Chapter 258 A Vicious Scheme
Song Zhihang lingered until evening before leaving, even reluctant to part with Sheng An's cooking, wanting to have dinner with her before departing, but Xu Jinnian ruthlessly dismissed him.
Song Zhihang's already precarious and prestigious image completely collapsed under Tan Zhenlin's influence.
He rubbed his baby face and earnestly reminded Xu Jinnian:
"You'd better stay away from Song Zhihang, otherwise he'll find excuses to come over every day to freeload, which will definitely tire your sister-in-law out."
Xu Jinnian smiled enigmatically: "Now you know how to care about your sister-in-law."
Back in Qingzhou, how many times did this kid freeload off others?
Tan Zhenlin understood Xu Jinnian's implied meaning, coughed lightly, and said confidently:
“You and I are like brothers and friends, and your sister-in-law is like my own sister-in-law. How can Song Zhihang be compared to me!”
To prove his point, Tan Zhenlin didn't forget to pull Fang Qingzhou and Ye Yunhua in: "Don't you agree?"
Fang Qingzhou and Ye Yunhua exchanged a glance, then looked at Xu Jinnian and said in unison, "That makes sense."
In recent years, they have often gone to Shengyuan to freeload meals.
If you say Zhenlin's words are unreasonable, aren't you just contradicting yourself?
Xu Jinnian was speechless. After looking at the three of them for a while, he turned around and went back to the courtyard.
The room was quiet. Sheng An was fast asleep in bed. Her face, which was exposed outside the blanket, was fair with a rosy glow, and her thick eyelashes cast a shadow on her lower eyelids.
As the baby in her womb grew bigger, Sheng An became increasingly sleepy.
I entertained Song Zhihang today, so my afternoon nap was delayed, which is why I'm still asleep now.
Xu Jinnian sat on the edge of the bed and watched quietly for a while before reaching out his warm hand to gently pinch his wife's cheek: "An'an, it's time to get up and have dinner."
Sheng An groggily opened her eyes and found the light to be dim. Her eyes widened and she immediately sat up: "Is it getting dark?"
Xu Jinnian quickly pressed her hand, signaling her not to rush, and picked up the clothes next to her to put them on: "The sun has just set, it's time for dinner."
Sheng An rubbed his slightly groggy head and couldn't help but yawn: "Why didn't you wake me up sooner?"
After saying that, she rubbed her rumbling stomach, pinched her cheek, and looked up at Xu Jinnian, asking, "I'm getting hungry faster and faster, and I'm eating more and more. Have I gained weight lately?"
Although she knew it was normal to gain weight and lose her figure during pregnancy, Sheng An didn't want to gain weight too quickly or too excessively, otherwise she would have difficulty walking in the late stages of pregnancy.
Xu Jinnian looked her over carefully, and even reached out to measure her wrists, ankles, and waist: "You're not fat, just your waist is a bit thicker."
Sheng An reluctantly believed the man's words and touched her slightly protruding belly with her palm: "I wonder if the doctor can tell whether it's a boy or a girl."
The little clothes, socks, and shoes she prepared were specially chosen in light colors so that both boys and girls could wear them.
A large hand covered Sheng An's hand, and Xu Jinnian gazed gently at her lower abdomen: "It doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman."
They are all his and An'an's flesh and blood.
Sheng An looked the man over carefully, and after confirming that this was what he truly thought, a smile appeared on her face: "That's what I think too."
Having not grown up under the protection of her parents in both her lives, she now wants to give her child the best companionship as she prepares to become a mother herself.
The man in front of me is a good husband and will also be a good father.
When Xu Huaining returned home after attending the banquet, he was greeted by a servant who said tremblingly as soon as he entered the door: "Young master, a distinguished person is looking for you and is waiting in the hall."
That nobleman was imposing in every way, but his temper was terrifying.
Just now, Changrui asked the nobleman's identity, and the nobleman lashed him across the face with a whip, leaving Changrui with torn skin and disfigured.
I wonder if the young master will find Changrui undesirable and sell him to buy someone else to serve him.
Xu Huaining frowned slightly, already guessing who the newcomer was.
He took a deep breath, bent down to straighten his clothes, and after making sure there was nothing wrong, he put on a gentle smile and walked into the hall.
Inside the hall, Princess Shanmin was growing impatient.
Hearing footsteps, she grabbed the whip from the table and lashed out: "Who let you in, you lowly slave!"
Upon recognizing Xu Huaining, she abruptly withdrew the whip that was aimed at his face.
But it was too late; the whip tip still grazed Xu Huaining's chin, leaving a bright red welt.
Xu Huaining didn't even flinch. He stepped forward, bowed, and apologized to Princess Shanmin: "Your Highness has graced my humble abode with your presence. I am deeply sorry for failing to greet you properly. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
Princess Shanmin withdrew her whip, showing no remorse for accidentally injuring anyone. She raised her chin and looked coldly at Xu Huaining: "Why haven't you done what I asked you to do yet?"
Xu Huaining maintained his fabricated persona, explaining with neither arrogance nor servility:
“Taking a woman’s life is easy, but Huaining knows his cousin’s temperament well. If Sheng Shi dies under mysterious circumstances, he will never forget her for the rest of his life.”
Upon hearing this, Princess Shanmin's eyes flashed with deep malice as she looked at Xu Huaining with suspicion: "What are you planning to do?"
Xu Huaining's thin lips parted slightly, his gaze chilling, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, about to strike.
"Mrs. Sheng comes from a humble background, but she is vain and eager to climb the social ladder. She is not worthy to be my cousin's wife. It would be better to ruin her reputation and let her commit suicide."
Princess Shanmin looked at Xu Huaining with a completely new gaze, her eyes filled with a kind of destructive madness: "This idea is excellent. Let's do it your way. Don't let me down."
Xu Huaining respectfully replied, "Your Highness awaits good news."
March arrived in the blink of an eye, and the results of the spring imperial examinations were announced.
Early that morning, Song Zhihang did not stay at his residence to wait for news. Instead, he sent his servants to the examination hall to check the results, while he himself arrived at the Jiang residence early to wait with Xu Jinnian and the others.
Coincidentally, Sheng An personally made shepherd's purse and pork wontons yesterday afternoon, and cooked them for breakfast this morning, allowing Song Zhihang to enjoy this unique spring flavor.
"Sister-in-law, your cooking skills are absolutely amazing! Mingyu is so lucky to have married you!"
Song Zhihang ignored the heat, devouring each shepherd's purse and pork wonton, followed by a sip of hot noodle soup, and was so happy that he fawned over Sheng An.
When she looked at Xu Jinnian, her eyes were filled with naked envy, jealousy and hatred.
During this time, Song Zhihang often came to the Jiang residence to chat with Xu Jinnian. Occasionally, if he was lucky enough to run into Sheng An cooking, he could get a good meal. Sheng An was already used to his gluttonous behavior.
Not only Song Zhihang, but also Tan Zhenlin, Ding Tianci, Li Xinhui and other diners who came to Shengyuan were all impressed by Sheng An's cooking skills and would go to Shengyuan whenever they had free time.
Sheng An found it amusing, but said politely, "There's still some left in the kitchen. Since you like it, I'll have Aunt Niu cook it all."
Song Zhihang wanted to be polite, but was afraid that if he was too polite, he wouldn't get to eat. So he adopted the proper etiquette of the second young master of the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion and thanked him very politely: "Sister-in-law, your kindness is too much for me to refuse."
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