The Marquis doesn't support his beloved wife's ambitions, so I'll take the imperial e

These words were like a red-hot iron rod, precisely piercing the deepest, most untouchable corner of Xiao Qingyan's heart. His eyes, which were almost spitting fire, strangely flashed with a hint of surprise after a moment of fury.

The grip on her neck loosened slightly involuntarily.

Jiang Zhenxue seized this fleeting opportunity, took a deep breath of the bloody air, and the dizziness caused by the lack of oxygen subsided slightly.

Xiao Qingyan was so angry at her words that he laughed out loud. However, his laughter was as cold as ice shards in the dead of winter, making one's bones ache.

"You're the only woman by my side," he slowly lowered his head, his incomparably handsome face close to hers, his hot breath mingling with a dangerous aura as he exhaled, "It seems you haven't had enough of the consequences of last night. Want to try again?"

The tone was no longer simply murderous intent, but had transformed into a more aggressive and humiliating threat.

Jiang Zhenxue's expression turned rather unpleasant for a moment.

My back still hurts.

I have to admit, that bastard is really something. In the original book, the original owner was entangled with him for half her life. Although it was incredibly painful, the two were truly each other's only one.

Because of this, the original owner still held onto that pathetic illusion about him even after being hurt countless times.

But she wasn't the original owner of this body.

Thinking about these things is ultimately pointless; it only adds to your own frustration and serves no other purpose. The most important thing right now is to calm this thoroughly enraged beast down.

She doesn't have the resources to go head-to-head with him.

"My lord, you've misunderstood." Jiang Zhenxue suddenly relaxed, ceasing her struggles. She even raised her hand and gently patted his tense arm, her voice tinged with a helpless sigh. "How could I dare to be dissatisfied with your performance?"

Xiao Qingyan narrowed his eyes, remained silent, and simply stared at her coldly, waiting for her to continue.

"What I mean is," Jiang Zhenxue blinked, a perfectly timed hint of grievance and vulnerability in her clear eyes, "you are the Marquis of Ningguo, commanding thousands of troops, vigorous and tireless. But I am just an ordinary, weak woman, frail and thin, and really... really can't bear your pampering."

She deliberately emphasized the word "love" to make it sound like she was being coquettish, but it was actually a complaint.

"Look at you, you've been through so much all night, and you're still full of energy the next day. But what about me? My back aches so much I can barely stand up straight. I'm not questioning you, I'm just accusing myself of being useless and unworthy of your might, Lord Marquis."

These words were spoken with great subtlety and circumlocution. They both elevated him to a high position, satisfying his ridiculous male ego, and positioned themselves as victims, making it seem as if they were bullying a weak and pitiful person if he wanted to lash out again.

Xiao Qingyan's expression indeed softened considerably.

Although his face remained grim, the murderous intent that had almost burned into the sky in his eyes had finally dissipated considerably. He released his grip on her neck and instead pinched her chin, his fingertips caressing her delicate skin, his tone still unfriendly: "At least you have some self-awareness."

Jiang Zhenxue rolled her eyes inwardly, but forced a weak smile on her face: "Of course, I know my own limitations."

Seeing that his anger had subsided, Jiang Zhenxue immediately seized the opportunity to address the real problem.

"My lord," she began cautiously, "you see, you've calmed down now, so could we... talk about serious matters?"

"What important business?" Xiao Qingyan sneered. "My important business is to bring you back to the capital. Tell me, when are we leaving? My patience has run out."

Again.

Jiang Zhenxue's heart sank, but she dared not show it on her face. She could only say hesitantly, with a hint of flattery, "My lord, please don't be anxious. Look at my Qingyun Pavilion, it has only been open for a short time and is at the most crucial moment. The accounts, the manpower, and the new goods all depend on me. If I leave like this, this shop... will definitely go bankrupt."

"So what if it fails?" Xiao Qingyan's tone was full of contempt. "Is a shabby shop worth all this trouble? When I return to the capital, I'll open ten or a hundred for you, whatever you want."

"That's different." Jiang Zhenxue quickly shook her head. "What you gave me was a gift. What I earned myself, that's my true strength. Besides," she rolled her eyes and changed her mind, "Your Excellency, think about it, if my shop goes bankrupt, what will people say?"

"They would say, 'Hey, have you heard? That woman from Ningguo Marquis's shop in Yunyang County went bankrupt. She's really useless.' You know, it's a small matter if I lose face, but if this damages your reputation, then that would be my fault."

Her words precisely targeted Xiao Qingyan's most cherished "face."

Sure enough, Xiao Qingyan's brows furrowed unconsciously.

He didn't care whether a shop lived or died, but he really didn't like hearing any negative comments about himself, even if they involved his woman.

Seeing that she had a chance, Jiang Zhenxue quickly continued, "So, my lord, could you please give me a few more days? Just a few days! Once I've settled everything in the shop and handed over all the necessary matters, I promise I'll obediently go back with you and won't cause you any trouble."

As she spoke, she looked at him with her large, pleading eyes.

She knew perfectly well that Xiao Qingyan was a madman. The only reason she was able to appease him today was because he must have felt good last night, plus she had swallowed her pride and said some sweet words.

If he stubbornly continues to oppose her, he might burn down Qingyun Pavilion in a fit of rage.

At that time, all her hard work, Shen Yu's injury, and Kang Mingyan's concessions will all become a joke.

Xiao Qingyan stared at her for a long time, his deep eyes filled with turbulent and unfathomable emotions.

He knew, of course, that she was stalling for time.

But her comment, "I've offended your dignity," actually pleased him.

He liked her attitude of always putting him first and caring about his reputation. Even if he knew it was an act, he still enjoyed watching it.

"Heh," he finally sneered, releasing his grip on her chin as a concession, "I'll give you seven more days."

"Seven days?" Jiang Zhenxue's heart skipped a beat; that was far too short.

"What? You think it's not enough?" Xiao Qingyan's eyes turned cold again.

"No, no, no, that's enough, not too much!" Jiang Zhenxue quickly waved her hand, afraid he would change his mind. "Seven days is enough! Thank you for your consideration, Your Excellency!"

"Don't be too happy yet." Xiao Qingyan walked to the window, stood with his hands behind his back, leaving her with a cold and hard back view. "For the next seven days, I will live here and keep an eye on you. You'd better not try anything funny."

He paused, his voice carrying an undeniable command: "I don't have the patience to let you play around here indefinitely. Jiang Zhenxue, understand your place."

Jiang Zhenxue lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes concealing all the emotions in them.

"Yes, I understand."

What else could she say? She could only nod.

She wanted to run away too, but the shop was already open and Shen Yu was still seriously injured in bed. Where could she go?

The path beneath her feet was one she had paved step by step, but the sky above her head remained firmly in his grasp. These seven days were merely a brief respite for that madman, Shi She.

Seven days later, will she really give up everything here and go back to that golden cage?

Jiang Zhenxue looked out at the bustling streets, feeling utterly lost.