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

Chapter 39 Second Master is in trouble

Shen Qingtan's gaze gradually deepened, seemingly unable to discern Qiu Chan's hidden thoughts, and she entrusted the errand-running task to her.

She placed the scriptures she was holding on the table. Zhao Yi felt very uncomfortable when she discovered the Medicine Buddha Sutra.

He praised her handwriting, but she felt a strange mix of emotions, as if he shouldn't have just praised her handwriting.

When he uttered those last two teasing remarks, her awkward thoughts were exposed, and she became furious and embarrassed.

Shen Qingtan sighed softly and rubbed her temples.

Zhao Yi could easily manipulate her emotions, but she didn't dislike this feeling.

After bathing, Shen Qingtan's black hair, like clouds, fell to her waist. She wore an apricot-colored undershirt, a silver-red silk jacket, and a high-necked, wide-sleeved robe. She sat cross-legged on a futon and continued copying scriptures.

Liu Yue was grinding ink on the side, yawning sleepily.

Shen Qingtan had only copied half of the scripture and was about to tell Liu Yue to go to sleep first.

Suddenly, a servant's panicked voice rang out from outside the door: "Second Madam, is Second Master here?"

A drop of ink fell onto the smooth Xuan paper, ruining half of the copied scripture.

Shen Qingtan thought to herself: They're here.

She put down her writing brush, got up, and went to the door.

She opened the door and saw a servant she didn't recognize.

The servant, panting, asked again, "Second Madam, is Second Master here with you?"

"He's not here." Shen Qingtan frowned. "He's with the old lady."

"When the Second Master left the Old Madam's residence, he was stopped by your maid, who said that you were waiting for him in the Sutra Repository. The Second Master was only wearing a thin spring shirt and instructed me to fetch a cloak. When I went to the Sutra Repository with the cloak, I did not see you or the Second Master."

The servant was pale: "It's over, something's happened to Second Master!"

Shen Qingtan asked, "You said it was my maid who took the Second Master away?"

The servant replied, "Miss Qiu Chan."

Liu Yue suddenly remembered Qiu Chan returning to her room and seemed to have glanced at Zhao Yi several times.

Qiu Chan harbored blatant ambitions and was never content to be a servant. She fantasized about being noticed by the master of the house and bearing him offspring to serve as a powerful backer.

She cursed, "You slut, you've really betrayed your master. I'll skin you alive!"

Shen Qingtan stopped Liu Yue and instructed the servant, "This matter must not be made public. Let's split up and search."

The servant quickly agreed: "I'll go to the old lady's place again."

Shen Qingtan nodded slightly and instructed Liu Yue to carry a lantern.

Liu Yue was furious: "When I was keeping an eye on her, she was very honest and never contacted Third Madam. It turns out she was hiding a lot of bad intentions and was waiting here to climb the social ladder."

In a flash, Liu Yue suddenly had a thought: "Second Grandmother, could Qiu Chan and Second Master be in the small wooden house behind the Sutra Pavilion?"

She said to herself, "It must be there. Qiu Chan is Third Madam's person. She conspired with Third Master and Third Madam to force Second Master to take her as a concubine."

The more Liu Yue spoke, the more logical it seemed. Otherwise, why would Qiu Chan take on the errand-running task?

She turned her head and saw Shen Qingtan's face was as cold as ice. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, she heard a commotion coming from ahead.

"I heard that someone was violating the precepts and rules of Longhua Temple behind the Sutra Repository. The monks on night patrol have already led the person away."

"A monk or a pilgrim?"

"I don't know."

Just as the speculation was about to be confirmed, Liu Yue fell silent.

Shen Qingtan glanced at Shen Mingzhu's residence with a cryptic look, a smile playing on her lips, and strode towards the Sutra Repository.

I just arrived at the foot of the mountain and met another group of people.

"Big sister?" Shen Mingzhu glanced at the coldness in Shen Qingtan's eyes, secretly delighted, but feigning concern, she said, "I heard that my brother-in-law is missing, and I'm helping to look for him. Have you heard anything about it?"

"No." Shen Qingtan lowered her brows and said coldly, "Someone said that the monks on night patrol found someone on the mountain, so I came to take a look."

Shen Mingzhu's eyes flickered. She had arranged for the messenger to deliver the message, just in case Shen Qingtan couldn't find this place.

Qiu Chan is quite resourceful and efficient in her work.

She had previously arranged for Wan Dong to point out a clear path for Qiu Chan, but Qiu Chan did not respond.

Seeing Zhao Jue's attitude towards Shen Qingtan today, she wanted to write a letter to Chun Jiao, asking her to take advantage of Shen Qingtan's absence from the Duke's mansion to make a move against Zhao Yi.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yi came to Longhua Temple.

When Qiu Chan asked her to serve the Second Madam, she threatened Qiu Chan with the indenture to attack Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi was physically weak and focused on self-cultivation, being extremely pure of heart and having few desires.

After all, even with a beauty as stunning as Shen Qingtan, Zhao Yi remained unmoved.

She then gave Qiu Chan a packet of aphrodisiacs.

Judging by the time, we should have succeeded.

Shen Mingzhu was gloating, eagerly anticipating Shen Qingtan's expression when she stumbled upon the truth.

She said insincerely, "Elder sister, it's not safe in the mountains. You only brought one maid. I'll go with you."

Shen Qingtan glanced at the large group of people she had brought behind her. Not far away, some people were walking over with lanterns, seemingly also there to watch the excitement.

She frowned, intending to stop it.

Shen Mingzhu grabbed her arm and led her into the mountains: "Big sister, let's hurry up and find brother-in-law as soon as possible so we can go back to sleep sooner."

Shen Qingtan seemed to have missed her chance due to this interruption, and could only follow Shen Mingzhu forward.

Upon seeing this, Shen Mingzhu's lips curved slightly.

Since getting married, she has never had anything go smoothly. Today, she finally got the upper hand over Shen Qingtan and was able to finally hold her head high.

She glanced at the large group of people who had come to the scene, feeling exceptionally pleased, and then began to chatter incessantly, constantly trying to provoke Shen Qingtan.

"Big sister, don't worry, your brother-in-law might be somewhere else, and the one in the mountains is someone else."

"The monk on night patrol said that the people in the mountains violated the Buddhist precepts and rules. My brother-in-law is a virtuous and upright gentleman, and he would never do such a thing."

"I hope it's a misunderstanding, otherwise with so many eyes watching, we'll lose all face."

“Such a person of questionable character brings shame to the family and should beg to be removed from the family register.”

"You've talked too much today." Shen Qingtan looked at her intently and said in an ambiguous tone, "But you're right about one thing: someone of such poor character, if not selfish, should ask to be removed from the family register."

Shen Mingzhu felt uneasy under her gaze, wondering if Shen Qingtan was genuinely ignorant, pretending not to understand, or simply too trusting of Zhao Yi's character.

"On the other hand, to do such a despicable thing in the pure land of Buddhism shows that he has no shame. How can we expect him to leave the clan?" Shen Mingzhu pouted. "People who crave power are even more reluctant to give up wealth and honor."

Shen Qingtan countered, "How do you know the other family is wealthy?"

Shen Mingzhu choked, about to say something, when the small wooden house came into view, and the sound of crying came from inside.

"No...please...let me go..."

The woman's weak sobs could be heard intermittently.

Shen Mingzhu's expression suddenly changed: "Elder sister, that's Qiu Chan's voice..." She ordered the servants anxiously and angrily: "Go and save her quickly."

The four servants rushed to the small wooden house and kicked it.

"boom--"

The wooden door opened in response.

Shen Mingzhu kept a close eye on Shen Qingtan's reaction. When she saw Shen Qingtan cover her face and turn away, she comforted her, "Big sister, don't be too sad. Which man doesn't have three wives and four concubines?"

She wanted to see the ugly state of this handsome, ethereal man, dragged down from his pedestal and falling into the mud.

When she saw the man making a complete fool of himself in the cabin, her smug smile vanished.