After Becoming the Cannon Fodder Live-in Spouse A (GL) - Chapter 15: The Fifteenth Day

Chapter 15: The Fifteenth Day

The next day.

When Ye Fuguang woke up, she noticed light rain falling outside, fine as silk, gently brushing the pale plum blossoms on the branches. Jixiang draped a thin shirt over her, while Ruyi cheerfully mentioned that it was the rainy season in Yong’an City, always wet like this. But the flowers and plants hadn’t bloomed yet, so going out to enjoy the scenery would have to wait.

She shook her head.

As a homebody, she had no interest in going out. The mansion’s every corner was already perfect, and the rain outside made it ideal for staying indoors and doing things.

Last night, following the letter’s instructions, Ye Fuguang had dissolved the pill in maogen water and carefully fed it to Shen Jinglan, lifting her neck bit by bit. Today, she needed to record Prince Qi’s changes after taking the medicine, as Ye Yuge requested.

Though Ye Yuge only asked for detailed notes on pulse, complexion, and tongue coating, Ye Fuguang, having been questioned countless times by her TCM friends, knew the more detailed a patient’s symptoms, the better.

So this morning, when Yu Qing entered with the two Dikun, Ye Fuguang didn’t avoid them as usual.

Butler Yu glanced at her.

“Does the side consort have any instructions?”

Ye Fuguang shook her head. “No, just looking.”

Hearing this, Yu Qing’s expression showed some mockery. “Wiping someone down isn’t an easy task. Even with a Qianyuan’s natural strength, your thin arms and legs make learning it useless.”

Skilled at being a mama’s girl but not at playing humble, Ye Fuguang quickly changed the topic before more harsh words came. “Don’t you think the prince’s complexion looks better than a few days ago?”

At that, Yu Qing instinctively glanced toward the bed.

Ye Fuguang’s description wasn’t quite accurate.

In terms of facial color, Shen Jinglan’s complexion a few days ago was extremely rosy and full, like she wore vibrant makeup, looking her best. Now, with some of the feverish toxin fading, the redness on her lips had lessened, and the sharpness in her features had softened by a third.

She now looked more like a patient.

Ye Fuguang casually explained, “Butler Yu must have heard of ‘the final radiance’ before death, right? The prince is gravely ill. Always looking like the most vibrant flower on a branch isn’t a good sign. Extreme flourishing leads to decline.”

Yu Qing was momentarily speechless, as if convinced.

Until Ye Fuguang’s next line: “So this morning, let’s have her drink another bowl of mung bean porridge and keep going!”

“…?”

Butler Yu glared at her. “I forgot the side consort’s family has some medical knowledge. With such skill, when Doctor Xue returns to the palace, you could discuss the prince’s condition with him. But if the prince worsens because of your orders, when the Emperor holds us accountable, everyone in this mansion will face punishment.”

Ye Fuguang had forgotten until she mentioned it.

The palace closely monitored Shen Jinglan’s condition. If Ye Yuge hadn’t found a solution by the time Doctor Xue returned from his leave and reported to the Emperor, wouldn’t she be done for?

She noted Prince Qi’s condition and turned around, spinning in place like a cat chasing its tail—

“Ruyi.”

It was time to use her ultimate weapon for final exams: between studying and cheating, she’d choose to do the work!

Ye Fuguang called out, “Where’s the most effective temple in Yong’an City?”

The only backing stronger than the male or female lead now had to be the gods, right?

…

When Side Consort Ye stepped out, the light drizzle had turned into a downpour, heavier than the day Yiping went to her father for money, complete with thunder.

Ruyi, holding an umbrella for her, flinched after a thunderclap. “Princess, maybe another day?”

“No, today.”

A cannon fodder trying to add scenes was already defying fate. Facing a little test from the heavens was normal.

She’d brave the loudest thunder and the heaviest rain to show her sincerity with three kneels and nine kowtows at the temple!

Ye Fuguang stood tall, took the umbrella, and prepared to step into the puddle on the green bricks in front of the mansion gate. Then Jixiang reminded her expressionlessly, “Xiangguo Temple outside Yong’an City takes two hours to reach on foot with your pace.”

What?

Four hours of walking?

That would kill her on the spot!

Resolute Ye Fuguang immediately turned back. “Where’s the coachman? The carriage? Have them prepare. We’ll leave when the rain eases. There are countless paths, but safety comes first.”

Luckily, spring thunderstorms came and went quickly. By noon, the sky cleared a bit.

Prince Qi’s mansion’s carriage rolled out of the city, clip-clopping to the glittering Xiangguo Temple outside Yong’an City. When Ye Fuguang stepped down from the carriage, she saw the temple’s incense was far more popular than she’d imagined.

There was a familiar golden statue at the entrance.

But that wasn’t important. What mattered was the endless stream of lavish carriages at the temple gate, far grander than Prince Qi’s, and much flashier. Confused, she turned to Ruyi. “Why did we stop so far away?”

Ruyi glanced around nervously and whispered, “The previous dynasty’s emperor loved building temples and pagodas. When Prince Qi was still the Western Conquest General, he petitioned Emperor Gaozu, saying the court’s inaction led people to superstition. Later, he led the Shen Family Army to demolish countless temples. Only the current Emperor preserved Xiangguo Temple, as it was hard to build. After his enthronement, the temple made a golden statue for him to show gratitude.”

Ye Fuguang: “…”

Oh no, she’d entered territory with 1000 aggro points against Prince Qi’s faction.

She looked worried. “I won’t get beaten up for going in, will I?”

Ruyi thought for a moment. “We’ll keep a low profile?”

Ye Fuguang nodded. “Of course!”

–

A quarter of an hour later.

Everyone at Xiangguo Temple saw monks carrying a massive incense stick painted with intricate golden scriptures. The abbot, smiling kindly, bowed with hands clasped to today’s biggest fool:

“Your heart holds great love. Blessings. This ‘All Wishes Come True Incense’ will ensure your dreams are fulfilled.”

Ye Fuguang thought, you’d better be right.

This cost her ten months’ salary—1,000 taels of silver. If burned as spirit money, it could probably make the King of Hell step down from his throne and let her sit for two seconds.

Ruyi, clutching her chest, whispered, “If Butler Yu knew you used a year’s advance salary for incense…”

Ye Fuguang gave Jixiang and Ruyi a sinister look. “Only heaven, earth, you, and I know this… If anyone else finds out—”

Ruyi quickly covered her mouth and nodded. “I won’t tell.”

Jixiang, as usual, looked at her with calm eyes.

Then the abbot said the incense could be dedicated to one main hall and asked which deity she wanted.

Ye Fuguang thought. “All of them.”

Abbot: “?”

She added, “Oh, and add one more.”

Soon after.

Everyone at Xiangguo Temple stared in confusion at the massive incense stick in the center, with a Buddhist plaque beside it listing a long string of names.

“Pupu Meme Tasty Explosive… Pupu Tea?” Ruyi read, puzzled, and asked, “Princess, who’s this?”

Ye Fuguang said solemnly, “My adoptive mother.”

“Adoptive… mother?” Even Jixiang was confused, thinking Butler Yu never mentioned this person in the princess’s family.

“Mm, my adoptive mother who gave me a second life.” Ye Fuguang looked devout and bowed to the plaque.

This was the author of ‘The Rise of the Dikun’.

She didn’t know the author’s real name, and since she’d transmigrated here, the pen name was probably most effective!

Was there a character in this world more devout to the author than her?

No way!

She was absolutely devoted to the author!

She hoped the author wouldn’t be ungrateful and let her die like in the original story.

…

Praying to gods with her left hand and the author with her right, Ye Fuguang, after hugging the biggest thighs in this world, happily boarded the carriage to return to the mansion.

On the way, the carriage passed Yong’an’s North Market. From behind the curtain, she spotted a bookshop. Thinking of the scandalous yet enticing novel from before, she curiously asked the coachman to stop so she could take a look.

That earlier book was a rare relic from the previous dynasty.

What was popular in the Great Dynasty now?

Ye Fuguang walked into the ink-scented bookshop and asked the shopkeeper, who was sorting books, “What are the best-selling novels here?”

The blue-robed owner didn’t look up and pointed casually. “Over there.”

She walked over and started flipping through the stack. Titles like ‘Ah Lan’s Harem Chronicles’ and ‘Dikun Sits Calmly Amid Chaos’ caught her eye, but something felt off—

Why did all these novels’ female leads seem to be Shen Jinglan?

And they were all 1vN, with every side character as a potential suitor in these rags-to-riches stories?

What the heck?