"Ah? She… she probably has some? Your husband doesn't know clearly." He panicked momentarily but quickly regained composure.
"I was thinking we mustn't shortchange sister-in-law. Whatever I have, she should have too. Otherwise she'd be even more miserable, right?" Shen Qingqing stirred the bird's nest soup with a spoon, yet didn't take a single sip.
Song Lingxiao said with relief, "It's wonderful that you think this way. Sister-in-law has suffered enough already – we really should treat her better."
"Then from now on, could the Marquis prepare two portions? One for sister-in-law and one for me. How does that sound?"
"Naturally that would be good." He agreed immediately.
He watched Shen Qingqing and urged, "Why aren't you eating yet?"
Shen Qingqing lowered her head to bring the bird's nest soup to her lips when Song Lingxiao's servant approached. "Young master, Old Madam is looking for you."
"Then I'll go see what mother wants. Finish your bird's nest soup, my lady."
"Go ahead. I'll finish it."
After Song Lingxiao left, she prepared to pour out the bird's nest soup but then remembered something and kept it.
Soon after, she and Nanzhi quietly left through the back door of the Marquis Manor with Lvyun. After meeting up with Xijin, the group headed to the place Lvyun had mentioned.
Though it was dark at night, it didn't affect Lvyun's ability to find the way – this child had an excellent sense of direction.
Although they were within the city, it was still a relatively remote area.
"Just ahead." Lvyun pointed to several households not far away.
"Madam, it's this one – the one with the lantern hanging."
Shen Qingqing sent two laborers to investigate. "Be careful, don't make any noise. Check if anyone's inside. If they are, capture them and don't let them cry out."
They approached the house deftly but found the door locked from the outside and the windows bolted shut, making entry impossible.
"Madam, there shouldn't be anyone inside." They reported the situation.
Shen Qingqing's heart sank. It seemed they were very cautious. Without finding anyone, there would be no witness. However, this actually made them more suspicious.
"Let's go."
On the way back, she gave each of them a string of coins.
"Don't speak of tonight's events to anyone."
"Understood, Madam. We two aren't the gossiping type."
After they left, Xijin said to her, "Madam, rest assured. Their contracts of indenture are in my hands – they wouldn't dare do anything."
"But what exactly happened?" Xijin still didn't know.
"We'll talk when we return."
They returned to the manor quietly without being discovered.
Shen Qingqing had Mama Zhao take Lvyun to bed, while the three of them – mistress and servants – sat together to talk.
She told Xijin about her suspicions. Xijin listened in stunned silence, not speaking for quite some time.
Suddenly she slammed the table hard. "Adulterous scoundrels and wanton women! This servant will go kill them!" She wished she could immediately grab an axe to chop them to death.
"Calm down!" Nanzhi pulled her back.
"How can I calm down? Madam, don't worry. This servant will go kill them – it's my business alone. When the time comes, just chop off my head. Trading my one life for their two lives – no, three lives – is worth it!"
Both she and Nanzhi had grown up with Shen Qingqing. How could they allow Shen Qingqing to suffer such insult and harm?
Looking at Xijin like this, Shen Qingqing felt mixed emotions.
In her previous life, Song Lingxiao had said that Xijin had absconded with money from the shop, disappearing without a trace thereafter. So she never knew what actually became of Xijin.
But she knew Xijin would never abscond with the money—it must be another scheme by Song Lingxiao and Yang Wanqing.
"Xijin, I now suspect Song Yu and Song Xinlan might not be my children either. If they were to die now, I would lose all traces of my real children," she voiced her concerns.
This was precisely why she couldn't afford to break openly with Song Lingxiao. If Song Yu and Song Xinlan weren't her biological children, then only Song Lingxiao and Yang Wanqing would know where her true offspring were.
"H-how… how could this be?" Xijin struggled to accept this deduction. If all three children didn't belong to the mistress, then…
"Mistress!" Xijin began weeping, and Nanzhi could no longer hold back her tears either.
Shen Qingqing sniffled, fighting to maintain her composure.
"Don't cry. We've discovered this in time—at least we haven't been kept in the dark forever. But these are still just suspicions for now. We need evidence."
"There's much we must do next." There was no time for sorrow, or they would meet the same tragic end as in her previous life.
Xijin and Nanzhi wiped their tears and nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Mistress. No matter what happens, we will always stand by your side!"
Anyone who dared bully their mistress would have to face their unwavering defense, even at the cost of their lives!
"Nanzhi, prepare some ginseng soup. I'll be visiting Qinmian Hall to see the Marquis soon."
"And heat up the bird's nest soup the Marquis brought earlier."
Their eyes lit up. "Mistress, are you planning to catch them in the act?"
If Song Lingxiao and Yang Wanqing were having an affair, he definitely wouldn't be in Qinmian Hall.
Nanzhi immediately went to prepare the ginseng soup.
Soon after, Shen Qingqing led the two maids to Qinmian Hall, her steps noticeably urgent.
"Marquis, I've brought you ginseng soup." She knocked on the door but received no response, so she pushed it open. The lamps were lit, but the room was empty.
"Let's go to Song Zhu Study!" Xijin was already rolling up her sleeves in excitement. "Does Song Zhu Study have a back door? I'll block it!"
Nanzhi shot her a glance. "Are you stupid? That would alert them! It'd be obvious we're here to catch them red-handed!"
"Ah, I was just saying," Xijin looked at her hands. "My hands are itching to hit someone."
"Don't worry, there will be plenty of chances to catch them later," Shen Qingqing recalled numerous incidents from her past life. Those two might have been together in places she hadn't noticed. Once this suspicion took root, certain things became clearer.
"Let's go deliver the bird's nest soup to Lady Yang."
The mistress and her two maids arrived at Yang Wanqing's Song Zhu Study.
Finding no one guarding the door, they entered directly.
When they reached the bedroom entrance, a maid finally noticed them and cried out in alarm, "Mistress! What brings you here?"
"The Mistress is here!" she shouted again.
"What are you yelling for?" Shen Qingqing glared at her sternly. "Have you no manners?"
The terrified maid immediately dropped to her knees.
Simultaneously, a loud "thud" came from inside, as if something heavy had fallen to the ground.
Shen Qingqing signaled to Xijin with her eyes.
"Could there be a thief inside? Quick, let's check!" Xijin barged through the door and saw Yang Wanqing hastily adjusting the bed curtains, her clothes in disarray.
Yang Wanqing turned around, flustered, to face Shen Qingqing.
"What are you doing here?" She hurriedly threw on an outer robe.
"Sister-in-law, why is your face so red?" That shameful flush!
Shen Qingqing removed her cloak and handed it to Nanzhi, who stood nearby.
Yang Wanqing touched her face; it was very hot, clearly flushed. She immediately said, "The room is heated with silver charcoal, that's why it's warm."
"Perfect timing—I brought some bird's nest soup for you, sister-in-law. Have some to soothe your throat."