Chapter 256 Punishment

Since her rebirth, Xie Qingran has always been efficient and decisive in her actions; she is not a passive person.

The next morning, Xie Qingran took the vase directly to the Imperial Study.

The emperor now gets a headache whenever he sees Xie Qingran. This unlucky girl is indeed sensible, but she's also ruthless when it comes to causing trouble.

Now, looking at Xie Qingran standing in front of him, the emperor was even unsure whether she was here to cause trouble or to show that she was sensible.

"Does Your Majesty still remember that this was a vase Your Majesty gave to me?"

"The physician in the manor examined it and said that when this vase was made, it was mixed with blood-dried grass. If left for too long, my wife and the child in her womb will not survive."

"I was overjoyed when I received this vase and placed it by my bedside. I've been using it ever since."

Xie Qingran bowed respectfully, placed the vase she was holding on the table, and began to speak in a calm and unassuming manner.

Her calm tone delivered a bombshell, leaving even the emperor somewhat dumbfounded.

The emperor didn't recognize the vase, and he knew nothing about the Blood-Withered Grass. He had only sent it over to appease the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and quell the rumors outside, so how could it have turned out like this...?

Xie Qingran had been observing the emperor's expression. Seeing the doubt in his eyes, she knew that this matter most likely had nothing to do with him.

"How dare you! Who on earth dares to be so insolent!"

"Guards, investigate for me!"

The emperor naturally understood the seriousness of the matter, and slammed his fist on the table in anger, determined to find the person behind it all.

He stared at Xie Qingran with his eyebrows furrowed, his eyes filled with mixed emotions. He didn't understand why Xie Qingran had brought these things to him.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xie Qingran knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily: "Your Majesty, this humble woman thanks you!"

Having said all that needed to be said, Xie Qingran no longer needed to worry about what was to come. She smiled slightly and strode outside.

Watching Xie Qingran's retreating figure, the Emperor frowned slightly and looked at Eunuch Bao: "What exactly does this girl mean?"

"This servant doesn't know either, Your Majesty. This is no small matter. Shouldn't we inform the Empress?" Eunuch Bao frowned, his face full of doubt.

Empress...

The emperor thought about it carefully. If Xie Qingran wanted the empress to know about this, she would go directly to the empress. But she didn't. Instead, she came to him.

In other words, Xie Qingran didn't completely trust the Empress. This girl was really different from what he thought; she was even more shrewd than he imagined.

"Investigate this matter; it must be done in secret."

The emperor waved his hand, sending Eunuch Bao to investigate the matter. His face was dark and ugly. He smashed the vase on the table to the ground.

He wanted to see who was so audacious as to use the emperor's name to frame Xie Qingran!

Three months later...

Xie Qingran's belly was already quite large. Ever since she found out she was carrying twins, she had stayed indoors, mostly on the balcony of her house. She had also gained quite a bit of weight.

Xiao Jue's troop rotation and reorganization were completely finished, so he returned without delay.

When he entered, he saw Xie Qingran sitting in a rocking chair in the courtyard, with two children chattering and laughing around her. She seemed to be making tiger-head shoes, and she would occasionally look up at the children.

The scene was so heartwarming that Xiao Jue's heart softened instantly.

He slowed his pace, walked over step by step, and looked at Xie Qingran with a smile: "Qingran, I'm back."

"You're back?" Xie Qingran smiled, then awkwardly stood up. Xiao Jue stepped forward and supported her, looking tenderly at her protruding belly.

Xie Qingran smiled slightly, took his hand, and placed it on her lower abdomen: "Feel it, this is our child."

"Yes, this is our child." Xiao Jue put his arm around Xie Qingran's shoulder, carefully pulled her into his embrace, and said softly, "My lady, I've missed you so much!"

Xie Qingran sensed the change in Xiao Jue's body, blushed, and playfully pinched his chest before taking his hand and leading him into the house.

There was a fair-skinned young maid in the room. When she saw the two men enter, she immediately blushed and said, "Lord Duke, Madam."

Looking at this little girl, Xiao Jue also felt something was strange. He frowned and looked at Xie Qingran: "Who is this?"

"This is Yunniang, I brought her here to serve you." Xie Qingran smiled slightly: "I'm heavily pregnant right now and it's inconvenient for me, so... I don't want to make things difficult for you."

These words immediately turned the previously warm atmosphere into an awkward one.

Xiao Jue quickly understood Xie Qingran's meaning; this was the concubine she had found for him!

Logically speaking, this kind of thing would happen in wealthy families. When the mistress was pregnant, she would find a reliable maid to serve the master. If she had a child, she would become a concubine.

But Xiao Jue never expected that Xie Qingran would play such a trick on him.

She actually found him a maidservant.

"What do you mean?"

Xiao Jue's face darkened as he stared at Xie Qingran.

Are you being sincere, or are you testing me?

Xiao Jue stepped forward and stared intently at Xie Qingran.

"I mean it sincerely, I don't want to make you feel wronged."

"Yunniang, what are you standing there for? Come here and help the Duke bathe and change his clothes."

After saying this, Xie Qingran turned and walked outside, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Xiao Jue stared at Xie Qingran's retreating figure, his face turning pale with anger. He clenched his fists, flung away Yunniang who was trying to pull at his clothes, and growled through gritted teeth, "Get out!"

Xie Qingran stood silently at the door, watching Yunniang run out in a flustered state with a flushed face, and felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

Immediately afterwards, Xiao Jue also came out. The moment their eyes met, Xiao Jue strode forward, grabbed Xie Qingran, pressed her against the door, and kissed her fiercely.

"Xiao Jue, ugh! You've gone mad!"

Xie Qingran was frightened by Xiao Jue's enthusiasm. Her eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and she kept pushing him away, afraid that he might do something to hurt the child in a fit of anger.

After a long while, Xiao Jue finally calmed down, hugged Xie Qingran tightly, and said through gritted teeth, "Xie Qingran, are you deliberately trying to anger me!"

"Yes!" Xie Qingran said matter-of-factly, "Xiao Jue, this is my punishment for you!"