Chapter 124: Whose Child Is It?

The ruffians who threw filth at the Marquis of Jiang’s residence had all been arranged by Shen Zhifeng. Naturally, they were easy enough to apprehend, and they had already agreed on what to say once caught.

Shen Zhifeng wanted to retreat in order to advance, muddying the waters and making everyone question whether the matter was genuine. Shen Qingyun, however, was determined to expose the entire truth.

As for the Marchioness of Jiang, she was genuinely frightened. She feared that remaining at the residence would force her to face everyone’s suspicion and ridicule, which was why she had hardened her heart and agreed to leave for a while.

This would also give her the opportunity to deliver the child.

Although it meant she was terribly sorry to Jiang Lin, remaining at the residence would serve no purpose. It would only draw everyone’s attention.

Thus, she was currently staying in the small courtyard where she had once secretly met Shen Zhifeng, watching the situation in the capital. If nothing went wrong, she would follow the original plan and go to the county town to await the birth.

Han Yu found the location almost immediately and reported it to Shen Qingyun.

Pearl had not found today’s performance satisfying enough. She had followed her mistress everywhere and seemed to have become rather devious herself. Somewhat excited, she asked, “Miss, what are you going to do next?”

Shen Qingyun’s expression remained calm. “Pearl, do you know that when a cat catches a mouse, it doesn’t eat it right away? It lets the mouse escape again and again, only to catch it each time. Once it has had its fill of playing, it bites through the mouse’s neck.”

Pearl pondered this. “Then should we tell the Duke now that the child actually isn’t his?”

Shen Qingyun shook her head.

Thinking back to her previous life, Shen Zhifeng and Jiang Lin had constantly dangled hope before her, making her believe that if she worked hard enough, she might earn even the slightest bit of regard; making her believe that if she gave everything she had, she would receive sincere affection in return. Yet all the while, they had secretly manipulated her into spending her entire life in miserable futility.

In this life, she would make them endure ceaseless fear, suspicion, anticipation, and anxiety—until, in the end, all that remained was despair.

She raised her hand and wrote a letter in the Marchioness of Jiang’s tone. “Go to the Marquis of Jiang’s residence and quietly deliver this to Shi Shaohua. Ask him to meet her at the small courtyard.”

Han Yu nodded and left with the letter.

Shen Qingyun then summoned Han Feng. “Is there any of that medicine left? Go knock the Marchioness of Jiang unconscious and place her on the bed. Arrange everything before Shi Shaohua arrives.”

Han Feng understood her intentions. He nodded and departed.

Yicui was still utterly bewildered. “Miss, why arrange for them to meet at a time like this?”

Shen Qingyun smiled. The smile resembled a mandrake flower blooming beside the River Styx—beautiful, yet brimming with danger. “Shen Zhifeng placed the Marchioness of Jiang there. To reassure her, he will certainly go and check on her. What do you think will happen then...?”

Yicui’s eyes lit up. Now that would certainly be interesting.

Before long, Han Feng returned to report that everything at the small courtyard had been prepared. Shi Shaohua had also already left the marquis’s residence and appeared to be heading toward the courtyard. Han Yu was following him to prevent any unexpected trouble along the way.

Shen Qingyun nodded. After another while, Pearl hurried in, brimming with excitement. “Miss, you really can see everything in advance! The Duke has left the residence.”

Yicui was still a little worried. “What if the Duke arrives after Shi Shaohua has already left?”

“That won’t happen. If it does, Han Yu will stop him.” Pearl patted her chest, placing complete faith in her mistress’s arrangements.

Thinking of Han Yu, Yicui relaxed as well. She and Pearl crouched beside the window together, eagerly awaiting news from Han Yu. They both wished they could go to the scene themselves and watch!

Inside the courtyard, Shi Shaohua had only just arrived. He stood by the entrance and called softly into the room, “My lady, are you there?”

The entire courtyard was silent, however, without the slightest response.

Only then did Shi Shaohua cautiously push the door open a crack. Seeing that the inside was equally quiet and that no one else was present, he tiptoed in.

Once he reached the room, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

So she had fallen asleep.

He walked to the bedside and gently nudged the Marchioness of Jiang. “My lady, I’m here. Are you all right?”

But the Marchioness of Jiang remained completely motionless. She had clearly been knocked unconscious, and no matter how Shi Shaohua shook her, she did not wake. Gradually, he began to sense that something was wrong.

Outside, Han Yu cursed Han Feng under her breath. That damned Han Feng—couldn’t he have used a gentler hand? He had probably struck the Marchioness of Jiang unconscious with a single blow. Who knew how long it would take her to recover?

Seeing that Shi Shaohua was preparing to flee, Han Yu had no choice. She slipped inside, tapped two pressure points, and Shi Shaohua’s entire body went limp. He collapsed heavily onto the floor.

She dragged him onto the bed and then placed him on top of the Marchioness of Jiang before returning to hide among the rafters.

Fortunately, to avoid arousing suspicion, Shen Zhifeng did not come directly to the small courtyard. Instead, he took a long detour and even stopped to buy some food. By the time he finally arrived at a leisurely pace, an entire hour had passed.

Although Shi Shaohua was rather thin, he was still a grown man. His weight pressed the breath from the Marchioness of Jiang’s lungs. She had a terrifying nightmare and thought a ghost was pinning her down. Screaming and struggling, she awoke and kicked Shi Shaohua onto the floor.

The kick naturally woke Shi Shaohua as well. He looked confused and strangely overheated, unable to understand how he had suddenly fallen asleep.

When the Marchioness of Jiang saw him, she spoke through sobs. “Shaohua, I must be dreaming. Why else would I be seeing you?”

Before Shi Shaohua could say anything, Shen Zhifeng’s voice came from outside the courtyard.

“Vivi, I’m here. I even brought you the crystal buns you like.”

By the time Shi Shaohua realized he should run, it was already too late. Shen Zhifeng opened the door and saw a handsome young man standing in the room, while the Marchioness of Jiang was half reclining on the bed. Her clothes were disheveled, her face flushed, and her eyes filled with moist, amorous longing.

Shen Zhifeng flung the food in his hands to the ground. With a loud crash, the box shattered into pieces. He glared furiously at them.

“You shameless woman! How dare you take a lover!”

“My lord, please listen to me! It isn’t like that. We did nothing!”

“Look at you! Your face is flushed red, and you still dare to deny it?”

The Marchioness of Jiang covered her burning cheeks. “No, it isn’t that. He was lying on top of me.”

Could Shen Zhifeng possibly endure hearing that? He swung a fist at Shi Shaohua’s face.

Unexpectedly, although Shi Shaohua was merely a male courtesan, he had learned a few rudimentary martial arts techniques to keep himself fit. He could not deal with an ordinary opponent, but dodging Shen Zhifeng’s punch was still within his ability.

Shi Shaohua twisted aside and kicked Shen Zhifeng in the stomach, sending him crashing to the ground. He seized the opportunity and fled.

Enraged and humiliated, Shen Zhifeng watched his rival escape, then rose and seized the Marchioness of Jiang, beating and kicking her savagely.

“My lord—ah! My lord, please spare me! Ah! It hurts!”

Her face swollen and bruised, the Marchioness of Jiang cried out in agony. “I’m carrying your child, my lord! Don’t you want the child anymore?”

Only then did Shen Zhifeng regain his composure, though his fury had not faded. Breathing heavily, he fixed a chilling gaze on her belly.

“My child? I’m afraid it belongs to that lover of yours!”

“No, no, my lord, you misunderstand! He is merely a distant relative staying at the marquis’s residence. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Sisi. I haven’t lied to you. This truly is your child.”