Chapter 39

Chapter 39

With one of my senior maids dead and the other injured, I couldn’t be without capable people by my side. Thus, Yuan Heng personally selected two diligent and quiet ones, both of whom were lifelong servants of the Marquis Manor.

One was named Ying’er; her mother was in charge of the flowers and plants in the garden.

The other was Nanny Lin; her husband worked under Steward Li, managing the procurement of rouge and hair oil for the inner household.

Just as before, while they served me, they also kept a watchful eye on me.

I knew that relying on myself alone, it would be difficult to kill Yuan Heng, so I wanted to find an ally.

I had a candidate in mind-Song Yan, Song Yulan’s brother.

I had once asked Nanny Lin a few questions, seemingly in passing: what kind of person was the Former Lady?

Nanny Lin spoke very diplomatically, only saying that the Marquis and the Former Lady had been childhood sweethearts, deeply in love like a pair of mandarin ducks.

Deeply in love? Not necessarily.

Then what was that woman he kept hidden away?

Meng Huaiqing had said it himself-she was the one Yuan Heng truly loved.

Therefore, I boldly speculated that Song Yulan’s death was by no means a simple accident.

However, meeting Song Yan would be no easy feat.

After much thought, I sent someone to invite my father over for a father-daughter chat.

Cuinong had been at the manor for several days now, and I didn’t know how she was faring.

…

That night, the wind was biting.

After washing up, I sat at the dressing table and applied Jade Beauty Cream to my face.

This Moisturizing Cream was a “fine item” Yuan Heng had given me after we first met. He said it was something only high-ranking imperial concubines in the palace were entitled to use, and that it had miraculous effects for whitening the skin and fading blemishes.

I let out a cold sneer.

Through the mirror, I saw Yuan Heng reclining on a luohan chair, reading a book.

Perhaps sensing something, Yuan Heng suddenly looked up.

“Qing Qiu, did your father come today?”

I gave a soft hum of affirmation. “The anniversary of my mother’s death is approaching, in the middle of the month. I need to discuss with my father how to relocate her grave.”

That was only one of the matters.

As for the other, I told my father that an old possession of the Marquis’s previous wife had been found in the house. I wanted to return it to the Song Family personally and have a few words with them.

Since the Marquis had some friction with County Captain Song, it wasn’t convenient for me to send a formal invitation.

But in the middle of the month, I would be going to Ci’en Temple to offer incense, and I would bring that old item with me.

My father immediately showed a look of concern, saying that meeting an unrelated man in private might not be good if the Marquis found out.

I said indifferently, “Father, you can choose not to do this, but I can also choose not to have a maternal family.”

My father pondered for a long time before saying he would look for a secret opportunity to pass my words to Song Yan.

Heh.

I knew my father all too well.

He was selfish and cowardly; he would never dare to go against Yuan Heng for my sake.

However, he was also shrewd, tight-lipped, and cautious in his actions. He didn’t dare to protect his daughter, Ye Qingqiu, but he didn’t dare to disobey the words of the Marquess’s Wife, Ye Qingqiu.

So he didn’t need to know too much; he only needed to carry out my instructions.

I looked over, and Yuan Heng clearly had little interest in the matter of relocating the grave I had just mentioned.

He turned a page of his book and said flatly, “If you need silver, get it from Steward Li.”

I felt my face itching a bit and scratched it gently, asking casually, “How about I have my father come over tomorrow so you can give him a few more instructions?”

Yuan Heng took a small sip of tea. “There’s no need. You father and daughter can just decide among yourselves.”

I hummed in response.

Yuan Heng put down the book, walked over, and wrapped his arms around me from behind, smiling. “Are you angry?”

I curled my lip. “A little.”

Yuan Heng chuckled. As he had done before, he rested his chin on my shoulder and intimately sniffed my neck.

I only felt a sourness at the root of my teeth, a desperate urge to vomit.

Suddenly, Yuan Heng pulled back slightly. He grabbed my shoulders and stared at me with a frown.

“Qing Qiu, what’s wrong with your face?”

I was startled and hurriedly leaned closer to the mirror.

Faint red streaks were appearing on my face and neck. No wonder it had been so itchy just now.

“It’s nothing.” I rubbed my face with the back of my hand. “A woman’s body is weaker during pregnancy. I probably just ate something wrong.”

Yuan Heng’s expression turned serious as he shouted toward the door, “Someone, go find Meng Huaiqing immediately!”