Xia Zhu carefully took out the invitation from her sleeve: "I am Qi Zhenheng's concubine, and I am attending the banquet on his behalf."
Everyone looked at Shen Qing in astonishment.
Just a moment ago, they were saying that Lord Qi deeply loved her and would not take a concubine. Now, in the blink of an eye, a concubine has appeared.
Shen Qing was also a little embarrassed.
The embarrassing part wasn't that Qi Zhenheng's fact that he hadn't taken a concubine was exposed, but that Xia Zhu had barged in like that, truly making her lose face.
Smiling, she stood up and introduced Xia Zhu to everyone, "This is Xia Zhu, the young lady my master intended to take to the garrison to help with daily life. She's never attended a banquet before, and when she heard there was a Western-style banquet tonight, she secretly came over with my invitation. Please excuse her, ladies."
Upon hearing this, Xia Zhu hurriedly said, "I'm not here to take care of your daily life, sir. I'm pregnant with your child, and I'm going to give you a son."
The concubines present all burst out laughing.
Seeing Shen Qing's unpleasant expression, Zhuang Tai glared sternly at Xia Zhu: "So what if you're pregnant with Lord Qi's child? Don't you know—the child you give birth to won't even be allowed to call you 'Mother'! What are you so smug about?"
In feudal society, concubines were treated much like servants, often merely as breeding vessels for their masters and mistresses. After giving birth, it was common for the principal wife to take the child away to raise it, while the concubine was often imprisoned in an abandoned courtyard.
Xia Zhu naturally understood as well.
She learned from her mother that Shen Qing had been married before marrying Qi Zhenheng and was a widow. She was no longer a virgin when she married Qi Zhenheng. Although she gave birth to twins for Qi Zhenheng, her past was still flawed.
She and her mother were convinced that Qi Zhenheng harbored a lot of resentment towards the fact that his wife was not a virgin. After all, how could he, as the governor, tolerate his wife being a "loose woman"?
When she was with Qi Zhenheng, she was a virgin. Qi Zhenheng was satisfied with her, so he would definitely cherish her and the child she bore. Perhaps he would even make her his official wife in the future.
But now, these people are saying that her child can't even call her "mother," and she can't stand it!
"My child will definitely stay with me!" Her possessiveness was aroused, and she glared at Shen Qing with hatred. "I followed you cleanly and innocently, giving you what you can't give me. You will definitely cherish and protect me! The fact that you took me to the camp and kept me by your side shows that you value me and the child in my womb!"
Shen Qing was taken aback.
The Xia Zhu in front of her was a complete stranger to her.
She thought she was obedient and docile, but she was actually very competitive and jealous!
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Zhuang Tai immediately went to call for help, intending to drag Xia Zhu out.
Shen Qing pressed her hand down and said in a low voice, "It's alright, I'll handle it."
After saying that, he pulled Xia Zhu to a quiet spot by the eaves.
In the darkness, Xia Zhu's eyes shone brightly.
Shen Qing looked at her and quietly asked, "How old are you this year?"
Xia Zhu raised her chin: "Sixteen, a full twelve years younger than you, older sister!"
Shen Qing smiled and said, "Do you know that when the lord asked me to give you some silver to get rid of you, it was only after I fought hard for you that he agreed to let you go to the garrison with him?"
"I don't believe it!" Xia Zhu said sharply. "You must have been the one sowing discord between the master and me! My innocent body is better than yours, a used woman! How could the master possibly dismiss me? You must be jealous that I'm a virgin and afraid that the master will dump you in the future, so you're ruining my relationship with the master!"
Shen Qing felt a chill run down his spine.
At that moment, she felt that Xia Zhu was no longer suitable to be Qi Zhenheng's concubine.
Keeping this person by Qi Zhenheng's side could lead to unforeseen consequences.
In the darkness, she coldly looked at Xia Zhu: "You don't need to go to the camp with the adults. Tomorrow I will have someone send you to the countryside. There will be a house and servants, and I will also give you a sum of money, enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. If you are willing to give birth to the child and give it to me, you can have someone send it to me. If you are not willing, you can raise it yourself."
After saying that, he turned to leave.
Behind her, Xia Zhu suddenly smiled sinisterly and said, "Sister, don't think I don't know that Cheng An and Cheng Xi aren't adults' children!"
Shen Qing stopped, turned her head, and shot a sharp look at him: "What nonsense are you talking about!"
"You and the master argue all the time because of a man named Cheng Zhiwen. You refuse to have marital relations with the master because of this man! You not only cheat on him, but Cheng An and Cheng Xi are even this man's children! If you dare to prevent me from going to the garrison, I will expose Cheng An and Cheng Xi's identities! Let's see if the master will divorce you! Will he kill those bastards!"
Shen Qing was shocked and turned around, looking at Xia Zhu in disbelief: "Who else have you said these things to?"
Xia Zhu laughed: "I haven't told anyone, but if you don't let me go to the camp with the adults, I'll tell others!"
Shen Qing took a deep breath and shook his head: "I'll have the master talk to you. He'll be back soon. Just tell him what you know."
She knew that once Qi Zhenheng found out that Xia Zhu had guessed the identity of the twins, he would definitely try to get rid of Xia Zhu.
She didn't want to get her hands dirty with the mess Qi Zhenheng had made. He should clean it up himself.
Shen Qing adjusted her shawl, intending to go outside and call Old Xu to come in and take Xia Zhu back.
As I turned the corner of the veranda, I suddenly saw a white figure standing there.
She paused, turned around, and saw He Danqing standing there with a calm expression.
Shen Qing was startled and stared at him in astonishment.
In the dim light, the man looked downcast and slightly sad as he glanced at her, said nothing, and turned to walk into the banquet hall.
She immediately chased after him inside, but in the blink of an eye, he was nowhere to be seen.
She even thought she had just imagined it and that He Danqing hadn't actually appeared here tonight.
...
After having Lao Xu escort Xia Zhu back, Shen Qing returned to the banquet hall.
The wealthy women looked at her with pity.
"That girl seems like a troublemaker," Zhuang Tai asked with concern. "Are you really going to make her your concubine?"
Shen Qing shook his head: "It probably won't work. Keeping this kind of person around is just a potential problem."
"But she's pregnant now, are the adults willing to let her go?"
Shen Qing smiled wryly: "I don't know. The master's thoughts come and go. I don't know how he will handle it."
One of the wives comforted her, saying, "Actually, the existence of concubines is also beneficial to the legal wife. If a man only has one woman, wouldn't he sleep with that woman every day? Wouldn't the legal wife be giving birth every year? Her body can't take that! With concubines, let them abuse the concubines' bodies! We can just live to be a hundred years old!"
The only concubine present chimed in, "Absolutely! I am a concubine, and I know all too well what those days were like! That's why I escaped and no longer live in that house! Let him abuse other maids!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Shen Qing, however, looked at the banquet hall with a heavy heart.
If He Danqing isn't there, was she just seeing things?
...
The next day, while Shen Qing and the children were still asleep, Chunju came up to the door, banging on it and crying, "Madam, something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"
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