Shen Yan nodded half - understanding and didn't dwell on this issue anymore. Since his sister recognized this brother - in - law, he would recognize him too!
"However, don't make our relationship public before that."
This time, Shen Yan nodded vigorously. "I know. I definitely won't say a word!"
But soon, he was troubled by a new question, that is, whose child was in his sister's belly, this brother - in - law's or that one's? This question had puzzled him for a long time.
Meanwhile, in a small courtyard in a valley not far from the capital city, Mrs. Jiang slowly woke up. There were noisy voices and cries outside.
"Don't beat me. I'll go to work right away... Don't beat me..."
Mrs. Jiang's head was still a bit dizzy. Supporting herself on the door frame, she looked outside and saw Shen Mian huddled in a corner. An old woman was blocking her way, trying to feed her. In her eyes, there was a kind of clarity and fear different from that of an adult.
"Let me do it."
Mrs. Jiang motioned for the old woman to hand over the things. She slowly squatted in front of Shen Mian. "Be good. No one is going to beat you. It's time to eat."
Unexpectedly, when Shen Mian saw her, she let out a sharp scream and shrank back. "Who are you?"
Mrs. Jiang's eyes welled up with tears and she choked out, "I'm your mother."
"Mother?"
Mrs. Jiang tried to wipe the tears from Shen Mian's face. "Yes, I'm your mother. No one will bully you anymore from now on."
...
By the time Mrs. Jiang's funeral was over, the Laba Festival had already passed. Liu Xuan and Ji Qingshu heard about Shen Qing's recent situation and would come to see her from time to time.
On this day, Liu Xuan came again. Seeing that Shen Qing looked much haggard, she couldn't help saying, "They say the dead cannot be resurrected, but the living should live well. Moreover, you're pregnant. Don't exhaust yourself."
"I know, Aunt Liu."
Actually, she couldn't really be called sad. After all, she had also contributed to that incident. At most, she had been tired these days. She would be fine after a period of rest.
Seeing that she could think it through, Liu Xuan didn't say much more. "I see your belly... How many months are you?"
Shen Qing's thoughts were pulled back. "A little over six months."
"Six months already?"
Liu Xuan was shocked. Not only did Shen Qing's belly not look like that of a six - month - pregnant woman at all, but also there had been no news at all before. It showed how tightly she had kept it a secret.
However, like others, Liu Xuan just thought that Shen Qing was trying to avoid the back - yard strife and protect herself and the child. But driving the mistress of a mansion to hide her pregnancy until six months showed that the reputation of the Marquis of Guangping's Mansion had taken a sharp turn for the worse.
Regarding these rumors, instead of stopping them, Shen Qing secretly fanned the flames. Although the common people were on her side now, it was still not enough. If she wanted to successfully leave the Marquis of Guangping's Mansion, the public opinion needed to ferment further.
Liu Xuan told Shen Qing a lot of things to pay attention to during child - birth. After all, there was no elder around her to talk to her about these things now.
These were all based on experience, and Shen Qing listened attentively.
As the New Year was approaching, there were more and more things to do. The things that the Marquis's Mansion needed to purchase also increased. The little - profitable shops were not enough to cover the expenses of the whole mansion, so the quality of the purchased things had declined a lot this year.
There were complaints all over the mansion. Originally, this spearhead was supposed to be pointed at Shen Mian, but now that Shen Mian was gone and Jiang Chan was in charge of the mansion, the spearhead was pointed at Jiang Chan. Xu Chenghui was in poor health and got sick after the snow. Jiang Chan was in a complete mess every day, while Xu Yanchi stayed at Mrs. Wei's place every night and didn't really care about the outside affairs.
After the incident in the Shen Family Ancestral Hall, the relationship between Ji Junye and Shen Qing had unconsciously gotten closer.
However, Ji Junye was also busy during this period. The imperial pen would be sealed after the Lesser New Year. He had to finish all the important things before that so that he could accompany her in peace.
In these few days, when Shen Qing checked the purchase records of the Marquis's Mansion, she discovered another extraordinary thing.
"Why does Miss have the time to look at the monthly allowance list of Banyue Pavilion?"
Zhuxing took a look and didn't find anything abnormal. After all, "being pregnant", Juanlian's monthly allowance was a bit more than that of an ordinary concubine.
Shen Qing put the list on the table, her expression slightly solemn. "There's nothing wrong with the others, but among the food sent to Banyue Pavilion, there are many things that are incompatible. If eaten together for a long time, it will damage one's vitality."
If Juanlian was really pregnant, a miscarriage would be a minor matter. She might even die with the baby during child - birth. It showed how vicious the person behind this was.
She originally didn't know the incompatible properties of these ingredients, but these things had all appeared in her diet in her previous life. By the time she found out, it was already too late.
Now these things had appeared in the diet of Banyue Pavilion.
Shen Qing sneered in her heart. Jiang Chan still couldn't help but make a move.
It was only because she now had Ji Junye openly backing her up and the example of Shen Mian before. Jiang Chan didn't dare to make a move against her. Otherwise, these things might have appeared in her Zhuoying Courtyard.
According to the records on the list, Juanlian had been eating these things for more than half a month. "Find a suitable opportunity to quietly reveal this matter to Juanlian."
Zhuxing's eyes lit up. "Does Miss mean... to let them fight among themselves?"
Shen Qing nodded. Juanlian was no easy person. Although she couldn't do anything big, she was enough to give Jiang Chan a good headache. Moreover, there was really nothing in her belly. It was time for her to be useful.
But why did Jiang Chan suddenly make a move against Juanlian?
"By the way, check on Jiang Chan's situation."
Zhuxing agreed.
After this matter was over, Ji Junye was free. He stayed in Zhuoying Courtyard every day. Even his official business was sent there. He was even more familiar with this place than his own home.
Mrs. Wei came to send soup to Shen Qing. Eight times out of ten, Ji Junye was inside. She didn't know what to say.
Was His Majesty being too clingy?
Even for ordinary married couples, except for the time right after they got married, there were very few who were so clingy every day. Usually, the master rarely stayed in the back - yard during the day. How could His Majesty be like this, staying together with his wife every day as if he was afraid she would run away?
Moreover, this was the Marquis of Guangping's Mansion. His Majesty didn't avoid people at all. Did he take this as his own harem?
When Mrs. Wei returned to the Cold Courtyard, Xu Yanchi was also there, his expression gloomy and hard to read.
Mrs. Wei always felt that the Marquis seemed to be more gloomy than when she first came. Sometimes, he was like a ghost. She didn't know when he would say a word from behind her, scaring her out of her wits.
It was really hard to earn money and hard to endure hardships. Serving someone had made her mentally abnormal.
"What is she doing now?"
Mrs. Wei was just complaining in her heart. Hearing this, she was stunned. "Who?"
Then she reacted and blinked. "Does the Marquis mean the mistress? The mistress is resting now."
His Majesty was accompanying her to rest.
But she didn't say this. It was too heart - wrenching.
Even if she didn't say it, Xu Yanchi could guess. He couldn't help clenching his fists under his sleeves.
Wait a little longer, just a little longer. When the King of Jin's great cause succeeded, his good days would come. By that time, why couldn't he keep Shen Qing?
As for that bastard, since Ji Junye was gone, it would be better for that bastard to go with him.
He would give Shen Qing another child.