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

She had been sizing up Luo Qingyan for a long time. Pei Shiyuan's eyes had been constantly on her. Judging from her appearance and figure, she was almost like a fairy. He decided to just lock the two of them up and leave her alone.

After many years, Pei Shiyuan is now playing the victim, saying he's dying of illness and doesn't want to burden others.

She doesn't trust men.

The father was adept at playing the victim to gain the mother's sympathy, and then he would take a concubine in the future.

Disliking Luo Qingyan's low social standing, they used her to fill the position of the main wife. Was she a patch? They used her to fill any gaps in the family.

"Qingyan, don't mind her, Hui'er is just like that," the old lady said with an awkward smile.

Once Hui'er encounters setbacks in the capital and her spirits are worn down, she will naturally realize that marriage is the right path for a woman.

Luo Qingyan smiled and shook her head; she didn't mind.

Cui Hui probably misunderstood her. The look in her eyes was hostile, and she probably thought she was the kind of woman who seduced her master.

That was true at first, but now she doesn't have that thought anymore, and since she can't have children, why bother?

Regardless of who Pei Shiyuan's legal wife is, she maintains the attitude of "I won't offend you unless you offend me."

Judging from Pei Shiyuan's expression, he also dislikes Cui Hui.

I don't know what kind of wife he wants.

"Yuan'er, you used to always spar with Hui'er to see if she's improved, and you kept saying you wanted to find a job in the capital." The old lady smiled. Cui Hui and Yuan'er not only shared similar interests, but they also used to discuss military tactics.

I had thought that Cui Rou, gentle and refined, could soften Pei Shiyuan's cold and austere personality, but perhaps that's not the case. Yuan'er just needs a wife like him.

"Mother, I want to go back and rest." Pei Shiyuan left without saying goodbye, and his mother summoned Cui Hui to the capital to discuss marriage with him.

He's not a womanizer who can accept just anyone.

Luo Qingyan quickly followed: "Young Master, Miss Cui is highly skilled in martial arts, not bad."

Cui Hui already believed that she was seducing and bewitching Pei Shiyuan, so she had to advise her to be more careful.

"Shut up." Luo Qingyan didn't notice that Cui Hui's whip grazed her temple from behind.

A woman with some looks is good at talking and can easily charm a man.

Cui Hui stared coldly at Luo Qingyan.

Praising her in front of Pei Shiyuan, is it because you've already decided to curry favor with her so quickly? So that things will be easier for you in the future.

Luo Qingyan immediately turned around and said with a smile, "Miss Cui, I admire your martial arts skills, but I have no other intentions."

It turns out that Cui Hui dislikes Pei Shiyuan so much that she objects even to mention him.

"My martial arts skills aren't very good, so don't mention it again, or my whip won't be able to see you." Cui Hui raised her whip, but Pei Shiyuan grabbed it.

"The Duke's mansion is not a place for you to run wild."

Pei Shiyuan slightly activated his internal energy, and Cui Hui, unable to withstand it, retreated a few steps.

"I don't want to live in the Duke's mansion." Cui Hui turned and left. She had no intention of getting married. Seeing Luo Qingyan serving Pei Shiyuan so diligently, she had no ambition at all.

She had no desire to be content in the inner quarters and compete with a group of women for a useless man.

Before even removing her formalities, Cui Hui turned and went to the inn to stay.

"Your Highness, let's go to Kangning Pavilion!"

Seeing Pei Shiyuan's furrowed brows and frustrated expression, Luo Qingyan wondered if he disliked women and became irritable around them? She also suspected there was something wrong with him, given his constant rejections of her.

Go to Kangning Pavilion and see the bustling customers coming and going; it might cheer you up and be good for your recovery.

"Hmm." Pei Shiyuan nodded, and the atmosphere around them instantly relaxed.

Pei Shiyuan is happy to do so, and Luo Qingyan is now completely focused on Kangning Pavilion, without any distractions.

Half a month later, autumn officially begins to cool down. Kangning Pavilion's medicinal cuisine focuses on nourishing yin and moisturizing dryness. The most popular dish is Baiyin Soup, which is made by shredding white radish, breaking up white fungus, and stewing it with duck soup. It is the best way to relieve "autumn dryness".

"Silver soup, dried sliced ​​beef, and a side of seasonal vegetables, that's all."

Cui Hui closed the menu and handed it to the waiter, placed the long sword on the table, and drank her tea.

Luo Qingyan saw Cui Hui in the kitchen and personally served the dish: "Miss Cui, you ordered the Silver Soup."

Cui Hui sized up Luo Qingyan, noting that her attire didn't resemble that of a servant: "What are you doing here? Don't you need to serve Pei Shiyuan?"

"I am deeply grateful to the Madam and the Young Master for their kindness in helping me open Kangning Pavilion. I am now in charge of this place," Luo Qingyan said calmly.

Cui Hui picked up the soup, took a small sip, and just as everyone outside had said, it was indeed good. She looked up and met Luo Qingyan's calm eyes: "Don't you want to have a child for Pei Shiyuan? Why are you busy here?"

Autumn had already arrived, but Luo Qingyan's forehead was covered with a thin layer of sweat, indicating that she had been busy all along.

Aren't concubines always clinging to men?

Luo Qingyan, on the other hand, seems to be enjoying doing business here.

Kangning Pavilion was already quite famous in the capital, and she came here because of its reputation.

"Miss Cui, all I want now is to manage Kangning Pavilion well and live up to the old lady's expectations. I don't ask for anything else," Luo Qingyan said with a smile. Her health had deteriorated, and she could no longer ask for children. Sometimes, having even one thing is a blessing.

"Hmm." Cui Hui looked around and at the customers coming and going. Luo Qingyan was different from the group of concubines in her father's backyard.

They were so weak that they needed help to walk, as if a gust of wind could blow them over.

After the waiter served all the dishes, Luo Qingyan gave her a complimentary dish of steamed pumpkin and lily bulbs: "Miss Cui, since you practice martial arts, this steamed pumpkin and lily bulbs dish is good for replenishing your energy. Please try it."

"Thank you!" Cui Hui said.

Luo Qingyan nodded and left.

Cui Hui looked at Luo Qingyan's slender figure, then turned and started eating.

"Sister." Cui Rou's soft voice came.

Cui Hui frowned but didn't look up. Her third sister was always so delicate and annoying. She was not as good as Luo Qingyan. Luo Qingyan was beautiful but hardworking and managed Kangning Pavilion very well.

"Is something the matter?"

"I'm fine. Sister, how could you come to eat in such a humble place?" Cui Rou pulled over a chair and sat down. Her broken leg had indeed left some aftereffects, and she was limping a little.

Cui Hui actually came to Kangning Pavilion to eat. Could it be that she has accepted someone like Luo Qingyan?

She and her sister bickered and fought at home, but when they were out in public, they should be a team. How could she get close to Luo Qingyan, whom she disliked?

Luo Qingyan forcibly took away her Yuan-gege. This revenge has not yet been taken, and the older sister cannot eat the food of her enemy.

"You're not from the common people, get out." Cui Hui glared at Cui Rou and said.

Cui Rou acts like a spoiled young lady all day long, looking down on everyone else. She's so old and still hasn't changed. She deserves a beating.

Having not been beaten in the Duke's mansion for the past two years, they've forgotten the pain.

"Sister, you..." Cui Rou's chin twitched. "Sister, Luo Qingyan is not a good person. You'll suffer after you marry Brother Yuan."

"Snap!" The whip cracked instantly near my ear.

"Ah!" Cui Rou screamed, covering her ears.

"Get out." With a single glance from Cui Hui, Cui Rou, limping madly, ran towards the stairwell.

"Are you blind? Why are you running into me?"

When Cui Rou looked up, a glamorous woman was looking down at her.

"Luo Haitang?"