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

Luo Qingyan needs to find someone to help her embroider sachets.

She had no connections in the Duke's mansion, yet some people took the initiative to seek her help—those servants who had been punished by Cui Rou.

They approached Luo Qingyan, intentionally or unintentionally, seeking her protection.

Luo Qingyan couldn't say she trusted them, but she thought they could do small things for her.

"Don't worry, Aunt Luo, I can embroider twenty for you tonight, let alone ten," said the maid Amber. Her eyes were firm. She was originally a first-class maid in the Duke's mansion, but because Cui Rou found fault with her, she was demoted to a lowly maid. There were five or six sisters like her.

"Thank you, Miss Amber. There are a few other sisters here as well," Luo Qingyan said gratefully.

"Aunt Luo, is Cui Rou making things difficult for you?" Amber asked quietly.

Luo Qingyan shook her head: "It's something else."

Amber, however, seemed thoughtful: "No, Aunt Luo, we saw Ginkgo, who serves Cui Rou, talking furtively with a servant boy today. It's definitely not a good thing. They've been targeting you; you should be careful."

"Okay, I understand." Luo Qingyan put down her needlework. "Please take this money and have some snacks."

"Aunt Xie Luo."

Luo Qingyan smiled and left.

Among them were first-class and second-class maids who were more sensitive to the slightest disturbances in the Duke's mansion than she was, and even knew about other mansions that had dealings with the Duke's mansion.

She should treat them well; they might come in handy someday.

Luo Qingyan secretly had them embroider sachets, so she didn't let Liu Yue follow. Instead, she took a detour to the lotus pond and pretended to admire the flowers.

This lotus pond is the same pond where Pei Shiyuan fished last time.

The fish were all caught and cooked, and then lotus flowers were transplanted and used to fill the gaps.

A pond of lotus flowers rippled on the water. Luo Qingyan saw a lotus bud very close to the shore. She reached out and almost touched it, but almost did. She turned around, found a tree branch, hooked the bud over, and pulled hard, pulling out a section of lotus root.

This lotus root is very tender; you can wash it and eat it directly.

Along the bank, Luo Qingyan pulled up a few more sections of lotus root, tied them up, and carried them in her hand. She planned to make a lily bulb, lotus root, and snow pear soup. But as she walked, a pair of eyes were watching her from behind.

The man crouched low, hiding among the flowers, staring at Luo Qingyan, glancing around every now and then, before pulling a paper package from his pocket.

"Auntie, let me carry it."

Liu Yue suddenly appeared, and the man hurriedly stuffed the paper package back into his arms, gritting his teeth. What a great opportunity was gone.

Cui Rou, who was observing from a distance, stomped her feet in anger. It was a rare opportunity for Luo Qingyan to be alone.

"Miss, don't be angry. Our original plan was also to go tonight." Ginkgo's tone was sinister.

"Yes, we'll proceed as planned. Ginkgo, you go and keep a close eye on things. There can't be any mishaps." Cui Rou twisted her handkerchief, her eyes bloodshot.

Without Luo Qingyan, Pei Shiyuan would only have eyes for her.

It's time to light the lamps.

Luo Qingyan has prepared the lily, lotus root, and snow pear soup and is ready to send a portion to the old lady.

"ginkgo?"

As Luo Qingyan walked, she came across a lone ginkgo tree.

"Greetings, Aunt Luo." A flicker of panic crossed Yinxing's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

Luo Qingyan nodded and brushed past Ginkgo.

Yinxing turned her head, a smile playing on her lips. The medicine had already been placed on Luo Qingyan. Once Luo Qingyan had an attack, there would be a good show to watch.

After delivering the lily, lotus root, and snow pear soup to the old lady, Luo Qingyan noticed that Pei Shiyuan hadn't touched his chopsticks yet.

"Young Master, why aren't you eating? The food will get cold soon."

"I feel nauseous." With that, Pei Shiyuan picked up his chopsticks. He really didn't want to eat much. Luo Qingyan had a good appetite, and if he watched her eat, he might be able to eat some himself.

"Your Highness, these lotus roots are freshly picked by me. Please try them."

Besides making soup, Luo Qingyan also made a stir-fried lotus root slice dish, which was crisp and tender.

"Next time, let Yuanqing help you pull it out." Pei Shiyuan took a bite, and it was indeed very crisp. Luo Qingyan wasn't afraid of falling off.

"Yes, sir. Please call me if you need anything, Aunt Luo. Also, would you like to change the driver of the carriage?"

Yuan Qing looked at Luo Qingyan expectantly, hoping she could give him another chance. His driving skills had always been good, so why would Aunt Luo be dissatisfied?

Luo Qingyan then remembered the angry words she had spoken during the day. Yuan Qing drove very steadily, and it would have been better if he hadn't. She forced a smile and said, "I was just kidding, teasing you."

"Hehe, then I can rest assured." Yuan Qing finally felt relieved.

Seeing Luo Qingyan eating with relish, Pei Shiyuan barely managed to eat half a bowl of rice.

Luo Qingyan lowered her eyes, a look of loneliness in them.

Pei Shiyuan's appetite has been decreasing lately, and he sweats profusely after eating a meal, which worries her.

"Your Highness, let me take you to rest."

After a short while, Linfengju blew out the lamps and went to bed.

In the darkness of night, only a crescent moon remained in the sky.

Luo Qingyan put on her coat, got up again, and gently opened the door.

Outside Linfeng Residence, two dark figures moved about, appearing to be a man and a woman.

"They're here, they're here." The female figure concealed herself, while another male figure swaggered out.

Judging by the timing, the medicine must be taking effect.

"You slut, out looking for a man, huh? I've got you all ready," the concealed female figure cursed.

Luo Qingyan was sitting at the stone table in the courtyard.

The dark-skinned man peered through the crack in the door, scratching his head and pacing back and forth, seemingly in a hurry.

Luo Qingyan sat quietly with her eyes lowered, a gentle breeze ruffling her hair.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing? Don't come any closer, don't come any closer!"

Suddenly, a man's terrified voice came from outside the courtyard gate.

"Yuanqing, Liuyue," Luo Qingyan called out twice.

The other maids who were serving also got up.

When they opened the courtyard gate, they were stunned by the sight before them.

Ginkgo was seen with her bare shoulders exposed, tightly hugging a servant, her mouth constantly rubbing against his body.

"Help! Guard Yuan, help me!"

The servant shouted.

The maids all covered their faces in embarrassment. Sister Yinxing usually liked to scold them, saying they had no manners. But it turned out that she herself was so shameless in private. What right did she have to criticize them?

Yuan Qing knocked Yin Xing unconscious with a single chop to the neck.

The servant's shouts attracted the old lady and Cui Rou.

"Ginkgo, what's wrong?" As soon as Cui Rou arrived, she saw Ginkgo lying on the ground with her clothes disheveled.

"Miss Cui, spare me! I was just walking along when Yinxing suddenly rushed over and grabbed me. Guard Yuan and the others saw it all. I didn't touch Miss Yinxing."

The servant knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing.

Cui Rou frowned. No, the one who went crazy and went into heat should be Luo Qingyan, not Yinxing. The one who was clinging tightly to the servant should also be Luo Qingyan. How did it become Yinxing?

First, wake up Ginkgo and ask her what happened.

"Bring me water."

A maidservant was seen carrying a basin of water and suddenly splashing it on Yinxing's face.

"Pfft!" Ginkgo shook the water off her face and opened her eyes.

"what!"

Then came Ginkgo's scream as she hurriedly wrapped her torn clothes around herself.

"Ginkgo, what's wrong with you?" Cui Rou demanded sternly.

Seeing that Luo Qingyan was unharmed, Yinxing immediately realized what was happening and put the medicine meant for Luo Qingyan on her.

She slowly raised her hand and pointed at Luo Qingyan.