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

Jiang Guo'er took a deep breath, threw off the covers and got out of bed, helping up Lü Yi who was kneeling on the ground.

That's fine...

Having promised to help Xue Lingyi secure her position as the mistress of the Prime Minister's mansion, she would never allow this trial marriage to go wrong again.

Over the next hour, Jiang Guo'er led Lü Yi on a tour of the inner room, explaining everything in detail.

"The Prime Minister prefers quiet and dislikes gossipy servants. Once you're inside, don't make a sound unless he asks you a question."

Lu Yi nodded.

"There is ointment in the hidden compartment by the bed, stored in a white jade box. It must not be replaced without permission. Qiuyue fell victim to this."

Lu Yi's gaze became even more serious.

"The Prime Minister is a clean freak, and his inner chambers are filled with pear-scented incense or sandalwood. When serving him personally, one must not have any pungent perfume or cosmetics on one's body."

"The tea must be freshly boiled and cooled to about 70% of its original temperature. If it's too hot, he'll get angry; if it's too cold, he won't drink it."

Luyi listened very attentively and memorized everything.

Finally, Jiang Guo'er added:

"He has a little habit before going to bed: he likes to lean against the headboard and read for a while."

"Remember to move the brass lamp to his left so it doesn't block the light."

Green Ripple was taken aback for a moment, then sincerely said, "Miss, you are truly as meticulous as dust."

Jiang Guo'er didn't reply, but lowered her eyes and finished the last sip of chicken soup.

Serving Pei Yan is her most important task right now, and since she's taken it on, she has to do it flawlessly.

As evening approached, the gray clouds hung low in the sky.

Fine snowflakes, carried by the cold wind, pattered against the eaves.

There was a commotion coming from the front yard; it must be Pei Yan returning home after finishing his shift.

Jiang Guo'er subconsciously picked up the oil-paper umbrella and was about to step out to greet her when she caught a glimpse of Lü Yi standing beside her.

He paused in his steps.

He immediately turned around and stuffed the oil-paper umbrella into Lüyi's hand.

"Just hold the umbrella up and make sure he doesn't get wet in the snow. Don't say anything more."

Lu Yi gripped the umbrella handle tightly and took a deep breath.

"Yes."

Jiang Guo'er watched the oil-paper umbrella disappear into the corner of the corridor, stood there for a couple of breaths, then turned and went to the washroom to prepare hot water for Pei Yan.

After a cup of tea.

Pei Yan lifted the heavy curtain and stepped into the inner room.

Green Ripple followed closely behind him, silently taking off his snow-covered fox fur cloak and outer robe, smoothing them out and hanging them on the wooden rack.

Jiang Guo'er stood demurely to the side, holding a small charcoal stove for warming her hands.

Pei Yan looked over with a cold expression.

Today he was wearing a dark blue straight robe, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and the collar was tied tightly.

After a whole day of attending court and governing, while others were already showing signs of exhaustion, he remained meticulous and exuded a cool aura.

His gaze, however, was as deep and unfathomable as an abyss, sending chills down one's spine.

"Green Ripple will be serving you tonight, you may leave."

Jiang Guo'er was stunned for a moment.

Unable to resist, she looked up at Pei Yan.

The man had already turned around, took the hot towel handed to him by Lvyi, and slowly wiped his fingers.

Jiang Guo'er quickly placed the charcoal stove on the table and nimbly retreated.

Back in the side room, she closed the door behind her.

After standing against the door for a while, he took out the doll he had been carrying and gently rubbed its little face with his fingertips.

"Great, I don't have to spend tonight with that living devil."

She held the doll up to her eyes and shook its head, which was wearing a small hat.

"It would be so nice if just the two of us slept together."

After saying that, he straightened the doll's crooked soft-soled boots, then wrapped himself in the blanket, curled up in a ball, hugged the doll to his chest, and buried his nose in its little hat.

That night, the candlelight in the inner room flickered and never went out.

Two thick doors separated the side room from the inner room, so Jiang Guo'er couldn't hear anything.

But I just couldn't fall asleep, tossing and turning.

After a while, I felt the blanket was too thick, so I lifted half of it.

A moment later, I felt cold again and wrapped the corner of the blanket tighter around myself.

Finally, he held the doll's little hand between his fingers, rubbing it absently, and muttered:

"After all, she is the personal maid of Lord Xue's daughter, well-educated and reasonable, with a respectable family background. Unlike me, I even made up my origins."

After saying that, he felt it was pretentious, spat at himself, and finally managed to fall asleep.

But I never expected that Green Ripples...

They didn't come out until the next day at dawn.

As dawn broke, several rough-and-ready women responsible for sweeping and cleaning began gossiping under the eaves.

It is said that the Xue family's head maid was slapped by the Prime Minister as soon as she arrived.

The maids sent by the Xue family are truly exceptional.

Jiang Guo'er stood in front of the red clay stove in the tea room, listening to the sounds outside.

Lift the copper kettle and pour the hot water steadily into the blue and white porcelain teacup.

Suddenly, her fingertips slipped, and the copper pot fell, the entire pot slipping from her hand and landing on the instep of her foot.

It hurts, it hurts!

Jiang Guo'er gasped several times; the instep must be bruised.

She gritted her teeth and was about to go find the ointment when the curtain was suddenly lifted open.

Pei Yan, dressed in a scarlet court robe adorned with crane patterns, walked in against the morning light, his tall figure silhouetted against the backdrop of the morning sun.

He frowned when he saw the bronze kettle on the ground.

"How can you be so clumsy? You can't even pour a cup of tea properly!"

"No wonder he was nowhere to be seen this morning; he was deliberately slacking off here?"

Jiang Guo'er lowered her head and remained silent, her toes curling a few times inside her embroidered shoes.

Pei Yan's gaze lingered for a moment before shifting away.

"After cleaning the floor and having breakfast, take Lüyi to Songhe Garden to see the Old Madam and familiarize her with the inner courtyard."

Jiang Guo'er felt a slight stinging sensation in her nose and whispered, "Yes."

He knelt on the blue brick floor, picked up the copper kettle, and used a rag to wipe away the water stains little by little.

Pei Yan was already late for court today.

As he strode out, he paused at the threshold, turned his head, and whispered a few words to Lüyi.

That kind of intimacy and trust was something she had never experienced before.

Yes, he is the Grand Secretary, second only to the Emperor, and in the future he will accept Lingyi just as he accepted himself and Lüyi.

Even more...they doted on them.

A pang of sadness welled up in Jiang Guo'er's heart, but it was only for a moment.

After getting everything ready, he respectfully led Lüyi to Songhe Garden to kowtow to the Old Madam.

The old lady already knew the news.

Seeing that Lüyi was poised and tactful, and responded appropriately, his eyes were full of approval.

Immediately, he rewarded her with two pairs of silk-wrapped gold bracelets, plus a bolt of fine Hangzhou silk.

Jiang Guo'er stood to the side, her eyes lowered, her fingers secretly caressing the filigree gold ring on her finger.

I wouldn't say I'm envious.

But I could also sense some of the flavor described in those storybooks—

"Only the laughter of the new bride is heard, but the tears of the old bride are nowhere to be seen."

Before the greetings were even finished, the wives of the second, third, and fourth wives, as if they had made a prior arrangement, sent over a large entourage of dozens of concubines.

Among them, the Yangzhou "slender horse" sent by the third wife was particularly eye-catching.

Her waist was only the width of a palm, and with a single glance, she could steal a person's soul.

The old lady fiddled with her prayer beads and instructed Jiang Guo'er, "Take good care of them. The Prime Minister cannot be without servants."

After speaking, he subtly glanced at Jiang Guo'er's face.

Seeing that she was neither flustered nor showed any jealousy, but simply nodded slightly in agreement, a hint of satisfaction appeared on her face.

"You're a sensible person. Starting this month, your allowance will be doubled."

Jiang Guo'er was taken aback and quickly kowtowed to express her gratitude.

It has to be the old lady; she always gives her real benefits, much better than that scoundrel!

After leaving Songhe Garden, she discussed with Lüyi and then began to assign rooms in a swift and efficient manner.

Which ones were placed in the side rooms closer to the inner room, and which ones were sent to the rear room?

The arrangement is clear.

Several beautiful concubines, upon seeing that they had been assigned to such a remote and undesirable position, immediately protested.

"Sister Jiang, we were all bestowed upon us by our master to serve the Prime Minister."

"Why did you divide us up so unfairly? That's so unfair!"

Jiang Guo'er slowly raised the corners of her lips.

"You want fairness as soon as you arrive?" She took a step forward, her face cold.

"Should I offer you the side room as well?"

The concubines choked.

Jiang Guo'er deliberately raised her voice in front of Lü Yi.

"Miss Lüyi is the future mistress of the house; even I have to show her respect. Who do you think you are, daring to shout like that here?"

"It's not a big deal if you anger me, but if this gets back to Miss Xue, it will damage the relationship between the Xue family and the Pei family—"

She smiled slightly.

"Be careful, or the old lady will skin you alive!"

After a barrage of reprimands and beatings, the troublemakers were rendered speechless.

However, that night, Jiang Guo'er still followed the rules and sent the Yangzhou "slender horse" named Xianxian into the inner room.

However, it didn't even take half an incense stick's time.

"Get out—!" A roar came from the inner room.

Xianxian ran out from inside, her clothes disheveled, and almost bumped into Jiang Guo'er.

Before Jiang Guo'er could react, a large, strong hand grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the house!

The door was kicked shut behind her.

Before Jiang Guo'er could stand up straight, her back slammed heavily against the hard mandarin duck table.