Madam Li's words were blunt, and Su Xiaoqi immediately understood.
During Prefect Liu's tenure, he had also taken many concubines, but none of them had given birth to a child.
Only Madam Liu had given birth to their only son.
This meant that Madam Liu, in fact, had no physical issues herself, but rather, her husband did.
This implied that Madam Liu had already suffered the consequences of Empty Mountain's "sending sons" scheme once before.
Her situation was somewhat different from theirs.
Su Xiaoqi believed that Madam Liu had also understood from their earlier conversation that the child she had previously given birth to was not Prefect Liu's, but that scoundrel Empty Mountain's.
Such a revelation would be shocking even in modern times, let alone in ancient times.
Therefore, Madam Liu's emotions must be extremely complex right now.
Su Xiaoqi sighed. She truly didn't know how to respond to such a situation.
Even Madam Li, who was usually socially adept and possessed a silver tongue, was momentarily bewildered.
No matter when, a woman's reputation was her most important asset.
Unexpectedly, Madam Liu had already lost hers long ago.
Not only that, but she had even given birth to a son for such a scumbag.
And Prefect Liu had doted on the child as his precious treasure for ten years.
If this matter were to be exposed, no one would come out unscathed, and she and that child would have no good end.
Madam Li quickly regained her composure and suggested, "Xiaoqi, I'm older than you, so I won't be so formal. It's too distant. As for Madam Liu's situation, why don't we pretend we don't know about it?"
Su Xiaoqi nodded vigorously. "That's right."
No matter how dramatic this matter became, it ultimately had nothing to do with her, and she truly had no need to get involved.
If she couldn't do a good deed, she might even be blamed.
Su Xiaoqi was indeed blamed.
The person who blamed her was Madam Liu, Bai Yuzhu, who had been silent until now.
She knew her own situation best and had already suspected the terrible possibility.
None of her husband's concubines or maids had conceived, only she, who had sought blessings from Empty Mountain, had.
It was obvious where the problem lay.
Her heart turned cold and trembled. Seeing the people around her whispering, she felt they must be discussing her.
She, who was the organizer and coordinator of this child-seeking ritual, had now become the target of everyone's criticism!
Bai Yuzhu covered her face, feeling too ashamed to face anyone. But what about her son, the child of an unknown father?
How would she face her husband when she returned home...
When Su Xiaoqi and Madam Li finished speaking and re-entered, they saw Bai Yuzhu covering her face and crying softly.
Initially, no one had paid much attention to her, but her crying drew everyone's gaze.
Everyone also remembered her situation.
Some, with deeper composure, pretended not to see.
Others, however, young and tactless, directly touched upon her sore spot: "Madam Liu, don't cry, it's alright. They've been arrested anyway."
Su Xiaoqi looked at the speaker, who was Huang Yaying.
Su Xiaoqi didn't know whether to call her naive or foolish. At a time like this, when the person probably wished to hide herself, she actually went and offered herself up.
Su Xiaoqi turned her head away, unable to bear watching any longer.
Regardless, the deed was done by her, and she had to bear the responsibility.
She could persuade them to keep silent as much as possible, but with such a large capital, who could guarantee that everyone would be as accommodating as them.
In any case, with things having developed to this point, Su Xiaoqi could do nothing more.
However, she was still actively trying to find a way to resolve the situation for her.
After all, they had gone through a difficult time together.
But this thought quickly passed.
Because she saw Bai Yuzhu's resentful face peeking through the gaps between her fingers.
Fine, it seemed she also harbored hatred towards them.
As the old saying goes, "If you encounter difficulties, look within yourself."
But in real life, very few people could truly achieve this.
If a matter was successful, it was their own merit.
If it failed, it was inevitably due to others, never their own mistakes.
This was likely Bai Yuzhu's current mindset. She didn't take her casual act of seeking blessings seriously.
Instead, she deeply resented Su Xiaoqi.
She thought that if Su Xiaoqi hadn't exposed this matter, she would have had another son this time and wouldn't be worrying about undeserved disaster like she was now.
This sentiment further erupted when Bai Yuzhu returned home.
She painstakingly reviewed the entire incident again and found that she had done nothing wrong.
The only ones at fault were Empty Mountain and that Su Xiaoqi who exposed the matter.
As a wife from humble beginnings, she had married an official and yet, after years of marriage, had no children.
She wanted to give him a lively and adorable son, was that wrong?
Everyone said that Huangjue Temple was extremely effective in granting children, so she went.
Who knew that her visit would lead to this situation.
At this point, Bai Yuzhu did not regret going to Huangjue Temple for blessings the first time.
If she hadn't gone, she wouldn't have had her first son.
Given her husband's emphasis on heirs, he would have certainly taken in a host of concubines.
Even now, there were seven or eight concubines in the backyard.
It was just a pity that none of them had given birth.
If Empty Mountain's affairs were exposed, she would be finished. Bai Yuzhu fell into a frenzy, smashing her home in a frenzy.
But when facing her husband, she still had to pull herself together and pretend that nothing had happened.
"Madam, about today's matter, should we tell the Master?" the maid Rou'er, who had followed to serve her, asked softly.
"Tell what? Master is already tired enough at the yamen every day. Is it even worth bothering him with such a trivial matter?
Besides, didn't Madam Shen already say that none of us went anywhere today? We went to Liuyuan. Don't you remember how many pastries you ate there?"
As she spoke, a sinister glint flashed in Bai Yuzhu's eyes as she looked at Rou'er.
That slut. She suspected Rou'er wasn't suggesting telling their Master out of concern.
It was likely that by staying by her side for so long, Rou'er had figured something out.
Bai Yuzhu felt a surge of fear and, without hesitation, used it as an excuse to throw a tantrum and immediately banished Rou'er to the manor.
She absolutely, absolutely could not let her Master know about what happened today.
Su Xiaoqi gradually sent everyone home, even thoughtfully gifting them pastries from Chen Jin Ji, and a box of white fungus for each person.
Of course, the return gifts were also not bad.
With great unspoken agreement, they purchased an annual pass and also gave Su Xiaoqi some precious gold and silver jewelry.
Each of them, being either rich or very rich, was indeed generous.
Su Xiaoqi was very pleased, admiring the gold and silver ornaments at home.
These were all solid, good things, hard currency.
After she had her fill, she called Ziye to help her register them and place them in her private treasury.
It was at this moment that Shen Yun returned.
He appeared silently, and it took Su Xiaoqi a while to react. She turned to look at him, seeing his cold eyes and serious expression, seemingly displeased.
"Husband, what's wrong?"
Su Xiaoqi was somewhat confused.
Shen Yun stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. His voice was filled with immense relief from fear.
"Wife... Do you know how dangerous it was today."
He had personally witnessed the skills of Empty Mountain and his companions.
They were definitely tough opponents, and he wouldn't have been able to deal with them without exerting his full strength.
With his wife's delicate and weak martial arts, it would have only taken a moment for her to be captured by him.
Therefore, the thought of his wife venturing out alone with Zhang Yu without even informing him, and almost getting into trouble, made him feel extremely suppressed.
He dared not imagine what would have happened if he hadn't suddenly had a premonition and, combined with seeing her carriage in the square in front of the tea house, what would have followed...
"Husband, you're overthinking it. I'm fine, aren't I? I won't be harmed. Besides, Zhang Yu will protect me."
It was better not to mention Zhang Yu. The moment Zhang Yu was mentioned, Shen Yun's expression grew even more displeased.
He said coldly, "Zhang Yu failed in her duty to protect her mistress and did not transmit information in a timely manner. She has already been punished..."
"Punish, why punish her?" Su Xiaoqi was stunned, clutching Shen Yun's sleeve and looking up to ask.
"Thirty strokes, and a year of retraining." Shen Yun's anger had not subsided.
Zhang Yu had been too presumptuous this time.
Even if Su Xiaoqi was at fault...
Of course, Shen Yun would never admit that his wife was at fault.
Today, she had already suffered such a shock, how could he bear to punish her!
He was already heartbroken.
However, his suppressed emotions needed an outlet, and Zhang Yu became the best outlet.
At the same time, he intentionally wanted Zhang Yu to receive punishment, to make her re-understand that her primary task was not to indulge his wife, but to protect her!
"No, I don't allow it. I don't allow you to punish Zhang Yu."
Su Xiaoqi pouted and shook her head.
"If not her, then who? You?" Shen Yun said impatiently.
This thoughtless little thing. She had no idea how distressed he had been when he saw the scene.
He hadn't even dared to think about what would have happened if he hadn't arrived in time.
He had even prepared himself for the possibility of his little Qiqi being bullied by that Empty Mountain.
Even then, he would still want her, cherish her, and protect her.
He never knew that this delicate and slender little woman before him had already taken root deep within his heart.
Let alone uprooting it, even the slightest touch caused his heart to ache!