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

"Young Master, I don't understand, just leave it!" Luo Qingyan pretended not to understand, went to tidy up the box, closed the lid, worried that Pei Shiyuan might do something if she hesitated for a moment.

"Where do you want to put it?" Pei Shiyuan frowned, his tone unfriendly.

"Put it in the warehouse along with the gifts."

Luo Qingyan looked up; she hadn't praised this thing!

Does Pei Shiyuan still have objections?

"No need, give it to me!"

Pei Shiyuan pressed down on the gift box.

"Okay." Luo Qingyan released her hand from the box, her jealousy palpable. Pei Shiyuan even needed embroidery thread; how could he possibly embroider? "Your Highness, let me take you to rest."

"No need, you all go and rest!"

Pei Shiyuan began to arrange the peacock feathers with both hands.

Luo Qingyan's mouth gaped open in surprise. Could Pei Shiyuan really be embroidering?

"What are you standing there for?"

Pei Shiyuan's tone was icy.

Luo Qingyan quickly turned and ran away. Pei Shiyuan was about to mutate, and was going to become a beautiful embroiderer.

After a busy noon, Luo Qingyan took a nap in the afternoon. When she woke up, she was going to Rong'an Lane.

Granny An lives in Rong'an Lane. Luo Qingyan invited her to come today, but she didn't come. She has to go and check on her.

Carrying snacks and a pot of Yuhu Bingqing Drink, Luo Qingyan and Granny Liu boarded the carriage.

"Granny, why didn't Granny An come?"

Luo Qingyan had never met Granny An before. Last time, Granny An helped Xiao Liuzi get a job at Deyue Restaurant, and she had been thinking that she would definitely invite her over when Kangning Pavilion opened to thank her properly.

"It's hard to say. Old An has always been in poor health. Maybe she's not feeling well today, which is why she didn't come. It's all because of the illness she developed in the palace," Liu Mama guessed. She added that Old An was all alone and longed for company, so she wouldn't miss the day unless there was a reason.

After turning two streets, the carriage stopped outside Rong'an Lane, but the lane was too narrow for the carriage to pass through.

Rong'an Lane is secluded, long, and winding. I only encountered one person along the way, who was wearing a hat.

Granny Liu led Luo Qingyan for a while and stopped in front of a narrow, black double door.

The door was covered in mottled black paint and looked somewhat worn.

Is Granny An not doing well? She has a wide network of connections and has been in the palace for many years. She must have accumulated a lot of money. She can't be having a hard time, right?

Granny Liu knocked on the rusty door knocker.

A moment later, a young maid peeked out: "Granny Liu?"

"Ling'er. This is my young lady, she's here to visit Granny An." Ling'er glanced at Luo Qingyan, and since she was brought by Granny Liu, she let her in.

Luo Qingyan lifted her skirt, stepped over the threshold, and was stunned by the scene before her.

What an exquisite little courtyard! The floor is paved with spotless white marble tiles. To the right stands a tall ginkgo tree, its branches laden with golden leaves that sway in the breeze. Beneath the tree is a recliner, next to which sits a tea table adorned with delicate patterns. To the left, in the open space, several cats are sleeping lazily.

Stepping inside, the furnishings, though simple, revealed their considerable value.

Granny An's residence is secluded; it looks dilapidated from the outside, but is exquisitely decorated inside.

"Granny, Granny Liu has come to see you."

Ling'er led them into the inner room.

Granny An was lying on the bed, sleeping on her side, as if she hadn't heard Ling'er's announcement.

"Old An," Granny Liu called softly, but there was still no response.

"Ling'er, how long has Granny An been sleeping?" Luo Qingyan asked.

"Not long before you arrived, she had just fallen asleep." Ling'er blinked her big eyes; logically, she shouldn't have fallen asleep so quickly.

Luo Qingyan took a few steps closer, stared intently, and saw that the forehead was dark. She leaned closer to look and saw that the lips were turning purple: "This is bad."

She rushed over in one stride, checked her breathing, and found it to be weak. She immediately turned Granny An over.

"Miss, what's wrong with Old An?" Granny Liu was startled by Granny An's appearance.

As soon as Luo Qingyan got a feel for Granny An's pulse, she hurriedly said, "Ling'er, open all the windows."

"No, that won't do. Granny won't allow it." Ling'er shook her head.

After leaving the palace, Granny An preferred to live in a small courtyard and a small room. She had to keep the doors and windows closed when she slept. Having witnessed the bloodshed of the palace struggles, she was always worried that there might be hidden hands in places she couldn't see. Therefore, the place where she lived had to be one where she could see the whole area at a glance.

"Saving lives is the priority." Granny Liu hurried over and pushed the window open.

The wind whistled in.

Luo Qingyan picked up her fan again and fanned it at Granny An: "Ling'er, Granny, go and boil some mung bean water. Granny An has been poisoned by strychnine."

Granny Liu was surprised for a moment, then grabbed Ling'er and ran to the kitchen.

After a while.

"Girl, the mung bean soup is here."

After feeding Granny An, Granny Liu gave her some honey water.

"Cough, cough, cough." Granny An coughed a few times and slowly opened her eyes.

"Old An, you're finally awake!" Granny Liu exclaimed, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Granny An, my name is Luo Qingyan. You've been poisoned by strychnine. Luckily, it was discovered in time. Mild cases can be relieved with mung bean water. If it's severe, mung bean water won't help."

"Poisoning? I just wasn't feeling well today. Sorry I couldn't come to your shop's opening." Granny An rubbed her temples. "It's an old ailment."

"Granny An, it's alright that you didn't come. I should thank you for recommending Xiao Liu to me. But, who poisoned you? Do you have any guesses?" Luo Qingyan frowned.

"No," Granny An shook her head. "I left the palace twenty years ago and have no connection with it anymore."

For the first five years after leaving the palace, she lived in constant fear, terrified that any of the palace masters might be displeased and cause her trouble.

She was only able to sleep peacefully after many years of calm.

"Granny Liu, we encountered a person wearing a hat on our way here. When they saw us, they deliberately lowered the brim of their hat as they walked past," Luo Qingyan suddenly remembered.

"Sneaking around like that, could it be him who did it?" Granny Liu's eyes widened.

"I really can't think of anyone. Over the years, I've rarely interacted with anyone," said Granny An.

Luo Qingyan nodded: "Granny An, why don't you hire a guard to protect you?"

"No," Granny An waved her hand. "What if the guards get malicious intentions?"

She didn't even have a chance to survive.

Luo Qingyan pondered that Granny An was frightened by the power struggles in the palace.

"Then, Granny An, you must be careful."

Granny An nodded.

Luo Qingyan, however, was thinking of going back to Pei Shiyuan and asking him to lend a bodyguard to protect Granny An.

The Duke's mansion is facing a crisis. Perhaps an old woman like Granny An from the palace knows something that might be helpful in the future.

"Old An, have a drink. You didn't go to Kangning Pavilion today, so we brought some for you. This is called Jade Dendrobium Ice Drink; it's really refreshing to drink in the summer."

Granny Liu handed it over.

"Really?" Granny An took a sip and smiled with satisfaction. "Miss Luo, you have skillful hands."

Luo Qingyan, Granny Liu, and Granny An chatted for quite a while, losing track of time, and it was already dusk when they left.

Granny An gave Luo Qingyan a jade pendant, which looked very valuable.

Luo Qingyan didn't want to accept it, but Granny An insisted on giving it to her, so she couldn't refuse and had no choice but to accept it.

"Granny An, I'll take you to Kangning Pavilion when you have time."

"Okay." Granny An smiled kindly.

As we left Rong'an Lane, the streetlights began to illuminate the scene.

Passing by Wanfulou, the largest restaurant in the capital, Luo Qingyan got out of the car, thinking of buying some food. Now that she had money, she had to fulfill her dream.