Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Taking You Down With Me

There was no need to ask. That huge pile of silver had been Sheng Zhi Wan’s doing on purpose.

No wonder it had been so “convenient.” The moment Qi Shu Xian needed medicine, the Hall of Rare Treasures just happened to have a bottle. They even named a price of five thousand taels, forcing Qi Shu Xian to buy it even though Qi Shu Xian knew it was not worth that much.

Qi Shu Xian strode up and seized Sheng Zhi Wan’s wrist hard: “So you were the one who put that medicine out there? Where’s the silver?”

Sheng Zhi Wan yanked her arm free: “I don’t understand what the Heir Apparent is talking about.”

“Are you that eager to see the Duke’s estate go broke?” Qi Shu Xian asked through clenched teeth.

“What did that have to do with me?” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “If I remembered correctly, I had been in this estate for more than two years and never used a single coin from it. I even bought my own Silver Thread Charcoal, and I still had to rely on someone else’s charity to get it.”

“That was because Meng Yang was pregnant!” Qi Shu Xian snapped. “Besides, didn’t I bring it to you later? What more did you want?”

“What did her pregnancy have to do with me?” Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice turned sharper. “Did I force her to sleep with you, or force her to carry your child? If the Heir Apparent had any ability, Qi Shu Xian would buy Silver Thread Charcoal for your own concubine with your own money. Using the Principal Wife’s silver to act generous – what a thick face you had!”

Her words hit Qi Shu Xian so hard that anger rushed straight to his head. Qi Shu Xian’s hand lifted high, full of force.

An Zhi saw it and lunged forward.

Smack!

The slap landed solidly on An Zhi’s head. An Zhi’s body swayed, then stumbled backward.

Sheng Zhi Wan caught An Zhi at once. When Sheng Zhi Wan saw blood spill from the corner of An Zhi’s mouth, Sheng Zhi Wan’s expression turned cold.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not hesitate. Sheng Zhi Wan spun around and swung a slap toward Qi Shu Xian’s face.

Qi Shu Xian reacted fast. Qi Shu Xian raised an arm and blocked Sheng Zhi Wan’s hand easily.

But Sheng Zhi Wan had not been aiming for Qi Shu Xian’s face.

Sheng Zhi Wan stamped down hard on Qi Shu Xian’s foot. While Qi Shu Xian froze in shock, Sheng Zhi Wan bent a knee and drove it up.

Qi Shu Xian let out a muffled groan: “Hng!”

Qi Shu Xian’s face changed instantly. Qi Shu Xian had not expected Sheng Zhi Wan to move so quickly, and so viciously. Sheng Zhi Wan had aimed like Sheng Zhi Wan meant to cripple Qi Shu Xian.

Luckily, Qi Shu Xian had jerked back at the last moment, or else…

Before Qi Shu Xian could even catch a breath, Sheng Zhi Wan’s hands were free. As Qi Shu Xian clutched his lower abdomen, Sheng Zhi Wan snapped another slap across Qi Shu Xian’s face.

If Qi Shu Xian had not been quick, the next slap would have landed too.

“Sheng Zhi Wan, are you insane?” Qi Shu Xian staggered back several steps.

Sheng Zhi Wan breathed a little hard, but Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes did not yield as Sheng Zhi Wan stared Qi Shu Xian down: “If you dare lay a hand on me or my people again, then even if I die, I will drag you down with me. Do you believe that?”

Qi Shu Xian’s face turned ugly.

Qi Shu Xian’s gaze sank: “Meng Yang is talented in business. With her here, the Duke’s estate won’t take a single advantage of you. Tomorrow, I will tell Mother to hand the stewardship to her. Don’t regret it then!”

Qi Shu Xian stared hard at Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes, trying to find pain and unwillingness.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not even look at Qi Shu Xian. Sheng Zhi Wan only turned to An Zhi, voice gentle with concern: “Did it hurt?”

“It didn’t,” An Zhi said, shaking her head.

It still hurt. But An Zhi thought about how that slap had been meant for Sheng Zhi Wan, and the pain did not matter anymore. Sheng Zhi Wan had even hit the Heir Apparent for An Zhi. An Zhi felt deeply moved.

Being ignored like air, Qi Shu Xian stood there coldly for a moment, then strode out of Ping Lan Residence.

Yet what clung to Qi Shu Xian’s mind was not the fight itself. It was Sheng Zhi Wan’s words, and the ruthless killing intent in Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes when Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Qi Shu Xian.

For the first time, Qi Shu Xian realized that maybe Sheng Zhi Wan truly did not love Qi Shu Xian anymore.

But why?

Just because of Meng Yang?

Impossible.

Qi Shu Xian had not abandoned Sheng Zhi Wan even after all of Sheng Zhi Wan’s “unfilial jealousy,” domineering temper, and petty calculations. What right did Sheng Zhi Wan have to abandon Qi Shu Xian first?

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes turned dark.

Since the day they met, Sheng Zhi Wan had always loved Qi Shu Xian more. Sheng Zhi Wan had organized exam questions for Qi Shu Xian. In the blazing summer, Sheng Zhi Wan had coaxed Qi Shu Xian to keep studying. Even when Qi Shu Xian was in Cang Nan, Sheng Zhi Wan had sent military texts more than once and cared about everything.

Qi Shu Xian had never imagined that one day, Sheng Zhi Wan would stop loving Qi Shu Xian.

Now that the truth stood right in front of Qi Shu Xian, Qi Shu Xian found it even harder to accept.

Sheng Zhi Wan still worried about An Zhi. Sheng Zhi Wan checked An Zhi’s pulse carefully, then examined An Zhi’s eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. Only after confirming that An Zhi was truly fine did Sheng Zhi Wan finally stop.

Early the next morning, Sheng Zhi Wan had barely woken when someone came to summon Sheng Zhi Wan to Wen Xi Courtyard.

Sheng Zhi Wan thought of what Qi Shu Xian had said the day before. Before Sheng Zhi Wan even went, Sheng Zhi Wan already guessed the reason.

Sheng Zhi Wan could not help smiling at the reflection in the bronze mirror.

The Duke’s estate was nothing but an empty shell now. Madam Cui felt the household accounts were a burden even when Madam Cui held them. How could Madam Cui still think Sheng Zhi Wan cared?

Still, since they had sent for Sheng Zhi Wan, Sheng Zhi Wan had to go.

Sheng Zhi Wan had An Zhi pick out a jade-colored spring silk dress and changed into it. Sheng Zhi Wan had not even put on full makeup yet, but Sheng Zhi Wan already looked bright and striking, like fresh blossoms under morning sun.

As An Zhi started to apply makeup, An Zhi noticed the problem at once: “Princess, your complexion has gotten even fairer and clearer lately. The powders you used before actually make you look darker now.”

Sheng Zhi Wan studied the mirror closely and realized An Zhi was right.

It made sense. Before, Sheng Zhi Wan had been thinking of Qi Shu Xian, worrying about Madam Cui’s health, and dealing with endless chores in the Duke’s estate. Now Sheng Zhi Wan had let all of it go. Sheng Zhi Wan ate well, slept well, and felt clear inside.

Even after the ordeal of being taken by bandits, Sheng Zhi Wan’s color looked better than it had in a long time.