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

"No, I won't lend it to you. When will you ever pay back the money you took from me?"

Madam Qian turned to go back into the house. She couldn't stay any longer, or her husband, Pei Wen, would object and suspect that Qian Fanghai wanted money.

"Sister, if you don't lend me the money, Deyue Restaurant won't be able to stay open." Qian Fanghai jumped up and down in anger.

The old lady chuckled from the shadows, having vented most of the anger she usually suffered at Qian Shi's hands. Luo Qingyan was quite clever, making Qian Fanghai lose five thousand taels in a single day.

"Sister, I have some news for you. It's definitely worth five thousand taels." Qian Fanghai pulled Qian Shi aside.

"What news?" Qian asked, still somewhat skeptical.

Qian Fanghai beckoned, and the Qian family approached.

"What? Luo Qingyan can't have children anymore?"

Qian exclaimed in surprise.

"What Luo Haitang told me is absolutely true, sister. Tell me, isn't this information worth five thousand taels?"

"No wonder they moved to Kangning Pavilion; they were quite self-disciplined."

"Oh dear!" Madam Qian looked up at the sky, exhaled, and felt comfortable all over.

She thinks it will be a long time before the eldest son has a grandson, and that the family line is destined to end.

"Sister, give me the money." Qian Fanghai urged, reaching out his hand.

"This is so annoying, there won't be a next time." Madam Qian took out a silver note from her sleeve and slapped it into Qian Fanghai's hand.

Qian Fanghai disappeared in an instant.

Madam Qian stood outside the courtyard gate with a smile. Luo Qingyan was unable to have children and moved out of the Duke's mansion. What was even more interesting was that Pei Shiyuan actually moved there as well, which meant that he had been bewitched by Luo Qingyan.

The eldest son's family is still arranging for Pei Shiyuan to marry wives and concubines. It's ridiculous! They're destined to have no descendants. They should just adopt Heng Ge'er as soon as possible.

The thought of adopting Heng Ge'er, which the eldest son's family repeatedly refused, made Qian Shi angry.

"Why aren't you back yet?" Pei Wen frowned, hurrying out and looking around to see if Qian Fanghai was still there. "Has Qian Fanghai come to ask for money again? How much did you give him?"

"No, my brother runs a restaurant, he doesn't need my money," Madam Qian said with a smile, then sighed, "Master, I'm worried."

"What are you worried about? Let's go inside and talk." Pei Wen pulled Qian Shi into the house.

Madam Qian returned to her room, her face beaming. She recounted in detail how Luo Qingyan couldn't have children and how Pei Shiyuan had chased after her. Then, she lowered her eyes and sighed, "Master, the eldest son's family can't have children, and they won't agree to adopt Heng-ge'er. What should we do?"

Pei Wen glanced at Madam Qian; he understood her little scheme.

After being adopted by Heng Ge'er, one can inherit the title and the property of the eldest son's family.

Not long after his elder brother passed away, Pei Shiyuan suddenly fell ill and was nearing the end of his life. It was truly a cruel twist of fate.

Qian had his own selfish motives, but they were also reasonable.

The Duke's title cannot simply be lost.

"Master, please think of a way!" Madam Qian tugged at Pei Wen's sleeve and acted coquettishly, taking the opportunity to cover up her guilty conscience about giving Qian Fanghai money.

"There is a way," Pei Wen said slowly.

"What method?" Qian asked hurriedly.

"Inviting the elders of the Pei family will cost a considerable sum of money." Pei Wen, a fourth-rank city gatekeeper, didn't receive much monthly pay.

The second wife's expenses mainly came from dividends from the Pei family's businesses, as well as subsidies from the Qian family.

The farms and shops that Qian brought with her as part of her dowry became her main source of income.

Therefore, the matter of money still rests with the Qian family.

Pei Wen lacked confidence.

"If we could adopt Heng-ge'er, we'd be willing to spend some money," Madam Qian said, resting her index finger on her chin in thought.

In the courtyard, Granny Zheng helped the old lady sit down.

"Madam, please don't pay any attention to Madam Qian. Once the young master recovers, having children will be a quick matter."

"Have Qingyan come back tomorrow."

As the night breeze grew cooler, the old lady got up and went back to her room. Even if Qingyan couldn't have children, she was still a member of her first wife's family.

Luo Qingyan is better at talking than her. Let's see if she can scold Qian Shi tomorrow and vent her anger for her.

The following day, after breakfast, the old lady sent someone to Kangning Pavilion.

Luo Qingyan's heart tightened when she saw the carriage downstairs. The old lady was always very strict, and she must be angry this time.

The dignified prince moved into a shop with a concubine.

Luo Qingyan thought about it and realized it was a bit outrageous. She made up her mind and decided what to do.

Pei Shiyuan will have plenty of women in the future; he can't be relied upon.

Let's put him aside for now.

She might as well cling to the old lady's coattails and do whatever the old lady says.

"Aunt Luo, the old lady wants you to go back."

Luo Qingyan nodded: "Coming right away."

She went to the kitchen to get some snacks and then got into the carriage. The old lady was of advanced age, so she brought some soft food.

"Young Master, will the old lady punish Consort Luo for asking her to go back?" Yuan Qing asked, watching the Duke's carriage drive away.

The old lady was happy that Aunt Luo was staying at Kangning Pavilion.

But if the young master comes along, wouldn't that cause people to say that Aunt Luo is bewitching her master?

The old lady must be angry to call her back; she'll definitely punish her.

"Young Master? My Lord?"

Yuan Qing turned around, and Pei Shiyuan was gone.

The Duke's Mansion is a suitable place to live.

"Greetings to the old lady." Luo Qingyan curtsied and then remained silent.

"Sigh!" The old lady sighed, holding her forehead.

Luo Qingyan's heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, suddenly tightened.

The old lady wouldn't let her leave the Duke's Mansion or Kangning Pavilion, would she?

Only then would Pei Shiyuan feel at ease returning to the Duke's mansion to marry and have children.

The old lady sighed repeatedly, finding it difficult to speak.

"Aunt Luo, get up quickly." Zheng Mama suddenly stepped forward to help Luo Qingyan up, with a smile on her face. "Aunt Luo, don't worry, the old lady was just upset by the second madam yesterday and asked you to come back to comfort her."

I'm not trying to upset her.

The gloom in Luo Qingyan's eyes vanished instantly: "What did the Second Madam do?"

"What else could it be? Qian Fanghai came to tell the Qian family that you can't have children. He's just making fun of us."

Granny Zheng lowered her eyes and clasped her hands in front of her, looking as if she and the old lady were being bullied.

Luo Qingyan smiled. So the old lady had called her back to vent her anger.

"Madam, I brought some snacks, please have a taste." Luo Qingyan opened the food box and took out a small portion. "I'll take this to Heng-ge'er."

Luo Qingyan smiled, knowing that with the old lady's support, it would be a piece of cake to confront Qian Shi.

"Alright, Granny Zheng, you go with Qingyan." The old lady was worried that Luo Qingyan would suffer a loss.

"Liu Yue will stay with me." Luo Qingyan turned and left.

The old lady and Granny Zheng then quietly followed.

"Heng-ge'er".

Children love to get up early to play. As soon as Luo Qingyan entered the second courtyard, she saw Heng Ge'er.

Five-year-old Heng saw Luo Qingyan at the same time, and hopped over, saying, "Shh, Grandma is sleeping, don't wake her up."

Luo Qingyan nodded mysteriously in agreement. Everyone in the Duke's mansion knew that Madam Qian didn't like to get up early and often slept until late morning.

"Aunt Luo, did you bring me something delicious?" Heng-ge'er blinked his big, thick-lashed eyes.

He was saddened for a long time yesterday when he heard that Aunt Luo had moved to Kangning Pavilion.

Without Aunt Luo around, he wouldn't be able to eat any delicious snacks.

"Here you go." Luo Qingyan smiled, opened the paper package, and five pastries were neatly stacked inside.

Heng Ge'er took one of Luo Qingyan's fingers in his little hand and walked towards the swing in the corner.

"If we eat here, Grandma won't be able to see us," Heng Ge'er invited Luo Qingyan to sit on the swing with him.

Heng-ge'er always asks Luo Qingyan for snacks behind Qian Shi's back.

"Aunt Luo, will I soon be able to call you Mother?"