Chapter 182: Her Husband
Su Wan instinctively froze.
Ah Ran?
She turned to her imperial brother on the bed, and he seemed delirious at the moment, calling that person’s name as though her presence had been etched in his subconscious.
During the fifteen years her imperial brother had gone, what had truly happened to him? She wondered.
And this Ah Ran... was definitely a woman’s name seeing from the way he was calling her with such affection.
Su Wan suddenly remembered Zhou Shuran’s words about Zhou Anran’s missing husband’s name. Her heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously bit her nails in anxiety.
Could it be?
Her imperial brother might really be Zhou Anran’s missing husband. But... why didn’t she recognize him willingly?
Had he done something that disappointed her?
After a while, Xiao Yuanwei’s pained groan subsided, and his grip on his head also lessened. Soon, he fell unconscious again.
The imperial physician wiped his sweat and reported to Su Wan. "Your Highess, His Majesty’s condition has stabilized."
Su Wan nodded and turned to Han Tingxun. This time, her face and voice was stern, like someone belonging in the imperial family instead of her usually sunny persona.
"Brother Han, we have to expedite the plan to find the miracle physician." She ordered him, "Dispatch some more guards."
Han Tingxun saluted and did as she ordered him to. Only on such an urgent occasion would he listen to anyone but Xiao Yuanwei. After all, Su Wan’s order was also related to his Master’s well being.
Su Wan exited the room and went to her own courtyard. She gathered her hidden guards and ordered them. "Investigate the woman named Zhou Anran from Hejia Village and the Xiao family."
The hidden guards crouching down on their knees nodded and immediately jumped away to execute the order.
Su Wan secretly apologized in her heart to Zhou Anran and her children. Originally, she didn’t want to do this to them, but the more she got along with them, the more she found things linking to her imperial brother.
Besides, it will also be great if Zhou Anran can be her sister-in-law.
She was such a diligent and kind woman. Her children were also all talented and smart in their own ways.
"Your Highness, the little prince is looking for you." Suddenly, a maid came over and reported.
Su Wan’s whole face lit up, and she immediately went to her family’s courtyard, where her husband and child were staying.
***
Inside the room, Xiao Yuanwei slowly opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling in a daze.
His head still felt incredibly painful, as though someone was hammering it non-stop. He didn’t know how long until the pain in his head subsided slightly.
Strange, familiar yet unfamiliar fragments of memory began to emerge in his head. In particular, a certain woman’s face appeared.
It had been a few months since her face sometimes appeared in his mind. He couldn’t get rid of it no matter what, as though her countenance had been etched deeply in his mind.
Originally, the face was so vague that he didn’t know who it was. Each time his condition relapsed, the blurry faces in his mind would change, sometimes it was a child, teenagers, and then this woman.
"Master," a familiar voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Someone finally noticed that he had regained his consciousness.
Xiao Yuanwei slowly sat on his bed.
His subordinate, Han Tingxun stepped forward and helped him with a cup of water. Xiao Yuanwei didn’t refuse.
After he was done drinking, Han Tingxun immediately reported. "Master, Her Highness ordered us to dispatch more guards to find the miracle physician."
Xiao Yuanwei was also confused about what sort of affliction he had and how to solve it, so he nodded in confirmation. "Do as she says."
Han Tingxun didn’t leave. There was a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
Xiao Yuanwei noticed his hesitation and told him, "Speak."
"Her Highness wants to find information about the Xiao family in Hejia Village..." Han Tingxun carefully studied Xiao Yuanwei’s expression before he lowered his head.
He also already had some guesses in his head, but he didn’t dare to speak it out loud. After all, it was just too unbelievable.
However, some things also started to make sense...
Xiao Yuanwei pinched the bridge of his nose. "Call her over."
He was also curious, but he never deliberately did any digging to Zhou Anran’s background. But now, it seemed that even his sometimes slow sister began to suspect something.
"Yes, this servant obeys, Master."
With that, the room became quiet again. Han Tingxun had left to call Su Wan over.
Xiao Yuanwei looked up when he heard footsteps. His sister had walked in.
He called out. "Zhenyue."
Su Wan’s steps never faltered, and a smile spread on her face. "Elder Brother, you have finally woken up."
A concerned look appeared on her face. "How are you feeling? The Physician said that there was something triggering your relapse."
Xiao Yuanwei stayed silent for a moment, and then shook his head.
"There is nothing?" She asked in an unsure tone, her eyes narrowed as though she accused him of hiding something from her.
He didn’t say anything.
However, his next words shocked Su Wan so much that she almost bolted out of the door. "Zhenyue, are you investigating Mrs. Zhou?"
Su Wan’s face stiffened. How does he know?
"What’s wrong with that?" She narrowed her eyes. "So protective of her already? If one doesn’t know, they will think she is your wife."
"She already has a husband and several children," she added and witnessed as a minor change happened to his expression.
His face twitched a little, and... was that a sign of displeasure?
She became more brave again, crossing her hands on her chest. "However, her husband went missing when he was out hunting in this mountain."
He was still expressionless.
"Do you know who the name of her husband is, Elder Brother?" Su Wan paused with some deliberation before she dropped explosive news.
"It’s Xiao Wei."