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

Jiang Guo'er lifted her skirt and ran all the way to the door of the inner room.

Peeking inside, good heavens, the floor was a complete mess.

The precious Ru kiln teacup was shattered on the ground, and the Persian carpet was stained with a large dark stain from the tea.

The maid named Qiuyue, who was going through the trial marriage, was half-undressed, her hair disheveled, and she was kneeling on the ground, crying uncontrollably.

Pei Yan stood with his back to the door, his tall, straight figure in black standing upright like a pine tree, but his back was taut, exuding a chilling aura that seemed ready to kill at any moment.

"Prime Minister..."

Jiang Guo'er curtsied at the door, her voice so soft it was like a mosquito's hum.

Pei Yan suddenly turned around, took a few steps to stand in front of her, his jaw clenched, and his tall shadow enveloped her completely.

"Who gave you permission to act on your own?"

These words seemed to be squeezed out one by one from between their teeth.

Jiang Guo'er shrank back in fright at his imposing manner.

Taking matters into one's own hands?

What did she do?

"Who gave her permission to touch that box?" Pei Yan raised his hand, pointing directly to the hidden compartment by the bedside. "And could she possibly change the things inside?"

Jiang Guo'er looked in the direction he pointed and paused for a moment.

It must have been Qiuyue who, in her cleverness, brought her own cosmetics and replaced the ones she had prepared.

But... what's there to be angry about?

Jiang Guo'er was puzzled, but dared not show it on her face.

She lowered her eyes and bowed her head even further.

"This servant...this servant does not know..."

Her submissive and apologetic demeanor did not appease Pei Yan; instead, it was like pouring oil on a hot coal fire.

He grabbed her wrist.

"I don't know?" Pei Yan's inherently dark and suspicious nature was instantly exposed. "Didn't you teach her the proper etiquette?"

How dare a mere concubine presume to possess me!

"I...I taught him..."

Jiang Guo'er gasped in pain, her wrists tingling from his grip.

"But... Miss Qiuyue said she knows what she's doing... and there's no need for me to say anything more..."

Upon hearing this, Qiuyue, who was kneeling on the ground, paused in her sobbing.

She raised her head and glared fiercely at Jiang Guo'er.

"You're talking nonsense! You never mentioned anything about ointment!"

She scrambled to Pei Yan's feet and reached out to hug his leg.

Before she could touch him, Pei Yan frowned and stepped aside.

"Prime Minister, please don't believe her!" Qiu Yue sobbed unwillingly, "She deliberately didn't explain clearly, wanting to see me make a fool of myself!"

Pei Yan, however, did not believe her and shouted towards the door:

"Guards! Drag this reckless wretch out of here!"

The old woman lifted Qiuyue up on either side and dragged her outside.

Qiuyue stared wide-eyed in disbelief, struggling incessantly.

"I was wrong, I will never do it again!"

"Please, Your Excellency, don't send me back! I don't want to be sent to a brothel by Madam Xue!"

"My lord, please spare my life! Give me a way out!"

The sound gradually faded into the distance until it disappeared.

The room quieted down.

Jiang Guo'er's wrist was still being held by him, and the heat of the man's palm made her tremble.

She tried to pull back, but it was gripped even tighter.

Pei Yan stared at her, his chest heaving several times.

Only he himself knew that the source of his anger just now was not a jar of replaced fat.

Rather, it was his unspeakable shame and anger.

He felt unwell whenever the autumn moon approached.

The cloying sweetness emanating from her and the affectedly coquettish look in her eyes disgusted him from the inside out.

There was absolutely no reaction.

His hidden ailment flared up again.

But unfortunately—

The moment Jiang Guo'er lowered her head and whispered "Prime Minister," her body seemed to have been flipped by some switch.

Pei Yan hates being led by the nose.

Especially being led by the nose by a woman of lowly status!

But having no other options, he could only vent all his embarrassment and awkwardness on Qiuyue.

"Since you've angered her and she's left," Pei Yan said with a cold laugh, picking up a strand of her hair with his fingertip.

"Then tonight, you'll take her place."

Jiang Guo'er suddenly looked up and met his unfathomable eyes.

"Prime Minister..."

"The arrow is on the string, it must be released." His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice hoarse. "You can't just let me... keep holding back like this."

Before Jiang Guo'er could react, the man grabbed her waist, lifted her into the air, and carried her away.

The curtains fell, concealing the enchanting atmosphere of the room.

"Should I do it myself, or...?"

He rested one hand on her ear, watching her with a leisurely air, and then extended a finger to lightly tap her button from a distance.

Jiang Guo'er's cheeks flushed slightly as she mentally encouraged herself.

It's okay, it's nothing!

I'm not nervous, there's nothing to be nervous about.

Practice makes perfect; just bear with it and it will pass.

Adults have terrible tempers, and Pei Yan is much better than the violent men in those storybooks.

She looked up at Chengchen above her head and began to count in her mind.

Distract yourself a little, and you won't feel too embarrassed.

But after a few breaths, her ears turned red.

He reached out and very gently pushed the strong arm that suddenly appeared across his chest.

"What tricks have you up your sleeve this day?"

A deep male voice came from beside my ear.

Jiang Guo'er was startled and immediately bent down and knelt on the couch.

"No, no! Your Excellency is wise, this servant would never dare to play tricks in front of you."

Realizing she didn't understand what he meant, Pei Yan felt rather bored.

But he quickly figured it out himself, a smile playing on his lips, and didn't ask any more questions.

Before Jiang Guo'er's consciousness completely faded, only a blurry image appeared in her mind.

In a dark cave, a hungry wolf devoured a lamb.

The next morning.

Jiang Guo'er opened her eyes and first touched her side.

It's empty now, but the mattress is still warm.

She struggled to get up and help Pei Yan wash up, but as soon as she propped herself up halfway, she fell back down heavily with a thud.

"Don't move."

A cool, clear voice came from the direction of the washroom.

Pei Yan was already dressed neatly, in a dark blue casual robe, with a white jade leather belt around his waist, and his black hair was tied up meticulously.

My grandmother just told him yesterday to take it easy and not to wear himself out.

Three times?

Five times or more?

He himself couldn't remember.

All she remembered was that every time she was about to stop, she would unconsciously rub against his chest, and he would…

Walking to the bedside, I saw that Jiang Guo'er's face was pale, her lips were swollen and red, and there were still tear stains in the corners of her eyes.

Several fresh red marks on her neck snaked down her collar, clearly indicating she had been badly bullied.

He should have felt guilty.

However, as I watched, I was replaced by an inexplicable sense of pleasure.

"Green ivy!"

Green Ivy, who was waiting outside the door, immediately pushed the door open and came in, carrying a copper basin and a towel for washing.

He glanced at Jiang Guo'er, who was lying on the bed, barely alive, and then looked at Pei Yan, who was looking refreshed and had a rosy complexion. He gasped.

This is hardly the act of serving someone in bed.

This is suicidal!

"Help her wash up in bed," Pei Yan instructed calmly.

Green Ivy was startled and quickly lowered her head in agreement.

Washing and dressing in bed was a privilege reserved only for favored concubines!

But the Prime Minister had already spoken, so she dared not ask any more questions. She quickly wrung out a hot towel and wiped Jiang Guo'er's face.

Jiang Guo'er hadn't been served for a long time, and she lowered her eyes uncomfortably.

Pei Yan waited until she finished packing before speaking again: "You can stay in the inner room for the next few days; you don't need to go back to the side room."

Upon reaching the door, he instructed the servant, "Bring the physician to examine Miss Jiang."

Upon hearing this, all the servants in the courtyard were stunned.

Green Ivy was completely convinced.

The jealousy in his eyes when he looked at Jiang Guo'er was gone, replaced by awe and sympathy.

Qiuyue, who had been kicked out last night, sat listlessly in Granny Qin's room all night, her clothes disheveled.

At daybreak, he was thrown out of the side gate along with his bundle by several rough-looking old women.

This caused an uproar throughout the entire Pei residence.

The maid sent by the Xue family for a trial marriage was kicked out by the Prime Minister on her very first night!

On the contrary, it was an inconspicuous concubine named Jiang Guo'er who was summoned into the inner room and favored for the night.

This morning, the Prime Minister even unusually summoned the royal physician for her!

Within an hour, the news had spread to the second, third, and fourth wives' families.

The ladies couldn't sit still any longer and rushed to Songhe Garden, ostensibly to pay their respects to the old lady, but in reality, they were all there to sound out her intentions.

"Grandma, have you heard?" Third Madam Liu exclaimed, her beautiful eyes widening dramatically. "The Prime Minister has truly seen the light this time!"

"The main branch of the family will soon have many children! However, one suitable concubine is still too few. How about sending two of my maids over as well?"

"They are all 'slender horses' of Yangzhou, their allure is incomparable to that of ordinary women!"

The old lady twirled her prayer beads, a cold smile playing on her lips.

"I'll give it to you if I want, but whether Yan'er will accept it is another matter."

In the evening, Pei Yan finished his shift and returned home.

I heard that Songhe Garden was unusually lively today, so I didn't go over to pay my respects.

Upon returning to his study, he immediately wrote a letter to Minister Xue of the Ministry of Personnel.

"The maid Qiuyue sent by your esteemed household is frivolous in conduct and unruly in behavior; she is unfit for a trial marriage!"

"Upon examination, it was found that the cosmetics she carried contained aphrodisiacs. May I ask, Lord Xue and your wife, what is the meaning behind your actions?!"