When the news reached the Duke of An Manor, Li Shuchen had just finished a meeting with his advisors. His previously calm expression instantly darkened, and the wolf-hair brush in his hand snapped audibly.
His voice was as cold as ice: "Send a message to Liu Heng, the heir of the Marquis of Xuanping. Tell him that Zhuang Jingxian is discussing marriage with Li Yuanxiu."
"Yes, Your Highness." Xiuyuan accepted the order and immediately set about arranging it.
Incense smoke curled up from the bronze censer.
Besides the scent of high-quality incense, the advisors sensed another unusual aroma, guided by their intuition.
Mr. Gongsun paused, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Is Your Highness displeased because of Miss Qi?"
At the mention of Qi Huan, the fierce look in Li Shuchen's eyes softened slightly.
"How dare anyone covet the treasure I hold in the palm of my hand?" he said.
"Who gave Li Yuanxiu the audacity to make Ah Huan his concubine?"
Even marrying Ah Huan as his Prince's Consort felt inadequate to him. Yet Li Yuanxiu dared to make her his concubine.
The thought of her being slighted made Li Shuchen's gaze grow colder.
"Your Highness, to achieve great things, one shouldn't be too entangled in romantic affairs," Mr. Gongsun said, frowning in disapproval.
He chose his words carefully and spoke objectively: "I don't oppose your using Liu Heng to outmaneuver Li Yuanxiu. Li Yuanxiu is Prince Shun's second son. If he has indeed secretly arranged a marriage with Zhuang Jingxian, then the Minister of Personnel would have to give some face to his in-laws. Prince Shun would have a say in the screening and recommendation of officials, which would be very disadvantageous for us."
"I support Your Highness in disrupting this marriage and deepening the conflict between the Marquis of Xuanping and Prince Shun."
"Zhuang Daokang, the Minister of Personnel, is a slippery character, but he does have some affection for his granddaughter. Even if Li Yuanxiu is unsuitable, he wouldn't consider the dissolute Liu Heng. Why don't you find a way to marry Zhuang Jingxian yourself, Your Highness?"
The more Mr. Gongsun thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
A powerful wife's family would be an indispensable asset in the struggle for succession.
He continued, "Your Highness, the Cavalry General has also shown interest in inquiring about your marriage. I hear he has five concubine-born daughters. Perhaps you could choose one of them as a secondary consort?"
Mr. Gongsun strongly recommended this shortcut to quickly bring these civil and military officials onto His Highness's side.
However, another advisor, Shen Wujiu, disagreed: "It's better for Your Highness to keep a low profile for now. Openly seeking to marry the daughter of a high-ranking official might attract too much attention and arouse the Emperor's suspicion. The disadvantages outweigh the advantages."
Mr. Gongsun stroked his beard. "When has the Emperor not been wary of His Highness?"
"If His Highness hadn't given him that contraceptive drug, preventing him from having a third prince, do you think he would have allowed His Highness to remain until now?"
The two advisors were like needle to thread, neither willing to back down.
Li Shuchen carelessly tossed the remaining half of the broken brush onto the desk, making a small sound that interrupted the two men's argument.
His authoritative gaze swept over the two advisors, and he said with finality, "Since when did my marriage become a matter for you to meddle in?"
"Only men without ability rely on marriage."
"I will conquer the world through my own efforts."
"Don't mention alliances through marriage again."
With that, Li Shuchen turned his wheelchair and slowly left the study.
In the courtyard, the night was as cool as water.
He looked down at the pouch at his waist, his long fingers gently caressing it, his movements slow and tender.
Eager to see the owner of the pouch, he called for Yan Wu and Yan Qinghe and set out.
They arrived at Qinghuan Court.
Yan Qinghe skillfully brought him into Qi Huan's boudoir, then closed the door and stood guard outside.
Seeing Li Shuchen, Qi Huan was a bit surprised. "Didn't we just meet yesterday?"
Li Shuchen lightly tapped her forehead. "Not happy to see me?"
"Of course I am. Welcome, warmly welcome," she said with a charming smile.
Seeing her bright expression, Li Shuchen finally felt at ease. It seemed that she hadn't been affected by the day's events.
But he still bared his heart to her: "Ah Huan, I only want you."
"If I break this vow, may heaven strike me down."
As soon as he finished speaking, thunder rumbled untimely in the winter sky.
"......"
Li Shuchen glared at the window with an unfriendly gaze.
Qi Huan burst into laughter and poked his cheek.
"I believe you," she said, her eyes sparkling. "I won't let the actions of other men shake my trust in you."
Li Yuanxiu was Li Yuanxiu, and Ah Shu was Ah Shu.
Although they lived in the same era, they were different individuals.
She wouldn't misdirect her anger.
Nor would she groundlessly doubt or speculate about her lover.
Qi Huan hooked her pinky with Li Shuchen's and shook it. "I've remembered what you said. You're not allowed to have any other women by your side. Otherwise, I'll return to the Heavenly Court, and we'll never meet again in life or death."
Li Shuchen was very pleased with her possessiveness.
He bent down to remove Qi Huan's shoes and socks, carried her to bed, tucked her in, and finally kissed her forehead before reluctantly leaving.
The next day.
It was a rainy, gloomy day.
Yan Qing couldn't help but feel annoyed when she thought of last night's events.
Big Brother Li had clearly instructed Master Yan Wu to buy her candy as a reward. But instead, her master said he had a better idea.
...He rewarded her with a stack of martial arts manuals.
Qi Huan showed no intention of going out, so Yan Qing found herself with some free time. Being the youngest, she was well looked after by Tao Su and the others, who took on many tasks voluntarily.
What Yan Qing didn't know was that Tao Su's true intention was to gain more presence in front of the young miss, hoping to become the most important maid.
The innocent little Yan Qing, now with time on her hands, resigned herself to studying the martial arts manuals to improve her skills.
Meanwhile, Qi Huan was also in her room, reading medical books.
The medicine for treating tuberculosis didn't work that quickly; it would take about six months to fully control the disease.
The promotion of the tuberculosis medicine couldn't be rushed.
"Song Jingche" had fake tuberculosis, but among Shen Jueming's patients, there were definitely real tuberculosis cases. Only after these patients were cured would her medicine be recognized by the public.
Qi Huan pulled back her thoughts and turned a few more pages of the medical book before Tao Su came to invite her for lunch.
The lunch was simple. She initially thought it was because she was in mourning, but she heard from Tao Su that the servants' meals were also quite plain.
"Miss, please don't take it to heart. I've inquired about it, and it's not that they're intentionally neglecting us. It's just that the Song Mansion isn't very well-off."
"Mm, I understand."
After rinsing her mouth, Qi Huan returned to her room to retrieve her mahjong set. With a bulging money pouch, she set off with a spring in her step.
"Let's go be the God of Wealth," she said cheerfully.
In winter, Old Lady Song didn't have the habit of taking afternoon naps. She feared that sleeping too much during the day would make it difficult to fall asleep at night.
At this moment, she was sitting in her armchair, eating snacks while listening to Jixiang read a story.
Nanny Wu advised from the side, "Old Lady Song, you should eat fewer sweets. It's not good for your teeth. Besides, you've just finished lunch and now you're eating pastries. I'm truly worried you'll get indigestion."
Old Lady Song waved her hand dismissively. "It's no matter. I'll just have one more piece."
By the time she had finished two pieces, Qi Huan arrived.
Old Lady Song quickly took the handkerchief from Nanny Wu's hand, wiped the corners of her mouth, and kindly beckoned to Qi Huan. "Huan'er, come and have some snacks."
"Thank you, grandmother," Qi Huan replied, her eyes crinkling with a charming smile.
Seeing that she didn't hesitate and obediently ate a piece, Old Lady Song smiled even more happily.
After all, who doesn't like a graceful and well-mannered young lady?
Old Lady Song looked at her granddaughter, who was as delicate as a flower bud, with a radiant smile full of doting affection.
So she wants to play mahjong?
Let her play!
She wants to play with Madam Song and Young Madam Song?
Call them all over!
And so, the women of the Song family gathered together and began to shuffle the mahjong tiles.
