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

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinghe barely understood Lu Jihan's meaning and hurriedly explained, "Don't worry, Master, this was specially made for you."

Lu Jihan turned his head and glanced at her: "Where is Grandmother?"

If Shen Qinghe said she didn't send any to the old lady, wouldn't she be scolded for being unfilial?

Fortunately, Shen Qinghe did deliver it to the old lady, and said with a smile, "This servant has already served the old lady her meal."

"Then what are you saying, specifically? Deliberately? Just?" Lu Jihan threw the handkerchief he was using to wipe his hands onto the table.

Is he jealous of the old lady? Shen Qinghe finally understood that it was the man's possessiveness that was at play.

Which man in this world, especially one of higher status, doesn't have a possessive desire for his wives and concubines?

But that's possessiveness towards what one owns; no man is willing to easily give away what he owns to someone else.

Possessiveness is a natural human trait.

Shen Qinghe already understood and explained, "Young Marquis, the old lady has a weak stomach and intestines, so I prepared different food for her. As for you... you've been experiencing internal heat lately, so I specifically consulted the physician and prepared cold food."

Shen Qinghe pushed the food in front of Lu Jihan, looked at him, and blinked innocently: "Isn't this specially made just for you, Master? Even the Old Madam didn't get to eat any."

Lu Jihan looked at her and saw her bright and sweet smile. He took the chopsticks she handed him and turned his head away.

Shen Qinghe watched Lu Jihan eat without saying a word, feeling a little uneasy.

Although she has never made anything wrong, I wonder how it tastes after all this time?

"Master?" Shen Qinghe asked tentatively.

Lu Jihan lifted his eyelids and glanced at her: "It's alright, nothing special!"

He said it as if he was looking down on it, but he didn't stop picking up food from his plate the whole time.

Having figured things out, Shen Qinghe didn't ask any more questions and simply served quietly from the side.

When she stops talking, some people feel uncomfortable.

Lu Jihan looked up and saw Shen Qinghe standing in a corner. He frowned and asked, "Why are you hiding so far away?"

Shen Qinghe was lost in thought when he scolded her, and she quickly came to her senses and said, "This servant...doesn't want to disturb the young marquis's meal, and is also afraid that it will make him lose his appetite."

Lu Jihan looked at her, puzzled: "When did I say you were bothering me?"

"Your Highness ate with great relish, but only said it was so-so. Then it's not that the food I made was bad, but rather that it's my fault."

Shen Qinghe spoke deliberately, her eyes lowered in a submissive manner.

Lu Jihan choked, not expecting this girl to see things so clearly.

She didn't say anything, just looked at me pitifully.

Lu Jihan couldn't bring himself to pick up another bite with his chopsticks, and said awkwardly, "Alright, alright, your cooking is delicious. No one in the entire Marquis's mansion cooks better than you, is that alright?"

"Thank you for your praise, sir. I understand."

Shen Qinghe, known for her thick skin, looked up at him and said, "I'm sure you enjoyed your meal, sir. In that case... are you going back to the manor tonight, sir?"

Lu Jihan was so angry at her shameless behavior that he laughed out loud: "Go back! Go to your courtyard. If you don't prepare a Manchu Han Imperial Feast tonight, I'll punish you!"

"Fine." Shen Qinghe didn't care. She wanted to fight and compete. What did she care about saving face?

Besides, she didn't use any underhanded tricks.

Lu Jihan: "Of all the people in the Marquis's mansion, you're the most shameless of them all!"

Shen Qinghe replied with a smile, "You flatter me, sir. How could I dare?"

Lu Jihan: ...If she doesn't dare, then no one else will!

Outside the camp.

The soldiers were resting, and their voices could be heard constantly:

"Thanks to that pretty girl, otherwise I wouldn't even have time to rest."

"What's wrong with the young marquis lately? He's been going to the military camp every day, even though he has military duties to perform. It's like he never goes home."

"Yes, these past two days were supposed to be the young marquis's days off, but who knew that he would be running to the military camp all the time during his days off? He's been acting like he's been injected with chicken blood every day."

"Please, I haven't been home in so long."

As the soldiers were discussing the matter, Yun Chen announced loudly, "The general has ordered that today and tomorrow are days off. Everyone should go and collect five taels of silver to go home and rest!"

In an instant, the cheers of the soldiers completely drowned out Yun Chen's voice.

-

When Shen Qinghe returned, her steps were much lighter.

Seeing that it was still early, Shen Qinghe strolled around Chang'an City and bought a lot of fresh food.

In the past, whether she was a maid or a concubine in the old lady's courtyard, she could not easily leave the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion.

The only time I could go out was when I was ordered to go out, but the time was set and there was usually no time to stop.

This was the first time she had left the manor so easily.

Rarely able to breathe the air of freedom, Shen Qinghe looked at the bustling streets of Chang'an, where vendors, travelers, and passersby came and went in an endless stream.

Everyone lives in this world, finding joy in their own way as well as experiencing their own hardships.

Shen Qinghe's resolve grew stronger. Once she gave birth, saved enough money, and gained her freedom, she was determined to find a small place and start a small business.

Work at sunrise, and rest at sunset.

Shen Qinghe bought two bowls of fresh pork wontons, but before she could even put the wontons in her mouth, she lost her appetite and couldn't eat a single bite.

Shen Qinghe brought some food for Qing'er and then went back.

"Sister, aren't you going to eat?" Qing'er looked at Shen Qinghe with some concern. "Since autumn started, sister's appetite has been poor, and she can't eat anything."

As she spoke, Qing'er thought for a moment with a worried expression, then suddenly remembered something. She took something out of her small cloth bag and placed it in front of Shen Qinghe: "Sister, these are some salted plums I made myself, but it's my first time making them, so they're not very tasty. I heard they can stimulate the appetite, would you like to try them, sister?"

"It's nothing, she's probably just worried too much about the Buddha statues for the Thousand Buddha Festival." Shen Qinghe wasn't interested either, but seeing Qing'er's nervous look, she reluctantly picked one up and put it in her mouth.

The sour and salty taste exploded in her mouth. It was definitely not the taste of a normal salted plum, but Shen Qinghe found it surprisingly good.

Shen Qinghe raised an eyebrow in surprise and looked at Qing'er: "Is there anything else?"

Qing'er was shocked: "Sister, something so sour... I ate one and it almost made my teeth hurt. I wouldn't have given it to you if I had no other choice."

"It really does whet the appetite, and I love sour things." Shen Qinghe put all the salted plums from her cloth bag into a plate.

Because of those few extremely sour pickled plums, Shen Qinghe ate an extra bowl of rice, which was unusual for her.

In the evening.

Hongxing, Qin Shi's maid, led a group of people to Shen Qinghe's courtyard, saying that she was now a concubine and would have more servants.

Suddenly, he came with two maids and a servant, all of whom were unfamiliar faces.