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

Seeing Luo Qingyan's mysterious expression, Pei Shiyuan turned his head and moved closer.

Luo Qingyan covered her mouth with one hand and leaned close to Pei Shiyuan's ear:

"Father, he has a lover named 'Snowflake' on the pleasure boat. If this gets out, he won't get a promotion, and he can't blame us."

Pei Shiyuan raised his eyes slightly. He had thought Luo Qingyan was going to force him to show favoritism, but it turned out she had another way. She was quite clever.

Luo Qingyan straightened up and said seriously, "Your Highness, if I directly say I won't help, Father will say I'm unfilial and heartless. If he himself has a flawed character, he can't blame anyone else."

"This time, you don't need to do anything, I'll do it myself."

"They should thank us for our help, but unfortunately, it didn't work out."

Pei Shiyuan raised an eyebrow and nodded.

That little girl is pretty good.

My father served as the head of the Ministry of Revenue for more than ten years, but that was about all he was capable of. Even so, he often made mistakes and had his monthly salary deducted.

Every time her monthly allowance was withheld, her mother would sit in the mansion and scold her father for a long time, pointing her finger at his nose.

Her father never interfered in matters of the household, and even though he knew she was being bullied by her mother and Luo Haitang, he pretended not to see it.

Luo Qingyan thought about it seriously, but she really couldn't find a single reason to help her father.

"Your Highness, let me push you to drink your medicine."

After Luo Qingyan finished giving Pei Shiyuan his medicine and snacks, Yuan Qing returned with a thousand taels of silver.

"Aunt Luo, one thousand taels."

Yuan Qing handed over the silver note.

Before Luo Qingyan could even take it, Pei Shiyuan snatched the silver note away.

"Is this Shen Nanxun's gift of one thousand taels to Luo Haitang as a token of gratitude for saving her life?"

Pei Shiyuan rubbed the silver note with his index finger, as if he wanted to erase the words on it.

Hearing Pei Shiyuan's sarcastic tone, Luo Qingyan immediately became wary. She nodded, "Yes, Your Highness, Shen Nanxun gave me a total of six thousand taels as a token of my gratitude. I plan to return all the money to Shen Nanxun."

"No need! You were laughing so happily just now," Pei Shiyuan said coldly.

He had never seen Luo Qingyan smile with her mouth so wide open. Was she really that happy to see Shen Nanxun?

Instantly, Luo Qingyan's gaze sharpened as she looked at Pei Shiyuan; he was angry.

"Young Master, I'll return the money right away." Luo Qingyan said with a serious expression. She was going to return it anyway; it was just a small favor, how could she accept so much money?

Pei Shiyuan was angry. She only recognized one master, Pei Shiyuan.

They don't treat Shen Nanxun as their master just because the Shen family is rich.

One should not serve two masters.

She had to show her determination, so she picked up the banknotes and left.

"Come back," Pei Shiyuan snapped.

She was in such a hurry that she wanted to see Shen Nanxun twice in one day.

"Since it's to thank you for saving his life, just take it. That way, he won't owe you a favor, and we'll be even."

He didn't return the money, and from then on, Shen Nanxun always felt he could never repay the life-saving grace, so he approached Luo Qingyan.

He's not dead yet? He's already looking for a new client.

"Oh." Luo Qingyan returned with the silver note again. Pei Shiyuan clearly didn't want to see the silver note, yet he wouldn't let her return it. He was truly a fickle person.

No, he always dislikes Shen Nanxun; it's jealousy.

Luo Qingyan waved her hand, signaling Yuan Qing to step aside, and whispered in Pei Shiyuan's ear, "You're jealous."

Pei Shiyuan's ears turned bright red, but he didn't.

"Luo Qingyan, are you daydreaming? I was just looking at your silly grin. Don't laugh like that again."

Why would he be jealous? Luo Qingyan is still young and inexperienced, and doesn't know how to guard against people, hence her laughing like that.

Is Shen Nanxun a good person?

After he dies, wouldn't it be better to find her someone reliable, trustworthy, and well-known?

"Yes, Your Highness, I won't smile like that anymore." Luo Qingyan almost couldn't hold back her tears when she said this.

Pei Shiyuan, can you stop being so stubborn?

"I'll go prepare some tea and snacks."

Luo Qingyan couldn't hold it in any longer, so she made an excuse to leave and burst out laughing around the corner.

Yuan Qing entered, bewildered: "Young Master, do you dislike Consort Luo seeing Shen Nanxun?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Pei Shiyuan's face immediately darkened.

"Your Highness, it's quite obvious! However, I believe that Aunt Luo is not that kind of person. She won't waver just because you're not feeling well," Yuan Qing said with certainty.

"I..." Pei Shiyuan wanted to argue, but his burning ears reminded him.

No, he's definitely wrong. He overreacted. According to the picture book he read, it was a case of the man developing feelings for the woman.

Luo Qingyan.

Pei Shiyuan clenched his fists on his knees and mentally repeated those three words.

Luo Qingyan clung to him all day long, and anyone would fall for her. She would fall on him without warning, whether it was a real or fake fall, and even kiss him.

Pei Shiyuan breathed softly, his chest rising and falling slightly. He had unknowingly become aroused, and Luo Qingyan had noticed it. This was unacceptable.

No wonder she's becoming increasingly daring.

If something unexpected happens and I lose control, wouldn't that ruin her life?

He's dead, how can she get married now?

"Yuanqing, let's go back to the manor first."

He shouldn't go with Luo Qingyan; it's better to stay away and both of them should clear their heads.

Luo Qingyan was so obsessed with him that she didn't even consider that she could rely on a dying person for the rest of her life.

Confused.

"I'll go call Aunt Luo."

"No need, don't tell her."

Pei Shiyuan rolled away in his wheelchair.

Yuan Qing scratched his head and followed, wondering if he had said anything wrong.

"Sir, let me push you downstairs."

By the time Luo Qingyan brought out the tea and snacks, Pei Shiyuan had already disappeared.

Luo Qingyan thought to herself that there was urgent business to attend to and that she had left first. She turned to go back to the kitchen, but then she heard Zheng Mama's voice behind her:

"Aunt Luo."

"Granny Zheng?" Luo Qingyan turned around. "You wanted to see me?"

"The old lady has made arrangements and will take you to Nanshan Garden now."

"Okay, coming right away." Luo Qingyan took off her apron and changed her clothes.

The carriage was already waiting downstairs.

The old lady was quick to act; she had arranged for her to stay there by the afternoon after she had spoken in the morning.

Nanshan Garden is located at the southernmost part of the capital city, and it takes an hour to get there by carriage.

"Don't worry, Auntie, everything is provided there, you won't lack anything."

"Please thank the old lady for me."

Even as a ghost, Luo Qingyan witnessed the luxury of Nanshan Yayuan. The best rooms had gold brick floors, carved glass windows, and excellent soundproofing, ensuring warmth in winter and coolness in summer. They cost a thousand taels of silver per night and were attended to by dedicated staff.

The carriage sped along and arrived at Nanshan Garden, by which time it was already completely dark.

However, the lights of Nanshan Garden illuminate half of Nanshan.

The Duke's carriage drove directly into Nanshan Garden and stopped in the left area. This area had medium-sized rooms, which the old lady must have booked. It cost no less than a hundred taels a night, befitting the Duke's status.

"Aunt, please."

Luo Qingyan entered the room without putting down her package.

"Auntie, is there something wrong?" Granny Zheng asked solemnly. The old lady was treating Auntie Luo like a lucky star, hoping she could find a divine doctor. She had instructed that any request Auntie Luo had could be fulfilled.

"Granny, there's nothing wrong with it, I just need to change rooms," Luo Qingyan said earnestly.