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

As soon as the carriage came to a stop in front of the Pei residence, Pei Yan lifted the curtain and stepped out.

He didn't even use the pedals, but jumped straight down from the carriage, the hem of his robe stirring up a gust of wind.

The thought of the little thing being frightened in the inner courtyard today made him walk more than twice as fast as usual.

He wished he could fly to the side room immediately, hold the person in his arms, and examine them carefully.

"Prime Minister!" Just as they passed through the passageway, Granny Qin hurriedly came up from the corner of the corridor and curtsied.

"The matriarch is waiting for you at Songhe Garden. She said it's important."

Pei Yan paused, a hint of barely concealed anxiety flashing across his brow.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced back his eagerness before turning around and striding after Granny Qin to Songhe Garden.

There wasn't a single maidservant in the room.

Old Madam Pei sat on the daybed, leaning on a dragon-headed cane.

Seeing Pei Yan enter the room, she beckoned him to sit down and say, "Sit down and let's talk."

After Pei Yan sat down, the old lady recounted in detail how Liu Mama and Yu Mama had forced their way into the warm pavilion during the day, brought out the foul-smelling insects to coerce him, and how Jiang Guo'er had secretly used the round-backed chair to fight back.

"Those two old bastards are extremely arrogant, relying on the Empress's backing."

"Thanks to Guo'er's quick thinking, she first used the golden nugget to calm them down, and then, under the pretext of the ancestors' intervention, she made them fall flat on their faces."

The old lady smiled broadly and praised her repeatedly.

Pei Yan's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air.

My fingertips pressed against the warm porcelain wall, yet a thin layer of sweat seeped uncontrollably from my back.

He wasn't home. How scared must the little one have been?

Fortunately, she was resilient. When faced with real trouble, she not only didn't run away, but also turned the tables on him.

Suppressing his lingering fear, Pei Yan put down his teacup and quietly recounted how he had used the puppet to kill Xiao Yuzhen in the Great Hall of the Buddha, and how the emperor had been so enraged that he had issued an edict to depose the empress.

After hearing this, the old lady slammed her hand heavily on the small table next to her.

"Good! Good! Good!" she said three times, her eyes welling up with tears as she smiled.

"Heaven has eyes! That wicked woman has finally gotten her comeuppance! Our Pei family has finally gotten our revenge today!"

After a hearty laugh, the old lady's face gradually darkened.

She sighed, her gaze falling on Pei Yan, filled with a sense of vicissitude.

"Yan-ge'er, if your elder brother were still alive, he would be extremely gratified to see this situation today."

"But don't forget, the position of Grand Secretary originally belonged to your eldest brother. He died young... so the burden of the Pei family fell on your shoulders."

"I know you have grievances, but everything we, your parents, have done is for the sake of the Pei family's long-term prosperity!"

"Remember this: never let romantic feelings hold you back."

Pei Yan lowered his long eyelashes, concealing the dark glint in his eyes.

When did he ever relinquish the burden of the Pei family?

From the time he was old enough to understand, his mother would tirelessly nag him:

You are your brother's shadow. Do you understand what a shadow is?

When your brother needs you, you step in for him in public; when he doesn't need you, you must hide yourself away.

Be good, listen to me, and don't make things difficult for your mother!

Pei Jia unconsciously clenched his fingers, took a few deep breaths, and suppressed the resentment in his heart.

However, when it comes to bloodlines, he really can't let any woman share the burden except for Jiang Guo'er.

"Grandmother's teachings have been remembered by your grandson... Grandson has a request."

"explain."

"Grandson wishes to elevate Guo'er to the position of concubine, and begs for Grandmother's permission."

The old lady stopped fiddling with her prayer beads, stared at him for a long time, and slowly nodded.

"She's a good girl; it's fine to promote her. However, a good concubine must have a respectable family background."

"Her identity as an orphan of the Wujiang clan is too weak. If she were to be promoted to a concubine, it would inevitably attract criticism. We need to refine it and fabricate a respectable background."

Pei Yan readily agreed: "I will make the arrangements myself."

"By the way," the old lady changed the subject, her tone becoming somewhat tentative.

"You have several concubines in your courtyard. Have you been favoring them lately?"

Pei Yan frowned and leaned back.

"Recently, there have been many affairs in the court, and I am truly unable to attend to them all."

Seeing his cold and dismissive attitude, the old lady helplessly poked his forehead.

"You should also favor someone else besides Jiang Guo'er."

Pei Yan felt troubled as he left Songhe Garden.

The death of his elder brother and the shackles of the family, like an airtight net, wrapped him up tightly.

He didn't rush back to the courtyard, but instead followed the covered walkway to the waterside pavilion.

The night breeze was slightly cool, but it couldn't dispel the image of Jiang Guo'er's delicate and lively appearance in his mind.

The restlessness and madness that had been suppressed in my heart all day grew wildly under the cover of night.

He suddenly changed course, dismissed his attendants, and took the key to open the private vault by himself.

After an incense stick had burned, Pei Yan returned to the inner courtyard.

Several horn lamps were lit inside the room, and several plates of exquisite side dishes were laid out on the octagonal table, with a pot of eight-treasure duck steaming hot.

Xue Lingyi was drinking porridge from a bowl.

Upon seeing him enter, Xue Lingyi quickly put down her chopsticks and stood up to greet him: "Prime Minister, you're back? The time is perfect, let's have dinner together."

Pei Yanxu helped her up.

"Alright."

He sat down, lifting his robe slightly, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping across the four corners of the room, his brow furrowing slightly: "Why isn't Guo'er here to serve?"

Xue Lingyi handed over a pair of silver chopsticks, patting her chest with lingering fear.

"Guo'er was frightened today. Although she didn't say anything, I saw that she was exhausted, so I forced her to go back to her room to rest."

"If my husband needs anything, shall I call Guo'er?"

Pei Yan took the silver chopsticks. "Alright, let her rest."

Pei Yan managed to eat a few mouthfuls of rice before saying he was full and putting down his chopsticks.

"I still have a few official documents to review, so I need to go to my study. You should get some rest."

Xue Lingyi stood up to see him off, watching his retreating figure, and whispered a bet to Lüyi: "I bet ten coins that the Prime Minister must have gone to the side room."

The side room was dimly lit at this time, with only a small oil lamp lit in the corner.

Pei Yan tiptoed to the bedside.

A small mound rose up inside the brocade quilt.

Jiang Guo'er, dressed in an ivory-white undergarment, lay on her side, not sleeping soundly.

Suddenly, as if she felt hot, she kicked off the quilt, revealing a slender ankle that was dazzlingly white.

Its skin was as smooth and delicate as mutton fat jade, gleaming in the dim light.

Pei Yan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and a thick, dark color welled up in his deep eyes.

For a fleeting moment, an extremely crazy thought flashed through his mind—

Take a gold chain and tie those restless feet firmly to the bedpost, so she can't go anywhere and can only obediently stay by his side.

But he closed his eyes, forcibly suppressing this terrifying thought.

Guo'er is timid; she might be terrified.

Pei Yan extended his large, calloused hand, precisely gripping the delicate ankle bone with his thumb and forefinger, and involuntarily began to stroke the slender joints.

I resisted the urge to cover my lips with that alluring touch of spring color.

He pulled an object from his sleeve, which was the red gold filigree lotus inlaid gemstone bracelet that he had just found in his private treasury.

This is an artifact from the former imperial palace, also known as the "Red Lotus Knot," and it is unique in the world.

Although it wasn't a rope, it was more like a hidden mark.

With a click, the glittering gold bracelet was fastened to Jiang Guo'er's ankle.

The slightly cool touch made her flinch in her sleep.

Pei Yan examined her for a moment, then gently tucked her feet back into the quilt.

But the person on the bed was restless.

She had just covered her feet when she stretched her two slender arms out of the covers, even waving them wildly in her sleep, almost tearing open her collar.

A vast expanse of springtime beauty, hinting at yet to be revealed, invites contemplation.

Pei Yan, however, was losing control.

He simply leaned onto the bed, grabbed her two fidgeting wrists, and pressed them down on the pillow.

His slender body moved closer, pressing down hard on her kicking legs with his knee.

He held this fiery little vixen firmly in his burning embrace.

Jiang Guo'er was restrained and finally calmed down, her cheek pressed against the brocade quilt, her breathing gradually becoming even.

Her lively and charming little face was so sweet and endearing that it was impossible not to fall in love with her.

Pei Yan couldn't help but lean down, his thin lips landing on her forehead.

Then, he lowered his head and kissed the tip of her nose, then followed the bridge of her nose to her delicate, flower-like lips.

After a punitive beating, they reluctantly withdrew.

He gently pulled her, blanket and all, into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, and sighed silently.

For the rest of my life, I will protect you and never let anyone harm you again.

Pei Yan stood up, unbuttoned the brocade robe with one hand, and prepared to take off his outer garment, get into bed, and hold this adorable little devil in his arms for a good night's sleep.

Just as two buttons were undone, the person on the bed suddenly frowned uneasily, her little head twisting restlessly.

The next moment, she parted her pink lips slightly and uttered a very soft murmur in her sleep.

"Brother Xie..."

Pei Yan's hand, which was unbuttoning his shirt, suddenly stopped.

Her face, which had been flushed with emotion, cracked instantly.

Inch by inch, the gloom deepened to the bottom of the valley.