Like hell it will!
Tao Niang roared inwardly, so angry that the food in her stomach was churning!
She didn’t want to waste any more words on this bunch of fools, nor did she want to see them.
She just hoped that once the heat died down, she could send the Feng family far, far away, so she perfunctorily said a few perfunctory words.
Just then, Old Man Feng suddenly spoke up.
“Second daughter-in-law, come to think of it, the second branch hasn’t had a son in all these years—”
Old Man Feng only started the sentence, and Old Lady Li immediately cut in.
“I almost forgot about this!
“Tao Niang, you’ve been married into the Feng family for so many years and haven’t given Second Son a son! You’ve already let Second Son down, and you’ve let our Feng family down too!
“While you two can still have children, hurry up and give Second Son a son—
“In the future, this family business will definitely be handed over to a son…”
Old Lady Li kept rambling on, but Tao Niang no longer listened to the rest.
If earlier Tao Niang just wanted to send the Feng family away, now she felt a murderous intent towards them.
What were the Feng family trying to do?
The Feng family wanted the cosmetics business!
She had started this business because Mingzhu gave her the capital, and Young Master Lin provided the formula out of consideration for Mingzhu.
Aside from her daily expenses, all the profits were saved in the bank for Mingzhu.
When Mingzhu married into a prestigious family in the future, she would need money for socializing, for greasing palms, for everything.
The more money, the smoother her life would be!
And if Mingzhu’s life was good, her life would be good!
The Feng family coveted Mingzhu’s money, and Tao Niang felt like they were trying to cut off the path to wealth and prosperity for both Mingzhu and herself!
They really were tired of living!
Besides that, the Feng family wanted her to have another child with Feng Lao’er?
Give birth to another younger brother or sister for Mingzhu, making Mingzhu a laughingstock?
If Young Master Lin found out, she would lose her life.
The Feng family… couldn’t be kept around anymore.
——-
Inside Sheng Mansion, in a pavilion within the garden.
Xia Zhi looked at the small jade bottle Qing Tian handed over and asked.
“Seventh Miss, what is this?”
“It’s a gift for you! Open it and see—”
Huang Yaning smiled slightly and said.
Xia Zhi opened it, completely baffled, and saw a small pill inside, round like a pearl and emitting a medicinal scent.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Yesterday, after Prince Qi agreed to let her enter the residence, Sheng Mingzhu fainted, and then Prince Qi seemed to lose his soul.
Xia Zhi was terrified at the time, truly afraid that the hard-won opportunity would slip through her fingers.
Fortunately, soon the Princess of Jing sent someone to tell Madam that since Prince Qi had agreed, they would choose an auspicious day to welcome her into the residence.
Only then did Xia Zhi feel reassured and followed them back to the Sheng Mansion.
From last night until this morning, the way Sheng Mingzhu looked at her was frighteningly gloomy, and Xia Zhi was very scared inside.
She was afraid Sheng Mingzhu might do something drastic to her, so she could only keep comforting herself.
After all, she was Sheng Mingzhu’s own elder sister and her savior. Sheng Mingzhu probably wouldn’t be so insane.
Besides, the Madam and the Seventh Miss in the mansion were at odds with Sheng Mingzhu…
If Sheng Mingzhu acted recklessly, it would be easy to catch her in the act.
So, Sheng Mingzhu definitely wouldn’t do anything rash…
But the fear remained, so Xia Zhi could only try her best to avoid Sheng Mingzhu.
Away from Sheng Mingzhu’s sight, she began to fantasize about her wonderful life ahead.
She would become Prince Qi’s woman and climb her way up step by step.
Delicacies, silks, satins, all the glory and wealth within easy reach.
Now Xia Zhi was just waiting for a letter from Prince Qi’s residence to finalize the date she would enter.
After finishing her chores in the courtyard, Xia Zhi secretly went to the garden for some air, and unexpectedly ran into the Seventh Miss.
The Seventh Miss seemed to be waiting for her, and even gave her a pill.
Was the Seventh Miss trying to get her to deal with the Sixth Miss?
She absolutely couldn’t make a move!
This period was crucial for Xia Zhi. As long as she could hold out until Prince Qi’s residence sent someone for her, that would be her moment to leap over the dragon gate.
She absolutely couldn’t do anything “disloyal.” One misstep, and she wouldn’t just lose her chance to turn her life around, she might even lose her life.
“Seventh Miss, what do you mean by this?”
“Xia Zhi, you don’t think Sheng Mingzhu will let you enter Prince Qi’s residence without a hitch, do you?”
Xia Zhi felt like the box containing her deepest fear had been opened, and an instant chill seeped into her very core.
“You should know Sheng Mingzhu’s personality well enough. Just based on you competing with her for a man, she would hate you to the bone, wishing she could tear you apart—
“Let alone the fact that you’re entering Prince Qi’s residence before her—
“Do you think she’ll just stand by and watch you vie for Prince Qi’s affection and let you bear his child?”
“She… won’t do anything…”
Xia Zhi heard her own voice refute, so small, so feeble.
She didn’t believe it herself.
Suddenly, her hand was taken by Qing Tian, and the next moment, the jade bottle was resting in her palm.
Xia Zhi felt like what she was holding was a burning piece of charcoal. Just as she was about to shake it off, she heard the Seventh Miss say again.
“Don’t worry, it’s not poison!”
Xia Zhi looked at the Seventh Miss’s radiant, smiling face and asked, somewhat stammering.
“Wha… what is it…”
“A very cooling herb. Taking it will make a woman unable to bear children.”
The soft, airy voice made Xia Zhi feel a bone-deep coldness, and she shivered.
She wanted to say something, but her throat tightened, and no sound came out.
The person across from her smiled again, her eyes deep and seemingly able to see right through her thoughts.
“Xia Zhi, you’re a smart person.
“You’ve definitely thought about how Sheng Mingzhu might deal with you, haven’t you?
“Now that everyone knows you exist, she can’t just kill you or mistreat you for the time being—
“So, the best way for her to get revenge and reduce the threat you pose to her is to make you infertile…”
The more Xia Zhi listened, the faster her heart raced.
In her moments of deepest fear, she had thought about how Sheng Mingzhu might retaliate.
The Seventh Miss was voicing exactly what she had imagined…
She felt that if she were Sheng Mingzhu, she would do the same…
Infertility—how malicious and utterly despairing for a concubine in the inner courtyard!
She couldn’t even imagine the misery and desolation she would face if she never had children in the future.
“As the saying goes, strike first or be struck down!
“If she couldn’t have children, maybe she would need you, her own sister—
“Besides, she fell into the water yesterday. It’s common for women who fall in to catch a chill…”
The other’s voice seemed to carry a strange allure, and Xia Zhi listened, completely stunned.
“Anyway, this is the wedding gift I’ve prepared for you.
“Every man for himself, and the devil takes the hindmost. I hope you can seize the opportunity—
“Of course, whether you use it or not is up to you!”
After saying this, Huang Yaning left with Qing Tian.
Back at Hai Tang Yuan, seeing that the room was empty, Qing Tian couldn’t hold back anymore and asked.
“Miss, that was actually a very expensive fertility aid. What if Xia Zhi actually uses it and it doesn’t work…”
Huang Yaning wasn’t worried at all.
“She won’t use it. She’s afraid I might poison Sheng Mingzhu. She’ll go buy her own medicine. She only trusts herself…”
