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

Pei Shiyuan has arrived.

Cui Rou is sick. Luo Qingyan guesses Pei Shiyuan has come to visit.

Despite their disagreements, they are still engaged and have feelings for each other.

Now that Cui Rou has agreed to marry him, Pei Shiyuan will be very happy when he finds out. Perhaps that's why he hasn't touched her.

"Why are you kneeling?" Pei Shiyuan's cold voice rang in my ears.

Luo Qingyan turned her head, her arm already being pulled up by Pei Shiyuan, causing her pain. She frowned slightly as she stood up.

"Brother Yuan, you're here!" Cui Rou rushed over like a nightingale.

"Aren't you sick? Go back to bed." Pei Shiyuan looked straight ahead, not giving Cui Rou a second glance.

"Brother Yuan, even if I'm sick, I have to get up." Cui Rou tried to take Pei Shiyuan's arm, but Pei Shiyuan shook her off.

"Yuan'er, Rou'er said that even if you are sick, she is still willing to marry you," the old lady said, trying to smooth things over when she saw Pei Shiyuan's coldness towards Cui Rou.

Upon hearing this, Pei Shiyuan's pale face darkened instantly: "No need. Cousin, you should break off the engagement and find another suitable man."

He then turned his wheelchair around and glanced at Luo Qingyan again.

Push me back.

Luo Qingyan had just been told by the old lady to "mediate," and her outstretched hand to push the wheelchair froze in mid-air. Sure enough, she received a warning look from the old lady.

"Luo Qingyan, are you deaf?"

Pei Shiyuan seemed to be encased in ice, and the chill made Luo Qingyan shiver. Her body moved forward uncontrollably, pushing the wheelchair out.

They saw Pei Shiyuan walk away.

"Hmph!" Cui Rou stomped her foot and sat back down on the couch in a huff.

The old lady lowered her eyes as if she were making plans: "Rou'er, you are not the mistress of the house after all, and you can't control Luo Qingyan. You should get married as soon as possible."

Cui Rou is prone to being capricious; she might agree now but then change her mind later. It's best to get things done quickly.

There's no need to make a big fuss about Yuan'er's illness. A simple wedding ceremony is enough.

"If this drags on any longer, I'm afraid Yuan'er will only have eyes for Aunt Luo and won't be able to tolerate anyone else."

This reignites Cui Rou's hostility towards Luo Qingyan and urges Cui Rou to act.

After saying that, the old lady left.

Watching the old lady's departing figure, Cui Rou felt deflated.

"Miss, how could you agree to marry the young master?" Yinxing hurriedly stepped forward, feeling that her mistress had been confused by Aunt Luo and was saying foolish things in a moment of impulse.

"I'm not really getting married." Cui Rou paused. "I just don't want Brother Yuan to be taken away by someone else. On the wedding day, I'll pretend to be sick and unable to get married. I'll say that I'm so worried that I can't even get out of bed and that I'm willing to die with the young master."

The idea she just came up with on a whim.

"Spread the word that I, Cui Rou, am determined to marry Pei Shiyuan, to be together through thick and thin, and to never leave him."

"But, Miss, how will you get married in the future?" Yinxing felt that Cui Rou's sacrifice was too great.

"Wrong. People will only say that I, Cui Rou, am a good girl who values ​​loyalty and righteousness. If I delay getting married now, there will be voices of doubt. In this way, no one will question my feelings for the prince. Such a good girl who values ​​loyalty and righteousness will be a blessing to whoever marries in the future, won't she?" Cui Rou felt that her thinking was flawless.

Yinxing nodded thoughtfully: "I'll pass on the message then."

The young lady's reputation for being loyal and righteous is well-established.

The birds in the tree were startled and scattered in all directions.

Lin'an Residence.

"Your Highness, please enjoy." Luo Qingyan respectfully handed over a plate of freshly baked plum and almond cake.

Pei Shiyuan picked up a piece and examined it: "Why did you lie and say it was a gift from your mother?"

"I just wanted the young master to eat something, I had no other intentions. I'm just curious, however, why did the young master refuse to eat as soon as he heard that I made it?" Luo Qingyan asked in return.

"I'm afraid you'll become arrogant because of my favor, and I'm afraid that if I give you face, you'll become ignorant and overconfident. Also, the reason I made you not kneel today is not because I care about you, don't overthink it, but because I can't stand Cui Rou. I would have done the same for any other maid."

He was worried that Luo Qingyan might overthink things and sneak into his bed again at night.

This girl always gives him the feeling that she's taking advantage of him.

It's "Don't overthink it" again.

Just keep your distance from her, Luo Qingyan understands. Pei Shiyuan is like a cold, hard stone, really difficult to deal with.

To be fair, with her looks, she could easily have had no shortage of suitors if she dressed up a little, but she just happened to run into a tough nut to crack.

"Your Highness, I won't overthink it. I used to live in poverty, and I only get to eat a few good meals after coming to the Duke's mansion. I will never take advantage of your favor and will only serve you well." Luo Qingyan's words were sincere, but half true and half false. It was impossible for her not to think about it. Getting pregnant with the Duke's child was a good way out.

"I have met you, Your Highness."

Granny Zheng came again, and her experienced and stern voice made Luo Qingyan's heart tighten.

Every time Granny Zheng comes, it's never a good thing; this time, she's accompanied by a young lady.

"Young Master, the Old Madam said that since Consort Luo doesn't have a maidservant, she sent Liuyue to accompany her."

Liu Yue, a first-class maid in the Duke's mansion.

"This servant greets the young master and Consort Luo." Liu Yue bowed respectfully, standing ramrod straight and proper.

They must have received strict discipline.

Pei Shiyuan glanced at Luo Qingyan, signaling her to speak.

Luo Qingyan reacted a beat late: "No need for formalities."

She never ordered around any servants. In the Luo family, it was the servants who gave her attitude. Her mother, Madam Sun, didn't provide her with any maids or servants. There was only one nanny, Granny Liu, who took care of her as she grew up. In her eyes, Granny Liu was family, not a servant.

Liu Yue then straightened up.

A moment of awkwardness washed over her, as if a cold wind had swept across her face. Luo Qingyan thought to herself, "Are all the people in the Duke's mansion, except for that clamorous Cui Rou, so rigid and inflexible? They don't feel like living people; they're more like puppets."

"Granny Zheng, I've made quite a few plum and almond cakes. Try some. Liuyue, you should try some too."

Luo Qingyan gave each person a piece.

The two dared not accept.

"Take it!" Pei Shiyuan said, and Zheng Mama and Liuyue took the plum and almond cake from Luo Qingyan's hands.

"Aunt Xie Luo."

The two spoke in unison.

"You're welcome. I'll cook often from now on. Come over and eat whenever you have time." Luo Qingyan smiled.

She was the only one laughing in the room, but after a moment, she awkwardly withdrew her smile.

The Duke's mansion had strict rules, and servants were not allowed to casually chat or eat with their masters.

"When you have time, help Aunt Luo with her work." Pei Shiyuan seemed to be infected by Luo Qingyan's silly smile, and he wanted to talk more than usual.

Granny Zheng and Liu Yue bowed in greeting.

"This is for the old lady. Zheng Mama, I'll go back with you and deliver it to her."

Luo Qingyan picked up the small food box next to her.

"Auntie, let me do it!" Liu Yue took the food box and followed behind Luo Qingyan.

Granny Zheng bowed and walked half a step ahead of Luo Qingyan, her manners impeccable.

Clearly, Luo Qingyan was the master.

Luo Qingyan didn't understand. Pei Shiyuan had just refused to marry Cui Rou, and the old lady should be angry, yet she assigned her a maid, a first-class maid from the Duke's mansion. She should go and see why under the guise of gratitude.

Moreover, she still had to beg the old lady to let her return to the Luo residence to save Granny Liu's life.