Xu Yanchi also learned what had happened in the mansion, feeling rather embarrassed. He could only talk to Shen Qing about this matter.
"Mian'er is pregnant. After all, this is my first child..."
Seeing that Shen Qing didn't say a word, he continued, "I know I've neglected you too much in the past. I'm trying to make it up to you, but Mian'er is carrying..."
Shen Qing interrupted him mercilessly, "Is this how you make it up to me? Buying things for your mistress with my silver in my shop? My lord, are you afraid that my mother won't know you've taken in a mistress?"
Xu Yanchi's face turned even more embarrassed. At that time, he mainly thought that Shen Qing's shop would give him a discount. Now, just thinking about it made him feel scared.
Among the direct descendants of the Protectorate Duke's Mansion, only the current Duchess and Shen Qing remained. The Duchess could even enter the palace to see the emperor without an imperial edict. If things got out of hand, he would surely be the one at a disadvantage.
Xu Yanchi was quite adaptable. He immediately admitted his mistake, "It was my oversight. I'll make up for the silver in a few days. Mother-in-law is old. Let's not bother her with such trifles..."
Shen Qing felt so disgusted listening to him that she almost vomited. Fortunately, Yingxiu came in with the dinner. Otherwise, she really would have.
Fortunately, all the dishes on the table were Shen Qing's favorites. She didn't treat herself badly and ate very seriously, so seriously that Xu Yanchi didn't find a chance to interrupt her several times.
When Shen Qing had almost finished eating, Zhuxing happened to bring in a pot of wine. Shen Qing poured herself a cup and asked someone to pour one for Xu Yanchi too.
"Since my lord is sincerely admitting his mistake, drink this wine."
Xu Yanchi's face lit up. He immediately picked up the cup and said, "Okay. Let's drink this cup of wine. I'll make up for all the wrongs I've done to you."
Xu Yanchi had figured it out today. Shen Qing was his woman and could bring him great help. He couldn't treat her badly.
As for what had happened before, he comforted himself. The emperor was the son of heaven. He could have any woman he wanted. If he could take a fancy to Shen Qing, it meant that she must have something extraordinary about her. Coupled with the help she could bring him, he had nothing to lose. Thinking like this, he didn't mind that she had lost her virginity so much.
If Shen Qing knew what was on his mind, she would have kicked him out!
He didn't mind, but she did!
She could more or less guess what Xu Yanchi was thinking at the moment. She felt extremely annoyed and urged,
"My lord, drink quickly!"
Xu Yanchi thought she had agreed. He immediately picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp.
Then he wanted to say something, but Shen Qing stood up directly and said, "I'm full. I'll go and tidy up first. My lord, please wait a moment."
Xu Yanchi nodded and said, "Go ahead."
He was already imagining the good things that were about to happen.
Shen Qing walked out of the door. After turning the corner, Zhuxing came over and whispered, "The medicine has taken effect."
Shen Qing showed no emotion and asked, "What about Jiang Chan?"
Yingxiu immediately replied, "Don't worry, madam. She's been knocked out in the room. Yuzhen is watching over there."
Shen Qing felt extremely disgusted and said, "Later, find someone to lead Xu Yanchi there."
"It's really a pity for my good bed. I won't be able to sleep in it after tonight."
Xu Yanchi waited in the room for a while, but Shen Qing still didn't come back. He called a little maid over and asked,
"Where's the madam?"
It was Nongyun, one of Shen Qing's maids. Nongyun lowered her head and said, "The madam is taking a bath."
A smile curled up on Xu Yanchi's lips. "Take me there."
Nongyun led Xu Yanchi into Shen Qing's room as she had been told in advance. As soon as he entered the room, a sweet fragrance wafted over. Xu Yanchi took a deep breath. He felt his already a little dazed head become even more muddled. He didn't pay much attention to it.
The gentle evening breeze gently blew the gauze curtain. Xu Yanchi vaguely saw a graceful figure on the bed. Suddenly, the image of Shen Qing practicing with a spear in the early morning light flashed through his mind. He rushed forward directly.
The canopy bed soon began to shake.
Shen Qing was in the next room, using a hairpin to stir the incense ash in the burner. There was no expression on her face.
Zhuxing also stood there expressionlessly.
But the other three little maids had never heard such sounds before. They all lowered their heads, blushing.
After waiting for a while, Shen Qing stood up, straightened her clothes, and a faint smile curled up on her lips.
"Let's go. It's time for the show to begin."
The three little maids inexplicably felt that their madam's smile was a bit creepy. They couldn't help but start to look forward to the "show" later.
Yingxiu supported Shen Qing and walked over. When they reached the door, the little maid guarding the door saw Shen Qing and looked as if she had seen a ghost. "Madam, weren't you with the lord... Why are you here?!"
Shen Qing pretended to be confused and asked, "If I'm not here, where should I be?"
As soon as she finished speaking, they heard the sounds inside. Shen Qing pretended to have just heard them. Her face turned pale instantly.
Yingxiu also took a step back and pretended to exclaim "accidentally",
"The madam is still here. Then who's inside?"
The next second, Shen Qing was furious. She kicked open the door.
Xu Yanchi was just getting into the mood when he was suddenly interrupted. He was in a very bad mood. He immediately roared, "You ill-mannered thing! How dare you interrupt at this time!"
Jiang Chan on the bed woke up immediately. She was so scared that she screamed and shrank into Xu Yanchi's arms.
Shen Qing directly picked up the washbasin in the room and splashed a basin of cold water on Xu Yanchi's head. Then she threw the washbasin heavily on the ground!
"Xu Yanchi, I thought you really wanted to start over with me, but it turns out you've done such a thing in my room! And on my bed!"
"If you don't want to live with me anymore, let's get a divorce. There's no need to humiliate me like this!"
Xu Yanchi was drenched in cold water. Coupled with Shen Qing's voice, he immediately woke up. Looking at Shen Qing below, who had changed into a new set of clothes and obviously had just taken a bath, he looked as if he had seen a ghost.
He stared blankly at the face of the person in his arms. That face was actually Jiang Chan!
"Cousin, why are you in my bed?!"
After Jiang Chan came back, she had wanted to find an opportunity to get Xu Yanchi away. But as soon as she entered the room, she smelled a sweet fragrance. She thought it was the incense that Shen Qing had lit specially to please Xu Yanchi. She was just about to turn around and ask someone to get some for herself when she lost consciousness.
When she woke up again, it was already the current situation.
She quickly reacted. She knew what was the most beneficial thing for her to do in the current situation. She immediately cried and burrowed into Xu Yanchi's arms. "I left something here with cousin-in-law. I just wanted to come back and look for it. But then cousin suddenly rushed in... Chan'er is already cousin's woman. Cousin, you can't abandon me..."
Many people outside heard the commotion and rushed in in a hurry. Among them were the second and third aunts who were taking a walk in the back yard.
Ge stared wide-eyed at Xu Yanchi and Jiang Chan on the bed, and Shen Qing standing below with red eyes, trembling with anger.
"Oh my goodness! My lord, miss... What's going on here?!"
Xing also had an expression of disgust on her face.
Shen Qing pointed at Xu Yanchi and Jiang Chan. Her eyes were fixed on Ge and Xing. She sneered and said,
"The second and third aunts have seen this with their own eyes. I'll go and ask the old madam to judge now. If the Marquis's Mansion doesn't give me a satisfactory answer today, I'll go to the Censorate tomorrow!"