Peng Yuan was amused by his nervous appearance.

Sister Jiu Niang is right. When couples trust each other, they can feel much more at ease.

Qin Jian is good-looking and a rising star in the court, so he must be very popular. If every time someone likes Qin Jian, I have to feel bad, then I would die of anger long ago.

Anyway, Qin Jian's heart is with her, and she believes that Qin Jian would not do anything to betray her, so there's nothing to be angry about.

The fact that so many women like him proves his excellence and also shows that their judgment is good.

"I know this has nothing to do with you, I'm not angry."

She smiled and gently placed her hands on her stomach, presenting a very beautiful appearance.

Qin Jian was somewhat surprised and asked incredulously, "Really?"

"What, don't you believe me?"

Peng Yuan asked in return, and Qin Jian quickly shook his head, then explained, "I'm worried that you're keeping something to yourself and getting upset."

Her emotions are already unstable during pregnancy, so he definitely needs to consider things more carefully.

"I'm glad you think that way. Anyway, I would never do anything to betray you."

His confident demeanor brought tears to Peng Yuan's eyes; she knew he wasn't just trying to comfort her.

Seeing how mushy they were being, Jiang Jiuniang and her husband left first. Now, only the two of them were left cuddling together. After a while, the servant who came to report was so embarrassed that he couldn't help but say again, "General, Madam, Miss Cao is still waiting outside."

"Oh, I forgot about her."

Peng Yuan blushed, but Qin Jian seemed oblivious. He put his arm around Peng Yuan and said, "Just tell her that I've just returned and need to spend some quality time with my wife. I won't be seeing any guests for the next few days. Please go back, Miss Cao."

Since they're going to break off relations soon anyway, they don't need to put on an act with the Cao family.

Especially Cao Shulan, who dared to lay a hand on his wife and children, and still had the nerve to come looking for him, doesn't she have a death wish!

The servants hurriedly left, afraid that if they stayed any longer they would turn into overcooked shrimp.

Cao Shulan waited outside with great interest, repeatedly asking the maid if she looked beautiful today. The maid praised her so much that her lips were practically chapped, but no one came. Cao Shulan couldn't take it anymore.

"Why aren't they here yet? Does it take this long to deliver a message?"

She frowned, feeling quite displeased, thinking that the servants in the other courtyard were deliberately neglecting her.

Just then, the servant who had gone to deliver the message returned. She was about to get angry when she heard the servant say, "Miss Cao, my general said that since he has come back for a rare visit, he will spend the next few days with his wife and will not see any outside guests."

"What?"

Cao Shulan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. If looks could kill, this servant would have been dead several times over.

Faced with such a gaze, the servant could only lower his head and apologize, saying, "This is what my general said himself. Miss Cao, please go back."

This means that no matter what, they won't let her in. Cao Shulan was so angry that she gritted her teeth. It must be that bitch Peng Yuan who said bad things about her, otherwise how could she be so ruthless?

She had dressed up to see him, but was turned away at the door. If word got out, would she, the daughter of a prefect, lose all face?

Although angry, she had no choice but to leave. On the way back, thinking about how she was blocked outside the door by a group of servants, she couldn't help but feel sad and burst into tears.

Upon returning home, she went straight to her mother's courtyard, threw herself into her mother's arms, and wailed loudly.

"Mother, I want Peng Yuan dead! I want her dead! Waaaaaah..."

There were only so many people in the family, and no matter what anyone did, it couldn't escape Ma's eyes. Her daughter dressed up and went out, but returned shortly afterward, so it was obvious that she had been rejected.

She patted her daughter on the back and said, "Haste makes waste. Peng Yuan is the Empress's younger sister, a member of the imperial family, and her status is above your father's. How can we just let her die like that? We need to plan carefully."

They got to where they are today because of their scheming, didn't they? Otherwise, how could Cao Zheng have become the prefect so quickly?

Cao Shulan felt very wronged. Why were some people born superior to others, while she couldn't achieve her goals despite working so hard?

"How long will it take? Her little bastard will be born soon, and my situation will only get more difficult then!"

She just couldn't understand how Qin Jian could get pregnant so quickly after only a short time of marriage with Peng Yuan. Her brother and sister-in-law had faced so much difficulty in having a child back then. It's true what they say, comparisons are the thief of joy.

"Don't worry, there are plans for when the baby is born."

Mrs. Ma gently patted her daughter's back to comfort her, which had some effect. After a while, Cao Shulan stopped crying, but she was still very sad.

In the following days, Cao Shulan didn't go out much, but she heard from the servants at home that something seemed to have happened.

"What exactly happened?"

Cao Shulan was already in a bad mood, and seeing the servants' lack of manners only made her more upset, so she called them over to ask them what was going on.

The servants were very flustered, and no one dared to speak with their heads down.

"Speak!"

She roared, and the servants instantly knelt on the ground, still not daring to speak.

Cao Shulan randomly pointed to one and asked, "You tell me!"

The man, having been called upon, looked resigned to his fate and said, "Someone is spreading rumors about what Master did a few years ago. The matter is getting bigger and bigger, and it's spiraling out of control..."

"What's up?"

Cao Shulan was puzzled, but the servants dared not say anything more. Cao Shulan had a bad feeling and turned to find her mother.

At this moment, Madam Ma was also anxious and upset, so she naturally couldn't talk to her properly anymore. When she saw her coming, she said, "Go back, I don't have time to talk to you right now."

She assumed her daughter had come because of Qin Jian, and she didn't want to get involved in those romantic matters right now.

"Mother, I heard from the servants that something happened, but why didn't anyone tell me?"

Hearing this, Madam Ma could no longer maintain her usual composure. Her eyes instantly reddened as she said, "I don't know which heartless person is gossiping outside, saying that your father embezzled and murdered people during his previous post. They've made it sound so convincing that they can't suppress it. And coincidentally, those two generals are in the city these days. If they hear about it and start investigating, our family will be finished!"

Previously, they thought they were in control because they believed no one would bring up the past, since they were always careful and wouldn't overlook anything. But now, those things have suddenly spread in the city, and they still can't find out who spread the news. That's what's most worrying.

"How could this happen? Do you know who is trying to harm us?"

Cao Shulan realized something was wrong and started to panic.

If those past things were exposed, her father would definitely be convicted, and she certainly wouldn't be able to escape either.

"If I had known, I wouldn't be in such a panic now."

Madam Ma sighed and said, "Fortunately, people from the other courtyard haven't been going out much lately, and your father has deliberately prevented anyone from going there, so no word has gotten in. We must find and deal with the person behind this as soon as possible, otherwise our family will be in big trouble!"