Chapter 3 Apology

Chapter 3 Apology

"Ouch!" Although it wasn't boiling water, Jiang Shu's hand was still scalded red, causing her to inhale sharply from the pain.

"Madam!" Chuyu hurried forward, wiping the soup off Jiang Shu with a wet cloth and then asked Tanyu to bring cold water for Jiang Shu to soak her hand.

The sudden incident stunned everyone. After regaining her composure, Mother Shen quickly instructed the servants: "Go fetch Physician Fang."

Physician Fang was a rare female doctor whom Jiang Shu had hired at great expense to treat Lady Shen in the Marquisate.

"Yan Yang, quickly apologize to your mother." Cheng Jinchu pulled the dazed Yan Yang over.

The five-year-old child seemed frightened and refused to speak.

Cheng Jinchu grew anxious: "Yan Yang..."

"Enough, don't scare the child. It's just a burn on the hand; applying some burn ointment should be enough." Lady Shen was somewhat displeased.

In her eyes, Jiang Shu could never compare to her great-grandson.

Jiang Shu, who had been examining her injury, looked up at Lady Shen, whose cold demeanor showed no concern for her condition, leaving her heart chilled.

Over the past few years, while Lady Shen lay ill in bed, Jiang Shu not only spent heavily to hire a female physician but also searched all of Shang Jing for the best herbs, personally brewing them to serve her.

All these efforts had earned her nothing in return.

The conscience of this Marquisate truly rotted from its roots.

Feeling a chill throughout her body, Jiang Shu couldn't bear to stay another moment.

But just as she stood up, Physician Fang arrived.

"Madam, let me take a look." Physician Fang looked worried, showing more concern for Jiang Shu's injury than anyone else in the room.

Jiang Shu felt a bit warmer inside and softly replied: "It's not serious. Let's go back to Listen Bamboo House to check it."

"Yes." Physician Fang followed Jiang Shu with her medicine box.

"Hold on." Lady Shen stopped them.

"Since you're fine, have Physician Fang check the children first; they were quite frightened."

The two children were indeed scared, but not to the point of being traumatized. Lady Shen clearly didn't care about Jiang Shu's condition.

"The burn is painful. Let Physician Fang check Madam first," Tanyu said indignantly, trying to leave with Physician Fang.

Lady Shen became angry: "Stop! When did it become your place to decide things in the Marquisate?"

Tanyu turned red from the reprimand, feeling furious but unable to speak.

Jiang Shu looked calmly at Lady Shen and reminded her coldly: "Grandmother, don't forget that I hired Physician Fang."

"You... You're rebelling!" Lady Shen's face turned livid with anger.

Jiang Shu didn't bother to respond further and left without looking back.

Without hesitation, Physician Fang followed her.

Firstly, as Jiang Shu said, she was hired by Jiang Shu.

Secondly, she had already observed that the two children appeared normal and unharmed.

"Look at this! This is the wife you chose for Changze." With Jiang Shu gone, Lady Shen vented her anger on Mother Shen.

Mother Shen muttered with frustration: "This matter was indeed mishandled. Besides, you agreed to it at the time."

Lady Shen's face darkened: "What do you mean? Do you think this old woman is too old to remember..."

"Grandmother." Shen Changze finally spoke after remaining silent.

"Today, Yan Yang was wrong. You shouldn't protect him without considering right and wrong. This will only spoil him. What if he hurts someone else someday?"

"As for Jiang Shu, she has done nothing wrong to the Marquisate." Shen Changze finished speaking and left with Cheng Jinchu and the two children.

The unreasonable behavior of the women annoyed him greatly.

Lady Shen watched her grandson leave, feeling stunned for a long while.

The Marquis Jing'an, now adorned with titles, was no longer the grandson she could easily scold. He had become the pillar and master of the Marquisate.

This Marquisate was no longer under her control.

Back at Lanyun Courtyard, Shen Changze disciplined Yan Yang and led him to apologize to Jiang Shu.

Although he loved his son, he also knew right from wrong.

Father and son encountered Physician Fang outside Listen Bamboo House, and Shen Changze inquired about Jiang Shu's condition.

"Reporting to His Lordship, Madam's hand is not seriously injured, but the pain is intense, making it difficult for her to sleep well for a few days," Physician Fang reported truthfully.

"Thank you." Shen Changze led Yan Yang into Listen Bamboo House.

Jiang Shu had just finished applying medicine and was resting on a soft couch.

"His Lordship." Chuyu greeted him with red eyes.

Entering the room, Shen Changze saw Jiang Shu resting with her eyes closed. Her hand, resting on the pillow, was swollen and red, causing her face to turn pale and her brows to furrow in pain.

"Mother, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Yan Yang knelt before the couch, apologizing to Jiang Shu with tears in his voice.

Before coming, Shen Changze sternly warned Yan Yang that Jiang Shu was also his wife, and they must call her Mother.

Yan Yang had never seen his father so severe and dared not disobey.

Jiang Shu, tormented by pain, lifted her eyelids to glance at the two of them and said weakly, "I do not wish to argue with a child, but everything must have right and wrong. Does His Lordship understand?"

"I understand. Today it was Grandmother's fault. I will apologize on her behalf."

For a marquis and general to do this is already a great honor.

Jiang Shu was not one to refuse such an honor.

"Since His Lordship understands, let this matter be over. Have the child get up." Jiang Shu closed her eyes, not wanting to speak with them any further.

As Yan Yang stood up, Tanyu entered the room with ice.

"Madam, the ice has arrived."

Seeing Shen Changze and his son, Tanyu reluctantly curtsied in greeting.

Chuyu wrapped the ice in a handkerchief and gently placed it on Jiang Shu's burned hand to reduce swelling and alleviate the pain.

After watching for a while, Shen Changze asked, "Do you feel more comfortable now?"

Hearing his voice, Jiang Shu opened her eyes in surprise. Why hadn't he left yet?

"Yes, it's getting late. His Lordship should return." Jiang Shu bluntly gave him a clear dismissal.

She was in a bad mood and couldn't sleep due to the pain; she really didn't want to deal with him anymore.

Shen Changze did not leave but instead asked Chuyu, "How long should the ice be applied?"

"The longer, the better. Rest assured, my lord, we will take good care of Madam." Although Chuyu was also dissatisfied, she maintained the proper respect.

"Give it to me." Shen Changze sat down beside the bed and personally applied the ice to Jiang Shu.

Jiang Shu was startled. "His Lordship should rest. Chuyu and Tanyu can attend to me here."

"As the saying goes, 'If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault.' Consider this as an apology from Yan Yang." Shen Changze presented a noble reason.

But only he knew that his true motivation was concern for her and a desire to make amends for the years of neglect.

"Father..." Yan Yang rubbed his eyes and called out, feeling sleepy and wanting to go back to sleep.

Seeing this, Shen Changze instructed Chuyu, "Escort Young Master back to Lanyun Courtyard."

"Yes." Chuyu acknowledged the order and led Yan Yang out.

Tanyu did not want to leave but was dragged away by Chuyu.

Madam had been waiting alone for six years and could not afford to waste any more time.

Left alone in the room, Jiang Shu couldn't help but recall the night she married into the marquisate six years ago.

Back then, she had just come of age, still young and shy, facing the tall and handsome Shen Changze with nervousness, twisting her hands until they turned red.

Noticing her unease, Shen Changze did not touch her, citing the need to prepare for his upcoming campaign as a reason to leave the bridal chamber.

The next morning, Shen Changze departed with the army for the border.

Thus, they had not consummated their marriage.