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

Just as Jiang Guo'er removed the doll from her chest, the door to the side room was pushed open from the outside.

Pei Yan strode in, still carrying the chill from outside, with a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

Jiang Guo'er was so startled that her hand trembled, and she almost threw the silk doll away.

"Prime Minister?"

She hurriedly stuffed the doll under her pillow.

Pei Yan came to the bedside, his chest heaving violently, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

He opened his mouth.

No sound was heard.

Yes, his throat is still not better.

But the surging heat in his eyes was more scorching than any words.

It was as if a pot of aged liquor had been brewed, and his usual aloofness and coldness had completely disappeared.

Pei Yan leaned down, one hand resting on the soft pillow beside her ear, and the other gently cupping her face.

Rough fingertips gently caressed her eyes.

She parted her lips slightly, not as hungry as usual.

It is both light and slow, like simmering a pot of exquisite porridge. To achieve a unique and rich aroma, one needs to be more patient than others.

After kissing the corner of his mouth, he kissed the tip of his nose, and then kissed the center of his forehead.

Jiang Guo'er froze completely.

What's going on here?

While Pei Yan may occasionally be gentle, he would never be this... tender.

Then, he pressed his forehead against hers and gently lifted her chin with his thumb.

This time, there was a slight, suppressed tremor.

Could it be that he really thought I loved him to death and was moved by my devotion?

Jiang Guo'er steeled herself, raised her hand and wrapped it around his neck in response.

Pei Yan then pulled her into his arms.

Suddenly, the only flower I ever owned as a child came to mind.

It was a very small azalea, bright red, soft, and fragile; he crushed it with just a little force.

Looking at the flower juice staining his fingertips, he couldn't help but lower his head and kiss them.

The reflection of himself in the bronze mirror was stained with a touch of bright red.

That was the first time he truly understood what it meant to be alive.

But it was just a flower. The next day, his father severely reprimanded and whipped him, and for a whole month he was not allowed to leave the attic.

Jiang Guo'er is his current lover.

his!

Gazing at those graceful lines and delicate, fair collarbones, Pei Yan showered them with one soft kiss after another.

The side room was so quiet that only their breathing could be heard.

Pei Yan's heart was pounding hard.

Jiang Guo'er couldn't help but feel her heart tremble.

My mother used to say that when you encounter something you don't understand, you should be extra careful and cautious.

Jiang Guo'er's hand quietly slid under the pillow.

My fingertips precisely touched the doll's armpits and scratched them very lightly twice.

Pei Yan, who was holding her, suddenly jerked his body away!

He instinctively tightened his arms around her waist, his lips pressed into a straight line.

Jiang Guo'er secretly glanced at him.

Pei Yan's eyelashes fluttered wildly, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down erratically.

Her face first showed shock, then restraint, and finally... her neck turned a thin red from holding it in, revealing an indescribable embarrassment.

Jiang Guo'er pulled her hand back, her heart churning with turmoil.

it is true.

It's all true!

This doll truly has a connection with his five senses!

What does this mean?

This means that as long as the doll is in her hands, she can easily influence his emotions.

Jiang Guo'er buried her face in Pei Yan's warm chest and quietly curved the corners of her mouth.

Half an hour later.

After Jiang Guo'er finished helping Pei Yan relieve his discomfort, she pulled up his collar and brought him a cup of warm water.

Pei Yan leaned lazily against the headboard, holding her fingers and playing with them one by one.

Jiang Guo'er hesitated for a moment, then said in a soft voice, "Prime Minister, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."

Pei Yan raised his chin, gesturing for her to speak.

"My mistress trusts me, but I must not take advantage of her favor. If the Prime Minister comes to my place every day, people outside will gossip, and it will not look good for my mistress."

She lowered her eyes and gently bit her lip.

"If Your Excellency truly intends for the long term, you should spend more time with the mistress."

"She had already suffered countless grievances at her parents' home; she married into the Pei family hoping for stability."

"If Your Excellency spends more time with her, even if it's just sitting down for a chat or having a cup of tea, she'll feel much more at ease."

Pei Yan paused almost imperceptibly in the movement of holding her fingers.

For most people, pregnancy would be the perfect opportunity to curry favor and secure their position, and they would want to keep their man by their side day and night.

She, on the other hand, always considered the interests of the mistress of the house, fearing that she would take up too much of his time.

She is so sensible that it's heartbreaking.

Pei Yan gently rubbed her head and took out a small booklet and charcoal pencil that he always carried with him from his sleeve.

"I'll come over later. I won't bother you, I'll just hold you while we sleep."

Jiang Guo'er's ears burned slightly, and she gave a soft "hmm".

Pei Yan then got up and straightened his robes. Before leaving, he inexplicably turned back and placed a light kiss on her forehead.

Once his figure disappeared outside the moon gate, Jiang Guo'er breathed a long sigh of relief.

He patted his cheeks to suppress the inappropriate palpitation.

After tidying up, I strolled towards the study.

Since the incident involving the poisoning of lotus flowers, the guards in the study have become more than twice as strict as before.

The servant Afu stood guard at the door, while guards from the shadows kept watch.

This time, Jiang Guo'er walked over confidently.

"Ah Fu, I want to go inside and find a couple of travelogues to pass the time."

Ah Fu looked troubled: "Miss, the study is a sensitive place, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, a small pebble flew from the shadows and landed at Afu's feet.

Ah Fu looked down, his attitude instantly changed 180 degrees, and he smiled broadly: "Please, young lady!"

Jiang Guo'er raised her eyebrows slightly.

It is the Owl Guard.

It seems this is Pei Yan's idea, so she would be impolite to refuse.

The furnishings in the study remained unchanged.

Jiang Guo'er had no intention of searching.

She came here to review the situation.

The first two times she entered the study, her mind was mostly focused on the hidden compartment of the low cabinet and the documents on the desk.

But now, the things in the hidden compartment have been moved by Pei Yan. Where exactly have they been hidden?

As she pondered, she paced back and forth in front of the bookshelf, casually picking out two travelogues with beautiful illustrations and slowly flipping through them.

As I turned around and looked up, my gaze fell directly on the painting hanging on the wall.

Lotus Picking Picture.

At the Lantern Festival when she was fourteen, she lost a game of "flying flowers" to a man wearing a blue-faced, fanged mask.

He was true to his word and drew this picture on the spot to give to him.

At that time, she felt that this person was exceptionally talented and his demeanor was incomparable to that of ordinary young masters from noble families.

However, this painting ended up in Pei Yan's study.

It looks strange no matter how you look at it.

She is Pei Yan's "destined daughter," and the matter of the doll's empathy has been confirmed; the man who wore the mask back then...

Could it be... him?!

Jiang Guo'er's heart skipped a beat.

"Afu," she asked casually, "how many years have you been serving the Prime Minister?"

Upon hearing this, Afu smiled and replied, "Miss, I have been following the Prime Minister since I was ten years old, and almost ten years have passed in the blink of an eye."

"Prime Minister...do you enjoy visiting lantern festivals?"

Afu blinked, assuming she just wanted to go out for a walk, and immediately perked up.

"Miss, would you like to go to the lantern festival? Such a small matter, how could the Prime Minister refuse? Or, shall I go and speak to him for you?"

Jiang Guo'er sighed inwardly, knowing she wouldn't get any more information out of him.

"No need, I was just asking casually."

She looked at the painting again.

The walls of this study are covered with authentic works by famous artists.

Zhao Mengfu's running script, Qiu Ying's landscapes, Wen Zhengming's orchids and bamboos... all are priceless treasures.

Unfortunately, among them was a painting she had made when she was fourteen.

They were completely out of place.

Jiang Guo'er subconsciously touched the edge of the picture, her fingertips sliding down the slightly yellow silk.

The moment her fingers closed and grasped the scroll, her brow furrowed slightly.

The portion is incorrect!

This scroll is much heavier than the usual scroll rod.

She turned to the side without making a sound and weighed the scrolls of the two landscape paintings next to her.

It feels light and airy; it's a normal ebony shaft.

She turned back and grasped the scroll of "Picking Lotus Flowers" again.

It was heavy, as if it were filled with solid objects!

Jiang Guo'er's heart jumped, but her face remained calm and composed.

Could it be that Pei Yan... placed those confidential documents that were moved from the hidden compartment of the low cabinet...

She immediately let go of his hand and looked down to flip through the travelogue she was holding.

"These two will do; they're interesting to read."

Jiang Guo'er smiled and waved the book at Afu before walking out briskly.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow, as calm and composed as when he arrived.