Good Son-in-law

Madam Wang could only keep silent, her heart full of worries as she sat by the bedside.

Su Li glanced at Xiao Zetian and reached out to take the medicine bowl from his hand: "Let me do it."

"No need, wife, you’re weak too. You rest, I’ll take care of mother." Xiao Zetian dodged Su Li's hand and scooped another bowl of medicinal soup, bringing it carefully to Madam Wang’s lips, treating her as if she were his own mother.

Madam Wang drank the medicine, looking at such a considerate son-in-law, her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

If Su Li really was harmed by those villains... how could she face Yuanbao?

Madam Wang felt bitter inside and out, unable to help but frown.

"Mother, afraid it’s bitter? Here’s some preserved fruit; eat one after the medicine and it won’t taste bitter anymore," Xiao Zetian said.

Madam Wang looked at such a good son-in-law, her eyes moistening. She nodded and quickly finished the medicine with Xiao Zetian’s help. Xiao Zetian immediately brought tea for Madam Wang to rinse her mouth, then fed her a piece of preserved fruit.

Watching her son-in-law busily attending to her, Madam Wang’s heart grew even heavier with sorrow.

Su Li watched Xiao Zetian bustling about. Everything he did felt natural, without any hint of flattery, just as he had always naturally cared for her and her mother.

Recalling the bits and pieces of life with Xiao Zetian recently—their kindness, their thoughtfulness—Su Li suddenly wondered if she had been too harshly angry.

After taking the medicine, Madam Wang said to Xiao Zetian, "Good son-in-law, you go rest. Let Ali stay and talk with mother."

Xiao Zetian nodded, knowing Madam Wang probably had something private to discuss with Su Li, so he took the empty bowl and left the room.

Only the two women remained in the room. Madam Wang held her daughter’s hand, looking at Su Li’s haggard face with great pity, patting the bed: "Ali, come lie down beside mother."

Su Li took off her shoes, climbed up, and snuggled into the same quilt with Madam Wang. The mother and daughter leaned against the headboard. Madam Wang stroked her daughter’s head and said, "Ali, ever since you married, we haven’t shared a quilt."

Su Li responded softly, leaning on Madam Wang’s shoulder: "When I was little, it was cold in winter, so I’d snuggle tightly into mother’s arms to keep warm."

Madam Wang held Su Li’s hand and sighed: "Ali, I’ve heard some rumors that have been bothering me. I just want to ask you honestly. You have to tell mother the truth."

"Hmm? What did mother hear?" Su Li looked up at Madam Wang, seeing the worry on her face.

Madam Wang sighed and said, "Ali, be honest with mother. When you were taken by those villains, did anyone... take advantage of you?"

Su Li was stunned for a moment. She thought, not only Xiao Zetian but even her mother thought she had been violated by Prince Ling. She asked, "Mother, why do you suddenly ask this?"

Madam Wang looked at Su Li’s reaction and tenderly touched her face: "Ali, just tell mother the truth. Did it happen or not?"

Su Li lowered her eyes and shook her head: "No... The villains tried to do something to me, but Yuanbao arrived in time to rescue me. They failed and only tore my collar."

Hearing this, Madam Wang felt a huge weight lift from her heart. She hugged her daughter and murmured, "That’s good, that’s good. May the Bodhisattva bless you. My Ali is truly protected by heaven! Thank goodness Yuanbao saved you, or mother wouldn’t know how to live without you. You are mother’s only hope. If anything happened to you, mother couldn’t survive."

Su Li’s nose tingled as she snuggled into Madam Wang’s embrace: "Mother, I’m fine."

Madam Wang kissed Su Li on the forehead and asked, "Mother thought you were taken advantage of. What about Yuanbao? Does he know?"