With Multiple Babies, Who Still Wants to Be the Marquess’s Wife? - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Please Take Care of Yourself, My Lord

Lan Qingxi looked at Su Meishi with her bright, sparkling eyes and said, “I came to see you.”

Then she handed over a skewer of candied hawthorns. “I bought this especially for you.”

Dao Shisan’s gaze flickered. He clearly remembered she had casually bought three skewers earlier—gave one to him, ate one herself. He guessed that the one in her hand was originally meant for Song Linyuan. But upon running into Su Meishi here, she decided to give it to her instead.

Suddenly, he felt this woman had a touch of cunning in her.

Su Meishi was quite surprised when she saw the candied hawthorns. She was a typical noble lady, always refined in her eating and drinking habits. Things like candied hawthorns—considered a bit crude—she had never touched.

But faced with Lan Qingxi’s expectant eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse, so she accepted it.

Lan Qingxi smiled happily when she saw her take it. “You said last time that when we met again, you’d gift me a piece of calligraphy. Does that still count?”

Su Meishi: “…It does.”

Lan Qingxi said cheerfully, “Then can you give it to me today?”

Su Meishi had never met someone like Lan Qingxi before. She replied, “I still have some matters to tend to today. I’ll give it to you next time.”

Her family didn’t approve of her visiting Song Linyuan, and she had snuck out to come here today. She’d been gone a while already and was worried they’d get suspicious. She had to leave immediately.

Without waiting for a response, she quickly turned and left, afraid Lan Qingxi might chase after her.

Lan Qingxi blinked and called after her, “It’s settled then! You’re not allowed to go back on your word!”

Su Meishi walked even faster.

Watching her retreating figure, Lan Qingxi felt reassured. She now knew how to deal with Su Meishi the next time they met.

She added loudly, “The candied hawthorns taste best fresh, you have to eat them!”

As Su Meishi walked up to the gate of the Prime Minister’s residence holding the skewer, she instinctively wanted to throw it away.

But the glossy, thick sugar coating made the red hawthorns look quite tempting.

Glancing around and seeing no one nearby, she took a bite. It was a taste she had never experienced before, and her eyes curved slightly with delight as she chewed.

With the hurdle of Su Meishi behind her, Lan Qingxi was now ready to meet Song Linyuan.

Walking beside her, Dao Shisan gave her a thumbs up. “Miss Lan, you’re amazing!”

Lan Qingxi looked puzzled. “How am I amazing?”

Dao Shisan replied, “You got Miss Su all flustered with just a few words.”

Lan Qingxi looked completely innocent. “When did I ever try to get her flustered? I really do want her calligraphy.”

Dao Shisan: “…”

His instincts told him her words weren’t entirely honest, but her expression was so sincere that he began to doubt himself.

Lan Qingxi then asked, “How has the Prime Minister been lately?”

The moment the topic shifted to Song Linyuan, Dao Shisan became tight-lipped. “You’ll know when you see him.”

Lan Qingxi glanced at him, but Dao Shisan kept his gaze straight ahead as he led her to see Song Linyuan.

This time, she was brought directly to his study.

Just as she reached the entrance, she saw a few officials leaving, looking dejected and disheveled. She quickly lowered her head and stood to the side.

Those officials had clearly just been scolded by Song Linyuan, and none of them noticed her.

She overheard them whispering, “Why would Prince Chen publicly censure the Prime Minister today?”

“The flood season is approaching, and the Ministry of Works still hasn’t proposed a proper plan. Prince Chen is just using it as an excuse to stir trouble.”

Lan Qingxi couldn’t hear what the officials said after that.

But their earlier conversation reminded her of something—just this year, during the summer, heavy rains caused the Sha River to breach its banks. Farmlands were destroyed, and countless civilians were either killed or injured.

It was after this disaster that Yu Junshu went to the affected areas for relief efforts, performed outstandingly, gained favor with Emperor Jianning, and was then promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue.

She knew about the disaster, but didn’t realize that the signs of trouble were already starting to show this early.

Dao Shisan turned to her and said, “What are you spacing out for? Go on in. Don’t keep the Prime Minister waiting.”

Lan Qingxi responded and pushed open the door to the study.

As she stepped inside, Song Linyuan was sitting on a large chair. Sunlight streamed in through the lattice window, half-illuminating him, outlining his features more sharply.

A faint shadow fell across his face, making him appear even more distant and unapproachable.

She took a deep breath to calm her emotions and walked toward him.

But before she even reached the desk, his eyes suddenly snapped open—startling her greatly.

His eyes were bloodshot, filled with a frightening, violent aura. He looked like a wild beast about to attack.

The next second, his hand was already around her throat. She quickly said, “My Lord, it’s me!”

Upon seeing it was Lan Qingxi, Song Linyuan slowly released his grip. “Why are you here?”

Lan Qingxi replied casually, “Didn’t you have Guard Dao bring me here?”

Song Linyuan pressed his fingers to his brow and gave his head a slight shake. “Mm. I remember now.”

Lan Qingxi asked, “My Lord, have you not been sleeping well these past few days?”

Song Linyuan glanced at her sideways. She quickly added, “My Lord handles state affairs day and night with such dedication. Please take care of your health.”

He let out a cold chuckle. “Are you afraid if I die, you’ll lose your backing?”

Lan Qingxi thought for a moment and replied, “You agreed to see me, didn’t you? Isn’t that because you find me useful?”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even gotten close to you before you’d had me killed.”

The corners of Song Linyuan’s lips lifted slightly. “At least you have a clear understanding of your worth.”

Lan Qingxi smiled lightly. “If I didn’t understand myself clearly, that would make me a fool. And someone as smart as you, My Lord, wouldn’t keep a fool around.”

Song Linyuan raised an eyebrow slightly and sank back into his chair.

Lan Qingxi then said, “The ointment I gave you last time—My Lord can try using it again.”

She had specifically made that ointment for him. It calmed the mind and helped with sleep—quite suitable for him.

Song Linyuan said coolly, “The reason I had you come today was to have you make more of that ointment.”

Lan Qingxi was taken aback. “You’ve used it all already?”

He didn’t answer but instead asked, “Am I not allowed to have used it up?”

Lan Qingxi: “…Of course you are.”

She had made that ointment as bait, and although she hadn’t prepared a large amount, it shouldn’t have run out this quickly.

She strongly suspected he might have eaten it.

She couldn’t help glancing at him—and found him already looking at her. So she said, “I’ll make more for you.”

Song Linyuan gave a cold snort. He hadn’t slept for three days and nights. His head throbbed terribly, yet he still couldn’t rest.

Just earlier, after those officials left, he was so exhausted that he leaned back in the chair and dozed off briefly—only to be awakened by Lan Qingxi’s arrival.

Being woken up put him in a foul mood, and he was barely restraining the violent temper rising inside him.

Seeing him like this, Lan Qingxi knew he was in a difficult state. So she said, “The ointment takes time to prepare. It won’t help you right now.”

“But I know a technique that helps with sleep. Would My Lord like to try it?”