Chapter 52: Eating My Rice

Chapter 52: Eating My Rice

"Hack...hack..." Ran Qinggu coughed violently.

Shang Rongyu hurriedly squatted by the bedside, calling out, "Yu..."

As soon as he called out, he remembered that this person wasn't called Bai Yu, but he couldn't call him by another name—Ran Qinggu, or Qinggu.

It always felt awkward to him.

He saw Ran Qinggu's forehead covered in cold sweat and quickly picked up a clean towel to wipe it away. But upon touching his forehead, he realized that Ran Qinggu's body was very cold.

The person on the bed had fainted while having his wounds stitched, seemingly shivering from the cold.

It was summer, with high temperatures, so how could it be this cold?

Shang Rongyu opened the cabinet, pulled out two quilts, and draped them over Ran Qinggu.

Not long after covering him with the quilts, he saw Ran Qinggu's body drenched in cold sweat.

His face, neck, collarbone... It was as if water had been poured over him, and the pillow was already soaked through.

Cold sweat trickled down his collarbone and neck, making his pale skin, devoid of any color, even colder and paler. Ran Qinggu's breathing was uneven, his chest rising and falling as if he was uncomfortable under the weight of the quilts...

A winter quilt weighed seven to eight pounds, and now with three or four layered on top, it was no wonder Ran Qinggu felt uncomfortable.

After some thought, Shang Rongyu removed two quilts, took out a large fur blanket, and covered Ran Qinggu properly before undressing and lying down on the bed.

He wanted to lie on his side and hold Ran Qinggu like he did during past winters, but just as he reached out, he paused.

This person wasn't his Heir Consort, and this person always remembered the Third Prince...

He withdrew his hand again and lay straight like a salted fish.

Many memories of moments spent with Ran Qinggu surfaced in his mind.

In his heart, there was resentment. He resented Ran Qinggu for deceiving him and also resented himself for being so smart yet falling for this person...

But he couldn't help wanting to get close to him, not wanting to see him suffer.

He used to think this person was special, but he couldn't pinpoint what made him so different and unique.

Now he understood. This person's uniqueness was in making someone like him, who looked down on everyone else, fall off his high horse. It made him involuntarily sink into feelings, like, and accept things he never thought he could accept...

Such as loving someone of the same sex.

He had never imagined he would like a man, but now he couldn't control his affection for him.

When Ran Qinggu was a woman, he liked her.

Now that she was a man, he still liked him.

He simply liked this person, regardless of whether he was male or female, beautiful or ugly, a hellish demon with bloodstained hands and feet stepping over countless corpses, or an elegant lady with grace and poise...

Just as Ran Qinggu once asked him, if he wasn't his Heir Consort, would he still treat him well?

At that time, his answer was: As long as it's you, I will.

And it remained the same now.

It was an instinct, like how people need to wear clothes and eat food. This was Shang Rongyu's special instinct.

In a moment, Shang Rongyu was drenched in hot sweat, almost steaming like boiled human flesh, while Ran Qinggu was still sweating coldly, so cold he was nearly freezing.

Shang Rongyu had always had a high body temperature since childhood, like a furnace, able to survive the coldest winters with only a thin fur blanket. Now, in the heat of summer, he was covered in thick quilts and heavy fur blankets.

The heat was unbearable, so he turned on his side and hugged Ran Qinggu, feeling a wave of coolness.

Ran Qinggu had a wound on his waist, so a cushion was placed under his side to elevate it and prevent pressure on the injury.

Now, the two were almost facing each other, lying on their sides.

Ran Qinggu, sensing the warmth, snuggled closer into Shang Rongyu's embrace.

Shang Rongyu, afraid he might move and aggravate his wound, leaned in, holding him tightly, not allowing him to move.

He held him close and said calmly, "It was you who came into my arms; I didn't touch you."

Looking down, he saw the person's clothes half-open, beads of sweat sliding down his cold white skin. The pleasant scent of incense mixed with the person's unique fragrance wafted towards him.

For some inexplicable reason, he wanted to kiss him.

Just as he touched Ran Qinggu's lips, he heard Ran Qinggu whisper a weak title—Third Prince.

Shang Rongyu froze, as if struck by lightning.

Layers of cold sweat covered Ran Qinggu's forehead, growing denser.

He was both cold and hot, and every time he caught a chill, he would have nightmares.

Now, he wasn't having nightmares. Instead, he dreamed of two people.

One was Shang Rongyu, and the other was Shang Yuzhou.

Before him, everything was divided into two parts.

One part was under the pitch-black night sky, where a child dragged a woman's corpse through the snow. He cried as he dragged it, the body already frozen solid, leaving a long trail in the snow. The wind and snow scraped against his skin, leaving bloody marks on his face...

He pleaded, reaching out to him: "Qinggu, I saved you. We're the same kind of people. Help me... come and help me... my mother is sick, Qinggu, come and help me, help me carry my mother back home..."

Part of it was the bright daylight where a person stood under a plum tree in full bloom, extending a hand towards him. In his hand, he offered a stunning red plum blossom, its fragrance wafting through the air.

He raised his eyebrows with abandon, as if to say, "Isn't this plum blossom beautiful?"

And he stood at the center of the dividing line.

The child, covered in bloodstains, suddenly found himself amidst a mountain of corpses. The child walked into the snow, desperately digging through the snow on another child's body.

He turned to him and said, "Qinggu, I'll clear the snow off you, then you won't be cold... Come on! Come here, you promised me, we're in this together, you can't leave me... I have nothing left, I only have you. He has everything, he doesn't need you, don't go with him... I'll remove all the snow from your body..."

He frantically dug through the snow on the ground.

His hands were sliced by the snow, bleeding profusely, yet he felt no pain...

The youth who had extended the plum blossom to him raised his eyebrows confidently: "You are my Heir's Consort, you can only come with me. Don't go to him, it's cold there!"

Ran Qinggu didn't want to accept the red plum blossom, for it did not belong to him.

Nor did he want to approach that child, for it was too cold there.

He watched as the child's hands bled more and more, and could only shout anxiously, "Third Prince, stop digging through the snow, Third Prince..."

He pitied the child, but he didn't want to go over. He was trapped in a nightmare, unable to extricate himself.

Shang Rongyu held Ran Qinggu, stunned.

Did men change their hearts so quickly?

Eating his rice, sleeping in his bed, plotting grand strategies for another man, now even dreaming and calling out another person's name?

Just a while ago, when he was drunk, he said he disliked this world, disliked himself, that he liked him.

Now he was calling out another person's name in his dreams.

Was it possible that words spoken while drunk or in dreams could be disregarded, treated like flatulence?

He was agitated inside, but couldn't really harm Ran Qinggu, so he bit down hard on Ran Qinggu's lips until blood appeared at the corner of his mouth, causing him to wake up in pain.

Ran Qinggu opened his eyes to see Shang Rongyu lying in bed. Before he could speak, Shang Rongyu said, "You passed out while stitching your wound. The imperial physician said your body temperature was too low and instructed me to warm you with my body heat."

Ran Qinggu thanked him, "Thank you."

They were pressed closely together, his chest almost touching Shang Rongyu's chest. That warmth spread throughout his limbs and body, he was sweating coldly, while Shang Rongyu was sweating warmly. They stuck together, sticky and uncomfortable.

He involuntarily moved back slightly.

As soon as he moved, he felt the wound on his waist. Shang Rongyu, holding him with his arms around his upper waist, said, "Don't move."

Ran Qinggu obediently lay still.

"Heir, could you help me find the Third Prince after dawn?"

He had calculated that the Crown Prince would rebel, so he needed to eliminate all obstacles in the path of the Crown Prince's rebellion.

Now, due to the miscarriage of the Second Prince, the Second Prince would certainly be quiet for some time. Suppressing the Second Prince was equivalent to elevating the Crown Prince.

Shang Rongyu let out a cold snort through his nostrils.

Ran Qinggu thought he was unwilling and awkwardly said, "Sorry, I've put you in a difficult position."

Shang Rongyu knew that whatever Ran Qinggu wanted to do, he would do it. Even if he didn't agree, Ran Qinggu would surely find a way to sneak out of the mansion.

In his current state, sneaking out of the mansion would only result in further injury to himself.

Shang Rongyu's face turned ashen, "Fine."

At dawn, Shang Yuzhou disguised himself as a servant delivering incense to the Wang Palace and entered the Sinking Fish Pavilion.

Shang Rongyu spoke coldly, "I'm giving you the time of one stick of incense, hurry up."

After Shang Rongyu left, Shang Yuzhou looked at Ran Qinggu's haggard appearance and worriedly asked, "This morning, I heard the Emperor decree that the Second Prince must reflect for three months behind closed doors. Wasn't it a frame-up to make it seem like the Second Prince caused your miscarriage? Why do you look like you really had a miscarriage?"

Ran Qinggu smiled, "An old injury flared up, so I took the opportunity to frame him. Let's cut to the chase, you must keep an eye on Li Xiang. He will surely instigate the Crown Prince's rebellion. The Crown Prince has been suppressed by the Second Prince for so long and has developed a rift with the Emperor over Cang Jiaojiao's death. Meanwhile, Li Xiang, seeking self-preservation for so many years, couldn't even protect his own daughter. He won't be content to remain subservient. If Li Xiang and the Crown Prince meet, they will inevitably cause turmoil. You must pay close attention."

Shang Yuzhou nodded, "Alright, don't worry."

Ran Qinggu continued, "Also, watch Liu Xianfei. She seems to support the Second Prince; you must find a way to convey this information to the Crown Prince."

Shang Yuzhou nodded, "Yes."

He changed the subject, hesitating, "Qinggu, staying in the Wang Palace is not a long-term solution. When will you leave with me?"

Ran Qinggu lifted his gaze, "It's not time for me to leave yet. Besides, the Heir is willing to help me conceal my identity. I don't want any unnecessary complications."

Shang Yuzhou smiled, "Is it that you don't want any unnecessary complications, or is it that you simply don't want to leave?"

Ran Qinggu looked at him in confusion, "What does Your Highness mean by that?"

Shang Yuzhou's voice deepened, "Why is Shang Rongyu helping you conceal your identity? There's no exchange of interests between you two."

Ran Qinggu countered, "Then what does Your Highness think?"

Shang Yuzhou smiled, asking hopefully, "Qinggu, you wouldn't betray me, would you?"

Ran Qinggu hesitated before nodding.

He wondered if not revealing his true identity to Shang Rongqu counted as a betrayal.

For once the identity of Shang Rongque was exposed, the emperor would spare no effort to uproot the Wangfu.

Moreover, Shang Rongque and the Third Prince were fundamentally in opposition at present.

He wondered how the Third Prince would react if he knew Shang Rongque's identity? He disliked gambling on people's hearts.

And what he had promised Shang Yuzhou was that he would help him kill the Crown Prince, nothing more than that.

So in his view, this should not be considered betrayal.

Outside the Sinking Fish Pavilion, Shang Rongyu sat idly on the swing, swaying back and forth.

Sometimes he would tiptoe to make the swing move in a small range, other times he would propel the ropes, swinging himself to the sky.

Suddenly, the swing stopped, and he turned to see Shang Rongque holding the swing's ropes, forcing it to halt.

Shang Rongque teased with a smile, "Do you know what you look like? Like a man whose wife has miscarried, and the child wasn't his."

Shang Rongyu was annoyed, "Neither the wife nor the child is mine."

Shang Rongque glanced towards the Sinking Fish Pavilion, "If you don't go in soon, perhaps your wife and child really won't be yours."

Shang Rongyu stood up, "The incense stick has burned out, I'll go take a look."

He walked to the room, pushed the door open, and heard Shang Yuzhou discussing with Ran Qinggu, "After the matter with the Crown Prince is settled, you should divorce Shang Rongyu. You two are from different worlds."

Through the screen, he saw Ran Qinggu nodding.

Shang Rongyu looked coldly at these two, "What? You want to kick me to the curb after using me?"

Ran Qinggu's face was as white as paper.

He was not the Wangfu's Heir Consort, he could not occupy this position for too long.

Moreover, Shang Rongyu had once said that he found homosexuality disgusting.

It was time for him to find an opportunity to leave.

A flash of triumph passed through Shang Yuzhou's eyes, Ran Qinggu's nod was his confidence.

He raised his eyebrows as if solemnly announcing something, "Heir, now that you already know Qinggu's identity, then you should know he is not Bai Yu, not your Heir Consort, so... when will you choose an auspicious day to divorce?"

Shang Rongyu crossed his arms, "Divorce whenever you say, I'm easy to talk to."

Ran Qinggu raised his eyebrows looking at Shang Rongyu.

He had imagined countless scenarios of divorcing Shang Rongyu, but never expected it to come so peacefully.

Shang Rongyu smiled fully, meeting Ran Qinggu's gaze, "But we have to set the terms, my Wangfu paid the dowry, and quite a bit of money, before the divorce, you must return the dowry money to me, so I can find the next Heir Consort."

Ran Qinggu couldn't describe the feeling in his heart.

He had occupied this position for so long, it was indeed time to give it to Shang Rongyu's future Heir Consort.

Shang Yuzhou sneered, full of sarcasm, "Fine."

He had originally thought that getting Shang Rongyu to divorce would be difficult, but now it seemed that Shang Rongyu indeed didn't take Qinggu seriously.

After the divorce, he could buy a Villa for Ran Qinggu in the capital, and then let Ran Qinggu stay in the capital with the identity of the former Heir Consort.

Then, cut off all ties with the Cheng Wangfu completely.

Shang Rongyu smiled, "Third Prince is a straightforward person, I admire that, do you need me to list the dowry for you, Third Prince?"

Shang Yuzhou: "No need, just tell me, I'll remember, when I get back to the Villa, I'll send someone to deliver the dowry money to you, I hope you don't go back on your word."

Shang Rongyu walked to the table, sat down, poured himself a glass of water, and drank leisurely, "The dowry isn't much, converted, it's only 30 billion taels of gold, 900 billion taels of silver, since Third Prince likes my Heir Consort so much, I believe you can afford this dowry. This Heir is always lenient and generous, you definitely can't come up with so much silver at once, you can write an IOU, and I'll even allow you to pay in installments, but before it's paid off, the Heir Consort must remain in my Cheng Wangfu..."

Only then did Shang Yuzhou realize he had been tricked by Shang Rongyu.

30 billion taels of gold, 900 billion taels of silver...

Even if all the wealth of Da Su was gathered together, there wouldn't be enough silver...

It would be impossible to gather that much even with the power of the entire world.

Shang Yuzhou glared and scolded, "Shang Rongyu, you're playing me?"

Shang Rongyu scoffed, "Third Prince, this Heir is telling you, don't court a wife if you don't have money. The Heir Consort has eaten plenty of rice from my Wangfu in the past one or two years, worn silk and satin from my Wangfu, drunk medicinal wine from my Wangfu... I haven't even included those in the calculation, although my Wangfu is in decline, the food, clothing, and expenses for the Heir Consort are always the best, how about it? Third Prince, you think a divorce can take the person away from me? It's unreasonable that I've fattened the person up for over a year, and you take them away without any effort? Do you think the rice in my Wangfu is given away for free?"

Shang Yuzhou: "You..."

He calmed down, glaring angrily at Shang Rongyu, "Your Heir Consort is Bai Yu, not Ran Qinggu, and certainly not Qinggu."

Shang Rongyu smiled, raising his eyebrows at the bedridden Ran Qinggu, "Brother, who did you bring back when you went to North City to propose for me?"

Shang Rongque: "It's the current Heir Consort of the Wangfu."

Shang Rongyu: "Who did I marry and send into my bridal chamber?"

Shang Rongque: "Also the current Heir Consort of the Wangfu."

Ran Qinggu could see it now.

Although Shang Rongque was usually honest and gentle, he was a wolf in sheep's clothing like Shang Rongyu.

Shang Rongyu: "Third Prince, did you hear that? I, Shang Rongyu, only recognize faces, my Heir Consort looks like this, if you want to take the person away, you can, but don't even think about it until the dowry is paid off. Oh, I forgot to mention, interest is three percent! Rice, silk, and satin, etc., I'll give you the lowest market price, a thousand taels a year."

His eyes fell faintly on Ran Qinggu, "Heir Consort, I'll also advise you, before the silver is repaid, if you dare to run, I'll chase you to the ends of the earth and catch you back."

Shang Yuzhou had always known that Shang Rong was unreasonable, but now he truly witnessed the extent of this ruffian's disregard for reason.

It was no wonder at all that the Crown Prince and the Second Prince fell into the hands of such a person.

Ran Qinggu frowned and advised Shang Yuzhou, "Third Prince, you should go back first."

Fuming, Shang Yuzhou stormed out of the room.

Just as he reached the door, he heard Shang Rong shout, "Take your pole and baskets with you."

Shang Yuzhou had disguised himself as a servant to enter the Prince's Mansion, and now Shang Rong really treated him like one.

With a "hmpf," he swept his sleeves and left.

Shang Rong sat down by Ran Qinggu's bedside and smiled. "You say you miscarried once, and the Second Prince was punished with three months of house arrest. Should we try getting pregnant again and frame the Crown Prince?"

Ran Qinggu shook his head. "Let's not. The medicine in the Prince's Mansion is too expensive. If I decide to leave in the future, the Heir might use the fact that I consumed many valuable herbs and ate a lot of rice from the mansion to extort money from me. I wouldn't be able to repay it all, considering how expensive everything here is."

Shang Rong smiled. "As long as you get pregnant, the Heir will cover all the costs for pregnancy care, abortion, and miscarriage treatment. Your lordship has money."

Ran Qinggu slowly shook his head. "No, I can't afford it. I can't even afford water right now."

"Yur!" The princess consort hurried into the Sinking Fish Pavilion.

Shang Que bowed. "Princess Consort."

Shang Rong stood up and called out, "Mother."

The princess consort saw the blood on the corner of Ran Qinggu's lips and noticed how close Shang Rong was to him upon entering. She scolded Shang Rong, "Are you bullying Yur again?"

Shang Rong smiled. "Mother, how dare I?"

The princess consort had her maids bring over the porridge she had cooked and scooped a spoonful. With a gentle smile, she said, "After a miscarriage, there will be bleeding, so you can only have some porridge these few days. Not even red dates can be added."

Ran Qinggu lowered his head and replied obediently, "Thank you, Mother."

As he was about to drink the porridge, he glanced at Shang Rong.

Shang Rong was confused, and the princess consort was also puzzled. "Why are you looking at Rong when drinking porridge?"

Ran Qinggu asked, "Mother, does this porridge cost money?"

The princess consort responded with a questioning tone, "Huh?"

Ran Qinggu explained, "The Heir said I ate rice from the mansion and asked me for money! I'm afraid I can't afford it..."

The princess consort turned to glare at Shang Rong. "What's going on?"

Shang Rong quickly apologized. "Mother, I was wrong. It was just a joke with Yur. He's learned to tattle now."

The princess consort smiled, noticing Ran Qinggu's pale complexion, and sighed. "Don't worry. There will be other children in the future."

Ran Qinggu furrowed his brows.

The princess consort smiled. "I don't actually insist that you must bear heirs for the Prince's Mansion. I'm just worried that you'll follow in my footsteps. I've never mentioned taking a concubine to Rong. A woman's life is already difficult enough; why make it harder for each other? You might see me as an old-fashioned and rigid mother-in-law who insists on having grandchildren. If I really wanted grandchildren, I could easily let Rong take multiple concubines and have more women bear children, increasing the chances. Why do I insist on you bearing them? Mainly because I fear you becoming another me."

She had always believed that her descendants would have their own fortunes.

However, after marrying into the Prince's Mansion, Consort Liu changed her perspective.

She wanted to be a good wife and princess consort, but she never conceived. The four to five years after Consort Liu gave birth to the second young master were the most challenging for her.

Consort Liu came from a powerful family, was arrogant and domineering, and bore two sons for King Cheng. Meanwhile, she married into the Prince's Mansion two years before Consort Liu but remained childless.

She was mocked as a hen that couldn't lay eggs and suffered sleepless nights.

Consort Liu and others even used her lack of children as an excuse to persuade King Cheng to replace her as the princess consort.

Those agonizing days transformed her, making her believe that a child was the foundation of a woman's existence until she bore her own son.

After Bai Yu married into the Prince's Mansion, although she wanted to have grandchildren, she was more concerned about Bai Yu following her path.

She feared that Bai Yu might not be able to bear children in the future, and Shang Rong's concubines might gain too much power, given the decline of the Duke Bai's Mansion.

Thus, before Bai Yu had any children, she never considered allowing Shang Rong to take a concubine. In fact, she hoped that Shang Rong wouldn't take any concubines.

Now that she saw Bai Yu and Shang Rong had a good relationship, she felt relieved. As for the matter of children, she couldn't worry too much about it.

Bai Yu's future was entirely up to her own fate, and she had done all she could to help.

Ran Qinggu expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Mother."

He had always believed the princess consort was a kind-hearted person.

Although she disliked Consort Liu, she never abused her power or deliberately targeted Consort Liu and her group.

Perhaps because of this, King Cheng trusted and relied on her even more.

"Oh, Consort, you look better today." Consort Liu entered with the servants from the Full Moon Court.

Su Xi and Gu You bowed to the princess consort and Ran Qinggu. "Greetings, Princess Consort, Consort."

Consort Liu handed some bird's nest supplements to the maids of the Sinking Fish Pavilion and smiled warmly. "Consort, these are the bird's nest supplements you enjoyed during your pregnancy. I thought you might need them after your miscarriage, so I brought them over. You should eat more. In the future, please bear a healthy baby boy for our Prince's Mansion. Next time, be careful about what you eat and what you shouldn't. Don't let our little heir suffer."

Although the prince had been cold towards her due to the miscarriage, she still felt delighted inside.

After all, the miscarriage was something truly worth celebrating.

Ran Qinggu knew that Consort Liu was intentionally mocking him, so he smiled and said, "Thank you, Consort."

Su Xi feigned sorrow. "How could it have ended in miscarriage? Your Highness, you were too careless. This was the little heir that His Highness and Her Highness, as well as everyone in the entire Wang Manor, had been looking forward to. And just like that, he's gone."

Jian Zhuixuan's expression turned grim.

To blame her for not keeping the child in front of a mother who had just miscarried, and to gloat so openly, was truly excessive.

Just as she was about to rebuke these people, she saw Ran Qinggu's gentle demeanor. "For such matters, Yu'er couldn't have foreseen it either. Who would have thought Yu'er's fate would be so bitter?"

As he spoke, he displayed a sorrowful expression. "Next time, Yu'er will be more careful."

Su Xi couldn't help but smile, her grin too evident. She barely managed to suppress it, only to think of offering some insincere comfort to Ran Qinggu, when unexpectedly, he said calmly, "It's fortunate that this pregnancy proved Yu'er is still capable of conceiving. It's better than being unable to conceive at all. In the past, while in the seclusion of my chambers, Yu'er often heard that there are women in this world who can't bear children, likely due to health issues. Those days, Yu'er worried every night about not being able to conceive. Second Sister-in-law, Third Sister-in-law, don't you agree?"

Su Xi and Gu You's faces turned deathly pale.

Bai Yu was mocking them, comparing them to hens that couldn't lay eggs, as they hadn't conceived in these years.

Ran Qinggu shifted his tone, raising his eyebrows gently. "Concubine, Yu'er has been bleeding continuously these few days. I cannot consume nourishing foods, nor can I eat anything that replenishes blood. Everything must be avoided; I can only drink plain rice porridge. I'm afraid Yu'er won't be able to enjoy your bird's nest soup. Yu'er wishes to give these items to Second Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law, hoping they can also conceive heirs soon, expanding the Wang family tree. I hope Second Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law won't waste these tonics."

Su Xi's face alternated between green and white.

Wasn't this a direct insult to her inability to contribute?

Concubine Liu gritted her teeth. "Very well. Actually, Your Highness, I came here for precisely this matter."

Jian Zhuixuan was puzzled. "Huh?"

Concubine Liu felt embarrassed. "I've heard that Your Highness couldn't conceive for those years and took some medicines to finally conceive the heir. Later, Her Highness the Heir's Consort also took medicines for a year before having the little heir. I wish to seek advice from Your Highness. Could you give Xi'er and You'er one or two doses of these medicines? After all, this is a significant matter for the Wang family's expansion."

Previously, Su Xi and Gu You had asked her to beg the Empress for the medicines, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. After all, during the time Jian Zhuixuan couldn't conceive, she hadn't hesitated to make things difficult for her. Asking for medicine now, how could Jian Zhuixuan possibly agree?

Now, she had no choice but to plead.

A hint of mockery played on the corners of Jian Zhuixuan's mouth. Indeed, the wheel of fortune turns.

Ran Qinggu pretended to be overwhelmed with guilt. "Mother spent so much money buying medicines for me. I drank them for a year, countless doses, and yet..."

Jian Zhuixuan didn't understand why Ran Qinggu suddenly sounded so sorrowful. Just as she was about to console him, she heard him say, "Those medicines cost five hundred taels per dose, Mother. Yu'er is sorry to you."

Jian Zhuixuan was speechless.

Those herbs were merely nourishing methods, costing no more than thirty to forty taels per dose. Only one or two rare ingredients were expensive; the rest were common.

Now Bai Yu was quoting five hundred taels directly?

Was this not drinking medicine, but drinking human blood?

Shang Rong smiled slyly by the side.

Ran Qinggu accused him of extortion, but in reality, the true extortionist was Ran Qinggu.

He blurted out a figure that Shang Yuzhou could never afford in eighteen lifetimes, making him back off.

Ran Qinggu called out a number that was within Consort Liu's reach yet put pressure on her, forcing her to make a choice—a choice that would leave her spitting blood afterward.

Consort Liu's face turned ashen.

Five hundred taels for one dose, and it had to be consumed for a year or two to see results? Su Xigu and Gu You combined might just drink her into poverty.

Jian Zuihuan smiled. "It's fortunate that Yu'er will need this medicine when he's slightly better in a few days. Do you need it too? If so, I'll buy a few more doses."

Before Consort Liu could respond, Su Xigu nodded eagerly. "If it can really help me conceive, then the price is worth it. Five hundred taels, I can still afford that."

Gu You, lacking funds, could only glance at Consort Liu.

Seeing Su Xigu agree, Consort Liu couldn't deny Gu You the medicine; it would be too biased, inviting criticism. She nodded. "Alright."

Shang Rongyu spoke up. "Mother, after the Heir's Consort's miscarriage, she's very weak. We can't share a room for now, so let's put the pregnancy-preserving medicine on hold. Please focus on Second Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law for now. When the Heir's Consort recovers, we can resume the medicine. I'm afraid she might not be able to handle the tonics in her current state."

The princess consort pondered this, then nodded. "That sounds reasonable."

Author's note: Heir: After eating my rice, you're mine!

The poorest Heir's Consort in history can't even afford water!

Thank you to the little angels who cast their overlord votes or watered nutrient fluids for me from September 1, 2020, 00:52:09 to September 2, 2020, 00:35:35.

Thank you to the little angel who launched a rocket: Zai 1;

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Thank you to the little angels who planted mines: Nanlai You, Liu Anyi 1 each;

Thank you to the little angels who watered nutrient fluids: Dinaao 23 bottles; Night Owl 20 bottles; Qingyi Baixiu 16 bottles; Lan Xi 15 bottles; Tan Qianxun 6 bottles; (。w。)yan, Huajiao 3 bottles; Jin Guan, Leaf Xu who urges updates, Get Rich 1 bottle each;

I'm deeply grateful for everyone's support, and I'll continue working hard!