Transmigrated into the body of the vicious first wife of a fallen prime minister

"Grandmother, Happy New Year." Qi He forced herself to continue this act of a loving couple with Shang Jue.

The old lady was clearly very pleased with the harmonious relationship between the young couple.

She was completely unaware of the suffering Shang Jue had endured at the Qi family's house. With a smile, she pulled Qi He inside and invited the two of them to sit down for a meal.

Qi Lanlan had arrived ahead of time. She stood up, nodded to Qi He, and sat down again after receiving a response.

Sitting beside him was a refined and handsome man, smiling as he sat on a wooden recliner. He was Qi He's second uncle, Qi Shuyan.

Qi Shuyan was sickly from a young age, unable to see, and had difficulty walking. He gave up the idea of ​​fighting for the family property early on and lived a secluded life, rarely appearing in public.

"Second Uncle, Happy New Year." Qi He bowed respectfully.

Qi Shuyan instructed a maid to hand a red envelope to both Qi He and Shang Jue, and said with a smile, "With such sweet words, it would be unreasonable for your second uncle not to give you New Year's money."

Upon receiving the red envelope, Qi He couldn't help but squeeze its thickness, feeling quite pleased with herself.

What a thick stack of banknotes!

The Qi family truly lives up to its reputation as a wealthy and influential family in Nanjing.

Qi Shuyan had excellent hearing. Hearing the rustling sound of her squeezing the red envelope, he remembered how she used to steal money like a cat stealing oil when she was a child, and couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

Qi He carefully put away the red envelope, but was soon distracted by the fragrant dishes on the table.

Since arriving here, I've been living in constant fear and anxiety, and haven't been able to enjoy a proper hot meal.

Seeing a table full of delicious food, I was so tempted that I forgot all about manners.

Shang Jue sat quietly to the side. The old lady would occasionally ask him a few questions, and he answered them all perfectly, as if he and Qi He were a loving couple.

When the old lady asked them when they were going to have a child, Qi He, who was engrossed in eating, suddenly choked and coughed violently.

"Cough cough cough—"

Shang Jue's acting was incredibly realistic. He gently patted her back, his tone unusually gentle: "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

Qi He felt a chill run down her spine, as if a cold, sinister snake had coiled around her neck.

"Grandmother, what are you saying? How old is he...?" Qi He forced a calm smile and said.

She already felt guilty enough about posing as a married couple with a minor!

If you really want children, you should at least wait until Shang Jue is an adult, right?

wrong......

What are you thinking!

A hint of confusion appeared in the old lady's eyes.

Ever since the old man passed away, her spirits had been low, she was overwhelmed with grief, and her memory was inconsistent. Now, she uttered a startling question: "Hasn't Xiaojue grown up yet?"

"Cough cough cough—"

Well, that's bad. Not just Qi He, but everyone at the table choked on their own saliva.

Shang Jue, in particular, showed a noticeable change in expression, looking as if he wanted to say something but couldn't get anything out.

Qi He chuckled at the sight and was about to reply when Shang Jue calmly answered for her, "It's not time yet. Xiao He's health is weak, she needs to rest a bit more."

Qi He couldn't help but admire Shang Jue's Oscar-worthy skills at this moment.

As the decisive and ruthless male protagonist of the novel, how could you say such a thing without changing your expression? Did you make a cameo appearance in some boudoir story?

The old lady nodded repeatedly: "That's right, that's right. Having a baby can't rely on Xiaojue alone; both of you have to be attentive."

Qi He forced a professional fake smile: "Hehe...Yes, yes."

Let's wait until he's fully developed before making a decision.

Shang Jue glanced meaningfully at her stomach, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

After the meal, Qi Shuyan felt unwell and was helped by Qi He to the backyard to rest.

As dusk settled, the steward arranged the rooms, and Qi He was then faced with a tremendous problem—

She had no choice but to agree to sleep in the same room!

In the old lady's mind, the two of them were already a couple, even without a marriage certificate.

We're just sharing a room; who knows, I might even be able to give her a great-grandson soon.

The old lady was quite open-minded, but Qi He and Shang Jue felt inexplicably awkward.

Given the original owner's personality, she would have kicked him long ago, thrown a tantrum like a spoiled young lady, and said, "Who do you think you are worthy to share a room with me?" before slamming the door and locking Shang Jue out.

But when she turned her head, she saw the old lady staring at her longingly, her gaze lingering affectionately on her stomach.

Even if you look at it a hundred times, I still can't give birth!

Qi He steeled herself and pushed open the door expressionlessly.

Shang Jue stood behind her without moving, but Qi He didn't close the door either.

A few breaths later, Shang Jue stepped into the room under the old lady's eager gaze.

The second-floor room has a small terrace, with a carved wooden window on the right, overlooking a tranquil little lake.

Shang Jue opened the cabinet door on his own, took out a quilt from inside, and spread it out on the floor in the place furthest away from Qi He's bed.

His movements in making the bed were swift and natural, showing no trace of the demeanor of a wealthy young master from a prominent Beijing business family.

While other boys his age were probably still worrying about their studies at the academy, Shang Jue had already endured far more hardships than most people could bear.

He draped his faded, plain-colored undergarment over his arm, pressing out several even creases.

His appearance was aloof and cold, his figure was tall and slender, and although he was still young, his brows and eyes already hinted at the composure of a future leader.

Looking down, I noticed some red chilblains on Shang Jue's finger bones.

For some reason, Qi He touched the box of frostbite cream in her sleeve again.

"You're sleeping on the floor?" Qi He broke the silence.

Shang Jue paused noticeably: "The old lady is outside; she'll be discovered on the veranda."

It's not that I meant for you to sleep in the corridor...

Qi He realized that the original owner had left behind too many messes, which meant that whatever she said could be misinterpreted by Shang Jue.

Since he had already said that, Qi He was too lazy to bother with his enthusiasm. Besides, suggesting that they sleep in the same bed would only ruin her image as a vicious second young lady.

......

Silent all night.

Qi He woke up first the next morning.

Perhaps it was because Shang Jue had suffered too much these past two days and hadn't had a proper rest, but she noticed that his eyes were dark and he was frowning even in his sleep, looking extremely uneasy.

She knelt down and tucked the blanket around Shang Jue. Since the male lead was asleep, he wouldn't notice her breaking character. Before leaving, she placed the box of frostbite cream on the table.

As soon as Qi He stepped out the door, Shang Jue opened his eyes.

His eyes were clear and bright, not at all like someone who had just woken up.

He picked up the box of frostbite cream on the table, glanced at it without much expression, and then threw it into the trash can in the corner.

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, under the old lady's even more eager gaze than the day before, Qi He and Shang Jue were put into the carriage.

Once he got into the car, the smile on Shang Jue's face vanished completely. His change of attitude was so swift that even a theatrical face-changing act couldn't have been so decisive.

Qi He put in extra effort to deal with the old lady yesterday. Although she wasn't physically tired, she was extremely exhausted and didn't want to speak once she got in the car.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Shang Jue's hands casually resting on his knees, his finger bones covered with a thin layer of ointment.

Qi He had no idea that the box of frostbite ointment had been thrown into the trash can, then picked up and placed on the table, where it stared at a patient for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before finally being squeezed onto the patient's hand with an extremely subtle expression, while the patient remained aloof and haughty.

Of course, this was after he confirmed that it was indeed just a box of simple frostbite cream and not poison.

If frostbite cream could talk, it would surely jump up and curse the person who threw it into the trash can and then dug it out with mixed feelings.

That's insane!

However, Qi He's current bad mood wasn't entirely due to the uncertain future; there was something more important—

The original owner owed a debt of ten million taels of silver.

That shop that loses several hundred taels every quarter is no longer a viable option. Although Qi He has some experience in business, he is completely unfamiliar with the rules of commerce in this unfamiliar dynasty, and it is almost impossible for him to turn things around in the short term.

At the same time, she found it strange that the original owner's shabby shop lost money and was in debt every year. How could it steadily owe ten million taels of silver every year, and then start owing again the following year?

What about the previous debts?

The next second, Qi He knew the reason.

A series of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the carriage, followed by someone knocking on the carriage wall.

A servant, panting, handed in a letter along with a heavy brocade pouch: "Second Miss, this is a gift from the Eldest Young Master, a token of his New Year's greetings."

Qi He opened the letter and saw Qi Zheng's familiar handwriting: "[How are you doing at Grandmother's? I've been busy with work and couldn't make it back to keep you company on New Year's Eve, Xiao He, don't be upset.]"

Thanks, bro. But I'm twenty, not two, right? Why are you using this tone to coax a little girl?

Should I act cute and affectionate next time I see him?

Ugh—just thinking about it makes me feel sick.

Underneath the letter was a thin note that read: "The New Year's money has been sent to your account. Xiao He, buy whatever you want; don't worry about saving."

Then she opened the brocade pouch, inside which were several brand-new silver notes.

Count them one by one—

One thousand taels, two thousand taels, three thousand taels... a total of ten bills, neatly arranged in ten thousand taels.

Qi He immediately changed her expression, folded the letter neatly, and put it in her bosom, muttering to herself, "Big brother is the best!"

Is she being coquettish?

Anyone can do that!

This is what a tough woman should do!

The carriage traveled for a while longer when someone suddenly caught up with them. This time it was Qi Zheng's personal attendant, who smiled through the carriage curtain and said, "Second Miss, the eldest young master also instructed that he heard you mention wanting to go to the south to see the sea before the New Year? The docks in the south are not very safe, so the eldest young master has arranged a house for you in Qingwu Town by the sea. He said you can go and sign the land deed when you have time."

Qi He should kneel down before Qi Zheng.

This is what a real brother is like!

Is it appropriate not to kowtow three times during Chinese New Year?

Thinking about the little bit of money I owe... it doesn't seem like that much anymore.

whee.

Shang Jue could see that Qi He's mood had visibly improved.

If he hadn't been there, that good-for-nothing would probably have been humming a tune in the carriage.

Did you find some silver?

That's exactly what picking up money is like.

With Qi He in a better mood, she found Shang Jue more agreeable.

Remembering that she hadn't given Shang Jue any New Year's money yet, and recalling how the original owner only gave him a few copper coins every day like a beggar, she was really too stingy.

Qi He immediately decided to raise Shang Jue's monthly salary.

Shang Jue felt extremely uncomfortable under her gaze.

Qi He pulled a fifty-tael silver note from his sleeve, looking like a nouveau riche who had suddenly become wealthy, ready to take care of some handsome young man: "I'm in a good mood, so I'll give you some extra money each month. Starting today, five taels a day!"

Business Strategies: "..."

For some reason, he didn't detect the humiliation he used to feel in Qi He's words.

Is it just my imagination?

Qi He has striking features, and at this moment she looks like a little fox who has stolen a chicken, her eyes full of satisfaction.

"Why don't you do something in return?"

Perhaps because she had money in hand, Qi He wasn't afraid of anyone who wanted to kill her in the future.

After all, alcohol emboldens the timid, and so does money.

Shang Jue's voice was cold: "What kind of response do you want?"

Should we make him kneel on the ground and kowtow with gratitude, just like before?

Qi He asked in surprise, "You've already given me a raise, aren't you going to treat me to something nice?"

Business Strategies: "..."

Finally, the two found a well-known restaurant in the city, ordered a table full of dishes, and spent a total of thirteen taels and seven mace.

Shang Jue emptied his pockets of all the loose silver he had, and even added three coins to his own pocket.

So this is what you meant by a raise...

I learned something.