Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Remembering Miss Meng’s Kindness

Qi Shu Xian said, “Mother was right. I’ll go find Zhi Wan and have her take charge of the household again!” Qi Shu Xian turned to leave.

Madam Cui hurriedly stopped Qi Shu Xian. “Why were you in such a hurry? You don’t need to look for her. Didn’t you go to Meng Yang’s courtyard yesterday? Just wait for her to come looking for you. When she does, you can bring it up then.”

Qi Shu Xian felt it made sense. “I’ll listen to Mother.”

But Qi Shu Xian needed the silver urgently today.

Madam Cui gestured to her close nanny. “There are 1,000 taels here. Take it first.”

After Qi Shu Xian left, Concubine Ping remembered Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze yesterday and could not help saying, “Madam, I feel like the Heir’s Wife has changed.”

Concubine Ping continued, “Before, Sheng Zhi Wan was easy to talk to and easy to handle. Now Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly became tough. She used to be the most filial to Madam, but yesterday, even when Madam fainted from anger, Sheng Zhi Wan didn’t say a single word of concern…”

Concubine Ping had an absurd thought. Maybe Sheng Zhi Wan would not compromise this time.

But the thought lasted only an instant before Concubine Ping threw it away. How could that be?

Sheng Zhi Wan loved the Heir Apparent too deeply. Back then, just to marry down, Sheng Zhi Wan could even go on a hunger strike. Sheng Zhi Wan would never give up the Heir Apparent.

Besides, even if Sheng Zhi Wan refused to compromise, then what? The imperial edict was something Sheng Zhi Wan begged for herself. Since Sheng Zhi Wan married into the Duke estate, Sheng Zhi Wan would live as a Duke Qi person and die as a Duke Qi ghost. There was no other possibility.

*

The place where Qi Shu Xian treated everyone was called Shun De House. To show sincerity, Qi Shu Xian booked the entire second floor in one go.

When the wine flowed and everyone was drunk and loud, a Centurion suddenly raised his cup and walked to Qi Shu Xian. “Heir Apparent, I heard you should’ve been rewarded with Senior Fourth Rank. It got changed to Junior Fifth Rank because you have a jealous wife!”

The Centurion burped hard and said, “In my opinion, Princess or not, once she’s a wife, the Heir Apparent should beat her when she needs beating and teach her when she needs teaching! She even dared to make things hard for Miss Meng, such a kind young lady. Where I come from, that breaks the seven outs. She should be divorced!”

The Centurion tipped back his head and gulped down the whole cup.

Qi Shu Xian’s brows tightened. People could say things like that in the Military Camp, but this was under the Son of Heaven’s feet. How could they talk nonsense here?

Qi Shu Xian glanced downstairs. Luckily, there were no familiar faces.

Qi Shu Xian instructed the servant boy, “Brother Jiang is drunk. Shun Zi, help him go rest.”

But Jiang Mang flung Shun Zi’s hand away. “I’m not drunk! Heir Apparent, my life was saved by Miss Meng. Without Miss Meng, I would’ve ended up like Er Hu – wrapped in a straw mat, and I’d never come back!”

Jiang Mang slapped the table and laughed bitterly. “So I remember Miss Meng’s kindness. Not just me. Zhang Da Hu!”

Jiang Mang looked toward a man who had lost his left arm. The man kept drinking, his features rough and his body tall and broad. When Zhang Da Hu heard Jiang Mang, Zhang Da Hu wiped his mouth and glared over with a vicious look. “That’s right. Whoever bullied Miss Meng became my enemy!”

Zhang Da Hu and Zhang Er Hu were brothers. Zhang Da Hu was born with tremendous strength. The reason Zhang Da Hu only had one arm now was because Zhang Da Hu was hit by a poisoned arrow, and Meng Yang had someone cut the arm off.

Zhang Da Hu did not hate Meng Yang. Zhang Da Hu knew Miss Meng did it to save Zhang Da Hu.

Er Hu was dead. If not for Miss Meng making the decision, Er Hu’s body would have been left on the battlefield forever, just like everyone else.

So Zhang Da Hu remembered Miss Meng’s kindness. Whoever dared to bully Miss Meng, even if it was a Princess, what did it matter? Zhang Da Hu’s life was cheap. If Zhang Da Hu could really kill a Princess, then even dying would be worth it.

A fierce light flashed in Zhang Da Hu’s eyes.

Qi Shu Xian also remembered how Meng Yang had stayed in the camp and taken care of Qi Shu Xian without even changing clothes. Qi Shu Xian’s heart softened. Qi Shu Xian said, “Don’t worry. This Heir Apparent will protect her.”

“That’s good.” Jiang Mang laughed loudly. “Princess Qing, Princess Ning – whatever. In our hearts, Miss Meng and the Heir Apparent are the fated pair.”

Someone nearby teased, “Miss Meng is such a pretty beauty. Only the Heir Apparent is worthy of her.”

More teasing followed.

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes flickered. Meng Yang was good-looking, but it depended on who she was compared to. Against the farm wives in these men’s homes, Meng Yang naturally looked like a Fairy Maiden.

But against Sheng Zhi Wan…

These men’s status was not high enough to have ever seen Sheng Zhi Wan. Otherwise, they would never have said such things.

Qi Shu Xian could not be bothered to argue. Qi Shu Xian only wished Sheng Zhi Wan’s temperament could be as gentle and obedient as Meng Yang’s. Even if Sheng Zhi Wan could not do it perfectly, even three parts out of ten would have been fine.

Just then, someone came into Shun De House from outside. When that person saw Qi Shu Xian celebrating with the crowd, admiration immediately filled the person’s face. “You are… the Heir Apparent?”

Qi Shu Xian looked over.

The newcomer said with respect, “The Heir Apparent truly treated the Soldiers well! If so, then the Princess Qing Ning donating grain, medicine, and clothing to the Frontier must not be fake either.”

“What?” Qi Shu Xian did not care about the first part, but the second part made no sense to Qi Shu Xian.

The newcomer looked shocked. “Heir Apparent didn’t know?”

The newcomer said, “Yesterday, the Princess Qing Ning spoke at Gathering Sages Teahouse. The whole capital has been talking about it. In the name of Sheng Shi Hall, over the past two years, she donated 300,000 shi of grain to several places on the Frontier, donated 30,000 pieces of clothing, and also donated medicine…”

As the newcomer spoke, the expression grew even stranger. The newcomer had assumed that even if the Princess Qing Ning truly donated things, it was because Qi Shu Xian, the General Husband, influenced her.

But now, Qi Shu Xian did not seem to know anything at all.

Could it be that the Princess Qing Ning donated on her own?