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

The next morning, in the warm attic of the main room.

Jiang Guo'er was holding a small embroidery frame and was embroidering a cluster of orchids with her head down.

On the small table next to it was a plate with the leftover candied hawthorns from last night.

Xue Lingyi sat opposite, fiddling with an embroidery needle threaded with gold.

I glanced at the plate of pastries out of the corner of my eye and finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"You're still laughing." Jiang Guo'er's ears turned slightly red.

"Yesterday, the Prime Minister suddenly barged in, handed it to me without saying a word, and I have no idea where he got it from."

Green Ripple was carrying in a basin of hot water to wash the two of them's hands when she heard this, and her eyes crinkled with joy.

"Young lady, you're so lucky! It's freezing outside, you really need to take good care of her!"

Jiang Guo'er glared at Lü Yi reproachfully.

"What nonsense are you spouting? The Prime Minister is only showing mercy because of the child in my belly."

"This is something he's been waiting for for so long, so naturally we should treat it with the utmost care."

"If it were Lingyi who was pregnant, the Prime Minister would probably pluck the stars from the sky."

Xue Lingyi waved her hands repeatedly, her face full of resistance.

"Stop it right now! Don't drag me into this."

"My health hasn't recovered yet. If he gets too close to me, I'll still feel nauseous and vomit. I wish he could stay with you every day."

Xue Lingyi put down the bandage in her hand and moved a little closer.

"But speaking of which, after he delivered the candied fruit to you last night, why didn't he stay in your room? Instead, he went to the study."

Jiang Guo'er paused in her needlework and shook her head.

"How could I possibly fathom the Prime Minister's thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Lingyi's smile deepened.

"I'm afraid I might hurt you in a moment of passion."

"Besides... the candied hawthorns outside are all made of hawthorn, but yours is made of red dates! It's possible... the Prime Minister himself made it in the small kitchen."

"But how could the Grand Secretary be made a servant by a mere concubine? He couldn't bear the humiliation, so he hid in his study!"

Jiang Guo'er's cheeks flushed red, and she almost pricked her finger with the needle in her hand.

"Stop talking! How is this possible?!"

Xue Lingyi shrugged. "It's unlikely. I was just joking, you actually took it seriously."

After a few playful exchanges, Jiang Guo'er put the needle and thread into the basket and became serious.

"Lingyi, there's a secret behind that 'Lotus Picking' painting in the study."

She recounted everything she had discovered in the study and her doubts about the weight of the scroll.

"If the confidential documents in the hidden compartment of that low cabinet are indeed hidden inside the scroll, I must find a way to get them out and examine them."

"But Ah Fu is keeping a close watch, and there are also the Owl Guards lurking in the shadows, so I really can't find a suitable opportunity."

Xue Lingyi frowned and pondered for a long time, then her eyes suddenly lit up.

Have you ever heard the story of the butterfly falling in love with the flower?

"In the previous dynasty, there was a painter named Xie Yun, who was most skilled at painting peonies. It was rumored that his peonies were so lifelike that butterflies and bees would flock to his paintings."

"Later, someone saw through his trick! Xie Yun wasn't a master painter; he had secretly mixed honey into his paints."

Jiang Guo'er immediately clapped her hands, and the clouds of worry vanished.

"You mean, I should secretly smear something on the painting too? Like honey to attract insects?"

"Not bad." Xue Lingyi nodded, her voice very soft.

"Use a cloth soaked in sugar water to lightly dab a few lines along the edges of several paintings."

"If you light a brazier in the study, it will quickly attract insects and ants from the cracks in the walls."

Jiang Guo'er had just raised the corners of her mouth when she suddenly shrank her neck.

"This 'creating something out of nothing' tactic is brilliant, but what if the Owl Guard finds out that I was the one who put the sugar water on..."

"So you need me to cover for you." Xue Lingyi gently patted her hand.

"There are many authentic works by famous artists hanging in the study. If they were crawling with insects and ants, Afu and Xiaowei would definitely be nervous."

"Their first reaction would definitely be to quickly take the scroll down, pat and clean it, and check the extent of the damage."

"At this time, I used my position as the mistress of the house to go in and question them, and took the opportunity to confront them and reprimand them for not taking their duties seriously."

"You then took advantage of the chaos to step forward and retrieve the contents of the scroll."

Jiang Guo'er considered the plan in her mind and thought it was a good one.

However, they still need to discuss some details.

Night fell, and a cold wind howled.

After Jiang Guo'er finished bathing, she sat down in front of her dressing table.

She opened the bottom hidden compartment of the dressing case and took out the newly embroidered pomegranate-red sachet.

She twirled the delicate tassel at the bottom of the pouch with her fingertips and then attached it to her elbow.

As soon as she moves, the tassels sway up and down with her movements.

Sometimes it brushed against her armpits, sometimes it pressed against her snow-white waist.

The fragrance will also waft through the air.

Like a fluttering butterfly, it hovered around her.

The old lady's words still echoed in my ears.

[He must find the person with whom he has the deepest affection and kiss them on the lips for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn every day.]

Jiang Guo'er patted her cheeks.

Healing the sick and saving lives is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda!

Amitabha Buddha, Bodhisattva, please bless this folk remedy to work!

The door hinge creaked.

Pei Yan stepped across the threshold, exuding a chill.

He didn't even wear a cloak, only a thin black casual robe.

Jiang Guo'er quickly stood up and went to greet her.

"Why isn't Your Excellency wearing a cloak? You'll catch a chill."

Pei Yan lowered his eyelids, his Adam's apple bobbing violently twice.

He hadn't forgotten to put on his cloak.

Instead, the thought of getting her to kiss him first... and for the duration of an incense stick burning.

His blood was boiling like hot water.

Moreover, she was pregnant, so he had to remain calm and composed, and absolutely could not hurt her.

Only by letting the cold wind blow through the courtyard could the burning heat be barely suppressed.

Pei Yan walked to the bedside and sat down, his back ramrod straight.

Jiang Guo'er secretly bit her lower lip.

Since we can't avoid it, let's not be coy!

She climbed onto the bed and knelt beside Pei Yan's legs, reaching out to unfasten the jade buttons on his chest.

The moment my fingertips touched the first button, my wrist was firmly gripped by a large, hot hand.

Jiang Guo'er blinked twice and softened her voice.

"Master Longchuan said that the poison in Your Majesty's body can only be neutralized by the most intimate and warm methods. This servant is willing to help Your Majesty detoxify."

She leaned closer, her breath brushing against his tense chin.

"However, it must be this servant who takes the initiative. Your Excellency must be patient and refrain from... taking the initiative."

"What if this antidote doesn't work? Wouldn't all our efforts have been wasted?"

Pei Yan's ears turned bright red instantly.

How could this woman talk about something like this so... confidently!

Jiang Guo'er leaned into his arms.

A faint, warm fragrance, mixed with the scent of soap from her hair and balm from the back of her head, drifted into Pei Yan's nostrils.

Her face flushed like a peach blossom, and she gradually magnified before Pei Yan's eyes.

The small, high nose bridge still bears faint red marks left by the pillow.

Pei Yan's chin was gently lifted by a finger, and instantly, something soft and slightly sweet brushed against his neck.

Like being caressed by the colorful and soft wings of a butterfly.

Pei Yan's body instantly stiffened into a solid block.

Jiang Guo'er actually kissed his Adam's apple!

"you--"

He instinctively opened his mouth to scold her, but before he could utter a word, Jiang Guo'er leaned closer again.

Her round, large almond-shaped eyes looked at him innocently, glistening with a watery sheen.

"Doesn't Your Excellency like it?"

Pei Yan's face was gloomy, but his bright red ears were not seen by Jiang Guo'er because they were covered by his hair.

……like.

What he likes.

But how could he, the Grand Secretary, utter such words!

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Jiang Guo'er thought he didn't like it, so she quickly raised her head and moved a little distance away.

"I'm sorry, I've offended you... I just wanted Your Excellency to relax a bit... So... shall we just get right to it?"

Pei Yan suddenly grabbed a handful of the bedding and growled fiercely, "Come straight here!"

Jiang Guo'er understood.

The next moment, she tentatively pressed her lips to Pei Yan's.

Pei Yan did not push her away.

She stood there obediently, motionless, while her attention was diverted to the burning incense on the table.

"What are you doing?" Pei Yan gritted his teeth, quite dissatisfied.

How could she possibly be distracted at a time like this?

So, kissing him was just to complete the old lady's task?

Jiang Guo'er blinked her eyes pitifully, and before she knew it, her mouth had left Pei Yan's.

"Although that meets Master Longchuan's requirements,... staying still is just too agonizing."

Pei Yan almost laughed out of anger. "Is it my fault?"

Jiang Guo'er dared not blame him.

But dragging it out like this isn't going to work. She was very tired today and wanted to rest early, so she took a deep breath and steeled herself.

She climbed onto Pei Yan's arms and kissed him all the way down his Adam's apple.

With a bold leap, she stuck out her tongue and, mimicking his usual kissing motions, slowly pried open his teeth and timidly touched his tongue.