Chapter 42 Medicine Should Not Be Taken Randomly

“It’s nothing. But since he’s your teacher, he should avoid suspicion,” he put down his teacup. “Coming to see you late at night, Miss Jiang should be wary of his ulterior motives. If he ruins your reputation, it will be difficult to get rid of him in the future.”

He himself is upright and honest and would not have any bad intentions, but other men are another matter.

If it weren't for Jiang Zhi's reputation, he would have already lost control and rushed out to kick Shen Ci'an out.

Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I know what I'm doing."

Judging from her expression, she clearly didn't take his words to heart.

Helpless, Xie Qi took the porcelain bottle that Shen Ci'an had given her from her hand to examine it.

"You can't take medicine indiscriminately. I'll go back and have someone examine it for you. If it's harmless, I'll send it back to you."

Jiang Zhi frowned, "No need for you to trouble yourself, Young Master Xie..."

Xie Qi didn't give her a chance to refuse, and stood up directly, "It's getting late, I should go, goodbye."

After saying that, he took the porcelain bottle and left.

As for what happens next? Xie Qi curled his lips.

He'd have to be crazy to send the medicine back.

Spring Garden returned to its quiet state, but after all that commotion, Jiang Zhi found herself unable to fall asleep.

Although the matter of Yan Wenkang has been temporarily settled, seeing Xiao Xuanyou in the imperial prison made her extremely uneasy.

This unease even overshadowed the joy of successfully sending Yan Wenkang to prison.

She didn't believe that Xiao Xuanyou would have nothing better to do than come and see a minister's daughter.

What exactly does he want to do?

In his previous life, Xiao Xuanyou was still the Crown Prince before he died, secretly fighting a bloody battle with the Third Prince.

Although the Emperor valued Xiao Xuanyou, he was quite strict with him and had very high expectations of him.

Perhaps to train him, they did not stop the Third Prince from secretly gathering forces to oppose him, allowing the two to fight each other.

Therefore, Xiao Xuanyou rarely visited her at the brothel, and he had to be careful to avoid attracting attention.

Even so, she didn't have much freedom.

Although Xiao Xuanyou did not restrict her behavior, he secretly sent many people to ostensibly protect her but actually monitor her.

She had secretly escaped from the brothel several times, but he always sent people to "invite" her back.

She remembered the worst time was when she had disguised herself and left Kyoto, trying to avoid being searched by Xiao Xuanyou's men by blending in with a group of refugees.

However, before she could even catch her breath, she looked up and saw Xiao Xuanyou riding a fine horse, his brows furrowed as if a storm was about to break. Without a word, he bent down, put his arm around her waist, and lifted her onto the horse. Amidst the surprised exclamations of the crowd, he took her back to the brothel.

Xiao Xuanyou was practically insane at the time. He looked down at her with a cold face, watching her sob and beg for mercy beneath him. She could only repeat to herself again and again that she dared not have any more thoughts of escaping before he finally took pity on her and let her go.

It was on that occasion that he did not make her drink the contraceptive soup as usual, and instead had someone secretly watch over her to prevent her from taking the medicine in secret.

A month later, she was horrified to find that her period was delayed.

She was pregnant.

Thinking about this, Jiang Zhi couldn't help but feel a wave of fear.

Her mind was in turmoil, and she tossed and turned on the bed until the sky began to lighten before she finally fell asleep.

*

Early the next morning, Wang Yuru had the account books and household tokens delivered to Jiang Zhi's Chuntang Garden.

Her quick agreement surprised Jiang Zhi.

It's unlikely that Wang Yuru would be so kind; she must have another trick up her sleeve.

However, since he dared to take on the responsibility of managing the household, he naturally had a plan in mind.

If Wang Yuru wants to take it back later, it will be difficult.

Just then, Qingxing returned from delivering a message, so Jiang Zhi could relax and look through the Jiang family's account books in her Chuntang Garden.

The Jiang family was not large.

Grandmother Madam Jiang, who lives in Xuantang; Jiang Zhengting and Wang Yuru, who live in the main house; Baozhu Residence, where Jiang Ningzheng is studying away from home and has not yet returned; her Chuntang Garden and Jiang Yunqian's Xiayin Garden; Aunt Lin and her daughter Jiang Yunran, who live in the side room and have little presence; and only Shen Ci'an, who is staying in Zhizhixuan.

The Jiang family was not a prominent or influential family.

Although my grandfather passed the imperial examination, his career was always unsuccessful. He was transferred several times and was only a minor official in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices before his death. In a place like the capital, where powerful and influential people were everywhere, he was not even considered a big shot.

After his father, Jiang Zhengting, passed the imperial examination, he was favored by the Feng family. In order to reverse the decline of the Feng family, the Feng family married their eldest daughter, Feng Lanzhen, to his father.

With the help of the Feng family, the father's official position rose rapidly, eventually becoming the powerful Minister of Rites. However, the Feng family suffered setbacks due to various forms of suppression and gradually withdrew from the capital.

The Jiang family appears glamorous on the outside, but in reality, it relies entirely on the mother's dowry businesses to maintain its facade.

After reviewing the accounts all morning, Jiang Zhi had a general understanding of the Jiang family's situation.

After lunch, Qingxing came in from outside and happily told her that Li Yuanhu had sent someone to tell her that the matter she had asked him to do that morning had been accomplished.

Ever since that day when Lu Yuan escorted her to Beilifang, Li Yuanhu had been very respectful to her and had been very perceptive in not asking too many questions about her identity.

She asked the little beggar that Qingxing had found to deliver a message, asking them to do her a favor today. Unexpectedly, Li Yuanhu acted so efficiently that he got it done in just one morning.

Jiang Zhi put down the ledger in her hand.

"Go and invite all the stewards of the mansion to Chuntang Garden. Tell them I want to ask them questions."

Qingxing went to carry out the order and returned about an incense stick's time later, her face full of resentment.

"Those people are indeed all unruly servants. They knew that the young lady wanted to ask questions, but they made excuses and said they had something to do and would come later. I think they were deliberately trying to trip up the young lady!"

Jiang Zhi didn't take it to heart and even comforted Qingxing, saying, "Since you know they did it on purpose, there's nothing to be angry about."

"So, Miss, are you just going to let them bully you and disregard you like this?"

"Let's wait and see."

Jiang Zhi calmly sipped her tea. After waiting for a while and seeing no one arrive, she went back to her room for a nap.

When she got up, she saw only a few stewards standing sparsely outside the courtyard gate, all of them with obvious impatience on their faces. Some of them didn't even get up when they saw Jiang Zhi. Someone asked Qingxing, "Is there anything wrong with Miss? We are not as free as Miss. We have so much work to do."

"Yes, how could a young lady from a sheltered family know how hard it is for us stewards? If there's nothing else, Miss, we'll leave now. If we keep waiting like this, we won't be able to do any work in the manor. If the old lady and master blame us, it won't be something Miss can handle."