Chapter 57 The Lifesaving Prescription-Forçada a ser concubina? Virei as costas e pulei o muro — o poderoso ministro de rosto frio se arrependeu amargamente.(Bolo de nozes)

"Your Highness, I am about to marry. Please respect yourself. Wouldn't forcing a commoner's daughter ruin your reputation?"

Li Zhengfu closed the door, turned around, and advanced toward Jiang You'an with a smirking smile.

"Marry? You mean that Su Mingxiu? Isn't he on the verge of dying from the plague?"

Jiang You'an was startled. The Marquis of Yong'an's Manor had kept Su Mingxiu's illness strictly confidential—how did Li Zhengfu know?

She stared sharply at Li Zhengfu. "Did you orchestrate this behind the scenes to get him infected?"

Li Zhengfu made no attempt to hide it. "Indeed. If he doesn't die, how can you and I be together?"

A chill surged from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, freezing the blood in Jiang You'an's veins.

So that was it! No wonder Su Mingxiu had fallen ill so suddenly. It was all Li Zhengfu's doing!

Li Zhengfu had actually plotted to murder Su Mingxiu just to get his hands on her!

How could there be such a dark-hearted and vicious person in this world? Poor Su Mingxiu, now hanging by a thread... If not for her, Su Mingxiu would never have been targeted by this scoundrel...

Wait, if this plague was truly engineered by Li Zhengfu, he must possess the cure!

She had to get her hands on the prescription to save Su Mingxiu's life.

Sidling her gaze to the hand wandering across her cheek, Jiang You'an suppressed the nausea rising within her and forced a smile. "I only just realized how deeply Your Highness cares for me, willing to go to such lengths."

Seeing her tone soften, Li Zhengfu immediately chimed in, "Naturally. Being with me is far better than being with that sickly weakling, isn't it?"

"Is Your Highness speaking the truth?"

"How could I possibly deceive you?" Li Zhengfu sat down on a stool, pulled her close, and let Jiang You'an sit on his lap.

Without showing any resistance, Jiang You'an obediently wrapped her arms around his neck. "If Your Highness is sincere, of course I am willing to follow you."

Li Zhengfu chuckled. "Didn't you just keep me at arm's length and clamor about marrying Su Mingxiu?"

"How can you say that? No one just reaches out and grabs a person's hand like you did. That's harassment! As a maiden, don't I care about my reputation?"

Jiang You'an spoke in a coquettish voice that made Su Mingxiu's heart flutter with delight. She then cast a playful, alluring glance his way, melting him to the core.

"As for my marriage to Su Mingxiu, let's not even speak of it. Your Highness may not know this, but the Su family wanted me to marry him to bring good luck and ward off bad omens. I was unwilling, but my heartless maternal aunt accepted their betrothal gifts and forced me into it!"

Li Zhengfu frowned. "Is that so?"

"Of course! I couldn't resist, so I had to agree, but deep down I am filled with resentment. If Your Highness keeps me here, you are rescuing me from a sea of misery."

Completely flattered and disarmed by these sweet words, Li Zhengfu patted his chest and said, "Rest assured, I will handle the Su family. From now on, follow me, and boundless wealth and glory will be yours."

With that, he leaned in to kiss Jiang You'an.

Jiang You'an looked at the suddenly approaching face—sharp-featured, monkey-faced, vulgar, and marred by several pus-filled boils left behind by venomous bees. Every extra second of looking at it filled her with disgust.

Turning her head to dodge him, she reached for the wine pitcher on the table, poured a cup, and smilingly offered it to Li Zhengfu's lips. "From now on, Your Highness must cherish me."

A beaming Li Zhengfu drank the wine fed to him by Jiang You'an.

Praising his high alcohol tolerance, Jiang You'an kept feeding him cup after cup.

Once Li Zhengfu grew somewhat dizzy, she said, "Still, there's no need to be so ruthless to Su Mingxiu. Do you happen to have an effective prescription here, Your Highness? I can send it to him so he can pull through this ordeal, and consider it an act of accumulating good karma for the two of us."

Li Zhengfu looked at her and lifted her chin. "Why are you still showing concern for him?"

"I'm not caring for him. I just feel that destroying a human life like this would bring bad karma."

Li Zhengfu narrowed his eyes. "Is that truly what you think? Or were those words just meant to coax me?"

Jiang You'an's eyes instantly reddened, portraying a look of utter grievance. "How could Your Highness think of me that way? I thought you understood my heart. Since you don't trust me, I might as well leave."

With that, she stood up as if to walk away.

Li Zhengfu hurriedly grabbed her. "Hey now, why are you leaving at the slightest disagreement?"

With tear-filled eyes, Jiang You'an gazed at him. "You say you want to cherish me, but it's just talk to amuse me. Think about it—both my parents and relatives are gone. If my fiancé dies too, what will the world say about me? They'll surely accuse me of bringing bad luck to everyone and call me a cursed star. Is that a good reputation to have?"

Shedding tears, she threw herself into Li Zhengfu's arms and wept. "I am already pitiful enough. Can't Your Highness show some consideration for me?"

With the beauty in his arms—her slender, soft body trembling slightly and a faint, delicate fragrance wrapping around his nose—Li Zhengfu's soul was practically floating away. How could he refuse her anything? After all, he truly loved tender jade and fragrant warmth, always wishing to dote on beauties.

"Alright, alright, alright. You're right. Don't cry. Every tear you shed breaks my heart."

Patting Jiang You'an comfortingly, Li Zhengfu turned back to the inner room, retrieved a slip of paper, and shoved it into her hand. "Here is the most effective prescription. A single dose will cure everything."

Suppressing her inner excitement, Jiang You'an tucked the prescription into her sleeve and smiled at Li Zhengfu. "As expected, Your Highness is the most considerate."

Tenderly brushing away the tear tracks on her cheek with the back of his hand, Li Zhengfu asked, "Can you be happy now?"

Jiang You'an nodded. "Then I will have this prescription sent over to the Marquis's Manor first."

Just as she was about to leave, Li Zhengfu wrapped his arms around her from behind, his warm, damp lips nuzzling the back of her ear.

"No rush. He won't die anytime soon. Stay and be intimate with me for a while."

Jiang You'an reached out to push him away. "Wait, Your Highness, you..."

Li Zhengfu let out an annoyed click of his tongue. At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.

"Your Highness, Lady Wanyin has finished composing a new tune and has come to play for you."

"Didn't we agree she'd come tomorrow?" Li Zhengfu glanced at Jiang You'an. "Oh well, let her come play to entertain us."

"Who is Lady Wanyin?"

"A zither player with superb skill. I often have her come play music."

"I never knew Your Highness had such refined tastes. Actually, I play the zither myself. I'll show you a trick or two later."

Li Zhengfu smiled. "Splendid. I have many fine zithers in my manor."

Smiling, Jiang You'an poured another cup of wine. As Li Zhengfu leaned in to embrace her, she flicked her wrist, spilling the wine all over him.

Feigning an apology, Jiang You'an wiped it off with a handkerchief and said, "Your Highness, go change your clothes first. Have someone take me to look at your zithers."

Agreeing readily, Li Zhengfu called a servant and instructed him to escort her.

As soon as Jiang You'an stepped outside, her shy and timid expression vanished entirely. She walked slowly behind the servant.

Noticing they were completely surrounded by solitude and devoid of people, her gaze hardened. Suddenly, she picked up a heavy stone and struck the servant viciously across the back of his neck.