Si Bao sat beside Sheng Mei and curiously sized up her outfit for the day.
Aunt Sheng looks really like Mother from this angle.
Father said that Aunt Sheng would play a game with Si Bao today and act as Si Bao's mother.
Although she did look quite similar, Si Bao could tell at a glance that she wasn't her mother.
But to keep the game going, Si Bao called her "Mother" one after another throughout the day.
Even though Sheng Mei knew that Si Bao wasn't calling her real mother, she still felt elated and called her "dear daughter" one after another.
Such a well - behaved and lovely daughter, I really want to steal her away!
On the way back, the King of Jin clearly noticed that Shen Qing was in a much lower mood. Previously, whenever he said something, she would retort so sharply that it seemed she wanted to choke him to death. But now, no matter what he said, she remained silent, just sitting against the carriage wall in a daze.
A sneering smile flashed across the King of Jin's face.
Sure enough, women are always easily indulged in love and family affection. Once they find out that their husbands have other women around them, even the calmest women can't sit still.
He deliberately brought Shen Qing here today to let her see Ji Junye.
If he had to name the people he hated the most, besides Ji Junye, it was Shen Qing.
Seeing Shen Qing in such pain now, he felt extremely pleased.
Apart from Shi Jiu, Princess Zhaohua also left an army stationed on the border between Jiang Country and Tanzhou. As long as he started the war here, they would outflank Ji Junye from the rear.
Next, he would make Ji Junye taste the pain of losing his beloved!
Shen Qing didn't say a word but took in the King of Jin's expression.
What on earth is the King of Jin amusing himself with this time?
Shen Qing was indeed in a bad mood. Seeing what had just happened, although she thought things probably weren't that simple, her heart felt as if it was stuffed with a ball of cotton. Coupled with the grievances she had suffered these days, it all accumulated in her heart, making her feel sour and swollen.
Seeing the King of Jin's face now, Shen Qing felt even more irritated.
Keep smiling. Let's see if you can still smile tonight!
She and Concubine Song had originally planned to take action during the Mid - Autumn Family Banquet tonight. Xu He was also almost ready. As long as they succeeded tonight, Jiangnan would soon be in chaos.
Actually, Shen Qing had thought about leaving some marks for Ji Junye, but she gave up after some thought.
Firstly, since the King of Jin dared to come to Tanzhou, he must have made full preparations. Even if she left marks, Ji Junye might not be able to find them. Secondly, they were watching her too closely. If it succeeded, it would be fine. But if it failed, they would definitely be more vigilant against her.
Concubine Song was on the verge of success, so it was better to be more cautious.
Regarding today's matter, she would have a good talk with Ji Junye after all this was over!
By the time the King of Jin returned to the mansion, the Mid - Autumn Family Banquet was almost ready.
Shen Qing was taken back to the dungeon by the secret guards.
Since the King of Jin had lost his temper and tortured her last time but got no results, he changed his mind. Although he would come from time to time to mock her and show off his upcoming great achievements, he didn't let anyone torture her again.
But the guards around her became even stricter. She and Xu He didn't even dare to communicate. They could only rely on eye contact when they met.
At the Mid - Autumn Family Banquet in the King of Jin's Mansion today, besides the King of Jin and his concubines, there would also be some close subordinates.
She was waiting for Xu He to tell her how wonderful this play would be.
Shen Qing was sitting on the bed, about to continue reading a storybook. When she picked it up, she found it was the same unfinished "The Gentle Wife of a Subject" from this morning. Immediately, she closed the book and threw it to the bottom of the pile of books, then picked up a book about a scholar and a young lady.
She was quite satisfied with this one. It was about a scholar who went to the capital to take the imperial examination, passed it with flying colors, and was then favored by the daughter of a high - ranking official. The two got married smoothly. Not long after, the scholar's original wife came looking for him with their three - year - old son.
The scholar found them first. Instead of admitting them, he told them to leave quickly.
As a result, the scholar's original wife angrily sued him to the government, accusing him of abandoning his wife and marrying another. At first, it seemed like a story of Chen Shimei. But as she read on, she found that after the young lady found out, instead of making things difficult for the original wife, she scolded her husband, saying that the scholar had deceived her into marriage, and asked the government to annul their marriage.
Who would have thought that after the young lady got divorced, the original wife also asked the government to annul her marriage with the scholar. After some inquiry, it was known that all the silver for the scholar's study and the imperial examination had been provided by the original wife. But once he passed the exam, he abandoned his wife and son. His moral character was so bad that she didn't want to be his wife anymore.
The government originally didn't want to grant the annulment. But the young lady admired the original wife's determination and asked her father to help. In the end, not only was the original wife's marriage annulled, but the scholar's future promotion path was also cut off.
The ending was really satisfying.
Shen Qing thought this book must have been written by a woman. If a man wrote it, who knows what kind of story about jealousy or sharing a husband he would come up with.
While Shen Qing was complaining in her heart, the Mid - Autumn Family Banquet in the King of Jin's Mansion had begun.
The King of Jin sat in the main seat. The princess consort sat on his right, while Concubine Song sat on the lower left - hand side of him, a little lower in position to show the difference in status.
But it was still enough to make the other concubines envious.
The King of Jin and the princess consort said some auspicious words, and the others all picked up their wine glasses and stood up to offer a toast.
Concubine Song also picked up her glass.
At this time, the King of Jin said, "The concubine is pregnant and can't drink. Replace her wine with rose tea. She likes it."
Concubine Song pursed her lips and smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern. There is no wine in my glass. It's the fruit tea prepared by the princess consort."
The King of Jin cast an appreciative look at the princess consort of the King of Jin. "The princess consort is always so meticulous. With a wife like this, what more could a man ask for?"
Everyone praised the princess consort for her virtue. The harmony among the concubines in the King of Jin's Mansion was really a good story.
After everyone finished their drinks, the sound of silk and bamboo instruments rang out, and the dancers took the stage. Then the banquet officially began.
During the banquet, the King of Jin's eyes would fall on Concubine Song from time to time. She had been taking good care of herself recently. Her face looked rosier than when she first came out, and she no longer looked sickly.
The princess consort of the King of Jin had been paying attention to the King of Jin. She saw that although he was taking care of her as usual, his eyes were always on Concubine Song. She clenched her fists under her sleeves.
But when she thought that Concubine Song was faking her pregnancy, she felt a bit better.
Fake is fake. It will never become real!
While the princess consort of the King of Jin was sizing up Concubine Song, Concubine Song was also sizing her up.
After just one glance, she quickly averted her eyes, afraid that the princess consort of the King of Jin would notice something strange about her.
Tonight, she would avenge herself and her child.
As the cups clinked and they had drunk a few rounds of wine, Concubine Song suddenly covered her stomach, her face as pale as paper.
The maid quickly asked, "Concubine, what's wrong?"
"I... my stomach hurts so much..."
"What's going on?" The King of Jin had always been paying attention to Concubine Song and noticed her discomfort immediately.
Concubine Song covered her stomach and was already in so much pain that she couldn't speak.
"Blood! There's blood!"
Concubine Song's maid screamed. Only then did everyone notice that Concubine Song's skirt was gradually being stained with blood.
The King of Jin panicked. His face was as black as the bottom of a pot. "Hurry up and call the mansion doctor!"