kvmb Chapter 274 The Last Gift
Chapter 274 The Last Gift
Shen Qingtan didn't shy away from Zhao Yi's questions: "What news has come from the other courtyard?"
Upon seeing this, Liu Yue quickly said, "The other courtyard caught fire last night, and Third Master and Third Madam were inside and couldn't escape."
Shen Qingtan had been waiting for this day to arrive. Upon hearing the news, she felt a sense of relief, and her heart finally settled down.
Zhao Jue is dead; she has avenged her great grudge.
There's no need to worry about Zhao Jue making a comeback.
Shen Qingtan inquired, "Has the Duke's Mansion learned of this?"
Liu Yue replied, "The Duke's mansion has learned of the news, and the Duke has sent one of his stewards to handle the funeral arrangements for the Third Master and Third Mistress."
Shen Qingtan wasn't surprised. The main reason the Duke and the Old Madam expelled the second branch of the family was that they were too disappointed in them and worried that they would ruin the Duke's mansion.
Secondly, it was to extinguish any thoughts of the second wife vying for power and to encourage them to reform themselves.
Whether out of sentiment or reason, the Duke's mansion will arrange for someone to handle Zhao Jue's funeral.
Liu Yue said worriedly, "Second Madam, the villa is under your name. If Third Master and Third Madam have an accident there, won't the Duke and the Old Madam blame you?"
"I consulted the old lady before giving the courtyard to Shen Mingzhu." Shen Qingtan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Zhao Jue betrayed his promise, abandoned his wife, and drove Shen Mingzhu to her death. What does it have to do with me if Shen Mingzhu dies with him?"
Liu Yue realized that Second Madam had only kindly lent the house to Third Madam, and had even made it public in front of the old lady.
Second Madam was not involved in the fire at the villa, and even if an investigation were to be conducted, it would not trace back to her.
Thinking of this, Liu Yue breathed a sigh of relief: "Are you going back to the Duke's mansion?"
"No rush." Shen Qingtan felt a little uncomfortable after sitting for a long time, so she hugged the thin blanket and leaned against the headboard. "Let's discuss it when Uncle and Aunt come back and then make a decision."
Liu Yue understood the situation. She looked at the bright sunshine outside the window, then at the Second Master sitting quietly beside her. She asked, "Second Madam, are you getting up?"
Shen Qingtan was now alert and had important matters to attend to, so she naturally couldn't stay in bed any longer.
"Second Master instructed the kitchen to prepare stewed pigeon with Chinese yam for you, fish wontons with tender filling and thin skin, jade shrimp dumplings, steamed milk cake, and vegetarian three-delicacy buns, with your favorite crispy bamboo shoots added inside the buns."
At this point, Liu Yue remembered something: "Last night you were thinking about eating pickled cucumbers to whet your appetite, so Second Master specially sent someone down the mountain to bring them back."
Shen Qingtan was really looking forward to this dish, so she quickly said, "I'll get up right away. Apart from the pickled cucumber, there's no need to prepare any other meat or vegetable side dishes."
She paused, then turned to Zhao Yi: "Second Master, have you eaten?"
Zhao Yi said gently, "I'll wait for you."
Shen Qingtan quickly threw off the covers, no longer wanting to stay in bed: "Yue'er, hurry up and go to the kitchen to tell the cook to prepare breakfast."
Liu Yue caught a glimpse of the marks on Shen Qingtan's body, quickly lowered her head, and her ears turned bright red.
"This servant will go right away."
After saying this, Liu Yue hurriedly left.
Shen Qingtan noticed something amiss from Liu Yue's reaction, and belatedly realized what was happening, looking down at her own body.
She was only wearing an undergarment, and her fair skin was covered with tiny red spots. Further down, a ring of red marks was visible around her ankles.
She looked up and saw the man staring at her legs, his clear eyes darkening.
Shen Qingtan sensed a dangerous aura and immediately became alert, about to pull the blanket over herself.
The man withdrew his gaze, picked up the clothes from the side, and dressed her one by one.
Shen Qingtan watched as the man skillfully tied her belt, somewhat surprised by his thoughtfulness. It made her thoughts seem impure, as she had assumed he was too disreputable.
"What's wrong?" Zhao Yi asked in a low voice, noticing her dazed expression. "What are you thinking about?"
Shen Qingtan blurted out, "I thought Second Master wanted to..." Realizing what she had said, she quickly stopped herself.
Zhao Yi watched as her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment because she had said the wrong thing.
“I wanted to do this while you were asleep.” Zhao Yi’s eyes were filled with laughter as he kissed her fair face. “Nothing can be hidden from you, Madam.”
Shen Qingtan: "..."
After breaking his vow, this man became increasingly skilled and adept at such intimate matters.
-
After breakfast, Shen Qingtan sent Tingxue to wait at Wangyou Tower until Zhao Qiyuan and the Fourth Madam returned from watching the sunrise, and then she would come to Yunlan Residence to report back.
She calculated the time it would take to go to the mountains to watch the sunrise, and she probably wouldn't be back for a while.
Shen Qingtan then called Zhao Yi to go see the foal they were raising in the Western Hills.
They walked out of the courtyard, crossed a path, and heard a light, cheerful laugh coming from afar.
Looking over, Shen Qingtan saw the Fourth Madam sitting on a swing set by the picturesque waterside pavilion, swinging high, her figure as light and graceful as a swallow.
Zhao Qiyuan stood under the wooden frame, his deep eyes following the Fourth Madam's movements, his cold face showing no sign of impatience.
The autumn sunlight bathed his face, softening even his sharp features.
Suddenly, Zhao Qiyuan's sharp gaze turned towards them, but the sharpness in his eyes faded upon seeing that it was them.
As the fourth wife swung back, he stretched out his long arm, grabbed the swing rope, wrapped it around her soft waist, and lifted her down.
The sudden movement startled the Fourth Madam, her heart pounding wildly, her fingertips digging into Zhao Qiyuan's strong forearm.
Before the Fourth Madam could react, Zhao Qiyuan reminded her, "Su Rao, Second Nephew, Second Nephew's wife is here."
The fourth madam quickly pushed Zhao Qiyuan away, calmed her racing heart, and turned to look at Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi.
Her eyes curved downwards, and she said with a smile, "Tan'er, where are you all going?"
Shen Qingtan walked towards Fourth Madam: "Fourth Aunt, I've received news that the villa caught fire, and Third Brother and his wife couldn't escape. Second Master and I have come specifically to discuss with you and Fourth Uncle whether we should go down the mountain today?"
The Fourth Madam also received the news early in the morning, but because of the surprise she had given Shen Qingtan yesterday, she did not send anyone to disturb them.
“Although Zhao Jue is no longer a member of the Duke’s mansion, the Duke probably still thinks about him.” The Fourth Madam smoothed her wind-blown hair. “We need to go down the mountain to save face.”
Shen Qingtan nodded slightly: "Then when shall we go down the mountain?"
"Now then." Looking at Shen Qingtan's rosy complexion, Fourth Madam suddenly remembered something. She reached into her sleeve, pulled out a purse, and secretly slipped it into Shen Qingtan's hand, avoiding the two men. "This is the last gift your Fourth Aunt is giving you from this trip to Xishan."
Shen Qingtan had a gut feeling that it wasn't a good thing.
The fourth wife said mischievously, "You'll need it."
Shen Qingtan thought of the anklet and silently accepted the sachet.
The Fourth Madam looked at Shen Qingtan, whose cheeks were flushed but who was pretending to be calm, and found her extremely amusing. Under Zhao Yi's gaze, she pinched Shen Qingtan's cheek.
"Niece-in-law, let's make another appointment after we get back to the manor."
The fourth lady left after saying those words, and then took Zhao Qiyuan away.
Shen Qingtan touched her cheek, watching the Fourth Madam's departing figure, and vaguely felt that she had been teased.
Only after the Fourth Madam's figure disappeared into the corridor did Shen Qingtan turn her gaze away, only to see the man staring at the purse in her hand.