Early the next morning, Shen Qing moved back to the Guangping Marquis Mansion.
As soon as she entered the mansion, Shen Qing keenly noticed that the atmosphere in the marquis mansion had changed a lot.
When she returned to Zhuoying Courtyard, Nongyun and Yuzhen rushed to greet her. They helped carry things and served her, their hands getting red from all the work.
Shen Qing couldn't help but smile, "You are senior maids. Let the junior maids do those rough jobs. Why do you need to do them yourself?"
If she hadn't said this, it would have been fine. But as soon as she did, Nongyun and Yuzhen's eyes welled up with tears. "Miss, you've been away for so long and only took Yingxiu and Zhuxing with you. We also want to do something for you."
Shen Qing thought it necessary to explain, otherwise, in the long run, Nongyun and Yuzhen might feel resentful.
One of the people around her had already left. Nongyun and Yuzhen were both loyal, and she didn't want to be estranged from them.
"It's inconvenient to take too many people when I'm away from home. Moreover, if you all go with me, who will take care of the affairs in the courtyard? You and Yingxiu have been with me since childhood. In my heart, you are all equally important. In my opinion, it's not that I don't take you with me, but that your positions are more important and no one can replace you."
Nongyun and Yuzhen were deeply touched. "We're not as important as Miss says..."
Shen Qing corrected them, "Of course you are important. You are the only ones I can trust in this marquis mansion. With you taking care of the courtyard for me, I can feel at ease."
Shen Qing then gave each of them a gold hairpin as a reward for their hard work during this period. Originally, they felt that Shen Qing was estranging them and were very sad. But seeing that Miss didn't mean that, they immediately became happy.
"We will surely not disappoint Miss."
Nongyun then mentioned something else. "Miss, the old mistress woke up last night. Although she is still far from her previous state, she has improved a lot compared to the previous period. Do you want to go and see her?"
"Go."
Shen Qing told them to continue packing and took Yingxiu with her to Renshou Hall.
In Renshou Hall, everyone was sitting neatly. There were Xing Shi, Jiang Chan, Shen Mian, and even Ge Shi, who had been staying behind closed doors since the incident, had come.
Looking at this familiar scene, Shen Qing couldn't help but recall the second day after she was reborn. Everyone was also sitting so neatly then, trying to push her into the abyss.
Now, the situation had reversed.
Seeing Shen Qing coming, the old mistress forced a smile. "You all came quite neatly today."
Shen Qing bowed and said, "I should have come to pay respects to mother earlier, but I've been busy with the matter of the heir adoption in the Protectorate Duke's Mansion recently, so I've been delayed. I hope mother won't blame me."
"There's no one to take care of things in the Protectorate Duke's Mansion. As the eldest daughter, it's only right for you to go and help."
Shen Qing was gentle and respectful, and the old mistress spoke in a mild tone with a kind look. Those who didn't know would think they were really a pair of mother - in - law and daughter - in - law with a good relationship.
Shen Qing was also a little surprised. Had the old mistress seen everything lightly after walking through the gates of hell? She had been shouting to divorce her before.
After this brief conversation, the atmosphere fell into an eerie silence. Shen Mian pursed her lower lip and gave her seat to Shen Qing.
Shen Qing had noticed earlier that Jiang Chan was actually sitting below Shen Mian. Of course, the seats were not arranged randomly. Those with higher status sat in the upper positions. Before, Jiang Chan, relying on her power to manage the household affairs and being the old mistress's niece, always sat in the closest position below the old mistress. Now she had to sit behind Shen Mian. It seemed that the incident of Xu Chenghui being poisoned had really affected her a lot.
However, the atmosphere was still silent, even dead - silent. It was Xing Shi who broke the ice. "Concubine Shen, why didn't you bring Hui'er today?"
Shen Mian smiled. "Hui'er was poisoned and is still weak. He can't go out yet."
Speaking of this, Shen Mian gave Jiang Chan a fierce look. Jiang Chan had gotten used to this in the past few days. She originally thought she had done everything perfectly and left no evidence, but she had overlooked one thing.
Xu Chenghui was her cousin's son.
Because of her negligence, the power to manage the household affairs had fallen into Shen Mian's hands. She couldn't forget the disappointed look on her cousin's face when he came to find her that day.
Xing Shi sighed. "I was being thoughtless. Children are inherently weak. Having suffered such an ordeal, how heart - broken the mother must be. Fortunately, the matter has been investigated clearly. You must be more careful in the future."
"Now that Concubine Juanlian is pregnant, there will be a new addition to the marquis mansion. Eldest sister - in - law has also recovered, and even the third master will return to the capital to report on his duties soon. Our marquis mansion has finally turned a corner."
The old mistress remained non - committal. Ge Shi also didn't like to talk now and completely lost her previous arrogance. It was obvious how much the deaths of Xu Yanxing and Xu Wei had hit her.
Yes, Xu Wei was also dead. He died of a serious illness on the way to exile not long after he was exiled.
Shen Qing's original intention was to let him die when he was almost at his destination. She didn't expect him to die so soon. He had gotten off lightly.
After sitting for a while, Shen Qing excused herself and left. No one dared to stop her.
It was really sigh - inducing.
In the past, she was in charge of a large marquis mansion, but everyone could step on her. Now she didn't care about anything, but no one dared to provoke her.
Maybe people are instinctively bullies and cowards.
After Shen Qing returned, Juanlian came to pay respects and told Shen Qing about the recent situation in the mansion.
"A few days ago, the young master was poisoned. The marquis was extremely angry and said that Concubine Jiang couldn't manage the marquis mansion well, so he directly gave the power to manage the household affairs to Concubine Shen. In my opinion, the power to manage the household affairs should be in the hands of the mistress. With the mistress here, how could I let others overstep their bounds?"
Juanlian felt indignant on Shen Qing's behalf.
Shen Qing didn't respond. She picked up the scented tea and took a sip, then casually changed the topic. "Where has the marquis been going recently?"
Hearing this, Juanlian blushed shyly and lowered her head. "I've been having an unstable pregnancy. The marquis has been... often staying with me recently."
Shen Qing was a little surprised. "The young master is ill. I thought the marquis would stay in Qifeng Courtyard."
Juanlian pouted. "I heard from the people around the marquis by chance that it was because Concubine Shen had been using far more than the normal monthly allowance, which made the steward buy adulterated things to save money, and that's why the young master had this disaster. Although the marquis doesn't say anything, he must be angry in his heart."
Shen Mian's arrogance during this period had really made her an easy target. However, Jiang Chan had also hurt herself while hurting her enemy. Juanlian had just taken advantage of this.
This result was exactly what Shen Qing wanted to see.
Shen Qing twitched the corner of her lips. "You're a lucky one, but you must also be careful. Your pregnancy is not stable yet, and the marquis often goes to your place. There will surely be people who are jealous."
Juanlian said gratefully, "Thank you for your reminder, mistress."
As soon as Juanlian left, Yingxiu immediately told people to clean up and throw away the things she had used.
Shen Qing couldn't help but smile. This girl really showed all her emotions on her face. "Are you still angry?"
Yingxiu rolled her eyes. "I just can't stand her smug look. Those who don't know might think that Miss depends on her. She's just a..."
"Alright," Shen Qing gently interrupted her. "I've been craving sour and sweet food recently. Tell the small kitchen to make some sour - sweet dishes for lunch."
Yingxiu's attention was immediately diverted. "Miss didn't like sour - sweet food before, did you?"
Shen Qing smiled tenderly. She gently stroked her abdomen, which couldn't be seen because of the thick clothes. She whispered, "Maybe... it's this little guy who likes it."