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

Two weeks later.

This new straight-cut robe embroidered with persimmon calyx patterns is finally finished.

Pei Yan was already born with a cold and aloof appearance, and this outfit made him look even more like a jade tree.

However, the brightly colored persimmon calyx pattern adds a touch of warmth and gentleness to the otherwise plain design.

If it weren't for the requirement to wear official robes to the cabinet and attend court, Pei Yan would have loved to have them welded onto his body every day.

No bathing today.

Pei Yan arranged to meet Lu Yunzheng at a teahouse on Xuanwu Street to discuss matters.

The carriage arrived at Xuanwu Street, where the streets were bustling with activity.

Thanks to the stories written by Wang Yan and the storytellers, the story of Consort Jiang of the Prime Minister's Mansion is now widely known in the capital.

Everyone in the streets and alleys knows that Prime Minister Pei risked his life to hide Murong Shunshun in his mansion in order to protect the loyal and orphaned girl.

In order to overturn the verdict against the Marquis of Dingyuan, they were willing to risk their lives and fortunes!

Pei Yan lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and happened to see two familiar figures standing in front of a stall selling writing brushes and ink on the street corner.

Xie Pan and Xie Yuan.

Pei Yan narrowed his eyes, his inherent flaws suddenly kicking in.

He stopped the carriage, straightened his new robe, and strolled over.

Xie Pan was examining a piece of Huizhou inkstone when he heard footsteps. He looked up and saw Pei Yan's stern face.

Then, in the next instant, their gaze fell upon Pei Yan's exquisitely crafted straight robe.

Especially on the chest, the hem of the skirt, and the sleeves on both sides, the intricate and beautiful persimmon calyx pattern is very eye-catching.

"Your Excellency." Xie Pan's voice was hoarse, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the folding fan were turning slightly white.

"Thank you, young master." Pei Yan smiled faintly and smoothed his perfectly wrinkle-free sleeves.

"Oh, please excuse my rudeness. The other day, Shunshun insisted on having a summer dress made for me, and I couldn't dissuade her no matter what I said."

"I told her not to trouble herself, but she wouldn't listen."

"She said that she used to love embroidering this persimmon calyx pattern for her family when she was at home, and now she has embroidered one for me as well."

Xie Pan felt as if he had been hit hard in the chest with a blunt object, and even breathing was accompanied by a dull pain.

He was once entitled to wear clothes sewn by Shun Shun himself.

But now, he can only watch helplessly as she pours her heart out to another man.

He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Your Excellency... you are truly blessed."

Xie Yuan, who was not far behind Xie Pan, smiled and bowed before stepping forward.

"The Grand Secretary and Miss Murong are deeply in love and their affection is truly enviable."

Since reading the storybooks written by Wang Yan, Xie Yuan has developed a great curiosity about her.

These past few days, I've been thinking about how to bump into Wang Yan by chance. If possible, I also hope that Pei Yan and Murong Shunshun can continue to act as matchmakers.

Therefore, he was even more respectful to Pei Yan than before.

However, with Xie Pan present today, it is clearly not the right time to bring this up.

"Your Excellency has made an appointment, hasn't he? We dare not take up your time, so we'll take our leave now."

After saying that, he grabbed Xie Pan and left.

Pei Yan watched their hurried backs, a slight smile playing on his lips. Satisfied, he turned and walked on.

Not far away, Lu Yunzheng, who was sitting by the window of a private room on the second floor of the teahouse, witnessed the scene just now.

Hearing the door open, he lifted his eyelids and his gaze lingered on Pei Yan's straight robe for a long time.

Tsk, such a good younger sister, Pei Yan is really lucky to have such a hardworking old man!

"Your Excellency has quite the airs, leaving your brother-in-law here waiting in vain."

Pei Yan walked over with a normal expression, picked up the purple clay teapot, and poured him some tea.

"I encountered a stray dog ​​downstairs just now and dealt with it."

Lu Yunzheng almost burst out laughing. This guy really knows how to make himself jealous.

The two first exchanged intelligence from the court, discussed the current vacancies in the Six Ministries, and the young officials they each wanted to promote, before finally bringing up personal matters.

"How has Shunshun been feeling lately?"

"It's fine. With Lingyi looking after us, and she even invited her master here, plus Master Longchuan overseeing things, and several experienced midwives, there shouldn't be any problems."

Lu Yunzheng was surprised; he hadn't expected him to be so well-prepared.

"When does Shunshun plan to go outside the city to pay respects to his family?"

Pei Yan took a sip of tea. "Soon."

"She wanted to wait until Lu Xiu led the Lu family members to repair Murong's tomb, so that she could go there openly and legitimately as Murong Shunshun."

Lu Yunzheng nodded, then frowned. "Why are those good-for-nothings from the Lu family so slow at their work?"

"Go back and tell Shunshun that I can make her wish come true this month!"

Lu Yunzheng took this matter to heart and would go to the outskirts of the city to supervise the construction every few days.

The Lu family had long been tormented to the point of exhaustion, both physically and mentally.

But because of Lu Yunzheng, that devil, the work that was originally supposed to take three months to complete can be finished in just ten or fifteen days.

Lu Yunzheng was indeed efficient. In about ten days, the tombs of the Murong family outside the city were almost finished being repaired.

In the afternoon, the cicadas began to chirp, their sounds filtering through the lush foliage and falling into Qingyi Courtyard.

Murong Shunshun leaned against the bamboo couch, yawning and fanning herself with a round fan.

Xue Lingyi sat on a bamboo chair to the side, admiring the red veil she had embroidered for herself.

"It looks so beautiful! How do you know how to be so skillful with your hands?"

"I can barely even embroider a purse. I'm afraid the household will have to hire a needlework lady in the future."

Shunshun smiled and said, "Let your husband invite him; it's not like he can't afford it!"

"Hey, I heard he wrote you a letter? What did he write?"

Xue Lingyi's face flushed red.

"Well, it didn't write much... it just talked about the scenery and customs of northern Xinjiang, and it even brought me a few broken stones."

Several red stones, on which her small portrait was carved with a knife.

Although the carving wasn't quite accurate, every single stroke was made by Sima Di herself, and she loved it dearly.

Shunshun saw through it but didn't say anything, just smiled to herself.

At this moment, Lüyi walked in from outside.

"Miss, the gatekeeper has come to report that Old Madam Xiao has sent a visiting card, specifically asking to see Consort Murong."

"Manager Zhao has already invited them to the front courtyard flower hall."

Shun Shun stopped fanning herself.

"Madam Xiao? Xiao Yuzhen's grandmother?"

Xue Lingyi nodded, folded the veil, and told Lüyi to take it back and put it at the bottom of her trunk.

"What's this old lady doing here? The Xiao family is in dire straits, barely able to save themselves."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has been monitoring the Xiao family, yet she comes to see you at this time; it can't be anything good."

Shunshun stood up, supporting herself on the edge of the bamboo couch, and straightened her lotus-root-colored Hangzhou silk jacket.

"Since I'm already here, if I don't see her, wouldn't it make me look like I'm afraid of her?"

Now, everyone knows that she is an orphan of the Murong family.

There's no need to be subservient to anyone anymore; it's fine to meet them.

"Since I am still the Prime Minister's wife in name only, let's go together!" After saying that, Xue Lingyi went with her to the flower hall.

In the flower hall, Old Madam Xiao was restless, her face gloomy.

Although her full head of silver hair was meticulously combed, the purplish-brown imperial robe she wore was already wrinkled from being gripped so tightly.

On such a hot day, she wore this outfit without fear of getting heatstroke.

Hearing footsteps, she quickly looked up.

Upon seeing Murong Shunshun step across the threshold, his gaze first fell on her radiant face, and then fixed on her prominent pregnant belly.

She stared in astonishment, her eyes widening.

Not only is Xue Lingyi pregnant, but Murong Shunshun is pregnant too!

Her belly looks like she's about six months along; could she have gotten pregnant even before Xue Lingyi?!

You, Pei Yan, are really good at keeping secrets!