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

In the quiet courtyard, just as dawn was breaking, an unusual tinkling sound began to play.

Early in the morning, Shen Qinghe was awakened by the sound of knocking in her ear. She was too sleepy and wanted to sleep a little longer.

Who knew that it was like a house being demolished outside, with the noise coming in waves, giving Shen Qinghe a headache and making her temples throb.

She threw off the covers, got out of bed, and stormed out: "Qing'er!! What's going on in the courtyard at this hour?! It's so noisy! Can't a person get any sleep this early in the morning?!"

This was the first time Shen Qinghe had shown such a temper since her rebirth.

She was really tired and sleepy!

It's really too much to disturb someone's sleep!

Shen Qinghe's outburst seemed to sober her up a bit. She opened her eyes and stared, completely dumbfounded—

Five or six servants were in the northwest corner of her courtyard, holding all sorts of tools, hammering and nailing...

No, you're really going to demolish her yard?!

At this moment, Qing'er ran towards Shen Qinghe like a butterfly.

Shen Qinghe was caught off guard: "What's going on??"

Unlike her innocent demeanor, Qing'er reported with a beaming smile, "Sister, these craftsmen were brought here by Guard Linfeng this morning."

Shen Qinghe blinked, her mind not quite processing it: "They're here to demolish my yard??"

"It's not about demolishing the courtyard, it's about building a house!" Qing'er smiled brightly and said softly, "Guard Linfeng said that you often go to the kitchen to cook, and the kitchen isn't exactly close to Zhuyuan Road. Besides, there are a lot of people and gossips in the kitchen. You're a concubine now, and if you still go to the kitchen every day, it's bound to cause others to gossip."

At this point, Qing'er's voice suddenly rose several octaves: "So, the Marquis said that a small kitchen should be built in the young lady's courtyard, so that she won't have to run to the manor's kitchen every day!"

Seeing that Shen Qinghe didn't react for a moment, Qing'er winked playfully:

"It's true that what the Marquis said just now was true, but Guard Linfeng secretly told me that the Marquis is all bark and no bite. He said he was worried about what others would say, but actually he just didn't want my sister to compete with others for the kitchen. He wanted to make things easier for my sister so that it wouldn't be so easy for those people to tamper with the food."

Shen Qinghe stared blankly at the servants working, then at Qing'er, and said in disbelief:

"You mean, I have my own little kitchen now?"

Qing'er raised her chin and affirmed, "That's right, sister! Not only that, but this small kitchen is only for your use! In the entire Marquis's mansion, only the main wives' courtyards have small kitchens. And in the Bamboo Garden, only the wives' courtyards have small kitchens!"

Shen Qinghe blinked: "I'll never fight with others for the kitchen again? I won't have to fight for kitchen utensils or ingredients anymore?"

"Not only that, from now on, everything in that small kitchen will be under your control, sister. You'll be in charge!"

Qing'er said with a smile.

Shen Qinghe's heart trembled, filled with an indescribable feeling.

Does she... now have the authority to make all decisions?

Shen Qinghe couldn't help but recall her past life, where she supported and urged Lu Huai'an to survive among his wives and concubines, toiling away half her life, with no choice in anything she did.

She eventually became the Lady of the Marquis, but Lu Huai'an disliked her because of his philandering. She had to protect his official reputation and manage the affairs of the mansion.

Despite her glamorous appearance, nothing in her life is actually determined by her mood.

But this newly built small kitchen is different. She can decide what to cook, what to eat, or whether to cook at all today, it's all up to her.

Qing'er noticed Shen Qinghe's slightly red eyes and her heart tightened: "Sister, what's wrong? Why are you crying over such a good thing?"

"I'm fine." Shen Qinghe wiped her face and looked at her: "Where is the Marquis?"

Qing'er answered honestly, "Guard Linfeng said that Master is going to patrol the city today, and he doesn't know when he will return to the manor!"

Shen Qinghe already had a plan in mind. She looked at the servants in the corner and carefully observed them before discovering that Fang Yu was also among them helping out.

She instructed Qing'er: "Although they are servants in the manor, you and I are women after all. In the future, have Fang Yu deal with them more often."

She could also observe Fang Yu from this.

-

Early morning, Fu Hua Tang.

As soon as Qin got up, before she had even finished washing and dressing, she heard Hongxing hurriedly report back:

"Madam, Guard Linfeng came by last night."

Qin Shi propped her head up, her fingertips tracing the smooth jade beads one by one, her eyes lowered: "What did you say?"

"Master said the people assigned to Consort Shen's courtyard are not clean, and he wants Madam to assign someone else." Hongxing lowered her eyes, looking somewhat troubled.

"Yesterday, Taoyao got into a fight with Zisu in the kitchen and said she accidentally hurt Shen Xiaoniang. A lot of kitchen utensils were smashed. Last night, the master happened to go to Shen Xiaoniang's room. When he came out, he fined Wu Xiaoniang three months' wages and made her go to the Buddhist hall every day and kneel for five hours."

"Fool." Madam Qin sneered, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. "I thought Madam Wu would be a bit smarter than Madam Chen, but it turns out she only has a little bit, not much at all! She tried to harm Shen Qinghe but ended up being outmaneuvered herself. Fine, let her think about it herself and stop underestimating Shen Qinghe."

"Oh, right, and Chen Shi too. I don't know how the master found out about the matter of changing Shen Qinghe's kitchen utensils. Guard Linfeng went there personally."

As Hongxing spoke, she kept observing her wife's expression, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Qin lifted her eyelids and glanced at her: "Speak."

"And... the Marquis ordered that someone be sent to Shen Xiaoniang's courtyard to build a small kitchen."

With a loud "bang!", the jade beaded string was slammed onto the table. Qin Shi sneered, "Look at this! Everyone says Shen Qinghe has fallen out of favor, everyone says the master hasn't stayed at her place for a while, and what's the result? They've even built a small kitchen for her! In the entire Marquis's mansion, what concubine receives this kind of treatment?"

Hongxing said worriedly, "Yes, Madam. Right now, besides you and Madam Chen, no one knows Shen Qinghe is pregnant. If the Marquis and the Old Madam find out, she'll probably be promoted to a concubine!"

Qin clenched the jade bead in her hand, her knuckles turning white: "Then it depends on Chen's methods and Shen Qinghe's own luck."

-

That night.

With the Thousand Buddhas Festival approaching, Lu Jihan did not return to his residence, presumably because he was leading his soldiers on a night patrol.

Shen Qinghe prepared the food and asked Lin Feng to arrange a carriage for her, and then went to the city gate.

She was lucky; as soon as she got off the carriage, she saw Lu Jihan in armor, leading his soldiers and carrying weapons.

In the darkness of night, the armor gleamed with a chilling light under the moonlight.

When Lu Jihan saw the slender figure in light green standing at the door, he frowned in surprise.