Su Jin's faint smile vanished, and the nanny stepped forward, saying, "Eldest Young Madam, please."
Su Jin supported Xie Jingchen and said coldly, "I'm not sick, I don't need to take medicine."
Princess Nanzhang sneered, "If it wasn't out of necessity this time, to bring good fortune to the Young Master, my Xie Family would never have accepted a female bandit as the Eldest Young Madam. In the Capital City, under the Emperor's rule, you dared to publicly seize a man, and at Qingyun Mountain, who knows how lawless you were.
Earlier, I was careless and didn't think much of it. Now that you've entered the gates of my Duke Mansion, I could overlook everything from before, but to ensure the continuation of the Xie Family line, you have no choice but to drink this abortion pill."
Just because she stripped Xie Jingchen's clothes last night and was seen by a maid, they assumed she had done something to Xie Jingchen.
Just because they didn't find any red spots on the bed, they assumed she was not pure.
Just because she retorted at Mrs. Zhao, they prepared this bowl of medicine for her.
Fine!
Very well!
She had always avoided direct confrontation with them, but now it seemed unavoidable.
Su Jin's face was icy, as if covered with a layer of cold frost. The Second Madam said warmly, "If you are not pregnant, this abortion pill will not harm your body."
Su Jin laughed, "Since it won't harm my body, if I don't drink this medicine, it would make me seem guilty."
The Second Madam smiled without saying anything.
Su Jin then said, "All medicine is toxic to some extent. I need to know what's going into my mouth. Is there a prescription?"
Princess Nanzhang waved her hand, "Give her the prescription."
The nanny put down the medicine, turned around, and fetched the prescription.
Su Jin opened the prescription, glanced at it, and handed it to Xie Jingchen, "Can you understand it?"
Obviously a rhetorical question.
"I can't," Xie Jingchen shook his head.
"Then please find someone who can," Su Jin said.
Xie Jingchen was about to call someone, but before he could speak, Princess Nanzhang said, "I've given you the prescription. Do you want to make this embarrassing incident known to everyone?!"
Su Jin helped Xie Jingchen to sit down, then stood beside the medicine bowl, saying, "I'm just calling a doctor. Besides, my face, Su Jin's, doesn't have 'this medicine is for the newly married Eldest Young Madam' written on it. How does that bring shame?
If I can't clearly understand the medicine I'm taking, and the Duke Mansion really feels I've shamed them, they can give me a divorce paper, and I, Su Jin, certainly won't cling on!"
Xie Jingchen sat to the side, his brows furrowed. He could sense that Su Jin was truly angry this time, and her desire for a divorce was unprecedentedly strong. There was definitely something wrong with this medicine.
The Third Madam looked at her painted nails, with a half-smile, saying, "Eldest Young Madam, are you perhaps afraid that we of the Duke Mansion poisoned the medicine?"
Su Jin murmured, "It seems nothing can be hidden from Third Aunt. I do fear there's poison in this medicine."
The Third Madam was startled, not expecting Su Jin to be so frank, then giggled, saying, "Rest assured, we wouldn't dare poison you. If we did, wouldn't your parents tear down our Duke Mansion?"
Su Jin's heart eased, and she said, "It seems I was overthinking. Second Aunt said this medicine won't harm you if you're not pregnant, and Third Aunt said there's no poison. It's completely safe to drink. Since this bowl of medicine is quite full, I'll drink most of it, and let the Miss accompany me with the rest. If she refuses, then I have to question her integrity too."
"You!" Princess Nanzhang was fuming.
Lady Xie, Xie Jinyu, was indeed born of Princess Nanzhang.
She was angry, but Su Jin wasn't afraid of her. Princess Nanzhang smiled, "It seems today's company is lacking, and your suspicion runs deep. I'll accompany you to drink it."
Su Jin's brows furrowed deeply.
Princess Nanzhang instructed the nanny, "Bring the medicine over."
The nanny came over, and Su Jin smiled as she picked up the medicine and walked toward Princess Nanzhang.
Princess Nanzhang's face was terrifyingly grim. Su Jin respectfully said, "Mother, please."
Princess Nanzhang reached out, took the medicine bowl, and drank two gulps. When she passed it to Su Jin, Su Jin's hand trembled, failing to catch the bowl, and with a crash, it shattered on the floor.
Princess Nanzhang's face turned livid.
Su Jin turned back to Xie Jingchen, anxiously saying, "Husband, what should we do?"
Xie Jingchen held his forehead, saying, "Such clumsiness. Give me the prescription, and I'll have someone prepare a fresh batch for you to take."
Having said that, Xie Jingchen looked at Princess Nanzhang, "I'll take care of this. Mother should be at ease."
"Of course I'm at ease."
These words were squeezed out from Princess Nanzhang's teeth.
Su Jin quickly curtsied, supporting Xie Jingchen as they left Qihao Hall.
Once they were alone, Xie Jingchen asked in confusion, "What was wrong with that bowl of medicine?"
Generally, after seeing Princess Nanzhang drink it, any suspicion should have been dispelled.
Su Jin sneered, "That's a bowl of sterility medicine."
Princess Nanzhang has children already, so this medicine wouldn't affect her much.
Xie Jingchen's gaze turned cold.
Xingxing's eyes widened in anger, "If it weren't for Madam's medical skills, we would have fallen into their trap. How can they be so cruel? Luckily, Madam is smart, making her lose out despite her plans."
Su Jin dampened the excitement, "She didn't actually drink it, just pretended to show me."
This time Xingxing was truly angry, "I'll go back and tell the Marquis and Madam!"
Su Jin held Xingxing back, "Don't tell them about this. I didn't suffer any losses, no need to worry them."
How could the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, with no foundation, compete with the Duke Zhen Country Mansion? Without evidence, she'd only be slandering Princess Nanzhang.
"We just endure it like this?" Xingxing pouted.
"Revenge can wait for three years."
"They're so malicious. I don't know if they can live for three years…."
Su Jin looked at Xie Jingchen and said, "See? My maid understands the principle, surely Young Master Xie does too?"
Xie Jingchen pondered for a moment, then said, "I still prefer when you call me husband."
"Ugh! Shameless!"
Xingxing, "...."
Xie Jingchen, "...."
Both looked at Su Jin.
Su Jin was in tears; she spoke without thinking. Could she take back what she just said?
Words once spoken can't be unsaid. Su Jin could only pretend she hadn't said anything and moved forward.
Behind her was Xie Jingchen's low laughter.
Su Jin felt her teeth itch; the consequences of her misstep seemed eternal, more tragic than Dou Er!
After a few steps, Su Jin turned back and walked to Xie Jingchen, asking, "How much money do you have left?"
Xingxing quickly said, "Didn't husband help Madam pay thirty thousand taels? Let's not just target him; there are many people in the Duke Zhen Country Mansion to rob."
Su Jin was chaotic on the spot, knocking Xingxing's head, "In such a large Duke Zhen Country Mansion, who can we rob?"
Xingxing touched her forehead, feeling wronged, "Madam, you've changed. You used to say there was no one in this world that couldn't be robbed, only uncommitted bandits. As long as they pass under your nose, unless you don't want to rob them, none can escape your grasp."
"…Didn't you realize I was bragging?"
"I know, I like listening to Madam brag."
Su Jin, "...."
Xie Jingchen's laughter made Su Jin's face turn redder. Laughing, what about her dignity?
Su Jin glared at Xie Jingchen, "Don't laugh so much you get hiccups."
Xie Jingchen tried not to laugh, yet the smirk escaped, revealing his good mood. He said, "I haven't heard you brag before, can you show me?"
Su Jin grinned, having a liking for hearing boasts, what a quirk, "Bring the cow over, and I'll blow for you right away."
This woman…
Her mind is indeed agile.
Xie Jingchen laughed, taking Su Jin's hand, "Let's go, I'll take you to the cattle farm. I'll let you blow your fill."
Su Jin blushed, grabbing Xie Jingchen's hand back, "That's too troublesome, the cattle farm must stink. Don't let it overwhelm you. If you really want to see it, there's no need to go far, I can do it right away for you."
Xie Jingchen raised an eyebrow, a hint of expectancy in his eyes, watching as Su Jin leaned over and blew at him, with a mischievous gleam, "Feel it now."
The face leaning in was like a blooming lotus, untouched by dust, beautifully moving.
Xie Jingchen got momentarily lost in thought, but then Su Jin asked again. He raised his hand, wanting to pinch her face; this woman, she actually compared him to a cow.
Just as his hand was about to touch Su Jin's face, suddenly, he frowned and looked toward the big tree nearby, "Stop hiding, come out!"
As soon as he spoke, carefree cheerful laughter reached them, and a handsome figure leaped from the tree with a smooth and refreshing manner.
The man seemed a year younger than Xie Jingchen, radiating vigorous energy, but his words weren't quite innocent.
"Greetings to Brother Ox and Sister Ox."
He said, barely holding back his laughter.