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

Lu Jihan paused in his handkerchief-wiping motion, completely unaware that her mind was preoccupied with that matter!

He straightened his face and sternly rebuked, "How can you casually bring up such a thing in broad daylight? What kind of behavior is this?!"

Shen Qinghe was almost fooled again. Seeing his reddened earlobes, she knew she had a chance, so she knelt down and pleaded softly:

"To be honest, sir, I went to pay my respects to the old lady this morning and saw that she was spending her days fasting and chanting Buddhist prayers, racking her brains for the sake of having children. I couldn't bear it. It's not that I was indulging in lewd behavior in broad daylight..."

The woman knelt on the ground, her back bent, revealing her long, fair neck and bruises that were only half-covered by her collar—the marks left by his kisses and bites the night before.

His tone was aggrieved, and his posture was weak.

Lu Jihan felt a pang of pity, and his expression softened: "Even so, you shouldn't have brought it up during the day!"

Shen Qinghe lowered her head, forced out two tears, and then looked up at him, her voice trembling slightly, choked with sobs: "This servant only wanted to share the burden of the old lady..."

As she spoke, she gently wiped her face with a handkerchief, trying her best to control the angle so that only Lu Jihan could see the features that most resembled Qin Shu's.

As expected, Lu Jihan fell silent when she glanced at him.

The woman's clear eyes were red and filled with tears as she looked at him. Her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, and her fragile yet stubborn appearance was just like his…

Actions speak louder than thoughts. Lu Jihan reached out and gently smoothed her brows with his fingertips, his heart softening considerably.

"Master..."

Suddenly, a loud sound came from the wind. He hurriedly lifted the curtain, and when he saw the scene inside, he was so frightened that he shrank back out.

Good heavens...

What did he see, and what did he disturb?

The sticky atmosphere inside the curtains was mostly dispelled.

Lu Jihan finally came to his senses, rubbed his temples, and felt somewhat annoyed.

How could he... mistake her for Shu'er again?

How could I mistake one person for another in such a short time? Could it be a hangover?

Yes, I must have drunk too much yesterday.

Lu Jihan picked up the pomegranate juice and drank it all in one gulp. He then grabbed the clothes beside him and stood up, saying, "We'll talk about tonight's matters later."

After saying that, he strode away.

Shen Qinghe was not discouraged. Although Lu Jihan did not agree today, judging from his stunned look, her efforts today were not in vain.

Soon, voices could be heard outside the curtain.

"Sir, Madam has sent someone to invite you to breakfast. Today is the fifteenth, and according to custom, you should go."

"Tell the lady that official business is urgent, so breakfast is out of the question. She can go for dinner later."

"Yes."

Shen Qinghe packed the food box while making plans.

Lin Feng was probably referring to Qin Shi, Lu Jihan's legal wife and the eldest daughter of the Duke of Qin's family. She was a renowned beauty who was proficient in all the arts from a young age.

Qin was chosen as the daughter-in-law by the Marquis's wife. Lu Jihan treated her with utmost respect, and even after three years of marriage, he refused to touch her.

For the sake of having offspring, Qin took the initiative to arrange for her husband to take three concubines. From then on, Qin's reputation for being intelligent, virtuous and kind spread throughout Chang'an, and the marriage prospects of her sisters also improved.

In her previous life, Shen Qinghe didn't have a deep impression of Qin Shi, but she had met Lu Jihan's three concubines, none of whom were easy to get along with.

Especially the concubine Chen, who is extremely petty, shallow in holding grudges, and extremely jealous.

In her previous life, Shen Yun'er had only bumped into her, but Chen Shi treated her like a concubine, beating her with a board and making her kneel in the snow for a full six hours.

In the end, Qin Shi found out and spared Shen Yun'er from punishment, but reprimanded Chen Shi. Little did she know that this matter would take root in Chen Shi's heart, and she would make things difficult for Shen Yun'er in every way.

Shen Qinghe made up her mind to avoid people like Chen Xiaoniang as much as possible.

It's better to offend ten gentlemen than one petty person.

This also served as a reminder to Shen Qinghe that now that she had entered Lu Jihan's room, she should pay her respects to Madam Qin, but it would not be appropriate to go empty-handed.

Why don't we... make something she's best at and send it over?

Shen Qinghe quickly went to the small kitchen and made a bowl of Qin's favorite quail and asparagus soup.

Just as she was about to go back to the courtyard to change her clothes, she saw Qin Shi's maidservant, who looked Shen Qinghe up and down:

"Shen Qinghe, is that right? Our lady is waiting for you!"

Shen Qinghe didn't bother to change her clothes and went with them.

-

Madam Qin was staying at Fuhua Hall on the northeast side of the bamboo garden. She was leaning against the daybed, listening to the young marquis's instructions to come for dinner.

Qin Shi propped her head up, not surprised at all. Lu Jihan was indifferent to everyone. He only cared about official business and rarely missed coming to her place except on the first and fifteenth of the month.

It's normal for me to come a little later today.

If we're talking about ambition, no one in the entire city of Chang'an is more ambitious than Lu Jihan. With such an ambitious and heroic husband, he's bound to rise to great heights. As his wife, she should be happy about that.

Unfortunately, her husband was too ambitious and had reached the point of being completely averse to women. In the three years since she married him, she had never experienced the pleasures of the bedroom. When the ladies held banquets and parties and the topic of this came up, she was always speechless and had no idea what to say!

Qin was suffering in her heart, but she could only tell herself to get used to it, though deep down she still held onto hope.

Qin Shi held a string of jade prayer beads in her hand, closed her eyes, and asked:

"Has it been found out? Where did the young marquis have his breakfast?"

The maidservant reported, "Madam, the young marquis returned home immediately after court and didn't visit the three young ladies, but... but I heard that Qinghe from the old lady's courtyard went to the training ground, carrying a food box. The young marquis must have eaten what she sent. Moreover..."

As Granny Zhou was rubbing Qin's forehead, she saw the maid who had been asking questions stammering and said sharply, "Speak! Are you mute??"

The young maid trembled and said, "Shen Qinghe is the maid that the old lady gave to the young marquis as a concubine."

Upon hearing this, Granny Zhou exclaimed, "What's the use of the old lady stuffing more in? Our young marquis is a man who doesn't get close to women. Even a beauty like Miss can't move him, so do you expect him to be swayed by a vixen? The old lady is truly confused."

"Mother Zhou".

Qin frowned slightly and called out a warning, but Pan Yuzhu's hands didn't stop: "When was this brought in?"

"Yesterday, I heard that it was she who served the young marquis last night."

The jade beads in her hand slammed onto the bed. Qin Shi suddenly opened her eyes, her brows furrowed: "You spent the whole night in your husband's room?"

"Yes...yes, we haven't seen them come out at all."

Seeing that Madam Qin's expression was not good, Granny Zhou quickly comforted her, "Miss, please don't worry. The young marquis has never been interested in women. Even if they were in the same room, nothing might necessarily happen. Besides, she's just a maidservant..."

"Have you ever seen your husband allow anyone into his bedroom?"

Qin clutched her prayer beads, her heart filled with jealousy. In the past, it was one thing, but her husband ignored his three concubines, and wouldn't even visit them once every year or two.

Although her husband treats her coldly, he eats according to the rules, so she is one of the exceptions, and they can still get by.

Now that a completely different maidservant has appeared, her previous respectful manners seem like a joke!

She was never allowed to set foot in her husband's bedroom. Every time she went to inquire about his well-being, her husband would dismiss her with a few words.

A wild maidservant came to stay, and not only did she enter places that were inaccessible to the maidservant, she also stayed overnight!

How could she not be jealous?

"Grandmother insisted on letting her in, allowing her to stay overnight, and even letting her eat the food she made. She's really found a formidable character this time!"

Madam Qin gave a cold laugh, realizing her loss of composure, and leaned back again, determined not to lose the dignity of her Duke's mansion.

Her complexion returned to normal. She closed her eyes and began to string her prayer beads together. "It's just in time that she's come to pay her respects. Let's go and invite Chen Xiaoniang over. I haven't seen her in a long time."

Upon hearing this, Granny Zhou immediately understood: "Miss is brilliant. This old servant will go and invite her right away."