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

Jiang Guo'er wandered around the mansion for a long time.

From the back room to the laundry area, from the kitchen to the woodshed, I explored every corner.

Finally, they found Cuiping outside a woodshed.

Her hair was disheveled, her hands were covered in chilblains with blood seeping from the cracks, and she was struggling to swing a machete to chop firewood.

In a daze, Jiang Guo'er recalled that she had looked just as disheveled two months ago.

She didn't dare to relax and kept her eyes on her until it got dark.

The banquet in the front yard gradually came to an end, and the guests took their leave in twos and threes.

Several colleagues, who had drunk too much, were being escorted out by servants, shouting, "Prime Minister, you'd better have a good time tonight—burp—"

Before he could finish speaking, his mouth was covered and he was stuffed into the carriage.

The time for the wedding night festivities has arrived.

Jiang Guo'er stood under the eaves, took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and stepped into the bridal chamber.

In the new house.

The second, third, and fourth wives, along with several of Pei Yan's cousins, were laughing and joking around Xue Lingyi.

Some people stuffed pomegranates into her arms, while others pulled on red silk ribbons to tie a love knot for her, creating a noisy and chaotic scene.

Luyi stood guard to the side, her face full of tension.

Jiang Guo'er lowered her head and walked in, standing in the corner like an inconspicuous shadow.

Before long, Pei Yan arrived.

The moment the door was pushed open, the once lively room fell silent.

He had changed out of his auspicious robes and put on a dark red brocade robe with a round neck, which was simpler than during the day.

This made him appear even colder, but also more handsome.

The crowd, sensing the situation, made a few sarcastic remarks and then filed out.

"The steelyard." Pei Yan stretched out his hand.

Jiang Guo'er stepped forward and handed over the scale rod with the red rope tied to it with both hands.

As their four fingers intertwined, her fingertips brushed against his palm.

With just that one touch, the heat from their skin touching rose up from their fingertips, burning her hand so much that she recoiled.

She quickly pulled her fingertips back into her sleeve and pinched them in her palm.

Pei Yan took the scale, his expression unchanged, and turned to walk towards the bed.

The scale rod lifted a corner of the red veil and gently lifted it upwards.

The candlelight spilled down, illuminating Xue Lingyi's face.

With willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, and skin as smooth as jade, she was elegant and dignified.

The candlelight illuminated her face, making her so radiant that it was impossible to look away.

Pei Yan nodded slightly.

"Madam, you've had a long day."

Polite and courteous, yet so distant that it leaves one feeling powerless.

Xue Lingyi lowered her eyes, blushed, and said, "Your Excellency has gone to great lengths."

Jiang Guo'er turned around and went to the table to pour the nuptial wine.

She filled two gourd-shaped cups with gold in the center, tied with a red silk ribbon, and presented them to the two men.

The two men drank the wine arm in arm.

The wine dripped down the side of the glass, and a drop landed on the red silk, reflecting a small dark patch.

Jiang Guo'er kept her head down.

No one could see her expression.

After the nuptial wine was finished, she quietly collected the cups and slipped out the door.

Back in the side room, Jiang Guo'er bolted the door shut. She leaned against the door for a couple of breaths before taking out a doll from her bosom.

There were many things to do during the day for the wedding, so Afu went to the front yard to help out.

She seized an opportunity and quickly retrieved the doll from under the bookshelf.

But the narrow pocket containing the brass keys got caught on something and got stuck under the bookshelf.

Time was limited, so she couldn't take it out.

"You must be exhausted today?"

She muttered to herself.

I filled a basin with warm water, wrung out a cloth, and cupped the doll's face to wipe it clean.

The handkerchief first brushed across the center of the forehead, then moved down along the cheekbone little by little.

When it reached the bend in the jawline, it turned back and even the small area behind the ear was wiped very carefully.

"Bear with it, the water's a bit cold."

He took the doll's hand and rubbed it finger by finger.

Then he took off his little hat, untied his little boots, and even took off his outer robe.

Finally, remove the thin string binding its hair, take a wooden comb, and gently comb through its hair, stroke by stroke.

The silky strands of hair glided smoothly and softly through the comb's teeth.

"Feels good, doesn't it?"

She tilted her head to look at the doll's face, and the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

Then place it next to your pillow, half-hug it, and slowly lie down.

The faint echoes of one or two firecrackers could be heard from the front yard.

Jiang Guo'er was disturbed, so she turned over and buried her face in the pillow.

The collar of her undergarment was rolled up a bit, making her uncomfortable, so she reached out and pulled it outwards.

I don't know how much time passed.

Jiang Guo'er's back began to sweat slightly, and she unconsciously lifted a corner of the quilt.

A chill crept in, raising goosebumps on my skin.

After a while, I felt hot again.

"Who's burning me alive?! I'm not dead, I'm still alive!"

Jiang Guo'er was panting heavily, wiping her forehead, which was covered in sweat.

She just had a nightmare.

I dreamt that I was taken away by the Black and White Impermanence and thrown into a place where there was fire everywhere.

A dozen or so green-faced little devils hopped over, tied her up, carried her on their shoulders, then strung her together with a long wooden stick and pinned her to the fire.

Thank goodness, it was just a dream.

Jiang Guo'er unconsciously pouted and rubbed her chest.

Immediately, he kicked the blanket off, opened his collar, and started fanning himself.

"This is unbelievable, how can it be so hot?"

She got out of bed, her slender and shapely body swaying in the candlelight, and hurriedly picked up a teacup and pressed it against her face.

The cool porcelain glaze immediately made her feel much more comfortable, and she let out a soft sigh of relief.

Looking down, I saw that my chest was already covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Jiang Guo'er rubbed her temples, then quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped her neck and collarbone thoroughly.

Because the handkerchief was stained with rouge, her snow-white shoulders and neck instantly turned red.

She bit her lower lip, desperately trying to recall what she had eaten and touched that day.

Lunch was plain noodles cooked in a large pot in the kitchen, so there shouldn't be any problem.

She drank several cups of cold tea at noon, all of which she poured herself.

besides……

Only that handful of red dates.

"Impossible." She rejected the idea almost instantly.

That was given to her by Lingyi. How could Lingyi possibly harm her?!

So who exactly is it?

Third Master Pei Zhangyao?

But today is the Prime Minister's wedding day, and even if he wanted to take revenge on her, he would never choose this critical moment.

She couldn't figure it out.

Her body, however, left her no room for further thought.

She felt dizzy and curled up in bed in pain, kicking the mattress with her toes and scratching wildly with her hands.

But it was like scratching an itch through a boot.

In a daze, Jiang Guo'er touched the doll beside her pillow and instinctively pulled it into her arms.

……

She suddenly gripped the doll with one hand, biting the corner of the pillow tightly, her whole body curling up like a shrimp...

I don't know how much time passed.

Jiang Guo'er's face was flushed, and she collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. It took her a long time to recover.

The doll rolled out of her hands and fell sideways onto the bedding.

She was stunned for three breaths.

He grabbed the blanket and pulled it over his head, kicking his legs hard several times, rolling around in bed in a state of utter despair.

"It's all over, it's all over, it's all over!"

She covered her face, her bright red ear tips peeking out from between her fingers.

The daughter of a noble family.

No, she's a maidservant now.

But regardless of their identity—what just happened was simply... outrageous!

She tugged at her hair, trying to banish the lingering, erotic images from her mind.

Just then, the window was gently pushed open from the outside.

Jiang Guo'er's hair stood on end. She sprang up, grabbed the scissors from the bedside table, and held them in front of her.

Moonlight streamed in through the cracks, casting a silvery-white glow.

A slender hand pressed against the window frame.

The candlelight and moonlight shone on it at the same time, outlining a face that she knew all too well.

A cold wind blew in through the open window, raising a fine shiver down her bare shoulders.

Only then did she realize that she was only wearing a bellyband and her messy hair was draped over her shoulders.

Jiang Guo'er's hand holding the scissors froze in mid-air.

My mind was like a pot of porridge, which was then stirred up by someone.

Logic, judgment, identity, and plan—all shattered.

Shouldn't he be in the new house?

Tonight is his wedding night!