Chapter 45

Chapter 45: So It Was Him

Sheng Zhi Wan also noticed what Qi Shu Xian carried in his hand.

At once, a trace of sarcasm appeared in Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes.

In truth, Sheng Zhi Wan was not surprised that Madam Cui had rewarded Silver Thread Charcoal to Meng Yang. In Sheng Zhi Wan’s previous life, it had happened the same way.

Only back then, Madam Cui had used Meng Yang’s “pregnancy” as the excuse.

It was already deep winter at the time, and Sheng Zhi Wan was sensitive to the cold. Sheng Zhi Wan wanted Qi Shu Xian to borrow some charcoal back from Meng Yang. Then Sheng Zhi Wan would buy more the next day and return it to Meng Yang.

Something Sheng Zhi Wan had paid for with her own silver had been given away. Then Sheng Zhi Wan still had to borrow it, and still had to repay it.

Even now, remembering it made Sheng Zhi Wan feel how humiliating she had been.

And how had Qi Shu Xian spoken back then? Qi Shu Xian had been impatient. “It’s just charcoal. How can you be so petty?”

Sheng Zhi Wan did not care about it anymore, yet Qi Shu Xian now carried the charcoal to her.

“It seems the Cold Poison last night made the Heir Apparent suffer,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, mockery plain in Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes.

But under that gaze, Qi Shu Xian’s anger slowly cooled instead.

Qi Shu Xian softened his voice and tried to step forward and pull Sheng Zhi Wan into his arms. “Zhi Wan, can we make up? Like we used to…”

The moment Qi Shu Xian came close, Sheng Zhi Wan stepped back twice.

Qi Shu Xian’s arms closed on empty air.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Qi Shu Xian with complete indifference. “There’s no need.”

“The ‘making up’ and the ‘before’ you talk about were bought with my constant compromises. You didn’t see it then, and I didn’t care.”

“But now, I care.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice stayed calm. “Heir Apparent, you should go back to Wei Yang Courtyard. That is where the woman who needs your full devotion is.”

After speaking, Sheng Zhi Wan walked straight past Qi Shu Xian.

Qi Shu Xian stood frozen in place.

Qi Shu Xian had not expected Sheng Zhi Wan to think this way. Sheng Zhi Wan treated everything she had done for Qi Shu Xian, for Mother, and for the entire Duke Qi Residence as nothing but grievance.

But after marriage, what woman was not like this? A wife took her husband as her heaven.

Sheng Zhi Wan refused to lower her head. Qi Shu Xian had offered her a way down, yet she still would not take it.

Qi Shu Xian set the Silver Thread Charcoal down, turned around, and strode out of Ping Lan Residence.

*

Qi Shu Xian did not want anyone else to know he had been poisoned with Cold Poison. So that night, Qi Shu Xian still went to Wei Yang Courtyard.

Meng Yang learned that Qi Shu Xian had come from Ping Lan Residence, and Meng Yang felt miserable.

Yet when Meng Yang saw how much Qi Shu Xian suffered when the Cold Poison flared, and remembered that he had done it all for her, Meng Yang’s heart twisted.

So this was what it felt like to truly fall in love with someone.

Meng Yang wanted Qi Shu Xian to be well, yet also hated that Qi Shu Xian could be good to anyone else. Meng Yang wanted Qi Shu Xian’s eyes and heart to grow only on her.

Meng Yang pressed a hand to her chest and finally decided she would not wait any longer.

Madam Cui liked Meng Yang, and for several days in a row, Meng Yang was kept at Wen Xi Courtyard for meals.

This day, while eating at Wen Xi Courtyard again, Meng Yang finally brought up her idea of opening a shop outside.

Madam Cui’s first reaction was displeasure.

Duke Qi Residence could not cover its expenses. Even Madam Cui’s medicine money had been taken from Fei Rui’s dowry.

But after the things that had gone to Sheng Zhi Wan, not much of Fei Rui’s dowry was left. And Duke Qi Residence still had to patch over the silver Sheng Zhi Wan demanded.

Now Shu Xian was even selling the house His Majesty had bestowed…

Just thinking of it almost made Madam Cui vomit blood again.

The residence was already struggling like this. Meng Yang, a farm girl, could not help at all, yet still wanted to take silver from Madam Cui to open a shop?

Absolutely impossible.

But after Madam Cui heard Meng Yang explain that “Hotpot Shop,” Madam Cui wavered.

“Is there really such a novel way to eat?” Madam Cui asked in surprise. “Where did you hear these strange ideas?”

“Madam, please don’t look down on my rural background,” Meng Yang said with a shy smile. “When I was at home, in winter I often ate with my family gathered around the stove. That’s how I got the idea.”

Meng Yang had been fed well in the residence and looked fairer now. Her face was noticeably prettier than when she first arrived.

And that obedient, gentle attitude pleased Madam Cui.

In the past, Sheng Zhi Wan was also respectful and mild, but because Sheng Zhi Wan was a Princess, Madam Cui always felt restrained, as if she could not put on airs.

“If you have an idea,” Madam Cui said, “then tomorrow I’ll have the steward take you to look at a few shops.”

Madam Cui’s plan was simple.

It did not sound good for a titled noble family to do business, but Meng Yang was only a concubine – she was not even truly one yet.

If Meng Yang could really earn silver for Duke Qi Residence, it would be a good thing.

When the news reached Sheng Zhi Wan, Sheng Zhi Wan was not surprised.

Sheng Zhi Wan only had Ting Lan send a message to Shopkeeper Lin, telling Shopkeeper Lin’s people to watch Meng Yang’s every move outside.

But Sheng Zhi Wan did not expect Meng Yang to be so impatient.

On the afternoon of the day Meng Yang went to view shops, Meng Yang sent the steward away. Then Meng Yang had Qing Xing deliver a letter to the army.

“The letter was sent to a centurion named Jiang Mang,” Ting Lan said, passing on Shopkeeper Lin’s report.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s pen paused.

A drop of ink spread on the paper, slowly blooming wider.

Jiang Mang.

So it was him.