Jiang's hand suddenly stopped, and a flash of panic quickly crossed her face, which was keenly captured by Shen Qing.
"My dear child, what nonsense are you talking about? Of course you're my child. I carried you in my womb for ten months and raised you up. How could you not be my child?"
Seeing Jiang's expression, Shen Qing already had a clue in her heart. But on the surface, she smiled and acted coquettishly as usual, holding Jiang's sleeve.
"Mother, I was just joking. Grandfather said I'm the child most like him, even more so than my father and elder brother. How could I not be a child of the Duke's Mansion?"
Jiang was extremely flustered and didn't bother to think carefully about the loopholes in Shen Qing's words. She tapped Shen Qing's forehead with her fingertip and forced a smile. "That's right. I think it's the Marquis who has spoiled you. You've been daydreaming all day long."
Jiang quickly changed the subject. After the mother - daughter pair chatted for a while, Jiang started to get busy preparing lunch for her, as if what had just happened was really just a casual remark from Shen Qing.
Looking at Jiang's figure, Shen Qing still had doubts in her heart. In her previous life, after her death, her soul wandered in the capital, and she only then learned that she wasn't Jiang's biological daughter. But she never found out her true origin, nor did she know who Jiang's real daughter was.
She could only find another opportunity to investigate later.
Fortunately, this matter wasn't very important to her for the time being.
Shen Qing temporarily put the matter out of her mind. As long as Jiang acknowledged her as a daughter, she would never deny Jiang as her mother.
After figuring this out, the last bit of resentment in Shen Qing's heart disappeared.
However, an unexpected guest came during lunch.
Looking at the man in front of her, Shen Qing's face fell.
"Why are you here?"
How did Xu Yanchi know she was here?
Jiang quickly came over. "Look at you, child. The Marquis is naturally here to pick you up. Why are you still sulking?"
Xu Yanchi bowed. "Good day, Mother - in - law."
He was as upright as a bamboo, with a handsome appearance and a humble and polite demeanor. If she didn't know how despicable he was on the inside, she might have been deceived by his good looks.
Come to think of it, hadn't Xu Yanchi deceived many people with this appearance?
Shen Qing sneered inwardly, but showed nothing on her face.
Jiang smiled and told him to rise.
Then Xu Yanchi looked at Shen Qing with a smile. "My lady has been out for several days. Has your anger subsided? If so, please come back with me."
"Yes, Qing'er. What quarrel can a couple have that lasts overnight? Just talk things out with the Marquis. As the mistress of the mansion, the prosperity and decline of the Marquis's Mansion are closely related to you. How can you always act on your own whim?"
Jiang also persuaded her gently.
Shen Qing was extremely angry, but in front of Jiang, she could only suppress her anger.
"Mother, I understand. I'll return to the Marquis's Mansion later."
Jiang said, "There's no need to wait. You two can go back after lunch. Alright..."
Xu Yanchi stood aside, silently looking at her, but the meaning in his eyes was self - evident.
It made Shen Qing feel nauseous.
Shen Qing took a deep breath to suppress the nausea. "Mother, you're still ill. If I hadn't come back, it would have been fine. Since I'm back, I should stay and take care of you myself. Don't worry. I'll surely return to the Marquis's Mansion when you're fully recovered."
"Filial piety is the most important of all virtues. I'm sure the Marquis won't object, right?"
Xu Yanchi's face froze. He didn't know how to respond to Shen Qing.
If he said it was okay, Shen Qing definitely wouldn't go back with him today. After that, he wouldn't be able to control when she would go back.
If he said it wasn't okay, wouldn't he be putting himself in an unfilial position?
Xu Yanchi had no choice but to look at Jiang with a pleading look, hoping that Jiang could say a few words for him.
But before Jiang could speak, he heard Shen Qing say, "Mother, you don't need to decline. If the Marquis wasn't busy with affairs, he would surely accompany me in the Duke's Mansion to take care of you. By the way, the Marquis must have heard that my mother was ill. I wonder if he brought a doctor or medicinal materials. I remember there are several good - quality ginseng roots in the Marquis's Mansion. If they can be used as medicine, I think my mother's illness will surely get better faster."
"Marquis, am I right?"
Xu Yanchi was stumped by Shen Qing. He had come with the sole purpose of picking up Shen Qing. How could he have thought of bringing anything?
It was really embarrassing for him to be exposed by Shen Qing in front of so many people.
But he couldn't say no. "My lady is right. I was in a hurry when I left and didn't bring any ginseng. I'll immediately send someone back to get it for Mother - in - law's medicine."
"There's no need to go to so much trouble. It's just an old ailment..."
"Yes, there is," Shen Qing took Jiang's hand and patted it gently. "I'm really worried about Mother's health. If Mother isn't well, how can I feel at ease returning to the Marquis's Mansion?"
"Or is it that Mother isn't really ill? I wonder which servant dared to give such false information and play around with Mother's health. They must be severely punished!"
From the moment Xu Yanchi stood in front of her, she had guessed that her mother wasn't really ill. This feigned illness was just an excuse colluded with Xu Yanchi to get her back to the Marquis's Mansion.
"I just felt a bit unwell this morning. The servants exaggerated. You don't need to worry too much."
Jiang's face turned pale. In the past, Qing'er had always been the most obedient. She would never refute her, let alone embarrass her and the Marquis in front of the servants. Why was she being so aggressive today?
Did her words mean that she had seen through her feigned illness?
Jiang felt a bit sad. She didn't have any ill intentions. Her daughter was already the mistress of a mansion. How could she always act on her own whim?
If this went on for a long time, she would surely grow apart from her husband. If a rift developed between husband and wife, there might even be a situation where a concubine was favored and the wife was oppressed...
Although the Duke's Mansion of the Protector of the State was known for its loyal and heroic generations, now there were only the two of them, a widow and an orphan, left in the direct line. If Qing'er suffered any grievances, there wouldn't even be a brother to stand up for her. In this situation, the only person Qing'er could rely on was her husband.
The Marquis had told her that this time it was Qing'er who was throwing a tantrum. Now that he was willing to offer an olive branch and come to pick up Qing'er in person, she couldn't keep avoiding him forever. She really couldn't understand why Qing'er didn't want to go back.
Shen Qing said, "I'll still wait until Mother is fully recovered before going back. I'm not at ease leaving Mother alone."
Then Shen Qing looked at Xu Yanchi again. "I'm sure the Marquis can understand. Please come to the Duke's Mansion to pick me up in a few days."
Jiang also said awkwardly, "In that case, come back in a few days."
Xu Yanchi was a bit annoyed. He was willing to come and pick up Shen Qing in person, but not only did she not go back with him, but she also told him to come back in a few days?
Who did she think she was!
But he cared about his reputation and couldn't lose his temper. He bowed to Jiang and said, "I'll come back to pick up my lady in three days. Mother - in - law, please take good care of yourself. If you need anything, just send someone to the Marquis's Mansion."
His words were really polite. The sons of the Duke's Mansion of the Protector of the State had made great military achievements when they were fighting on the frontiers. Not to mention the spoils of war, the rewards were like flowing water. Moreover, after the death of the old Duke, the posthumous title and pension given by the Emperor were far more generous than the family fortune of the Marquis's Mansion of Guangping, which relied on ancestral titles.
It could be said that there was nothing the Duke's Mansion of the Protector of the State didn't have that the Marquis's Mansion of Guangping had.
Shen Qing didn't care about what he said. To her ears, it was all nonsense. She helped Jiang sit down and said indifferently, "Since that's the case, the Marquis is busy with affairs. I'm sure there are still many things for you to handle. I won't waste your time."
Xu Yanchi was furious. He had come here with a straight face, but not only did he fail to pick up the person, but Shen Qing wouldn't even let him have a meal!