Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Only After You Do These Things Will I Consider Forgiving You! "Chief Imperial Physician, Pei Wuliang, do you think the Imperial Medical Institute is run by my Jia family, that you can get promoted just because you want to?" Pei Wuliang had already investigated privately. The reason that apprentice Du Zhong had been able to become an imperial physician was entirely due to Lord Hu's appreciation, and he knew that Lord Hu had never paid any attention to a lowly apprentice like Du Zhong before this. For Du Zhong to be suddenly promoted to imperial physician, Jia Qingcheng must have had a hand in it. In his previous life, he remembered that the old man was a solitary widower with no children, and he doted on Jia Qingcheng the most. "Qingcheng, don't try to hide this from me. I know you have a close relationship with Old Hu. Whether I become an imperial physician or not is just a word from him." Jia Qingcheng sneered, "Then you're overestimating me." "In any case, you must take care of this matter for me. You owe me this." Owe him? Jia Qingcheng was almost amused into laughter. In her previous life, she had done so many things for him, yet he still chose to deceive her. And now, he actually dared to say that she owed him? Ridiculous! "If you say nothing, I'll take it as your agreement. Take care of this matter for me, and also, prepare Jiaojiao's Flying Fish Robe for her in advance." "What Flying Fish Robe?" "Last year, didn't your maternal grandfather gift you a set of Cuju Flying Fish Robes? Wearing that outfit is simply a waste on you. Send it to Jiaojiao as an apology gift!" The Flying Fish Robe—that was a gift from her maternal grandfather. Why should she give it to Song Jiaojiao? Seeing that Jia Qingcheng said nothing, Pei Wuliang knew she had agreed. "Qingcheng, this is the chance at redemption I've fought for you. Don't push your luck, or else—" "Or else what?" Or else... Pei Wuliang's eyes burned with anger. "I'll truly ignore you!" With those words, Pei Wuliang flicked his sleeves and left. Watching him go, Jia Qingcheng simply stared at his retreating figure, lost in thought. "Miss, are you alright?" Chunyan had been listening with gritted teeth, but Jia Qingcheng merely cast a faint glance at the shark fin soup on the table—something that had once been her favorite. But now, the mere sight of it made her physically nauseous. "Ugh..." "Miss, are you alright?" "I'm fine. Chunyan, take all of this and feed it to the dogs." Feed it to the dogs? Chunyan understood immediately and nodded. "Yes, I'll go right away!" After Chunyan left, the steward who had been organizing her assets also arrived. The steward brought the latest news. "Reporting to the Eldest Miss, your assets have all been sorted. They're all here, please review them." It was a thick ledger book, clearly recording all of her properties under her name. Naturally, the new residence she had gifted to Mother Pei was also included. "Miss, this old servant has already gone to reclaim the property as you instructed, but there was no one in the courtyard, and the doors were locked tight. This old servant didn't dare to forcibly enter someone's home, so..." "So, you didn't reclaim the residence?" "Please calm your anger, Miss. It's just that there was no one inside, and this old servant didn't dare. Think about it—this residence was originally a gift to your future mother-in-law, and now..." "The Pei family is no longer my in-laws. How can I have a mother-in-law?" Why had she gifted that residence back then? It was because Pei Wuliang had deceived her into it. At the time, Pei Wuliang had said he would announce their engagement, and she thought that since he was devoted to her, she should show her sincerity in return. Besides, after marriage, they would be one family, and family members need not stand on ceremony. So she decided to give her future mother-in-law a grand gift. But she never expected that her sincere heart would be fed to the dogs... That being the case, she still had a chance to remedy it. "Your meaning is..." "Go straight into the residence and throw those things out. The Pei family will receive word quickly, and given their temperament, they'll definitely send someone to question you. At that point, just produce the house deed and land deed. If they continue to make a fuss, take the matter to the authorities." "Miss, do you really want to make such an enemy of the Pei family? Isn't that... not good?" "Why isn't it good?" Even the steward knew that she was only marrying into Prince Chu's household to become a widow, and that her true destination was the Pei residence. Although the Pei family was no longer as glorious as before, it was still the home of a noble clan and worthy of the Miss. By then, she would already be a widow—and what kind of man could a widow hope to marry? Young Master Pei, though he had broken off the engagement and was somewhat of a scoundrel, had promised to take care of her. Besides, given the Miss's appearance, it would be hard to find any man in this world who would take a liking to her. "Miss, aren't you asking knowingly? The Pei family is your last resort. That Chu Wangfu, after all, is not..." "Steward!" Jia Qingcheng interrupted the steward with gravity. "Chu Wangfu is my final destination." She would cure Prince Chu, and she would live with him in mutual respect and harmony. As for the Pei family... Without her support in this life, she wanted to see just how much longer the Pei family could remain complacent. Steward: "..." "Miss, won't you reconsider? After all, this is a matter of your lifelong happiness. You're still young, and this widow..." The word "widow" was truly difficult for the steward to say aloud. And Jia Qingcheng didn't want to explain further. She intended to take back, one by one, everything she had given to the Pei family. "Very well, just have it done!" Jia Qingcheng's decision took effect quickly. When the Pei family's servants discovered that the courtyard had been occupied and their belongings had been thrown out, they promptly relayed the news back to the Pei household. At that moment, Madam Pei was discussing wedding arrangements with her head stewardess. Her son was about to marry Song Jiaojiao, and as the mother-in-law and the matriarch of the Pei family, Madam Pei was in good spirits. Although she had once harbored some dissatisfaction and objections toward Song Jiaojiao, her son had said that Jiaojiao could now bear children—her congenital infertility had been cured. As a mother, she had no reason to oppose the marriage any longer. Though Song Jiaojiao was an adopted daughter of the Jia family, her son had said that the Jia family would give half their estate to Song Jiaojiao. And later, once Jia Qingcheng married into Chu Wangfu and became a widow, she would return to the Pei household as a concubine. Besides the Jia family's wealth, Jia Qingcheng also had the generous dowry given by her maternal grandfather. No matter how one calculated it, marrying these two daughters-in-law made the Pei family the beneficiary. Both sisters would marry her son, bringing the Pei family's medicinal formulas and assets with them, and she would gain two daughters-in-law in the bargain. Where in the world could one find such a good deal? "Madam, congratulations! You're about to become a mother-in-law!" "Indeed. Once Jia Qingcheng enters this household, won't all of the Jia family's wealth be in our hands?" "Well said, Madam. Our young master is truly capable—both sisters refuse to marry anyone but him." "My son is heaven's favored one, destined for great things. Those sisters have good taste!" "Madam, Madam Li and Madam Wang came by earlier while you were out. They invited you to the estate for a game of mahjong. Will you go or not?" Madam Pei loved mahjong and often gathered with a few ladies to play. "Of course I'll go. I haven't been in days. That estate has been a bit dull lately—in a few days, I'll have Jia Qingcheng buy some furniture and send it over to liven the place up." "I'll make a note of it and send word right away." Before the stewardess could turn to leave, an anxious voice rang out from nearby. The Pei family steward rushed over, "Madam! Our estate outside the city has been forcibly seized! Our belongings were thrown out and smashed to pieces!" Madam Pei's anger flared instantly. "Who dares to trespass on my private estate with such audacity?"