Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Before Qi Yuanhuai left, he patted me on the shoulder and said, “Ruoruo, you are the most virtuous woman under heaven. With you looking after the household and Jin’er, I can leave with peace of mind.”

I smiled, gentle and demure. “You have nothing to worry about.”

Unlike in my previous life, he did not lecture me at length before departing. This time, he truly seemed at ease with me. Before he left, he embraced me, then embraced Qi Jin. After that, he swung himself onto his horse and rode away in a cloud of dust.

I took Qi Jin by the hand and led him toward the rear courtyard.

Following the course of my last life, this battle would be a hard-fought one for Qi Yuanhuai. He would not return for another six years.

For these six years, I would be the sole master of Qi Mansion. With the Chen Family backing me from behind, doing something to a six-year-old child would be laughably easy.

I could have Qi Jin fall ill, or arrange for some sort of accident. As long as I planned it properly, no one would suspect I had anything to do with it.

Even if Qi Yuanhuai grew suspicious of me in the future, he could not make trouble for his lawful wife without proof, all for the sake of an adopted son.

Qi Jin’s chubby little hand suddenly scratched at my palm, tickling me.

I looked down and abruptly realized he was only six years old.

So small that he barely reached my waist. So small that his little hand could be swallowed effortlessly by mine.

He looked up at me with large, pure eyes like glazed glass and asked cautiously, “Mother, can I not study today?”

He called me “Mother.”

I could not deny that my compassion stirred, if only slightly.

Those chubby little hands would one day grow slender and beautiful, with distinct knuckles.

They would also lock me in a damp, dark prison cell, crush my jaw in their grip, and stare into my eyes as he said,

“A poisonous woman like you thinks she deserves to be my mother?”

The autumn wind moaned bleakly. I could not help shivering.

I let go of Qi Jin’s hand and said warmly, “No lessons today. Go play ball.”

Qi Jin was so happy he waved his arms and kicked his feet, then ran off in wild delight.

I admired the balsam dye on my nails, thinking maliciously that I certainly could not do as I had in my last life-rise before dawn and sleep past midnight to accompany him in his studies, raising him into the top scholar of the imperial examinations.

If a tiger was ferocious, then I would first break its claws and fangs.

If he liked to play, then let him play to his heart’s content.

I had servants take him to the market. Whatever toy caught his eye, they were to buy it for him. I even had young manservants teach him cockfighting and cricket fighting.

Qi Jin threw himself into it with relish, and his interest in studying waned more and more.

His tutor came to see me. “Madam, why has the young master failed to attend his lessons again today?”

My expression darkened. I had someone bring over a tray of silver ingots.

“Jin’er says your lessons are dry and dull. He refuses to learn no matter what, and insists that I hire a new tutor. Sigh. Take care on your way out, sir.”

The moment I finished speaking, a cuju ball came flying out of nowhere and bounced squarely off the tutor’s forehead.

Qi Jin hid in the distance, giggling.

The tutor was so furious that he flung his sleeves and left.

For Qi Jin’s education, I had notices posted with great fanfare, offering a generous sum to hire a new tutor, so that all the capital would know just how devoted I, the mistress of the household, was to my adopted son.