With Multiple Babies, Who Still Wants to Be the Marquess’s Wife? - Chapter 44

Chapter 44 – He Has Never Had Another Woman

Just then, Dao Shisan’s voice came from outside, “Prime Minister, this subordinate has something to report.”

Song Linyuan said indifferently, “Come in.”

After speaking, he turned to Lan Qingxi and said, “You’ve finished reading it, aren’t you going to help this Prime Minister put on his clothes again?”

Lan Qingxi: “…”

Left with no choice, she resignedly helped him get dressed again.

Dao Shisan walked in just as this scene was happening, and the sight startled him so much that he quickly turned around as if he hadn’t seen anything.

Lan Qingxi swiftly tied Song Linyuan’s waist sash, then stepped aside to write out a prescription.

Song Linyuan asked, “What is it?”

Dao Shisan replied, “Prince Chen requests an audience. I’ve already had him wait in the side hall for half an hour.”

Song Linyuan’s gaze turned cold and deep. “He came looking for trouble this morning, and now he’s back again? That old fox.”

With that, he turned to leave. Dao Shisan quickly asked, “Prime Minister, should we escort Miss Lan to the Elegant Room?”

The study was where Song Linyuan handled official matters. There were too many secrets involved—leaving Lan Qingxi there would be inappropriate.

Song Linyuan gave a slight nod. “Take her over.”

Dao Shisan acknowledged the command. By then, Lan Qingxi had already finished writing the prescription.

As she followed him out, Dao Shisan kept glancing at her from time to time, his eyes full of curiosity and a bit of hesitation.

Lan Qingxi pretended not to notice his expression.

After repeating this behavior a dozen times, Dao Shisan finally couldn’t hold back and asked, “How did you do it?”

Lan Qingxi asked, “Do what?”

Dao Shisan lowered his voice, “The Prime Minister’s study is usually off-limits. But you not only got in—you stayed inside for three whole hours!”

Lan Qingxi caught the key point. “Since the Prime Minister’s study isn’t open to outsiders, why did you let me in yesterday?”

Dao Shisan looked slightly awkward. “Well, I saw how good you were at deceiving people and wanted to teach you a lesson.”

Lan Qingxi turned her gaze on him, and he added bluntly, “I think Miss Su and the Prime Minister are a good match. What you did to her was a bit too much.”

Lan Qingxi understood now. Su Meishi was the granddaughter of the Grand Tutor, a prominent figure with a sterling reputation in the court.

The Grand Tutor had once served as the Chancellor of the National Academy and had even presided over several imperial examinations. His students were spread across the entire empire.

If Song Linyuan married Su Meishi, it would essentially mean gaining the Grand Tutor’s support.

Lan Qingxi looked at Dao Shisan and said, “So you think you can make decisions for the Prime Minister now? Impressive. Do you think he knows what you’re scheming?”

Dao Shisan replied without changing expression, “I’m doing it for the Prime Minister’s own good.”

Lan Qingxi gave him a meaningful look and said, “Actually, I should thank you for yesterday. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had the chance to get so close to the Prime Minister.”

“But I have a feeling… you’re going to be in trouble.”

Dao Shisan frowned. “You’re a married woman. Don’t get any ideas about the Prime Minister!”

Yesterday, she had stayed in the study with Song Linyuan for over three hours—an absolutely shocking thought to Dao Shisan.

Lan Qingxi smiled slightly and said, “What if the Prime Minister just happens to like married women?”

Dao Shisan: “…”

Dao Shisan: “!!!!”

He pointed at her for a long while, utterly speechless.

Lan Qingxi said calmly, “That candied hawthorn you gave me the other day—I’ll just consider it as having fed a dog.”

Dao Shisan: “…”

He glared at her, and she pretended not to see it.

Taking a deep breath, he muttered, “A real man doesn’t argue with women. I won’t stoop to your level.”

Lan Qingxi just chuckled and blatantly ignored him.

Dao Shisan couldn’t help but ask again, “Did you really make the Prime Minister fall asleep today?”

When Lan Qingxi first met Dao Shisan, he had been a cold and aloof guard. But after spending some time with him, she realized he was actually quite gossipy.

Annoyed by his questions, she replied, “Yes, not only did I make him fall asleep—I also slept with him.”

Dao Shisan: “!!!!!!!”

He recalled seeing her adjusting Song Linyuan’s waist sash when he entered earlier, and now he half-believed her claim.

“This is impossible!” he blurted out.

Lan Qingxi smiled, “Why is it impossible? The Prime Minister has many lovers, what difference does one more make?”

Dao Shisan clicked his tongue in annoyance. “That’s all nonsense spread by his political enemies!”

“I’ve served by his side for years and have never seen a single woman enter his bedroom, let alone share his bed.”

“No woman has ever spent the night in his residence or stayed with him alone in a room for several hours!”

After saying this, he added, “Even Miss Su can’t get close to him.”

Lan Qingxi was slightly surprised by this. The information she had previously gathered painted Song Linyuan as a lustful man who enjoyed the company of many women—rumors claimed he had affairs with the wives and concubines of many officials in the capital.

But now Dao Shisan had given her a completely different picture.

Still, since her relationship with Song Linyuan was purely cooperative, she had no real interest in his private life.

Handing him the prescription, she said, “Go fetch these herbs, then decoct them. After that, pour the medicine into a large bath tub.”

“To prevent the medicine from cooling, it’s best to place an iron pot beneath the tub.”

Dao Shisan looked at her suspiciously and asked, “Are you treating the Prime Minister’s illness or trying to steam him?”

Lan Qingxi smiled lightly. “Of course it’s for treating him. This method ensures the best effect.”

Although Dao Shisan was still skeptical of her explanation, he went to collect the herbs.

There were quite a lot of them, and decocting took time. By the time everything was ready, it was already nearing dusk. The medicinal bath would have to wait until tomorrow.

Even though Dao Shisan was somewhat annoyed with her, he remained diligent when it came to matters concerning Song Linyuan.

The Prime Minister had been poisoned for many years and had seen countless renowned doctors, but with little effect.

Dao Shisan didn’t fully trust Lan Qingxi’s medical skills, but if Song Linyuan allowed her to treat him, there had to be a reason.

Moreover, her methods were unusual—perhaps, he thought, something entirely new might bring unexpected results.

Lan Qingxi had originally left the residence that day to buy a maid from the human market, but it was probably already closed by now.

Since Song Linyuan would take his first medicinal bath tomorrow, there were many precautions to consider, and she would have to return to the Prime Minister’s estate.

After she finished her tasks and was preparing to return home, she ran into Song Linyuan at the second gate—he had just finished sending Prince Chen away.

She took the opportunity to explain the precautions needed for the medicinal bath in detail.

Song Linyuan responded casually, “I know.”

Just as she was about to leave, Song Linyuan looked at her back, a thoughtful look in his eyes, and suddenly called out, “Lan Qingxi.”

She turned and asked, “Is there anything else, Prime Minister?”

His expression remained light. “I heard you only have one maid, and she was beaten?”

Lan Qingxi instantly realized he had placed someone inside the Marquis’s residence—he knew everything she had been doing there.

She gave a small nod. “Yes, I had originally planned to visit the human market today.”

Song Linyuan smiled faintly. “Those sold in the market aren’t very reliable. I’ll gift you a maid.”

Lan Qingxi was a bit surprised.

Song Linyuan called out, “Feishuang.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, a woman appeared gracefully before Lan Qingxi.

The moment she saw the woman, Lan Qingxi was stunned, frozen in place, her face filled with disbelief…