The Marquis's line has ended? The pregnant maid is pregnant again!

Lu Jihan didn't even glance at Chu Xingge, and nimbly mounted his horse in one motion: "I have nothing to say to you, Lord Chu, go ahead."

After saying that, Lu Jihan didn't even spare Chu Xingge a glance before riding away.

Orange, standing nearby, could only step forward and say, "Lord Chu, our Marquis hasn't been in a good mood these past few days. Please come back in a few days to inquire further!"

Chu Xingge's smile grew wider and wider, but it didn't reach his eyes at all.

It seems he underestimated how much Lu Jihan cared about Ahe.

I remembered the letter Ah He gave me; every word in it mentioned Lu Jihan.

Thinking of this, and recalling the contents of that letter, Chu Xingge felt as if her heart was being pricked by countless needles, aching in a fine, dense pain.

If it weren't for Ahe's letter describing his current situation, he wouldn't have had the nerve to fawn over Lu Jihan, who was giving him the cold shoulder.

Besides, he already has Ah He!

Lu Jihan had no idea how many people wanted Ahe but couldn't find her. They searched for three years without success, and when they finally found her, she became his woman.

Chu Xingge watched Lu Jihan's departing figure. He would resolve this matter for Ahe.

-

Yuhetang.

Madam Qin was having a meal with the old lady. Since Shen Qinghe became pregnant, the old lady had not allowed Shen Qinghe to go out much, prioritizing her health above all else.

While they were having their meal, the old lady was still a little worried: "Did you send it to Qinghe?"

Madam Qin smiled, looking very kind and generous: "Grandmother, don't worry, your granddaughter-in-law has already instructed someone to send over the medicine and food to help with the pregnancy. The prescription and the food itself have all been approved by Doctor Lin."

"Good, good child. All good children. Your magnanimity shows that your mother and I were right about you." The old lady nodded in satisfaction at Qin Shi, then noticed the dark circles under Qin Shi's eyes.

"My dear child, why do you look so haggard? Have you not been getting enough rest lately?"

Madam Qin shook her head and said with a smile, "Grandmother, there's no need to worry too much. I've just been having nightmares these past few days and haven't been getting enough rest. I'll probably be fine in a couple of days."

At this moment, Hongxing immediately spoke up: "Madam, don't listen to our young mistress's nonsense. Ever since Qinghe became pregnant, our young mistress has been unable to eat or sleep well, but it's definitely not because of anything to do with the child in Qinghe's belly. On the contrary, it's because she's too worried."

Our young mistress personally oversees Qinghe's three meals a day, and she also personally inspects and checks the pregnancy-preserving medicine before daring to send it to Qinghe.

Fearing that the previous events might have affected Qinghe's health, and not wanting to entrust the task to others, the young mistress stayed up late at night studying medical texts herself. "During the day, she also manages the affairs of the entire household; our young mistress is truly exhausted..."

"Hongxing!" Madam Qin snapped, her timing perfect, and quickly looked at the old lady, saying:

"Grandmother, don't listen to this girl's nonsense. She's just exaggerating because she cares about me. I am busy, but I can still take care of everything. I know how important this child is to our Marquis's mansion, and to you and my husband, so I will do my best to take good care of him."

"Good child, you are such a good child," the old lady said with delight and satisfaction upon hearing Qin's words. "You are so sensible. If Ji Han agrees, the child can be raised under your care after everything is alright."

Upon hearing this, Qin's eyes lit up. Before she could express her gratitude, she heard footsteps outside and Lu Jihan strode in.

Granny Kang and her servants brought Lu Jihan bowls, chopsticks, and food.

Lu Jihan glanced at it: "What is Grandmother saying?"

"Jihan, you've come at the perfect time." The old lady's eyes were full of smiles when she saw Lu Jihan arrive, and the smile on her face never faded. "I just saw how devoted and sensible your wife is to Qinghe and the child, so we discussed letting her take care of the baby after the birth, which will also give Qinghe time to recover. A woman who has just given birth needs to rest and recuperate properly."

Qin looked at Lu Jihan with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, waiting for his answer.

Lu Jihan held chopsticks in his hand, his words vague and his expression unreadable: "Let's talk about it after the baby is born."

Seeing that Lu Jihan did not immediately agree, and that what she wanted had once again slipped through her fingers, Qin couldn't help but clench the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

All her efforts over the past few days have been for nothing!

But at this moment, Qin knew that she absolutely could not show the slightest sign of anything amiss.

Qin could only force a smile and agree: "My husband is right. It doesn't matter who raises or takes care of the child, it's all for the child's good. As long as the child is taken good care of, it doesn't matter who raises the child."

The old lady now liked Qin Shi more and more, and realized that she had been protecting Qing He and had somewhat neglected her granddaughter-in-law: "Ji Han, now that Qing He is pregnant, I heard from Doctor Lin that we absolutely cannot consummate the marriage before six months. If you are still staying at Qing He's place every night, it's not quite appropriate. You should also look at the person who has been by your side all this time. Besides, tomorrow is the fifteenth, you should go to your granddaughter-in-law's room, even a day or two earlier would be better."

The old lady said these words in front of Qin Shi, so it was perfectly clear who she was referring to.

"Let's talk about tomorrow's business tomorrow." Lu Jihan didn't agree to go today. He had only taken a couple of bites of the food on the table when he couldn't help but frown.

Lu Jihan looked at the table full of food, but it tasted bland, and there was no trace of that little girl.

Upon realizing this, Lu Jihan immediately woke up. Why was he thinking about Shen Qinghe even while eating?

Lu Jihan frowned. Had that girl given him some kind of bewitching drug?

Why does he keep thinking about her even after they've parted ways?

Was it because she was his mother? Qin was his wife, so why didn't he think of Qin?

Lu Jihan pondered for a moment, then changed his answer: "Never mind, it's fine to go today."

Qin Shi, who had been smiling somewhat awkwardly, immediately brightened up again upon hearing Lu Jihan's words. She immediately told Hongxing to go back and instruct the kitchen to prepare more of the Marquis's favorite dishes.

The old lady smiled and said, "Look how thoughtful your granddaughter-in-law is."

"Hmm." Lu Jihan responded casually, showing little emotional fluctuation; his thoughts remained fixed on that question—

If Qin had also been engaged to someone else, would he care so much?

Lu Jihan was going to find an answer.

-

That night.

Since Shen Qinghe gained favor, Lu Jihan has rarely rested in other people's rooms, and has almost never gone there. Even with Qin Shi, it was because of ancestral rules.

Qin instructed the kitchen to prepare the meal early in the morning, and then put on a pink, waist-length ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a front opening, embroidered with lifelike crabapple blossoms.

Hongxing quickly praised, "Madam looks so beautiful! It's a pity that you have to manage the affairs of the manor on weekdays, and in order to maintain the dignity of the principal wife, you can only wear some old-fashioned and conservative colors. I want to show the Marquis that it's not just Shen Qinghe who can wear pink, but Madam looks extremely beautiful in pink too!"

Qin asked with some anticipation, "Then... will my husband like it too?"

The Qin family quickly found the answer to this question.

As Lu Jihan walked in, he noticed Qin Shi's dress almost immediately.

Lu Jihan paused, his gaze falling on Qin Shi's dress, his brows furrowing slightly: "Your clothes..."

Qin noticed Lu Jihan's slight pause and, feeling somewhat uneasy, asked humbly, "What's wrong, husband? Is it... not good-looking?"

"It's not really appropriate," Lu Jihan replied crisply.

"She looks good in it." Lu Jihan nodded in agreement. "As for you, wearing lake blue or emerald green would better reflect your status."

"Okay." Qin Shi replied tremblingly and hurriedly sat down next to Lu Jihan.

During the dinner, Lu Jihan barely ate anything, just touching his chopsticks as a token gesture.

Qin wanted to ask, but when she realized that Lu Jihan showed no intention of leaving after the meal, her hope was rekindled.

Everything went as Qin had predicted. Lu Jihan not only didn't leave, but even took the initiative to suggest staying to rest.

Qin was overjoyed and immediately ordered people to prepare water.

But just as Qin finished washing up and lay down, she heard Lu Jihan ask an incomprehensible question:

"I remember you were engaged before you got married?"

Qin never expected Lu Jihan to ask such a question at this time. "Yes, he was a scholar. He studied hard for ten years and just passed the imperial examination as a third-place scholar when he fell into the lake and died."

"If the third-ranking scholar had entered the imperial court, he would probably be a fourth or fifth-rank official by now."

As Lu Jihan spoke, his eyes and brows were hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to discern his emotions or guess his thoughts: "His background is quite similar to that of Lord Chu."

-

Shen Qinghe went to bed to rest, knowing that Lu Jihan wouldn't come.

Because... Shen Qinghe already knew that Lu Jihan was resting in Qin's room today.

Shen Qinghe felt a little uneasy, so she simply went to bed early.

But for some reason, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Qinghe opened her eyes, looked at the bed ceiling carved with begonia flowers, and said somewhat petulantly, "If you're not coming, then you're not coming. I'm going to sleep."

After saying that, Shen Qinghe closed her eyes tightly.

In the room, the dim candlelight flickered, casting shadows on the oiled paper of the window.

Little did she know that the moment she finished speaking, a tall and broad silhouette of a man appeared on the window paper.

Lu Jihan, who had just come out of Fuhua Hall, went straight to this small courtyard.

He had just arrived and saw Shen Qinghe trying to fool him; he could clearly hear the little bit of stubbornness in her words.

Lu Jihan approached, his lips brushing against her earlobe, his voice hoarse and deep: "If you can't sleep, do something else."

As soon as Shen Qinghe opened her eyes, she saw Lu Jihan standing in front of her.

"Master..." She reached out her hand and looked at him.

Suddenly, his body trembled, and Lu Jihan pressed his large hand on her head, wanting to kiss her, but then reluctantly let go.

Shen Qinghe looked up at him: "Master, can we..."