The Duchess of the Lin family, seeing how kind Lin Zhenfei was to his concubine, stared intently with her sharp eyes at Duke Lin and Madam Tao not far away, almost spitting fire.
"Someone, go and check if Madam Tao has had any abnormalities recently," the Duchess of the Lin family immediately ordered.
"Yes, Madam!"
Immediately, her personal maidservant responded quickly and turned to leave.
Meanwhile, in the pavilion by the rockery in the garden, Lin Zhenfei and Madam Tao were unaware that they had already incurred the hatred of the Duchess of the Lin family.
"Xiao Tao, I heard from your maid that you haven't had a good appetite recently and often can't eat anything, so I specifically asked the kitchen to make a nourishing soup for you," Lin Zhenfei said in a gentle tone.
"Thank you, Master. This concubine will forever remember your kindness."
Madam Tao pretended to shyly lower her head, then looked up at Lin Zhenfei with affectionate eyes.
"Silly girl, why are you being so polite with me? As long as you give me a son, this Duke will still give you more good things."
Lin Zhenfei playfully pinched Madam Tao's small nose.
His action made Madam Tao feel incredibly disgusted, but she could only endure it for now. As long as she got the ledger from when Duke Lin framed her father, she could find someone to help her father appeal his case.
"What if I give birth to a daughter?" Madam Tao asked Lin Zhenfei with a worried look.
"That's fine too. As long as it's Lin Zhenfei's child, I will dote on her, just like Zhi'er."
Lin Zhenfei comforted Madam Tao with a laugh.
Mainly, he had too few children. Ever since Lin Mengzhi tragically died, he now only had Lin Hongtao, his son who was like a good-for-nothing. He had taken so many concubines, but not a single illegitimate child.
Lin Zhenfei worried that after he passed away, if he passed the Lin family to Lin Hongtao, it wouldn't be long before his Lin family's foundation was ruined by him.
Therefore, he wanted to take advantage of his current prime to have the wives and concubines in his backyard bear him more children, and he would put more effort into cultivating them into talented individuals to solve the crisis of his Lin family's offspring.
"Wuwuwu..."
"Master, you are truly too good to me. This concubine was worried that you wouldn't like her if she had a daughter," Madam Tao said, feigning immense gratitude.
"Heh, don't worry. Even if you have a daughter, this Duke won't dislike her. However, if you give me a son, this Duke will be even happier."
Duke Lin added later.
Hearing this, Madam Tao sneered inwardly. Hmph! He speaks so nicely, but in the end, he still wants a son.
Meanwhile, on the Duchess of the Lin family's side, her personal maidservant had already gone to the kitchen and Madam Tao's courtyard to gather information.
"Madam, this servant inquired, but I couldn't get any useful information from those people," the maidservant reported truthfully to the Duchess of the Lin family.
"Then did you inquire with Madam Tao's maid? Has Madam Tao had her menstrual cycle recently?"
The Duchess of the Lin family then directly asked the maidservant.
"Madam, regarding the date of Madam Tao's menstrual cycle, this servant has also clarified. Her maidservant told me that she had her cycle at the end of last month, and this month hasn't even passed the middle, so she hasn't had her cycle this month."
The maidservant replied seriously.
"Impossible. Madam Tao's body has been very strange recently, often vomiting. Could she be pregnant?" The Duchess of the Lin family pondered for a moment.
Looking at how Lin Zhenfei doted on her, it was probably more than likely.
"Madam, is that possible? But Madam Tao's maidservant said she had her cycle at the end of last month. Could her maidservant dare to lie to me?"
As the Duchess of the Lin family's personal maidservant spoke, she suddenly understood what was happening.
"Let's go and take a look."
Hearing this, the Duchess of the Lin family smiled, raised her legs, and walked towards the pavilion where Lin Zhenfei and Madam Tao were.
After walking for a short while, she arrived behind Lin Zhenfei and Madam Tao.
"Oh my, Master, you are truly good to Sister Tao. You often prepare special meals for her recently. What delicious food have you made for Sister Tao this time?"
The Duchess of the Lin family glanced at the nourishing soup Madam Tao was drinking on the stone table. Seeing Lin Zhenfei carefully feeding her with a small porcelain spoon, the Duchess of the Lin family became even more jealous.
Hmph, this little slut. She had been married to Lin Zhenfei for over twenty years, and she had never seen Lin Zhenfei personally feed her a bowl of soup.
"Madam, this concubine, this concubine..."
Madam Tao quickly stood up and spoke to the Duchess of the Lin family with trepidation.
But she was pulled back by Lin Zhenfei, who made her sit down.
"Xiao Tao, don't pay attention to her. Finish this bowl of soup properly."
Lin Zhenfei gently patted her hand to comfort her.
"But Madam will..."
Madam Tao looked up and saw the Duchess of the Lin family with a gloomy expression.
"It's alright. With this Duke protecting you here, you don't need to be afraid of her."
Ever since the appearance of the Duchess of the Lin family, Qin Minzhi, Lin Zhenfei had not looked up at her even once, as if her sudden intrusion had not affected him at all.
"You... Good for you, Lin Zhenfei! Are you favoring your concubine over your wife? I, I will kill this little slut right in front of you today!"
Hearing Lin Zhenfei's words, the anger that had been suppressed in Qin Minzhi's heart erupted like a volcano.
She raised her hand to slap Madam Tao twice, but Lin Zhenfei blocked it with his hand.
"Why are you acting crazy again, you shrew? Xiao Tao is Lin Zhenfei's woman. What's wrong with me feeding her a bowl of soup?"
Lin Zhenfei roared at Qin Minzhi on the spot.
His lean face was extremely grim, and his sharp gaze was as piercing as a sharp sword, conveying an unconcealed killing intent, instantly making Qin Minzhi tremble with fear.
If she continued to argue with Lin Zhenfei, she dared not guarantee that Lin Zhenfei would not kill her immediately.
At this moment, Qin Minzhi had a sudden inspiration and immediately pretended to be pitiful, crying loudly, "Wuwuwu..." and throwing a tantrum, "Lin Zhenfei, you heartless old man! I, Qin Minzhi, have been your wife for more than twenty years, and you treat me like this. What is wrong with me, the main wife, wanting to discipline a concubine who is disrespectful to me?"
"Wuwuwu..."
As Qin Minzhi spoke, she began to cry again. In short, she acted as pitiful as possible.
But Lin Zhenfei had already seen through Qin Minzhi's tricks and sneered inwardly, not exposing her on the spot.
Instead, he quickly turned his head and whispered to Madam Tao, "Xiao Tao, my wife and I have something to say. You go back to your courtyard first. I'll come to your place for dinner later."
Upon hearing this, Madam Tao obediently replied to Lin Zhenfei, "Okay, Master. This concubine will wait for you to come."
After speaking, she gave Lin Zhenfei a charming smile before turning around and carefully walking back to her small courtyard.
Hmph! Lin Zhenfei, oh Lin Zhenfei, I will make your Duke Lin's mansion a mess.