Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Qingcheng, What Happened to Your Face... Her face... "Qingcheng, what happened to your face? Let me see, why is it peeling..." "Don't touch me, get away, all of you get away!" Jia Qingcheng pressed both hands tightly over her face and shouted at them to leave. Pei Wuliang saw her acting like a madwoman—no wait, just now he had clearly seen something peeling off her face... "Don't move, let me see your face!" Pei Wuliang was a man, and his strength was considerable. He pried her hands away in one motion, wanting to see clearly what was going on with that face. Jia Qingcheng couldn't resist him, so she simply thrust her face right in front of him! "Are you satisfied now?" When that dark, hideous face appeared before him, Pei Wuliang was stunned for a moment, then quickly recovered. What an ugly face... It was just skin peeling off from a burn. Even without the peeling, it was still ugly enough to make one sick! "What madness has gotten into you? Why did you push Jiaojiao down?" She had pushed Song Jiaojiao down in a fit of madness? Jia Qingcheng knew there was no point in saying more; she didn't want to waste her breath. Song Jiaojiao hurriedly tugged at Pei Wuliang's sleeve. "Brother Wuliang, it's all my fault. I saw that Sister was angry with me, so I thought I'd pour her a cup of tea to apologize. But Sister was too agitated—she wouldn't listen to my explanation..." "Jia Qingcheng, how could you become like this? Do you know how disgusting you look right now?" Disgusting? In her past life, Pei Wuliang had never used such hurtful words to insult her. She was disgusting? "Heh..." "What are you laughing at?" "Nothing. Since I disgust you so much, why are you still standing here?" "Jia Qingcheng, don't put on that wronged look. Just because you're ugly doesn't mean everyone has to cater to your whims. Get up and apologize to Jiaojiao right now, or I will never forgive you!" With that, Pei Wuliang gently wrapped his arm around Song Jiaojiao. "Don't be afraid, Jiaojiao. I'll get justice for you." "Brother Wuliang, don't be like this. You're scaring Sister. She's in a bad mood, and it's not her fault she looks this way. Please don't be angry with her anymore." "Jiaojiao, she treated you like this, and you still speak up for her?" Song Jiaojiao shook her head. "Sister has been enormously kind to me. The Jia family has shown me great favor, and I cannot forget my roots. I know Sister has misunderstandings about me because of her appearance and the marriage swap, but that's alright. If Sister thinks I've done wrong, I'll kneel down and kowtow to her right now." With that, Song Jiaojiao suddenly knelt before Jia Qingcheng. Anyone who walked in without knowing the situation would surely think Jia Qingcheng was bullying the orphaned Song girl with her power and influence. "Sister, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have offered you tea to seek your forgiveness. Please forgive me." "What are you doing?" Jia Qingcheng remained very calm, coldly watching this scheming woman perform. And clearly, the scheming woman's performance was exquisite—Pei Wuliang was deeply moved with sympathy. "Jiaojiao, what are you doing? She's not worthy of you kneeling to her. In the future, you will be the only mistress of the Pei family. How could she, a mere concubine, have such a right?" "Brother Wuliang, don't say that. Sister truly loves you deeply. She can't live without you. Don't frighten her." "Jia Qingcheng, look at your sister. Every word she says is in your defense. And what have you done?" Pei Wuliang shot her a fierce glare. "Just looking at your face makes me want to vomit!" With those words, Pei Wuliang pulled Song Jiaojiao up. "Let's go. Don't bother with this ugly woman!" Ugly woman... Pei Wuliang actually called her an ugly woman? Jia Qingcheng watched the backs of this pair of dogs and bitches as they left, finding it utterly ridiculous! "Pei Wuliang, stop right there!" Pei Wuliang assumed she had finally come to her senses and wanted to apologize to Jiaojiao. But! He wouldn't give her that chance! "It's too late to realize your mistake now. Qingcheng, you've made me angry, and you'll bear the consequences yourself!" With that, Pei Wuliang strode off with Song Jiaojiao. After they left, Chunyan, who had been handling matters outside, came running in. "Miss, this servant saw Pei..." "It's fine. Has Elder Hu agreed to the meeting?" ... Dusk settled low, and a bright moon hung high in the sky. Inside the private room at Fengque Tower in the city, the fragrance of tea filled the air. Beneath the bright candlelight, Lord Hu looked at her with a face full of worry. "You girl, I knew I couldn't escape your invitation." "Elder Hu, please have some tea." Elder Hu was her grandfather's close friend. Over the years, after her grandfather passed away, Elder Hu had doted on her like his own granddaughter. He was the current director of the Imperial Medical Institute, holding enough authority to appoint medical officials, command all the imperial physicians in the palace, and was the heir to the Hu family's secret prescriptions. But Elder Hu had only one daughter, who had died young. Therefore, his Hu family's secret prescriptions were at risk of being lost. Since childhood, she had followed her grandfather to play at Elder Hu's home. Elder Hu had never disliked her for her ugly appearance; on the contrary, he treated her extremely well and even intended to pass the Hu family's secret prescriptions to her. Elder Hu was the elder who treated her best, aside from her grandfather. Back then, when Pei Wuliang was able to enter the Imperial Medical Institute for his post, it was she who had asked Elder Hu for help. Old Hu had a kindly face, his eyes seemingly able to see through a person's heart. He did not reach out to take the tea from her hands, for he knew that once he accepted it, he would have to do her bidding. But even if he didn't accept it, he would still have to do it. He could never win against this girl he had doted on since she was young. "Qingcheng, next month Imperial Physician Zhang is retiring and returning to his hometown, leaving a vacancy in the institute. Rest assured, once he leaves, I will arrange for Pei Wuliang to take the post. However, you must warn him—the duties of an imperial physician are far more important than organizing documents. He must study medicine diligently to be qualified for this position. Otherwise, if any mistake occurs, it would be a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of his family. Though the Pei family has declined, they are still a noble clan. You must take this matter to heart." "Old Hu, please revoke Pei Wuliang's nomination." What? Had he heard correctly? "Qingcheng, what did you say?" "Please revoke Pei Wuliang's qualification for the position, Old Hu." Old Hu was even more astonished at these words, and then tears actually welled up in his eyes. From the very beginning, he had never thought highly of Pei Wuliang. He had met Pei Wuliang many times—the man was incompetent in his work and carried an air of superiority inherent to aristocratic scions. Such a man was not one who could accomplish great things; his temperament was too impetuous, and though he had ability, it could not support his ambition. But this girl had been stubbornly insistent on marrying no one but him. "Qingcheng, have you finally come to your senses?" ... The first light of dawn began to show. This conversation had lasted until early morning. After leaving the tavern, Jia Qingcheng did not choose to return to the residence immediately, but instead planned to take Chunyan to browse a jewelry shop. Next month she would be married into Chu Wangfu, and she hoped to dress beautifully for her wedding. Unexpectedly, just as she entered the jewelry shop, she came face to face with a group of people who were already inside selecting ornaments. "Proprietor, bring out all the finest pieces in the shop." Chunyan saw that Pei Wuliang was actually accompanying Song Jiaojiao in choosing jewelry, and felt even more disdainful. "Miss, why do we keep running into them? Shall we go to another shop instead?"