With Multiple Babies, Who Still Wants to Be the Marquess’s Wife? - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: She Couldn’t Help Herself

Lan Qingxi understood clearly—Zhao Yan’er was showing off to her.

Before returning home, Lan Qingxi hadn’t fully decided what excuse to use to distance herself from and deal with Yu Junshu. But Zhao Yan’er had conveniently delivered the excuse right to her doorstep.

Zhao Yan’er really was helpful.

Upon hearing her words, Lan Qingxi put on a surprised expression and asked, “The young lord stayed at your place last night? What do you mean?”

Zhao Yan’er, feeling proud inside, acted as if she were flustered and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, I misspoke. Sister-in-law, just pretend you didn’t hear that.”

She then attempted to leave, but Li Qiu quickly blocked her path.

Lan Qingxi spoke in a low voice, “Make yourself clear before you go!”

With teary eyes, Zhao Yan’er appeared pitiful as she said, “I… I and Brother Jun…”

At this point, she looked as if she had no choice but to kneel before Lan Qingxi and confessed, “Now that things have come to this, I can’t hide it any longer from you, Sister-in-law.”

“Brother Jun and I are in love. I beg for your understanding!”

Lan Qingxi’s body swayed slightly. She took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and asked, “How long have you been together?”

Seeing her reaction, Zhao Yan’er felt a flash of triumph in her eyes but maintained her pitiful facade, even letting her eyes fill with tears.

Softly, she replied, “Brother Jun and I have been together for three years now.”

“Brother Jun is a man of his word, and because he was already engaged to you, he had no choice but to marry you.”

“Even though I love the young lord, I’ve never blamed you, Sister-in-law. If there’s anyone to blame…”

At this point, she began to cry pitifully, continuing, “If there’s anyone to blame, it’s my bitter fate. I come from a humble background, and although we’re deeply in love, I cannot marry him.”

“For me, as long as I can be with Brother Jun, I’m willing to do anything!”

“I’m telling you this today, Sister-in-law, just to ask for your understanding. I even bow to you!”

Zhao Yan’er then really knelt and began to kowtow to Lan Qingxi.

As Zhao Yan’er bowed her head, Lan Qingxi’s eyes flashed with contempt and disdain.

In her previous life, Zhao Yan’er had confronted her in a similar way, and the content of her speech wasn’t all that different.

Zhao Yan’er had grown up in the countryside, and while she was considered beautiful among the village girls, she had an innate ambition.

In her past life, Lan Qingxi had spent some effort investigating Zhao Yan’er’s and Yu Junshu’s relationship, discovering that they were the classic pair of a scumbag man and a shameless woman.

Yu Junshu had approached her because he knew she was the lost daughter of Prince Chen, while Zhao Yan’er had deliberately seduced him because he was the heir to a marquisate.

Both harbored selfish and immoral intentions, so it wasn’t surprising that they hit it off immediately. Within a month of meeting, they had already become intimately involved.

In her past life, Lan Qingxi had been devastated when she discovered the truth, but she was eventually coaxed by Yu Junshu’s sweet words into continuing to sacrifice for him.

Looking at Zhao Yan’er now, Lan Qingxi sneered and asked, “Did the young lord send you to me today?”

Zhao Yan’er froze. Of course, this wasn’t Yu Junshu’s idea.

Yu Junshu had actually warned her not to provoke Lan Qingxi recently, as it had only been a month since he had married her. If rumors of him taking a concubine spread so soon, it would reflect poorly on him.

But Zhao Yan’er, having seen how stunning Lan Qingxi looked when they met the day before, felt uneasy when she witnessed Yu Junshu’s tender and affectionate behavior toward Lan Qingxi as he took her out of the residence that evening.

After Yu Junshu and Lan Qingxi left the previous night, Zhao Yan’er had sent someone to investigate and heard rumors that Lan Qingxi might have lost her chastity to another man. This news had immediately emboldened her.

On top of everything, last night Yu Junshu had stayed at Zhao Yan’er’s place, where they had indulged in pleasure. This further fueled Zhao Yan’er’s confidence.

After hearing that Lan Qingxi hadn’t returned home the entire night, Zhao Yan’er hardened her resolve and directly confronted her.

She sobbed softly, “Brother Jun loves you dearly, Sister-in-law, and naturally puts you first in everything.”

“But I love Brother Jun deeply and couldn’t help myself.”

“Now that you know, please don’t blame Brother Jun. Blame me instead!”

Hearing these words made Lan Qingxi feel sick to her stomach. No matter how many times she had heard them in the past, they still made her uncomfortable.

In a calm voice, she replied, “If that’s the case, then I’ll grant you your wish!”

Turning to Li Qiu, she ordered, “Slap her!”

Li Qiu acknowledged the order, walked over to Zhao Yan’er, and said, “Apologies, Miss Zhao.”

With that, she delivered over ten hard slaps to Zhao Yan’er’s face.

Zhao Yan’er was completely stunned by the blows. She had never expected Lan Qingxi to dare to hit her!

According to her information, Lan Qingxi had the softest temperament, always seeking to please Yu Junshu, and even enduring the bullying of Madam Zheng. The servants in the mansion could push her around as well.

It was because she thought Lan Qingxi was weak that Zhao Yan’er had come today, intending to force Lan Qingxi to acknowledge her status. In short, she had come here to bully her.

She raised her head and asked Lan Qingxi, “Aren’t you afraid that hitting me will anger Brother Jun?”

Lan Qingxi narrowed her eyes slightly and, instead of answering directly, asked, “Do you know the difference between a wife and a concubine?”

Zhao Yan’er, with her swollen face, stared at Lan Qingxi in confusion.

Lan Qingxi’s gaze turned cold. “A wife is the master, while a concubine is nothing more than a servant.”

“Right now, you’re a guest here in the mansion as Miss Zhao. But if you become a concubine, you’ll be reduced to the status of a servant.”

“Think carefully—are you really willing to give up being a guest and become a servant instead?”

Zhao Yan’er had only ever thought about being Yu Junshu’s woman. She hadn’t considered the implications of this shift in status.

After hearing Lan Qingxi’s words, she bit her lip and said, “Brother Jun and I are truly in love! As long as I can be with him, I don’t care about my status. Please, Sister-in-law, make it happen!”

Lan Qingxi’s lips curled slightly into a smirk. “If that’s the case, I will certainly make it happen.”

With that, she strode away with Li Qiu by her side.

This time, Zhao Yan’er didn’t dare to stop her but couldn’t help wondering what Lan Qingxi truly meant.

After they returned to her room, Li Qiu asked, “Miss, are you really going to allow Zhao Yan’er to become a concubine?”

Li Qiu had disliked Zhao Yan’er from the moment she saw her yesterday.

One reason was Yu Junshu’s protectiveness over her, and the other was the way Zhao Yan’er’s eyes constantly darted around, clearly showing her restless nature.

Lan Qingxi’s lips lifted slightly. “Allow her? Of course! This is an excellent matter!”

Li Qiu couldn’t understand what she meant.

Lan Qingxi smiled faintly. “Yu Junshu and I have only been married for a month, and now he’s taking a concubine. Soon, the entire capital will know of his heartlessness and unfaithful character.”

“Zhao Yan’er entered the marquis’ mansion as a distant cousin, and within a few days, she’ll be his concubine. What kind of reputation do you think she’ll have?”

“So yes, we must make sure the young lord takes her as his concubine. It will fulfill both their wishes, and mine as well.”

In her previous life, Yu Junshu hadn’t made Zhao Yan’er his concubine because he wanted to marry her as his official wife to please Prince Chen.