The Marquis's line has ended? The pregnant maid is pregnant again!

Shen Qinghe looked at the bowl of pickled radish, bamboo shoot, and pigeon soup in front of her, but she hadn't even taken a bite yet.

Lu Jihan glanced at her: "What are you still standing there for?"

"I've cooked some dumplings and a bowl of pickled radish, bamboo shoot, and pigeon soup. Would you like to try some, Your Highness?"

As Shen Qinghe spoke, she felt extremely reluctant to part with the soup, which had been simmering on the stove for a full hour, making it the most delicious at that moment.

However, since it ended up in Lu Jihan's stomach, it wasn't a complete loss.

Shen Qinghe brought the dumplings and soup to Lu Jihan. Seeing his tense expression, she knew he was not someone to mess with.

Lu Jihan didn't ask any more questions. After wiping his hands, he picked up his silver chopsticks, took a dumpling, and put it in his mouth without saying a word.

It seems like you're in a really bad mood.

Shen Qinghe ladled him a bowl of soup, adding two pigeon legs, a few pieces of pickled radish, and bamboo shoots. She asked softly, "Master, the people outside probably haven't eaten yet. I've cooked quite a lot; should I take some to them?"

Qing'er and Lin Feng outside are still hungry!

"Go."

Lu Jihan looked up, surprised that she was thinking about the servants at this time; she was quite different.

Watching Shen Qinghe's departing figure, one soon noticed the smiles on Lin Feng and Qing'er's faces, both directed at Shen Qinghe, without a trace of pretense.

This is very different from the Chen family member who just beat and scolded the servants.

Shen Qinghe actually served three bowls of dumplings and three bowls of soup, and then ate them with Qing'er at the table outside the door.

"Linfeng! Come and eat with us!"

Shen Qinghe brought out the third bowl of dumplings and called to Lin Feng.

Lin Feng was surprised to find himself included: "Miss Qinghe, it's alright, I'm not hungry."

"How could I not be hungry? Food is essential for life. No matter how healthy you are, you still need to eat. Tonight, just grab a bite."

Shen Qinghe pushed the bowl in front of him, "Let's eat something together."

"Alright!" Lin Feng wasn't one to be coy. The young master had been busy all afternoon and hadn't eaten much for dinner. Lin Feng hadn't eaten dinner either, and now his stomach was growling with hunger.

At this moment, the bowl of dumplings that Shen Qinghe brought out was exactly what he wanted.

That's wonderful! Qinghe is so kind! She even prepared a bowl for him too!

"tasty!!"

Lin Feng ate heartily, speaking incoherently, so moved he was almost in tears. He resolved to treat Qinghe better in the future.

"Linfeng, I remember today isn't the first day of the month. The young marquis should be in his wife's courtyard, right? Why do you look like you came here in a huff?"

Shen Qinghe asked while eating dumplings.

"Yes. It was supposed to be with Madam, but I don't know what happened to her, she left Chen Xiaoniang there. When you went there, Chen Xiaoniang said she had made some food and specially brought it up. Upon closer inspection, it was the milk jelly that Miss made a few days ago."

Lin Feng explained without reservation: "Master took pity on her good intentions and tried it. Who knew that the taste was no match for what the young lady made. Master was not in a good mood, and Chen Xiaoniang cried and said a few words about knowing that she was not as good as the young lady, as if she had suffered a great injustice. Tell me, isn't this deliberately provoking me? Master grew up in the inner quarters and hates this kind of thing the most. He didn't even eat two bites of the meal before coming back."

"I see, thank you so much! Eat more, there's still soup here, and the pigeon meat is delicious."

Shen Qinghe smiled and pushed the soup bowl towards him.

On such a fine day, wasn't Chen Xiaoniang deliberately inviting bad luck? It was her own stupidity.

Lin Feng took a sip of the soup, finding it tangy and delicious: "It's really good! Your cooking is excellent, miss. If you ever need any of my subordinates in the future, just let me know!"

"Oh, there is something I'd like to trouble you with." Shen Qinghe readily made her request.

"Isn't the Thousand Buddhas Festival approaching? Copying the sutra in blood is sincere enough, but it might not be enough in front of Her Majesty the Empress. I'd also like some silk thread to embroider a Buddha image to present as a token of my sincerity. However, the silk thread for embroidering Buddhas is very particular, and ordinary shops don't carry it. I can't leave the palace without permission, so please help me find some."

"Alright! It's just silk thread, I'll certainly prepare it for you, young lady!"

Lin Feng readily agreed.

Since she needed his help, she naturally wanted to be hospitable. Shen Qinghe pushed her pigeon soup in front of him, smiling brightly: "Eat more."

After Lu Jihan finished eating, he wiped his hands with a handkerchief, glanced outside, and saw Shen Qinghe and the other two chatting animatedly, giving and receiving responses.

They looked like they were playing together.

Lu Jihan took in the gesture of pushing her pigeon soup bowl in front of Lin Feng and the bright smile she gave him.

Remembering her earlier suggestion to serve Lin Feng a bowl of dumplings, he unconsciously frowned.

After finishing their meal, Shen Qinghe and the other two felt refreshed. Then, they turned around and saw Lu Jihan suddenly looking out the window.

Shen Qinghe: ?

Shen Qinghe stood up and asked, "Master, will you be visiting my courtyard tonight?"

"I'm not going."

Lu Jihan gave her a cold look, then got up and left with Lin Feng.

Shen Qinghe scratched her head, completely bewildered. What had she done to offend him?

"It can't be because the dumplings I made were bad today, can it?"

Qing'er quickly retorted, "How could that be? This servant and Guard Linfeng ate every last drop of soup! How could it not be delicious?"

Lu Jihan had just arrived at the entrance to the study courtyard when his gaze shifted and he caught a glimpse of light.

Turning his head, he saw that it was Shen Qinghe carrying an octagonal palace lantern, chasing after them with Qing'er.

Lu Jihan frowned immediately. He had originally thought she was different from those seductive and alluring women like Chen Xiaoniang; he thought she was someone who knew her place and how to behave, someone who wouldn't be difficult to pamper.

To everyone's surprise, she chased after him without a second thought.

Lu Jihan's irritation intensified. When Shen Qinghe was standing not far in front of him, he said coldly, "Although the dumplings were good and the soup was acceptable, I will not be going to your courtyard today."

Shen Qinghe blinked: "Yes, this servant understands."

"You understand? You understand and you still won't turn around and leave?" Lu Jihan's handsome face tightened: "Even if you chase me into the courtyard, I won't go."

"Such a haughty little thing," Shen Qinghe thought to herself, but nodded earnestly, "Yes, yes, whatever you say goes."

So you're still not leaving? What's she thinking? I never realized she was so shameless. Lu Jihan's expression grew even colder, but his words were completely different: "Even if you chase me into the study, I have official business to attend to today."

"Yes, this servant will take her leave."

As she spoke, Shen Qinghe led Qing'er toward the courtyard gate not far away. Halfway there, she turned back and winked at him, saying, "If you get hungry in the middle of the night, you can wake me up and I'll make you something delicious."

Watching Shen Qinghe and the other woman turn and enter the courtyard beside him, Lu Jihan frowned even more deeply, his gaze sharp as he stared at Lin Feng: "When did she move here?"

Lin Feng scratched the back of his head: "It was today. The old lady gave that courtyard to Qinghe to live in."

Lu Jihan: ...So she wasn't trying to curry favor with him?

Just going back to her place?

Just now… recalling his repeated emphasis, Lu Jihan's earlobes turned red.

Why is he suddenly losing his composure?

Who's really in charge here?