With Multiple Babies, Who Still Wants to Be the Marquess’s Wife? - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: His Deep Affection for Her

Song Linyuan’s voice carried a deep sorrow as he declared, “No matter the price, I am willing to trade my life for a chance to start over with her!”

“This time, I won’t let her go. I want her to be my woman, to bear my children, and grow old with me.”

Hearing this, Lan Qingxi was utterly shocked and found it unbelievable.

As if sensing her presence, Song Linyuan turned and looked at her. When her gaze met his bloodshot eyes, she was startled and instantly woke up.

She bolted upright in bed. Hearing the movement, Li Qiu came in and poured her a cup of warm tea. “Miss, are you feeling better?” she asked.

Lan Qingxi, drenched in sweat, felt much more comfortable.

She took the tea, drank it in one gulp, and exhaled deeply. “Yes, I feel a lot better. What time is it now?”

Li Qiu glanced at the water clock and replied, “It’s just past the third watch (midnight).”

Lan Qingxi recalled the Buddhist saying about waking from dreams at the third watch but dismissed the dream as too absurd.

In her previous life, although she and Song Linyuan had spent one night together as husband and wife, her understanding of him was mostly academic, meant to aid Yu Junshu’s political career.

The two had little interaction in public, meeting only a few times in large gatherings. Privately, they had met just once under special circumstances.

Half a year before her death, Yu Junshu had suggested she accompany Song Linyuan, but she had refused.

Thus, the dream seemed ridiculous to her. How could Song Linyuan possibly care enough about her to collect her remains and avenge her death?

She chalked the dream up to a hysterical reaction from seeing Song Linyuan a few times recently.

If Song Linyuan truly cared for her, given his recent actions toward her, she would make him kneel and beg for her favor, only to humiliate him in return!

The thought of this made her chuckle.

Li Qiu asked, “Miss, what’s so funny?”

Lan Qingxi replied, “Nothing, just something amusing that crossed my mind.”

What kind of person was Song Linyuan? Ruthless and unfeeling, he viewed women as mere playthings.

Someone like him couldn’t possibly harbor genuine emotions for anyone—because he didn’t have a heart.

Lan Qingxi dismissed the dream entirely as unrealistic and far-fetched.

Unable to sleep, likely because of the dream involving Song Linyuan, she asked, “Did you pick up the medicinal herbs I asked you to buy?”

Li Qiu nodded. “Yes, I retrieved them yesterday and had them prepared outside as you instructed.”

She brought over a bamboo container filled with pre-boiled medicine.

The strong medicinal smell would attract unnecessary attention if brewed in the marquis’ residence.

Unable to sleep, Lan Qingxi poured the thick, concentrated liquid out and began rolling it into pills.

She calculated the time. In a few days, Song Linyuan would surely send someone to fetch her again.

She needed to be prepared, and these pills were for him.

As she worked, the earlier dream resurfaced, but she shook her head and cast it aside entirely.

Three days later, Yu Junshu officially took Zhao Yan’er as his concubine.

Unlike a formal wedding, a concubine’s ceremony didn’t require elaborate rituals.

Moreover, since Yu Junshu and Lan Qingxi’s wedding had been only a month ago, publicly announcing the concubinage would bring disrepute. Thus, the affair was handled discreetly:

Zhao Yan’er’s courtyard was redecorated, two new blankets were added, and she received two sets of new clothes along with ten taels of silver.

Altogether, the expenses didn’t exceed one hundred taels of silver.

Having expected two thousand taels but receiving only one thousand, Zhao Yan’er felt disappointed.

However, Yu Junshu, skilled at charming women, carved a wooden hairpin for Zhao Yan’er, making her so happy that she forgot her earlier displeasure.

Yu Junshu further sweet-talked Zhao Yan’er, saying, “I carved this hairpin only for you. From now on, I won’t carve for any other woman.”

Completely won over, Zhao Yan’er replied sweetly, “Jun-ge, you’re so kind to me. I promise to serve you well in the future and bear a child for you.”

Yu Junshu, smiling, picked her up in his arms. Just as he was about to get intimate with her, there was a knock at the door.

The visitor was Yu Junshu’s trusted servant, who informed him that there was an urgent matter at the government office and that the Assistant Minister of the Household Department needed to see him.

Yu Junshu said, “Official matters might take some time. You rest here, and I’ll come back to you tomorrow.”

Though slightly disappointed, Zhao Yan’er dared not interfere with his work.

Considerate, she said, “Official duties come first. Go ahead, Jun-ge.”

After a few words of praise for her, Yu Junshu left the room.

However, instead of heading to the office, he went to Lan Qingxi’s quarters.

The so-called “trusted servant” was actually a pawn Yu Junshu had planted. He believed this was the perfect opportunity to show Lan Qingxi his affection.

He sprinkled some wine on himself and intentionally staggered a little as he approached Lan Qingxi’s courtyard.

Apart from Li Qiu, there were two older maids and two lower-ranking servant girls in Lan Qingxi’s quarters.

Upon arrival, Yu Junshu called out, “Qingxi!”

One of the older maids quickly stepped forward to support him and turned back to call, “Madam, the Young Master is here.”

Lan Qingxi’s face immediately turned cold upon hearing this.

This wasn’t the first time Yu Junshu had pulled such a stunt.

She thought that after the spectacle she had caused last time, he wouldn’t dare to humiliate her with such antics again.

But reality proved that she had underestimated Yu Junshu’s shamelessness.

Frowning, Li Qiu said, “Isn’t today the day the Young Master is taking Zhao Yan’er as his concubine? What’s he doing here with you?”

Lan Qingxi replied sarcastically, “He’s here to prove his deep affection for me.”

After all, what could demonstrate a man’s devotion to his wife more than spending the night of his concubinage ceremony with her instead?

But to Lan Qingxi, this behavior was utterly disgusting.

Li Qiu was briefly confused by the logic but didn’t have time to dwell on it, as she heard Lan Qingxi say, “Bring me my foot-washing water.”

Li Qiu responded quickly and fetched the water.

When Yu Junshu reached the door to Lan Qingxi’s room, a basin of water was dumped right over him.

The entire act of his feigned drunkenness was washed away.

Lan Qingxi coldly scolded, “Today is the day you’re officially taking Zhao Yan’er as your concubine. What are you doing here with me?”

“Before our marriage, you were already involved with her. Not even a month after our wedding, you bring her into the household.”

“If you care for her so much, how can you treat her so shabbily on such an important day? It’s an insult to her!”

“And it’s equally humiliating to me. Do you intend to label me as a jealous wife and make her think poorly of me in the future?”

The maid supporting Yu Junshu chimed in, “The Young Master came tonight because he cares deeply for Madam and misses her.”

Lan Qingxi sneered, her voice icy, “This isn’t affection; it’s sheer thoughtlessness.”

“If the Young Master stays here tonight, how am I supposed to get along with Zhao Yan’er in the future? Are you trying to create discord between your wife and concubine right from the start?”

“You’ve had too much to drink, so your mind is muddled. But have all of you also lost your senses because of the wine?”

The maid softly suggested, “If Madam doesn’t say anything and we keep quiet, Zhao Yan’er will never find out.”