She was too lazy to clean up after dressing up as a villain heroine

After all, women have to be pregnant for ten months, so the sunk costs are high.

And men only need to pay a moment of pleasure.

People always say that a mother's status is determined by her son, but Qiao Zhenzhen never thinks so.

She always felt that most men would first deeply love a woman before extending this love to her children.

However, very few people will fall in love with the child's mother because they love the child.

Qiao Zhenzhen gently reached out, wrapped her arms around Han Zheng's slender waist, and pressed her cheek against his warm chest.

“It’s a deal.”

Her voice was as soft as a feather, yet filled with a firm warmth.

The ambiguity and tenderness just now have now turned into a warm and loving relationship.

“You have me,” she whispered. “I’ll always be with you.”

Han Zheng hummed softly, his throat tightened and he couldn't speak for a moment.

He simply tightened his arms and hugged the warm body deeper into his arms.

At this moment, any words seemed redundant. He just wanted to firmly embed this warmth that belonged only to him into his life.

The two hugged each other for a long time, until they felt Han Zheng's emotions gradually calmed down, and then Qiao Zhenzhen softly mentioned what Xia Xiang had just reported.

"I always feel that this matter is a bit strange," she frowned slightly, "Madam Lu usually keeps to herself, why did she suddenly bring a strange nanny with her?"

Han Zheng didn't take it seriously, thinking that an old lady from outside wouldn't cause any trouble.

But seeing his wife's serious expression, he said gently, "Since you are still suspicious, I will send someone to check the background of that nanny to see if she is really from the Pingchang Marquis' Mansion."

Three or four days later, Han Zheng brought the news.

"The nanny that day wasn't from the Marquis' Mansion. She was just a Taoist nun who often wandered around the backyards of wealthy families. Her surname was Wang, and she was registered under the name of a small Taoist temple outside the city."

"Taopo?"

"She specializes in chanting sutras and praying for people, and performing small rituals. It's always more convenient for a female Taoist priest to walk around the backyard."

Qiao Zhenzhen keenly grasped the key point: "Then why didn't she dress up as a Taoist priest, but instead dressed up as a servant in the Marquis's mansion?"

Han Zheng pondered, "Perhaps she's worried that our family will find it unlucky, considering it's the New Year. Mother's recent illness... maybe she's worried that she's provoked something unclean."

"Oh?" Qiao Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow. "Does she think that finding a Taoist nun to perform some superstitious tricks will be more effective than my master?"

"Maybe he wants to do it both ways." Han Zheng explained, "He kept it a secret from you because he was afraid you would be unhappy if you found out."

"Of course I'm unhappy." Qiao Zhenzhen glared at him unhappily. "Since Mother's condition has improved, starting today, Master doesn't have to go to Anyuan anymore."

Before Han Zheng could speak, she raised her voice and said, "Xia Xiang!"

"Go to the little building and tell them that from today on, Master doesn't need to worry about the Duke's wife's illness anymore."

"Zhenzhen..." Han Zheng wanted to say something.

Xia Xiang didn't even look at the host, and just walked out.

"Shut up." Qiao Zhenzhen reached out and pushed Han Zheng away at arm's length. "Now that my mother has believed in that Taoist woman, whether she can be cured is another matter. I'm worried that she might make things worse. So I have to get Master out of this mess in time, to avoid ruining his reputation as a miracle doctor."

Her words were reasonable and left Han Zheng speechless.

On second thought, my mother's illness has indeed been almost cured.

Since she insists on doing so, let her do it.

As for my mother... there are already many women in the harem who believe in these things. Regardless of whether they work or not, they just want peace of mind.

After that, Aunt Lu really took the Taoist woman in and out of Anyuan every day.

The two men acted very cautiously. Apart from Anyuan, they did not stay anywhere else in the mansion and had no contact with anyone else.

The matter of Wang Dao Po was put aside for the time being.

Han Zheng ordered his men to keep an eye on the place for a while, but seeing that there was nothing unusual, he turned his attention elsewhere.

-

This year's Lantern Festival was particularly lively, with the whole city ablaze with lights and flowers. Even inside the Duke's Mansion, one could hear the noisy voices outside.

Qiao Zhenzhen stayed quietly in the mansion, playing chess with Han Zheng around the fire.

The floor was warm and she had won three games of Go in a row.

By the fourth set, she finally noticed Han Zheng's absent-mindedness.

The chess piece hung in the air for a long time before he finally spoke, as if he had made up his mind, his voice apologetic: "I'm sorry for putting you through this. I'll definitely accompany you to enjoy the lanterns next year."

Little did they know that Qiao Zhenzhen, a veteran homebody, didn't care about it at all.

In the snowy season, without even a hot pack, going out is a real torture. It's nothing compared to playing chess in the warm room.

But what he said was considerate and thoughtful: "It's okay, it's really not appropriate to be too ostentatious right now."

After all, if you indulge in pleasure during the period of suspension and salary deduction, and if someone with ulterior motives reports it, it will inevitably make His Majesty unhappy.

"Do you want to go see the lights?" he demanded.

Qiao Zhenzhen put down the chess piece and said, "I don't want to."

"Really?"

"I really don't want to." She tilted her head and looked at him. "What's wrong?"

Han Zheng looked away, not daring to meet her gaze. "Nothing."

Somehow, he suddenly thought of her and Wei Yunzhi - the two of them had met during the Lantern Festival.

Qiao Zhenzhen threw the chess piece into the chess box and said, "If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you hesitating like that? Are you afraid that I can't see that you have something on your mind?"

"Just...reminiscing about some old times."

“What old story?”

Han Zheng turned his head to look at her, then quickly looked away, "...one year during the Lantern Festival-"

"What do you want to say?"

"you……"

Qiao Zhenzhen immediately understood - this concern was not about him, but about her.

But she thought about it over and over again and still couldn't understand.

She has been in this world for less than two years, and she has never gone out to watch the lanterns during the Lantern Festival. The last time she watched lanterns was with Han Zheng. During the Chinese Valentine's Day last year, he was almost caught and forced to become a cowherd.

Han Zheng seemed to have finally mustered up the courage and whispered, "That year during the Lantern Festival...it was Wei Yunzhi who saved you."

He originally thought that the Lantern Festival would always be a special day for her.

Being in love with someone can really make you anxious and worried about gains and losses.

In the past, he never cared whether Wei Yunzhi left any trace in her heart, but now, whenever he thought of it, he felt an indescribable sense of depression in his heart.

Qiao Zhenzhen suddenly realized - no wonder she had no impression of it, that was Mo Yuying's memory and had nothing to do with her.

Han Zheng is not stupid.

She didn't care about it before, but now she takes it to heart. When she thinks about the past carefully, she realizes that the relationship between her and Wei Yunzhi is far from as simple as she said.

As early as when they were in Baoguo Temple, she had said that she treated Wei Yunzhi the same way she treated Tang An Ning. That meant she had clearly told him that she had once loved Wei Yunzhi, and that the talk of brother and sister was just an excuse.

Later they met several times, and although it seemed ordinary, there was always something unusual about it.

The most obvious thing was the strange emotions that flowed between the two when they encountered danger during the autumn hunt.

What's more, he had been plotted against before, and it was actually Wei Yunzhi who was behind it.