She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Chapter 267 The Gift from the Fourth Madam

The fourth madam's soft body leaned against Shen Qingtan's chest, and her unique sweet fragrance filled Shen Qingtan's nostrils.

Shen Qingtan subconsciously looked down and saw that the Fourth Madam's collar was slightly loose, revealing her fair and delicate collarbone.

On that section of collarbone, there were a few ambiguous marks, and the teeth marks were faintly visible.

Shen Qingtan: "..."

Sure enough, she was still too naive.

The fourth wife was not a decent person at all, and she never uttered a single serious word.

Given the Fourth Madam's temperament, if Zhao Qiyuan dared to lay a hand on her, she would have already packed her bags and returned to her parents' home. Why would she come to Xishan to escape the summer heat?

Shen Qingtan recalled the scene she had witnessed in the Forget-Worry Pavilion, where the couple not only had a harmonious relationship but were also extremely loving.

She said softly, "Fourth Aunt, Second Master is in poor health, I have to go and take care of him."

The fourth madam's eyes grew increasingly resentful as she looked pitifully at Shen Qingtan, hoping that Shen Qingtan would soften her heart and agree to share a carriage with her, allowing her to have some peace and quiet on the journey.

Zhao Qiyuan was insatiable and unrestrained in his demands.

Unable to resist Zhao Qiyuan's enthusiasm, the fourth wife came up with a crooked plan to have a child.

To everyone's surprise, Zhao Qiyuan went even crazier.

He said in a grand and righteous tone, "How can you get pregnant if I don't try?"

The fourth wife wanted to tear her mouth apart, wishing she could turn back time and go back to that day, when she would never have said she wanted to have a child.

Thinking of this, the fourth wife vaguely realized that although the man seemed unserious on the surface, he was actually happy when she said she wanted to have a child.

Although she was sometimes annoyed by his lack of restraint in bed, she never said the words "I won't have any more children".

"Tan'er, your fourth uncle will take care of your second nephew." The fourth madam took out a small wooden box from the cabinet and put it into Shen Qingtan's hand: "I saw this anklet at Yubaoxuan yesterday and thought it would suit you very well, so I bought it for you."

Shen Qingtan opened the box, revealing a delicate gold chain inlaid with several rice-grain-sized rubies and dangling with a few small bells.

With a gentle shake, it emitted a clear and melodious bell sound.

Shen Qingtan had never worn anklets, let alone bells. Every step she took produced a ringing sound from the bells.

Just imagining that scene made her feel embarrassed.

Shen Qingtan closed the box: "Fourth Aunt... this chain doesn't suit me."

"How will you know it doesn't suit you if you don't try it on?" Fourth Madam said with a smile. "Put this thin chain on and ask your second nephew if it suits you."

Shen Qingtan said coquettishly, "Fourth Aunt."

The fourth madam laughed heartily at the shy expression on Shen Qingtan's face.

"Alright, go take care of your second nephew."

"I'll stay and keep you company."

"Aren't you going to take care of your second nephew?"

"……Um."

Holding the box in her hands, Shen Qingtan thought about how she had fallen into Zhao Yi's clutches a few days ago, and that she couldn't bring herself to see him with her ankle chain on.

The fourth madam lifted the curtain of the carriage window and said to Zhao Yi, who was waiting outside, "Second nephew, Tan'er and I will ride in one carriage to West Mountain, while you and your fourth uncle will ride in the other."

Zhao Yi frowned slightly but didn't say anything. Instead, he instructed Liu Yue to take the water and food prepared for Shen Qingtan from the carriage to the Fourth Madam's carriage.

Seeing that Zhao Yi did not object, the Fourth Madam glanced at Zhao Qiyuan with her alluring eyes, her smugness barely concealed.

Zhao Qiyuan watched as the woman flung down the car curtain, as if she had finally shaken him off.

He raised an eyebrow, letting her be smug for now.

-

The group arrived at Xishan, and Zhao Qiyuan and his wife went to Wangyoulou.

Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi went to the courtyard next door.

She pushed open the door and was astonished by what she saw inside.