Chapter 3: Volunteering to Marry in Her Place

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Hearing this, Steward Yan’s feet faltered. Indeed, this girl, knowing her death was imminent, still remained so calm and composed. Could it be that she truly had some kind of backing? If they silenced her immediately, it might leave no room for maneuver—perhaps it would be better to give her some time, to probe and see exactly what she was relying on.

Steward Yan turned around and gave Xia Qiqi a cold, piercing glance from head to toe, his face darkening as he said, “Xia Qiqi! You’d better be sensible and hand over the item quickly, and you’ll spare yourself the pain!”

It was the first time he looked at Xia Qiqi seriously, and unexpectedly, this glance sent a chill down his spine.

The coarse servant girl from the Prime Minister’s mansion, though clad in simple cloth garments, could not conceal her transcendent beauty.

Could she really be Xia Qiqi?

Steward Yan felt a flicker of doubt in his heart.

Xia Qiqi noticed the unusual gaze from Steward Yan but paid it no mind. Instead, she gently set down the little love she was holding and said, “Little Love, be good. Sister needs to speak with Steward Yan alone. You go back to the Orchid Courtyard by yourself, alright?”

[Meow… Steward Yan is a ruthless old fox, with countless servants having died by his hand in the Prime Minister’s mansion. The envoy sent to request the postponement on behalf of Lord Jin is Ning Baiding, commander of the Brocade Guard. If Steward Yan really makes a move, Xia Qiqi, you’d better scream with all your might—maybe there’s still hope!]

Steward Yan understood Xia Qiqi’s meaning and instructed the household guards, “All of you, withdraw.”

Xia Qiqi stood up and took two steps closer to Steward Yan, lowering her voice to barely a whisper, “If I can ensure that the young mistress keeps the child in her womb and also allow her to marry Lord Jin smoothly, would you spare this lowly servant’s life, Steward Yan?”

“Is that true?” Steward Yan raised his eyebrows sharply and asked in surprise.

“Of course,” Xia Qiqi bowed slightly and stepped back with a light laugh, “If I fail, you may kill me without delay.”

Upon hearing this, Steward Yan calmed down.

No matter how beautiful Xia Qiqi was, she was just a coarse servant girl. Could she be more cunning than Prime Minister Liu?

Sigh, he had nearly been deceived by this girl.

Steward Yan gritted his teeth and glanced sideways at Xia Qiqi, his eyes full of disdain.

“Oh? Then why don’t you tell me how you intend to achieve this perfect outcome?”

“If it’s true, I will petition the Prime Minister to spare your life!” he added.

It seemed this girl had no personal safeguard left; her words were mere bluster to cling to life.

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It was better to coax her to the Orchid Courtyard first, then deal with her all at once.

“This plan, even if I tell Steward Yan, he cannot decide on his own,” Xia Qiqi said, watching the flickering expression on Yan’s face and unable to suppress a bitter smile. “If Steward Yan trusts me, then take me to see the Prime Minister at once; if not, then act. But…”

Xia Qiqi deliberately paused, “You must give me a swift end, or I fear I won’t be able to hold my cries back. If Commander Ning hears me, then it would be…”

Xia Qiqi!

She actually knew that the envoy requesting the postponement was Commander Ning!

Steward Yan furrowed his brows tightly, his face twisting into an almost grotesque shape.

After a long moment of thought, he finally snorted coldly through his brows, “Come with me to see the Prime Minister!”

...

Idle Residence.

The dim palace lanterns swayed faintly in the corridor with the cold wind, while the snowflakes scattered from the sky visibly thickened.

Liu Yuanqing sat on a redwood round-backed chair, his hands resting on the armrests. He had not yet changed out of his official robe embroidered with crane patterns. Before him knelt Xia Qiqi, the servant girl he had ordered Steward Yan to eliminate before tonight.

Xia Qiqi wore plain cloth garments, her excessive beauty shining through, and a trace of cunning gleamed in her eyes. “Prime Minister, I am willing to marry Lord Jin in place of the young mistress.”

Liu Yuanqing’s veins bulged on his hand gripping the chair’s armrest, his gaze darkening further. “A vulgar and unworthy servant girl, and yet you dare to volunteer to marry the young mistress’s fiancé?”

Xia Qiqi paid no heed to the anger barely contained in the Prime Minister’s eyes.

“The young mistress’s old illness has relapsed, and she likely needs several more months of recuperation before she can serve her husband. Since the Prime Minister wishes to keep the young mistress in the mansion to recover for a few months, but Lord Jin’s mansion is pressing for an urgent wedding, I thought to disguise myself as the young mistress and temporarily marry Lord Jin…”

She feigned ignorance of the fact that Liu Mingyu was already pregnant, stubbornly blaming it on the young mistress’s relapse. This obedient explanation visibly softened Liu Yuanqing’s usually gloomy expression.

“But…”

Xia Qiqi noticed the subtle shift in Liu Yuanqing’s expression and was secretly pleased.

Before he could finish, she quickly continued, “Seven months… by then, the young mistress’s illness should have healed. I can then use the excuse of returning to the Prime Minister’s mansion to pay respects and secretly switch back with the young mistress without anyone noticing.”

At these words, the murderous glare in Liu Yuanqing’s eyes visibly faded.

He lowered his head and began to scrutinize the kneeling Xia Qiqi carefully.

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The girl’s figure was remarkably similar to that of his precious daughter, though their looks and temperament differed greatly.

Liu Yuanqing frowned slightly. “You may be pretty enough as a servant girl, but how can you possibly resemble the young mistress exactly?”

“Do you know the young mistress’s fiancé has met her in childhood?” Xia Qiqi spoke softly but with firm conviction.

“Prime Minister, as you said, since it was a childhood meeting, a resemblance of seven or eight parts should be enough to deceive him.”

“If you grant me some cosmetics, I am confident I can be made to look eight or nine parts like the young mistress.”

“Oh?” Liu Yuanqing’s gaze grew more complex as he looked at Xia Qiqi.

“Very well, if you truly can be made to look like the young mistress with cosmetics, I will agree to your plan. If not…”

“If not, I will accept whatever punishment you see fit, be it death or dismemberment, without complaint!”

“Good!” Liu Yuanqing suddenly slammed his hand on the chair’s armrest and said sternly, “Steward Yan, take Xia Qiqi to be washed and dressed properly. If she can truly fool Madame Wu, then everything will proceed as she says.”

Xia Qiqi had no objections.

Liu Yuanqing then turned to her and said, “However, there is one more thing I must make clear to you first.”

Xia Qiqi responded, “Please, Prime Minister.”

Liu Yuanqing looked meaningfully at Xia Qiqi. “Since this is a marriage, the consummation must not be faked…”

Xia Qiqi was momentarily stunned but quickly understood his meaning.

Liu Yuanqing worried that since Liu Mingyu was already pregnant, when they switched back, she would be a woman in full bloom. If Xia Qiqi and Lord Jin never consummated the marriage, the whole arrangement would eventually be exposed.

Truly an old fox!

In an instant, he had considered every detail carefully.

“Alright!” Xia Qiqi bit her lip. “Consummation is acceptable, but I have conditions!”