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

Qi He was seething with anger. She spread out the letter and cursed Shang Jue at Hu Ying for almost half an hour before she finally calmed down.

Hu Ying's reply came quickly: "Forget it, don't be angry. It's not worth getting sick over a man. Be careful, or you'll get stretch marks."

Qi He picked up his pen and wrote another note: "I've never seen such a shameless person!"

He wrote half a sentence but then felt embarrassed, so he put down his pen and simply had his maid pass on a few words of message.

After cursing Shang Jue, Qi He finally felt a little better after Hu Ying's string of flattering words.

It has to be said that in critical moments, it's still the best friend who can coax you. Expecting a scoundrel to coax you is not as good as hoping for divine intervention from the City God.

Hu Ying sent over several polo field notices together: "Choose one. They're all private. I prefer the one in the west of the city. I heard the young men there are excellent riders."

Qi He lay on the couch, flipping through the posts one by one. Hu Ying's messages kept coming in: "The one in the south of the city is also good. It's right next to the academy. After playing polo, you can watch those students in blue robes from outside the wall."

Qi He's heart stirred when she saw the words "scholar in blue robes".

In modern times, this would just be a high school student...

Ah, of course it wasn't those students who were interested in me, but rather the pastry shop in the south of the city.

Just as Qi He was about to pick up her pen to reply, a cool voice suddenly floated down from above: "The scholar in the blue robe?"

She looked up abruptly, and Shang Jue was already standing by the bed, looking down at her.

Qi He instinctively hid the letter in her sleeve, but Shang Jue, with his sharp eyes, had already spotted a few lines of text.

Are you going out?

Shang Jue asked the question in a calm tone, but Qi He inexplicably felt that he was somewhat displeased.

What? He can flirt with other women outside, but she can't even glance at a young man on the street?

The Great Jing Dynasty did not adhere to the principle of women following their husbands' authority!

"I just made an appointment with Hu Ying to go to the horse farm." Qi He pouted. "Why do you walk so quietly? Don't you know it's rude to look at other people's letters?"

Fortunately, he didn't see the things she said to him earlier, otherwise she would have had another reason to be resented in the future.

"Well, I'm always rude," Shang Jue said with a hint of sarcasm, "but I'm still more respectable than some of those who covet the Qingshan Scholar."

Qi He was so annoyed by his words that she didn't want to pay him any more attention. She got up from the couch, made a reservation with Hu Ying at the polo field in the south of the city, changed into some comfortable riding clothes, and went out to keep the appointment.

As she was leaving, she glanced back at Shang Jue and saw that his face was still somewhat pale, which inexplicably planted a thorn in her heart.

This polo field in the south of the city is one of the properties under the Qi family's name, so Qi He naturally has whatever he wants here.

Hu Ying was dressed smartly today, but she still wore all the hairpins and jewelry she was supposed to, and even her sun hat was adorned with a circle of tiny beads that dazzled the eyes in the sunlight.

Upon seeing Qi He, she familiarly took her arm and, as they walked into the venue, chattered on about the gossip she had heard recently.

Qi He had long since given up resisting Hu Ying's affectionate manner.

They are all good girls.

"Do you remember that little actor who tried to curry favor with your man? He was sued by several women in Nanjing the other day. I was so blind back then to think he was good-looking."

"You don't know..."

Qi He listened to these mundane family matters absentmindedly.

Hu Ying didn't notice her expression and continued, "The Zhao family's wife and husband passed away last month. I heard it was a sudden illness. She didn't seem too sad. If it weren't for the old master still being around, I think she would have laughed out loud."

For families like theirs, marriage is mostly not their own decision; it's often used as a pretext for alliances between two families, and once the marriage is over, that's it.

Qi He had heard of the womanizing reputation of Zhao's husband; he was indiscriminate in his relationships with both men and women.

As she listened, she inexplicably thought of Shang Jue.

As the eldest son of a wealthy merchant family in the capital, he was of a higher status than those scions of aristocratic families, yet in recent years, there seemed to be no trace of him having any shady dealings.

Qi He recalled that storybook, and that Shang Jue had no one else by his side except for Qi Lanlan.

This is truly illogical in those stories about sons-in-law achieving success against all odds.

Moreover, he is exceptionally talented, far superior to those spoiled brats.

"In the end, it's still your husband who's the best," Hu Ying said enviously. "He's good at making a living, good-looking, attentive to you, and willing to spend money on you."

What Hu Ying admired even more was that Shang Jue could stay with Qi He every day and tolerate her spoiled nature.

Although Hu Ying likes Qi He, the thought of having her spend every day and night with him is quite unbearable.

Qi He rolled her eyes at her.

"Wasn't Lady Zhao showing off the villa her husband bought for her just a few months ago?" Qi He asked casually.

"Yes, and not long after, news came that he had died suddenly." Hu Ying sighed, "I heard it was because of his irregular eating and drinking habits and his busy business. At first, it was just an upset stomach, which he didn't take seriously, but it eventually developed into a serious illness."

Is your stomach upset?

Qi He felt that thorn in her heart prick again.

Shang Jue has a stomach ailment at such a young age, and his complexion didn't seem much better this morning.

He rested at home for less than half a day before getting busy with business again, completely disregarding his own health.

For some reason, Qi He felt somewhat annoyed when she thought about this.

"Why do you seem so absent-minded today?" Hu Ying suddenly asked.

"Hmm?" Qi He snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh, I was thinking about something."

"Are you thinking about your man?" Hu Ying asked bluntly.

Qi He choked, and Hu Ying covered her mouth and let out an "Oh ho!" She winked and said, "We're sisters now, why pretend to be so serious? If you miss him, just go back. We can always meet up."

Qi He opened her mouth as if to say something in her defense, but it was clear that she couldn't say anything.

Fine, there's nothing shameful about admitting you want to negotiate a settlement.

Yes, I did think about it, so what?

I was just worried that he would be exhausted.

After all, he had contributed to the fact that Juxian Trading Company came into his hands.

If he dies from exhaustion, would I be considered an accomplice?

She was worried about him only because she didn't want to be accused of murder.

Yes, that's it!

"Then I'll head back now." Qi He tossed the things to her attendant and waved to Hu Ying.

Hu Ying winked at her: "Let's go see the scholar in blue robes together next time."

......

On her way back to Qianjinlou, Qi He had some fresh vegetables delivered to her residence.

Shang Jue used to cook so many meals for her, so it's not a big deal for her to cook one for him, right?

Thinking that Shang Jue was probably still in the shop managing things, Qi He felt even more guilty.

After all, Shang Jue had just bought her a ruby ​​hairpin worth a thousand gold pieces at the auction a few days ago. Compared to that, she was really being extravagant.

The Qianjinlou was quiet. Qi He quietly moved the vegetables to the kitchen, then took out the cook's recipes and picked out a few that didn't look too difficult.

Stir-fried seasonal vegetables and steamed egg custard.

She started the fire and followed the instructions step by step.

Half an hour later, Shang Jue, who was looking at accounts in the study, suddenly twitched his brow, and then his right eyelid twitched as well.

As the saying goes, a twitching left eye means good fortune, while a twitching right eye means bad luck. That troublemaker in the house went out to an appointment, so surely nothing bad should happen to him, right?

That troublemaker would at most only dare to glance at the so-called "scholar in blue robes," he wouldn't actually do anything...

The next instant, a burnt smell wafted to Shang Jue's nose.

My right eye is twitching even more.

......

"Cough cough! Cough cough cough!" Qi He coughed from the fumes, clutching the spatula in her hand, but keeping her body far away from the stove, as if the pot would bite her.

When Shang Jue came over, he saw that two dishes were already placed on the stove.

One dish was barely recognizable as steamed egg custard, with a few pieces of eggshell floating on top; the other dish was completely unrecognizable, a black mass, probably something burnt.

Qi He turned around and saw it was him. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and asked, "What brings you here?"

"That's what I should be asking you," Shang Jue said, walking over. "Didn't you go out?"

"Oh." Qi He stammered, embarrassed to say that she had come back specifically to cook for him, so she casually said, "I was hungry and wanted to come back to get something to eat."

lie.

Shang Jue felt somewhat helpless.

"I don't remember our family being so poor that Miss Qi had to cook for us herself."

Qi He was speechless after being choked by his words. After stammering for a while, she retorted, "The food bought from restaurants is not clean. It's better to cook it yourself."

"No matter how unclean the food outside is, at least it won't kill you."

Qi He felt a little guilty.

Shang Jue pointed to the charred mess on the plate: "Did you dig out the charcoal and stir-fry it?"

Qi He, holding the spatula, said weakly, "This is asparagus stir-fried with pork..."

Shang Jue rubbed his temples.

Qi He herself felt that her cooking skills were truly appalling, but she still stubbornly argued, "Although it doesn't look very good, it might taste alright. Do you want to try it?"

Shang Jue paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you want to remain a widow?"

Qi He was completely deflated.

She had been busy all day, and to be treated so harshly by Shang Jue at the end made her feel wronged and sad. Her nose tingled with tears: "If you don't want to eat, then don't eat. Why are you saying these things to me!"

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. She had come all the way back, but the other party didn't appreciate it at all.

I got splashed with oil while cooking, and my hand still hurts. The smoke and fire made my eyes red.

She rubbed the corner of her eye with her sleeve again.

Shang Jue hadn't expected her to react this way. His heart felt like it had been squeezed, and he was suddenly overcome with a sour feeling.

"I'll eat it myself!" Qi He picked up a piece of the charred mess with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.

Shang Jue quickly reached out to take her chopsticks, but Qi He was stubborn this time and insisted on taking a second bite.

As the two struggled, Qi He slammed her chopsticks on the stove, looked up, her eyes red-rimmed, and said fiercely and aggrievedly, "Can't I eat it myself! What's it to you! You might as well poison me!"

Shang Jue's voice deepened: "Qi He!"

How dare you yell at me?

You bastard, heartless and ungrateful!

They said her cooking was poisonous, and now they're even yelling at her!

Qi He wanted to smash the spatula and quit, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt like a fool.

As the male protagonist in the novel, Shang Jue could have countless people lining up to cook him delicacies with a mere wave of his hand, so why would he need her humble offerings?

Oh right, isn't she his wife who's been through thick and thin with him all along, the one he'll get rid of sooner or later?

Qi He stared intently at him, giving off an air of "go ahead and curse, then we'll go our separate ways."

But after waiting for a while, Shang Jue did not speak again.

Instead, he reached out and gently put his arm around her shoulder.

"It was my fault."

Qi He turned her face away and ignored him.

"It was my fault," Shang Jue sighed softly. "I shouldn't have said those things to you."

Qi He's voice was muffled, with a slight nasal tone: "You were never good to begin with!"

Her voice rose slightly at the end, sounding somewhat like she was being coquettish.

"I was wrong," Shang Jue repeated.

"It's no use admitting your mistake now!" Qi He still refused to look at him.

"I..." Shang Jue paused for a moment, "I'm not happy because you said you wanted to see those young men."

Qi He didn't respond.

"I've been annoyed all day," Shang Jue said, his voice lower.

"hehe."

I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you.

Qi He remained silent.

After a long while, she finally spoke in a muffled voice: "Move aside."

Shang Jue stepped aside.

Qi He spat out the charred mess in her mouth without any expression.

She didn't swallow it at all; it was still in her cheek.

She's not stupid; why would she risk ruining herself by acting out of spite?

Shang Jue picked up his chopsticks and was about to take a bite when Qi He stopped him, her tone hesitant: "Don't eat it."

Shang Jue looked at her, "I'm afraid you'll continue to get angry."

"I may be annoyed, but I'm not asking you to atone with your death."

Eating this stuff is practically murder.

Qi He quickly poured the two disastrous dishes on the stove into the bucket.

It seems she's really not cut out for cooking; she shouldn't waste food in the future.

The last meal was prepared by Shang Jue.

Qi He recognized his own strength and obediently stayed on the couch waiting to be fed.

After eating and drinking her fill, she got up and went to the kitchen to heat up a bowl of milk, which she then brought to Shang Jue.

Although she can't cook, she's good at heating milk.

When Shang Jue drank the hot milk that Qi He offered him for the second time, he finally couldn't help but ask, "Why are you drinking this again today?"

Qi He said in surprise, "Milk is good for the stomach. The doctor also said that it can protect the stomach qi."

As she was speaking, she suddenly realized that Shang Jue had fallen silent.

Qi He touched her face. Why was that bastard staring at her like that again?

"So, you heated up the milk for me to take care of my stomach?"

Qi He nodded.

"Cooking too?"

Qi He continued nodding... Wait—

No!

Shang Jue suddenly chuckled softly, feeling as if his heart was filled with something warm, and all his previous jealousy vanished.

Qi He stood there, looking utterly aggrieved, as if she were accusing him of setting her up.

"After my father passed away, no one cooked for me anymore," Shang Jue suddenly said.

Qi He was taken aback by his words. The words she wanted to retort were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back.

She turned her face away, stared at the potted Cymbidium goeringii in the corner for a while, and muttered softly, "Then you must be having a pretty miserable time."

The two of them remained silent for a long time, facing the dim lamp on the table.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Qi He suddenly spoke up: "I didn't go to see those young men today."

Shang Jue paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.

"I don't like any of those 'blue-robed scholars' either," Qi He said in a muffled voice.

Shang Jue's throat tightened, and the question "Then who do you like?" almost slipped out, but he swallowed it back.

He simply gazed at Qi He's slightly lowered eyebrows and eyes under the lamp, and his heart felt as if it were being gently supported by something soft.

The lamp on the table flickered, making a soft sound. Qi He still didn't look up, but the area behind her ears quietly turned red.

Shang Jue put down his teacup, his voice low and steady: "Yes, I know."