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

"reward."

"Thank you for the reward, Princess Consort."

After Granny Xu left, Granny Wang, who was serving nearby, whispered, "Madam Ji really didn't return to the manor last night. It's still early. If we hurry to the hot spring estate, we might be able to catch her red-handed."

Lin's eyes lit up.

"Go and see if Second Master is up yet."

At this moment, Madam Lin no longer cared that the young master had stayed in Concubine Chun's room the previous night; all she wanted now was to take the young master to catch Madam Ji in the act.

They're all women, and given how Ji Shi usually looks at men with eyes practically like hooks, how could she possibly resist going years without touching a man?

Others may believe her, but she doesn't. Today, she'll show the young master that the Ji family is no good.

"Princess Consort, the Prince has already gotten up and is about to go out. He said he's going hunting with his friends in the Western Hills."

Lin pursed her lips. Going hunting in the dead of winter, those people really have nothing better to do.

Then I realized that I would have to pass through Wenquan Village to get to Xishan.

"Hurry and have people prepare; I'm leaving the manor soon."

As she spoke, she lifted her skirt and hurriedly went to find the young master.

Since his elder brother died and he ascended to the position of heir apparent, Xiao Yang felt that the rest of his life would be extremely smooth.

All he has to do now is wait for his father to go and inherit the royal palace; then the entire palace will be his.

Anyway, whether he tries or not, the palace will always be his. Xiao Yang has lost all motivation to work hard and is just waiting to die.

The death of their eldest son was a great blow to the prince and princess, and now they have no expectations of their second son.

As long as he lives peacefully, that's fine. And also, I hope he has many children to carry on the royal family's lineage.

"Young Master, wait for me!"

Just as he arrived at the gate of the mansion and was about to mount his horse and leave, Lin Shi caught up with him, and Xiao Yang immediately felt a headache coming on.

"I just went hunting in Xishan with my friends, not to drink and carouse in a brothel. You don't need to chase after me."

"Where would I put my face if others saw me like this?"

"What are you saying, Your Highness? I never said you couldn't go."

I just wanted to go to the hot spring resort with you. You can see me off first, then you can go hunting with your friends in the western mountains. It's still early anyway.

Xiao Yang was somewhat suspicious.

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course, otherwise, what would Your Highness think I'm trying to do?"

"Don't you like to move around? Why did you suddenly decide to go to the hot spring resort today?"

"I haven't been feeling well lately, so I thought about taking a bath."

"What, Your Highness doesn't want me to go?"

"How could that be?"

"Let's go, I'll take you to the hot spring resort first, then we'll go hunting in the western mountains."

He didn't care where Lin was going, as long as they didn't track his whereabouts.

Xiao Yang did not ride a horse, but followed Lin Shi out of the city in a carriage.

Beforehand, the Lin family had already sent people to find out where the Ji family had stayed last night, and whether they had stayed at the hot spring villa of the Qingyang Prince's Mansion.

As a member of the imperial family, the Prince of Qingyang's residence naturally had a hot spring resort. There were several hot spring resorts in Xishan, and she needed to find out where the Ji family was first.

After a long night of commotion, Marquis Anshun and Ji Chunjiao couldn't get up in the morning. By the time they finally got up, the sun was already high in the sky.

"Jiaojiao, how about you spend another day with me today?"

Ji Chunjiao turned around and hugged Anshunhou, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I also want to stay with you and the child, but I can't. If we don't go back to the Qingyang Prince's Mansion today, they'll send someone to Dajue Temple to ask, and they'll surely find out the truth."

"Honey, we agreed to come back in ten days. I'll spend more time with you then."

The two shared another sweet moment before reluctantly parting ways.

Meanwhile, the people sent by the Lin family had already found out that Ji Chunjiao had stayed at the hot spring estate under the name of the Marquis of Anshun last night.

Upon hearing this, Madam Lin felt a pang of disappointment. The Ji sisters had previously married either the heir of the Prince of Qingyang's mansion or the second wife of the Marquis of Anshun's mansion.

It is true that the two sisters are at odds, but they are still sisters after all. If that is the case, it doesn't seem like a big deal for Lady Ji to keep the hot spring estate of the Marquis of Anshun.

"My lord, I have also learned that yesterday the Marquis of Anshun brought his two children to the hot spring estate, but his wife, Lady Ji, did not come with him."

Suddenly, something flashed through Lin's mind but she couldn't quite grasp it.

"Are you coming or not? If you're not coming, I'm leaving."

When they were more than halfway there, Lin said she felt chest tightness and wanted to go down for some fresh air, and Xiao Yang didn't think much of it.

But after waiting and waiting, Lin did not return, so he couldn't help but urge her on.

Upon seeing this, Lin quickly returned to the carriage.

"Have you kept the young master waiting?"

Xiao Yang was somewhat suspicious.

"Are you pregnant?"

Mrs. Lin was taken aback.

"I don't think so. I just had my period ten days ago."

Xiao Yang's face was full of disappointment.

He knew how much his father and mother wanted him and Lin to have more children. They only had one son so far, and Lin's belly hadn't shown any signs of pregnancy for the past two years, so how could he not be anxious?

The two did not marry through an arranged marriage, but rather because they were attracted to each other.

At the time, they didn't have much hope for their second son, Prince Qingyang, and his wife. They let him marry whoever he liked.

But now that Xiao Yang has become the heir apparent, Lin Shi, as the heir apparent's wife and the Princess of Qingyang, feels that she is not quite qualified. She compares her to her eldest daughter-in-law in everything, and Lin Shi's life in the Qingyang Prince's Mansion is not very easy. However, Xiao Yang's heart still leans towards her.

As time went on, Lin discovered that Xiao Yang's heart was gradually leaning towards his widowed sister-in-law, Ji.

How could she possibly agree to that? She had always wanted to find something to hold against the Ji family, and today was the perfect opportunity.

Xiao Yang's attitude changed as his family's attitude changed. Before, Lin Shi was a good match for him, but now she seemed to be lacking something.

When they reached a place not far from the hot spring resort, Xiao Yang wanted to leave, his mind preoccupied with hunting with his friends in the Western Hills.

"Go by yourself."

Lin held onto Xiao Yang's hand, preventing him from leaving.

"It's just this short distance, what's the big deal if you take me up? It's no big deal."

"But I already made plans with my friends, it wouldn't be good to be late."

"You two are always together, so what does it matter if it's a little earlier or later? Come on, let's go for a walk."

As they approached the hot spring estate of the Marquis of Anshun, Madam Lin pulled Xiao Yang off the carriage.

Xiao Yang had no choice but to get off the carriage.

Madam Lin was thinking to herself that if she didn't run into Madam Ji later, she would take the young master to the hot spring estate of the Marquis of Anshun's mansion. It would be even better if she did run into him.

Just as she was thinking this, she arrived at the gate of the hot spring estate of the Marquis of Anshun. When she saw the carriage parked at the gate, Lin's eyes lit up. She had arrived just in time.

"Hey, why does this carriage look like the one my sister-in-law often rides in? Young Master, do you think I'm mistaken?"

Xiao Yang looked closely and realized it was true.

At that moment, a group of people walked out of the door. Ji Chunjiao squatted down in front of the two children, and the two children stepped forward and each of them gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Their affectionate manner didn't seem like that of a nephew and aunt, but rather like that of a mother and son.

Ji Chunjiao stood up and patted the two children on the head. Then she looked up at Marquis Anshun standing in front of her. Even a fool could see the light in her eyes.

"Sister-in-law, what are you doing here?"