I was pampered like a treasure after being married off to the young marshal, but my father and broth

She glanced at Xi'er helplessly and gave her a look that said, "Leave it to fate."

With a mournful face, Xi'er steeled herself and took out a clean white porcelain bowl from the cabinet. She shakily poured a bowl of medicinal soup from the purple clay pot and handed it to Si Nan with both hands.

"Madam, please drink slowly, it's hot."

Xi'er whispered a reminder.

Si Nan took the bowl, smelled it, and nodded in satisfaction: "Hmm, it does have a refreshing fragrance, with a hint of papaya."

After saying that, she didn't hesitate, blew on the hot air, and took a big gulp.

Shang Sheyu: "..."

"Hmm..." Si Nan smacked her lips and commented, "It's sweet and tastes good. It's much better than those bitter medicines. It makes my stomach feel warm and comfortable after drinking it."

Seeing this, Shang Sheyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted from his heart.

Fortunately, as long as it doesn't taste strange, it's fine.

Si Nan finished the bowl of medicine soup in a few gulps, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and then turned her gaze back to Shang Sheyu.

"Sheyu," Si Nan said with a smile, "Did the third brother sleep in this room last night?"

Shang Sheyu was taking small sips of her medicine when she heard this and paused.

She put down the bowl, head bowed, and said, "No...no."

"No?"

Si Nan's smile faded, and she exchanged a glance with Granny Yan beside her.

Granny Yan also looked surprised.

Why?

The old lady frowned, her tone displeased: "You've been married for a month. He was busy at the military region before, so I didn't say anything. He came back last night, and you're still under the same roof. Why haven't you consummated your marriage yet? Did that bastard third son give you a hard time?"

Shang Sheyu felt a little uneasy.

It is a wife's dereliction of duty to fail to keep her husband's heart.

If her mother-in-law blames her for this, she will have no way to defend herself.

"No, mother-in-law."

Shang Sheyu bit her lip and explained softly, "Third Master said... he was busy with military affairs and had some urgent matters to deal with. He was afraid of disturbing my rest, so he went to the library."

Handling military affairs?

Si Nan snorted coldly: "What military affairs have to be handled in the middle of the night? I think he's just a blockhead, completely clueless!"

Si Nan was furious.

Originally, this marriage was arranged through a marriage exchange, and she was worried that Quan Tuo would not like the merchant's daughter and that it would cause trouble in the family.

However, after observing for a month, Quan Tuo was indifferent to Shang Sheyu, but he did not hesitate to protect her when necessary, going to the academy to support her and accompanying her to banquets.

She thought the cycad was finally going to bloom.

As it turned out, this kid messed up at the crucial moment.

Why would he leave such a beautiful wife to spend the night with a bunch of tattered books?

If word gets out, people will think that Master Quan is impotent!

Seeing Shang Sheyu's meek and cautious demeanor, Si Nan's anger turned into pity.

This girl is really unlucky to have such an unromantic man.

"Sheyu, don't overthink it."

Si Nan sighed, reached out and patted Shang Sheyu's hand, her tone softening: "You know the third brother's personality, he's a real taciturn guy. When it comes to military matters, he's like a madman, he doesn't care about anyone, not even his own family. He's not targeting you, nor is he deliberately leaving you alone in an empty room."

"He's a rough man, he doesn't know how to be considerate, please be more tolerant of him."

Shang Sheyu originally thought she would be scolded, but to her surprise, her mother-in-law comforted her instead.

Her heart warmed, and she raised her head: "Mother-in-law, you are too kind. It is normal for Third Master to be busy with official duties because he cares about the country and the people. If he neglects his duties because of his personal feelings, then that would be my fault. Third Master is a responsible person, and I understand that."

Although these words were just polite remarks, they also carried a degree of sincerity.

At least Quan Tuo didn't force her, which is already the greatest respect he could show her.

Hearing these sensible words, Si Nan was even more pleased.

Look at what an understanding daughter-in-law she is!

Such a good wife is hard to find even with a lantern. If that brat of a third son doesn't cherish her, he'll regret it later.

"It's good that you think that way." Si Nan nodded with relief. "As long as you two are doing well, I'm at ease."

As they were talking, the curtain was lifted again.

A gust of cold wind blew in, and then a boy in a school uniform strode in.

"Grandma? What are you doing here?"

Quan Huai'an had messy hair, a thin layer of snowflakes on his shoulders, and his nose was red from the cold.

"Why are you back so late?" Si Nan glanced at the sky outside. "What time is it? Has school let out?"

Quan Huai'an scratched the back of his head, somewhat awkwardly saying, "The teacher was sick today, so school ended early."

Seeing his appearance, battered by the wind and snow, and glancing at the half-empty jar of medicine left on the table.

"Perfect timing, your aunt has brewed some tonic to strengthen your body. Drink a bowl to ward off the cold." Si Nan pointed to the table. "Young man, don't catch a cold."

Shang Sheyu: "..."

Xi'er: "..."

Shang Sheyu felt a sudden darkness before his eyes.

My mother-in-law drank it, that's fine, after all, she's a woman, even if it doesn't work, she just drinks it like sugar water.

But Quan Huai'an is a big boy in the prime of his adolescence!

If you drink breast-enhancing drugs...

Will something that shouldn't grow grow out?

"Huh? A tonic?"

Upon hearing that he had to drink medicine, Quan Huai'an's face scrunched up like a bitter gourd. "Grandma, I don't want to drink it. I'm not sick."

"Just drink it, why are you asking so many questions?" Si Nan glared at him, adopting a parental authority. "This is a token of your aunt's affection, and I even added papaya and red dates—it's sweet, not bitter!"

Quan Huai'an shrank back after being yelled at by his grandmother, no longer daring to resist.

He looked at Shang Sheyu.

Shang Sheyu awkwardly tugged at the corners of his mouth, too embarrassed to explain the true purpose of the medicine.

If this were said out loud, everyone in this room would probably want to crawl into a hole and disappear.

"Um... Huai'an, there's only a little left..."

Shang Sheyu tried to salvage the situation.

"It's alright, it's enough for one bowl." Si Nan interrupted her directly, took the bowl herself, poured out the last bit of soup from the jar, and handed the full bowl to Quan Huai'an.

"Drink it, drink it all in one go, don't dawdle," Si Nan urged.

Looking at the bowl of bright red soup in his hand and smelling its sweet aroma, Quan Huai made up his mind and closed his eyes.

Glug glug...

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and several large mouthfuls were gulped down into his stomach.

Quan Huai'an put down his bowl, wiped his mouth, and said, "It's actually quite delicious."

Shang Sheyu silently held his forehead.

She painstakingly brewed a pot of medicine, but only drank two sips herself; the rest went into the stomachs of the grandmother and grandson.