Chapter 15 Good Person: I Fear You Might Hate Me

Chapter 15: A Good Person, I'm Afraid You'll Hate Me

After speaking with Zhou Congshen that day, Jiang Yueyi completely let go and no longer concerned herself with Qi Hao's affairs. Whether Qi Hao pretended to be ill or drank fake medicine, it had nothing to do with her. She only took care of herself each day.

Only Feng Shi still worried about her only son, since Qi Hao seemed to be perpetually bedridden without improvement. Zhou Congshen also visited Xingyun Courtyard several times a day, ostensibly concerned about Qi Hao's health, but Jiang Yueyi saw through it and understood they were both putting on an act.

Zhou Congshen would sometimes enter Qi Hao's study and then fall silent, and she had no idea what the two were up to, as if only one person was inside. Jiang Yueyi just observed and didn't bother to investigate further.

As the weather gradually turned cold, Jiang Yueyi's body grew heavier. She preferred to stay in her room each day, quietly being the Countess as Qi Hao had suggested. Unless Feng Shi summoned her, she didn't want to show herself easily.

The three books she had borrowed from Qi Hao last time, Jiang Yueyi had Cui Mei return them to Xing An after reading, and she didn't borrow anymore. If she wanted to read, she had Cui Mei and the others buy books outside.

This day was overcast, and although it wasn't yet winter, Jiang Yueyi couldn't bear the damp cold. She had the servant girls light the charcoal brazier early and leaned on the soft couch to warm herself by the fire.

A few days ago, she heard that Concubine Gu was ill. Since Jiang Yueyi found it inconvenient to leave the mansion herself, she sent Cui Mei to the Jiang residence every day to visit Concubine Gu, to prevent Wang Shi from taking advantage of Concubine Gu's illness to make trouble for her.

Cui Mei went in the morning, returned after attending to Concubine Gu past noon, and also bought the books Jiang Yueyi had asked for to help her pass the time.

Jiang Yueyi first inquired about Concubine Gu's condition. Cui Mei said, "Madam, don't even mention it. I don't know where that person found that doctor. The concubine has been taking the medicine for days without improvement. I was impatient and, remembering your usual instructions, secretly went outside to hire a doctor to see her. It turned out the medicine prescribed was even incorrect for her condition. We've changed the medicine now, and she should recover soon."

Wang Shi came from a humble household and had always been unrefined in her actions, fond of making small moves behind the scenes. It was hard to tell whether she had casually hired a doctor out of stinginess or carelessness, or deliberately to torment Concubine Gu. Jiang Yueyi was already married, and since her stepmother was also her mother, she really couldn't interfere in the Jiang household's affairs and could only look after Concubine Gu as much as possible.

"Take some nourishing supplements to the concubine again tomorrow, but don't let her know." Jiang Yueyi only said this to Cui Mei, then added, "Even if she's not diligent, it's normal, after all, she has many affairs. When you go, don't show anything. If we need to hire a doctor or use some medicine, we'll pay for it ourselves and handle it. Don't trouble her too much, or the concubine will suffer again."

Wang Shi had given Jiang Chao another son this year, and the older one was only three. With two young children to care for, plus all the household chores, it was not an exaggeration to say she was busy. Jiang Yueyi could only turn a blind eye.

Cui Mei nodded: "This servant knows. But that madam of ours has been very tense lately!"

Jiang Yueyi was curious: "Why?"

Cui Mei pulled a stool over and sat in front of Jiang Yueyi, shelling walnuts while speaking mysteriously: "The capital has been unsettled lately. I've heard there are ghosts haunting."

Jiang Yueyi was fine, but the other maids were startled. Qing Lan immediately stopped her: "Don't talk nonsense! Madam is pregnant. What if you scare her?"

Jiang Yueyi didn't really believe in these supernatural things, but at the moment, Cui Mei had piqued her interest. Since everyone was idle anyway, she picked up a small walnut and put it in her mouth, then gestured for Cui Mei to continue.

Cui Mei said: "I'm not trying to scare you, it's true. Recently, some households in the capital have lost children, mostly newborns to one-year-olds. Our house just got a young master. She dotes on him like the apple of her eye and is afraid of any mishap. She won't let the wet nurse take him away from her side all day."

Yu Ju asked first: "What does that have to do with ghosts?"

"Hai, how could it not be related?" Cui Mei continued, "I heard when I was buying books just now. Every time a child goes missing from a family, it's said that a female ghost appears in the house. The ghost appears by the child's bedside and in a flash takes the child away. This matter has been reported to the authorities, and I don't know how they'll investigate."

Yu Ju and Zi Zhu were terrified by Cui Mei's words. Qing Lan looked skeptical. Jiang Yueyi wasn't scared either. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I'm afraid someone is deliberately using the female ghost as a pretext to steal children. This is under the emperor's nose, so it should be resolved quickly."

Because Yu Ju and the others were afraid, the topic was dropped immediately. Jiang Yueyi and the others chatted for a while longer, and before they knew it, it had grown dark. At that moment, there was a noise at the courtyard gate, and Jiang Yueyi told Cui Mei to go see.

Cui Mei returned and said, "It's the charcoal delivery. The old madam knew you had used the brazier today, so she specially had them send good charcoal."

Jiang Yueyi nodded and casually asked, "And the young master's side?"

She had barely mentioned Qi Hao these days, as if he didn't exist. Qing Lan knew the truth but said nothing, while the other maids were very worried. Hearing this, Cui Mei immediately said, "Today we opened the storeroom to find the needed braziers. The young master is frail and more sensitive to cold. Xing An has already taken the brazier over. Madam, would you like to go see?"

Jiang Yueyi couldn't help but laugh: "Can I even get in?"

Except for Qing Lan, Cui Mei and the others exchanged glances and dared not say anything more.

After dinner, Jiang Yueyi washed up and was about to lean on the bed and read a new book when she heard a report from outside that Qi Hao had come.

This was an extremely rare occurrence. Since the wedding night, Qi Hao had never set foot in the main room of Xingyun Courtyard. He had set up another room in the eastern wing, and nowadays he rarely even came to the eastern wing, usually resting directly in his study.

Jiang Yueyi's heart pounded, feeling extremely uneasy. She barely had time to throw on an outer robe before Qi Hao had already arrived in front of her.

Jiang Yueyi's eyes widened a little as she looked at Qi Hao, unable to speak.

Qi Hao spoke and immediately dismissed Cui Mei and the others, leaving only himself and Jiang Yueyi.

Jiang Yueyi composed herself and asked, "What brings the young master here so late?"

"Nothing much," Qi Hao sat down on his own, and after a moment gestured for Jiang Yueyi to sit too. "The weather has turned cold, so I came to see you."

Jiang Yueyi did not sit, still standing there, suppressing her suspicious gaze.

This was too abnormal.

She and Qi Hao were practically strangers. Even though the child in her belly was nominally his, since she became pregnant until now, he had never come to see her.

Jiang Yueyi still said, "If the young master has something to say, just say it."

Qi Hao laughed, showing a few white teeth. Normally frail and listless like a frostbitten cabbage, today he exuded a youthful pride that Jiang Yueyi had never seen before.

He said, "I really just came to see you. Now that the weather is turning cold, you're pregnant, so you need to take more care."

Jiang Yueyi grew even more puzzled, frowning slightly. While pouring tea for Qi Hao, she said, "Thank you for your concern, young master."

"If it's not warm enough at night, have Cui Mei and the others add more charcoal." Qi Hao took a sip of tea, praised it, and continued, "Eat whatever you want, don't stint yourself on anything you need. Although the Chengping estate is not well-off, it can afford these things for you. The household is at your disposal."

He had spoken a lot and then coughed lightly, as was his habit over the years. After a slight pause, he continued, "You are the Countess. Mother will eventually grow old, and then you will be the head of the household. The old and young in this family will all rely on you. I have a weak constitution and am just a useless invalid. You must take care of yourself first, never put yourself in a difficult position, lest it harm your health."

Jiang Yueyi was completely confused and increasingly felt something was wrong. As soon as Qi Hao finished speaking, she interrupted him and asked, "What does the young master mean by this?"

"No other meaning." Qi Hao continued to deny. He paused and asked Jiang Yueyi, "In your eyes, am I still a good person?"

Jiang Yueyi was silent for a moment.

She didn't understand why Qi Hao had come to say all this at night, and his question was even more baffling.

A good person?

Qi Hao certainly couldn't be called a bad person.

Although he had given her a divorce letter on their wedding day, he still allowed her to stay in the mansion and didn't drive her away. Even if it was partly to appease Feng Shi, Jiang Yueyi was still grateful to him for this.

At least he had preserved her dignity as the Countess of Chengping.

But could he be called a good person?

Jiang Yueyi sighed inwardly.

She was the wife he had married, but he didn't want to live with her. He had gone to great lengths to deceive her and Feng Shi, and even allowed her to have a secret affair with his half-brother.

Jiang Yueyi had always understood that in Qi Hao's eyes, from the moment he gave her the divorce letter, he had no relation to her.

She could be the Countess of Chengping, but not his wife.

And what about herself?

She had married him with her own purpose: first and foremost, she wanted to be the Countess of Chengping; marital affection was a secondary concern.

So it could be said that she got what she wanted.

Qi Hao had indeed given her exactly what she wanted most.

She truly couldn't ask for or desire too much.

With that thought, Jiang Yueyi nodded firmly. "Yes, you are a good master."

Qi Hao looked at her with sparkling eyes. Upon hearing her answer, he let out a long sigh of relief. "That's good. I was afraid you might hate me."

Jiang Yueyi gave a strained smile. "How could I hate you, Master? Isn't it good for us just to live like this, each minding our own business?"

"Yes, it's good," Qi Hao said as he stood up. "It's late. Rest early, and take good care of yourself. I'll be going now."

Jiang Yueyi hummed in acknowledgment, watching his figure disappear through the doorway.

Her heart still pounding uneasily, Jiang Yueyi asked Cui Mei to add more calming incense. It was indeed late, so she went to bed and fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, a sudden shout from somewhere jolted Jiang Yueyi out of her hazy dream.

"Fire!"

Author's note:

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