Shen Qingtang didn't speak, but stared at her coldly, while her mind raced, trying to figure out if Lu Jiaojiao's changes were related to those Gu worms.
Is the person behind all this also using Lu Jiaojiao?
Seeing this, Lu's mother immediately stepped forward and shouted to the people around her, "That's right! My granddaughter is Fu Bao! Anyone who dares to offend her will suffer the consequences! Shen Qing Tang, you'd better be sensible and stop going against us!"
Shen Qingtang ignored their clamor and pulled Pei Nian'an, turning to go back to the shop. Lu Jiaojiao and her mother, however, were relentless, exchanging a glance and plotting a wicked scheme.
That evening, Lu Jiaojiao and her mother secretly slipped into the magistrate's mansion and found Wang Huai'an sighing in his room.
“Magistrate Wang, we have a way to give you a son again and help you get revenge!” Lu Jiaojiao said bluntly.
Wang Huai'an raised his head, his eyes filled with numbness: "What can I do? My son is gone, what revenge is there left to take?"
"Your son is gone, but you can have another one!"
Mother Lu said with a smile, "That woman Shen Qingtang has a particularly good constitution. She was framed and became pregnant before, but she was able to give birth safely. She will definitely give you a big, healthy son! As long as you can get her to have a child for you, your Wang family line will not end! Moreover, this can also be considered revenge for your son. Let the murderer who killed your son become your concubine and bear your children. How satisfying is that!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Huai'an's eyes lit up instantly, but he immediately shook his head: "Impossible! Shen Qingtang is so capable, how could she be willing to have my child? Besides, she has that guy surnamed Shen protecting her."
"What's so difficult about that?" Lu Jiaojiao said smugly. "I'm Fubao, God will help me! Besides, His Highness the Second Prince hates Shen Qingtang to the bone. As long as we join forces with him, we'll definitely be able to get our hands on Shen Qingtang! Then, we'll tie her to your bed, make it a fait accompli, and even if she doesn't want to, she'll have no choice but to accept her fate!"
She paused, a malicious smile spreading across her face: "I want everyone to know about this! I want the exiled people to know, and I want that little bastard Pei Nian'an to know too! Let them see that Shen Qingtang, whom they cherished so much, has ended up as your concubine, a tool for bearing children! I will ruin her reputation and make her never be able to hold her head up again!"
Wang Huai'an was swayed by their words. Looking at the empty room, he thought of his crippled son.
The hatred in his heart gradually overwhelmed his reason. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I promise you! As long as Shen Qingtang can have my child and avenge my son, I'm willing to do anything!"
When Lu Jiaojiao and her mother saw that he had agreed, they smiled smugly.
They immediately went to the Second Prince and told him about the plan.
The Second Prince had always wanted to get rid of Shen Qingtang, and upon hearing this plan, he immediately agreed. It would allow him to completely use Wang Huai'an and destroy Shen Qingtang at the same time—it was perfect!
A conspiracy targeting Shen Qingtang.
It unfolds quietly once again.
Shen Qingtang was completely unaware of this; she was busy managing her business and thinking about how to better improve life in the town.
Little did she know, a huge crisis was approaching.
The Second Prince sent an invitation to Shen Qingtang to attend a "welcome banquet" he was hosting at the inn. The wording on the invitation was extremely polite.
It even carried a hint of ingratiation.
Shen Qingtang looked at the invitation and sneered inwardly. She knew the Second Prince had no good intentions, but she still decided to attend the banquet to see what tricks he was up to.
At the banquet, the Second Prince was indeed "exceptionally enthusiastic" towards Shen Qingtang.
He not only frequently toasted her, but also kept praising her business and even offered to help her expand her business to the capital.
Shen Qingtang dealt with the situation calmly, but her eyes swept across the banquet, observing everyone's expressions.
Just then, her gaze stopped on a woman sitting in the corner. She was thin and delicate-looking, but looked sickly. She was her very good friend, the second prince's sister, the ninth princess Liang Wanwan.
Liang Wanwan also saw Shen Qingtang, and her eyes lit up instantly.
She struggled to stand up, her voice trembling slightly: "Qingtang..."
Shen Qingtang subconsciously narrowed her eyes, her heart filled with vigilance.
Although she regained her memory.
But there was something off about this Ninth Princess.
Ignoring the maids' attempts to stop her, Liang Wanwan quickly walked up to Shen Qingtang and reached out to hug her.
Shen Qingtang, however, took a step back without making a sound, avoiding her touch.
"Qingtang, what's wrong?" Liang Wanwan looked aggrieved. "It's my fault. I was weak back then and couldn't save you. You were exiled for so long. I'm sorry... Aren't we best friends?"
Seeing her on the verge of tears, Shen Qingtang smiled gently.
Her tone, however, carried a hint of detachment: "Ninth Princess is too kind. I just didn't expect to see you here."
While the two were talking, Lu Jiaojiao, Lu's mother, and Lu Jin were also "drinking and chatting happily" at the banquet.
He would occasionally glance at Shen Qingtang with a provocative look.
While pouring wine for Shen Qingtang, Lu Jiaojiao secretly added drugs to the wine.
Then he placed the cup in front of Shen Qingtang and said insincerely, "Shen Qingtang, I was wrong before. I'll toast you as an apology."
Shen Qingtang picked up the wine glass, her nose twitched slightly, and she immediately smelled the medicinal scent in the wine.
She calmly handed the wine glass to Lu's mother and said with a smile, "I think you should drink this glass. Your granddaughter is apologizing to me, how can I let you watch?"
Before Lu's mother could react, Shen Qingtang had already let go of her hand, spilling all the wine from the glass onto Lu's mother.
Lu's mother was so angry that her face turned red, but she didn't dare to lash out because she knew that Shen Qingtang was not someone to be trifled with now.
Seeing this scene, Liang Wanwan's face showed even more grievance, and tears were about to fall.
Seeing this, the Second Prince quickly came over, took Liang Wanwan's hand, and said gently, "Wanwan, are you feeling unwell? I'll take you out for some fresh air."
Without saying a word, he took Liang Wanwan away, and before leaving, he gave Shen Qingtang a deep look, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Lu Jiaojiao and Lu Jin followed them out. Before leaving, Lu Jin glanced back at Shen Qingtang.
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