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

After a moment, Zhao Yi cleared his mind: "I..."

"Knock knock!"

There was a knock on the door, and Liu Mama's voice came from outside: "Second Grandmother, the medicinal meal that the small kitchen is making for Second Master is ready."

Shen Qingtan did not respond immediately, but looked at Zhao Yi instead.

His thin lips were pressed into a thin line, his brows were furrowed, and his usually gentle expression revealed a hint of displeasure.

She asked, "What were you trying to say just now?"

Zhao Yi said helplessly, "Let Liu Mama bring in the medicinal food first."

Those things cannot be explained in just a few words.

With people waiting outside, it wasn't convenient to have a long talk.

Shen Qingtan glanced at him again. The man's handsome and refined face was tinged with a hint of melancholy. It seemed that Liu Mama's arrival was indeed ill-timed.

She felt a strange urge to laugh, turned her head away, and called out, "Aunt Liu, please bring in the medicinal food."

"Eh!"

Liu Mama responded and pushed the door open. She saw the masters sitting on a rosewood daybed with a small table on it, and quickly placed the medicinal food on the table.

The small table wasn't very big, and it contained a tea set. Shen Qingtan picked up the tea set without thinking.

After setting out the bowls and spoons, Liu Mama was about to call Zhao Yi to eat when she saw him staring at the spot where Shen Qingtan had been sitting. In the corner was a sewing basket with a piece of cut fabric inside.

She said with a smile, "Second Master, Second Madam went to the fabric shop to buy fabric to make clothes for you."

Zhao Yi's eyes flickered slightly as she turned her head to look at the person walking towards her. The smile in her eyes was more radiant than the spring flowers outside the window.

The words that were on the tip of his tongue could no longer be uttered.

When she confessed just now, her usually clear and bright eyes became dull and lifeless.

He comforted her, and then told her in a moment that he didn't have much time left.

Although it is true, isn't it also a form of harm to her?

Zhao Yi looked at the lacquer box on the bed and sighed inwardly. He would tell her about this matter after he found her biological parents and she had her own real family.

If there were other people protecting her then, she would probably be able to easily accept the outcome.

"Cough...cough..."

Zhao Yi coughed, pressing his lips to his mouth, until his chest ached, before finally calming down.

"Your cough is worse this time. Did you catch a cold?" Shen Qingtan asked anxiously, bringing over a glass of warm water. "Drink some water to calm down first."

"It's nothing." Zhao Yi's voice was hoarse. He took the water glass, drank a few sips, and said softly, "Don't worry, it's just that I cough badly once or twice occasionally."

Shen Qingtan watched as his pale face coughed up a thin layer of red, making him appear even more sickly.

In her letter today, she entrusted Boss Qin with the task of finding her parents, and also asked him to ask the caravan to find the medical sage Zhong Yuan.

Shen Qingtan prayed in her heart that she could find Zhong Yuan as soon as possible.

-

Shen Qingtan didn't sleep well that night. She heard Zhao Yi's suppressed coughing, as if he was deliberately keeping his voice down so as not to wake her.

In the middle of the night, he got up and went to his study, not returning until almost dawn.

Shen Qingtan felt as if a stone was pressing on her chest. She got up early, intending to go to the Qin residence herself.

Just after breakfast, Liuyue came in to deliver a message: "Second Madam, Aunt Mei... Madam Mei has arrived."

Shen Qingtan was taken aback, seemingly not expecting that Madam Mei had settled in so quickly.

She said thoughtfully, "Go and invite her in."

"Yes."

Liu Yue left in a hurry and invited Mei Niangzi to Lanxue Garden.

Shen Qingtan sat on the daybed and saw two people walking in side by side, both wearing veils on their heads.

Just as she was about to invite them to sit down, she saw that Madam Mei and the woman beside her had taken off their veils, revealing two identical faces.

Shen Qingtan was taken aback: "What are you doing...?"

“Young Miss, my name is Mei Ruoxue, and this is my twin sister, Mei Ruolan.” Madam Mei handed the prepared gift to Liuyue, who was standing to the side: “My sister and I have come to visit you today specifically to thank you for your help.”

Liu Yue accepted the gift and placed it on the table.

Shen Qingtan cautiously dismissed the servants around her and ordered her maid to close the door.

She carefully examined the two sisters and found that they not only looked exactly alike, but were also the same height, with no difference whatsoever.

The two were just a little different in temperament; one was quiet and reserved, while the other was natural and generous.

Shen Qingtan understood the key point and asked, "Was it Miss Mei who took your place that day?"

Mei Niangzi did not hide anything: "That's right."

"Does the Lady of the Marquis know that you have a younger sister?"

After asking the question, Shen Qingtan frowned. Madam Shen must not know this. If she did, she probably would have exposed this matter yesterday.

“Most people don’t know that I have a twin sister,” Mei Niangzi explained. “The madam of the brothel bought us two sisters. Because I was good at music, she trained me to be a courtesan, while my sister knew nothing and was trained to entertain customers.”

“I didn’t want my sister to suffer this humiliation, so I persuaded my mother to keep her existence a secret. If I didn’t earn much money for the building by the time I turned eighteen, my sister and I would be put up for auction.”

Mei Niangzi remained calm throughout, as if she were talking about someone else's affairs: "Back then, with my reputation, if I had the gimmick of having a twin sister, it would have caused a sensation among my patrons, and my sister and I would have doubled in value."

"I entered the Chengen Marquis's mansion before I turned eighteen. I left all the savings I had saved to the madam in the building, asking her to keep my sister for another year. If I could not redeem my sister, she could then decide what to do with her."

At this moment, Madam Mei's expression turned bitter: "Perhaps seeing that I had entered the Marquis's mansion, my mother was worried that I would be favored, so she agreed to my request. After that, I... I had an accident with Young Master Shen, and he promised to redeem my sister."

Shen Qingtan frowned and said, "You need to go to the brothel and speak to the madam, so that she will keep this matter to herself. If the Lady of the Marquis finds out, she will never let you two sisters off the hook."

Hearing Shen Qingtan's concerned words, Mei Niangzi felt a warmth in her heart: "When I left the Marquis's mansion yesterday, I went to the building to look for Mother. She was even more afraid of death than I was, afraid of being implicated, and dared not reveal these words."

Shen Qingtan breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

"My sister and I do not intend to stay in the capital. After thanking you today, we will set off back to Jiangnan." A smile appeared on Mei Niangzi's face: "I want to continue to improve my zither skills."

Seeing that she remained true to her original aspirations despite all the hardships she had endured, Shen Qingtan couldn't help but point her in a clear direction: "There is a reclusive musician at Shuiyue Nunnery, a few hundred miles from the capital. If you can win her favor and become her disciple, others will give you the respect you desire."

Mei Niangzi seemed to realize who it was, and with a thousand words in her heart, she finally said with great emotion, "Miss, your kindness to me is like being reborn, and Ruoxue will never forget it."

“I understand your intentions, there’s no need for further thanks. Please sit down and have a cup of tea.” Shen Qingtan pulled the two sisters to sit down.

Mei Niangzi blushed and said, "Then I will not thank you enough."

Shen Qingtan smiled faintly. After chatting for a while, Mei Niangzi got up to take her leave.

As the two sisters were leaving, she took some travel money and gave it to them.

The Mei sisters thanked her again, put on their veils, and left.

After seeing them off, Shen Qingtan also set off for the Qin residence.

Upon arriving at the side gate, Shen Qingtan saw a beautifully decorated and luxurious carriage stop. When she saw the face inside the carriage, she was so frightened that her face turned pale.