The next second, a hot towel was laid over his face.
Jiang Muyan: "?"
Song Yutang's movements were gentle.
She wiped from his cheeks to his neck, then from his neck to his chest.
After finally wiping his entire body, she picked up the ointment on the bedside table. He needs to be turned over and massaged regularly, or he'll develop bedsores. People in vegetative states are still people. They deserve to live with dignity, too.
Jiang Muyan felt a slight tremor in his heart. ...So this was what she meant by taking care of me.
Once she finished tending to him, Song Yutang picked a set of soft pajamas from the wardrobe and changed him into them.
Suddenly, Jiang Muyan found her actions a little hard to understand.
Then Song Yutang picked up the nail clippers, sat beside the bed, and began trimming his nails. "Jiang Muyan, we might not have feelings for each other, but we don't have any grudges, either. You've never hurt me, and it's because of you that I could marry into the richest family and live a good life. When you hold a position, you should fulfill its duties. From now on, I'll take good care of you."
She didn't know whether Jiang Muyan could hear her.
But she wanted him to hear it.
Most women in this world got married hoping to build a good life with their husbands.
Of course, Song Yutang wanted that, too.
Unfortunately, the crown prince in her previous life hadn't treated her like a human being.
After she transmigrated to the modern world, everything had happened very suddenly.
Marrying into the Jiang Family was a choice she had made in haste.
But if possible, Song Yutang actually wanted to try getting along with Jiang Muyan.
Even if he was in a vegetative state, she was willing to treat him with the respect due between husband and wife.
Living a good life and having a loving marriage weren't inherently at odds.
Jiang Muyan froze.
Was that really what this woman, so full of schemes, thought?
After finishing his nails, Song Yutang held Jiang Muyan's hand and sighed. Such a handsome face, and you ended up like this so young. What a shame. I don't believe the car accident was a coincidence. Since I've married you, I'll definitely uncover the truth and avenge you.
Jiang Muyan's heart gave a violent thump.
Of course the car accident hadn't been a coincidence.
He could even say for certain who the real culprit behind it was.
But injured as he was, he was powerless even if he wanted revenge.
Song Yutang had actually thought of that, too, and... planned to investigate for him?
Actually...
Perhaps Song Yutang wasn't that vicious after all?
She was a young woman in her early twenties who had inexplicably been married off to a man in a vegetative state, left to live as a widow with a living husband.
With all the scheming and infighting within the Jiang Family, her wanting a child to secure a share of the assets seemed... understandable?
While Jiang Muyan's thoughts ran wild, Song Yutang had already applied hand cream for him.
Once everything was finished, she even rang for the family doctor on night duty to carefully check all the equipment connected to him.
Only after confirming that everything was normal did she lie down beside him, reassured.
Jiang Muyan was finally certain: she really wasn't planning to use him tonight.
So much had happened that day, and Song Yutang really was exhausted.
She soon fell into a deep sleep.
Listening to her even breathing and smelling the faint scent of shower gel drifting from her, Jiang Muyan suddenly felt that this was rather a curious feeling.
Starting today, he had a wife.
Although this wife was full of schemes, sinister and vicious, and just a little absurd.
Still, she seemed rather interesting...
Song Yutang slept very deeply.
When she woke and checked her phone, she discovered it was almost eleven.
She immediately felt a little vexed:
In her previous life, the crown prince had tormented her until she was covered in injuries, and she had been half an incense stick late paying her respects.
The empress had been very displeased and punished her by making her kneel outside the palace gates for six full hours.
Although her in-laws in this life seemed generous and kind, she was a new bride. Sleeping this late really was improper.
On the second day of marriage, I should serve tea and pay my respects to my in-laws. I actually slept until noon. No matter how good-tempered they are, they'll probably be unhappy.
Her thoughts woke Jiang Muyan from his slumber, leaving him both amused and helpless.
His parents were just ordinary people. How could they have so many rules?
This girl seemed so bold and black-hearted. He hadn't expected her to be so traditional.
Song Yutang hurriedly got up and washed. She had changed and was about to head downstairs when Li Xiulan's cautious voice came from outside the door. "Yutang, are you up? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
A little embarrassed, Song Yutang grabbed an excuse at random. "Mom, I have a bit of a headache."
Jiang Muyan could hear their conversation and couldn't help guessing, A headache? Could she have watched too much porn?
Outside the door, Li Xiulan didn't know she was pretending to be sick and quickly said, "Then lie down for now. I'll have the doctor come take a look."
A little while later, there was another knock. "Yutang, may I come in?"
Song Yutang opened the door and saw Li Xiulan holding an exquisite bone china plate with a gilded rim, piled full of food.
She couldn't tell exactly what any of it was.
At any rate, it looked very elaborate.
It even came with a silver knife and fork.
Li Xiulan set the breakfast on the round table. "Have a little something to line your stomach first. The doctor will be here soon."
Looking at the delicate dishes, Song Yutang didn't know where to begin.
Li Xiulan noticed her hesitation. "Don't you like it? Tell your dad what you'd like, and he'll make you something else."
Too embarrassed to admit she didn't know how to use a knife and fork, Song Yutang could only steel herself, pick up the silver fork, and try to spear the slice of salmon the way she had seen on television.
But her hand slipped, and the fish went flying along with the caviar.
For a moment, all was silent.
Even with Song Yutang's thick skin, her ears couldn't help growing hot.
Would her mother-in-law think she was clumsy, since she couldn't even use the utensils?
Li Xiulan was taken aback, too, and asked tentatively, "Yutang, are you... not very used to Western food?"
Song Yutang felt slightly awkward. "Mm, I haven't had it much."
The original owner of this body had been sent to the countryside at five and had never set foot in a proper Western restaurant.
As for herself, although she had been the crown princess in ancient times, she had eaten Chinese food. These foreign things were truly unfamiliar.
Li Xiulan quickly picked up the plate. "Oh dear, it's all my fault for deciding on my own... I'll get you some different dishes right away. Just wait."
Before Song Yutang could react, she had already hurried out with the plate.
Only about ten minutes later, she returned carrying an even larger tray.
This time, it held steaming soup dumplings, golden, crispy fried dough sticks, and silky steamed egg custard.
There was also a bowl of millet porridge simmered until rich and fragrant, accompanied by several small plates of refreshing side dishes.
Li Xiulan handed her the chopsticks, looking a little apprehensive. "Try it. Is it to your taste?"
Finally at ease, Song Yutang picked up a soup dumpling and took a bite.
The broth was savory and sweet, the meat filling plump.
Her eyes lit up, and she praised it sincerely. "Delicious."
Only then did Li Xiulan breathe a sigh of relief. She explained a little sheepishly, "I thought all you young people liked Western food these days... Next time, just tell Mom what you like. No need to stand on ceremony."
After breakfast, the family doctor arrived as well.
After examining her, the doctor said it was only overexertion and that she just needed more rest.
Hearing this, Li Xiulan urged her to lie down again. "You must be exhausted. Hurry and get some proper rest."
Song Yutang felt a little guilty. "Mom, I haven't served tea to you and Dad yet..."
Li Xiulan waved a hand. "Who needs all those rules? If you're tired, you should rest."
Warmth filled Song Yutang's heart, and she gave a sincere smile. "Thank you, Mom."
Lying in bed and listening silently, Jiang Muyan's lips curled up without his realizing it.
Song Yutang might be a little black-hearted, but compared with those spoiled young ladies in wealthy circles, she really was well-mannered and polite.
She seemed to get along quite well with his mother, too.
Having her be the one to marry him in the end seemed rather nice, too.
"This new bride certainly puts on airs, sleeping until the sun is high on her very first day of marriage. Back in our day, we had to get up before dawn to serve our mothers-in-law tea and water. If we'd dared be so precious, we'd have earned ourselves a beating..."
A spiteful voice suddenly rang out from outside the door, interrupting the warmth inside the room.