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

Lu Jihan remained silent, his thin lips pressed together, for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Reprimand her?

He couldn't bring himself to say it, nor did he have any words to rebuke him.

Just being looked at by her was enough to soften his heart, let alone being looked at with such alluring eyes; he was already...

Zhu Jihan was a little taken aback. He didn't like going into the backyard much before, but he had been there before, and his wives and concubines would fawn over him.

He used to be completely calm and composed.

Why...why do I suddenly act like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy in front of this little girl?

Even though he knew she was deliberately trying to curry favor, he still felt restless and agitated just from her glance.

Shen Qinghe was truly used to her parents' favoritism. In her previous life, after she became the wife of the Grand Secretary, her parents suddenly became very warm towards her.

It was then that Shen Qinghe realized that people are all driven by self-interest.

Even with family ties, even with parents, it's not that they can't treat both sides equally; it's just that the benefits she provides aren't enough.

So, parental love is nothing more than this.

After her rebirth, Shen Qinghe did think about them, but she simply didn't want to.

She neither hates nor loves.

Even today in the garden, she wasn't surprised by the slap from Shen's father. She preferred to use her unspeakable background as a tool to curry favor.

At least her past of hardship and hunger could provide her with some last bit of benefit.

Shen Qinghe reached out and gently climbed onto Lu Jihan's hand, her fingertips slowly stroking up his arm and gradually wrapping around his neck.

"Sir, please?"

Shen Qinghe leaned closer and asked, "How about you grant me this one time?"

"Your current physical condition is unclear; you must not act recklessly."

Lu Jihan put on a stern face and deliberately lectured her like an old scholar: "Let's talk about it after this period is over."

"But I want to... please?" Shen Qinghe clung to him, not letting go. She had already noticed his rising body temperature. "Don't you want to, Master?"

"Of course, I am not the kind of person who indulges in debauchery in broad daylight." Lu Jihan did not even frown, sitting upright and looking very serious.

The next moment, Lu Jihan tensed up, his body trembled, and his deep sword-like eyes were filled with disbelief as he looked down at her.

The blood and qi surged upwards like crazy!

To everyone's surprise, Shen Qinghe didn't think anything of it. She put one arm around his neck, kissed him on the lips, and smiled like a fairy.

She blinked her big eyes. "But sir, it seems my body tells a different story!"

Lu Jihan's ears turned bright red instantly; where was the upright gentleman, the epitome of virtue, from just moments before?

He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, never expecting this little girl to be so incredibly bold!

Shen Qinghe responded with a smile: "Master...why aren't you saying anything?"

After he finished speaking, a strong, large hand pressed down on her waist and against his chest.

Lu Jihan slightly raised his head to look at the person in front of him, and gritted his teeth, saying, "The times are so special, you're not allowed to act recklessly, or you'll harm your health!"

"Who says it has to be completely thorough?"

Shen Qinghe ignored Lu Jihan, took out a fire-avoidance diagram from her sleeve, and stuck out her tongue with a smile: "I saw several suitable methods on it, Master, would you like to try them?"

"If you make me feel good, then I'll help you..." Shen Qinghe blinked her eyes, looking at him expectantly and mischievously, "How about a kiss?"

After saying that, she didn't give Lu Jihan a chance to refuse and took the initiative to act.

Lu Jihan's entire body was taut like a bowstring, his face flushed red, and veins bulging beneath his thin skin.

He couldn't help but raise his head, his neck bending into an arc.

He sighed.

Shen Qinghe looked at him, her face flushed: "It's time for you to make me feel good, Master..."

-

Yuhetang.

The person was invited from outside the mansion by the old lady, so of course she couldn't just leave them alone.

Granny Kang had already sent people to check the situation. Although they wouldn't follow closely, they could still take a look from a distance.

"How is it?" The old lady asked, fiddling with her prayer beads as she looked at Granny Kang in front of her.

With an uncontrollable smile on her face, Granny Kang stepped forward and whispered in the old lady's ear what she knew.

When she arrived, the garden was empty, but the Bamboo Garden Study had requested water.

Upon hearing this, the old lady's eyes widened in shock: "What?! They want water in broad daylight?!"

"Yes, I asked. It was the young marquis who took Miss Qinghe back. Not long after they got back, they asked for water," Kang Mama reported. Seeing that the old lady's face didn't show the expected smile, she paused immediately.

"Madam, perhaps Qinghe will be able to conceive soon, why aren't you happy?"

"Nonsense! Jihan is being ridiculous!" The old lady said anxiously, "I certainly hope Qinghe can get pregnant soon. Although the physician said that Qinghe can't be diagnosed with pregnancy yet, her period is indeed late. Maybe she's already pregnant, it's just too early. Normally I would be overjoyed, but at this time..."

The old lady sighed as she spoke.

"What you say makes sense, Madam. However, the Zhuang family physician is an old doctor who has been used by the Marquis's family for decades. His medical skills far surpass those of those unlicensed doctors outside, and he can be trusted."

Granny Kang thought for a moment, "If the old lady is still worried, then this servant will go out and inquire. I remember there is a renowned gynecologist in Chang'an, a female doctor who is highly praised in the city. Many ladies from wealthy families consult her! Why don't we invite her back to have Qinghe examined again? That way, the old lady will feel more at ease."

As she spoke, Granny Kang hesitated for a moment, "But her clinic is always packed, and she likes to travel around practicing medicine, so we might not be able to run into her."

"Good idea. Have someone do it. Money is not a problem; just bring them back as soon as possible."

As the old lady spoke, she clutched her chest, sensing that something was about to happen. After a moment's thought, she looked at Granny Kang and said, "Oh, right, there's also my granddaughter-in-law. Although I value Qinghe's unborn child, my granddaughter-in-law has always been easygoing and generous. As her legal wife, I naturally value her as well. Go to the storeroom and get some nice things to send to her; we can't let her feel disheartened."

Just as she finished speaking, a maidservant announced, "Reporting to the old lady, the eldest young mistress has arrived."

Just when you're about to doze off, someone brings you a pillow. The old lady said, "Please come in."

As soon as Qin Shi arrived, the old lady pulled her over to sit down.

Granny Kang smiled and said, "Young Madam, you've come at just the right time! The Old Madam has been talking about you and asked me to bring you some nice things!"

"Then Grandmother and I are kindred spirits; I was just thinking of you!" Madam Qin smiled as well. "Grandmother, I heard that Qinghe is pregnant?"

"Sigh..." The old lady saw that she had not done anything to harm Shen Qinghe before, and had taken the initiative to agree to let Lu Jihan take a concubine. She thought that Qin was a dignified and tolerant wife.

She was also unsuspecting of Madam Qin: "If I were really pregnant, I wouldn't be so worried. The physician said he can't detect any pregnancy yet."

"It's because the granddaughter-in-law is incompetent, doesn't win her husband's favor, and can't share her grandmother's burdens."

Madam Qin sighed, her face filled with self-reproach.

"This isn't your fault, my good child. Ji Han won't touch you, and even if you were a god, there's nothing you can do about it," the old lady patted her hand to comfort her.

Qin had come today to test the old lady's attitude, and seeing that the old lady was still comforting her, she felt a little more confident.

Qin wiped away her tears and said, "Grandmother, don't worry. When Qinghe gives birth and brings her to my Fuhua Hall, I will definitely love and care for her as if she were my own child."

Upon hearing this, the old lady smiled and said, "My granddaughter-in-law manages many affairs of the household and is already exhausted. We can talk about the children later; there's no need for you to worry about it so soon."

The old lady's words, though seemingly out of concern, were actually a polite rebuff, failing to give Qin the answer she wanted.

Qin couldn't say anything, since the child hadn't been born yet and Shen Qinghe's pregnancy hadn't been confirmed. It was indeed too early, and there was no way to continue the conversation.

-

Ronggui Hall.

"Fangfei, see Yun'er's parents out of the mansion." Having gotten the answer she wanted, Wu Xiaoniang immediately put on a smile and treated Shen's mother very kindly.

Madam Shen was somewhat worried about Shen Yun'er. Looking at Wu Xiaoniang's gentle and enthusiastic manner, she couldn't help but have some thoughts: "Xiaoniang, I heard that you are also the young marquis's woman. Your status should be similar to that of my ungrateful wretch. Yun'er's father and I are just farmers with little knowledge and ability. We have no way to protect Yun'er in this marquis's mansion."

As she spoke, Madam Shen took out a gold-carved hairpin with a begonia and a vermilion bird design from her sleeve. She couldn't bear to wear this hairpin herself!

The orange was hastily stuffed into Wu Xiaoniang's hand: "So I would like to ask you, Xiaoniang, to look after my Yun'er in the manor. If that ungrateful wretch ever bullies my Yun'er again in the future, I would appreciate it if you could help me out."

"No, no... I wouldn't need your things at all."

Looking at Ju Zi's plain appearance, Wu Xiaoniang felt a little disgusted, but she didn't show it. She was convinced that a family like this couldn't possibly have anything good to offer, so she wanted to refuse without even looking at the gift.

To everyone's surprise, as soon as Wu Xiaoniang said this, she looked down and saw the hairpin that Ju Zi was handing over. Her eyes lit up with amazement.

This hairpin, of such high quality, is clearly not cheap. It is exquisitely crafted and wrapped with solid gold wire, making it seem like something only wealthy and powerful families could afford.

Following Ju Zi's lead, Wu Xiao Niang tucked the gold-carved begonia and vermilion bird hairpin into her sleeve. "Don't worry, I will take good care of Yun'er. However, this is only a temporary solution. If you could find someone to persuade Qing He, perhaps she and Yun'er could reconcile."

A calculating glint flashed in Wu Xiaoniang's eyes: "I just wonder if anyone can persuade Qinghe? I heard from Yun'er that Qinghe seems to listen to the neighbor's brother since she was little. If we could find that person to talk to her, maybe Qinghe will see the error of her ways!"

"The boy next door..." After a moment's thought, Madam Shen immediately agreed that Wu Xiaoniang's idea was excellent. "Alright, I'll go back and find Brother Chu! That ingrate has always listened to him since he was little!"

After saying that, Shen's mother thought she had seen a glimmer of hope and left with Shen's father.

Once outside the manor, Madam Shen breathed a sigh of relief, not only because she had left the strictly regulated Marquis's residence, but also because of the hairpin.