Xijin immediately brought the Bird's Nest Soup and placed it before Yang Wanqing.
At the sight of the soup, Yang Wanqing's expression tightened.
"Wh-why did you bring me Bird's Nest Soup?"
Noticing her reaction, Shen Qingqing understood—it was indeed the adulterous pair conspiring to poison her.
"The Marquis insists I drink Bird's Nest Soup every day, so I thought you should also have some to nourish yourself." These words made Yang Wanqing breathe a slight sigh of relief. Was she here to flaunt their affection?
But Shen Qingqing continued:
"Actually, I thought you and the Marquis have both been working hard these past few days. I brought ginseng soup for him but couldn't find him, so I came to you first. Sister-in-law, do you know where the Marquis is?"
Glancing at the bed tightly concealed by its curtains, Shen Qingqing asked knowingly.
Yang Wanqing's hand trembled as she held the bowl of Bird's Nest Soup, then she shook her head. "I don't know."
Her mind was in disarray, unable to think clearly. She thought of drinking the soup to avoid Shen Qingqing's gaze and questions.
"How does it taste?"
"Quite good." She hadn't actually tasted it, drinking quickly in hopes of sending Shen Qingqing away sooner.
"Qingqing, you should go back and rest. You haven't fully recovered yet—don't risk falling ill again."
"There's actually another matter I wanted to discuss and hear your opinion on."
"What is it?" Yang Wanqing asked distractedly, her eyes occasionally drifting toward the bed curtains.
"I want to find a concubine for the Marquis."
Clatter!
The bowl in Yang Wanqing's hand fell onto the table with a sudden, sharp sound.
"Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, my hand slipped." She quickly asked, "Why would you think of finding a concubine for your husband?"
"This recent fall into the water has harmed my health, and I need time to recuperate properly. The Marquis can't be left unattended. What do you think, Sister-in-law?"
Yang Wanqing never expected Shen Qingqing to take the initiative in finding a concubine for Song Lingxiao. The series of events tonight had left her mind overwhelmed.
"Your husband is deeply devoted to you, and your relationship is strong. He would never agree to this. It's better not to mention it in front of him—he might feel insulted." As long as Shen Qingqing didn't bring it up, Song Lingxiao wouldn't take a concubine. She couldn't guarantee whether he would agree if Shen Qingqing suggested it.
After all, what man wouldn't want multiple wives and concubines?
Shen Qingqing feigned surprise, then showed a relieved smile. "The Marquis truly treats me well." Song Lingxiao, I will repay your "kindness" in full!
"Then I'll take my leave." She stood to depart.
Yang Wanqing immediately said, "I won't see you out then—I'm not dressed warmly."
After leaving Song Zhu Study, Xijin asked, "Madam, are we just leaving like this?"
"Wait in the shadows for a while. Let's see if anyone comes out." She was certain Song Lingxiao was here, but without seeing him, it was all speculation.
"In such cold weather, Madam, let Nanzhi accompany you back. I'll wait here." Xijin, concerned for her, adjusted her cloak, wrapping it more securely.
"It's fine. I suspect he'll emerge soon." She wanted to see it with her own eyes.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they saw Song Lingxiao hurriedly exit Song Zhu Study, glancing around furtively like a guilty thief.
"It really is the Marquis!" Nanzhi exclaimed softly.
Before confirmation, people always hold onto a sliver of hope—what if it wasn't true?
What if there was no affair? What if the Marquis hadn't administered the poison? What if…
"Let's go." Shen Qingqing's voice was cold and hard. She was no longer sad; having confirmed the affair between these two, she could slowly implement her subsequent plans.
Lying in bed without sleep, Shen Qingqing's mind was occupied with thoughts of how to make Song Lingxiao and Yang Wanqing pay.
If Song Yu and Song Xinlan were not her children but Yang Wanqing's, it meant the two had been involved long ago. Song Lingxiao's marriage to her was a grand conspiracy—not just to drain the Shen Family's resources but also to use her as their shield.
Where had her own children gone? Seeing Lvyun's plight, she worried her first two children might not have fared well either.
They say even a vicious tiger doesn't eat its own cubs—how could Song Lingxiao be so cruel to his own children?
Early the next morning, the little maid Lvyun rose at dawn, waiting to serve her mistress.
But she stood there, small and visibly uneasy.
"No need to serve me," Shen Qingqing told her. Every time she saw Lvyun, she felt an inexplicable closeness, an urge to hold her, and naturally couldn't bear to make her work.
"Madam, this servant can do many things! This servant is very useful!" Lvyun grew frantic, afraid that if she proved useless, she'd be sent away. These past two days at her mistress's side had been the happiest she could remember—
She could eat her fill, no one beat her, she had warm blankets, and she didn't have to sleep shivering in the foul-smelling chicken coop, pecked by hens.
"Don't be afraid. Just stay by my side—I won't send you away. How could I send away such a well-behaved child?" Shen Qingqing beckoned her over, stroking her head. "From now on, if anyone bullies you, come and tell me."
Lvyun's large eyes lit up with joy, though she still asked uncertainly, "Really, Madam?" Despite her maturity, she was still a four-year-old at heart, unable to fully hide her childish nature.
"Really!" Shen Qingqing smiled, glancing at the child's small hands—covered in scars and chilblains, though the medicine applied over recent days had already improved them.
Four years old—there was still time to nurture her back to health.
Lvyun pressed her lips together in a careful, hesitant smile.
While helping Shen Qingqing with her toilette, Nanzhi quietly suggested, "Madam, should we try a blood test to confirm kinship?"
Shen Qingqing paused.
"This servant has heard that if two people's blood mixes in water, they're related; if not, they aren't."
"Then let's try it." With no other way to verify for now, this was worth attempting.
Nanzhi prepared a bowl of water and called Lvyun over.
"Don't be scared, Lvyun. It's just a little prick—only hurts a bit."
"I'm not scared! Lvyun isn't scared! If Madam asks Lvyun to do it, Lvyun isn't afraid!" Finally, she could do something for her mistress.
Seeing her like this, Shen Qingqing felt a pang of sorrow.
She pricked her own fingertip first, letting a drop of blood fall into the water, then did the same to Lvyun's finger. Lvyun didn't even flinch—such pain was nothing to her.