Ch 144: Return

Inside Prince Qing’s Mansion, morning light streamed through the carved window frame, dappling the exquisite writing desk.

“Madam, recently, those prominent officials and wealthy noble persons’ wives and Misses in the Capital seem to have stopped buying our shop’s goods.”

Ziqing spoke softly, her eyes showing some apprehension, closely following Meng Qingjiao’s every move. Seeing the Princess’s expression change suddenly, she involuntarily shrank back.

“What? How could this be?” Meng Qingjiao suddenly slapped the table, stood up, her face full of disbelief.

Ziqing lowered her head, her voice even lower: “Replying to Madam, many Madams reported that after wearing clothes washed with Ningxiang Pills, they developed a rash… Therefore, many people are now boycotting our things…”

By the end, Ziqing’s voice was almost inaudible.

“Impossible, how could Ningxiang Pills have a problem, it’s clearly their own problem.” Meng Qingjiao couldn’t understand why something she herself used would cause problems for others.

Ziqing swallowed, suppressing her apprehension, and continued: “What’s more troublesome is that those Madams and Misses made a scene at the shop, throwing all the Ningxiang Pills they bought in front of the door. This caused the common people to also doubt the Ningxiang Pills, and now nobody wants them…”

“In addition, our newly opened shop selling Ningxiang Paste is also deserted, while the Crown Princess’s Ningxiang Pavilion reopened, and all the customers went there.”

Before she finished speaking, a teacup whizzed past her cheek, hitting the wall with a loud thud, then shattering on the floor. The sharp sound echoed endlessly in the room.

“What!” Hearing this, Meng Qingjiao clenched her fists, her face full of disbelief.

Seeing that she wasn’t angry at her, Ziqing’s eyes reddened, and she choked out, “The monthly wages in the Mansion are urgently needed. Last month’s silver was already overdue, and if it cannot be paid this month, I’m afraid the servants will be dissatisfied and report it to the Prince.”

“Furthermore, Master’s birthday is approaching, and we haven’t prepared a decent gift yet.”

“After Master’s birthday, the Prince will leave for Jiangnan, which will be another considerable expense.”

Meng Qingjiao asked: “Where is the silver we earned some time ago?”

Ziqing lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper, full of fear: “Apart from the part returned to Meng Mansion, the rest has been used for Ningxiang Pills, Ningxiang Paste, and opening the shop.”

Upon hearing the news, Meng Qingjiao’s face instantly became blank, slowly sitting back in her chair, unconsciously muttering phrases like “How could this be,” and “It’s all over.”

Meng Qingjiao secretly calculated, if she could somehow make up for the missing monthly wages before the Prince wakes up and raise enough silver to support the Prince’s trip to Jiangnan for recuperation, the situation might still have a chance, and not reach a dead end.

As Meng Qingjiao was thinking this, she heard a voice from outside the courtyard.

“Madam, good news! The Prince… the Prince has awakened!” Outside the courtyard, a guard, with unconcealed joy, hurried in, loudly announcing the sudden good news.

However, when his gaze fell upon Meng Qingjiao’s pale, almost translucent face, the smile on his lips involuntarily froze.

Meng Qingjiao managed to compose herself, gently patted her cheeks, trying to dispel the gloom in her heart, finally squeezing out a smile more sorrowful than tears, her voice with a barely perceptible tremor: “The Prince has awakened? This is… wonderful.”

Along the way, she had tried her best to calm her emotions, but the moment she stepped into the room, tears fell like broken pearls, uncontrollably. With a face full of sadness, she hurried to Prince Qing’s bed.

“Husband, you’re finally awake. All these days, you’ve been unconscious, and my heart has been hanging in the air, day and night, filled with endless worry and fear… Thankfully, thankfully, Husband, you’re finally awake.”

Meng Qingjiao’s half-face was hidden in the shadows, a few glistening tears hanging from the corner of her eyes, her pupils clearly reflecting Prince Qing’s cold face.

When she summoned the courage to meet Prince Qing’s profound and cold eyes, her expression involuntarily paused slightly, a nameless fear rising inexplicably in her heart, her voice a mere whisper: “Husband, why are you looking at me like this…”

Prince Qing’s oppressive gaze, like a thousand-jin boulder, fell heavily on Meng Qingjiao. Then, he slowly shifted his gaze to Mu Xia and Wang Qishen, who were standing excitedly beside the bed.

“I… This Prince wishes to speak privately with the Princess for a moment.” His voice was low and powerful, each word carrying an unquestionable authority.

Hearing this, Mu Xia and Wang Qishen exchanged glances, then respectfully withdrew.

As the door gently closed, only Prince Qing and Meng Qingjiao remained in the room.

Looking at Prince Qing, Meng Qingjiao felt a nameless sense of strangeness. The man before her was completely different from the gentle and refined person in her memory.

She suppressed the turmoil in her heart, a gentle smile playing on her lips, her voice soft enough to drip water: “Husband, is there something you wish to discuss with your servant?”

Prince Qing slowly cast his gaze upon Meng Qingjiao, seemingly scrutinizing every inch, trying to penetrate the surface gentleness and reach her heart.

“Jiaojiao…” he slowly spoke, his voice carrying a barely perceptible chill, his words filled with probing and consideration.

“Your servant is here.” Meng Qingjiao softly replied, her voice with a barely perceptible tremor. Then she slowly sat down by the bed.

At that instant, Prince Qing’s arm shot out like lightning, accurately seizing Meng Qingjiao’s slender neck.

At that moment, Meng Qingjiao felt a suffocating chill suddenly came over her.

The instinct to survive drove her to raise her hands, trying to pry open his iron-like grip.

Her fingertips grazed Prince Qing’s back, leaving long, thin scratches.

However, Prince Qing had just recovered from a serious illness, his strength not yet restored. Meng Qingjiao took advantage of the opportunity and struggled free from the deadly grip.

She collapsed on the floor, her eyes full of terror and fear, looking at Prince Qing’s figure as if she were staring at a ferocious flood beast.

Her body trembled uncontrollably, every ounce of strength seemed to be drained away, leaving only endless fear echoing in her heart.

Prince Qing’s body seemed drained of strength, limply leaning against the cold bed. Suddenly, a violent coughing fit, like a storm, swept over him, echoing in the room.

The coughing was sharp and heavy, as if it could penetrate the thick door, causing Mu Xia and Wang Qishen, who were waiting outside, to be startled, pushing the door open without hesitation, their faces full of worry.

“Prince, you…”

Prince Qing hissed: “Get out.”

Mu Xia and Wang Qishen were captivated by this sudden cold gaze, though extremely worried, they had to slowly retreat, and only when they were outside the door did the oppressive feeling gradually dissipate.

Prince Qing took a deep breath, suppressing the discomfort surging in his chest and abdomen, the coughing gradually subsided, leaving only heavy breathing.

His eyes were as cold as ice, fixed on Meng Qingjiao, hatred surging like a tide.

“Meng Qingjiao, so you also brought back your past life’s memories.” Prince Qing’s words contained both shock and deep anger.