The rules for marriages among noble families have always been complicated. Even though this was a rushed wedding to ward off misfortune, the Marquis of Nan’an’s household still sent a governess to the Lin family to teach William Carter the so-called “ways of a male spouse.” Before the wedding, he was thoroughly bathed from head to toe, inside and out, and even had ointments and the like applied.

William Carter had no interest in men and had never suffered such humiliation. If not for the need to protect the dozens of members of the Lin family, he would have rather perished together with Henry Clark.

There was no sound from the bridal chamber, so a maid urged again, “Young master, it’s time to rest.”

William Carter closed his eyes, suppressing the surge of malice within him. He blew out the candles, leaving only a single red candle by the bed. Henry Clark was still lying outside the covers in his ornate wedding robes; sleeping like that would surely be uncomfortable.

But what did that have to do with him? He wished Henry Clark would never wake up.

William Carter walked to the bedside, his gaze falling on Henry Clark’s hands, crossed over his chest.

The Lin family was renowned for medicine. William Carter had studied medicine with his father since childhood. As a youth, he traveled to study under famous teachers, and his medical skills far surpassed his peers. Just by looking at Henry Clark’s complexion, he could tell that Henry Clark was gravely ill, suffering from a chronic and incurable disease.

To confirm this, William Carter deigned to check the pulse of this sickly man. Henry Clark’s wrist was chillingly cold, as if it had just been pulled from icy water.

As he had suspected, Henry Clark’s vitality was depleted, with signs of a failing pulse. Unless a miracle doctor appeared, Henry Clark would not last more than half a year.

He only had to endure for half a year. Once Henry Clark succumbed to illness, he would be free.

Unconsciously, William Carter pressed harder, leaving two faint marks on Henry Clark’s wrist.

Suddenly, those pale fingertips twitched.

William Carter instinctively let go. Henry Clark’s hand fell back onto the bed, and his eyes rolled beneath his lids, long lashes trembling slightly.

Was Henry Clark waking up?

William Carter’s expression grew grave, his eyes fixed unblinking on Henry Clark. Under his knife-like gaze, Henry Clark slowly opened his eyes.

A layer of mist seemed to cloud Henry Clark’s eyes, as if he couldn’t see anything clearly. When the haze finally cleared, a hint of confusion appeared. “Hm…? Where did this classical beauty come from…”

Heh, lecher. On the verge of death and still calling someone a beauty.

William Carter said coldly, “You’re awake.”

Henry Clark was dazed for a moment, then asked hoarsely, “Who are you?”

A flash of surprise crossed William Carter’s eyes. “You don’t recognize me?”

It was true this was their first meeting, but as long as Henry Clark had any sense, seeing the wedding robes should have made things clear.

Henry Clark shook his head, coughed twice, and said, “I know it’s cliché, but I still have to ask: Where am I, and how did I get here?”

William Carter: “……” Could it be that this sickly man has become addled? Or perhaps Henry Clark didn’t know about this marriage at all?

Before the wedding, he’d heard his father mention Henry Clark’s condition. Apparently, Henry Clark had been in a stupor for the past month, his mind clouded by illness. If that was true, Henry Clark might be completely unaware of this marriage.

William Carter’s expression softened a little. “My surname is Lin, given name Qingyu.”

“William Carter? Lin… Qing… Yu.” Henry Clark repeated the name, as if recalling something. “The beautiful imperial physician who died in the Eastern Palace?”

William Carter frowned. “What?”

Henry Clark stared at him, astonished, and suddenly struggled to sit up.

Out of habit as a doctor, William Carter pressed the restless patient back down. “What are you trying to do?”

“Mirror.” Henry Clark clutched his chest with one hand and pointed at the bronze mirror on the cabinet with the other, his long hair spilling over the pillow. “Cough, cough, give me the mirror.”

Mirror?

William Carter handed the bronze mirror to Henry Clark and asked, “Is there something wrong with the mirror?”

When Henry Clark saw his reflection, his eyes widened as if he’d seen a ghost. His expression suggested he had a thousand things to say, but after holding back for a long while, nearly unable to breathe, he finally uttered just one word: “…Shit.”

The maid on night duty heard the commotion in the bridal chamber and knocked on the door. “Young master, is something the matter?”

William Carter looked at the thunderstruck Henry Clark and said calmly, “Go tell the Marquis and Madam that the young master is awake.”

The maid immediately sent someone to inform the Marquis of Nan’an and his wife, and soon summoned a doctor as well. In no time, the bridal chamber was filled with people, and William Carter stood on the outermost edge, seeming more like an outsider.

Doctor Bolton, who checked Henry Clark’s pulse, was not an imperial physician but was a renowned doctor in the capital. Stroking his beard, Doctor Bolton said in disbelief, “In all my decades of practice, this is the first time I’ve encountered such a case.”

The marquis’s wife asked anxiously, “Doctor Bolton, what exactly is wrong with Wan Cheng?”

“Madam, don’t worry. It’s a good thing the young master has awakened. But this pulse… Yesterday, I also checked the young master’s pulse. At that time, his vitality was nearly exhausted, not far from death. But now, it’s as if he’s a different person.” Doctor Bolton clicked his tongue in amazement. “It’s as if a divine force has suddenly infused him with new life.”

William Carter fell silent in thought. Henry Clark’s sudden improvement was not a final burst of energy before death, but something truly strange. He had never seen such a case in any medical texts.

The marquis’s wife was stunned and asked, “Then is his illness going to get better?”