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

Qin quickly stood up, but someone rushed ahead of her to meet her.

Chen Xiaoniang's eyes lit up, her charming face bearing a flattering smile. She quickly walked up to Lu Jihan and gave a soft, delicate curtsy.

"This humble servant greets Your Highness."

Madam Qin frowned, looking at Chen Xiaoniang's coquettish manner, and was absolutely furious.

The old woman next to her immediately muttered, "She really is a vixen who is not much better than Shen Qinghe. All she knows are these despicable tricks to seduce people!"

"What kind of thing dares to presume to stand in front of Miss, the legitimate wife? Doesn't it know its place as a mere maid?"

Madam Qin frowned coldly and reminded her, "Mother, be careful what you say."

After saying that, Madam Qin put on a faint smile, which was both appropriate and generous: "Now that Master is here, tell the kitchen staff to prepare the meal, and remember to make sure it includes the dishes that Master likes to eat."

Qin stepped forward past the kneeling Shen Qinghe without glancing at her once. She bowed to Lu Jihan with an air of poise and grace, befitting the wife of a noble family.

Madam Qin asked, "Husband, didn't you say you'd come in the evening? Why did you come at noon? Is there something you need?"

Lu Jihan didn't help Chen Xiaoniang up, leaving her kneeling. He didn't directly answer Qin Shi's question either, but instead looked at Shen Qinghe and asked again:

"What are you doing?"

Only then did Madam Qin notice that ever since Lu Jihan entered Fuhua Hall, neither she nor Chen Xiaoniang had received a single glance; her husband had been staring intently at the kneeling Shen Qinghe.

He didn't even answer her question!

It seems that Shen Qinghe is quite different and will be very difficult to deal with.

Qin clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her heart filled with jealousy, but she could only maintain a calm expression, explaining, "If my husband hadn't asked, I would have forgotten. Why is Qinghe still kneeling! Zhou Mama, hurry up and help her up! What if something happens if she kneels like that?"

After saying that, Madam Qin lowered her head and saw Chen Xiaoniang's pleading eyes.

Even if Chen Xiaoniang was foolish, she could see that the young marquis was staring at Shen Qinghe.

Qin raised an eyebrow, her voice calm yet authoritative: "Sister Chen, what's going on? Explain this to your husband."

It seems like they're handling it fairly right now.

Chen Xiaoniang shrank back in fear, looking very intimidated by Lu Jihan: "I...I don't know either. She was the one who wanted to offer that soup. I just wanted to test her sincerity on behalf of my sister."

Lu Jihan rebuked sharply, "When did it become your place, a concubine, to test people on behalf of the principal wife in my Zhenguo Marquis's mansion?!"

Shen Qinghe listened to the sounds behind her the whole time, observing Lu Jihan's attitude from the moment he entered.

It seems... that the odds are temporarily in her favor? Then she can't let this opportunity slip by easily.

Just as the maid was about to help her up, Shen Qinghe took the opportunity to go limp and pretend to faint.

"Snapped!"

The ceramic soup bowl smashed on the ground, shattering into pieces, and the food inside spilled all over the floor.

The maidservant cried out in alarm, "Madam, Miss Qinghe has fainted!!"

For a moment, chaos ensued.

Just as Shen Qinghe was starting to faint, a strong arm suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her against a hard chest.

Shen Qinghe tried her best to act, keeping her composure, she couldn't afford to give herself away!

Lu Jihan looked at the pale and weak face in his arms, a stark contrast to her rosy complexion in the training ground. A surge of irritation rose in his chest. "Chen Xiaoniang, punish her by taking away three months' salary and making her copy ten volumes of Buddhist scriptures."

After saying that, Lu Jihan immediately instructed Lin Feng: "Send the person back and quickly call the royal physician."

"yes!"

Lin Feng responded and immediately led several servants to carry Shen Qinghe back on a stretcher.

Chen Xiaoniang was also dragged out by Granny Zhou.

At this moment, only Lu Jihan and Madam Qin remained in Fuhua Hall.

Qin felt a pang of jealousy when she thought of Shen Qinghe being held in Lu Jihan's arms.

She had never been touched by her husband, let alone held affectionately.

"What are you standing there for?" Lu Jihan glanced at Qin Shi, and without waiting for her, strode into the house.

Qin came to her senses and hurriedly followed.

Upon entering, one sees Lu Jihan sitting cross-legged on a daybed, reading a book in his hand.

Madam Qin calmed her breathing, regained her composed and elegant demeanor, took the hot tea from the maid, and served it to her.

"Would you like to try some freshly brewed pre-Qingming Longjing tea, my husband?"

To everyone's surprise, Lu Jihan seemed engrossed in his book, remaining silent and not even taking the cup of tea.

The tea was brewed by the maid at Qin's instruction, and it was piping hot. Qin held it, and her hands quickly turned red from the heat.

The pain in my fingers is excruciating.

Qin tentatively began, "Husband, it's hot..."

Only then did Lu Jihan slowly take the tea from her hand, and Qin Shi felt a little better.

Lu Jihan lifted the tea lid, skimmed off the foam with it, blew on it twice, took a small sip, and placed it on the small table beside him.

"You know it's hot?"

Qin froze, immediately understanding Lu Jihan's intention. Just as she was about to explain herself, she met his indifferent and calm eyes.

"You are the legal wife, managing so many people in the Bamboo Garden. I know it's hard work, but you've always done a good job. How could you have made such a mistake today?" Lu Jihan put down his book, looked at Qin Shi, and said in a slightly harsher tone:

"The sun is so scorching, the soup must be scalding hot, and the soup bowl is heavy. How can we allow Madam Chen to act so recklessly and mistreat the maids? If word gets out, people will think that my Zhenguo Marquis's mansion is mistreating its servants!"

Qin was incredulous and furious. Her husband was actually reprimanding Shen Qinghe, a mere maidservant?!

Shen Qinghe has only been here a few days, and her husband is already treating her like this? She probably can't stay!

While thinking to herself, Qin's face showed a look of self-reproach, and she said with remorse:

"It's my fault for not managing Chen Xiaoniang well, which caused Shen Meimei to suffer."

Seeing Qin's dejected appearance, Lu Jihan's anger subsided considerably. Although he had no feelings for Qin, he had witnessed her managing everything inside and outside the home over the past three years.

Even if they didn't achieve anything, they still put in a lot of effort. A little criticism is fine, but it won't discourage the Qin family.

Lu Jihan straightened up: "After talking for a while, I'm actually a little hungry."

"This is what they call serving food from a small kitchen!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Qin immediately smiled. Her husband only came once every few days, so she wanted to seize every opportunity to keep him here and ask him to stay overnight.

On the other end.

Ronggui Hall.

Lu Huai'an carried the birdcage and strode into the bedroom.

Upon seeing Lu Huai'an, Shen Yun'er immediately greeted him with a beaming smile, a strand of her black hair falling down her side, giving her a delicate and frail appearance.

"Young Master... Young Master is finally back! Yun'er is truly..."

As she spoke, Shen Yun'er, blushing and shy, twisted her fingers together.

The beauty blushed and swayed her hips shyly, her chest brushing against his arm unintentionally. He had tasted this girl's sweetness last night; she was like a honey pot. Just looking at her made Lu Huai'an's mouth dry.

He wasn't one to hold back, so he pulled Shen Yun'er into his arms, sat her on the bed, and teased, "Really what's wrong? Why are you still too shy to say?"

Shen Yun'er pressed against his chest, feigning reluctance, "Young master, you know perfectly well why you ask."

"Yun'er, my dear Yun'er!"

Without saying a word, Lu Huai'an couldn't wait to kiss her.

Shen Yun'er naturally wrapped her arms around his neck, and the curtains fell, filling the air with the gasps of lovers entangled in their passion.