Volume One, Chapter 15: Thank You, Five Hundred Taels for the Consultation Fee
The imperial physician in the Chen residence held a bowl of medicine, and upon hearing the two conversing, stumbled slightly.
Hai Qing’s eyes flickered between nose and heart, yet his shoulders trembled violently.
This bargain was truly... just right!
No one knew what Qixi Zhou had dreamt of, but tears slowly trickled from the corner of his eye.
He sobbed, his voice low and hoarse.
“Mother Concubine, your son misses you so much!”
Xu Zhiyi gently patted the back of his hand in comfort.
“Be a good boy and drink the medicine.”
Qixi Zhou obediently nodded.
“All right, your son will listen to the Mother Concubine completely, please don’t leave Zhou’er.”
The Chen residence physician felt both heartache and amusement, never expecting the Third Prince to reveal such a fragile side.
Xu Zhiyi took the medicine bowl and fed him spoonful by spoonful.
Though the medicine was bitter, Qixi Zhou didn’t even furrow his brow.
“Zhou’er, you’re so good!”
Xu Zhiyi stroked the top of his head and sighed sincerely.
The room fell silent.
“External wounds are no longer serious; internal injuries will take time to heal, but the poison is rather troublesome.”
Xu Zhiyi straightened up and rubbed her aching waist.
At the first quarter of the midnight hour, Qixi Zhou woke.
With one glance, he spotted Xu Zhiyi dozing by the window.
“Why is she here?”
The Chen residence physician remained silent.
Hai Qing had no choice but to steel himself and knelt by the bed.
“Master, this is entirely my fault. You’ve just recovered; please don’t be angry.”
“Miss Xu was brought here by me without permission, and it’s thanks to her that your injury was treated…”
Xu Zhiyi cast a cold glance at the darkening expression of Qixi Zhou.
“It wasn’t invited, she was taken by force!”
She hadn’t intended to meddle at first.
Seeing no one else speak, she added,
“Even if you want to die, wait until after the marriage. I promise then I won’t intervene! How’s that?”
Qixi Zhou’s expression froze.
“You’d rather remain a widow than marry?”
Xu Zhiyi nodded earnestly.
“I’ve admired you for a long time and would never marry anyone else!”
Believe that if you will!
Qixi Zhou cursed inwardly.
Unconsciously, her words echoed in his mind.
It’s over. I’ve slept with the wrong person…
His face darkened further.
---
“Did you originally plan to scheme against the Crown Prince?”
Xu Zhiyi smiled lightly, her almond-shaped eyes shimmering with tears.
“You must have misheard. A man like the Third Prince, so passionate and loyal to his country—what woman wouldn’t fall for him at first sight?”
“Besides, I have admired you for so long, even if your body is frail now… I… I do not mind.”
Her gaze deliberately lingered on Qixi Zhou.
He laughed bitterly.
If anyone else heard this, they might truly believe Xu Zhiyi’s love for him was unwavering and eternal!
What nonsense!
Yet she spoke so earnestly, even tears welling in her eyes.
“I’m too tired for pointless talk. Tell me, what is your purpose in ruining your reputation to break the engagement?”
Xu Zhiyi lowered her head and sipped tea softly.
“I can heal your leg and treat your hidden ailments. No matter what you do in the future, I will never interfere. Marry me, and you won’t lose out!”
He had unspoken troubles; she had secrets unknown.
“So you only want the title of princess, and nothing else?”
“Exactly. At most three years, your body will recover fully, and then we will divorce!”
By then, I should have avenged myself completely, leaving no regrets!
“Agreed. I, the Third Prince, will bring you home soon. Remember this promise!”
Xu Zhiyi slowly stood and bowed.
“Thank you, Third Prince!”
She opened her palm to Hai Qing.
“Five hundred taels for the consultation fee!”
Hai Qing was puzzled. “Miss Xu is about to marry the Master. Do you still charge for treating him? Five hundred taels?”
Xu Zhiyi’s movements did not falter; she smiled warmly at Hai Qing.
“Even brothers settle accounts clearly. Besides, my marriage to your Master is a consensual transaction. The money must be clear.”
In her previous life, despite a generous dowry, she was so calculated against that she had to seek her mother-in-law’s approval even to buy a hairpin.
Reborn, she would keep the money firmly in her own hands!
Having wealth in her pocket, her heart would be at ease.
Men and love—she needed none.
“Give it to her!”
Qixi Zhou closed his eyes, fearing this wretched woman might drive him mad on the spot.
She schemed against him first, yet he was still grateful enough to marry her in.
After taking the money, Xu Zhiyi left without looking back.
Hai Qing was speechless.
Qixi Zhou’s phoenix eyes were icy, a cold smile playing faintly at his lips.
“Hmph, Xu Zhiyi, it was you who schemed against me first.”
Not even married, already thinking of divorce!
Where in the world does such a good deal exist?
On the long street, commoners were setting up their stalls, busy but laughing loudly from time to time.
---
The bluestone street was swept clean.
The sky revealed a faint pale light.
Xu Zhiyi walked slowly among them, feeling the long-missed warmth of everyday life.
In her previous life, the Ding’an Marquis’s residence was like a cage, imprisoning her tightly.
Until death, she only left twice.
The first, for the three-day return ceremony; the second, for the lantern festival on the fifteenth night.
That fifteenth night, Qin Huaisheng remained expressionless.
He complained about the crowd, blamed her for not considering him, for being reckless.
Even buying a cheap river lantern for wishes was criticized as poor housekeeping.
Yet the entire Marquis’s residence was supported by her dowry!
When one person does not love the other, even breathing becomes wrong.
Such a simple truth came at a painful cost to her.
Foolish and pathetic.
They drank her blood, gnawed her flesh, trampled over her corpse, yet still lived gloriously.
The gate of the Ding’an Marquis’s residence creaked open.
Xu Zhiyi hid behind a tree, her gaze sharp and resentful.
Her nails dug into her flesh, the searing pain surging.
She vowed to see them fall to dust, cursed by all, never to recover.
And she would never forgive.
Seeing Xu Zhiyi enter the Xu estate through a side gate, Hai Qing silently slipped away.
“Master, Miss Xu has arrived home safely.”
Qixi Zhou remained silent, fingers tapping lightly on the bed’s edge.
Hai Qing scratched his head. “Master, I think Miss Xu really hates the Ding’an Marquis’s residence.”
Xu Zhiyi’s eyes brimmed with murderous intent, her entire being wrapped in immense sorrow, as if determined to take the Ding’an Marquis’s residence down with her.
Qixi Zhou responded indifferently.
The ladies of the inner chambers care deeply about reputation, yet Xu Zhiyi risked destroying hers just to climb into his bed. Her motives were surely not simple.
No, the one she originally schemed against was the Crown Prince; he was an accident.
At this thought, Qixi Zhou’s gaze darkened.
“Are they not awake yet?”
“Master, just waking, all kneeling in the courtyard.”
“Ten military rods each!”
So easily trapped, and by a stay-at-home girl no less.
“Hai Qing, have Madam Wu take some guards to watch Miss Xu. Before the marriage, no mishaps are allowed.”
Hai Qing obeyed.
Madam Wu was an elder in the palace and loyal to Qixi Zhou’s mother concubine, known for her fierce temperament. With her guarding, the Xu estate would likely dare not harm Xu Zhiyi before the wedding.