"The quilt is wet, how can we sleep! We'll get sick!" Shen Yi didn't know what trick she was up to now.
"Back then, you pranked me, wetting my quilt and dirtying my clothes, have you forgotten? I didn't get sick?"
Qiao Ci finished speaking, directly placed the quilt on their beds, and then took away their quilts.
Brothers: ???
Sisters: ???
Has she gone mad?
"Don't take my flowery quilt, you wicked woman." Shen Wu, barefoot, was about to snatch her quilt back.
"What's your quilt? Isn't your quilt on your bed? You guys splashed water on it, you sleep on it." Qiao Ci's voice was icy cold, devoid of any emotion. She left with the quilt, and by the way, locked the door for them.
The siblings looked at each other.
There was only one quilt on two beds, and it was still wet. How could they sleep?
"Wuwuwu, I don't want to sleep on her dirty quilt, I want my own quilt. Brother, go and snatch my quilt back." Shen Wu started crying again.
"Big Brother, why are you tolerating her? The more we tolerate her, the more she'll take advantage of us." Shen Er looked at Shen Yi with disappointment.
"No matter what, she is an adult. None of us can beat her?" Shen Yi's face darkened.
"Then what do we do? Are we just going to let her bully us?" Shen Er pounded the bed angrily.
"Heh, you guys don't like this stepmother, you like Aunt Qing, right? The more miserable we are before Father returns, the more miserable Stepmother Qiao will be! Father will definitely avenge us, and maybe he'll even kill her with a sword at that time!" By the last sentence, Shen Yi was gnashing his teeth.
Upon hearing this, the others became excited, as if they could already see Qiao Ci's tragic end.
Only Shen Lu timidly asked in a small voice, "Why should Father kill Stepmother? She, she's actually quite nice to us normally."
"Nice? Then go and be filial with that vulgar village girl! Our mother can never be a petty woman!" Shen Er glared fiercely at Shen Lu.
"Yes, our mother can only be like Aunt Qing, who is capable and has status. I don't acknowledge Qiao Ci as my mother either. She's just a servant Father bought. She dared to make me kneel! I must have Father break her legs!" Shen Wu cried and cursed.
Shen Lu, being the youngest, was scared into tears.
Shen Yi was busy comforting Shen Wu and coaxing Shen Lu. The entire room descended into chaos until they were too sleepy, and the six of them squeezed together to sleep.
In this room, Qiao Ci spread a beautiful brocade quilt on the bed. The fabric of the quilt was extremely soft and comfortable, as if it was still emitting a faint glow.
Little Spoon, who had long guessed that Qiao Ci had a space, couldn't help but ask curiously upon seeing the quilt, "Host, what fabric is this quilt made of? I've never seen it before."
"Cloud Brocade." Qiao Ci lay in the quilt and closed her eyes.
Little Spoon was even more puzzled upon hearing this. It had seen Cloud Brocade, but it didn't glow like this.
Seeing that Qiao Ci had closed her eyes, Little Spoon wisely refrained from asking further questions.
The next morning, the children were woken up by Qiao Ci and told to make breakfast and feed the chickens and pigs.
Although they were unhappy, they obediently complied under Qiao Ci's menacing gaze that threatened punishment if they refused.
Shen Sisi even took out the quilt to dry. If she couldn't sleep well, she would definitely get sick. She could feign misery to have Father scold Qiao Ci, the stepmother, but she couldn't let herself get truly hurt.
For three consecutive days, Qiao Ci kept the six of them confined to the courtyard, not allowing them out. She recreated most of the things they had done to the original owner in their own home, but this time, they were the ones being criticized and disliked.
Town Clinic.
Lou Qing was covered in sweat. She finally finished the surgery. Looking at Shen Si, who had been given anesthesia and had handsome features, she felt a surge of joy.
She hadn't expected to fall in love with her patient, a man favored by Princess Qingluan.
The difference was that this man was not interested in Princess Qingluan, but was deeply affectionate towards her.
Thinking of his words, if his legs could recover, he would marry her with a grand procession, Lou Qing's heart was filled with anticipation.
Perhaps, this was destiny.
Thinking of the ignorant village woman Qiao Ci at home, she couldn't help but frown.
Qiao Ci and Shen Si had no common ground. They were not suited for each other at all. Moreover, Shen Si had said that they had not consummated their marriage, and he would simply dismiss Qiao Ci with some silver.
She took off her self-made protective suit, changed into a beautiful dress, and then stayed by Shen Si's bedside, tracing his stern features with her hand.
Such handsome features, a strong physique, and a gloomy, fierce aura made the "fresh meat" of modern times seem like trash…
Shen Si slowly opened his eyes and saw Lou Qing gazing at him adoringly. He couldn't help but reach out and touch her pale, tired face: "Qingqing, you've worked hard."
"It's not hard, the surgery was very successful. After a year or so of recovery, you'll be completely healed." Lou Qing smiled confidently. "When I, Lou Qing, take action, there's no such thing as failure."
"Hehe." Shen Si liked her confident and steady demeanor, something he had never seen in other women before.
He was indeed smitten. He had fallen in love with this woman and realized that his relationship with his deceased wife was merely one of mutual respect, not love.
"You still need to observe here for the afternoon. If there are no adverse reactions, we can go home tonight. I wonder how the six children are doing, I miss them a little." Lou Qing had initially thought she wouldn't be able to accept another woman's children, but unexpectedly, these six siblings were exceptionally well-behaved and cute, and she liked them very much.
"Qiao Ci will take good care of them, and there is money left at home. You don't need to worry too much." Seeing her interact so well with his children, Shen Si felt genuinely fortunate.
Hearing Shen Si praise Qiao Ci, Lou Qing felt a little uncomfortable and pouted, "Yes, Qiao Ci is very good and takes great care of your children. When your legs are healed, you must treat her even better."
Shen Si felt sweet seeing the jealous Lou Qing and couldn't help but pull her into his embrace, "You, you know my feelings for you yet you tease me. Qiao Ci is just someone I bought to take care of the children. When we get back, I'll dismiss her, how about it?"
"Really?"
"Really."
The two drew closer, and after a kiss, Shen Si struggled to restrain himself, causing his leg to bleed again.
Lou Qing chided, "No intimacy while you're injured!"
"It's all because you're too sweet."
After observing for the afternoon, the wound did not become inflamed, so they tidied themselves up and prepared to go home.
They hired a carriage to take them to the doorstep. Lou Qing stepped forward to open the door, only to find it locked from the inside.
She had sent someone to notify Qiao Ci earlier that they would be returning tonight. Why didn't they stay awake to wait for them?
So, she started banging on the door forcefully, but after knocking for a long time, no one opened it.