She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Shen Qingtan watched the Second Madam's angry departure and suppressed the smile on her lips.

"It's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings." The Fourth Madam smoothed her wide sleeves, her gaze fixed on the Second Madam's receding figure: "You're probably about to get yourself into trouble."

Shen Qingtan looked at the Fourth Madam in surprise, seemingly not expecting her to take the initiative to speak to her, and even to give her a hint.

She retorted, "Fourth Aunt, haven't I already caused enough trouble?"

The fourth madam paused for a moment, recalling how misfortunes had befallen her in the few days since Shen Qingtan's marriage, and frowned in annoyance.

“You’re even more unlucky than me.” The Fourth Madam seemed to sympathize with Shen Qingtan, and her attitude towards Shen Qingtan was not as cold as before: “The plum blossom preserves you sent were quite good. Which shop did you buy them from? Never mind, take me with you when you have time.”

Shen Qingtan realized that the Fourth Madam had invited her to go out and have fun together.

Just as she was about to say something, she noticed a deep red mark on the fourth wife's collarbone.

The fourth wife's skin was fair and delicate, so even a small mark would be very noticeable.

Shen Qingtan glanced at it a few more times.

The fourth wife noticed this, tightened her collar, her pretty face flushed with anger, and cursed Zhao Qiyuan inwardly as a rude and boorish man.

Several days have passed since the people left the capital, and the marks on her body have not yet faded, making her a laughing stock.

She made a decision: once the scoundrel returned from the North, she would move to the nunnery to live a quiet life for six months.

Thinking of the austere life in the nunnery, the fourth madam glanced at Shen Qingtan's rosy face and said, "I really envy you, you don't have to be bullied by your second nephew."

Shen Qingtan pictured Zhao Qiyuan's tall and muscular physique, his cold and sharp eyes concealing a menacing edge; he certainly looked fierce and not to be trifled with.

I never expected him to bully his wife. No wonder when Zhao Qiyuan left the capital, the Fourth Madam specially sent a basket of cherries to thank her.

Shen Qingtan didn't know how to comfort the Fourth Madam. When she glanced at the Fourth Madam's flushed face, she suddenly realized what the mark was all about.

Her expression changed, and her cheeks flushed slightly. She really hadn't expected the Fourth Madam to be so outspoken.

When the Fourth Madam saw that Shen Qingtan understood, she covered her red lips with her handkerchief and giggled.

"With your stunning beauty, even I, a woman, am captivated. My second nephew is simply wasting such a gift." Looking at Shen Qingtan's charming eyes and blushing cheeks, which were more delicate and radiant than crabapple blossoms, the Fourth Madam couldn't help but sigh, "Just thinking about it makes me feel sorry for him."

Shen Qingtan: "..."

She really didn't expect the fourth wife to be so reckless, blurting out private matters between husband and wife.

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Let's get back to the point." The Fourth Madam whispered in Shen Qingtan's ear, "Are you free tomorrow? I'll take you to a nice place to see a play."

Shen Qingtan asked, "Where?"

The fourth madam deliberately kept everyone in suspense: "You'll find out when you go tomorrow."

Shen Qingtan pondered for a moment and then agreed.

The fourth wife left with her maid.

Just as Liu Yue finished counting, she said, "Second Madam, everything is registered. Please take a look."

Shen Qingtan took the booklet and looked it over carefully, then handed it to Liu Yue: "Go to the storeroom and help Tingxue check the numbers again."

"Alright." Liu Yue left in a hurry.

Shen Qingtan was preparing to return to Lanxue Garden when she saw the Third Madam standing in a corner, with a fifteen-year-old girl standing next to her, her head always lowered, making it impossible to see her face clearly.

She greeted them politely, "Third Aunt, Eldest Sister, I'm leaving now."

The third wife forced a smile, her tone unconsciously ingratiating: "Niece-in-law, you go ahead and do your work, don't bother with us."

Shen Qingtan nodded slightly, then turned and left.

The Third Madam gazed longingly at Shen Qingtan's receding figure, feeling envious of the Fourth Madam, who was able to become close to Shen Qingtan. The two of them were talking together, though it was unclear what they were discussing.

She couldn't help but recall that a few days ago, Zhao Yi had entrusted the task of transporting grain to Zhao Qiyuan.

Such a good opportunity to show off their achievements was given to the fourth wife.

The third wife returned to her third residence with a heavy heart. Looking at the simple house, she saw that there were few valuable items to show for herself.

As she recalled the endless stream of gifts that flowed into the main room, a surge of warmth rose in her heart.

The third madam ordered the maid to guard the door outside and carefully close it. She then pulled Zhao Wan to sit on the kang (a heated brick bed): "Wan'er, have you seen the wealth of the eldest son's family?"

Zhao Wan frowned.

The third wife said, "I think your second sister-in-law is a good person. You should visit her more often and build a good relationship with her. Maybe she can help you marry into a good family."

Zhao Wan lowered her head and twirled her fingers, knowing perfectly well that her mother wanted her to curry favor with her second sister-in-law.

She pursed her lips: "Mother, my brother is good at studying. When he passes the imperial examination, we can also get ahead. We don't need to flatter others. It's better to rely on ourselves than to depend on others for our livelihood."

“Your brother can wait, but can you? You’re fifteen now, and the old lady is already looking for a husband for you.” The third wife advised, “If we don’t go against the eldest son’s family and don’t play any tricks, they are still easy to get along with.”

“I am the daughter of the Duke’s mansion. The old lady chose this marriage for me, and she will not take it lightly. You can rest assured.” Zhao Wan did not want to hear the Third Madam say any more, so she stood up and said, “Mother, the most important thing is to know your own limitations. Otherwise, you will end up with ambitions that are higher than the sky but fates that are thinner than paper.”

-

Not long after Shen Qingtan returned to Lanxue Garden, Zhao Yi returned from outside the mansion.

She leaned against the short couch to rest, glancing at the man's handsome and upright figure. Unexpectedly, she thought of the Fourth Madam's words, and her ears burned.

"The palace has sent gifts, but neither you nor your grandfather showed up. Were you out on official business?"

Zhao Yi looked into her watery eyes and softly hummed in agreement.

Shen Qingtan rose from the short couch and slowly walked to his side, discussing with him, "Will you leave the matter of the Marquis of Chengen's wife to me?"

Zhao Yi paused in his action of rolling up his sleeves, and saw her standing by the washstand, revealing half of her soft face, as she picked out a bath bean for him to wash his hands.

He said calmly, "Whatever you say."

Seeing that he agreed, Shen Qingtan casually put the bath powder back into the small porcelain jar. "Then I'll go and prepare."

Having said that, he walked briskly to the desk.

Zhao Yi looked at her outstretched hand to catch the bath beans, then at the small earthenware jar containing the bath beans, and inexplicably felt as if she were baiting a fish.

Once the fish have taken the bait, there's no need to feed them anymore.

Unaware of Zhao Yi's thoughts, Shen Qingtan wrote two letters and instructed her servant to send them out.

Then, he instructed Liuyue to tell the Fourth Madam that they would leave the mansion together at noon the next day.

-

The next morning, after paying her respects to the First Madam, Shen Qingtan took the token and left the mansion, heading to Mingyue Tower next to Nanshui Street.

"Knock knock!"

Shen Qingtan hadn't finished her cup of tea when there was a knock on the door, and a smile appeared on her lips.

coming.