Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 99

After the housewarming banquet, Chi Yan began preparing for next year’s imperial spring examination.

Shen Tangning occasionally accepted invitations to admire flowers and attend banquets, living a fairly leisurely life. Chi’s mother had entrusted the household management to her. Compared to the Marquis’s estate, the Chi family had fewer rules and fewer people, so managing it was much easier.

One day, she was reading by the window when Yuan Zhao knocked softly on the door. Without looking up, she said, “Come in.”

Yuan Zhao stepped inside, casting a shadow over her. Only then did Shen Tangning lower her book.

“Mistress, there’s news from the Princess’s residence.”

A flash of surprise crossed her eyes. “Huiniang contacted you?”

Unexpectedly, Huiniang had been unusually cautious. Yuan Zhao had tried every way to reach her, but she’d been silent for a whole month. Only now had her attitude softened.

Yuan Zhao rubbed her nose. “I heard Princess Yun’an has been venting her anger on her a lot recently. Huiniang probably couldn’t take it anymore. If this keeps up, she might not survive.”

In the Princess’s residence, beating servants was common. Though some murmured complaints, everyone knew the Emperor favored Princess Yun’an, so no one dared cause trouble.

Shen Tangning thought for a moment. “Follow the plan.”

To escape the Princess’s residence, Huiniang had to make herself disliked enough to be unwanted—but not so much as to provoke outright anger.

…

Princess’s Residence.

Exhausted, Huiniang returned to her room, changed into her night clothes, and lay down, staring blankly at the eaves. Her fingers traced the uneven scars on her face.

Once, someone had smiled and gently stroked her hair, “Ah Hui, you’re so beautiful. When you’re old enough to leave the palace, I’ll find you a good family to marry into—so you can leave in glory!”

Back then, she was still naive, leaning on that person’s knee, shyly pouting.
“I won’t marry anyone. I want to serve Your Highness forever!”

Now, tears rolled down her cheeks as she closed her eyes tightly.

Life had been unbearably hard. Sometimes, she wished she were dead. After all, she should have died in that accident.

Suddenly, she sat up, wiping away the tears. Her gaze hardened.
No. She had survived until now without seeing His Highness. She absolutely could not die so easily.

She pulled out a pill from her sleeve and swallowed it with determination.

Then she fetched a bucket of cold water from the well, poured it over her head, and shivered in the night breeze with her arms crossed.

…

Princess Yun’an examined herself in the mirror, dissatisfied no matter how she looked. Suddenly, her expression turned cold. The nearby maid gasped and immediately knelt down.

“Princess, please spare me!”

The head maid frowned and kicked the trembling girl. “Worthless. Can’t even handle such a small task properly!”

The maid shrank away. The head maid approached Yun’an quietly, asking, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

Yun’an lazily curled her lips. “Where’s Huiniang? Bring her here. Her hair looks nice today.”

The head maid hesitated. “Your Highness, Huiniang is ill today.”

Yun’an smirked coldly, smoothing her cloud-like hair. “She was punished a few days ago and now she’s sick? What a delicate body! How bad is it? Is she dying?”

The head maid’s eyes shifted, lowering her voice. “If it were a common illness, it wouldn’t matter. But I heard she broke out in red rashes—it looks like… smallpox!”

Yun’an’s eyes widened in shock. Her golden hairpin fell to the floor. Fear and disgust flashed across her face. “If she has that disease, throw her out immediately!”

Smallpox was contagious! Had she possibly caught it from Huiniang wandering around her before?

Her scalp tingled as she gritted her teeth. “Send for the imperial doctor!”

…

The imperial doctor hurried over and examined the situation. Fortunately, it was a false alarm.

“Your Highness is in excellent health, no cause for concern.”

Yun’an finally relaxed.

But when the doctor learned someone in the Princess’s residence might have smallpox, he insisted on inspecting.

After all, smallpox was highly contagious and deadly. If one case appeared, there were likely more, and the authorities needed to be notified immediately.

Yun’an didn’t care about a servant’s life, but she didn’t stop the doctor.

He entered the dark, damp room and frowned.

Seeing Huiniang barely clinging to life, the doctor carefully took her pulse, puzzled. The symptoms resembled smallpox, but not quite—more like urticaria (hives). The persistent fever was likely caused by wind-evil invading the body.

Both conditions combined gave the illusion of smallpox.

Fortunately, it was treatable.

Yun’an was already disgusted with Huiniang and refused any treatment. “Drive her out and throw her far away! Check everyone who’s been in contact with her!”

…

Yuan Zhao had found Huiniang at the mass grave.

Huiniang’s eyes fluttered open, revealing a gentle, delicate face. The woman looking at her smiled softly.

“You’re awake?”

Seeing Huiniang’s panic and suspicion, Shen Tangning quietly observed her, then gently reassured, “You don’t need to be afraid. It’s safe here.”

Huiniang sat up, pressing her lips together, and asked, “Miss Shen, why are you helping me?”

Shen Tangning was a little surprised. “You recognize me?”

Huiniang stiffened. “You once visited the Princess’s residence. Of course I remember you.”

Shen Tangning didn’t press further and patiently explained, “I saw you at the palace. Do you still remember?”

Huiniang’s eyes flickered with memories, then she nodded hesitantly.

Shen Tangning smiled warmly. “I said I pitied you and couldn’t bear to see you suffer anymore. Do you believe that?”

Huiniang remained silent, lips tightly pressed, clearly skeptical.

She was no longer the innocent Huiniang she used to be.

Shen Tangning’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “I admit I have my own reasons for saving you. But I promise I won’t hurt you, and I will help you achieve your wishes.”

Huiniang’s eyes widened, surprised by her honesty. It was a heartfelt confession.

Shen Tangning stood and spoke kindly, “Your wounds haven’t healed yet. You can recover here in peace. Don’t worry, no one will find this place.”

Huiniang’s pupils tightened, her gaze conflicted, but she said nothing.

Seeing her so tense, Shen Tangning shook her head and turned to leave.

It wasn’t hard to guess why Huiniang—tied to the Princess Royal—ended up in Yun’an’s residence.

The Princess Royal was now imprisoned in Putuo Temple, and visitors were forbidden. With Huiniang’s ruined face, the only refuge was Yun’an’s residence. Shen Tangning could only conclude it was for safety.

Princess Yun’an was deeply favored by the Emperor. Working in her residence was relatively safe—at least, outsiders couldn’t easily approach.

Shen Tangning closed the door behind her, a faint smile playing on her lips.

No doubt, she would soon have the Princess Royal as a powerful ally.