Chapter 383: To Make Her Fall Under Her Spell

Chapter 383: To Make Her Fall Under Her Spell

Soon, the pharmacy counter had prepared two sets of medicine.

Auntie Zhao was in a hurry to go back and mend clothes, "Which one’s mine? I’m in a hurry."

As soon as she finished speaking, Nanny Qin spoke with authority, "Hand me my medicine first!"

She was so commanding, immediately suppressing Auntie Zhao and the clerk, who hurriedly went to sort, "Here’s yours, Madam."

"And the prescription, now!" Nanny Qin barked at him.

At her shout, the clerk fumbled, and the prescription fell under the medicine cabinet.

"What’s wrong with you!" Nanny Qin scolded sharply.

"Here you go, Madam." The clerk quickly bent down to pick up the medicine, and when he looked up again, he saw the two packages of medicine on the counter, hurriedly handing one along with the prescription to Nanny Qin.

Nanny Qin took the items, checked the prescription, and then snorted, "Don’t you dare steal this prescription!"

"Madam, how could we remember in such a short time! And we don’t even know what medicine it is, why would we even bother..."

The Herbal Apprentice was at a loss for words, and then met Nanny Qin’s sharp gaze, immediately closing his mouth.

Nanny Qin tossed a few coins, then quickly left with the medicine.

After she left, Auntie Zhao walked up to the counter, and the Herbal Apprentice handed her medicine to her, then couldn’t help but pout, clearly annoyed by the bossy nanny, "She says we shouldn’t steal her prescription, but we don’t even know what it is, what’s there to steal! Right?"

Auntie Zhao nodded, then said, "Servants are all the same, always groveling, never dignified!"

The Herbal Apprentice weighed the coins Nanny Qin had given: "..."

Bootlicking or not, she’s not exactly unrespectable...

He watched Auntie Zhao count out coins one by one, and as she counted, Auntie Zhao quickly left with the medicine.

"Hey, Auntie Zhao, you’re short a coin!"

"I’ll owe you, we’ll settle it next time." Auntie Zhao, who had already walked out, said.

Herbal Apprentice: "..."

Hmph, who’s the lowly one now!

East Wing of the Marquis’s Estate.

In the small pavilion of the inner courtyard, a lovely woman in a flowing pink dress sat.

As she waited, Nanny Qin came with the medicine.

"So, is it done? No one saw, right?" the woman asked.

"Don’t worry, Miss, I went to a small pharmacy in the west—no one knew me."

Qin Shaojing checked the medicine she’d brought, "That’s good."

"Has Master Cheng arrived yet?"

"Hurry, brew the medicine and mix it into the tea."

"Yes, ma'am."

After Nanny Qin brewed the medicine and waited a while, hoofbeats echoed from outside the east courtyard.

Hearing the hoofbeats, Qin Shaojing smiled slightly.

Soon, a dignified, upright man entered, followed by servants.

As soon as she saw him, Qin Shaojing smiled and stood up to greet him, "Brother Cheng Qi."

"What's wrong?" Cheng Qi frowned, his expression deliberately cold and distant.

Seeing his aloof demeanor, Qin Shaojing snorted inwardly. 'Keep pretending,' she thought.

If he really wanted to keep his distance, why would he come here today?

"Brother Cheng Qi," Qin Shaojing said, lowering her eyes slightly, "have you been well all these years?"

"Yes, I have been well."

"As long as you're well, that's good," Qin Shaojing said, suddenly hesitating. She forced a smile, her eyes filled with brokenness and hurt.

How could anyone not feel heartache seeing her like this? Not want to probe further?

Cheng Qi furrowed his brows. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," Qin Shaojing said, turning to walk back.

Cheng Qi quickly asked, "You were like this yesterday too. Did something happen?"

Qin Shaojing hurriedly waved her hand. "No, no, Liu Ye treats me very well."

Hearing this, Cheng Qi immediately flared up. "It's that Liu Ye! That scoundrel, he promised me he would never bully you! I'll go find him!"

"Brother Cheng Qi!" Qin Shaojing shouted urgently, stopping him from leaving.

"Shao Jing, don't worry. I will definitely seek justice for you."

"What use is that kind of justice to me? I am already a withered flower, married into that... that disgraceful situation."

Cheng Qi immediately said, "You were framed! That scoundrel forced you!"

Hearing this, Qin Shaojing was almost overjoyed inside. Her eyes now even more fragile and helpless, she said, "Brother Cheng Qi, let's not talk about the past. I don't know why someone in Duke Zhao's mansion targeted me like that. Maybe I did many wrong things, and people have always resented me..."

Up to now, Qin Shaojing has always claimed that she was framed, that someone drugged her at Tong Nanxia's wedding banquet.

As for who drugged her, it could be anyone. After all, she had offended many people back then...

"Shao Jing! You never did anything wrong!" Cheng Qi quickly defended her. "Back then, when you enshrined Nun Miaoyin in this courtyard, it was completely out of goodwill. You didn't know she was a fraud. You just wanted to share something good with those noble ladies. You didn't take their money, nor did you ask them for favors. Why should those several unfamiliar men resent and harm you!"

Listening to Cheng Qi's active defense of her, Qin Shaojing's inner smile grew wider. "But they didn't know," she said.

"Even if they didn't know, they shouldn't have harmed you like that! If I find out who poisoned you, I will make them pay!" Cheng Qi said, clenching his fists, his eyes filled with hatred.

"Brother Cheng Qi, I don't want you to be like this," Qin Shaojing said, looking at him with concern. "Forget it, this is my fate. As long as you are well, I am fine."

"Shao Jing, it's because you are so kind that people take advantage of you!" Cheng Qi said, becoming even more agitated. "That Liu Ye is truly a scoundrel, marrying such a good woman like you, and he doesn't cherish you. I must get an explanation from him!"

Qin Shaojing saw that he had completely revealed his feelings and knew it was the moment of truth.

She knew Cheng Qi still cared for her.

But at the same time, Qin Shaojing also understood that her current status as a married woman made it difficult for Cheng Qi to cross that boundary.

He could offer to stand up for her under the guise of being brother and sister, but what she wanted was far more than just a familial relationship.

She wanted him to completely succumb to her charm...

"Brother Cheng Qi, your kindness towards me only makes me feel indebted. I invited you here today just to catch up," Qin Shaojing walked to her tea table and picked up a cup of tea, "Just having you here to chat with me is more than enough for Shaojing."