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

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of kowtowing rang out from outside the screen.

"Your Excellency, please understand! I know my sins!" Xue Lingyi's voice was filled with uncontrollable sobs.

Green Ripple immediately kowtowed, pleading, "Your Excellency, please have mercy! My lady is truly...desperate..."

Jiang Guo'er's heart clenched with worry, feeling extremely anxious for Xue Lingyi.

What crime has she committed?

It is clear that Zhao Yuanzhe is worse than a beast, and it is only natural for Lingyi to avenge him!

She shifted uncomfortably on Pei Yan's strong thighs, leaned forward, and opened her mouth to plead for mercy—

A long, strong hand, swift as lightning, precisely pinched her lips.

The force wasn't strong, but it didn't allow for escape, like pinching a duck that was trying to squeal.

"Ugh—"

Caught off guard, Jiang Guo'er's mouth was pinched into a comical shape, and all her words were stuck in her throat.

She glared at Pei Yan with her bright, almond-shaped eyes wide open, her cheeks puffed out in anger.

The man's face remained expressionless; he even shook his head slightly at her.

You bastard!

Lingyi didn't do anything wrong, what's wrong with taking revenge!

It's because your Pei family is too prestigious that she was afraid of embarrassing you, so she didn't dare to say it beforehand!

Pei Yan's hand, which was pinching her mouth, suddenly tightened.

A flicker of surprise crossed his deep eyes, quickly replaced by a hint of amusement.

[That scoundrel... no, wait!]

They're getting bolder and bolder.

With his other hand, he subtly pinched the soft flesh on her side.

Jiang Guo'er winced in pain and glared at him, like a cat that had been provoked, baring its teeth and claws but without any real threat.

Xue Lingyi knelt on the cold brick floor outside the screen, her forehead pressed against the back of her hand, her entire back taut like a fully drawn bow.

Pei Yan deliberately remained silent.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths.

The only sound in the flower hall was the occasional crackling of candle flames.

Xue Lingyi's shoulders were trembling slightly.

After waiting for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Pei Yan finally spoke slowly.

"If someone harms you, it's perfectly understandable for you to seek revenge."

Xue Lingyi suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes.

However, Pei Yan's next words plunged her back into despair.

"But is one's true power so easily borrowed?"

Her heart sank again.

"Since you've decided to do it, you should do it cleanly and efficiently, leaving no room for future trouble."

Pei Yan's voice was calm and unhurried, yet it carried a chilling, sinister quality.

"Just kill that beast with one stroke, strip him naked, drag him to Xue Lingfang's bed and throw him there."

Xue Lingyi was stunned.

"The dead cannot make accusations; Xue Lingfang has no way to defend herself."

"Your father, Minister Xue, will surely suppress this matter and settle it privately with Prefect Zhao to protect the Xue family's reputation."

Pei Yan gently stroked Jiang Guo'er's cheek with his fingertips, his tone as if he were commenting on a game of chess.

"But what about now?" He changed the subject, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.

"That beast, still clinging to life, poured filthy water on your head in front of all the court officials."

"Although he can't really cause any real trouble, to quell this matter, I'll have to use my connections and involve all parties involved, making it more than ten times more complicated."

Jiang Guo'er sat on his lap, listening in a daze.

Yes... at the time, all they wanted was to ruin Zhao Yuanzhe's reputation and make him suffer endless torment and humiliation so that they could vent their hatred.

But I never imagined that a living person would bite back.

Only the dead wouldn't.

The Grand Secretary is indeed worthy of his title; his mind and methods are ruthless and cunning.

She unconsciously tightened her grip on his arm and nuzzled her face against his sleeve.

Her voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of flattery: "Your Excellency is wise... It was our lack of foresight that caused you trouble."

Pei Yan glanced down at her; this little fox.

behave in a spoiled manner.

Here we go again.

But... he enjoyed it very much.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his tone softened, and his gaze swept past the screen: "Get up."

Xue Lingyi felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She stood up, supporting herself on her knees, her legs were numb.

"Now that you have married into the Pei family, I will naturally protect you."

Pei Yan tapped on the armrest of the round-backed chair.

"Next time something this important happens, be sure to discuss it beforehand, otherwise..."

"I will remember this."

Xue Lingyi steadied herself, deeply grateful, and solemnly bowed to him.

……

The next day at dawn, before it was fully light.

The main gate of the Xue residence was knocked open from the outside, and Xiao Da, along with several guards, brought in a group of six or seven people.

The leader, dressed in an official robe with his hat askew and a look of fear on his face, was none other than Prefect Zhao of Suzhou.

Behind him followed the old lady of the Zhao family, the steward, the servants, and two head maids, all of them pale-faced, clearly having not slept a wink all night.

When Prefect Zhao was led to the front hall and sat down, his legs were still trembling uncontrollably.

He thought about it countless times on the way: why did the Grand Secretary arrest people overnight?

Could it be that the 700,000 taels deficit in Suzhou's salt tax... has been discovered?

No, this matter involves many people. If Pei Yan were to take action, he wouldn't just arrest him alone.

Even if they really wanted to investigate him, why not just throw him into the Dali Temple prison instead of sending him to his in-laws, the Xue family?

He suddenly remembered an old story.

Three years ago, he and Minister Xue conspired to embezzle 100,000 taels of silver from a river construction project, which they split in half.

Could it be that the truth has come out?

The more Prefect Zhao thought about it, the more panicked he became. He broke out in a cold sweat, and his official robes were soaked through.

In contrast, Madam Zhao managed to maintain a semblance of composure.

"What's the panic! Just keep denying it to the death. No matter how powerful that Pei is, he can't reach Suzhou."

"He became Grand Secretary at such a young age, relying on the influence of the former Grand Secretary Xiao. Did they think they could force a confession from you?!"

Before he could finish speaking, footsteps could be heard outside the flower hall.

The two immediately sat up straight and held their breath, waiting.

But after waiting and waiting, only a servant came in to refill the tea, and then nothing more happened.

Prefect Zhao drank three cups of tea, his heart pounding with anxiety, and his hands trembled more and more violently.

Unbeknownst to them, in the next room, Pei Yan was watching their every move through a small hole in the wall, with Jiang Guo'er by his side.

Pei Yan was tall and imposing, his body pressed against the cold wall as he peered through a small hole, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

Jiang Guo'er stood on tiptoe next to him, craning her neck but couldn't see anything, so she tugged at his sleeve in frustration.

It didn't budge.

Unwilling to give up, she pulled harder.

It remained completely still.

She simply squeezed through, her petite body squeezing forward through the gap between him and the wall.

Their noses almost touched, and their breaths mingled for a moment.

Pei Yan turned his head and glared at her with his deep eyes.

Jiang Guo'er winked at him ingratiatingly, her long eyelashes fluttering like two small fans in front of him.

Helpless, Pei Yan reached out and put his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him.

With her back pressed against a firm, warm chest, Jiang Guo'er could see the scene in the flower hall through the small hole.

Pei Yan wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin resting naturally on the top of her soft hair.

Hot breath brushed against her scalp.

After a few breaths, he asked in a low voice, "What did you figure out?"

As he spoke, the vibrations in his chest were clearly transmitted to Jiang Guo'er's back, bringing a ticklish sensation.

And those large hands, encircling her waist, gently caressed her waist through several layers of clothing.

Jiang Guo'er's ears burned, and she tried her best to draw her attention back to the flower hall.

Prefect Zhao was constantly wiping away sweat; his handkerchief was almost soaked through.

Although Madam Zhao was sitting upright, her fingers twisted the handkerchief into a pretzel.

Jiang Guo'er couldn't help but purse her lips, then turned her head and whispered in Pei Yan's ear, "This Prefect Zhao is quite strange."

"Hmm?" Pei Yan raised an eyebrow with interest.

"Xiao San didn't reveal why he captured them. He couldn't possibly have known what was happening here beforehand, so why is he so nervous and guilty?"

"It's as if he already knew... he had committed a capital crime."