Shen Qing thought he was being rather odd. Why was he telling her all this? Did he really expect her to receive his pity?
"My lord, stop wasting your breath. Give me the land deed earlier so I can get things done for you sooner."
Shen Qing was still lounging on the couch, not even bothering to change her posture. It was a rather informal sitting position, but Xu Yanchi didn't find it inappropriate at this moment. Instead, he tightened his grip on the paper in his hand because of her words.
"Shen Qing, is there really no chance for us anymore?"
Yingxiu and Zhuxing were standing guard on either side. Hearing this, they glared at Xu Yanchi like angry chickens.
Shen Qing burst into laughter as if she had heard a funny joke.
"Us?"
"My lord, do you really have no idea what you've done to me? How could you expect me to still be your obedient wife like before?"
A look of pain flashed across Xu Yanchi's face. "I was just confused at that time. I truly want to make it up to you..."
"Make it up? How are you going to make it up?" Shen Qing sat up straight. "If you can dismiss all the concubines in your backyard and promise never to take another one, I'll consider it. How about that?"
Xu Yanchi's face stiffened, looking rather embarrassed. "This... this is impossible!"
He still had Mian'er and his cousin. How could he only be with her?
Not to mention him, which official's son didn't take concubines?
Shen Qing looked at Xu Yanchi mockingly. "Since you don't agree to my conditions, how can you expect me to agree to yours?"
"I..."
"I can promise not to take any more concubines in the future. But Mian'er gave birth to Hui'er for me, and my cousin was arranged by my mother. I can't go against her wishes. Besides, she's deeply in love with me. I can't let her down..."
"I guarantee that you'll be my only wife, and no one will ever shake your position."
Xu Yanchi seemed to have made a huge sacrifice. He was almost swearing to the sky.
"If you're with him, you won't have a proper name either. Given his position, he can't only be with you..."
Xu Yanchi tried to reason with Shen Qing, but before he could finish, Shen Qing interrupted him coldly.
"How dare you compare yourself to him?!"
Shen Qing looked at him mockingly. The emotions in her eyes were so strange to Xu Yanchi.
"He can give me everything I want now. Can you? You can't even bear to dismiss two concubines."
"You keep asking me to leave him and choose you. But aren't you standing here today just asking me to beg him for you?"
"Isn't it all your fault that I'm in this situation?"
"Xu Yanchi, who do you think you are? How dare you mention him in front of me?!"
Shen Qing pressed on step by step, forcing Xu Yanchi to retreat.
He opened his mouth weakly. "I..."
"Leave the stuff and get out."
"Shen Qing..." Xu Yanchi wanted to say something more.
"Zhuxing!"
Zhuxing immediately rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward. "Miss!"
"Don't kick me out. I'll leave!" Xu Yanchi said quickly.
Xu Yanchi glared at Zhuxing resentfully, thinking that once he won Shen Qing's heart in the future, he'd deal with Zhuxing first!
He took a deep breath. "This is the land deed of the tea garden in Fuyang County. You..."
Shen Qing waved her hand and asked Yingxiu to take it. Her voice was cold. "I'll talk to him about this. Now you can go."
Xu Yanchi still wanted to get closer, but after seeing Zhuxing, he left indignantly with a flick of his sleeve.
Yingxiu held the land deed. "Miss, what should we do now?"
After Shen Qing took it and checked it to make sure it was correct, she said, "Take it to the government office for transfer as soon as possible."
The sooner the better. Such a valuable thing should be in their hands quickly.
That day, another letter was sent from Zhuoying Courtyard and delivered to the imperial study.
Ji Junye replied quickly. Hearing Zhuxing's report, Shen Qing's bad mood caused by Xu Yanchi improved a lot.
She tilted her chin at Zhuxing. "Go to the marquis's place and give him a reply in person."
Zhuxing immediately understood Shen Qing's intention. She happily curtsied. "Yes, I'll go right away!"
At that time, Xu Yanchi was having dinner with Lu Mian outside. He had been very busy these days and hadn't accompanied Mian'er properly for several days.
Just as they were in a loving mood, A Cheng suddenly came in and whispered a few words in Xu Yanchi's ear. Xu Yanchi's face changed instantly. "Is it true?"
"Absolutely true. Miss Zhuxing is waiting."
Lu Mian suddenly had a bad feeling. She couldn't help asking, "Brother Yanchi, what's going on?"
Facing Lu Mian, Xu Yanchi's face softened a lot. "It's something in the mansion. Mian'er, I still have something to do. I'll come to accompany you next time."
Xu Yanchi said and didn't care about Lu Mian's feelings. He just picked up his outer robe and was about to leave.
"Brother Yanchi, Brother Yanchi..."
Lu Mian chased after him, but she could only watch Xu Yanchi leave without looking back. She couldn't help biting her lower lip, and her fingers under her sleeve tightened.
Zhuxing. Isn't she Shen Qing's maid? Is Shen Qing looking for him?
Lu Mian's heart skipped a beat. It hadn't been long. Why did Brother Yanchi care so much about Shen Qing? Because of a single word from her maid, he left without looking back. What on earth had happened when she wasn't around?
The more Lu Mian thought about it, the more panicked she became. This feeling of things being out of her control made her feel very uncomfortable. It was the same when she gave birth to Hui'er, and it was still the same now...
No, she had to find out her own background quickly!
Lu Mian ran back and called Xiaodie. "Send more people to inquire. By the way, go to the pawnshops. Take the sketches and ask in the pawnshops. I can't wait any longer!"
Xiaodie's arm was a bit painful from being grabbed by her, but she didn't dare to show her dissatisfaction. She could only go and do it immediately after Lu Mian calmed down.
...
"The emperor said that if the miss wants to plead for him, the marquis himself has to show some sincerity. He should personally send the miss there to show his sincerity."
Zhuxing looked at Xu Yanchi who had rushed back and said with a smile.
The expression on Xu Yanchi's face cracked bit by bit. "He... Did the emperor really say that?"
"How dare I spread a false imperial edict?"
The words "imperial edict" gave Xu Yanchi another heavy blow, making him feel like he was bleeding all over.
After enjoying Xu Yanchi's wonderful expression, Zhuxing retreated, hiding her merit and fame.
When she got back, she told Shen Qing about it.
"Miss, you don't know how wonderful Xu Yanchi's expression was. It was like a colorful black."
Her exaggerated description and expression made Shen Qing laugh.
"Miss, will the marquis agree?"
No man would be able to accept sending his own wife to another man, right?
"He will."
Shen Qing was very sure. "If he doesn't go, wouldn't the tea garden be given away for nothing?"
"Our marquis may not be a good person, but he never does anything that will make him lose money."
Shen Qing was right. A few days later, Xu Yanchi sent someone to convey that he had agreed.
Yingxiu exclaimed that Shen Qing was really good at predicting things.
Shen Qing wasn't really good at predicting things. She just knew too well what kind of person Xu Yanchi was.
"By the way, the ninth day of next month is mother's birthday. We have to prepare the birthday gift in advance."
Yingxiu quickly said, "Miss, don't worry. I've already prepared it. Madam likes to go to Daxiangguo Temple to offer incense on her birthday. Miss didn't have time in previous years. Do you want to go with madam this year?"