She was drinking water and scolding them with full vigor, completely unlike the person who had been struggling to speak just moments ago due to weakness.
Fan Zehao was also dumbfounded. He stepped forward, turned her body around, and observed her carefully, finding that she was still the same person, not a replacement.
He touched his head and said, "Wife, what are you up to? You were barely able to breathe just now, how are you fine in such a short time?"
Zhao Jiaqi sighed softly and said, "I was just feeling so uncomfortable from dry heaving. I had no strength in my body, which is why I was so weak. Now that my throat is no longer dry and I've had some water, my throat feels more comfortable, and I've regained a little strength to stand here and talk to you."
They all thought she was faking.
Speaking of dry heaving, Fan Zehao quickly asked her, "Why would you feel nauseous for no reason?"
As soon as this topic came up, Zhao Jiaqi seemed to come alive, her spirit immediately soaring.
"Today I saw a woman. She was quite pretty, but I don't know what she used on her lips, it was so red. The moment I saw it, I felt like I was looking at pig's blood. Thinking about it made my throat feel very fishy."
This explanation completely stumped Fan Zehao. He burst into laughter and said, "Don't you eat blood sausage in winter? I saw you enjoying the blood sausage and sauerkraut stew with great gusto, so why..."
Receiving an angry glare from his wife, Fan Zehao furrowed his rough brows, lightly slapped his own mouth with his calloused palm, and smiled apologetically at his wife, "Look at my mouth, I don't speak well and I've made you angry. That... I'll have someone bring you some milk tea. Drink something sweet, and your mood will instantly improve, and you won't feel nauseous. How about that?"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded with satisfaction, "Although you said the wrong thing earlier, you corrected it in time. I'll forgive you reluctantly. Go ahead, I want sweet milk tea."
Fan Zehao wiped the sweat from his face and quickly ordered someone to make milk tea. Seeing this, Huangfu Xian was very puzzled by his elder brother's subservient attitude.
He followed Fan Zehao out and asked about the reason for his fear of his wife, "Elder Brother, you are a formidable war god outside, the Regent of Yun Kingdom, the King of the inner city. Rulers of various countries give you respect.
"On a smaller scale, you are the head of the family, the father of children, the husband of your wife, the son of elders, and the pillar of the family. Why are you so afraid of your sister-in-law?"
His words were eloquent and well-reasoned, with no apparent flaws.
He himself thought his speech today was quite brilliant. Just as he was feeling proud, Fan Zehao splashed him with a basin of ice water.
"If you're not afraid of your sister-in-law, would you dare to say these things to her?"
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Xian quickly shook his head, "I'm not that foolish to make trouble for myself."
"If you're both afraid, why are you instigating me to provoke her? Aren't you afraid I'll make things difficult for you?"
Fan Zehao had always known Huangfu Xian to be petty, but he never expected him to have such thoughts about him.
"Let me tell you, Huangfu Xian, it's already a great fortune for me to marry a wife in this lifetime. If I don't coax her or spoil her, and she leaves, who will I be with? If I were like you, unable to marry and have children, I might as well just smash my head against a wall and die."
As he spoke, he turned and walked back into the room, only to bump into his wife standing at the doorway. It was clear she had heard everything they had just said.
"Wife, you heard that too, right? This kid was instigating me to hit you. You must teach him a good lesson." He seized the opportunity to whisper in Zhao Jiaqi's ear.
It wasn't that he was betraying his brotherly loyalty; it was just that when it came to his brother versus his wife, his heart leaned more towards his wife.
Zhao Jiaqi nodded solemnly, her expression shifting unpredictably. It was clear to see that his wife was definitely going to make an example of Huangfu Xian. At this moment, he was the happiest.
Soon, the milk tea arrived. Although it didn't have pearls or fruit bits, it was still quite good to have such a refreshing drink here.
After lunch, Zhao Jiaqi called Gan Jiaojiao aside privately. Facing such a beautiful young woman, she felt a pang of reluctance.
However, she believed in fulfilling people's desires. Since Huangfu Xian was a chauvinist, she would let him know that women were indeed half the sky.
"Jiaojiao, in your eyes, between Prince Xian and Prince Xiaoyao, who do you think is more reliable? I want the truth."
Gan Jiaojiao pondered for a moment, unsure of the meaning behind her mistress's question, and then spoke her feelings, "This servant feels that Prince Xian seems more reliable than Prince Xiaoyao."
Alright, that settled it.
Zhao Jiaqi smiled brightly, a hint of excitement in her eyes. She said, "I want you to go and serve Prince Xian closely. Your goal is to find a way to make him like you, even to the point where he would do anything to marry you."
Jiaojiao's face instantly flushed red. She opened her mouth to refuse, "Mistress, this servant..."
"You don't need to rush to refuse. Listen to me before you decide." Zhao Jiaqi paused and continued, "This is called a honey trap. If you succeed, I will revoke your slave status, give you a new identity, and let you live the life you desire. Of course, as long as you don't break the law, the prince's manor will still be your support."
These terms were quite tempting for her. For an ordinary maid, she would have surely accepted such favorable conditions.
Conversely, Jiaojiao was not a genuine mistress of the Gan manor, but she had seen some of the world.
Seeing that she had been thinking for a long time, Zhao Jiaqi said, "You don't need to worry that I'm plotting against Prince Xian. I just want to let him know that women are not to be trifled with. Of course, if you develop feelings for Prince Xian in the future, I won't stop you from being together. I'll even personally see you off at your wedding. I am true to my word on this."
"Oh, right, you can copy all the books in the Gan manor then. Consider it a reward."
Upon hearing this, Jiaojiao let out a sigh of relief, but her heart also fluttered with excitement. She curtsied and said, "As long as I'm not asked to harm the royal family or involve the extermination of a clan, this mission, this servant accepts."
Zhao Jiaqi helped her up from her half-kneel and looked closely at her delicate and lovely face. She felt a bit of pity. Such a good girl, paired with that oaf, it was a shame.
She instructed Jiaojiao, "Although your status is that of a maid, you must not look down on yourself. Otherwise, others will not respect you. A woman must value herself for others to look highly upon her."
Jiaojiao pursed her red lips, her eyes moistening, and nodded, "This servant understands what Mistress means. This servant once said that in this life, I will only be a primary wife, never a concubine, and certainly not do anything as disgraceful as climbing into the master's bed. Mistress, please rest assured."
Zhao Jiaqi patted her hand. It was precisely because she was a woman of integrity that when Prince Xian wanted to marry her, she had said the same thing.
If Huangfu Xian truly loved her, he would never force himself on her.
She didn't believe in love at first sight. What was called love at first sight was merely lust at first sight.