“Is that so? Then what about my elder sister? Do you dare say you have no feelings for her at all?”
Wanqing felt somewhat powerless in the face of Sun Fengyu’s sudden proposal. Leaving aside the fact that she had no interest in this man whatsoever, even if she did, given what he had done to her in the past, what did he take her for?
With a faint smile, she removed his hand and looked at him.
“I promise, as long as you agree to marry me, I’ll let you be the primary wife, Qing’er…” His sharp gaze seemed to pierce through her, making Sun Fengyu feel as if he were standing naked before her.
After a pause, he still stared at her, reaching out to grab her hand again.
“Primary wife? Haha, Sun Fengyu, you really think too highly of yourself. Not only do I not like you at all, but even if I did, given everything you’ve done to me, do you think I’d still marry you? Save your petty schemes. I’m not falling for it. If you want to please someone, go please her. I don’t care.”
His words made Wanqing burst into laughter.
After laughing for a while, she finally lowered her hand from her mouth and looked at him mockingly. Since he had said such things, she no longer felt the need to be polite. Slapping his hand away angrily, she stood up.
“Qing’er, listen to me, Qing’er…”
Seeing that she dismissed his words with disdain and even mocked him, Sun Fengyu felt as if she had slapped him hard across the face. As she stood up to leave, he panicked and grabbed her arm.
“What are you doing? Let go.”
Wanqing stood up and saw him gripping her arm, recalling his ulterior motives. She asked coldly, her eyes flashing with a hint of frost.
“I won’t let go. The Empress Dowager betrothed us when we were children. You can reject me, but do you not care about the lives of everyone in your Marquis’s household?”
Her delicate face was cold, exuding an ethereal beauty. Sun Fengyu couldn’t help but feel entranced.
He thought she was just a little girl. Though she had changed completely from before—now cold and exuding an otherworldly elegance—her icy demeanor didn’t faze him.
Stubbornly gripping her arm, he asked lightly, though his words carried a clear warning.
“Who I marry is my decision. No one has the right to command me. Even if you threaten the lives of everyone in the Marquis’s household, my answer remains the same. But Sun Fengyu, listen carefully. If you dare harm anyone in my household, I’ll make sure you lose everything. Your entire Sun family will be nothing. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and try. And as for pursuing my elder sister—go ahead, I won’t interfere. But don’t you dare provoke me.”
Seeing the man finally reveal his true colors, Wanqing sneered and turned away. Her cold eyes bore into him as she spoke word by word, delivering her warning.
“I’ll marry your sister, and I’ll marry you too. You’re mine, and no one can take you away. As long as I don’t break off the engagement, I don’t believe you can cause any trouble. Mu Wanqing, listen well. I won’t cancel this engagement. Don’t even think about leaving me for another man.”
Facing her cold gaze, Sun Fengyu glared back defiantly. He spoke as if he were already her husband, reaching out to grab her again. Wanqing responded with a punch, sending him stumbling backward.
Though his nose bled from the blow, Sun Fengyu stood up, watching as she walked away without even glancing back. Clenching his teeth and covering his bleeding nose, he shouted at her retreating figure.
“Lunatic. You despicable man—if the timing weren’t off, I’d have already dealt with you. Let’s go.”
Hearing the man’s arrogance even after being punched, Wanqing gritted her teeth, suppressing the urge to turn around and confront him again. She walked coldly to Honglian and gave her a sharp order.
“Miss, should we ask Lady Bai to intervene and have Prince Ning plead with the Emperor to cancel the engagement?”
Honglian had overheard their argument in the pavilion and knew Wanqing’s displeasure. Seeing Sun Fengyu’s audacity, she followed Wanqing and made the suggestion seriously.
“Prince Ning’s leg hasn’t fully healed yet, and his position as Crown Prince isn’t secure. I shouldn’t trouble him with my affairs now. I’ll handle this myself.”
Wanqing glanced ahead calmly at Honglian’s reminder before turning away.
Days passed quickly. On this day, Wanqing continued treating Prince Ning’s leg.
From Prince Ning, she learned of several officials—Wang Wenting, Minister of Revenue, and Qian Zhengjie, Minister of Personnel—whose wives and elderly mothers suffered from chronic illnesses.
Hearing of her medical skills, they were eager for her help. Though hesitant when she mentioned payment, they eventually agreed.
“These officials seem decent. Tell them that, out of respect for you, I’ll reduce their fees by twenty thousand taels each. This money is enough for me anyway.”
Pleased with their willingness to pay, Wanqing smiled at Prince Ning. Considering their high status, she left the matter to him. The next day, she dressed modestly and visited their families under the guise of a descendant of the Medicine Valley, successfully treating them and earning the fees.
After calculating, she was still short by fifty thousand taels. Remembering Leng Mingye’s mention of his old friend, General Cui, whose mother was also ill, she decided to visit uninvited.
General Cui, like Leng Mingye, was a righteous veteran with significant military power. She offered her services and mentioned the fee.
Within days, Wanqing had gathered enough to repay Leng Mingye.
“Honglian, take this money to Qingfeng or Baiyu, and have them deliver this letter to their master.”
Counting the banknotes, Wanqing handed the exact amount to Honglian along with a letter for Leng Mingye.
After Honglian returned, it was the eve of the Princess’s birthday.
“Miss, are we really not preparing anything for the Princess’s birthday?”
Honglian and the other maids watched as she busied herself with herbs and books. Concerned about the upcoming celebration, they couldn’t help but ask.
“My father said he’d handle it. Why should I worry? Even if he didn’t, I’ve already made preparations.”
Wanqing understood their concerns—this was an opportunity to shine among noble ladies. But she had long been prepared. Smiling faintly, she continued her work.
Just then, Wan Chun’s voice came from outside.
“Miss, the Young Master is here to see you.”
“Let him in.”
Hearing the unexpected visitor, Wanqing irritably set aside her work, smoothing her clothes as she walked out.
“I thought you’d be too scared to see me after last time. What’s this? You’re just going to take advantage of me and then act like nothing happened?”
As she spoke, the man in moon-white robes strode forward, his face filled with fury. He tossed a stack of banknotes onto the table before her and demanded coldly.
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