Chapter 254 Obsession
The old woman thought that she could make more money by taking advantage of Qin Xiaoning's youth, but she didn't expect that the young lady was shrewd. She pressed her handprint to accept the silver, her face somewhat ugly, and left in a huff.

The woman who was bought was very happy to see that the house was tidy, the population was simple, and that the master she served was also well-educated. After being led into the house by Sister Wang, she wanted to kowtow to Qin Xiaoning again.

Although this woman was not as good as the wet nurses in the mansion, she was barely acceptable to Qin Xiaoning after seeing so many people. Seeing how polite she was, Qin Xiaoning ordered Songzhi to help her up, gave her a name, calling her "Fujia", and told her to follow Songzhi's instructions on all matters. The woman agreed immediately.

After the people left, Songzhi joked, "I didn't expect that following you, I would become the manager."

Qin Xiaoning stroked her belly lightly and said, "This is just the beginning. In the future, we will have a group of servants. You will be the head aunt. I will let them obey your orders."

Songzhi was happy, and sat beside Qin Xiaoning and sighed: "I thought we would suffer after leaving the mansion, but it didn't expect it to be so smooth."

He added: "It is better to study. Your calligraphy can be sold for hundreds of taels of silver. An illiterate woman can only be worth thirty or forty taels of silver if she sells herself."

Qin Xiaoning saw Songzhi's envy, so she said, "We will have to buy more maids in the future, and you will have some free time. I will teach you how to read and write."

"Forget it." Songzhi waved his hand: "I'm just not that kind of person."

As he said that, he raised his hand and touched Qin Xiaoning's belly: "You should save your energy to teach this child in the future."

Qin Xiaoning's gaze followed Song Zhi's hand to her lower abdomen. She had a loving smile on her face and her tone was surprisingly gentle.

"When my child is old enough to study, I will naturally teach him well. I will send him to the best school in Qianzhou and invite the best martial arts master to teach him kung fu."

"How can you be sure it's a boy?" Songzhi joked, "Or do you prefer boys to girls and hope for this?"

Qin Xiaoning really hoped that the baby in her belly was a boy. It was not that she favored boys over girls, but she secretly hoped to see the shadow of Lu Ji in this child again.

Even though she couldn't stay with Lu Ji forever, having a son who looked very much like him was a comfort to Qin Xiaoning.

"Do you think if it was a boy, would he look like Lu Ji?" She couldn't help but ask Song Zhi.

"Yes." Songzhi said with a smile, "He will definitely be as skilled in both civil and military affairs as the prince, but his temper will be like yours."

Thinking of Lu Ji's bad temper, Qin Xiaoning couldn't help laughing. After laughing for a while, she sighed for no apparent reason.

"I've been away quietly for a month, I don't know if he has calmed down?"

"Are you thinking about the prince again?" Songzhi asked.

I think about it every day.

After all, he raised her and stayed with her for more than ten years. Such a deep relationship cannot be forgotten overnight.

Seeing Qin Xiaoning remained silent, Song Zhi asked, "I see that Zhao Yuan and Shen Qingshu are both interested in you. To be honest, both of them are good. Although Zhao Yuan is a little impetuous, he is really obsessed with you. Not to mention Shen Qingshu, he liked you when he was in the mansion. He is kind and straightforward, and he has talent. More importantly, he has no parents at home, so he doesn't have to be restricted by others in marriage. Ning, won't you consider it?"

After a pause, he continued, "After all, it is impossible for you and the prince to be together anymore. It is very good to choose between Zhao Yuan and Shen Qingshu as your husband."

Song Zhi was here trying to persuade Qin Xiaoning, when Sister Wang came into the room happily: "Young lady, Master Zhao is here, and he said he wants to check your pulse."

Song Zhi winked at Qin Xiaoning and couldn't help but said with a smile, "Didn't you come to see me yesterday? Haha, Mr. Zhao is really diligent in asking for my pulse."

Sister Wang came from the Zhao Mansion, so it is inevitable that she will side with Zhao Yuan.

"My wife's health is precious. It won't hurt to take her pulse more often." As he was speaking, Zhao Yuan was accompanied into the yard by the gatekeeper, Brother Li. Seeing that no one came out of the house, he did not rush in. Instead, he stood in the hallway of the yard waiting, holding the medicine box.

Qin Xiaoning had no choice but to leave the house.

Although Zhao Yuan came frequently, he was a polite man. Whenever he came, he would mostly chat with Qin Xiaoning in the courtyard.

"Miss Qin, how are you these past two days?"

The unchanging opening line amused Songzhi Naoki: "What do you mean by two days? Didn't Mr. Zhao come here yesterday?"

Zhao Yuan was a good-tempered person. Facing the teasing of the little maid, he did not get angry. He just stood there, scratching his head helplessly, and stammered back, "I, I remembered it wrongly."

Qin Xiaoning smiled faintly: "I just checked your pulse yesterday. Since everything is fine, I won't bother you today, Mr. Zhao."

After a pause, she considered and refused again, "The clinic is busy, so Mr. Zhao should not come here so often in the future. I have nothing to do, so I can just go to the clinic to check your pulse once every two weeks."

When Zhao Yuan saw Qin Xiaoning reject him again, his face turned red with shame, and he was so embarrassed that he didn't know what to do.

Seeing this, Sister Wang came over to smooth things over and said, "My wife's body is precious, it's always better to be more careful."

As he spoke, he moved a chair over for Zhao Yuan to sit on, and then he said, "Young Master, you haven't eaten yet, right? I steamed some sweet-scented osmanthus cakes, and they're just out of the pot. If you don't mind, you can have some here."

Zhao Yuan said hurriedly, "I haven't had Sister Wang's sweet-scented osmanthus cake for a while. I'm craving it."

Sister Wang smiled and said, "Sir, please stay with the young lady for a while. I will go get it now."

Zhao Yuan always gets great assistance every time he comes here, and this time is no exception.

The two sat opposite each other, but Qin Xiaoning didn't know what to say to him.

He knew the other party's intention and had said no many times, but Zhao Yuan just refused to change.

The two of them sat there for a long time, and finally Sister Wang brought the osmanthus cake.

A large plate of steaming osmanthus cake, golden millet porridge, and a few exquisite side dishes were placed on the stone table in the pavilion.

"In the past two days, our wife's appetite has improved and she can eat more." Sister Wang chattered while she was busy setting the table.

Zhao Yuan looked at Qin Xiaoning and said, "Most pregnant women have a poor appetite in the first three months. Miss Qin's condition indicates that the baby in her belly is healthy."

"That's good."

Qin Xiaoning replied indifferently, then stood up and sat down in front of the stone table.

Seeing this, Zhao Yuan also stood up, glanced at Qin Xiaoning's face, and sat down opposite her.

Seeing the two of them being reserved, Sister Wang kept calling out, "Madam and Master, please try this sweet-scented osmanthus cake while it's hot. It's very fragrant."

Just as the two were about to start eating, they heard a man's voice calling from outside the door.

"Aning, Aning, please let me in quickly. I'm Qingshu."