Chapter 35: The Original Wife Spends Money Like Water (2)

Xue Ci, the male protagonist. Lin Wanyin, the female protagonist. Compared to Fang Jinnian and Jiang Nian Nian, this pair of mad lovers were equally matched, if not more so.

Xue Ci was the eldest son of a fallen family, exhausting every stratagem for its revival. Jiang Youyou was the sole heir to the vast fortune of the Jiang clan. To rejuvenate his family, wealth was the first necessity. But to legitimately claim the Jiang family's assets, he had to marry into their household. Thus, the famed youth of Jiaozhou became the husband of its renowned sickly maiden. The world knew only that the young man adored the Jiang family’s daughter, unaware that this so-called love was but poison, a venom urging her toward hell.

He appeared to be a man of ambition, but beneath it all, he was a devotee of tragic romance. There was precedent: to inherit, one must first have a child to succeed the father's legacy. Yet Jiang Youyou’s weak constitution rendered her barren. The clever protagonist thus sought another woman to bear him a child—and his aim was true, for he chose the novel's heroine.

With her family falsely imprisoned, she was left with her young brother. To rescue them, she sought Xue Ci, who had connections with the county magistrate.

Thus, requests came from left and right, and the two caught each other's eye. Yet one pretended it was out of necessity, a forced act merely to save her kin. The other feigned disgust and reluctance, claiming he would never have sought her but for his wife's frailty. Both harbored love in their hearts yet acted as if loveless, enacting the full suite of a domineering, tormented romance. So began the unique tragic love story of these mad lovers.

Back and forth they went—misunderstandings, amnesia, bizarre episodes followed one after another. In the end, they recognized the love in their hearts, rushed toward each other, raised children and grandchildren, and achieved a perfect ending. All of this was built upon the sacrifices of the expendable ones, climbing step by step over their bones. If they had been villains, it would be understandable, but for someone like Jiang Youyou, who discovered the affair and was driven to death by these two, it was truly pitiable.

The male protagonist revived his clan with Jiang family's money; the female protagonist became the legitimate wife, taking the Jiang daughter’s place. The Jiang clan, diligent and hard-working, earned their fortune only to hand over their daughter, becoming the stepping stone for the male and female leads’ ascent. Jiang Youyou gave everything, and in the end, had to bear the reputation of a jealous woman obstructing their union. Pitiful and laughable.

"Miss, it's time for your medicine." The shadow guard Mufeng entered, carrying a bowl of thick, dark herbal decoction, standing properly three steps away.

"This medicine should not be taken," she said. A few more doses and she might meet an early death. "Pour it out," Jiang Youyou ordered coldly. "Have Xiaoyue keep an eye on Xue Ci."

"Yes." Mufeng was about to leave when Jiang Youyou stopped him again. "From now on, you will attend to me. Also, take a bowl of lotus seed soup to the young master as compensation for my coldness toward him today."

"Very well, Miss. Any other instructions?" Though surprised by her orders, Mufeng kept his thoughts to himself.

"Add some sterility medicine to the lotus seed soup," Jiang Youyou spoke softly as she played with her silk fan.

Sterility medicine!?

Mufeng was even more astonished. Given how much Miss cared for the young master, why would she do such a thing? If he hadn’t been guarding her day and night, he might have thought she had been switched.

"Your subordinate will see to it at once." After receiving the command, Mufeng hurried to the kitchen, personally stewed the lotus seed soup, stirred the powder in, and added twice the usual sugar so Xue Ci wouldn’t notice the taste. Soon, a viscous bowl of lotus seed soup appeared before Xue Ci.

"Very well, go back and tell Ayu I don’t blame her. I’ve received the gift. Tell her to rest well, and once I’ve finished my tasks, I’ll visit her later tonight." With a smile, Xue Ci spoke, seeming kind and amiable to everyone in the household.