Listening to her daughter's heartfelt words, the pregnant Lady Hou went on a killing spree.

"Madam, this is slander. Although I am born out of wedlock, I know etiquette and shame. If your maidservant had not said anything, how could I have dared to deceive Her Highness the Princess?"

[Pah! You dare to talk to my mother about character? You have no character whatsoever!]

Princess Changping was in a good mood, and the little guy's words sometimes suited her taste.

"Rou'er, how can you be so disrespectful to the Lady of the Marquis?"

As the matriarch of the Fang family, Madam Fang had no choice but to step in and smooth things over.

Although she wanted to ruin Fang Rou's reputation today, ruining her reputation was one thing, but offending the Marquis of Anshun's mansion and Princess Changping at the same time was not what she wanted to see.

Madam Fang is always tactful and has a great sense of the big picture; she would never drag the entire Fang family into her own private affairs.

Even though Ji Shi is currently unpopular in the Marquis of Anshun's mansion, she wouldn't easily offend her; she would simply stay away if she didn't like her.

Fang Rou muttered.

"I'm telling the truth; her maid did indeed say it."

The ladies couldn't help but shake their heads at Fang Rou's actions, thinking that as a concubine's daughter, she was simply not worthy of respect.

Even if Lady Anshun is disliked by the people of the Marquis's mansion, that is their family matter. As long as she still holds the title of Lady Anshun, she represents the face of the Marquis's mansion.

How could a mere concubine's daughter dare to offend a marquis's wife? In their eyes, it was really not worth it to try and get close to Princess Changping.

Everyone knows that Princess Changping is capricious and unpredictable. It's normal to stay away from such a person, but Fang Rou is arrogant and wants to get close to her, thinking that she can climb up by stepping on the wife of Marquis Anshun.

Which of the ladies present hadn't been navigating the inner quarters for a long time? How could they not see through her tricks?

"Your Highness, I have always been an upright person. If I did something, I did it; if I didn't, I didn't. I will not admit to anything that my maidservant did not say."

Ji Yueru spoke frankly, which infuriated Fang Rou, who was standing to the side.

She never expected that Ji, who usually acted weak and vulnerable when bullied, would suddenly become so assertive when it came to her.

"I have had some disagreements and disagreements with Lady Hou, but I still trust her character. Since she said that her maids didn't say it, then they didn't say it."

Yuhe, slap her in the face.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Yuhe came up to Fang Rou and, to Fang Rou's shocked gaze, raised her hand and slapped her several times.

It is His Highness's most despicable tactic to climb to the top by stepping on others, yet this lowly concubine's daughter actually dares to set her sights on His Highness.

Fang Rou's beating was well worth it; Yu He showed no mercy either.

Fang Rou covered her slapped face, tears streaming down her face, feeling utterly wronged.

If it were any other time, seeing Fang Rou being punished like this, she would have stepped forward to plead for her even if it meant being reprimanded by the Princess.

But now, Fang Qian stood among a group of girls, her eyes coldly watching Fang Rou being beaten, showing no intention of pleading for her.

Li Yao, the legitimate daughter of Grand Secretary Li, was somewhat surprised.

"Qianqian, you always step in to help your half-sister when she's being bullied. Why don't you do it this time?"

Fang Qian smiled at Li Yao.

"I was confused before, but I won't be anymore."

Fang Qian wasn't surprised; on the contrary, she was happy for her.

"It's good that you've thought it through. My mother told me that children born out of wedlock are not good people. Don't think too highly of them, or you'll be the one who suffers."

I didn't say anything before because I saw how close you two sisters were, but actually I've wanted to tell you these things for a long time. Your second sister is definitely not someone to be trifled with.

Fang Qian couldn't help but feel a little self-deprecating, realizing that she had been blinded by greed and unable to see things clearly even when those around her could see them clearly.

Mrs. Fang stepped forward and scolded him in a low voice.

"Isn't this embarrassing enough? Get out of here right now!"

Fang Rou, who had been scolded, covered her face and tried to run out of the warm pavilion, but something caught her skirt and she stumbled and fell to the ground.

The fall was quite hard, and Fang Rou, lying on the ground, clutched her stomach with both hands, her forehead already covered in a thin layer of sweat.

My stomach.

"Oh dear, did it break when it fell?"

A lady spoke up.

Madam Fang quickly gave instructions to her maid.

"First, lift the person to a chair to the side and get a cloak to cover them. Quickly go and fetch the physician from the prefecture."

Fang Rou initially whimpered and didn't react much. The Fang family had a physician, who had been bribed by Fang Rou and her mother, so he would never reveal her pregnancy in public.

So Fang Rou wasn't scared at all. What she was most worried about now was whether the baby in her belly was alright. She didn't dare to move while sitting in the chair. This child was her bargaining chip for marrying into the Liu family, and she couldn't afford to have anything happen to him.

After such an incident, the people in the warm pavilion had no interest in appreciating the flowers and plants. Most of them sat together chatting, and the main topic of their discussion was Fang Rou.

After a while, a maid hurriedly led Doctor Li into the warm pavilion. Fang Rou was shocked to see that it was Doctor Li.

"I want the prefectural physician to see me, not Doctor Li."

Of course, she dared not let Doctor Li examine her; she was already pregnant.

Princess Changping gave Fang Rou a deep look. Could it be that even she, in her old age, couldn't keep up with the fun of today's young people, daring to get pregnant with an illegitimate child out of wedlock?

Now she doesn't need to guess who it is; it's probably no one but the eldest daughter of the Fang family's fiancé.

"Last night, the family physician had an upset stomach and is now too weak to get up. I went outside to fetch a doctor and happened to run into Doctor Li returning from a house call, so I invited him over."

While the maid was speaking, Doctor Li had already put down his medicine box and taken out a pulse pillow, placing it on the table next to Fang Rou.

"Please place your hand on the pulse pillow, Miss."

Fang Rou covered her face with her hands, her expression one of fear.

"No, I only want the prefectural doctor, I don't want Dr. Li to examine me. I'm not in pain now, it's not too late to have the prefectural doctor see me tomorrow."

Something's not right. Is the second young lady of the Fang family hiding something?

The crowd grew even more curious.

Mrs. Fang, standing to the side, had a serious expression.

"Rou'er, I usually don't say anything to you when you're a little willful, but now that you're sick, how can you avoid seeking medical help?"

"Guards, restrain the second young lady. I'll take responsibility if anything happens."

"No, I don't want to."

The maids and servants were all Madam Fang's people, so why would they listen to Fang Rou?

Two people stepped forward and held her down, while another person forcibly pulled Fang Rou's hand and pressed it firmly onto the pulse pillow.

Dr. Li was somewhat puzzled, feeling that something was about to happen today.

But now that the die is cast, he can't say he won't look; he can only place two fingers on his wrist.

Fang Rou felt a wave of despair and muttered "no" under her breath.

In just a few breaths, Doctor Li's face flashed with surprise. He glanced at Fang Rou and then placed two fingers on her wrist to carefully take her pulse, fearing that he had made a mistake earlier.

"Dr. Li, what's wrong with the Second Miss?"

"Replying to Madam Fang, the second young lady of your household is pregnant."