Madam, I Am Really a Monster - chapter 5

When winter arrived, Huo Shi fell ill.

It was just a slight cold at first, but soon she was bedridden for days.

No one at home cared for her, yet she still managed the household chores every day.

Who would have thought that on the Empress’s birthday, when she entered the palace to offer birthday wishes, she would faint in public.

The Empress said nothing on the surface, but it was clear she was displeased with Pingyuan Marquis Manor.

Imperial Physicians and palace maids shuttled back and forth through the manor.

Whether it was Sun Bin or Sun Jing, neither dared to act out anymore.

One played the role of a considerate husband, the other a filial son.

Sun Bin instructed me, “You’ll have to bear with things for a while. Don’t walk around the courtyard too much. When this storm from the palace passes, I’ll come spend time with you again.”

I came to his house as a Concubine, and I know how a Concubine should behave.

So I gently advised him, “Marquis, don’t worry too much, and don’t tire yourself out.”

He sneered, “What am I worried about? She’s just pretending.”

I frowned, “Everyone gets sick from time to time, Marquis. Please don’t say that.”

Sun Bin said, “You’re just too naive. Luckily Jing’er sides with you, otherwise she’d scheme you to death.”

…I couldn’t respond to that.

Originally, the father and son probably thought family scandals shouldn’t be made public.

But with the best Imperial Physicians from the palace taking turns to attend her, the diagnosis was that Huo Shi was suffering from exhaustion and must rest in bed.

A day or two would be fine, but as time dragged on, Sun Bin grew impatient.

If this was truly Huo Shi’s tactic, using the Empress to suppress the father and son, it was indeed quite effective.

He went from lording over the household to having to keep his head down.

One night, he came to me, drunk, and complained, “And she calls herself a noble lady of an aristocratic family-such lowly tricks!”

I poured him another drink.

Then I just smiled and let it go.

He hadn’t sat for long when Zhang Mama from Huo Shi’s side arrived.

She knelt before Sun Bin and pleaded, “Marquis, Madam is not well, please go and see her!”

Sun Bin replied impatiently, “If she’s not well, just call the Imperial Physician! I don’t know how to treat illnesses!”

Zhang Mama shot me a hateful look.

I smiled awkwardly: This has nothing to do with me.

But Zhang Mama didn’t dare say anything to me, and could only beg Sun Bin, “Marquis, no matter what, you are husband and wife after all…”

Sun Bin said coldly, “I’ve cared for her all these days as her husband-what more does she want!”

He grumbled, but with the Empress’s people still around, he had no choice but to go.