Chapter 4

As for his unsuspecting "husband"... if what Henry Clark said was true, and they really could spend the next half year in peace, being husband and wife in name only, without any real marital relationship, he could just barely let go of his grudge against Henry Clark.

After all, he was just a dying man—why bother fussing over him?

Naturally, there couldn't be two beds in the bridal chamber. The only bed was occupied by Henry Clark, so William Carter decided to make do for the night on the soft couch.

It was just after the Lantern Festival, and the sun had yet to bring any warmth. Sleeping alone on the soft couch would surely be chilly. William Carter noticed an extra quilt on the wedding bed, likely prepared by the servants of the marquis’s residence, worried that their precious {young marquis} might not be used to sharing a quilt with someone else.

Since that was the case, William Carter saw no need to be polite.

Even in his sleep, Henry Clark could not escape the torment of illness, his brows lightly furrowed. William Carter moved very gently as he took the quilt, but Henry Clark still woke up.

When Henry Clark opened his eyes, William Carter was bent over, the hair falling from his chest brushing against Henry Clark's cheek, tickling a little.

Their eyes met. Before Henry Clark could speak, William Carter said first, "I'm just taking the quilt."

Henry Clark smiled slightly. "Go ahead."

William Carter carried the quilt over to the soft couch and spread it out, just about to lie down when Henry Clark said, "Aren't you going to take off your clothes before sleeping?"

The wedding attire for a male spouse, though not as elaborate as a woman's bridal gown, was still a belted, layered robe—three layers inside, three outside—far less comfortable and convenient than ordinary clothes. Even Henry Clark felt tired just looking at it.

William Carter replied calmly, "Of course I will."

He turned his back to Henry Clark and raised his hands to undo the outermost buttons. The outer robe slipped from his shoulders to his ankles. One garment after another was removed, and soon he was, like Henry Clark, left only in his underclothes.

After undressing, he glanced back at the wedding bed—good, Henry Clark had already fallen asleep again.

The next morning.

William Carter had always been a light sleeper; a soft cough from Henry Clark on the wedding bed woke him. Henry Clark was lying on his side, most of his profile hidden by loose black hair, sleeping carelessly, with no trace of decorum.

As soon as William Carter got up from the soft couch, there was a knock at the door from outside: "Young master, young lord, it's time to get up. According to custom, you need to go pay your respects to the marquis and the madam with tea."

Henry Clark showed no sign of waking. William Carter opened the door and let them in. The maid at the front was Alice Ford, who served Henry Clark personally. She brought in hot water, and when she saw the quilt on the soft couch, her expression changed for a moment.

Half the maids came to help William Carter wash and dress, while the others went to wake Henry Clark. William Carter changed into a pale blue robe, his long hair simply tied up with a jade crown. Though dressed as an ordinary man, he still looked elegant and outstanding. Compared to the bright splendor of his wedding attire yesterday, he now appeared more dignified and composed.

Alice Ford wanted to apply makeup for William Carter. William Carter said, "No need."

Alice Ford replied, "But I saw that young lord wore makeup yesterday." "That was yesterday, as you said." William Carter glanced at the makeup box on the table, annoyed. "Take all that away."

William Carter was already fully dressed, but Henry Clark was still asleep. Several maids gathered around the bed, calling him softly:

"Young master, you need to go with the young lord to serve tea to the marquis and madam."

"Young master..."

Henry Clark didn't move at all, his expression peaceful, hands folded on his chest, looking just like a Buddha statue.

Alice Ford said anxiously, "Young Howard hasn't fainted again, has he?"

William Carter stepped forward, carefully observing Henry Clark, and said, "No, he's just sleeping like the dead. If you call him forcefully, he'll wake up."

Alice Ford asked, puzzled, "Young lord, what do you mean by 'call forcefully'?"

"Louder, or pull off his quilt," William Carter said. "But don't forget, he's a patient. Unless you want his illness to get worse, don't disturb his rest."

Alice Ford hesitated. "But, over at the marquis and madam's..."

William Carter interrupted, "Look at the state he's in, and you still want him to serve tea? Are the rules more important than his life?" In Dayu, it was customary for the bride and groom to serve tea to their parents the morning after the wedding. If Henry Clark didn't go, he probably wouldn't have to go either.

Before the empress bestowed the marriage, the Marquise of Nan'an, Madam Liang, had sent someone to propose. After he firmly refused, she went to beg the empress, forcing the The Carter Family into a situation where they had to marry or die. He didn't even want to acknowledge the marquis and his wife, let alone treat them as "parents-in-law."

Alice Ford dared not decide on her own and sent a little maid to report to Madam Liang. Soon, the old maid by Madam Liang's side came to deliver a message: "Madam says, it's rare for the young master to sleep so soundly, let him rest. She and the marquis will just have tea from the young lord alone."

William Carter sneered, "Madam truly loves her son more than life itself."

Living in the marquis’s residence, he had no say in anything. No matter how unwilling, William Carter could only put on his snow-colored cloak and follow the old maid to the front hall.

All the way, the old maid kept lecturing about the rules of the marquis’s inner residence. William Carter simply tuned her out, treating her words as nonsense. Yesterday, with the wedding veil on, he could only see a few steps ahead. Today was the first time he saw the true grandeur of the Marquis of Nan'an's residence. Though he had never entered the palace, he had accompanied his father to the prince’s manor for medical visits. The opulence of the Marquis of Nan'an's residence was in no way inferior to a prince’s manor—carved beams, painted rafters, magnificent and luxurious—showing just how high the marquis stood in court.