The clingy concubine ran away, and the sickly prince lost control.

"Has Brother Yuan arrived?"

Inside the Meteor Residence, Cui Rou leaned against the couch, her lips pale and her face bloodless.

As soon as Yinxing stepped inside, Cui Rou hurriedly asked her questions.

"Miss, when I went to Lin'an Residence, the young master had not yet gotten up, so I dared not disturb him and could only inform the old lady."

"Oh!"

Cui Rou gave a bitter smile; her beloved brother had changed.

When she was little, her older sister bullied her, but Pei Shiyuan always protected her and couldn't bear to see her suffer any harm.

Now that she's sick, she won't even glance at him.

"Miss, don't worry. The young master just hasn't gotten up yet. He'll definitely come over when he gets up," Yinxing comforted her mistress, noticing her disappointed look.

"He was faking it, wasn't he? He was so cold to me last night, and even told me to call off the engagement. Ginkgo, tell me, after all he's done, do you think it's easy for me to still be willing to stay on this engagement?"

Cui Rou wiped away her tears, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

No, Pei Shiyuan didn't have this attitude before Luo Qingyan arrived.

That vixen Luo Qingyan is seducing Brother Yuan.

She tugged at the handkerchief in her hand, directing all her hatred at Luo Qingyan.

It must have been Luo Qingyan who bewitched her Yuan-gege.

Look at her, she's such a little devil, always leaning into Yuan-gege's arms like she has no bones.

"Ginkgo, has the young master fallen for Luo Qingyan?"

Yinxing lowered her eyes. She had just gone to Linfeng Residence and saw that the walnut pastries that Miss had made by hand were thrown outside the door, as if they had been eaten by a night owl.

The young master is so heartless towards the young lady, even though he himself is terminally ill.

The young lady never abandoned him, staying in the mansion without ever leaving, yet he treated her like this.

"Miss, I don't think so." Ginkgo's eyes darted around, and she thought of a point: "If the young master likes Consort Luo, why doesn't he consummate the marriage? Anyone with eyes can see that Consort Luo is very proactive."

"That's right!" Cui Rou's dim, drooping eyes suddenly brightened: "If the young master really likes Consort Luo, why hasn't he consummated the marriage? That means he still doesn't like her."

"So, Miss, the young master still cares about you," Yinxing said, echoing Cui Rou's sentiments.

Cui Rou nodded in satisfaction. She was the third young lady of the eldest branch of the Cui family in Qinghe. How could Luo Qingyan compare?

I heard footsteps.

The old lady has arrived.

Cui Rou hurriedly lay down on the couch, looking weak and listless.

"Aunt, it's me."

"Cough, cough, cough"

Covering her mouth with a handkerchief, Cui Rou tried to get up, but couldn't. She could only lift her upper body slightly.

"Quick, don't move, lie down. How did you suddenly get sick?" The old lady rushed over and helped Cui Rou lie down.

"I don't know either. Maybe I caught a chill while delivering walnut pastries to the young master last night." Cui Rou's eyes flickered slightly, her expression pitiful. "Brother Yuan, you don't even come to see me."

His tone was complaining.

If you don't like Luo Qingyan, why don't you come to see her?

The old lady sighed softly; she had witnessed everything that happened last night.

Yuan'er, who is usually self-controlled, actually kissed Aunt Luo's cheek under the moonlight last night, which shows that he likes her. However, he has a lot of opinions about Cui Rou and said that he wants to break off the engagement.

"Rou'er, the young master is terminally ill. What do you think of him?"

"Aunt, my feelings for the Crown Prince have never changed," Cui Rou quickly replied.

The old lady paused for a moment; "However, I summoned Luo Qingyan here to ensure the heir for the young master. You should not see Yuan'er recently, as I also want Luo Qingyan to conceive as soon as possible."

It's true that she wants to conceive as soon as possible, but the old lady said that to provoke Cui Rou.

"Aunt, how can you not let me see the Prince? I am his fiancée. He is ill, and I should serve him at his side." Cui Rou's eyes were full of longing.

Firstly, she couldn't let go of Pei Shiyuan, and secondly, it wouldn't look good on her if word got out.

People will say that she, as a fiancée, distanced herself from him because he was sick, showing cold-heartedness and indifference.

"There are plenty of people to serve, it's just a pity about the marriage between the Cui and Pei families." The old lady glanced at Cui Rou, seemingly with regret and reproach.

"If you can have children, not only will the friendship between the Cui and Pei families continue, but the child will also be born of the legitimate wife and will inherit the Duke's mansion in the future, continuing the Duke's bloodline. This will be a great contribution, and you will be granted an imperial title."

Cui Rou's tearful eyes flickered. Her aunt still hoped that she would marry Pei Shiyuan, and even her parents thought so.

But she couldn't do it. She asked herself honestly, and she just couldn't accept that Pei Shiyuan had been in contact with other women before he died. She really didn't want to marry him.

Cui Rou lowered her eyes and remained silent.

The room fell into complete silence.

A few breaths later, Cui Rou suddenly raised her eyes, her gaze resolute: "I am willing to marry. Aunt, I don't care about future wealth and glory, I only wish to be with Brother Yuan right now. If we can have children, that would be even better."

Two streams of tears flowed down her cheeks.

Yinxing pursed her lips and choked. Could it be that Miss is really sick?

Why did they suddenly change their minds? Ever since the young master fell ill, they decided to stay in the Duke's mansion and not leave, just to maintain their reputation for being loyal and righteous. It would be too much of a loss for them to actually marry him.

The old lady's pupils dilated. She hadn't expected Cui Rou to change her mind so quickly. She took Cui Rou's hand and softened her tone, "Rou'er, you've worked hard. The Duke's Mansion will remember your kindness."

Cui Rou leaned into the old lady's arms and said, "Aunt, is it because Aunt Luo is keeping the young master occupied that he hasn't had time to come see me?"

I was jealous.

"Granny Zheng, go and fetch Consort Luo."

Since Rou'er has agreed to marry Yuan'er, Luo Qingyan should know better how to behave.

As soon as Luo Qingyan entered, she felt Cui Rou's smug gaze directed at her, which made her involuntarily shift her shoulder.

I don't know what Cui Rou said to the old lady, but it must be bad news that she was summoned here.

"Greetings, Madam, Miss Cui."

"Rou'er will be marrying the Crown Prince soon. Aunt Luo, you should treat Rou'er with the same respect you would show to the mistress of the house. You must not act recklessly. Last night you carelessly threw Rou'er's walnut pastries outside the door. You should be punished."

The old lady said in a serious and methodical manner.

It turns out that Cui Rou was willing to marry Pei Shiyuan, and the old lady was doing this to avenge her.

"Madam, it was the young master who ordered it thrown away," Luo Qingyan replied, her eyes lowered. Pei Shiyuan and Cui Rou were at odds, and he was taking his anger out on her.

"Nonsense!" the old lady scolded. "Rou'er is the young master's fiancée. If they have a misunderstanding, you should mediate. You threw Rou'er's pastries away, which shows you don't respect her. They have a formal engagement. Kneel down!"

"Yes."

When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. The needle prick from Cui Rou last time hasn't fully healed yet, sigh! Anyway, I secretly put on knee pads in the ancestral hall, so I might as well kneel!

"You will kneel here and reflect on your actions. You may get up only when Rou'er tells you to."

"Aunt, don't be angry. I don't think Aunt Luo did it on purpose." Cui Rou put on a magnanimous appearance, but her eyes were sinister as she looked at Luo Qingyan, as if they were filled with poison.

Luo Qingyan knelt down, while Cui Rou chatted and laughed with the old lady beside her.

Alas! The old lady also knew that she had nowhere to go, and as long as the young master was willing to keep her, she would not leave.

Otherwise, if they were still hoping she would produce offspring, they wouldn't have treated her like this.

Just as Luo Qingyan was lamenting her miserable life, she heard the sound of a wheelchair rolling.