Chapter 17: Three Taels and a Black Eye

　　Qianli Xun was impatient by nature. The moment she said she was returning to the Lin residence, she meant it—no delay. It wasn’t that she missed the place. She wanted to gauge Lin Jue’s reaction and prepare thoroughly for the mutual divorce. She’d gone through all that trouble to bring back a heavyweight ally. Time to plan carefully.

　　She told Kuqiao to find a coachman and hitch the carriage. The Lin family’s coachman had already gone back, so they’d have to borrow one from the Zhu residence. Kuqiao arranged it, then helped her miss into the carriage. They set off for the estate.

　　Qianli Xun noticed her forehead wound itching. Probably healing. The itch reminded her of the punch she’d thrown at Lin Jue. The bruise around his eye wouldn’t fade anytime soon. He’d already complained about it to Zhu Xiyan. If he used it as evidence during the divorce, that would be trouble.

　　“Kuqiao, do you have any silver on you?”

　　“Not much. Just five taels for you, Miss.”

　　“That should be enough for medicine.”

　　“Depends on what medicine you’re buying, Miss.”

　　“Lin Jue’s eye is bruised from my punch. I want to buy medicine to treat it.”

　　“That won’t cost much. More than enough. But why are you suddenly being so nice to the young master?”

　　“Kuqiao, remember this—sometimes looking like you’re doing someone a favor is just a way to get what you want.”

　　Qianli Xun lifted the carriage curtain and peered outside, hoping to spot a pharmacy.

　　Kuqiao guessed her miss’s intention. “No need to look, Miss. A little further down the road, there’s Jixiang Pharmacy. Their bruise and injury remedies are the best in all of Lin’an. The ointment I used on you came from there.”

　　When they reached Jixiang Pharmacy, Kuqiao had the coachman stop and helped her miss down.

　　They stepped inside. The sharp scent of medicinal herbs hit them immediately. Wooden shelves lined every wall, layer upon layer, loaded with all kinds of bottles and jars.

　　A clerk came out from behind the counter with a welcoming smile. “What can I help you find, Miss?”

　　Qianli Xun glanced around the pharmacy. “Someone got a black eye from a punch. Got anything that makes it disappear overnight?”

　　The clerk beamed. “You’ve come to the right place, Miss. For bruises, Jixiang Pharmacy has just the thing. Apply it on the first day, and by the next morning, the bruise will be completely gone.”

　　He pulled a small porcelain bottle from the shelf. “This is the one.”

　　Qianli Xun took it. “This’ll do. Kuqiao, take it.” Kuqiao stepped forward and accepted the bottle.

　　“That’ll be a hundred copper coins,” the clerk said.

　　“Hold on. I need something else. See this wound on my forehead—”

　　Before she could finish, the clerk cut in. “Your forehead wound is almost healed, Miss. No need to waste silver on medicine. We’re honest merchants—we won’t cheat you into spending money you don’t need to.”

　　Qianli Xun got impatient. “Who said I want medicine to heal it? I want to make this wound look worse. But not so bad that it scars my face. Do you have anything like that?”

　　The clerk had never encountered a customer who wanted medicine to harm herself. He looked troubled. “Miss, we sell medicine to heal people, not to hurt them. You’re putting me in a difficult position.”

　　Qianli Xun held out her hand. “Kuqiao, give me the silver.”

　　Kuqiao pulled out the money pouch and placed it in her miss’s hand. Qianli Xun took out one tael of silver and set it on the counter. “Do you have it or not?”

　　The clerk glanced at the silver and held firm. “No.”

　　Qianli Xun placed another tael on the counter. “Do you have it or not?”

　　The clerk remained unmoved. “No!”

　　She added a third tael. “Do you have it or not?”

　　The clerk opened his mouth to refuse again. Just then, the pharmacy owner pushed through a curtain from the back room. He snatched up the three taels of silver with a sly grin. “Yes! Of course we do!”

　　After pocketing the silver, the owner produced a small porcelain bottle from beneath the counter and handed it to Qianli Xun. “Miss, this is Fuji Ointment. Just dab a tiny bit on your forehead wound, and it’ll look much worse. When you want it to heal fast, apply the other medicine you just bought.”

　　“Thank you, sir.” Qianli Xun beamed. Then she turned to the clerk. “You—learn from your boss. Running a business takes a sharp mind.”

　　Qianli Xun handed the medicines and the remaining silver to Kuqiao. The two left Jixiang Pharmacy, got back in the carriage, and continued toward the estate.

　　Kuqiao studied the two bottles. “Three taels spent—what a waste. You shouldn’t have pulled out the silver one tael at a time, Miss. Both bottles together were worth maybe a string of coins.”

　　“If I hadn’t done it that way, do you think the owner would’ve brought out the Fuji Ointment?”

　　“I really can’t figure out your thinking, Miss. Spending all that silver just to buy medicine that hurts yourself.”

　　“Sometimes what looks like hurting yourself is actually looking out for yourself. You’ll understand soon enough.”

　　Back at the Lin residence, Qianli Xun glanced around. Lin Jue’s two older brothers also lived here. Maybe she’d run into one of them. But after looking for a while, she only spotted servants bustling about their chores.

　　She headed west instead. Back to the courtyard she shared with Lin Jue—the Zhulan Residence. She asked a servant and learned Lin Jue hadn’t returned yet. She went straight to the main room. Thinking about her dowry—the divorce was coming, and she needed to know exactly what belonged to her. Otherwise, Lin Jue might swindle her without her even realizing it.

　　She’d barely sat down before asking, “Kuqiao, how has my dowry been managed all this time?”

　　Kuqiao pulled out a round bamboo basket for storing medicine and placed the two new bottles inside. “Miss, you’ve always been focused on poetry. You never bothered with these things. Matron Wei’s been handling it all for you.”

　　“Matron Wei?”

　　“She’s your wet nurse. Right after you were born, Madam didn’t have enough milk, so Matron Wei was brought in to nurse you. She stayed by your side ever since and earned Madam’s full trust. When you married, she came along to manage your dowry. Whenever you need money, just ask Matron Wei—no need to deal with the young master.”

　　“Why haven’t I seen her?”

　　“She’s been collecting tenant rent in the countryside these past few days. She’ll be back once the collection is done. You’ll see her then, Miss.”

　　So her own people were managing the dowry. Qianli Xun relaxed. No need to worry about Lin Jue scheming. “I’m going to take a nap. Running around today wore me out. Wake me when Lin Jue gets back.”

　　Kuqiao helped her miss lie down, closed the door, and went out to gather news about him.

　　The page boy beside Lin Jue said he’d let Kuqiao know the moment he returned. Satisfied, she went back to watering the orchids and bamboo in the courtyard. That was supposed to be the sweeping maid’s job, but with nothing better to do, she used it to pass the time.

　　She’d just finished watering the plants when the page boy came running. “Sister Kuqiao, the young master is back!”

　　Kuqiao thanked him and hurried inside. She walked to the bedside and whispered, “Miss, the young master is back.”

　　Qianli Xun hadn’t actually fallen asleep. The Old Ancestor had agreed to speak for her, and she’d been too excited to sleep. She’d been lying there with her eyes closed, resting. At Kuqiao’s voice, she sat right up and threw open the bed curtain. “Just who I’ve been waiting for. Bring me the bruise medicine.”

　　Qianli Xun dressed, pinned her hair up simply—no ornaments—and took the medicine bottle Kuqiao handed her. She rushed out of the Zhulan Residence and headed straight for Lin Jue’s quarters. She pushed the door open with one hand.

　　Lin Jue had just finished changing clothes with a servant’s help. Hearing the door, he turned out of habit.

　　Qianli Xun saw the bruise around his left eye was still there. Good thing she’d thought ahead and bought the medicine. Otherwise, that punch might cause trouble during the divorce.

　　“You’re back from the Zhu residence already, Wife? Couldn’t find a single elder to speak for you? If that’s the case, just stay at the Lin residence. I won’t treat you badly.”

　　“Ha! Disappointed, are you? If I hadn’t found anyone, I wouldn’t be back this early. You ran to Zhu Xiyan to complain first. I’m not holding a grudge. I’m kind—unlike you. We were husband and wife for a while, after all. I feel bad about hitting you so hard. I stopped at Jixiang Pharmacy on the way and bought some good medicine for you.”

　　She tossed the bottle into Lin Jue’s arms. “Apply it. No need to let your subordinates at training camp find out I gave you that black eye and make you lose face.”

　　Lin Jue was already in love with Zhu Shuzhen. Now she’d become completely different—talkative, and even buying him medicine. He couldn’t help letting his imagination run wild.

　　“Why aren’t you applying it?” Qianli Xun wanted him to put it on right away, so the bruise would fade fast. But Lin Jue just stood there, fingering the bottle, frozen.

　　Fine. Qianli Xun walked over, took the bottle back from his hands, uncorked it, poured some thick ointment onto her finger, and applied it to the bruise around his left eye.

　　The servants watching from the side exchanged knowing smiles and quietly slipped out.

　　When Qianli Xun finished and was about to pull her hand back, Lin Jue grabbed her wrist. “Why are you suddenly being so good to me?”

　　Qianli Xun pulled her hand free. “Didn’t I just say? I’m kind. Don’t read into it.”

　　She set the bottle on the table. “Remember to apply it again tomorrow. Don’t waste my effort.”

　　She was about to leave when she remembered something important. She turned back. Lin Jue was still staring at her blankly. “Hey! Why don’t we settle the time and place for the divorce right now?”

　　Hearing the word “divorce,” Lin Jue snapped out of it. “The day after tomorrow. The hour of Si—around mid-morning. The reception hall in the north courtyard of the Lin residence.”

　　“You know I’m not the Zhu Shuzhen you knew. I can’t remember everything. I don’t even know who the matchmaker was. You’ll be in charge of hiring one for the divorce.”

　　“No problem.”

　　“How many elders are coming from your side?”

　　“Eight. There would’ve been more, but I turned them away.”

　　“What? Eight?” Qianli Xun was worried. She only had one. In numbers, she was already losing badly. “I’ve only got one, and you’ve got eight. That’s not fair. Can you also bring just one?”

　　“Can’t be helped. The Lin family has too many elders, and they’re all too enthusiastic.” Lin Jue stepped closer, studying Zhu Shuzhen’s face. “How about—don’t get a divorce after all? You may not be the Zhu Shuzhen I married, but you’re even better than before. Why not just settle down and be my proper wife?”

　　Qianli Xun studied him too. He wasn’t her type at all. Actually, she didn’t even know what her type was. But it definitely wasn’t Lin Jue. Besides, she’d just transmigrated here, and he hadn’t exactly left a good first impression.

　　“Don’t even dream about it. This marriage—I’m getting out of it. Even if I only have one elder on my side, I’ll make it work.”

　　With that, Qianli Xun turned and strode out.

　　A dark sneer curled Lin Jue’s lips. “You’re the one who should stop dreaming.”