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

"What does General Sima mean by that?"

Jiang Guo'er's heart skipped a beat, and her palms became sweaty.

Sima Di stroked the stubble on his chin, his eyes gleaming with interest, and chuckled:

"I don't mean anything by it. Since Miss Xue is safe and sound, she should at least allow me, her savior, to have a cup of tea."

He then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Pei Yan, saying, "Could you do me the favor of seeing her alone?"

Pei Yan's face darkened, and he refused without even thinking.

"It is late at night, and Lingyi has already retired for the night."

"Xiao San, take General Sima to the most secluded guest room in the west corner to rest, and do not allow anyone to approach."

Sima Di clicked his tongue, but didn't insist at this critical juncture, and got up to follow Xiao San.

Back at Qingyi Garden, the moon casts a slanting shadow.

Jiang Guo'er lay on the canopy bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

She threw off the brocade quilt and sat up abruptly.

"Tell me, what exactly did General Sima mean by those last few words? Lingyi clearly feels nauseous at the sight of men, so why did she...?"

Pei Yan had his eyes closed but wasn't asleep, and he wasn't annoyed by her nagging for a long time.

He pulled her into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and lazily yawned.

"What else could he be thinking? This old bachelor has probably fallen for Lingyi at first sight."

"What?!" Jiang Guo'er's eyes widened in astonishment, her face filled with disbelief.

"We've only met once! How did you know?"

Pei Yan gently stroked her back through her nightgown with his palm, telling her not to get so excited.

"Sima Di has been stationed on the northern frontier for many years. The Duke of Lu's mansion has urged him countless times to return to the capital to get married, but he has always refused, citing his busy military duties."

"This is the first time I've seen him so attentive to a woman."

Jiang Guo'er bit her lip, feeling quite resentful.

This man only saved Lingyi once, yet he became lustful and started to covet her; his skin is thicker than a city wall.

Lingyi is beautiful and intelligent, pure and virtuous, how dare he even have designs on her?

"Since you've already figured it out, how can you still be so calm?"

Jiang Guo'er couldn't help but pinch Pei Yan's strong forearm.

"Lingyi is nominally your wife, aren't you afraid of what people will say about her?"

"hiss."

Pei Yan let her pinch him, his palms firmly protecting her waist and abdomen.

"I never had any interest in Lingyi. She had already said that she would relinquish the position of the Grand Secretary's wife when the time was right."

He looked down at her, his fingertips adjusting her collar, his cool fingertips brushing against her collarbone, making Jiang Guo'er's ears burn with a ticklish sensation.

"Wouldn't it be perfect if she could find a good match?"

"But... Sima Di is being far too reckless!"

Pei Yan chuckled softly, took her slender white wrist, and placed her back under the covers.

"Instead of worrying about this, you should give Sima Di a chance."

"If Lingyi is also interested, we can discuss how to make their relationship happen."

"If Lingyi doesn't like that scoundrel, I'll make him get back to the northern frontier immediately tomorrow, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Guo'er found it to be reasonable.

If Lingyi's inner conflict can truly be resolved, that would be a great thing.

She couldn't stay trapped in the Pei residence forever, bearing the title of the Prime Minister's wife and having her protected from the wind and rain.

"Let's see what he's really up to!"

Jiang Guo'er clenched her fists secretly. If Sima Di dared to bully Lingyi, even if he was her father's old subordinate, she would definitely beat him out!

The next day at noon, sunlight pierced through the carved window frames and fell on the blue brick floor of the west wing of Qingyi Courtyard.

Pei Yan deliberately dismissed all the servants and arranged this secret meeting.

In the small side room next door, Jiang Guo'er peered through a hidden compartment in the wall, her eyes fixed on the gap in the antique display shelf in front of her.

Pei Yan stood behind her, his chest pressed against her back, one hand loosely around her waist, the other hand playing with her sash.

"Don't push me, I can't see clearly anymore." Jiang Guo'er nudged him with her elbow in disgust.

"Who told you to come and eavesdrop?" Pei Yan leaned close to her ear, his breath causing the stray hairs at her temples to flutter.

The usually dignified and aloof prime minister becomes more affectionate than a kitten in this cramped space.

Jiang Guo'er's cheeks flushed slightly, and she slapped his hand away. "Stop fooling around, listen!"

Through the crack, the scene inside the side room was clearly visible.

Xue Lingyi twisted the silk handkerchief in her hands, sat upright in the rose chair, her toes curled up in her cramped posture.

She wore a light red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) today, and she looked like a rose that had been touched by morning dew.

Sima Di sat opposite him with an imposing air, speaking directly:

"Ahem, Miss Xue, I'm a rough man and I don't know how to beat around the bush. I've invited you here today because I have something I want to explain to you."

Xue Lingyi was startled, her heart pounding wildly, not understanding what this person was trying to say.

"My father is the Duke of Lu, and I am the third son born of the legitimate wife in my family."

Sima Di patted his chest and said, "I was a naughty child and often got beaten. Later, when I went to the army, my father stopped caring about me."

"My mother passed away early, and I own houses in both the northern frontier and the capital, so I live independently."

He looked at Xue Lingyi and spoke frankly.

"If you marry me, you won't have to worry about your parents-in-law's attitude, nor will you have to follow the rules of morning and evening greetings."

"It's just my husband and me at home. We hired a housekeeper and a few cleaning staff. We just want a quiet and peaceful life."

Xue Lingyi was stunned, and even stopped wringing her handkerchief.

Is he...is he proposing to her?

Jiang Guo'er next door widened her eyes instantly.

Good grief, he just laid out all his assets right off the bat. Didn't he even bother to build up some background information?!

Seeing that she didn't speak, Sima Di assumed she found him uncouth and quickly added:

"Don't worry, although I am a military officer, the wealth I have accumulated over the years through military achievements is more than enough to support my family."

He counted on his fingers.

"I have deposited 60,000 taels of silver, 100 taels of gold, 300 mu of fertile land, five shops, and three estates in the money exchange."

"Once you marry into the family, all the banknotes and land deeds will be under your control."

"I will not take concubines or maids. If I dare to misbehave outside or betray you, you can simply sell that house and kick me out!"

Xue Lingyi's ears gradually turned red, and even her neck was tinged with a blush.

She had grown up witnessing the chaotic and corrupt atmosphere of grand mansions, where women fought tooth and nail over a man.

Her father did not love her mother. After her mother died, he quickly married her aunt as a second wife and allowed her aunt to mistreat her.

In addition, her cousin almost ruined her reputation back then, so she avoids men like the plague and has no expectation of marriage whatsoever.

But now, hearing Sima Di's sincere assurance, she had to admit... she was shamefully tempted.

She doesn't have to serve her in-laws, there are no concubines vying for favor, and she can control all the family's finances...

This was a life she could never have dreamed of!

Xue Lingyi took a deep breath and slowly loosened the handkerchief in her hand.

She raised her head, and a hint of courage appeared on her usually dignified face.

"Could you tolerate your wife disregarding societal norms and becoming a doctor, or... a coroner, in public?"

As soon as he said that, the house fell silent, both inside and outside.

Sima Di stood there, stunned.

Jiang Guo'er next door gasped in shock and whispered:

"Lingyi's gone mad? She actually wants to become a coroner? How come I didn't know!"

Pei Yan also raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.

Sima Di rubbed his hands together and tentatively asked, "You...do you want to open your own clinic? Or go to the government office to perform autopsies?"

Xue Lingyi bit her lower lip and nodded vigorously.

"Yes, this is a wish I've kept in my heart for many years."

"If one day I can truly leave the Pei family and change my identity, I want to rely on my own abilities to find a stable job."

"I do not wish to be confined to the inner quarters like a sparrow, spending my days learning only how to serve my husband and raise my children."

After she finished speaking, she lowered her eyes, a bitter feeling rising in her heart.

These days, what respectable young man could tolerate his wife becoming a female doctor or a coroner?

In their eyes, it was a filthy and lowly profession, which needlessly tarnished the family's reputation.

To everyone's surprise, Sima Di not only didn't reprimand her, but instead slapped his thigh and jumped up!

"Great!" he laughed twice. "That's wonderful!"