Chapter 265: Beaten
Wan Qing was mindful of the Pregnancy Stabilizing Medicine that Jiang Ruanxi had originally given her, and also of her help in eliminating Sun Tina, who had threatened her child.
She harbored no malice toward her, but accustomed to being arrogant, she said ungraciously, “Do you think I want to come? I wish I could lie in bed every day, letting my child rest well.”
Jiang Ruanxi knew she meant no harm and did not take issue with her tone.
“Speak, what matter is it?”
Wan Qing was straightforward by nature and got right to the point, “The Empress came to me this morning and asked me to poison you.”
With that, she took a small bottle from her sleeve and handed it to Jiang Ruanxi.
Jiang Ruanxi lowered her gaze to stare at the bottle, her eyes extremely cold.
She had not expected the Empress to be so vicious, wanting to take her life directly.
Suddenly, Jiang Ruanxi looked up with a cold smile, “Why tell me? If you just poisoned me, you might be able to take my place as Crown Princess.”
Wan Qing rolled her eyes, “Who wants your Crown Princess position? This Crown Prince’s Manor is like a prison, and with the Crown Prince’s personality, I couldn’t stand it.”
Seeing her tsundere temperament, Jiang Ruanxi could not help but laugh.
Ever since Wan Qing and Sun Tina entered the Crown Prince’s Manor, Wan Qing appeared arrogant and overbearing to others, seeming difficult to get along with, while Sun Tina was the opposite, always gentle and soft.
But now it seemed people could not be judged by appearances alone.
Jiang Ruanxi picked up the bottle with a smile and said, “I accept your favor. I will also do my best to help with your matter. But I need you to help me with one more thing.”
Wan Qing said reluctantly, “You sure ask for a lot.”
Jiang Ruanxi smiled, “I won’t need you to do anything. Just go back to the Empress and say you’ve poisoned me. During the time I’m poisoned, you can directly manage all affairs of the Crown Prince’s Manor.”
“What?” Wan Qing stood up in surprise, her face showing no joy.
“What, unwilling?”
Wan Qing said without hesitation, “Of course I’m unwilling. I’m just a concubine’s daughter, I’ve never managed anything this big. How could I do it well?”
Wan Qing was telling the truth. In Wan Manor, she seemed favored, but the Mistress had not taught her anything; she knew nothing of managing a household.
Most importantly, her relationship with Wu Lin was going well now. They could occasionally disguise themselves to go out and meet, especially since he was no longer in Wan Manor and lived outside, making it convenient for them to see each other.
So, she did not want to manage the Crown Prince’s Manor at all; she only wanted to stay with the person she loved every day.
Jiang Ruanxi did not know what was on her mind and said helplessly, “I will have Yushui assist you. It will just be managing the servants and handling the usual social courtesies. With only you and me as women in the manor now, what more would be needed?”
Wan Qing thought for a moment but still refused, “I can’t do it. Since Yushui can stand in for you, let her manage it.”
“It’s decided then. The manor is yours to handle for this period. You’re still pregnant; go back and rest.”
Jiang Ruanxi made the decision directly and shooed her away.
“You…” Wan Qing stood up angrily.
“Yushui, see Zhaoxun back.”
Jiang Ruanxi directly cut her off.
Yushui stepped forward at once, “Zhaoxun, please.”
Seeing this, Wan Qing knew she could not change it. She glared at Jiang Ruanxi and left directly.
A cold smile played at the corners of Jiang Ruanxi’s mouth, her gaze deepening.
In the days that followed, streams of people came to see Jiang Ruanxi, but Wan Qing turned them all away with various excuses to avoid giving anything away.
Dealing with those officials and nobles, Wan Qing felt more exhausted than when she had just become pregnant.
Her body was tired; this was mental fatigue.
After seeing off those people, Wan Qing came to Jiang Ruanxi’s courtyard. Upon entering, she saw Jiang Ruanxi lounging with her legs crossed, cracking Melon Seeds, which made her face turn green with anger, though she did not dare do anything to her.
She could only step forward, grab a handful of Melon Seeds, and crack them loudly in front of Jiang Ruanxi to vent her anger.
“You’ve done well these past few days.”
Jiang Ruanxi spat out a mouthful of Melon Seed shells and gave her a thumbs-up with a beaming smile.
Wan Qing paused, staring at her thumb, seized by an impulse to bite it off.
But reason prevailed over emotion, and she replied with a forced smile, “Thank you for the praise, Crown Princess.”
Seeing her gritting her teeth, Jiang Ruanxi found teasing Wan Qing quite amusing and laughed, “You’re welcome. I hope you keep up the good work.”
These words thoroughly enraged Wan Qing. She slammed the Melon Seeds onto the table, “Ling Lin, are you done?”
Jiang Ruanxi grinned widely, “This is praise. Why get angry? Be careful of the child in your belly.”
With that, she glanced pointedly at Wan Qing’s belly. This look made Wan Qing instinctively step back, stammering, “L-Ling Lin, what do you want? Don’t do anything rash.”
She knew this Crown Princess was the best at playing the fool to eat the tiger.
Seeing her fearful look, Jiang Ruanxi found it amusing, “Don’t worry, I won’t harm you with my words; what I say, I do.”
Thinking of her behavior lately, she breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the teasing in her eyes, she realized she had misunderstood her meaning.
But she would not admit fault, “Heh, people like you are always…”
“Her Empress has arrived…”
Before Wan Qing finished, Yushui’s voice rang out from outside, interrupting her.
Both women’s faces changed drastically.
Jiang Ruanxi tossed the Melon Seeds in her hand into the dish and, as if chased by a tiger, hurried to the bed in a few steps, lay down, and closed her eyes.
Wan Qing was a beat slower, just staring blankly at Jiang Ruanxi’s actions without making any move.
“Empress.” Yushui’s voice sounded at the door, and only then did Wan Qing react, turning back blankly.
The Empress gave her a glance, saw the Melon Seeds in her hand, and kept a cold face, though her eyes showed delight.
Once she reacted, Wan Qing meant to put the Melon Seeds back in the dish, but for some reason her brain short-circuited, and she threw the Melon Seeds in her hand toward the Empress like a kite with a broken string.
One even landed directly at the Empress’s mouth.
The Empress recoiled as if touching something filthy, frowning and shifting aside, giving Liu Ye a look.
Liu Ye stepped forward sharply and slapped Wan Qing hard several times. Wan Qing did not dare protest and could only endure it.
Jiang Ruanxi, with her eyes closed, heard the sounds and cracked her eyes open slightly. Seeing it was Wan Qing being hit, she endured great anger to keep from getting up.
Fearing exposure, which would ruin everything.
Her hands under the covers clenched tightly.
When Liu Ye stopped, Wan Qing’s face was covered in red swollen handprints, blood trickling from her mouth, soon swelling like a pig’s head. Kneeling on the ground, she kept begging, “Empress, I was wrong.”
