"What's wrong with the jade pendant?" He Qing suddenly looked up.
The red - clothed woman looked at her with pity in her eyes. Instead of answering, she asked, "After all I've said, don't you understand yet?
If the wife's family declined after marriage, or if the young master was kind - hearted, it would be acceptable for him to bring back the illegitimate children he had outside.
But your young master is about to marry the princess of the current dynasty! How could he afford to be careless about such things?"
"So what?" He Qing's heart twitched slightly, but she still refused to admit it. She just stubbornly said, "What exactly do you mean, my lady? Could you please make it clear?"
Seeing He Qing's expression, the red - clothed woman smiled faintly and waved her fan.
"Forget it. No matter how much I say, it's better to help you retrieve the jade pendant so that you can investigate it yourself."
As she said this, the red - clothed woman lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside, ordering, "Search carefully. You must find the jade pendant."
"Yes."
He Qing stared blankly at the red - clothed woman's expression, pondering over her words. Fear welled up in her heart.
She had liked Zhao Yujin since childhood. When she reached the age of marriage, she even threatened to kill herself, demanding that her father help her.
Even though Zhao Yujin didn't think much of her at all.
It was her father who sacrificed his own life. For her future, he stole the key to the place where the Qianji Diagram of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was stored, which finally allowed her to marry into a good family as she wished.
She suddenly remembered the days when she first entered the Grand Tutor's Mansion. She was still quite timid. She knew that Zhao Yujin had been forced to take her in, and she thought he wouldn't give her a good look.
But unexpectedly, since they first met, Zhao Yujin had been obedient and considerate to her.
Zhao Yujin must like her, she thought.
Although over the six years, Zhao Yujin would always mention the Qianji Diagram when they were at their most affectionate.
She had evaded his requests many times and refused to hand it over, but she still had high hopes for him.
As long as she had a child, she and Zhao Yujin would have a bond, and she would have a solid reliance in the Grand Tutor's Mansion.
Only when she had a child would she hand over the key without hesitation.
A child...
He Qing's eyes ached.
They had once had a child, who had stayed in her womb for three months before leaving her due to congenital deficiency of qi and blood.
She watched the blood flowing continuously from between her legs. She was scared, helpless, and desperate.
She cried and begged Zhao Yujin to save the child.
But Zhao Yujin just hugged her tightly and told her, "We'll have another one in the future."
But over the years, she had never been able to conceive again.
She thought she was just unlucky. She had been praying and fasting for so many years, just hoping to have a child with the man she loved.
She had endured the pressure and refused to hand over the key to Zhao Yujin. She even threatened him with the key to make him stay in her room.
How could she not know that Zhao Yujin had long since grown tired of her?
If it weren't for the key, he would probably have kicked her out of the mansion long ago.
She closed her eyes tightly.
Suddenly, a big, burly man with rough skin appeared in her mind. He looked at her with a silly smile, worry, or heartache.
"Qingqing, daddy is begging you. Eat something. Your mother has been too heart - broken to eat for two days. For your mother's sake, okay?"
"If you really want to marry, daddy will help you. As long as you live well, stop being so childish..."
"In the future, when daddy is no longer around, you must take good care of yourself. This key is your reliance in the future. Never hand it over casually. Promise daddy, okay!"
Daddy...
A crystal - clear tear rolled down from the corner of her eye, slowly sliding down her cheek and dripping onto her lips.
It was salty, fishy, and bitter.
"Found it!"
Suddenly, Qinglian's excited cry came into the carriage. He Qing suddenly opened her eyes and saw the curtain of the carriage being lifted.
"My lady."
She respectfully held the green jade pendant and presented it in front of the two of them.
The red - clothed woman nodded and motioned to He Qing.
He Qing quickly took the jade pendant and examined it carefully, but she still couldn't find anything strange. She had no choice but to ask.
"Could you please tell me first what's wrong with this jade pendant, my lady?"
The red - clothed woman raised her eyes and looked at her calmly. "No matter what I say, you will still check it yourself. What's the point of telling you?"
He Qing lowered her eyes. She had to admit that the woman had really guessed her thoughts.
"Just remember to avoid the servants around you when you check it."
"Why?" He Qing was puzzled.
The red - clothed woman smiled faintly and waved her fan again. "It was your maid who stopped you when you were about to grab the white bear, right? It's obvious that she's a loyal maid who thinks about the Grand Tutor's Mansion..."
He Qing's face turned pale. She instantly understood the woman's meaning.
"Thank you for your enlightenment, my lady. But... I rarely go out. Whenever I do, these people will surely follow me. How can I avoid them?"
"Then don't go out." The red - clothed woman raised her eyebrows. "Find an excuse of having a headache or fever and let the person who can help you check it go to the Grand Tutor's Mansion to find you."
He Qing suddenly understood and quickly replied, "I understand, my lady."
Just then, a maid's voice came from outside. "My lady, the lotus - root flower cakes are bought."
Hearing this voice, He Qing's heart trembled involuntarily.
The red - clothed woman smiled and helped her hang the jade pendant back in place. Then she raised her voice and said, "Finally here. I've been waiting for a long time."
The curtain was quickly lifted, and a delicate small basket was passed in.
The carriage continued on its way, slowly turning through every street and alley in Yongding City.
He Qing accompanied the red - clothed woman to buy a lot of things and had a meal at the Drunken Immortal Tower. They were reluctant to part before the sun set.
In front of the carriage, He Qing stood outside, looking up at the red - clothed woman in the carriage with a smile. "You have good taste, my lady. I'm sure my husband will be very happy with this set of writing brushes and ink I've bought."
"I'm glad he likes it. It's worth your effort." The red - clothed woman nodded with a smile. Looking at the sky, she quickly said, "You should go back quickly. Don't see me off."
He Qing didn't decline. She respectfully curtsied and said, "I'll bid you farewell here, my lady."
The red - clothed woman waved her hand.
The wheels slowly started to move, and the carriage headed towards the center of the city.
In the carriage, the red - clothed woman waved her fan vigorously and whispered, "Is everyone far away?"
Qinglian, who was following the carriage outside, glanced out of the corner of her eye. "There's no sign of them."
"Are there still any people following?" The red - clothed woman obviously wasn't at ease.
"They've all been taken care of."
"Phew—"
Hearing this, the red - clothed woman quickly put down her fan and lifted the light veil from her face.