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

Both of them slept very soundly.

When I woke up again, dusk had already fallen outside the window.

Pei Yan opened his eyes, his headache and fatigue gone, and he felt indescribably comfortable.

He turned his head to look at Jiang Guo'er, who was sleeping peacefully in his arms. The softest part of his heart felt warm and swollen, as if it were being soaked in spring water.

He couldn't help but reach out and twirl a stray strand of hair from her temple around his fingertip.

Slowly tightening, it's as if you're completely enveloping her in your palm.

Jiang Guo'er felt a little itchy from his little movements, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she opened her eyes groggily.

"Awake?" Pei Yan's voice was slightly hoarse as he gently stroked her cheek with his fingers.

They were afraid that if they exerted even the slightest force, they would break this precious moment of tenderness.

"Hmm." Jiang Guo'er moved her sore waist, trying to sit up.

"Don't move, lie down a little longer." Pei Yan pulled her back and patted her back gently like he was coaxing a child.

"Lvyi will call for dinner when it's ready."

He gazed quietly at her features, and after a moment, a glint flashed in his eyes.

"Shunshun, now that the Lu family has fallen... it's time to carefully plan Lingyi's escape."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Guo'er's sleepiness vanished instantly, and she naturally rested her head on his arm.

"Have you thought of a plan yet?"

Pei Yan hadn't actually figured things out completely yet.

Although he was skilled in court politics, this was his first time dealing with such a matter, making it somewhat tricky.

"We agreed that Lingyi would leave the Pei family cleanly and without any worries."

"Putting oneself in a state of suspended animation is undoubtedly the best solution, but the method and timing of this suspension need to be carefully considered before a final decision can be made."

"And then there's the matter of Lingyi faking her pregnancy; we need to come up with a foolproof plan to cover it up."

"Furthermore, what new identity should we assign to Lingyi?"

The thought that Sima Di had entrusted him with this huge problem made Pei Yan furious.

Jiang Guo'er frowned and nodded, pondering carefully.

"This new identity must come from a respectable family background, ensuring Sima Di can smoothly marry her upon returning to the capital, and also leaving no room for criticism from the Duke of Lu."

Recalling the experiences Lingyi had mentioned to her before, her eyes suddenly lit up:

"I've got it! Didn't Lingyi once study medicine under a female master in Jiangnan?"

"Then let's arrange for her to be the daughter of a famous doctor in Jiangnan! Born into a family of doctors, she'll have studied medicine from a young age."

"Hurry up and invite her master to the capital to discuss this with her, so we can cover for her in advance!"

Pei Yan pondered for a long time and found the plan to be ingenious.

When he looked at her, the infatuation in his eyes grew even stronger.

"Sima Di's father, the Duke of Lu, is quite old and suffers from rheumatism. Sima Di could easily use this as an excuse to seek medical treatment and fulfill his filial duty, thus making it a natural progression for him to marry her."

"As for family background... Duke Lu is a military general and a founding hero. As long as his background is clean, he will not care about these formalities."

Hearing Pei Yan say this, Jiang Guo'er felt even more confident.

"Alright, I'll find a moment to speak with Lingyi. If she agrees, I'll immediately write to her master requesting him to come to the capital."

"Also, tomorrow send a letter of divorce to the northern frontier and ask Sima Di. If he also thinks it's fine, then we'll proceed with this plan."

Xue Lingyi's plan to escape unscathed has taken initial shape, but how Jiang Guo'er will legitimately regain her identity remains undecided.

"Why don't we let the Emperor intervene? If the Emperor issues a decree, even if others have their doubts, they won't dare to object openly."

After much deliberation, Pei Yan concluded that the only reliable protection was that of the imperial power.

Jiang Guo'er shook her head, a sly glint in her eyes.

"No, I want to wait until the day when Lu Xiu and his son personally build the tomb of my Murong family, brick by brick."

"On that day, I will openly and honestly wear mourning clothes as Murong Shunshun and pay homage to my parents in front of everyone."

Pei Yan frowned slightly, his face showing hidden worry.

"It's perfectly reasonable for you to go and pay your respects, but are you sure you want to reveal your true identity to the world on that day?"

He wasn't afraid of being impeached by censors.

Rather, it is because society has always been harsh on women.

Once it is learned that the last surviving member of the Murong family is still alive and has become a concubine in the Pei family, rumors will surely fly like knives.

People don't care how much she suffered; they only gossip about her experience as a scandalous affair.

Once the scandalous affair overshadows the exoneration of the Marquis of Dingyuan's family, the deterrent effect of the overturned verdict on powerful clans and aristocratic families will be greatly diminished.

Jiang Guo'er looked into Pei Yan's eyes and realized the same thing.

"To avoid rumors spreading like wildfire, we need to strike first."

"We need to make the people think from the start that our coming together is a match made in heaven, and an arrangement by my parents in heaven."

Her eyes sparkled with shrewdness.

"First, send someone to relay to the northern frontier the words Lu Bingde used in prison to insult the border guards and the Xianbei people."

"Let all the soldiers know that they risked their lives to defend their country, but in the eyes of aristocratic scions like Lu Bingde, they are less than dogs!"

"Once the new emperor issues his edict, the soldiers will only shout 'Long live the emperor!' and believe that the new emperor is acting on behalf of Heaven."

"And you, who have been secretly helping me and uncovering the truth for me, are naturally the pure stream that rises above the mud, untainted by its filth!"

Pei Yan was taken aback, his heart warming slightly. He hadn't expected her to protect his reputation so much.

"Good! I will take this opportunity to arrange for storytellers to sing about the glorious military achievements of Marquis Dingyuan in the past for days."

"First, let's talk about how the spirit of Marquis Dingyuan never dies, and he appeared in the new emperor's dream to plead his case."

"Furthermore, there is still an orphaned girl in the Marquis's mansion who has been under the protection of the reclusive master, Daoist Longchuan."

"Because the Taoist priest divined that the orphan girl's birth chart was compatible with Prime Minister Pei's, she was sent to the Pei residence ahead of schedule..."

He stopped there, his ears burning slightly, unable to continue his story.

Jiang Guo'er smiled. Where did that shamelessness of that scoundrel go?

This is serious business, and he's acting shy?

She suppressed a laugh and continued making things up as he spoke.

"After I was sent to the Pei residence by Daoist Longchuan, I recounted to you the injustice done to my father and brothers."

"Prime Minister, you are upright and incorruptible, and you hate evil as if it were your enemy. You have decided to help me find out the truth and are determined to bring justice to the Marquis of Dingyuan's family!"

"During this time, we frequently discussed the case, and over time, feelings developed between us..."

"You originally intended to marry me as your principal wife, but since the injustice has not been cleared and my identity must be kept secret, you have no choice but to make me a concubine to cover up your wrongdoing."

"It just so happens that my childhood friend Xue Lingyi not only learned that I was still alive, but also married into the Pei family by a twist of fate and became your legal wife."

"She was an honest and righteous person. After discovering that I and the Prime Minister were in love and that I had endured humiliation to investigate the wrongful case, she not only wasn't jealous, but also silently helped me all along, even faking a pregnancy to cover for me..."

"When I encountered the 'assassin' one day, she risked her life to save me and my unborn child, sacrificing herself on the spot!"

"Therefore, logically speaking, this is the perfect opportunity for Lingyi to fake her death and escape!"

Pei Yan saw that she was getting more and more excited as she spoke, her eyes were shining brightly, and her cheeks were flushed with an alluring blush.

His throat gradually went dry, and something deep inside him was screaming wildly.

He absolutely adored her clear-headed yet cunning demeanor.

The moment she finished speaking, Pei Yan immediately leaned down and kissed her smooth, slender nape.

The delicate kisses, carrying a scorching heat, spread down the spine.

His breathing grew heavier, his eyes grew darker, and the temperature inside the bed curtains suddenly rose.

"Shun Shun..." he mumbled her name, his hand expertly slipping inside her clothes.

Just as things were about to escalate to the point of no return—

Jiang Guo'er's body suddenly stiffened.

She felt the little one inside her kick her, as if startled by the tense atmosphere.

The force wasn't great, but it was very clear.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Jiang Guo'er quickly grabbed his mischievous hand, her voice filled with barely concealed surprise, "Prime Minister, it's moving!"

Pei Yan shuddered, the desire in his eyes instantly replaced by panic, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"What? What moved?"

Jiang Guo'er took his hand and placed it on her slightly protruding belly.

Before long, two faint bumps were clearly felt from beneath Pei Yan's palm.

"Oh dear, there are two babies moving!"

Jiang Guo'er smiled, her eyes crinkling with joy. "There's still one that hasn't responded. It's probably fast asleep inside."

Pei Yan, however, couldn't laugh at all.

He stared at the belly, then looked at Jiang Guo'er's thin frame, a layer of cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

"It's only been a few months, and you've already been through so much."

"What if they're too wild and mischievous, and... what if they burst your stomach?"

Jiang Guo'er rolled her eyes and her lips twitched slightly.

What kind of father in this world thinks of his child like this?

The Grand Secretary, a man of such high standing, is truly prone to losing his composure when he is overly concerned.

While she was still finding it amusing, Pei Yan's face darkened, and he began to coldly reprimand her stomach.

"You lot better behave yourselves! If you dare to cause any more trouble and make your mother suffer, just wait until we get out and see how I deal with you!"

"Shut up!" Jiang Guo'er said, both amused and exasperated, as she covered his mouth. "Don't scare my darlings!"

Pei Yan's jaw was clenched, and the worry in his eyes was impossible to hide.

He suddenly stood up and said urgently, "No, I'm panicking terribly. I'll go and call Lingyi right now."

Before long, Xue Lingyi arrived gracefully, supported by Lüyi.

After carefully examining their pulses, she smiled and comforted them.

"Although the third pregnancy was risky, both mother and child are currently in good condition. This is normal fetal movement, so Your Excellency need not be alarmed."

Watching Xue Lingyi give her detailed instructions by the bedside, Pei Yan stood with his hands behind his back in the shadows, his breathing becoming heavier and heavier.

He also knew that his overreaction and paranoia made him a laughingstock.

But whenever he thought of the extremely dangerous production process, he felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart, making it hard to breathe for a long time.