What Are These Symptoms

They were surprisingly cooperative, their faces relaxing as they eagerly went to receive their punishment.

But just then, Steward Qin jumped in, "General, what about Anna? She only got into this mess because she stayed behind to take care of Lily Bai..."

Evan Xiao glanced at the two men, "Which one of you wants to marry her?"

"Huh?" Both men were instantly horrified. "General, we can handle the punishment, but please spare us from that!"

"If not, you each get forty more strikes."

"What? These weren’t ordinary strikes—the paddles were wielded by at least a third-rank Spirit Practitioner. Every hit could leave them seriously injured."

Another forty strikes each? That would practically kill them...

Yet the two just stared at each other, neither willing to speak up.

"How about this—rock, paper, scissors! Loser marries her!" Steward Qin was a genius.

"Alright, do it!" Evan Xiao ordered.

So, the two men played rock, paper, scissors.

In the end, one of them lost and hung his head in defeat.

But inside, he was cursing—who wants this piece of trouble? Just my luck...

Evan Xiao left the maid’s quarters with a dark expression.

But as he turned the corner, he saw Samuel Summers standing there, looking furious.

"Second Young Master..." Evan Xiao frowned.

What was he doing here?

"General, I’m afraid I can’t go through with this marriage! When I return, I’ll ask my father to call it off!" Samuel Summers had heard every word of their confession just now.

Evan Xiao couldn’t argue, so he bowed stiffly. "My apologies."

Samuel Summers turned and walked away without another word.

Evan Xiao felt humiliated and wasn’t in the mood to drink anymore. After dismissing everyone, he sat alone in his room, sulking.

Cecilia Chen... she couldn’t stay any longer.

He had originally wanted to give her a bright future, out of respect for her brother’s dying wish and because Cecilia was truly pitiful.

But her character was rotten to the core!

Better let her start her own life elsewhere!

......

Grace watched everyone leave, then secretly plotted to comfort Evan Xiao.

But as she spotted his figure from afar, a sudden idea struck her.

This was a rare opportunity...

Some chances only come once.

Grace steeled herself and took out the high-grade aphrodisiac she’d created, sampling a bit herself.

Soon, the effects kicked in. She stumbled into Evan Xiao’s room, nearly collapsing as her legs went weak.

"Why are you here?" Evan Xiao quickly helped her up.

"My room’s not fit for sleeping," Grace said. "I feel like I’m burning up—let me lie down in the Cozy Nook for a while."

Evan Xiao noticed her rapid breathing and flushed cheeks, thinking her illness was getting worse. He frowned and checked her forehead...

But to his surprise, her forehead wasn’t hot at all.

What was going on?

Evan Xiao helped her to the Cozy Nook and asked, "You’re a doctor yourself—why not write a prescription and I’ll get you the medicine?"

Grace shook her head, "You’d better call a doctor. I have no idea what’s wrong with me. Ever since lunch, I’ve felt off—just miserable all over."

"Alright!" Evan Xiao was genuinely worried, so he sent Louis Lin to fetch a Spiritual Alchemist for Grace.

The Spiritual Alchemist really lived up to his reputation. He quickly figured out the problem and asked if she’d eaten anything unusual.

Grace replied that she’d only had lunch—nothing else.

The Spiritual Alchemist then asked if he could have a look at the leftovers from her meal.