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

As Liu Yue helped Luo Qingyan change into her nightgown, she said, "While the servants were clearing the table, I took the opportunity to test it with a silver needle. It wasn't poisonous, but it just felt strange."

"You must be careful about what your aunt puts in her mouth."

When the young master summoned them, the old lady specifically called her over and instructed her to be careful about what she put in her mouth, and also pointed out that Luo Qingyan should have children in the future.

In the old lady's eyes, Luo Qingyan was a blessing to the young master, and she was determined to have a son or daughter to continue the good fortune.

"I'll be careful." Luo Qingyan nodded. Her mother was always strange and ill-intentioned. There must be something wrong with that dish. It wasn't poison, but something else.

Her mother called her back, but couldn't get her to come back, so she would definitely find other ways to torment her.

Two more days passed, and the storm subsided.

Instead, Madam Sun smiled more at Luo Qingyan, looking like she had reformed: "Qingyan, you went to the Duke's mansion in such a hurry that I didn't even have time to prepare a new outfit for you. This brocade dress was made for you by someone. Try it on."

"Thank you, Mother." Luo Qingyan curtsied, picked up the clothes, and checked them against herself. "Mother, they fit perfectly."

"It fits perfectly. Don't take any of my mother's past mistakes to heart." Madam Sun's tone was kind, but there was an undisguised sharpness in her eyes.

"Mother, I won't take it to heart," Luo Qingyan said, but her tone was devoid of warmth.

Madam Sun felt a slight chill and looked embarrassed, but then turned away and smiled, seemingly unconcerned, saying, "Qingyan, if you truly forgive your mother, then cook her a bowl of porridge."

"Okay." Luo Qingyan turned and left.

A moment later, a bowl of porridge was brought over, but there were several more people in Sun's room.

Luo Qingyan recognized him; he was an elder of the Luo family.

In her past life, the Luo family was destroyed by the old lady who had a handle against them. With nowhere else to turn, her mother sought refuge with the clan elders in the countryside, but they drove her out with sticks.

Every time the clan elder came back, he would ask for either things or money.

With a smile, Madam Sun introduced them one by one: This is your third great-uncle, that is your third aunt, your eldest great-uncle, your second great-uncle, your second great-aunt, and so on.

Luo Qingyan bowed to each person to show her respect.

Although the elders looked at her with affection, they always felt that there were thorns in her eyes, pricking them.

"Qingyan, bring the porridge over." Madam Sun reached out, took the porridge but didn't drink it. Instead, she started chatting with the clan elders.

Talk about your health, and ask about the harvest in the fields.

Liu Yue frowned as she watched from the side, wondering what Sun was up to.

Madam Sun began to boast about Luo Qingyan's entry into the Duke's mansion, her catching the eye of the heir, and her opening of the Kangning Pavilion, going on and on about how she did so.

The elders' expressions changed, and they began to complain about being poor.

"Qingyan, the elders have had a tough time. You should pay for today's subsidies," Madam Sun said with a smile.

It turns out they wanted her to pay.

"Mother, I am merely a concubine of the Duke's mansion, intended to bear children, and I am not pregnant yet. Where would I get the money?"

Luo Qingyan feigned sorrow, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked up. "I haven't been able to conceive for a long time, and I've spent a lot on medicine. How could I possibly ask the Duke's mansion for extra money? Please forgive me, elders. Just tell them I'm a concubine of the Duke's mansion. It's not a good name to call me a woman who keeps the seed."

"A woman to keep for procreation?" The third uncle's voice was rough as he suddenly stood up. "Even though we are poor, we cannot let our daughter be someone else's woman to keep for procreation."

Sun gave her eldest uncle a wink.

The eldest uncle immediately said, "Third brother, the capital is not a village. The situation is complicated and beyond Daocheng and the others' control. We will not comment."

"Sigh!" Third Uncle slapped his thigh and sat down.

"Qingyan, don't be sad. You'll be fine once you give birth to an heir for the Duke's mansion. I know you blame me for always scolding you when you were little, and now you're not his official wife." Madam Sun sighed. "It's alright if you don't give me money. Today you cooked a bowl of porridge for me, and we ate it together. With the elders as witnesses, let bygones be bygones. Don't hold grudges; it's bad for your health."

"Come here, let me feed you, as a way of making up for what I owed you when you were little."

Two streams of tears flowed down Sun's face.

Upon hearing the word "eat," Liu Yue immediately became alert, and the silver needle slid from her sleeve into her palm.

Luo Qingyan lowered her eyes: "Mother, let bygones be bygones! I didn't cook much porridge, I'll feed you."

How can one forget the events of a past life? It's just that now I've let go of my expectations for family ties, and my heart is no longer burdened.

Forgiveness is impossible.

She was just asking her for money on behalf of the clan elder, and now she's acting like a loving mother and daughter.

It would be best if she didn't want money; she didn't even want to drink porridge, she couldn't afford it.

"Let's eat together." Madam Sun scooped up a spoonful of porridge and held it to Luo Qingyan's lips.

Luo Qingyan refused to eat.

"Qingyan, how can you resent your mother?" Third Aunt said.

"Yes! Qingyan, if word gets out, your reputation won't be good either. How will you conduct yourself in the Duke's mansion? Won't you be tarnishing the Duke's reputation?" Second Aunt echoed.

"yes!"

"yes!"

The second and eldest uncles echoed each other.

Liu Yue frowned.

Sun glanced at it, then put the spoon in her own mouth: "Mother, you eat first."

"Give me another spoon." The maid brought another spoon.

Sun took it and scooped up another spoonful, feeding it to Luo Qingyan's lips.

Luo Qingyan knew that her mother was always selfish and cared for herself, and would not do anything to harm her body. Since she had tried it herself, she thought it was fine. Moreover, although the person in front of her was a clan elder, she was also good at being a rogue and scoundrel, and she was capable of doing things that would damage the reputation of the Duke's Mansion.

She doesn't care about her own reputation, but there's no need for her to implicate the Duke's mansion. She can't get the money, yet she wants to reconcile; she's eyeing the Duke's mansion as a piece of fat meat.

Luo Qingyan was about to open her mouth.

"Please wait, Madam." Liu Yue stopped her, remembering the old lady's words, she was still worried: "Madam Luo, please forgive me."

Place the silver needles into the porridge bowl.

It's not poisonous.

"I know Miss Liuyue is thoughtful, there's nothing wrong with that," Madam Sun said with a smile. "Qingyan, let's eat. In the future, if you have anything to say, just tell your mother. I wish you could stay by my side every day, but my daughter is growing up and doesn't listen to me anymore! Just come back to visit me often."

"Mother, I can do it myself." Luo Qingyan scooped up a spoonful and symbolically ate a small bite.

"Good, my good daughter." Madam Sun smiled broadly, as if she had truly resolved a long-standing knot in her heart. "I called you back for this moment. From now on, we, mother and daughter, will be of one mind."

The clan elders also showed relieved smiles. With Luo Qingyan and Madam Sun reconciled, they would be able to reap some benefits from the Duke's mansion in the future.

Luo Qingyan didn't believe Sun's words. The greedy eyes around her made her feel very uncomfortable.

"Mother, you're too kind," Luo Qingyan said in a neutral tone.

Madam Sun's smile deepened: "Qingyan, you should return to the Duke's mansion today. I won't keep you any longer. Go back and serve the young master well, and give birth to an heir as soon as possible."

Luo Qingyan curtsied and said, "Mother, I'll be leaving now."

Mrs. Sun remained smiling, a hint of kindness on her thin face.

The clan elders left satisfied with the silver. Now that they had gotten in touch with the Duke's mansion, they were already planning to ask for more next time.

"Mother, my sister only ate a little bit, will it be enough?"

After everyone had left, Luo Haitang said with concern.