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

Shen Qinghe seemed to have just realized he had seen her; her slender hands shrank back slightly, then she tucked them into her sleeves, and looked at him, saying:

"Young Master, I am fine."

As he spoke, Lu Jihan coldly snorted, "Speak."

Shen Qinghe feigned a troubled expression and could only reply, "Your Highness, I accidentally burned my hand while stewing the winter melon drink."

She lowered her eyes and said gently, "I've already used an ice pack, and I feel a bit better."

"Be careful," Lu Jihan instructed, his heart softening at her obedient and sensible manner. "You don't need to do everything yourself in the future. Just watch from the side, and let the kitchen staff do it."

She's a girl who makes him worry-free and has a wild side, considerate and thoughtful. It wouldn't be bad to let her stay in the small courtyard next to his study.

"Yes." Shen Qinghe pushed the winter melon drink forward: "Please try this winter melon drink, Master. It was originally made for the Old Madam. After the Old Madam drank it, she said it was quite good, refreshing and cooling. I specially saved a lot for you."

"Not bad." Lu Jihan took a sip and found that the winter melon drink was sweet and slightly sour, refreshing and palatable, so he drank a large cup.

The fatigue and frustration accumulated throughout the day dissipated almost entirely after drinking this cup of winter melon drink.

"You can go now, I still have official business to attend to." After finishing his meal, Lu Jihan immediately walked to the desk next to him, where a stack of official documents was piled up.

Shen Qinghe, being very sensible, took the food box and tray and turned to leave the room.

Lin Feng, who was drinking winter melon drink outside, smiled and asked Shen Qinghe as soon as she saw her come out, "Please slow down, Miss. Thank you for the winter melon drink."

As he spoke, Lin Feng said softly, "If the young marquis finishes early, I will go and inform you."

"Alright, thank you, Guard Linfeng."

Shen Qinghe replied with a smile, "As expected, it's always easier to get things done when you have connections."

As soon as she stepped out of the courtyard, Qing'er was waiting at the gate. Seeing Shen Qinghe come out, she quickly took the food box and tray and asked with concern, "Did you tell the young marquis about the burn, sister?"

Shen Qinghe shook her head: "No, now is not the time to say more."

"Sister, after that ceramic soup pot exploded, Mama Li said that Chen Xiaoniang's personal maid came by today. Chen Xiaoniang was jealous of you before and even made you kneel down to follow the rules. She was probably the one who did it."

Qing'er said angrily, "Why didn't you tell the young marquis, so he could help you get revenge?"

"As you said, it's most likely, not certain. We don't have any evidence. Even with Li Mama's account, no one actually saw her maid do anything. Even if we tell the young marquis, he might not believe me. Instead, he might think I'm just gossiping and causing trouble."

As Shen Qinghe spoke, her fingertips gently touched the scalded skin on the back of her hand, which still felt burning and painful, but much better than in the afternoon: "Even if the young marquis believes me and really punishes Chen Xiaoniang for me, there's no evidence. She was just someone the marquis's wife put in there. At most, they'll just deduct a little from her monthly allowance and make her copy some Buddhist scriptures—nothing serious. What's the point?"

Shen Qinghe knew very well that with someone like Chen Xiaoniang, you either shouldn't be her enemy, or once you are, she'll hold a grudge and become a persistent nuisance.

The best solution is to get rid of her completely, or at least prevent Chen Xiaoniang from blocking her path anymore.

"What can we do then? We can't just let that Chen bastard bully my sister time and time again, and have her just passively accept it, can we?"

Qing'er cursed, "She has no good intentions at all. She's always been arrogant and domineering. Every servant who worked in her courtyard has suffered her harassment and beatings. Now that you, sister, have gained the young marquis's favor, she must be green with envy and might try to harm you behind your back!"

I know you're worried about me, and I know that too.

Shen Qinghe felt a warmth in her heart. In her previous life, she had toiled her whole life and had no one to confide in.

Shen Qinghe gently patted Qing'er's hand: "Some things, either don't touch them, or if you do, you must nip them in the bud. Otherwise, a small punishment will only give her a chance to turn things around, and she will resort to all sorts of insidious methods."

She was certain that Chen Xiaoniang would not give up so easily.

It's just unknown what Chen Xiaoniang plans to do next.

While they were making plans, Shen Qinghe went back to the courtyard first, and Qing'er went to the kitchen to return the tray and food box.

Just as Qing'er was about to leave, Shen Yun'er happened to walk towards the kitchen, slipped a silver ingot into Li Mama's hand, and said something.

Shen Qinghe sat in the courtyard, twirling an empty teacup in her hand.

Presumably, Chen Xiaoniang must have felt that if she couldn't cook, she would no longer be favored by the young marquis.

So Chen Xiaoniang deliberately tampered with her kitchen utensils.

When it comes to cooking utensils, even if you investigate, it's very difficult to tell whether the problem lies with the utensils themselves, the cooking method, or the utensils themselves.

If we follow this line of thought, Chen Xiaoniang would definitely not let her win favor with her cooking skills so easily again.

"Sister, sister!"

Qing'er hurriedly ran into the courtyard.

Shen Qinghe's thoughts were immediately pulled back. "What's wrong, Qing'er?"

Qing'er lowered her voice and whispered to Shen Qinghe, "Sister, guess who I saw?"

Shen Qinghe turned her head to look at her.

"I saw Shen Yun'er. With her cooking skills, how dare she step into the kitchen? She just wants to learn from her sister and use her cooking skills to win favor."

Qing'er chuckled and continued, "I saw her slip a silver ingot into Li Mama's hand, and it seemed like she said something to Li Mama, but I didn't hear the details. But judging from her appearance, she looked shifty and definitely had bad intentions. Tomorrow is the Beginning of Autumn, and Sister even volunteered to host the Beginning of Autumn banquet for the Old Madam. We can't let anything happen at this time!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinghe smiled and ruffled her hair, saying, "Okay, I understand. I'll be on guard."

The Autumn Begins Banquet is a tradition of the Zhenguo Marquis's Mansion. Although it is called a banquet, it is actually just a meal with special features of the Autumn Begins, not a grand family reunion feast.

Generally, the families would separate. The Marquis was from the second family, and the old lady, the Marquis's wife, and Lu Jihan and Lu Huai'an's respective families would have a meal together.

Since Lady Hou is in seclusion at Mount Wutai, we will follow the example of the Old Madam.

Shen Qinghe originally planned to wait for Lin Feng's news that evening, but after waiting for an hour or so, there was still no movement.

That must mean Lu Jihan is going to be working late again. Shen Qinghe was a little tired, so she didn't plan to wait any longer and was about to rest after washing up.

To her surprise, just as she lay down, she heard a knock at the gate of the courtyard.

She put on her outer robe, went up to open the door, and saw Lin Feng standing outside.

Behind him stood the tall and straight-backed Lu Jihan.

Lin Feng knocked on the door, smiled amicably at Shen Qinghe, and turned to make room for her.

Shen Qinghe looked at Lu Jihan, "Master, are you hungry?"