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

It took five days for Jiang Guo'er to fully recover from the high fever and the shock.

Pei Yan had a change of heart and extended the deadline of three days for ten sets of undergarments to thirteen days.

She also declared that whatever material Jiang Guo'er wanted, she could use, and no one was allowed to say a word.

Zhou Xiuniang was the first to be punished, fined half a year's wages, and given fifteen strokes of the cane.

She was demoted from a first-class embroiderer to a third-class embroiderer.

That day, she watched in horror as the Prime Minister carried Jiang Guo'er out of Songhe Garden.

Only then did they realize that Jiang Guo'er had not only been given a second chance at genital surgery by the Prime Minister, but was also the apple of his eye!

He immediately beat his chest and stamped his feet, filled with remorse.

What's even more infuriating is that Hongzhu clearly knew the truth but didn't tell her.

When his misdeeds were exposed, he tried to drag her down with him, but in the end, he was kicked out of the mansion. He deserved it!

Jiang Guo'er returned to the embroidery room, where the sound of needles striking could be heard.

The embroiderers' heads were drooping so low they could be buried in their chests, and their fingertips trembled as they held the needles.

Whatever Jiang Guo'er said was law, and no one dared to utter a single dissent.

This sense of awe made her a little uncomfortable, but she didn't mind.

Since we can't be friends, this clear separation is actually quite convenient.

Only Lotus remained the same as before, chattering and crowding around her, earnestly asking about the secrets of Hu's needlework techniques with a piece of cloth in hand.

Perhaps determined to climb the social ladder, this girl made rapid progress, and the flower patterns she embroidered were already quite impressive.

However, the winds of change within the manor have indeed shifted.

Granny Li requested to be demoted to a lowly maid, doing menial tasks like chopping wood and carrying water, which caused a great uproar in Songhe Garden.

Those servants who had received favors from Granny Li or were related to her all spoke out in her defense.

Even the way he looked at Jiang Guo'er became more resentful.

The gossip behind their backs is even more unpleasant.

A witch from the Wu Jiang tribe, born with witchcraft skills.

Otherwise, how could she have bewitched the prime minister, who had been celibate for many years?

This also resulted in Hongzhu breaking a leg, and the old lady's most favored nanny was demoted without warning.

Lotus was furious and rolled up her sleeves, ready to confront them.

"Hongzhu got her leg broken because she brought it on herself! She ordered someone to push you into the water and step on your hand!"

"How dare you turn around and blame me? What kind of logic is that!"

Jiang Guo'er grabbed him.

Granny Li had been managing the Pei household for many years, and her relationships with everyone from top to bottom were deeply entrenched.

Her downfall has affected the livelihoods and futures of countless people.

These people dared not resent the Prime Minister, but naturally they held a grudge against her, the source of all the trouble.

Having just caused such a commotion, it's not wise to stir up any more trouble now.

To truly suppress these gossips, we must either wait for Lingyi to enter the household and leverage the influence of the principal wife.

Either way, we'll have to wait for her belly to cooperate.

Just then, in the afternoon, a message spread like wildfire throughout the backyard of the Pei residence.

The maid sent by the Xue family to test the marriage has entered the mansion.

Lotus heard the wind and dashed to the embroidery room.

Her little face scrunched up as she kept stuffing things into Jiang Guo'er's hands.

"Guo'er, don't be sad. These are candied chestnuts I got from the cook Wang in the third household. They're so sweet, you should try them!"

Jiang Guo'er took the chestnuts, her feelings indescribable.

She had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Lingyi's people in the mansion.

But when the moment actually arrived, a strange emotion she had never felt before quietly crept into her heart.

She peeled a chestnut and put it in her mouth.

It should have been sweet, but she couldn't taste a trace of it; it tasted like chewing wax.

Jiang Guo'er sighed, reached into her clothes, and habitually pinched the doll's face hard.

Fine, let them come.

She quickly cheered up and pulled Lianhua to the water boiler room.

"What are you standing there for? Go get a clean cloth and a fresh bar of soap."

"The Prime Minister is going to favor his new concubine tonight, so make sure there's enough hot water. Prepare everything in advance to avoid any chaos later."

Lotus opened her mouth wide, unable to close it for a long time.

"Guo'er... do you really not care at all?"

If it were her, and her beloved were to spend the night with another woman, she wouldn't even have time to cry, let alone concentrate on work!

Jiang Guo'er not only didn't cry, but she also personally washed all the bedding and sheets in the inner room and laid out brand-new tribute silk.

Then, pear incense was lit in the bronze incense burner.

After doing all this, he opened the small hidden compartment by the bedside and examined the white jade box inside.

The ointment for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis in the box was almost empty.

She immediately took out a new can and carefully filled it up.

The moment the lid was closed, the delicate fragrance of the ointment wafted into my nose, and the scene of my first time receiving imperial favor flashed through my mind unexpectedly.

Pei Yan was burning hot all over, like a tireless old ox, showing no mercy whatsoever.

It caused her pain for several nights in a row, and she could barely walk.

Having had the experience of the first time, he will probably be much gentler towards this maid who is going through a trial marriage.

Jiang Guo'er closed the hidden compartment, got up nonchalantly, and patted off non-existent dust from her sleeves.

As evening approached, a slender maid was led by Granny Qin to the door of the inner room.

Granny Qin is the newly appointed head nanny who replaced Granny Li.

His face looked as if it had been measured with a ruler, harsh and stern.

The maid was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a face like a peach blossom, a slender waist, and lips as red as freshly picked cherries.

Her eyes were large and watery, and her every glance was full of captivating charm.

"Jiang Guo'er, this is Qiuyue, the maid sent by the Xue family for a trial marriage."

"From tonight onwards, she will serve the Prime Minister. You must take good care of her and not neglect her!"

Granny Qin's tone carried a deliberate undertone of reprimand.

Jiang Guo'er obediently agreed, but inwardly she began to have doubts.

The maidservant who was to be married in the trial period should, in principle, be given to the person most intimately connected to Lingyi.

Lüyi had been by Lingyi's side since childhood, knew her well, and was steady and considerate.

Why is it that a frivolous little girl has come?

Before she could figure it out, Qiu Yue had already given her a sidelong glare.

With a smirk, he spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"So you're Miss Jiang!"

His gaze swept over her from top to bottom, and he let out a soft chuckle.

"It's nothing special."

Qiuyue circled around her with light, quick steps, as if examining a worthless piece of old merchandise.

"Don't worry, Granny Qin, I'm better than anyone at serving my master."

"From now on, this inner room will be enough for me. Sister, you've worked so hard these past few days, it's time for you to rest."

The meaning couldn't be clearer—I'm here, you can get lost.

Jiang Guo'er wasn't angry at all.

She always remembered her duty as a concubine.

Whom the Prime Minister favors is his business; it's none of her, a mere servant,'s place to interfere.

Her task was to do everything in her power to make the Prime Minister comfortable during each of her nights with him, and then get pregnant as soon as possible.

Everything else was not within her consideration.

"The Prime Minister usually drinks half a cup of warm tea before going to bed. It's Wuyi Zhengshan Xiaozhong, and the water temperature has to be just right for drinking. He will be displeased if it's too hot."

"The incense burner can only burn sandalwood or pear-scented incense; other types are not allowed."

"There's a white jade box in the hidden compartment by the bedside, and inside is..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qiuyue waved her hand impatiently.

"Alright, alright, you're so long-winded. I know how to handle these things; I don't need you to teach me!"

Jiang Guo'er glanced at her.

His lips twitched, but he didn't say anything more.

Not teaching is her dereliction of duty.

But if you don't listen after being taught and something goes wrong, don't blame her for not warning you.

Jiang Guo'er turned around decisively and went back to her side room.

After tidying up my little room, I changed into clean clothes.

Once everything was in place and I had some free time, a strange sense of emptiness welled up in my chest.

Fortunately, there were still dolls to keep me company.

She placed the little doll neatly on the table.

During this period, she also took the time to add a lot of accessories to it.

Several small hats, each the size of a palm, some with official hats, others with melon-shaped caps.

There was another felt hat, which she made in the style of a peddler on the street.

Several pairs of soft-soled boots in different colors, the smallest of which was not even as long as her thumb.

Several exquisite belts were strung with tiny, rice-grain-sized beads as embellishments.

Jiang Guo'er decided to start playing.

In a moment, we dressed it in a little silver fox fur cloak, turned up its hood, and made it look like a little official going out on a patrol.

After examining it for a while, he took it off and put on a dark blue robe, paired with a small black gauze hat.

He tilted his head, looked left and right, and then burst out laughing.

"This outfit is good; it has the air of a prime minister going to court."

He poked the doll's belly with his fingertip, leaned closer, and praised it earnestly:

"A man of exceptional beauty and talent."

Just as he was fiddling with the little doll's belt, a furious roar suddenly erupted from the other end of the inner room.

"roll--!"

"Who do you think you are? How dare you tell me what to do!"

The sound of shattering cups and plates rang out, followed by a woman's piercing scream.

Jiang Guo'er's hand trembled, and before she could react, she heard Pei Yan's voice as if he was about to tear the roof off.

"Where is Jiang Guo'er?! Where the hell has she gone?!"