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

Pei Yan: !!! !!!

He grabbed Jiang Guo'er's slender waist and pulled her hard into his arms.

However, he was immediately stunned.

What if... he loses his composure in his desperation and the antidote really doesn't work?

He clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, forcefully suppressing his overwhelming desire.

He could only let her, clumsy and torturous, slowly erode his will.

Jiang Guo'er was somewhat dazed from the kiss, her fingertips unconsciously digging into the solid fabric of his back.

The small sachet adorning her elbow patted Pei Yan's chest again and again.

The force was very light, and he didn't feel any pain at all.

But the swaying tassels, like dragonfly wings skimming across the water, aroused his already burning desire, making it burn like oil on a raging fire.

Pei Yan ripped off the sachet, then realized he had used too much force, and paused for a moment.

Be careful not to crush it.

But why did she specifically put this on today?

What exactly does this woman mean?

Why have you become even bolder since you got pregnant?

Aren't you afraid of taking her right there and then?

Just when Pei Yan was on the verge of collapse, a voice entered his mind.

[...Detoxification...clearly...I was suffocating!]

Pei Yan's previously gloomy eyes suddenly softened into tenderness.

Is this what she truly feels?

So... she was just as unbearable as I was?

An indescribable sense of satisfaction and restlessness swept over Pei Yan.

He knows it!

This woman is madly in love with him. She pretends to be proper, but in reality, she's desperately craving him!

Pei Yan deliberately leaned back, grabbed the back of her head with his large hand, and made her lie face down on him.

Jiang Guo'er deepened the kiss without any instruction, her mind gradually going blank...

Pei Yan would occasionally lift his eyelids to glance at the incense on the table.

Finally, it burned out!

Pei Yan's eyes darkened instantly, and he took the initiative, giving her no chance to breathe.

A muffled sob escaped Jiang Guo'er's throat, her fingertips creating messy creases on the bedding.

[...You promised...one incense stick's time...you liar...]

The fragmented thoughts came again.

Pei Yan's chest trembled, he gritted his teeth, and a satisfied laugh escaped his throat.

Can't even handle that?

After a few breaths, he stepped back slightly, releasing his ravaged, swollen lips.

Let's keep this score in mind for now, and settle it with Jiang Guo'er slowly after she gives birth!

……

The Lantern Festival is on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Before dawn, the main house was already bustling with activity.

Jiang Guo'er knelt on the edge of the bed, straightening the wrinkles on Pei Yan's court robes.

Today he was wearing a bright red brocade robe with a python pattern, a black gauze hat, and a jade belt around his waist. What a handsome and elegant man he was!

She fastened the last button for him, her fingers lingering on his chest for a moment longer.

[Handsome and dashing...the Crown Prince...and all the officials in the court...cannot compare.]

"Cough cough..."

Pei Yan cleared his throat, raised his chin, and his lips seemed to want to turn up, but he held back.

His hand had already slipped into his sleeve and touched the warm sachet.

Last night, I was inexplicably held in his hand the whole time, and I had planned to secretly tie it back to her elbow this morning...

But after touching the soft satin of the sachet, he hesitated again.

...Let's stay for one day.

Jiang Guo'er quickly withdrew her hand and obediently stepped back half a step.

"When will the Prime Minister return today?"

Pei Yan picked up his brush and wrote two characters on the Xuan paper: "End of Xu Shi" (戌时末).

Jiang Guo'er nodded obediently.

"This servant will wait for the Prime Minister to return."

Pei Yan put down his pen and wrote another line.

Stay put and you'll get something when you come back.

Jiang Guo'er's eyelashes fluttered twice, her mind already racing with calculations.

The curtain fell, and the sound of boots faded into the distance.

She stood there for a moment, then turned and walked towards Songhe Garden.

Songhe Garden was quite lively today.

The old lady is in good spirits today, and all kinds of lanterns are hung in the courtyard and under the eaves.

The lanterns, painted in bright red, pale yellow, and light blue, flickered and reflected the white snow-covered courtyard, creating a festive atmosphere.

The second, third, and fourth wives all brought their children to pay their respects to the old lady.

After they left, Jiang Guo'er went inside, where the maids were setting out bowls and chopsticks.

Several dishes of fillings were already laid out on the round table: black sesame, red bean paste, and osmanthus sugar. A pot of boiling water was bubbling away on a small red clay stove.

"Guo'er is here! Come, sit down. Today we'll make our own glutinous rice balls."

Jiang Guo'er smiled and agreed, then rolled up her sleeves and sat down next to the old lady.

She was skillful and quickly rolled out a round glutinous rice ball, smoother than the ones rolled by the maids next to her.

The old lady found it fascinating and praised it several times.

"Madam, let me cook this bowl for you first." Jiang Guo'er scooped about ten glutinous rice balls into the bowl and gestured for the maid to take them to the pot.

The old lady patted her hand with a smile, "You should eat some later too. If you think the glutinous rice balls are too greasy, I'll have them make something else."

Jiang Guo'er nodded, and after a long while, she noticed a familiar figure in the corner.

It's Granny Li.

She was wearing coarse cloth clothes and was wiping the flower stand with her head down.

He had lost a lot of weight since the last time we met, his face was sallow, he was hunched over, and his lips would tremble from time to time.

Jiang Guo'er frowned in confusion.

She promised Granny Li that she would help her return to Songhe Garden.

Before she could even speak, why did the old lady keep her here on her own?

"Granny Li was too talkative, so she was severely punished. Her tongue was cut out." The old lady took a sip of tea, her tone calm.

The glutinous rice balls that Jiang Guo'er had just rolled in her hand fell back into the plate with a "plop".

Does the Prime Minister know that she threatened him?

So...they secretly disposed of Granny Li?

As for Lianhua, could she have already been executed by the Prime Minister?

Her heart was pounding, and her mind was in turmoil.

The old lady sighed.

"She's been with me for thirty years, and I was afraid she'd die if no one took care of her, so I simply transferred her back."

"Fortunately, they can't cause any trouble under my nose."

Jiang Guo'er slowly let out a breath.

In this way, it can be considered that a big problem has been solved for her.

If Granny Li still wants to live, she shouldn't dare to threaten her anymore.

You could cut out your tongue... How painful would that be!

Jiang Guo'er didn't dare to even think about it. Goosebumps covered the back of her neck. She lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.

When we returned to the main room after having eaten glutinous rice balls with the old lady, it was already afternoon.

Xue Lingyi waited for her in the east side room, while Lüyi stood guard outside.

"Have you decided to take action today?" Xue Lingyi asked.

Jiang Guo'er nodded.

"The Prime Minister won't return until 9 PM, and the palace banquet won't end that early. Let's start at 3 PM; that's three hours, enough time!"

Xue Lingyi handed over a handkerchief, which was damp and had a very faint sweet smell when brought close.

"I soaked maltose in water and stuck it on top, so you can't see it at all."

Jiang Guo'er took the handkerchief and tucked it into her sleeve.

"I'll go apply it first, wait for my message."

Xue Lingyi hesitated for a moment, "Where's Afu?"

"Afu went to the palace with the Prime Minister today," Jiang Guo'er murmured softly.

"Two other servants were left to guard the door of the study, along with some hidden guards."

"I told them that the Prime Minister instructed me to go to the study to take books to read, to learn characters and practice calligraphy. I already took two last time, so they shouldn't stop me."

Xue Lingyi nodded.

"Then I'll wait in the main room."

Jiang Guo'er took a deep breath.

Shen Shi (3-5 PM).

Under the eaves outside the study, two servants hunched their shoulders and stamped their feet.

Jiang Guo'er walked over unhurriedly, carrying two travelogues.

"Thank you for your hard work today, everyone. Have you eaten glutinous rice balls?"

She waved the book in her hand, "I'm here to return the book, and borrow two more."

The two servants exchanged a glance and pushed open the door.

"It's cold inside, young lady, would you like a brazier?"

"Of course, thank you for your trouble."

One servant ran to fetch the brazier, while the other stayed behind.

Jiang Guo'er stepped into the study, and the door closed gently behind her.

She quickly returned the two travelogues to their original places and then turned and ran towards the "Lotus Picking Picture".

But when I looked closer, I was dumbfounded.

The place where the "Lotus Picking Picture" should have been hanging was completely empty.

Where is the painting going?

Her lotus-picking painting is so huge!!!