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

Heng Ge'er held the crescent-shaped pastry in his hand, raised his chubby little face, and asked Luo Qingyan.

"Where did Heng-ge'er hear that?" Luo Qingyan asked softly, guessing that it was Qian Shi mentioning adoption again, and the child had overheard it.

"Grandma was calculating how much silver it would cost to invite Uncle and Grandfather. I overheard her saying that I would be the heir of the eldest son's family in the future, which means I would call you Mother. That way I would have two mothers, which is great!" Heng-ge'er whispered, covering his mouth with his little hand.

Qian was unaware that Pei Shiyuan's illness had greatly improved; she still thought he was very ill as before and that it was only a matter of time before he passed away.

Upon hearing that she was infertile, they immediately wanted to ask the elders of the Pei family to put pressure on the old lady to adopt Hengge.

This plan is likely to fail.

The crown prince will marry wives and concubines, and have many children.

Luo Qingyan stroked Heng Ge'er's little head. The child was adorable and sensible, and liked to cling to her. "Heng Ge'er, I'm just a concubine, I'm not qualified to be your mother. And what you said to me today, you can't tell anyone, pinky promise?"

"Heng-ge'er knows, pinky promise."

Hook your little finger around Luo Qingyan's.

Luo Qingyan came specifically to find Madam Qian. Everyone else had already eaten breakfast, but Madam Qian was still asleep. Seeing that Heng Ge'er had almost finished his snacks, she told him to go find his biological mother, Madam Xu. Then, she knocked on the door loudly: "Second Madam. It's me, Luo Qingyan."

Xu saw Luo Qingyan's bold behavior from another room and shrank back in fright. She closed the door halfway and peeked out. Her mother-in-law was strict with her and would punish and scold her for the slightest displeasure.

She dared not offend her mother-in-law, let alone find fault with her. She slept in late, and even if the younger generation had something to do, they had to wait for her. She dared not knock on the door.

The maidservant who accompanied Qian Shi in her room had gotten up early to do chores, leaving her alone in the room. When she heard Luo Qingyan's name, she thought she was just too excited and dreaming.

"Second Madam, the sun is high in the sky, it's time to get up."

Luo Qingyan raised her voice, startling the passing servants who stopped to stare before quickly leaving.

The second wife often interferes in the affairs of the first wife's family, and no one from the first wife's family has ever dared to interfere in the affairs of the second wife.

You mean she sleeps in late?

Qian was startled awake. It wasn't a dream. Luo Qingyan was incredibly audacious. What did she want with her so early in the morning?

"Someone come here."

"Second Madam, I've arrived." Luo Qingyan pushed open the door and entered. Since Madam Qian had been talking about her, she had to come and let her know that she was back.

Madam Qian was stunned. Did Luo Qingyan have no manners or politeness at all? Barging straight into her bedroom, was that appropriate?

"Greetings, Second Madam." Luo Qingyan curtsied and smiled at Madam Qian.

Still laughing?

Madam Qian hadn't slept enough and was still fuming. Seeing Luo Qingyan smile only fueled her anger, but she had to suppress it and maintain her image and authority as an elder. Her eyes widened as she forced back her anger and said sternly, "Aunt Luo, I didn't invite you in. Isn't it inappropriate for you to barge into my room?"

"Second Madam, it's inappropriate for you to sleep until this hour. What are we juniors supposed to think? Should I sleep until this hour tomorrow too?"

Luo Qingyan chuckled. Qian Shi only sets rules for others, but what about herself? Then she doesn't need to talk to her about rules either.

"You." Madam Qian choked. Luo Qingyan was still the same. She really didn't know how Madam Cui had trained her. Didn't she know that some things are better left unsaid?

She just blurts everything out loud, she has absolutely no sense of propriety.

"What do you need me for?"

Seeing that Madam Qian's face was pale and ashen with anger, Luo Qingyan slowly said, "It's nothing. It's just that I've moved to Kangning Pavilion and can't see you every day, so I came early today to pay my respects to you."

Qian rolled her eyes. Nothing happened? She thought Luo Qingyan had deliberately come to cause trouble and ruin her sleep.

Luo Qingyan met her gaze; they were in the same boat.

"Aunt Luo, you're not really a proper concubine. With the Luo family's social standing, you're not even qualified to be the young master's concubine. You came to the Duke's mansion only to leave a child. Now that you can't have children, you should leave on your own."

Qian Shimu's eyes were sinister; disturbing her peaceful dream meant she wouldn't have any fun.

"If I leave, who will remind you to get up early?" Luo Qingyan curled her lips. "Xu has already given birth to two sons. You should relinquish power and let her manage the household affairs."

"You shrew from the streets!" Madam Qian roared, her head spinning with rage. How dare she interfere in the affairs of the second wife's family!

She usually said a few words to the eldest son's family for the good of the Duke's mansion, but now Luo Qingyan has paid it all back.

Mr. Qian felt as if a punch he had thrown had bounced back and struck him.

"Second Madam, please point out any shortcomings I may have made, instead of simply calling me a 'shrew from the streets.' Also, Madam Xu should learn how to manage household affairs."

Luo Qingyan reiterated that Qian Fanghai had lost 5,000 taels of silver yesterday, and was strutting around the Kangning Pavilion three times this morning. This must be due to the support of the Qian family, and he must have received a lot of money.

For many years, Qian had been in charge of the household finances, and he always claimed that he would use his own money to supplement the family income.

But the old lady said that Qian always said that the second branch of the family relied on her, just to gain an advantage verbally and make everyone think that it was her achievement.

When the old lady was alive, she divided the family property equally between the eldest and second wives, without showing favoritism.

The second wife's income and expenses could not possibly be insufficient for household expenses, so why would she need Qian's subsidies?

As expected, the mention of managing the household affairs immediately enraged Madam Qian. Her face turned from ashen to purplish-black, her eyes glaring, her chest heaving. She cursed Luo Qingyan for being unable to have children and for being kicked out, but instead of getting angry, she ignored her words and kept bringing up the topic of managing the household affairs.

As long as Qian Mingyi is alive, no one can touch the family's affairs.

"I'd like to relax, but unfortunately, Xu is stupid and I can't teach her anything."

Madam Qian got out of bed, her whole body radiating anger. Her maid helped her change her clothes and wash up.

Now she was wide awake. She had really underestimated Luo Qingyan. Even Xu Shi didn't dare to casually enter her room.

Luo Qingyan sat there brazenly for half a day and even dared to criticize her.

The Cui family didn't care, but she did.

"Xu is a lady from a respectable family, how could she not manage the household affairs, unless the household affairs are already in such a mess that they can't be managed anymore." Luo Qingyan flicked her sleeve as if it had been stained with something dirty.

Qian was shocked. Did Luo Qingyan have no manners at all? What was she saying with such empty words?

Is this how young women in their boudoirs talk?

What's wrong with the Qian family having some money? Otherwise, why would she go to such lengths to marry into the Duke's family?

Pei Wen is incompetent, unable to gain power, and he can't even get a little money.

"Luo Qingyan, how dare you! When did it become your business to interfere in the affairs of the second wife's family?" Madam Qian slammed her hand on the dressing table in anger.

As soon as she moved, the maidservant poked her temple with a hairpin.

"I'm sorry, Second Madam," the maidservant hurriedly knelt down and begged for forgiveness.

"Get out of here and take ten strokes of the cane!" Madam Qian shouted angrily.

The maidservant lowered her head and slunk out.

"Second Madam, it doesn't matter whether we care or not. We're all family, and we're all doing this for the good of the Duke's Mansion," Luo Qingyan said with a smile. Today, she was giving back to Madam Qian for all the things she had said to the old lady.

Qian must have found every word he heard familiar.

Luo Qingyan was deliberately standing up for Cui Shi. Qian Shi finally realized what was happening and laughed angrily, "Aunt Luo, you can leave now."

"Second Madam, I have said most of what I wanted to say, but there is one last thing. I think we can invite the clan elders to witness your handover of the management of the household."