My wife has a secret

Chapter 48 The eldest young lady returns home

Mingzhu nodded in agreement and turned to leave.

As the footsteps of the servant faded away, only two ladies from the Xu family were left in the cell, staring at each other.

Qin Shuying stared at her, raised the corners of her lips, and called out in a sweet voice: "Oh, Sister Shen, you came at a great time. She showed up at the right time instead of earlier or later, but had to show up with that thief from the White Lotus Sect."

Shen Shuangxu was not a talkative person. Her cold eyes shot through the darkness and straight towards Qin Shuying.

"I can understand that you have complaints. After all, I'm using you as bait."

Qin Shuying blinked her bright eyes and wanted to show her usual radiant smile, but out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of the dilapidated cell and smelled the smell of damp rust.

She sighed softly and gave up the meaningless argument.

"Forget it, it's up to you."

In fact, when Qin Shuying first entered the Xu Mansion, she had dealt with the eldest lady of the Xu family.

According to the rules for wealthy families to take concubines, the concubine must get the approval of the wife before she can sleep in the bridal chamber on the wedding night.

Although Shen Shuangxu never made things difficult for her from beginning to end, and even showed great generosity in the matter of taking a concubine, he never asked about the actions of the four courtyards.

But in Qin Shuying's heart, no one in the Xu family could be half as terrifying as the other party.

It was all because she couldn't understand or see through this woman.

Qin Shuying was sold to Wangyue Tower at the age of three. She grew up in a brothel and got to know countless people in the building.

She has dealt with wealthy businessmen and powerful nobles, but Shen Shuangxu is different from everyone else.

Even though she used her connections to get the other party's life story and studied the wife's every move since she was a child, she still couldn't figure out what the other party's interests and hobbies were.

Most of the time, Shen Shuangxu is like the top of an unreachable snowy mountain, daunting and breathtaking.

"The White Lotus Sect has been operating painstakingly for generations. It is not easy to catch them. The Xu Mansion is the only clue that the other party has revealed in recent years."

Shen Shuangxu's voice was still cold, without a trace of fluctuation between his brows.

Qin Shuying, who was sitting on a straw mat, sensed a loophole in the other party's words, and the surprise in her eyes became more and more intense.

"Do you know that the White Lotus Sect poisoned Xu Qing?"

Shen Shuangxu did not answer, but the sparkling light in her eyes was enough to explain everything.

Qin Shuying connected everything that happened after she entered the Xu Mansion and thought of another possibility.

"From the beginning to the end, you know everything that happened in Suzhou. Since I entered the Xu Mansion, you have understood my purpose and secretly helped me build the Exiled Immortal Tower."

Prefect Xu had said it very bluntly yesterday that it was this eldest young lady who asked Suzhou Prefecture to provide convenience to the Exiled Immortal Tower.

"You also know that I am using Mandrake, but you have been turning a blind eye to it... No, you are just pretending not to know. In fact, you are laying bait and waiting for the fish to take the bait."

Shen Shuangxu did not deny it, and calmly helped Qin Shuying solve her confusion.

"The White Lotus Sect cannot do without this substance, whether it is studying immortal arts internally or teaching and receiving teachings externally... They control the routes of the black ships in the South China Sea and almost monopolize the production of mandragora. With the dosage and purpose you use, you will be targeted by them sooner or later."

Although the environment was cool, some sweet sweat seeped out of Qin Shuying's fair and delicate skin.

"When the White Lotus supplied me with the mandragora, you found out something, right?"

"The political situation in the court is gradually being controlled by the Queen Mother's faction. The White Lotus Sect's intention to poison Xu Qing is to cause chaos in the capital so that they can take advantage of the situation... They provide you with mandragora, on the one hand to put the blame on you, and on the other hand to control the nobles in the capital who are looking for you. These people who are addicted to poison can be developed by the White Lotus Sect into their own spies and minions."

Qin Shuying had never expected that the White Lotus Cult was so vicious. Her scalp went numb when she thought that everything she had done almost became someone else's wedding dress.

But what made Qin Shuying even more scared was Shen Shuangxu.

Shen, who had foreseen all this in advance, dared to put the empress dowager's beloved nephew and her own husband in danger.

Should we say she is ruthless or rational?
"I am also at fault in this matter. The White Lotus increased the dosage after I left, and it almost killed him."

Shen Shuangxu's voice flowed like a clear spring, chilling and bone-chilling yet without the slightest warmth, as if it had flowed out of an ice cellar.

"So I came here to seek your help and make a deal with you."

Qin Shuying snorted coldly and glanced away.

Although she was also good at playing tricks, in front of Shen Shuangxu, she felt the powerlessness of a three-year-old child facing an adult.

Doing business with such people is equivalent to handing your life and property into their hands, and you won’t even know how you died.

"You can only threaten me with the lives of Yang Liu and Cui Er once."

Shen Shuangxu said calmly: "There is no need to threaten you. I can let you go and everything will be the same as before."

Qin Shuying was slightly stunned, thinking she had misheard.

She wanted to kill Xu Qing and even put it into action. In addition, the business she ran secretly violated the ban, so she was doomed to fail anyway.

Shen Shuangxu is currently a favorite of the Queen Mother, so there is no need for him to take risks to save himself.

"You want me to continue to be the fourth young lady of the Xu family and the boss of the Exiled Immortal House?"

"Without Mandragora, the Exiled Immortal House is just a way to make money... You can do whatever you want with this business as a basis for your future life."

In Shen Shuangxu's mouth, the business that made a fortune every day was more like a game of house.

"But you have to stay with Xu Qing."

Qin Shuying's expression was bewildered and puzzled. She didn't understand why Shen Shuangxu went to such great lengths to protect herself.

She pursed her lips and chuckled, "I am a weak woman who can't even tie a chicken. Why do you want me to stay with Xu Qing?"

"A few years ago, you performed with the entertainers in the Moon Viewing Tower in the princess's mansion... At that time, your dance moved everyone, and I also watched you dance."

Qin Shuying's eyes brightened because of Shen Shuangxu's words. She raised her head slightly and looked at the woman in front of her again.

She didn't expect that the other party would bring up the trivial past that even Yang Liu and Cui'er didn't know about.

But it’s better this way. I finally understand Shen Shuangxu’s thoughts.

"Just stay by his side?"

"It's up to you how much effort you put in."

Qin Shuying's breathing stopped, knowing that the other party was giving her a warning.

Shen was warning herself that the Xu family was her last safe haven. If she didn't want to end up in the situation she was in today, she had to stay by Xu Qing's side and not cause any more trouble. From the perspective of reward alone, this was indeed an irresistible deal.

"Thank you for not killing me, sister."

After hearing the reply, Shen Shuangxu turned and walked towards the door.

When she was halfway there, she suddenly stopped as if she had thought of something.

"By the way, if you give birth to a child, the first one must be adopted by my eldest son."

Qin Shuying looked stunned and puzzled by Shen Shuangxu's sudden additional request.

It is quite normal for a wife to ask a concubine's child to be adopted by her in order to consolidate her position, but there is something strange about this matter.

Shen should know that she and Xu Qing are not actually husband and wife, so why would she make this request?
……

As soon as Xu Qing finished his meal, he noticed that the atmosphere in the mansion was not right.

Hai Dafu, who used to hang around the mansion all the time, unexpectedly changed into the butler's new clothes for the first time, and tied his hair together with a green ribbon, dressing very neatly.

The servants in the mansion also came out in full force today and cleaned every corner of the yard.

The table in Xu Qing's room alone was wiped back and forth six times.

"What's going on?"

As he couldn't find Xiaohuan, Xu Qing caught up with Hai Dafu who was on his way in a hurry and asked him why the mansion was so busy.

"It's not the Spring Festival yet, is it? Why has the mansion become like this? I see big red lanterns pasted on the eaves and doors of each courtyard... Is my aunt coming back?"

"Master, you don't know yet? There's news from Suzhou Prefecture that the eldest young mistress returned a day earlier and is now on her way to Xu's Mansion!"

Time was running out and Hai Dafu was sweating profusely. He wished he could have two wings behind him.

The eldest young lady has a mild obsession with mysophobia. If she sees something she doesn't like, no one in the Xu family will have peace.

Xu Qing uttered a sigh and asked in confusion: "Isn't she coming back tomorrow? Why is she coming back a day earlier?"

"Who knows? My dear young master...why don't you go to your room and take a nap? I really don't have time to argue with you!"

Hai Dafu's face was filled with sorrow, and his voice was full of bitterness.

In the Xu family, except for the old lady and the one in the palace, no one is not afraid of the eldest young lady.

Even though he was the general manager of the Xu Mansion and had more than 20 years of experience, he did not dare to say a word in front of Qin.

"Alright, alright, get busy... Why are you so cowardly? She's just a woman. Is it that serious?"

After Xu Qing waved goodbye and let Hai Dafu go, his eyes and tone were full of disdain.

He didn't think that Shen Shuangxu could be so scary. These people were just scaring themselves, because they had been oppressed for too long and had developed mental demons.

Before Xu Qing stayed in the yard for too long, Xiaohuan came running over to invite him to the front hall.

When Xu Qing arrived at the front hall, he found that all the people who used to stay in the various courtyards had gathered together today and were sitting neatly on the chairs.

In addition to the kind-looking old lady of the Xu family sitting on the main seat, Lu Wanhe, who seldom went out of the yard in the past, also changed into a formal suit.

It was a light pink palace skirt with a jade belt around the waist and a jacket on the outside, which made her waist look slender and charming.

The only regret was that her body was still as fragile as ever. When she felt the cold wind coming from the hall door, she covered her lips and started to cough lightly.

"Chief Steward Hai, Shuang Xu hasn't come back yet. Don't open the door so wide or the wind will blow into Wan He."

"Yes."

Hearing the old lady's words, Chief Steward Hai hurried forward and pulled the curtain, then rushed to the next room to make a pot of hot tea, and respectfully placed it on the small table of Mrs. Lu from the third room.

This unusual behavior surprised Lu Wanhe and Ji Xia who was waiting behind him.

Because in all the Xu family's previous activities, the third wife was often the least valued one. For example, during the ancestral temple worship or the Queen Mother's visit, they would just stay in their seats and wait for the time to end.

In addition, she was frail and sickly, and the old lady was always worried that she would pass these symptoms to her precious grandson, so she never took the initiative to match her with Xu Qing.

This is why, in the two years since she entered the house, even though the couple had never even met each other, the old lady remained indifferent and did not interfere in their affairs.

"You must take good care of yourself in the future. It's cold now, so don't catch a cold."

The old lady looked at Lu Wanhe with a smile and in a gentle tone, reminded her of the trivial things that she needed to pay attention to in life.

Lu Wanhe, who was cared for by the old lady for the first time, was a little flattered and her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Yes, thank you grandma for your concern."

Her reaction was noticed by Old Mrs. Xu, who liked her more and more.

I used to think that this girl didn't seem like a good person as she had been angry with her grandson for such a long time over trivial matters.

But now she thinks Lu Wanhe is handsome and well-behaved, and will definitely be a good mother who takes care of her husband and children in the future.

The old lady was just about to ask about the baby in her belly, but she saw Xu Qing swaggering into the hall. She sighed and scolded, "Qing'er, pay attention to your etiquette. I've told you several times that Shuang Xu comes from a famous family in Heluo, a prominent family in the capital, and she values ​​these things the most."

The aristocratic families in various places are basically headed by the famous families in the capital, and their family style and etiquette rules are similar to theirs.

So the old lady was very worried that her grandson’s behavior would cause displeasure to the other party and affect the relationship between the couple.

The wife in the first house is different from the concubines in other houses. She is not only the mistress of the Xu Mansion, but also the face of the Xu family.

The old lady has always been optimistic about Shen Shuangxu and puts her first in everything.

But the old lady could also tell from little things that her grandson was not worthy of the other party. If it weren't for the relationship with the Queen Mother, how could the Shen family marry such an outstanding daughter to the Xu family?

But after a few years, I will eventually return to dust. I just hope that the two of us who are married can manage this family well.

"Ahem...where is she?"

Xu Qing sat down, drank a sip of hot tea, and asked Hai Dafu, who was looking at the ground with his eyes lowered.

The latter was stunned for a moment before reacting, "To reply to what the young master said, the news came from Suzhou Prefecture an hour and a half ago, and I don't know the rest."

Xu Qing curled his lips, turned around and said to the old lady, "Grandma, this person hasn't arrived yet, and we have been waiting in the hall for so long...why don't you go back and rest first? I can just say hello to her when she comes back."

Lu Wanhe felt that Xu Qing's words were dangerous, and fearing that his words would anger the old lady, she hurriedly explained, "My husband, Sister Shen came back from the capital specifically for our Xu family's affairs, and she is your legal wife, so it is reasonable for us to wait here."

(End of this chapter)