After nightfall, Sheng Yong quietly left the mansion.
The carriage traveled for about fifteen minutes before turning into a small alley, finally stopping in front of an unassuming courtyard house made of blue bricks and gray tiles.
As soon as he stepped inside, he saw the beauty who had been making his heart itch.
Her eyes held a hint of springtime warmth, and she waited for him with a touch of shyness.
To be honest, Sheng Yong had been somewhat wary of Qingxin at first. Since he was already on guard against his wife “Huang Shi,” and Qingxin had initially been “Huang Shi’s” person, he couldn’t help but be cautious.
Later, he had Dongsheng look into Qingxin’s entire family.
It turned out they were all greedy, self-interested people. Qingxin herself had always been ambitious since she was young, eager to climb the social ladder.
Only then did Sheng Yong feel somewhat reassured.
He was never afraid of vain, petty people—such people could be easily controlled with benefits.
But if she had been a loyal servant who recognized her master, she would have been willing to sacrifice her life for that master.
A wise person doesn’t stand under a dangerous wall. If Qingxin and her family had been upright and grateful for kindness received,
no matter how much he desired Qingxin’s beauty, he wouldn’t have touched her.
Later, Sheng Yong also looked into his own eldest son.
He found out that after that incident, the eldest son’s personality had changed drastically, and he often abused Qingxin to the point where she had nearly died in bed…
So, in order to survive—and to gain wealth and status—Qingxin had come to seduce him.
To be on the safe side, Sheng Yong also had Dongsheng interrogate Qingxin’s personal maid.
That’s when he learned that the maid, afraid that Qingxin’s deliberate seduction of him might eventually be exposed and lead to punishment from “Huang Shi,” had secretly gone to “Huang Shi” to tattle.
According to the maid’s account, “Huang Shi” was furious upon hearing the news. However, on one hand, she was afraid her son might actually kill Qingxin.
On the other hand, her relationship with him hadn’t been good for years, and “Huang Shi” didn’t want to worsen their already strained relationship over a servant—
Therefore, “Huang Shi” chose to turn a blind eye.
Sheng Yong thought the reasoning sounded plausible enough, but something still felt strange to him.
That was why he had Qingxin take the initiative to plead with “Huang Shi.”
He wanted to see how “Huang Shi” would handle Qingxin after learning that she had betrayed his eldest son and come to seduce him.
“Huang Shi” had gone from suggesting that Qingxin marry someone else, to letting Qingxin go to her own estate to recover and continue working there in the future…
All of these actions seemed aimed at preventing Qingxin from becoming his woman.
Later, when Qingxin suggested going to the hot spring estate, “Huang Shi’s” expression had turned very unpleasant.
Only then did Sheng Yong completely let go of his suspicions. He had Dongsheng arrange the remaining matters.
He also had Dongsheng pack up the maid who served Qingxin and send her to the estate as well.
After Qingxin recovered her health at the estate, today he finally had her brought here.
“Master…” Qingxin called out shyly.
Sheng Yong saw that the beauty’s face was as radiant as a peach blossom, and she wore very light, cool clothing that revealed her slender waist.
He stepped forward, pulled Qingxin into his arms, and headed into the inner room.
Soon, the room echoed with Qingxin’s exceedingly charming and seductive voice…
Little Que, standing guard at the door, listened until her face turned bright red. She ended up listening for half the night, and water was called for twice inside…
Little Que thought to herself that the men of the Sheng family really were “unusually gifted,” and she wondered if they weren’t afraid of dying in bed one day…
Then she cursed silently a few times: if the master died on Qingxin’s belly, she’d probably be in trouble too…
Peony Courtyard.
After nightfall, Sheng Minmin lay on a pearwood carved chaise lounge, drinking wine and admiring the moon.
Ever since being reborn into this body, aside from the very first few days, today was the most excited she had felt.
As the saying goes: willows planted by accident create a pleasant shade.
She hadn’t planned on using Qingxin to deal with Sheng Yong from the start.
Perhaps that was exactly why Sheng Yong hadn’t sensed any “malicious intent” and ended up taking a liking to Qingxin instead.
Or maybe Sheng Yong thought that a woman she had given to her “eldest son” couldn’t possibly be a “weapon”…
In any case, Sheng Yong had developed feelings for Qingxin.
As long as Sheng Yong touched Qingxin, within a few years at most, he would be completely drained—unable to function anymore…
Sheng Minmin felt her blood rushing through her veins. She could hardly wait to hear the good news.
After waiting nearly another half hour, Qingdai finally returned.
“Let’s talk inside.”
Sheng Minmin suppressed her excitement, got up, and walked toward the bedroom.
Once inside with the door closed, Qingdai finally lowered her voice and said,
“Madam, it’s done!”
Hearing this, Sheng Minmin’s breathing quickened. She looked at Qingdai eagerly.
Qingdai smiled, pressing her lips together. “Dongsheng personally drove the carriage to the hot spring estate and brought her back to the capital.
“She’s been settled in a small, two-courtyard house. The servants below saw the master go inside…”
Sheng Minmin was overjoyed!
She felt like jumping up and singing out loud!
Afraid that the servants outside might notice something unusual, she could only pace excitedly back and forth inside the room.
“What if… what if he discovers something?”
“Don’t worry, Madam. Unless Lin Zhijing’s own grandfather comes personally to examine her, it’s unlikely anyone would notice anything…”
“Good! Good!” Sheng Minmin praised repeatedly, then asked,
“But what if he doesn’t touch Qingxin…”
Not that she was being paranoid—everything was going a little too smoothly, and now she was starting to feel a sense of disbelief…
“Madam, don’t overthink it. We’ll know in just a few days!”
“All right—”
Sheng Minmin paced a few more laps before finally calming her excitement.
Now that Sheng Yong had fallen into her trap, she could increase her efforts against her other enemies while continuing to build up her own power.
Regarding the latter point, the “partner” she valued most was Sheng Mingshu.
Sheng Mingshu was a good child. He had been grateful since he was young and had a talent for studying. Sheng Minmin had very high hopes for him.
Thinking of Sheng Mingshu made her think of Soft Concubine.
Previously, Sheng Mingjian had met with the husband of the servant who personally attended to Soft Concubine. She was worried that Sheng Mingjian might try to harm someone, so she had kept someone watching the situation.
“Has there been anything unusual with Soft Concubine?”
“Not for now.
“The eldest young master hasn’t met with Wen Yan’s husband again. Although Wen Yan often meets her husband in private, it looks like normal conversation between a husband and wife. There’s nothing unusual about her expression.
“The two old women in Soft Concubine’s courtyard also seem the same as usual.
“As for Soft Concubine herself, she rarely goes out to begin with, and recently she’s been staying indoors even more. The servants haven’t even seen her face…”
Before this, Huang Yaning and Huang Xianjing had come to pay their respects every day. The other concubines in the back courtyard had also resumed the morning greeting ritual to avoid being rude.
But most of those concubines lived in remote areas with few servants to attend to them, so Sheng Minmin didn’t want to put them through the trouble.
She told them not to come anymore, using the excuse that too many people in the hot weather were an eyesore.
Soft Concubine had never liked going out to begin with, so now there was even less chance of seeing her.
Sheng Minmin thought for a moment, then said,
“The Crown Prince is getting married in a month or two. I heard that Xianjing and the others are preparing to have new clothes made.
“The female relatives of other households are probably busy getting their outfits ready too. The embroiderers in the outside shops likely won’t be able to keep up with all the orders.
“Luckily, I have some fine fabrics in my storage. I’ll distribute them and have our household’s embroiderers make one set for them first. They can just order one set from outside—
“You’ll send someone tomorrow morning to invite them all over. Don’t leave out Sheng Mingzhu.
“We’ll have breakfast together, then pick fabrics and take measurements for their clothes.
“Soft Concubine and Water Concubine should also come to help choose fabrics for the fourth and second young ladies.
“As for the other concubines, call them too. They’ve served the master for many years, and I haven’t given them any gifts yet this year. This will be a good time to do it all at once—”
Qingdai quickly smiled and said, “I understand.”
Taking measurements, of course, would allow for close contact with both Soft Concubine and Sheng Mingzhu.
It had been some time since she last felt Sheng Mingzhu’s pulse. If there was anything wrong with Sheng Mingzhu, she would be able to tell now.
