The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

Xiao Yuzhen fiddled with the silver nail guards on her fingers without looking up.

"What happened? You look like you're at a funeral."

Yu Guiren wiped away her tears and tearfully recounted what had happened at Qizhen Temple during the day, embellishing the story.

"Pei Yan has gone mad! For that concubine named Jiang Guo'er, he publicly slapped the sandalwood jade bestowed by the Empress Dowager! He has absolutely no respect for the royal family!"

The more Consort Yu spoke, the more resentful she became, her eyes filled with unyielding malice.

"Your Majesty, since Prime Minister Pei is so ungrateful, don't you have leverage over the Pei family?"

"Why don't we just destroy Pei Yan, destroy the entire Pei family! Are we still afraid of Jiang Guo'er surviving?!"

Before the words were finished, a crisp "snap" rang out in the hall!

Xiao Yuzhen suddenly stood up and slapped Yu Guiren hard across the face.

Consort Yu was knocked to the ground, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. She covered her face and stood there stunned.

Xiao Yuzhen glanced at her sideways, her eyes extremely cold, as if she were looking at a dead person.

"Idiot!" she cursed through gritted teeth.

"That leverage is for use as a last resort, in a fight to the death!"

"Do you really think that if you push Pei Yan too far, he'll let our Xiao family off the hook? If he goes berserk, we'll all die!"

She slowly walked up to Consort Yu, grabbed her chin, and forced her to raise her head.

"You'd better remember this: I want Pei Rangzhi's heart, not his life!"

Consort Yu flinched and repeatedly admitted her mistake.

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please calm your anger. I was foolish!"

Xiao Yuzhen released her grip, took out a handkerchief from her bosom to wipe her fingertips, and then threw it on the ground with disgust.

She walked back to the bedside and sat down. Her anger gradually subsided, and then she uttered a chilling and vicious plan.

"His Majesty's health has been deteriorating lately, and he has become less attentive to state affairs, instead showing increasing craving for fresh, healthy flesh."

Xiao Yuzhen stared at the flickering candlelight, her voice softening.

"Since Jiang Guo'er can captivate Pei Yan's soul, she must be extremely beautiful, right?"

Consort Yu nodded: "Yes, her eyes are very alluring, and her figure is also beautiful."

"That makes things easier."

Xiao Yuzhen lowered her voice, "Next time you serve the Emperor, find an appropriate opportunity to casually mention it to him."

She leaned forward and instructed, word by word:

"You tell me, that favored concubine in the Grand Secretary's residence is not only voluptuous and naturally alluring, but her eyes... are strikingly similar to those of Consort Yu from back then."

Consort Yu's eyes widened, and a cold sweat broke out on her back.

The current emperor has been thinking of the deceased Consort Yu of the previous dynasty for more than a decade!

So many palace maids who looked alike were recruited; if he knew there was such a concubine outside the palace…

"Once the Emperor has made up his mind," Xiao Yuzhen sneered, "we don't need to worry about the rest."

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Consort Yu lay on the ground, her eyes swirling with malice and madness.

The night was as dark as ink in the Pei residence's study.

After returning to his residence, Pei Yan examined the three large boxes of precious items sent by Prefect Zhao.

Xiao San has already counted the 100,000 taels of silver in illicit gains, sealed them in a box, and stored them in the warehouse.

The collection includes Xu Taifu's "Crane and Auspicious Clouds" painting from the previous dynasty, Zhang Wenduan's calligraphy scroll from the current dynasty, more than a dozen ancient Duanxi inkstones, and dozens of pieces of official kiln celadon...

Each and every item is a priceless treasure.

It's all the money and blood of the people that Prefect Zhao has plundered over the years.

Pei Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the calligraphy and paintings, his face as calm as a stagnant pool.

Just as he was about to instruct Xiao San to register and record the items—

Jiang Guo'er's thoughts suddenly echoed in his mind.

If I can truly leave him with a son and a daughter, completing the Chinese character for "good" (好), then I will have repaid my debt for deceiving and exploiting him.

Pei Yan paused, his hand still holding the ancient inkstone.

With this bloodline by his side, he won't be too lonely in the future.

The ancient inkstone slipped from his fingers and landed with a thud on the rosewood tabletop, chipping off a corner.

Xiao San was startled: "Prime Minister?"

Pei Yan did not respond.

He stood there, frozen, like a clay statue.

twin?

Is Guo'er pregnant with...twins?

Pei Yan's breathing became shallow, and the calligraphy, paintings, and antiques in front of him became blurry.

Something surged up from the depths of my memory—

The old wound that he had been pressing hard for many years, thinking it had long since scabbed over, was now being forcibly ripped open.

He was five years old that year.

The attic was dimly lit, and the windows were always closed, with only a crack to let in sunlight.

The mother held a ruler in her hand, her face cold and stern.

"Snapped!"

The ruler struck his forearm, causing a burning pain.

"How many times have I told you? You're not allowed to sneak out!"

one more time.

"You are the legitimate son of the Pei family, yet you are merely your brother's shadow! Your life has never truly been your own!"

He huddled in the corner, hugging his arms and sobbing uncontrollably.

"Mother... I'll never do it again... I'll never do it again..."

The little boy reached out, wanting to pull on his mother's skirt, wanting to be hugged, or even just have his head patted.

But his mother cruelly shook off his hand.

"The secret of the twins is related to the Pei family's century-old legacy. Your brother is in the open, you are in the shadows."

"If outsiders find out about your existence, the Pei family's century-old legacy could be destroyed in an instant! You can't be reckless, understand?"

A five-year-old child doesn't understand these profound principles; he only knows that if he doesn't obey, he will never be able to go out again and will never receive any love from his mother.

He could only cry and beg for mercy, nodding and saying he understood.

Tears welled in her eyes. She had already reached out her hand, but in the end, she didn't hug him. With a determined look, she turned and left.

That night, he developed a high fever.

His whole body felt like it was being roasted over a fire, his consciousness was hazy, and his throat was so dry it was practically smoking, yet he didn't even dare to call out to anyone.

The little boy curled up on the small couch, shivering with fever, thinking he was going to die.

Perhaps when he dies, his mother will hold him...

Pei Yan took a deep breath, one after another.

Until the sharp pain in my chest was forcibly suppressed.

Perhaps Xue Lingyi misread his pulse; he shouldn't be so nervous.

Maybe it's just one.

There is only one child.

Pei Yan loosened his grip and discovered several deep red marks on the back of his hand from pinching.

He slowly pulled his hand back into his sleeve.

"Prime Minister, are you alright?" Xiao San asked tentatively.

"It's nothing."

Pei Yan's voice returned to its usual cool tone as he turned his gaze back to the antiques and calligraphy on the table.

A moment later, he raised his hand and picked out a few items from the pile of treasures.

A calligraphy scroll in running script by Zhang Wenduan, two Tianhuang stone seals, and a Doucai chicken cup from the Yongle and Xuande periods.

They're all good stuff.

It's so good that anyone would be envious if they took it out.

"Pack these things up," Pei Yan instructed. "Along with a letter, deliver them to the Xiao residence before dawn tomorrow."

After speaking, Pei Yan sat down at his desk, spread out a sheet of gold-flecked paper, and dipped his brush in ink.

The letter was very short.

The gist is that he is already trying to find a way to get Xiao Yuzhen out of the Cold Palace as soon as possible, and his master need not worry, but just wait for good news.

He made no mention of the origins of these paintings, calligraphy, and antiques.

Once the ink had dried, Pei Yan handed the letter to Xiao San, and then sat there expressionlessly for a long time.

Lord Xiao had been kind to him and was one of the most crucial helpers on his path to becoming a Grand Secretary.

If Xiao Yuzhen hadn't gone too far, why would he have taken action?

Pei Yan lowered his eyes, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the pomegranate sachet tied to his belt.

This sachet was embroidered by Guo'er herself.

Pomegranates have many seeds.

Does this count as... getting what you ask for?

If they really are twins, then he wants two daughters who look like Guo'er and have the same temperament, not like him.

If it's a man and a woman, that's fine too.

But what if... there were two boys?

Pei Yan tightened his grip, clutching the small sachet in his palm.

He would never let his children repeat the same mistake.

no way!