The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 68

68: Wedding Banquet

“I’ve done this several times already—I’m not a novice!” He didn’t even look up. “Isn’t the wedding coming up soon? I’ll give you a few days off to go prepare with Li Ke.”

Xiao Zhu let out an exasperated sigh, nearly out of patience with his shameless antics.

A light cough sounded at the door. Fu Yu’an leaned weakly against the doorframe, his pale hand gripping it for support, looking utterly frail.

Seeing this, Qi Ren immediately set down the palm-leaf fan in his hand and leaped to his side in a few quick steps, gripping his arm with a frown. “Why did you come here? Didn’t I say to wait in your room?”

Fu Yu’an brushed off his supporting hand. “I’m not that delicate. Staying cooped up in the room all day is suffocating.”

His gaze shifted to the medicine pot simmering on the stove, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Take my advice—leave the medicine brewing to Xiao Zhu. At least she’s skilled at it. Look at what you made last time…”

He smiled at him, but Qi Ren stared back blankly for a long moment, his brow furrowing slightly as he slowly said, “Skilled? Did you often take medicine before? Did the Crown Prince bully you?”

Fu Yu’an quickly waved his hands to dismiss the idea. Though the Crown Prince had treated him poorly, he still knew restraint and rarely went too far.

Besides, even on the few occasions when things had gotten out of hand, it had always been deliberate, and in the end, it was Xiao Zhu who had to find ways to sneak medicine in from outside the palace.

Qi Ren clearly didn’t believe him, but since he seemed unwilling to elaborate, he chose not to reopen old wounds.

That period in the palace had truly been a painful and sorrowful time for him. All I can do is try my best to make up for it in whatever small ways I can.

“Fine, fine! Do whatever you want. It’s good timing to give Xiao Zhu a few days off anyway.”

Qi Ren glanced at him with a smile. “That’s exactly what I said. Xiao Zhu, now you’ve got no excuses—go on! Your master and I are both looking forward to celebrating your wedding soon!”

With both of her masters giving the order, Xiao Zhu couldn’t argue any further. She glanced around, issued a few more reminders, and finally left—though not without looking back every few steps.

Fu Yu’an coughed lightly, pulling over a small stool to sit beside him, keeping him company.

“Are you feeling any better? I’ve heard you coughing at night these past few days. Is the medicine not working?”

“How could I recover so quickly? It’s probably because I overworked myself with the sketches and stressed too much, so when I got angry, it…”

Qi Ren’s hands paused for a moment, and another wave of guilt surged in his heart.

Fu Yu’an gave a helpless smile, trying to smooth things over. “It’s a joyous occasion, after all! I recovered from my illness days ago, so drinking a little more won’t hurt. Here, let me toast you!”

Xia Xiu raised an eyebrow, his expression saying, See? See? He himself isn’t even complaining!—looking utterly smug.

Qi Ren, having been slighted, wore a stormy expression beneath his mask, his face cycling through shades of green and red in frustration.

Li Ke approached with a cup of wine to offer a toast, but the moment he saw Qi Ren’s expression, his instincts screamed at him to drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness.

Even though he was the host tonight, Qi Ren was still his superior.

Fu Yu’an pinched him under the table and coughed lightly as a reminder not to be so intimidating.

“General… this subordinate toasts you!”

Qi Ren closed his eyes for a moment, reining in his emotions, then raised his cup and drained it in one go.

Li Ke: “…Ah, then I’ll finish mine too.”

The atmosphere here was undeniably awkward, so he swallowed the words of gratitude he had prepared and quickly made his escape.

Fu Yu’an’s tone carried a hint of reproach as he pulled Qi Ren back to his seat, scolding in a low voice, “Why are you scaring people like that? You even frightened Li Ke away!”

“A grown man shouldn’t be so timid—how will he manage otherwise? And you, drink less, or just wait and see how I deal with you later!”

Fu Yu’an knew he was just bluffing and wouldn’t actually do anything, but Xia Xiu, who had been watching the drama unfold, suddenly exclaimed, “Aiya! What do you mean by that? Are you threatening him? Shameless!”