensation in her heart. His “I trouble you” was more formal than a reprimand and more distant than being ignored.

However, upon careful thought, Su Jin’s behavior did not seem to be particularly disadvantageous to her current situation. After today’s events, at least in the eyes of the second branch and some of the servants, she was no longer merely a substitute bride with only beauty to her name, easily manipulated. She had demonstrated her potential value a steadiness and capability that exceeded their expectations.

It was late at night when she returned to Yuanlan Pavilion. The rain had ceased, leaving only the dripping from the eaves. As Lily helped Shen Jiuyuan remove her makeup, she couldn’t help but say: “Young Lady, you truly took a risk today. But you are amazing! Looking at the Second Mistress, she seems very grateful to you.”

Shen Jiuyuan looked at her reflection in the mirror, slightly tired but with eyes that remained clear. She said flatly: “Gratitude is not certain. At the very least, they won’t dare to underestimate me so easily anymore.”

“Mhm, Young Lady is right. In the entire Su Manor, how many possess your beauty and your talents? Moreover, you even know how to diagnose illness and read pulses this is truly rare in the world. Who would dare to look down on you?”

When the master earns respect, the servants naturally feel proud. Lily’s mood became exceptionally good. After helping her mistress, she and a matron prepared a wooden tub of hot water.

“Young Lady, we have prepared warm water for you. Why don’t you take a bath? You’ve had a long day and must be exhausted. Washing away the dust can relieve the fatigue.”

Shen Jiuyuan gave a hum of agreement and rose. The bathhouse was in another room, just a few steps away. She lay in the tub, flowers floating on the water with a pleasant fragrance that made her feel drowsy. Closing her eyes slightly, she remembered Su Jin’s brief, lingering gaze from earlier and that sliver of nearly imperceptible surprise.

Su Jin, you think I am worthless, but I am exactly not as mediocre as you imagined.

Today at the Second Mistress’s place, Shen Jiuyuan had merely shown the tip of the iceberg. All her preparations for the future were like long-preserved secrets, needing to be laid out slowly, step by step.

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