With that, Chen Wanyue caught Zhao Jing off guard and bolted.

"Since this is the kind of people you are, I’m washing my hands of your family’s affairs from now on! Even if Auntie dies, don’t expect me to shed a single tear."

Even someone as good-tempered as Mrs. Zhao was infuriated by Chen Wanyue. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

She told her son not to give chase and to just let her go, but she couldn’t help fuming, "Wanyue has always had her flaws, but I just chalked it up to childish tantrums and let it slide. But this time... how could she say such infuriating things for no reason at all? My chest... it feels so tight now, it hurts."

Hearing this, Zhao Jing was instantly on high alert. "Mother, is your chest hurting because Chen Wanyue angered you, or was it already hurting while you were busy with the wedding preparations?"

"It just started hurting now. It didn’t hurt before."

Zhao Jing was still unconvinced. He asked again and again before Mrs. Zhao finally admitted the truth.

In truth, her chest had been hurting badly ever since she saw Chen Wanyue last night and was provoked by her.

She had been busy with her son’s wedding today, and with her mind occupied, she hadn’t noticed the pain. But after Chen Wanyue’s outburst just now, the pain in her chest had become much worse.

Zhao Jing closed the main gate and supported his mother back to her room. As he got closer, he saw that her lips had a purplish tint. It was a sure sign of how incredibly upset she was.

Thinking of that strange, uncanny quality about Chen Wanyue, Zhao Jing felt a deep-seated suspicion that something terrible and life-threatening would happen to his mother tonight.

His heart clenched, and his steps grew heavy.

"Jing, Mother, I heard a noise at the gate just now. What’s happened so late at night?"

Zhao Jing and his mother looked up at the sound. In the bright moonlight, they saw Chen Wanqing hurrying out of the east room, fastening the last frog button on her short jacket.

"Oh, dear, Qing’er, did we wake you? It’s nothing, really. Someone just knocked on the wrong gate, but Jing already sent them away. You should hurry back to bed; you’ve had a long day."

But Chen Wanqing didn’t go back to bed. Instead, she went to Mrs. Zhao’s other side, took her arm, and helped Zhao Jing support her back to her room.

Once they were in the room and had lit a candle, Chen Wanqing saw how ghastly Mrs. Zhao looked.

She had never been in robust health, and she had suffered from depression since losing her husband. If not for the fact that she still had two unmarried children, she would have long since given up and followed Mr. Zhao to the grave.

But even though she was clinging to life, Mrs. Zhao’s health was truly poor.

’She must have been exhausted these past few days from arranging our wedding.’

Feeling a pang of guilt, Chen Wanqing asked Zhao Jing, "Jing, do we have any medicine for her symptoms at home? I can brew a dose for Mother. It should help her feel better."

Hearing her words, Zhao Jing felt a lump in his throat. He reached out and enclosed her cool hand in his own.

’She must have gotten up from her warm bed so suddenly. The cold had made her face even paler and her hands even colder.’

’He could still see the faint imprint from the pillow on her cheek, and her charming almond eyes were heavy with sleep. She looked so fragile in the harsh winter night, yet here she was, trying to share his burden and care for his mother.’

’Even though she had misunderstood the reason for his mother’s illness, her sincere willingness to care for him and his family suddenly calmed his frantic, uneasy heart.’

"We have medicine. I’ll go brew it in a moment. Wanqing, it’s cold outside. You should head back to your room first."

"That’s right, dear, go back to your room. It’s too much to drag you out of bed so late at night."

Mrs. Zhao felt terribly guilty and gently tried to push Chen Wanqing back toward her room.

’She’s a new bride, and they just... She must be sore and uncomfortable. Why should she be here serving me? It’s not like I’m helpless.’

’Besides, I haven’t even given her a proper welcoming gift, yet Qing’er is already calling me "Mother." Thinking of this, Mrs. Zhao felt a fresh wave of guilt and became even more insistent that Chen Wanqing go back to rest.’

But how could Chen Wanqing possibly rest at a time like this?

’Her mother-in-law was suffering because of the exhaustion from their wedding. If she could just go back to bed now, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.’

"Let Jing go brew the medicine. I’ll stay with you, Mother. I won’t be able to sleep soundly until I see you drink it."

"Oh, I couldn’t possibly... that’s..."

"It’s settled then, Mother. I’ll stay and chat with you for a bit. Jing, could you go brew the medicine?"

Zhao Jing stared at her for a long moment before finally saying, "Okay."

Seeing that he still hadn’t let go, Chen Wanqing wiggled her fingers. ’Okay, then let go of my hand! Mother is watching. Even if we’re trying to put her mind at ease, there’s no need to be this lovey-dovey, is there?’

Zhao Jing finally released her hand.

He left the main room and went to the kitchen to brew the medicine.

The medicinal herbs were in a clay pot, and the firewood in the stove beneath it crackled fiercely.

Zhao Jing stared blankly at the crimson flames. His heart grew heavy as he thought about Chen Wanyue and all her strange behavior. But when he recalled Wanqing’s gentle eyes, an unstoppable warmth spread through his chest.