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

Is my back sweaty?

Suddenly, Pei Shiyuan asked a question, his eyes fixed on Luo Qingyan.

"No," Luo Qingyan replied immediately. She knew Pei Shiyuan suspected her, and if she said "yes," it would be a bad omen.

Pei Shiyuan would then know that she had arrived early and spied on him.

"How do you know you didn't?" Pei Shiyuan's suspicious eyes swept over Luo Qingyan. "Did you arrive early?"

Luo Qingyan was speechless. Saying "no" wouldn't work either. "I don't know if I have it or not."

In her haste, she realized that she should have said this, and she regretted not thinking it through. Her face turned red uncontrollably.

"You arrived early, and you were even peeking," Pei Shiyuan said coldly, his eyes half-lowered.

"This." Luo Qingyan blinked for a moment, then looked up, her expression becoming serious and earnest: "Your Highness, I am your aunt, and it is my duty to help you with this matter."

She spoke with righteous indignation.

Pei Shiyuan was speechless. Luo Qingyan was still determined to have a child to protect herself, and she didn't care about her current safety.

"I don't want children right now."

He took the herbal tea and drank it in large gulps.

"Your Highness, I only want to help you. I'm afraid you'll harm your health by eating too much deer antler velvet. I have no other intentions."

She wanted to have children, but consummating the marriage had to be the first step!

Pei Shiyuan is really vigilant.

Luo Qingyan thought that this matter couldn't remain stagnant; she had to take a step forward. Perhaps it would be better to retreat in order to advance.

"Consuming the marriage doesn't necessarily mean having a child, Your Highness. I can drink a contraceptive soup."

"I don't do things that take advantage of others." Pei Shiyuan gave Luo Qingyan a cold look; he didn't believe her.

Luo Qingyan will definitely secretly avoid drinking the contraceptive soup and then get pregnant.

What does it mean to take advantage of her?

Luo Qingyan thought about it and realized that if they consummated their marriage and she couldn't get pregnant, wouldn't that be taking advantage of her?

Originally, Pei Shiyuan was not going to survive, so it would have been taking advantage of her for nothing. But now that Kangning Pavilion has been opened for her, it doesn't count as taking advantage of her.

"Your Highness, you have done so much for me. Even if I drink the contraceptive soup, it's not like I'm taking advantage of you. Besides, I am your concubine, and this is all my duty."

Luo Qingyan was essentially saying that she was willing to give herself to him, and that it was okay if they didn't have children for the time being.

"Cough cough cough." Pei Shiyuan coughed awkwardly. When will Luo Qingyan ever be a little more reserved? She keeps bringing up what happened in the room. "Let's not talk about offspring for now. Let's wait until we find out the cause of my illness."

"Someone is targeting the Duke's mansion. If you want an heir now, and something happens, I may not be able to protect you and your child. I might not even be able to save your life."

Pei Shiyuan simply explained things to Luo Qingyan, making her realize the crisis. If she couldn't even protect herself, what was the point of having a child?

When the emperor ordered him to carry out the task of confiscating property and exterminating families, pregnant women were often implicated.

Before the execution, the pregnant woman's desperate gaze was not for herself, but for the unborn child in her womb, a sight too painful to bear.

"Then, Your Highness, you are willing to have a child with me, right?" Luo Qingyan curled her lips. In the end, Pei Shiyuan was worried that he couldn't protect her and the child because of the court struggles.

She wasn't afraid. The countless nights of hunger she had endured had taught her that tomorrow and death were uncertain, so it was better to live well in the present.

With such excellent conditions in the Duke's mansion, a child born there would receive excellent care.

However, she understood Pei Shiyuan's concerns, so she decided to wait and see. The person who had almost killed Pei Shiyuan was definitely not a simple character.

As long as he's willing to have children with her, that's fine.

Pei Shiyuan lowered his eyes in disappointment. Luo Qingyan's point of view was truly peculiar; even at the brink of life and death, she was still only thinking about whether or not he was willing to have a child with her.

"Yes."

Pei Shiyuan replied listlessly.

Luo Qingyan seems alright; aside from her mind being consumed by that kind of thing, she has no other flaws. In the future, when the storm has passed, if she's willing to stay, she'll naturally have children.

He doesn't have high demands when it comes to matters of the heart; he just wants a woman in the backyard who doesn't scheme against him.

Luo Qingyan is a bit oblivious; all she knows is having children and making money. She often doesn't even consider his feelings and insists on forcing herself on him.

It's always better to think about it than to rack your brains and fight.

Hearing Pei Shiyuan's affirmative answer, Luo Qingyan couldn't help but smile. "Your Highness, let me wash your back and change your clothes."

A smile flashed in Pei Shiyuan's eyes. "Fool, you've probably been staring for ages!"

Five days later.

"Auntie, your letter."

The doorman brought Liuyue along.

Upon opening it, she saw that it was an invitation from the Luo family, and it was from her father, Luo Daocheng. Luo Qingyan curled her lips. Her father personally sent an invitation, asking her to return to the manor immediately. He said he missed his daughter, but in reality, he was probably just adding fuel to the fire.

When the Ministry of Revenue's promotion assessment results came out, my father still hadn't been promoted.

"Liu Yue, arrange a carriage for me."

"Yes, Aunt."

Upon seeing the urgent message from the Luo family, Liu Yue hurried off.

At the entrance of the Duke's Mansion.

"Auntie, the driver is Old Zhang, the one you praised last time."

Liu Yue even specially invited Lao Zhang.

Luo Qingyan's vision went black. Old Zhang, driving the car, slammed on the brakes, nearly throwing her and Liu Yue off the road. Pei Shiyuan wasn't there.

"Old Zhang, the carriage can go slower, I'm not in a hurry."

Even if the carriage becomes unstable later, it won't bump too badly.

"But Miss Liuyue said she was in a hurry." The honest old Zhang said with a serious expression.

Luo Qingyan smiled and said, "Old Zhang, there's no rush now."

"Oh, then I'll go slower."

Honest old Zhang drove his carriage slowly, like a nobleman strolling through the streets.

"Auntie, aren't you really in a hurry?" Liu Yue asked quietly, not believing her.

"I'm not in a hurry. Next time the young master isn't here, don't call Old Zhang," Luo Qingyan whispered.

Liu Yue nodded mysteriously, though she didn't know what Luo Qingyan meant, she just told her to follow orders.

Luo Qingyan wasn't in a hurry at all. Her father's invitation was urgent, but it had nothing to do with her. It was definitely about his promotion.

"Young Master, isn't that Consort Luo?"

The wind lifted the carriage curtain, and Yuan Qing immediately saw Liu Yue and Luo Qingyan.

Pei Shiyuan's carriage approached from the side: "What is she going to do? Let's go see."

Why is Luo Qingyan running around instead of staying in the manor? Has Jing Bufan seen her? What if she gets captured and confesses? Wouldn't that be dangerous?

"Donkey cart!" Old Zhang braked the carriage, causing Luo Qingyan and Liu Yue to lean back and forth.

Liu Yue was speechless. He was going so slowly that he couldn't even brake properly. How did Old Zhang manage to get Aunt Luo's praise?

"What's wrong with Old Zhang?"

Luo Qingyan lifted the carriage curtain: "Young Master?"

"Yuanqing, carry me upstairs."

Pei Shiyuan appeared to still be in a wheelchair, but in reality, he used his lightness skill to make Yuan Qing merely move the wheelchair, easily getting into Luo Qingyan's carriage.

Upon learning that Luo Qingyan was returning to the Luo family mansion, Pei Shiyuan felt even more strongly that he should go with her. He felt that the Luo family had always mistreated Luo Qingyan, and that it was no good to hastily send her back.

"Your Highness, it's just a family matter, no need to trouble you."

"Old Zhang, hurry up." Pei Shiyuan ignored Luo Qingyan.

With a shout of "Giddy up!" from Old Zhang, the carriage sped off like lightning, startling Luo Qingyan so much that she immediately grabbed Pei Shiyuan's sleeve.

Pei Shiyuan's gaze fell on Luo Qingyan's hand, which was tightly gripping his, and a smile appeared on his lips.

It's nothing, I'm just having some little schemes.

Luo Qingyan glanced at Pei Shiyuan and swallowed.