Chapter 44

Chapter 44: I Want You to Apologize to Jiaojiao! Prince Chu won't survive tonight? Jia Qingcheng nearly laughed in anger upon hearing this. Who spread the rumor that Prince Chu would die tonight? She had just left Chu Wangfu. Whether Prince Chu Xiao Zhiheng lived or died was for her to decide—as for others... What right did they have to speak? Pei Wuliang saw that she remained silent and assumed she was afraid. "Qingcheng, your silence means you admit your mistake. Since you know you're wrong, you should know what to do, right?" With that, Pei Wuliang flicked his sleeves and sat down beside her. Seeing him take a seat next to her, Jia Qingcheng asked, "What do you want?" "Qingcheng, Jiaojiao was injured because you pushed her, wasn't she?" Here we go again? She had never pushed Song Jiaojiao, yet Pei Wuliang stubbornly insisted on his version. She didn't want to explain further. Right now, she only wanted to finish preparing the Prince's medicine pills and have Chunyan deliver them to Chu Wangfu. "Your silence means you admit it. Qingcheng, how could you do this to her? She is, after all, your future mistress. Why don't you think about your own future at all?" Future? Jia Qingcheng pretended not to hear and continued making her medicine pills. But when Pei Wuliang saw her only focused on the pills, he suddenly realized something. "What medicine is this?" Having become proficient in medicine over the years, he quickly recognized some of the precious herbs—these were for regulating the body. Could it be that she was trying to atone to Jiaojiao? Jiaojiao's body was very weak right now and indeed needed proper nourishment. Otherwise, by the wedding day, she would be in who knows how frail a state. "At least you have some conscience. Since you're already making medicine pills for Jiaojiao, I won't scold you further. But why are you so slow? Why haven't you settled those outstanding debts outside yet? If payment is delayed, interest will accrue, and you'll have to pay more silver." Jia Qingcheng ignored his words entirely. What did his debts have to do with her? "Alright, I won't lecture you further—saying too much would only hurt your pride. Qingcheng, a person should know their place. Once Prince Chu dies tonight, you'll be a widow the moment you marry into that household. If you still refuse to do as I say, don't blame me for being heartless!" In their past life, he would never have spoken such harsh words to Jia Qingcheng, because back then she had done everything perfectly and never caused him worry. But now, he realized that ever since he announced he would marry Jiaojiao first, Jia Qingcheng's attitude toward him had completely changed. What was once passionate was now utterly indifferent. He knew she cared about him and must be jealous of Jiaojiao. But in this life, he truly didn't want to face that ugly face of hers alone anymore. It was too hideous—sometimes when sleeping, he wouldn't even want to look at her face-to-face and would make her sleep facing away. He was afraid of having nightmares at night. Seeing that face would drive away all his drowsiness. Suddenly, Jia Qingcheng's movements stopped. She looked up and met his eyes. "How exactly will you be heartless?" How heartless? Seeing that she still cared about him, Pei Wuliang immediately stood up. "I promised to let you marry into the household as a concubine. But if you keep throwing tantrums with me, given your current situation, Qingcheng, you wouldn't even qualify to be my concubine. You'd only be able to be..." "Be what?" Jia Qingcheng questioned him coldly. In her past life, she had managed the Pei household's affairs, working tirelessly, and in the end, she got nothing. She wanted to ask Pei Wuliang—what exactly could he make her? Pei Wuliang rubbed his nose. "If you anger me again, I won't let you be a concubine. You'll only be a bed servant!" "A bed servant?" Jia Qingcheng nearly laughed in anger. She was the esteemed daughter of the Jia family, holding the precious medicinal formulas of the Jia household, and he dared to demote her to being his bed servant? Ridiculous! "That's right. If you keep sulking with me, you'll be demoted to a bed servant. Once these medicine pills are done, you'll deliver them to Jiaojiao yourself. That way, you can make up for your wrongdoing and show your sincerity in admitting fault. If she forgives you, so be it. If she doesn't..." "What if she doesn't forgive me?" Pei Wuliang paused. "If she doesn't, then you'll do exactly as I say!" With that, Pei Wuliang continued his demands. "Settle those outstanding accounts of mine outside. Also, give half of your dowry to Jiaojiao. She may not be a member of the Jia family, but your father said he would treat you sisters equally. Your father should have informed you of this long ago. Qingcheng, this is the chance at redemption I fought for you. You must seize it, or else..." "Or else what?" Jia Qingcheng's tone was calm, but inside she harbored endless resentment. Did Pei Wuliang truly believe that by stealing the formula from her, he could completely cure Song Jiaojiao's infertility? Dream on! "Or else, if Jiaojiao refuses to forgive you, then when you marry me in the future, don't blame her as your mistress for not looking after you, and don't blame me as your husband for being cruel. Everything I'm doing now is for your own good. Qingcheng, think it over carefully yourself." With those words, Pei Wuliang turned to leave. But suddenly, Jia Qingcheng called out to him, "Pei Wuliang!" Hearing this, Pei Wuliang naturally knew she was afraid. It was the same in their past life—whenever he spoke a harsh word, she would become frightened. She was afraid of losing him. "Qingcheng, do you know your mistake?" Know her mistake? Jia Qingcheng did not wish to speak further with him, only replying flatly, "Some of the prescriptions you learned from me are missing ingredients." What did she mean? Pei Wuliang did not understand what she was trying to say. Over the years, he had indeed learned many medicinal formulas from Jia Qingcheng, which was how he had managed to enter the Imperial Medical Academy. Even in his past life, he had secretly learned many secret prescriptions from her that were never passed down. Now, he held half of the Jia family's secret formulas in his grasp. However, he could not reveal any of this to Jia Qingcheng. After all, he did not want her to think of him that way—to think he was a despicable man, to think he was with her only for her prescriptions. "Qingcheng, I don't understand what you mean." But Jia Qingcheng had no intention of spelling it out for him. After all, Song Jiaojiao's infertility would never be cured without her, Jia Qingcheng. And that was something Pei Wuliang was still completely in the dark about. "It's nothing." Jia Qingcheng lowered her gaze and continued making the medicine pills. Seeing that she had fallen silent, Pei Wuliang simply assumed she was talking nonsense. After all, the prescriptions he had learned were all taught by Jia Qingcheng herself—they could not possibly be incomplete. Moreover, in his past life, he had long since secretly learned the method to treat infertility and had used it to cure Jiaojiao. His prescriptions could not be wrong. "Send it to Jiaojiao once it's ready. I'll go check on her and wait for you to come and apologize to her." The moment Pei Wuliang stepped out, Chunyan hurried over. "Miss, did they bully you?" Jia Qingcheng simply shook her head. "It's fine, Chunyan. Put all these pills into one box and have it delivered to Chu Wangfu. Let the steward give it to the Prince. Three pills a day, taken with pure water." "Miss, will this really work? But they say..." "It doesn't matter what the outside world says. Trust my medical skills—I will cure the Prince." No sooner had she spoken than a sharp rebuke came from outside, "Jia Qingcheng!"