Chapter 317: Alliance

Chapter 317: Alliance

"That's right, why didn't I think of that!" Lady Qin suddenly remembered, "Qin Shaojing, it's been six years since you got married, why haven't you had a child yet?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Shaojing's smiling face stiffened, "Auntie, actually, my husband and I have spent more time apart than together, he's not often at home."

Liu Ye was not just seldom at home.

He and Qin Shaojing only had a brief period of sweetness during their honeymoon, and then the novelty faded. After that, he often frequented the brothels outside.

Occasionally, he would return, but only to visit his various mistresses.

Qin Shaojing had tried her schemes, but Liu Ye was a fickle and lustful man, and no matter what she did, she couldn't curb his womanizing.

The maid who had just been beaten to death for supposedly climbing into bed wasn't the one who initiated it; it was Liu Ye who had his eye on her! The maid was a newly hired servant in their courtyard, somewhat attractive, and being new, Liu Ye had taken a fancy to her when she brought him a basin of foot-washing water some days ago.

He had coaxed and deceived her in the laundry room, and after taking her, he left without even granting her a proper status.

It was only when her belly swelled that Qin Shaojing discovered.

And at this time, Qin Shaojing also learned of the old Duke's decree: whichever branch had a child, the position of the heir would go to that branch. How could she possibly accept that! Even if the heir position wasn't hers, it couldn't be given to a maid's child!

Before her in-laws and Liu Ye could find out, she quickly took action and had the maid beaten to death.

This incident caused a major scandal, and Liu Ye, who still had no children, bore a grudge against her!

How could he possibly share a bed with her after that!

After she said this, Lady Qin said, "Qin Shaojing, being apart more than together means you need to work even harder to win your husband's heart. You must go back and spend more time with Liu Ye."

Qin Shaojing's face turned extremely ugly at this moment, and she nodded hurriedly, "I understand."

When she looked up again, she saw Lu Lingyun sitting as calmly as ever, peeling pine nuts with Cheng Suying.

Qin Shaojing was seething inside.

After returning to Caitang Pavilion, Qin Shaojing couldn't contain her anger.

"She did it on purpose; she must have overheard something! She deliberately said that in front of my aunt!"

"Miss, what should we do now? Should we go back?"

"Go back for what! To endure Liu Ye and that old woman's disdain?! Or to be humiliated by that old lecher!" Qin Shaojing banged things around.

Qin Shaojing had not been living well these past few years, not at all.

After marrying into the Duke of Liu's residence, she gradually realized what a filthy place it was.

When she first married, besides being able to control Liu Ye, she also relied on the support from Duke Zhao's household, so the people of the Duke of Liu's residence didn't dare to treat her badly.

But as time went on, that support faded, and she gradually discovered the filth within the Duke of Liu's residence.

Besides Liu Ye's own debauchery, her father-in-law was the same, and he had hinted at her several times, calling her to serve him late at night.

Now that the old Duke was seriously ill, and none of the grandchildren's wives had produced any children, her father-in-law had recently hinted to her that since Liu Ye couldn't produce an heir, she could have one with him.

After all, it would still be their Liu family's blood, and he would acknowledge it.

Qin Shaojing understood those hints all too well, but how could she accept it! She was a lady from a Duke's household, not some poor wife from a lowly family!

She made excuses to refuse him repeatedly.

Her repeated refusals started to annoy her father-in-law.

Once she upset him, her life at the Duke of Liu's residence became even harder.

Her killing the maid wasn't initially a big deal. So what if the maid was pregnant? She was just a lowly servant.

If she had quietly gotten rid of the body, who would have cared?

But because she had offended her father-in-law, he blew it out of proportion, making her mother-in-law and Liu Ye come after her.

This marriage, which she had worked so hard to arrange, turned out to be nothing like she expected!

But where could she find a way to undo her regrets now?

"Miss, we can't stay at the Marquis's Mansion forever, can we?" said Nanny Qin.

"Of course I know! That damned Lu Lingyun, this is my aunt's house—how dare she stick her nose in our business!" Qin Shaojing blamed all the grievances she suffered in the Liu family on Lu Lingyun.

"What's wrong with her coming back to stay? Why does she have to pick on her!"

That damned Lu Lingyun really thinks she's something special, just a sparrow from a humble family who flew too high. Why should she have any say in the Marquis's Mansion!

Just then, a voice called from outside the room.

"Miss, Concubine Li is here to see you."

"Her?!" Qin Shaojing, mid-rage, paused.

She had Li Bihan brought in.

Qin Shaojing looked at the meek and respectful Li Bihan before her, "When did Concubine Li join the household? I don't really remember."

Hearing this, Li Bihan smiled gently, "I'm just a concubine, Miss. Why would you remember me?"

Li Bihan's arrival had caused quite a stir, but Qin Shaojing hadn't paid her any mind at the time.

"I see that Concubine Li is well-mannered and proper—not like someone from a humble background."

"Bishuo was a palace maid," Li Bihan said.

Hearing she came from the palace, Qin Shaojing nodded knowingly. She looked at Li Bihan again, her eyes growing brighter, "No wonder Concubine Li stands out from the other concubines in my cousin's courtyard. With your demeanor, you don't even seem like a concubine—you could pass for a mistress!"

At these words, Li Bihan immediately knelt, "Miss, please don't demean me!"

Qin Shaojing laughed, standing up and stepping closer, "What are you doing, Concubine Li? I find you dear—I treat you like a sister! These are just words between sisters! Concubine Li, you need not worry!"

Li Bihan, unable to grasp Qin Shaojing's intentions, remained respectfully humble, "Miss Qin, this is not appropriate!"

"I say it is appropriate! Or does Concubine Li look down on me? Unwilling to acknowledge me as a sister?" Qin Shaojing grabbed Li Bihan's hand.

At this moment, Li Bihan looked up and met her extremely sincere eyes.

"Miss Qin, you are..."

"Sister Li, from now on, call me Shaojing in private!" Qin Shaojing helped Li Bihan up, "After all, we share common thoughts."

Li Bihan's eyes sparkled, yet she remained silent.

Qin Shaojing continued, "Doesn't Concubine Li want to secure a promising future for her children? Doesn't she want to try to take control of managing the Marquis's Mansion?"

Her words ignited a fierce ambition in Li Bihan, but she still did not speak.

Qin Shaojing looked at her and said, "Alright, Concubine Li, no need to answer me right away. I remember your son attends an ordinary private school. Why don't you go and see for yourself tomorrow, and then decide whether you're willing to cooperate with me."

Hearing this, Li Bihan's eyes shone with newfound determination.