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

Pei Yan had been working non-stop in the palace for more than half a month, and finally returned home today.

Inside Qingyi Garden.

Jiang Guo'er got up early in the morning and, unusually, sat in front of her dressing table for half an hour.

Luyi brought out two sets of clothes for her to choose from. She picked out a lotus root-colored jacket with a front opening, paired with a light purple horse-face skirt.

The person in the bronze mirror had a rosy complexion and an undeniable radiance in their eyes.

In the small, palm-sized mahogany box beside her were the netting she had sewn stitch by stitch.

Half an hour passed.

There wasn't even a sound of footsteps outside the courtyard gate.

Jiang Guo'er picked up the teacup and took a sip of warm water.

Presumably, he first went to Songhe Garden to pay his respects to the old lady.

He is a grandson, so it is only right.

Another hour passed, and the sun climbed higher and higher.

She couldn't help but glance out the window.

This greeting has taken a bit too long. Could it be that the old lady invited him to stay for a meal?

Or perhaps he went to the main courtyard to see the empress?

Indeed, it's only natural that he should go and check on the household situation with Lingyi since he hasn't been home for so long.

Jiang Guo'er paced around the room, casually picked up a medical book, flipped through a couple of pages, but couldn't concentrate on a single word.

Lord Pei is really putting on airs. He didn't even bother to send anyone to greet him when he returned, leaving everyone waiting for nothing.

Doesn't he want... a child?

By noon, there was still no movement outside.

Jiang Guo'er completely gave up on the idea and pushed the net towel deep into the drawer.

Come or not, it's up to her. If she doesn't come, she'll be happy to have some peace and quiet. This old lady wants to take a nap!

The rear courtyard of the Pei residence is a secluded spot.

The air was filled with the bitter smell of medicine.

Pei Yan sat on a prayer mat, still wearing his scarlet official robe, his eyes showing a bluish-gray tinge.

"Master, how much longer can my body hold on?"

During the past two weeks, he had been working hard and stressed in the cabinet, and his heart had been clenched with pain many times. He realized that his days might not be long.

Sitting opposite him, Daoist Longchuan fiddled with his whisk and sighed.

"I warned you long ago that if Your Excellency could remain calm and composed, without being sad or happy, and without exhausting your energy, you should be fine once the child is born."

Pei Yan chuckled softly, but the laughter was tinged with bitterness.

Without exhausting one's energy and effort?

The battle for the throne has already begun in secret, and the situation in the court is changing rapidly. He must protect the Pei family, Shunshun and the child amidst the wolves surrounding him. How can he not proceed with caution?

Without putting in your utmost effort, you will only be at the mercy of others.

Master Longchuan was silent for a moment, then said slowly:

"Since Your Excellency has seen through it all, then go ahead and do what you want to do. Don't leave with any regrets before you leave."

Pity?

Pei Yan stared at the patterns on the blue bricks on the ground.

His biggest regret was that he couldn't stay by her side for a long time.

He wanted Shunshun to be completely devoted to him, to love him, and to have only him in her heart.

But reason keeps mocking itself.

Isn't it a sin for a short-lived person to demand someone's true feelings?

Once he's gone, what will happen to her if she really falls in love?

Not loving is the right thing to do; not loving will prevent serious harm.

He could sense that she liked him through the empathy he felt with the doll.

But this affection, compared to her deep-seated hatred, was as light as a feather.

He was understanding and vowed to help her fulfill her wish.

But Pei Yan was ultimately an ordinary man, and he too felt resentful.

Knowing that his life was nearing its end, even just... comforting him would have been enough.

Why didn't you comfort me when you should have?

Seeing the man's uncertain expression, Daoist Longchuan stroked his beard and asked, "Sir, do you know that I once kept a cat?"

Pei Yan raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

"That raccoon dog has glossy fur, but it has a terrible temper," the Taoist priest continued to say to himself.

"I have been feeding and treating it well, but it has been ignoring me all the time. I have been troubled by this for a long time, and I always feel that I have given my heart and soul, so I should be able to get its affection in return."

"Later, I realized that humans have their delusions, and cats have their own nature."

"You only wanted offspring to continue your bloodline back then, and you weren't sincere in your treatment of them. Now that you have offspring, you're eagerly seeking their hearts."

"But they never owed you anything. Not only did they not owe you anything, they also helped you detoxify. They are your great benefactor."

Master Longchuan stroked his beard and spoke earnestly.

"Man cannot have it all, and want it all."

Pei Yan stood there stunned, unable to recover for a long time.

"Your Excellency might consider a different approach," the Taoist priest said, adding more tea to his cup.

"When you don't understand her, or when she goes to great lengths to hide things from you and lie to you, you've already fallen for her."

"Then in the days to come, every additional glimpse of her true nature that you see in her will only increase your love for her?"

"There will always be endless surprises to discover, so the rest of the time will be filled with joy. Where would boredom and sorrow come from?"

The Taoist priest clapped his hands and laughed, "Such a wonderful thing, and the Prime Minister is still not satisfied!"

These words instantly untangled the mess in Pei Yan's mind.

The gloom that had been lingering in my chest suddenly dissipated.

All that's left is the time in the world.

If she doesn't come to him, he will go to her.

Why force things and torment each other in the short time we have left?

Qingyi Garden.

When Jiang Guo'er woke up from her afternoon nap, she was holding a silver needle and staring blankly at a piece of cloth.

A voice called from outside the door: "This servant greets the Prime Minister."

Jiang Guo'er's hand trembled, and the needle tip pierced her fingertip, drawing out a bead of blood.

Pei Yan lifted the thick curtain and strode into the room.

He had just changed into a dark blue casual suit, and his figure was upright and graceful, like a jade tree in full bloom.

"Why weren't you more careful?"

He stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Guo'er's fingers, and put them in his mouth without hesitation.

The tip of the tongue swept across the wound.

Jiang Guo'er trembled and hurriedly pulled her hand back.

"Why is the Prime Minister here at this time? I thought..."

"You thought I'd forgotten you?"

Pei Yan released her hand, sat down beside her, and stared intently at her face.

Jiang Guo'er felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze.

"I dare not."

Pei Yan curled his lips, showing no anger.

"Xiao San".

As Pei Yan spoke, Xiao San walked in from outside the door and knelt on one knee.

"Your subordinate is here."

Pei Yan grasped Jiang Guo'er's hand, his tone solemn.

"From today onwards, you can command Xiao San. If there's anything troublesome that needs his attention, just tell him."

Jiang Guo'er's eyes were filled with astonishment.

The Owl Guards are secret guards trained by the Pei family for many years. They are directly under the Grand Secretary and only obey Pei Yan's orders.

He actually put such great power directly into her hands?

Pei Yanchong raised his chin three times.

"Tell me about what's happening at the Tan family's place."

Xiao San bowed his head and replied, "Your subordinate has been following your instructions and keeping a close eye on the Empress Dowager's family recently."

"Two weeks ago, the Tan family began closing their doors to visitors."

"But the purchasing manager of the back building tripled the amount of realgar and mugwort he bought, and also bought a lot of white cloth and incense."

Jiang Guo'er's eyes narrowed.

"Buying realgar and mugwort can be said to be for warding off evil spirits and purifying the house. But buying large quantities of white cloth and incense indicates that someone in the household has died."

She looked at Pei Yan, "Moreover, they dare not announce the death of the dead to the public; they can only hold secret ceremonies in the mansion."

Appreciation flashed in Pei Yan's eyes.

"This matter needs to be thoroughly investigated..."

A name instantly popped into Jiang Guo'er's mind: Tan Yu.