Chapter 402: Chapter 393: If Taken Away, He’ll Have Nothing Left
"Wait a moment, the Imperial Physician is on his way."
Seeing her dressed in old clothes, Song Tingfan frowned slightly and added, "Don’t like those clothes? Let’s go buy more later."
He would give her whatever he could.
Lin Qiao quickly waved her hand, "No, those clothes are too expensive. I don’t need to wear such fine clothes when going out for errands."
"Ahem, you should hand over the silver coin management to me."
To avoid spending money all day long; last time, the three thousand eight hundred taels frightened Li Guifen and her husband.
It took them several days to recover.
"I’ll give it to you later." Song Tingfan nodded.
The Imperial Physician happened to hear this and looked at Song Tingfan in surprise, thinking to himself that the rumors outside were indeed true, General Song had been swayed by his widow sister-in-law.
Thinking of this, he glanced at the woman, indeed a rare beauty.
Throughout history, beautiful women have often been a source of trouble; it seemed to be true.
Luckily, Lin Qiao didn’t know what he was thinking; otherwise, she would have rolled her eyes at him.
After checking her pulse, the Imperial Physician pondered, "Is it because childbirth has weakened your body?"
Lin Qiao nodded.
The Imperial Physician glanced at Song Tingfan, "I’m afraid she cannot conceive again."
Even though she already knew, hearing it again was still a bit disappointing. If possible, Lin Qiao still wanted to have another child.
But Song Tingfan was not concerned about this, "Anything else? Be thorough."
The Imperial Physician quickly took her pulse again and soon released it, "No major issues otherwise; just drink some blood-nourishing tonic for a month."
"I’ll prepare the medicine and have it sent to your residence."
Song Tingfan’s expression improved significantly, "Alright, I don’t want a third person to know about this."
The Imperial Physician nodded immediately, "Rest assured, General Song, this matter will not be leaked."
Even without instructions, he wouldn’t disclose it. Doctors should remain silent, especially in the palace.
After the Imperial Physician left, Lin Qiao prepared to go outside. Seeing Song Tingfan following her, she asked, "Aren’t you handling matters?"
"Nothing much." Song Tingfan shook his head.
Upon hearing this, Lin Qiao said nothing more. Before leaving, the two went to see Song Qin and others, who, along with a nanny, were playing cards.
It was quite lively.
The two didn’t disturb them and instead turned to leave the mansion. The capital was much larger than other places, taking nearly half an hour to reach the shop.
Xu Dagui was in the shop, and upon seeing her, he was delighted, "Cuihua, you’re here."
"Da Gui, haven’t you had breakfast?" Lin Qiao glanced at the noodles in front of him.
Xu Dagui scratched his head, "A guest arrived just as I opened the door, and they just left."
"Are they not around?" Lin Qiao didn’t see anyone else.
"They went out to move goods; I’m minding the shop."
"If you can’t manage, hire another person."
Lin Qiao took the records of incoming and outgoing goods and the account ledgers upstairs, glancing at Song Tingfan, "There’s a soft couch over there; you can sleep for a while. Besides me, no one uses it."
She then ignored him and began going over the accounts.
The room was quite silent, and after some time, she stretched and looked back, finding the man already asleep, his long lashes casting shadows.
Charming and handsome.
She was about to look away when he suddenly sat up abruptly, panting slightly as if awakening from a nightmare.
He quickly glanced her way, and his panicked expression gradually calmed.
It was not easy for him, and Lin Qiaoxin felt bittersweet. After thinking for a bit, she pulled the table in front of the soft couch and softened her voice, "Hold me and sleep."
Song Tingfan looked at her for a moment, then reached out to embrace her waist. He had dreamt that she was gone, that she had come back.
No, he couldn’t let her return.
How would he get rid of her...
After a while, when Lin Qiao finished her work, she yawned. Seeing Song Tingfan still asleep, she didn’t wake him and lay on the table to nap.
Nearing noon, Xu Dagui saw they hadn’t come down and brought up two bowls of noodle soup from outside, "Cuihua, I brought you some noodles."
Song Tingfan abruptly opened his eyes, glanced at the still-sleeping woman, quietly opened the door, and saw the two bowls of noodles, somewhat displeased.
He didn’t like other men being too close to Lin Qiao.
Even bringing a bowl of noodles wasn’t acceptable.
Before he could say anything, footsteps could be heard from behind, "Da Gui brought us noodles, huh, thanks."
Lin Qiao rubbed her eyes, having not eaten much in the morning and feeling a bit hungry, she reached out to receive the noodles, "I’ll give you the money for it later."
"No need, it wasn’t much." Xu Dagui waved his hand and then went back downstairs.
"Tingfan, come eat."
Seeing him standing sternly, Lin Qiao touched her nose; could he be jealous?
Ahem, if they were in modern times, wouldn’t he be jealous to death?
She explained seriously, "There really is nothing between us, thanks to him for looking after us all these years."
Seeing that he still didn’t speak, she cleared her throat, "He’s not handsome; I don’t like him."
Song Tingfan’s expression softened considerably, and he awkwardly said, "I don’t like others interacting with you."
He knew he shouldn’t feel this way, but he couldn’t help it.
It always felt like someone would take her away.
If taken, he would have nothing...
Lin Qiao wasn’t angry, handing him the chopsticks, "It’s normal, I don’t like other women interacting with you either."
She wanted to tell him it was a normal reaction. It’s not just him.
It’s not an illness.
Seeing her earnest expression, Song Tingfan was momentarily dazed, "I won’t let anyone approach."
"I believe you, but the noodles will get soggy." Lin Qiao gestured for him to eat.
...
For several days in a row, the two coexisted peacefully, and as Lin Qiao enjoyed her life, she put on some weight, yet Lin Ling wasn’t so lucky.
Song Tingfan had hired a tutor to teach daily lessons at the residence, and it was said this tutor had taught princes and was very strict.
After finishing his lessons each day, Lin Ling came out with a miserable face, and there were times when Lin Qiao couldn’t bear it but restrained herself.
Seeing that pouting to her was useless, Lin Ling turned to Song Tingfan, but it was even less effective.
This day, Lin Ling outright refused to study, clinging to Song Qin and crying, "Grandma, I don’t want to study, the tutor is scary, he makes me memorize texts, and if I can’t, he punishes me by making me copy them."
Song Qin felt sorry for him and coaxed, "Alright, you don’t have to go; I’ll talk to your father."
As soon as she finished speaking, Song Tingfan came out of the study with a stern face, glaring at Lin Ling, "Go study!"
Li Guifen quickly tried to intervene, "Tingfan, why not let Ling’er rest for a day, go back tomorrow, constant studying is tough."
Regarding studying, Lin Qiao’s attitude was akin to Song Tingfan’s; this place was not like modern times, besides studying there were no other paths.
"Ling’er, go study, I’ll make something delicious for you later."
"I don’t want to go, my hands ache from practicing calligraphy every day." Lin Ling hid behind Song Qin.
The village school taught dozens of kids, and the tutor naturally wouldn’t be too strict; now that it was one-on-one, it was normal for him to not be able to endure.
Lin Qiao was a bit worried.
At this time, Song Tingfan said in a deep voice, "If you don’t want to study, fine, starting tomorrow, you can practice sword-fighting with me."
He needed to compare in order to know what was easier.
Lin Ling sniffed, apparently agreeing to this arrangement.
Lin Qiao glanced at Song Tingfan, ahem, she had a strong suspicion that Lin Ling was in for some hardship.
But a little hardship would be good.
