Chapter 138 Tenderness

Shen Yiqiu frowned as she listened. In her memory, her maternal grandmother, Shen Zhaohua, was resolute and decisive, but she was by no means a person who would kill innocent people indiscriminately.

If she really wanted to kill her husband, why did she have to get married and have children?

Shen Ruyi looked at Shen Yiqiu with teary eyes, filled with guilt:

“I’m sorry, Yiqiu… because I wasn’t loved by my mother, I never knew how to be a good mother. You… you’re so much like her. You showed amazing martial arts talent from birth, and your appearance and temperament are exactly the same.”

"Seeing you always reminds me of her, of that terrible past... You've suffered so much all these years..."

Shen Yiqiu lowered her head, lost in thought about the intricate and complex past.

At this moment, Madam Song suddenly gripped her hand tightly, feeling a lingering fear:

"Thank goodness... thank goodness you inherited the title. If it had fallen into the hands of the Song family, the Shen family's legacy would probably have been completely devoured by them..."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly coughed violently, coughing up a mouthful of dark blood that splattered onto the brocade quilt, a shocking sight.

Qingzhu's expression changed, and she immediately stepped forward to take his pulse.

A moment later, her face turned pale.

As if she had guessed something, Madam Song Shen began to speak:

"Just say what's on your mind, I can accept it."

Qingzhu hesitated for a moment before speaking:

“Young Miss, Madam’s pulse is weak, which seems to indicate a deficiency of both qi and blood, but it is more like she has been poisoned by a slow-acting poison. The poison has now penetrated deep into her lungs and internal organs, and I’m afraid it is… beyond saving.”

Shen Ruyi was taken aback at first, then let out two chilling laughs:

"Heh...heh...I thought I was in charge of the household affairs, managing everything perfectly, but I never imagined I was already a fish on someone else's chopping block!"

"They planned this all along. Not only did they intend to steal your title by substituting one thing for another, but they also wanted to devour me and the entire Shen family!"

Shen Yiqiu looked at the pool of black blood, remained silent for a moment, and then said:

"Mother, please rest well first. I will invite the imperial physician over later."

She tucked the blanket around her mother, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and after giving her a deep look, she turned and left.

Shen Ruyi opened her mouth, wanting to persuade her to stay, but knew she had no face to lose, and could only watch helplessly as her daughter's figure disappeared outside the door.

As soon as Shen Yiqiu stepped out of the courtyard gate, she saw Song Sangyu kneeling upright in the courtyard.

Before she could even speak, Fu Langxing rushed over, tenderly helping Song Sangyu up, and then launched into a tirade against Shen Yiqiu:

"Shen Yiqiu! You are now the Marquis of Yongjia, why are you still relentlessly pressuring your sister?"

"She's pregnant now, she's a member of the Fu family! Even if you don't care about the monk, you should at least consider the Buddha!"

Shen Yiqiu was already depressed because of her mother's poisoning, and now her face was covered with frost.

She slowly walked up to Song Sangyu, looked her up and down, and noticed her slightly protruding belly, confirming that she was indeed pregnant.

"Sister? Young Master Fu, be careful with your words. She's just a concubine's daughter, yet today she dared to try and steal the place at the succession ceremony, committing the heinous crime of deceiving the emperor!"

"Why didn't you stand up for justice when she did these things? Now you're acting like a protector of flowers. Young Master Fu's double standards are getting better and better."

Fu Langxing was choked and his face turned red. In his anger and embarrassment, he blurted out something reckless:

"No wonder you look down on the mere title of Countess; it turns out you've already climbed the social ladder by getting close to the Crown Prince. You pretend to be aloof, saying you don't covet power and wealth, but deep down you're just as eager to climb the social ladder. What are you pretending to be so pure and innocent for!"

Before he could finish speaking, a crisp snap rang out in the courtyard.

It turned out that Shen Yiqiu had slapped him hard across the face.

Everyone was stunned. Fu Langxing covered his face, a trickle of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, staring at her in disbelief.

Shen Yiqiu raised her head, her eyes filled with majesty:

“Fu Langxing, listen carefully. Even without the title of Crown Princess, I am still the Marquis of Yongjia, personally appointed by His Majesty, a title of superior rank, far above your mere heir!”

"Who gave you the audacity to speak so disrespectfully to me, a subject of high and low status?"

Looking into her completely unfamiliar eyes, Fu Langxing surprisingly revealed a look of heartbreak:

"Song Yiqiu, you...you've changed!"

Shen Yiqiu's cold voice corrected:

“My surname is Shen, not Song. She is a member of the Song family, but I am not. I am a marquis of the Shen family, the Marquis of Yongjia, Shen Yiqiu.”

Fu Langxing was intimidated by her imposing manner. Looking at Song Sangyu's pitiful appearance, he felt that his dignity had been damaged. A surge of anger rose in his heart, and he subconsciously wanted to reach out and push her.

The moment he raised his hand, his wrist was gripped tightly. He struggled a couple of times, but it was no use.

Fu Langxing cried out and turned around, meeting a pair of eyes that appeared to be smiling but were actually gloomy inside.

Xiao Yongjing was already standing behind him without him noticing.

Beside the Crown Prince, Fu Langxing's grandfather, the old Earl, was glaring at him with a look of disappointment.

Such stupidity! It's a disgrace that he's the grandson of Fu Yunjian, the Right Chancellor of the current dynasty!

Xiao Yongjing smiled, but his eyes were devoid of warmth.

“Young Master Fu, using this method to attract my fiancée’s attention is rather… clumsy.”

Fu Langxing struggled to shake off his hand and angrily said:

"What business is it of yours how I talk to her!"

"You wretched child! Shut up!"

Fu Yunjian trembled with rage. He stepped forward, raised his cane, and struck Fu Langxing hard on the shin.

"Hurry up and come back with me! You've completely disgraced the Fu family today!"

He turned around, faced Shen Yiqiu, and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Yongjia, I have failed in my duty to educate my grandson, which has led to this wretched child offending you. I apologize to you on his behalf."

"I am very pleased that the Shen family has you as its heir. Your maternal grandmother can rest in peace now."

Shen Yiqiu respectfully returned the greeting:

"It's alright."

After saying that, he ignored Fu Langxing's struggles, forcibly pulled him away, and left in a hurry. Seeing this, Song Sangyu could only follow behind him dejectedly.

Why are you here?

Shen Yiqiu slowly walked forward, and Xiao Yongjing smiled and reached out to tuck the stray hairs behind her ear, the action as natural as that of a newlywed couple.

Bai Mei and Qing Zhu exchanged a glance and wisely left.

Shen Yiqiu took a step back.

Xiao Yongjing looked at his empty hands and smiled.

"Let me come and see how my Crown Princess's preparations are going?"

Chen Yiqiu:

"Your Highness, have you forgotten why we formed this alliance?"

Xiao Yongjing raised an eyebrow, then laughed heartily, deliberately stepping forward to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear and twirl it around his little finger:

"But without me today... um... I'm afraid your title will be..."