The soft breeze brushed through the room, and their voices were kept low.
Su Xiaoqi, with her pure heart, didn't feel anything amiss.
However, Liang Jingchen, harboring special feelings for Su Xiaoqi, heard her gentle and sweet voice, and it felt like the tender whispers between lovers.
His heart surged with emotion, his desire growing unbearable.
But Su Xiaoqi was still quietly telling him how profitable the hot spring estate she managed was this time.
Previously, for Liu Yuan, selling membership cards, just the annual cards alone sold thirty, each at two thousand four hundred taels, which was over seventy thousand.
Not to mention quarterly cards and the like.
Moreover, after them, more people, upon hearing of Liu Yuan's reputation, went to experience it.
They directly threw down three thousand taels of silver to purchase annual cards, even accepting it without the buy-one-get-one-free offer.
This made her purse instantly swell with wealth.
The membership fees from selling cards alone had accumulated over a hundred thousand taels.
Thirty percent of the funds were allocated to support Liu Yuan's development, and the remaining seventy percent was divided among everyone.
Nearly twenty thousand taels of silver thus entered her purse.
She took half of it to give to He Qiulei to purchase grain; the rest she kept in her spatial dimension.
Hence, she could now generously produce ten thousand taels.
"Xiaoqi, you are truly capable," Liang Jingchen suddenly praised her indulgently.
Hearing his tone, Su Xiaoqi immediately felt a shiver run down her spine.
She looked at Liang Jingchen curiously.
The man, being cunning, realized he had inadvertently revealed his feelings for her in front of her. Fearing he might startle her, he quickly turned his body sideways.
"I, I'm tired, I'll rest for a while. When I'm better, I'll come to thank you."
"Oh, wait, don't. I rarely get to see you. I wanted to ask you, where did you and Yu Changfeng go?"
Su Xiaoqi thought of what had happened at the Wen family.
She didn't know if Yu Changfeng was aware of it.
"He, he, I'm not too sure. After he brought me back to the capital, he stayed for about half a year, and then he often went out of the city. However, he would come to my place to find me after he returned. Do you need to see him for something?"
Su Xiaoqi recounted what the Wen family had sent back.
Liang Jingchen fell silent for a moment, a shadow in his eyes. "The situation is that serious? I'll find a way to send a message to Brother Changfeng."
They were similar in age, and due to their companionship and mutual appreciation, their relationship was very close. He could contact people others couldn't.
"Alright, Shen Yun has gone to Jiangning Prefecture. If you manage to contact him, please ask him to look after Shen Yun for me."
Su Xiaoqi was worried about Shen Yun's safety, as he was, after all, a civil official.
Liang Jingchen felt a pang of melancholy seeing her so concerned about Shen Yun's safety, but he understood.
They were a proper married couple; it was natural for them to care about each other. What was he getting jealous about?
If he were to drown himself, Xiaoqi might not even know.
And he wouldn't let her know.
He knew very well that his feelings for her would only be a burden to her.
He loved her so much; how could he bear to see her carry such a heavy burden?
After discussing the important matters, they chatted for a while longer until a soft knocking sound came from the window. Liang Jingchen gave Su Xiaoqi a look and whispered, "Consort Li is here."
Indeed, soon after, Consort Li's somewhat affected voice could be heard from the doorway: "Madam Shen, Madam Shen, are you still inside? Is the second young master alright?"
Su Xiaoqi patted Liang Jingchen's shoulder and leaned closer to whisper:
"Don't worry, your injury is fine now. If nothing unexpected happens, you'll be bouncing around tomorrow. Just promise me, don't get injured carelessly again. I can't always come to save you."
She spoke in a very low voice, not wanting Consort Li to overhear their conversation.
Fearing Liang Jingchen might not hear, she stayed very close.
The strands of her hair from her shoulder brushed against his shoulder and slid down, landing on Liang Jingchen's lips, making him feel a tickle.
His heart beat faster and faster, as if it would leap out and leave with her.
"I'll come see you again later."
"I'm better now, it's my turn to come see you later." Liang Jingchen suddenly looked up, his posture as if he were about to kiss Su Xiaoqi's cheek.
Su Xiaoqi jumped in fright, frozen in place.
Fortunately, Liang Jingchen braked in time, stopping at a distance of a finger's breadth from her cheek, and smiled.
"I'm sorry for scaring you. I was afraid Consort Li would hear."
Su Xiaoqi finally relaxed, nodded, and smiled before getting up to leave.
She didn't look back, so she didn't see the look of wistful loss on Liang Jingchen's face.
So close, just a little bit closer!
His heart sighed deeply, filled with immense regret.
However, these romantic feelings were quickly suppressed for the moment.
He now had ambitions to contend for power, and romantic entanglements were not suitable for him.
Moreover, he knew better than anyone that someone like Xiaoqi was not someone anyone could easily obtain.
He would not force her either.
Liking her was his own business, unrelated to her.
"Right, when my father-king was injured, I heard it was supposed to be a minor injury. How did it become serious?"
Although Liang Jingchen's life in the princely mansion wasn't ideal, his access to information was very good.
"The Crown Prince's injury was clearly inflicted intentionally," Su Xiaoqi said as she reached the doorway, turning back.
Outside the lattice door, Consort Li was talking to wet nurse Xu in the courtyard.
Seeing Su Xiaoqi emerge, she asked with great concern, "Has the second young master's injury improved? His Highness was just asking."
Su Xiaoqi's reply was rather reserved: "It should have improved somewhat, but for a full recovery, it will likely require time and care."
"Does Madam Shen mean the second young master's arm will heal?" Consort Li was very surprised, looking at Su Xiaoqi with disbelief.
Was she truly a miracle doctor?
The Royal Physician's Chief, Old Mr. Lu, who was an expert in the Imperial Hospital, had no solution for the Prince's injury.
Why could she, and on what grounds?
Consort Li's hands were hidden within her wide sleeves embroidered with red and pink peonies. For a moment, her gaze at Su Xiaoqi held a hint of dissatisfaction.
But it was quickly masked by the perfect smile on her face.
However, Su Xiaoqi was no ordinary person; she was like a worldly-wise spirit, how could she be deceived by her?
She blinked and said, "Actually, it's also thanks to Imperial Physician Lu. He's just too modest. And fearing Consort Li would worry about the second young master and become distressed, he said it that way. I am young, with limited skills, merely picking up where he left off."
Consort Li's brows furrowed at her words.
This girl was not only skilled in medicine but also sharp-tongued.
Never mind, if it didn't work this time, there would be other chances next time.
Consort Li's fine Shu brocade silk handkerchief was creased from her clenching it.
Su Xiaoqi turned and left, unable to resist exhaling a soft breath in a place Consort Li couldn't see.
She had been genuinely afraid that Consort Li's cultivation wasn't strong enough and that she would reveal her scheme and anger.
Fortunately, she was, after all, a deep-minded woman and managed to maintain her outward composure.
Otherwise, she would likely have gained another enemy.
Of course, Consort Li probably didn't have a good impression of her now.
It didn't matter; she was on Liang Jingchen's side, making her a natural enemy.
And for someone like the Crown Prince of Duan, Shen Yun likely wouldn't look favorably upon him either.
Returning to the Crown Prince's side, the Princess was keeping him company.
Seeing her return, the siblings looked at her in unison.
Su Xiaoqi was momentarily stunned, then quickly reacted and curtsied.
"You may rise. You saved this prince." However, after another half an hour, the Crown Prince's complexion had regained its rosy hue.
Just as he was about to praise Su Xiaoqi, he heard a flurry of hurried footsteps from the doorway.
Following that was the sharp voice of an eunuch: "Reporting to His Highness, the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince has arrived!"
Su Xiaoqi's heart skipped a beat.
She thought to herself, the Crown Prince was also injured that day; how did he recover so quickly? Shouldn't he pretend to be more ill?