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

Fu Hua Tang.

Qin had just lain down and covered herself with the blankets, not even warmed up yet, when she heard hurried footsteps outside the room.

Her expression turned cold: "Hongxing, go and take a look!"

"Yes."

After Hongxing finished speaking, she went to open the door. As soon as she saw who it was, she immediately brought the person in: "Reporting to Madam, it is the gatekeeper who said that there is news to report."

Qin Shi was helped to her feet by the other maids. She rubbed her temples and said indifferently, "What kind of news could the gatekeeper have so late at night? Speak quickly."

The servant, who had been assigned to the gatehouse early in the morning, reported directly: "Reporting to Madam, someone left the Marquis's residence tonight. It was Miss Shen from the Bamboo Garden, carrying a lantern and a food box, looking like she was delivering food to someone."

Upon hearing Shen Qinghe's name, Madam Qin immediately became interested. "Shen Qinghe?? Where could she be going so late at night?"

"I was also very curious, so I secretly followed him and discovered that Miss Shen had gone to deliver food to the young marquis on night patrol."

The servant said nervously, "The important thing is, it was the Marquis who carried Consort Shen back!"

Upon hearing this, Hongxing's expression changed, and she quickly looked at Qin Shi's expression on the couch.

Qin's face was icy cold as she gripped the bedding tightly, but she said nothing. "I understand. You may leave."

"Yes." The servant left.

Hongxing followed him out, stuffed two pieces of silver into the servant's hand, and raised her chin, asking, "Is your sister's illness cured?"

The servant quickly replied, his face filled with gratitude: "Thank you for your concern, Sister Hongxing. My sister has recovered. The doctor instructed that she needs to rest, and she will be fully recovered in another month. If it weren't for your great kindness, Madam, I'm afraid my sister wouldn't have survived."

Hongxing said in a slow, deliberate voice, "Alright, you did very well today. I don't need you to do anything else, just use your eyes. From now on, if there's anything unusual, be sure to report it immediately."

After the servant left, Hongxing went into the room and approached Madam Qin: "Madam, what about Shen Qinghe..."

"She's got all sorts of tricks up her sleeve. No wonder she's won her husband's favor. I doubt any of the girls in our courtyard could stand a chance against her."

As Qin spoke, she kept making plans in her mind.

"Madam, I remember there's a rule in the manor that women cannot leave the manor after a certain time. Shen Qinghe, she..." Hongxing reminded her softly:

"How about I have that servant boy leak the news, preferably to the ancestral hall? The Wu family is probably just looking for an excuse to cause trouble because Shen Qinghe was punished."

"That's an idea," Qin Shi raised an eyebrow. "Let's invite my husband back to the manor for dinner tomorrow!"

-

The next day, at the ancestral hall.

Wu Xiaoniang knelt down in the ancestral hall early, while Shen Yun'er arrived late.

Shen Yun'er felt hatred as soon as she saw Wu Xiaoniang. In her previous life, when she was being tormented, Wu had stirred up trouble behind the scenes!

Seeing Wu Shi kneeling before Buddhist scriptures, just like herself, and kneeling for even longer than she had, Shen Yun'er couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

But on her face, Shen Yun'er feigned concern: "If Yun'er remembers correctly, this should be Sister Wu from the young marquis's room, right? I heard that Sister Wu is always dignified and generous, and never breaks the rules. How come she was punished and sent to the ancestral hall? Is there some injustice involved?"

She approached with a concerned expression and knelt on the cushion as well.

Wu Xiaoniang glanced at her, not entirely believing her, but recognized her at a glance as Shen Qinghe's sister.

A glint of light flashed in her eyes as a plan formed in her mind: "Sister Yun'er, right? Sigh... I won't say anything more, she lost to someone else. It's just a pity for Sister Yun'er, favored by the Second Young Master, and envied by others, that's why she was forced to come here!"

"Sister Wu, are you referring to my sister?" Shen Yun'er asked.

Wu Xiaoniang pretended to be troubled and nodded.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yun'er sighed even more: "Sister Wu, I want to apologize to you on behalf of my sister. I don't know what's wrong with my sister. She's been competitive and somewhat selfish since she was little. She'll do anything to get what she wants, even resorting to unscrupulous means, and she won't hesitate to frame others. That was the case with the Linglong Peony Slices last time. But there was nothing I could do. She's my sister, so I could only protect her."

"Sister Yun'er, so that's how it is. Shen Qinghe is such a person. I'm so sorry, Sister Yun'er."

As Wu Xiaoniang spoke, the two of them cried and cried together, looking just like sisters with deep affection. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were biological sisters.

At this moment, outside the ancestral hall.

Fangfei, Wu Xiaoniang's personal maid, rushed in and whispered in her ear, "Xiaoniang, the gatekeeper said that Shen Qinghe went out late last night to meet a man!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Xiaoniang asked, "Is this really true?"

"It's true! The gatekeeper saw it all clearly!"

-

That night.

Fu Hua Tang.

"Husband, please try these dishes. They were specially made in the small kitchen in my yard."

Qin smiled as she served food to Lu Jihan, watching his reaction.

On the table in front of him was a dazzling array of dishes, three of which were the ones Lu Jihan had eaten the night before.

Crab stuffed orange, fish cooked in wine, and fish dumplings made from lotus seedpods.

She specifically ordered someone to go to the kitchen to find out what Shen Qinghe had made last night, and had someone completely imitate Shen Qinghe's cooking.

Qin scooped up a spoonful of crab meat and fed it to Lu Jihan's lips: "My husband must be tired from his night patrol, why don't you try this?"

Lu Jihan frowned slightly as he looked at the spoon pressed against his lips, but his voice remained gentle: "You work hard managing the affairs of the manor, so eat by yourself. I can do it myself."

As he spoke, Lu Jihan calmly pushed her hand away, picked up a clean spoon, scooped up a spoonful of crab meat, and put it in his mouth.

Seeing his aloofness, Qin's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered and asked, "Thank you for your concern, husband. How is the dish?"

Lu Jihan frowned slightly as he ate; the taste was bland and had a slightly fishy smell.

But he hadn't visited Qin's courtyard in a long time, so she made special preparations to give him face.

Lu Jihan pursed his lips: "Not bad."

Qin was somewhat relieved, but not long after, she saw Lu Jihan put down his chopsticks without seeing him eat much. "Husband, have you finished eating?!"

"I wasn't hungry at all," Lu Jihan said, his expression indifferent and cold.

He wasn't a picky eater to begin with, but having eaten much better food, these other dishes tasted bland to him.

Qin Shi understood perfectly well that Lu Jihan was no longer used to the food in her courtyard!

She gripped her chopsticks tightly and gave Hongxing a meaningful look.

Hongxing glanced at the maid outside the door, and the maid nodded.

Footsteps sounded quickly, and Wu Xiaoniang walked in with small, quick steps. She was startled to see Lu Jihan, then said:

"Master is here too, Madam. I have something to report, it concerns Sister Shen's innocence!"

Lu Jihan's gaze turned cold as he stared at Wu Xiaoniang: "Continue."

"Yes." Wu Xiaoniang lowered her head obediently. "This morning I heard the servants in the courtyard gossiping, saying... saying that Sister Shen went out late at night to meet a man, and that the wild man was even brought to the Marquis's gate..."