Who said the heir would die out? The concubine is pregnant again!

After weighing the pros and cons, Yingzhu changed her mind, "It concerns the young master's private affairs, how can we talk about it in public? I wouldn't go around publicizing the reason for his late sleep."

These words were unexpected by Granny Yao. Shen Yingzhu, being a person who considered the big picture, was not provoked.

Baolan scoffed, "You only know how to act cute in front of the young master, you bully the weak and fear the strong!"

I'm giving you face by obeying the young master's orders to serve you, so you should learn to appreciate what's good for you. From now on, get up earlier and don't keep us from doing other things.

As they spoke, Baolan noticed the stains on the sheets and blushed instantly. "It's only been one night, how did you manage to make such a mess of the sheets?"

Yingzhu ignored her, but she continued to mock her, speaking so loudly as if afraid others wouldn't hear her.

Unable to bear it any longer, Yingzhu solemnly clarified, "Those are marks left by the young master. If you don't understand, ask the nanny. Don't talk nonsense, or people will laugh at you."

Qingfeng chuckled and said, "She's never served the young master in bed, how would she know these details?"

Baolan frowned and scoffed at the mockery, "You heartless slut, you think you know everything? I was personally assigned to the young master by the Princess Consort, and my monthly allowance is higher than yours. Sooner or later, I will belong to the young master."

"It's been years already? The young master hasn't touched you yet, so when will he finally do it?"

Qingfeng couldn't stand her bossy attitude and sneered. Baolan was furious and suddenly slapped her across the face!

A wincing pain, Qingfeng covered her cheek and glared at Baolan. "How dare you hit me? We're both maids, who's more noble than whom? What right do you have to lay a hand on me?"

The two men started fighting, twisting arms and pulling hair, fighting fiercely.

Qingfeng was the maid assigned to her by Liang Yunqian. Yingzhu couldn't stand by and watch, so she immediately stepped forward to pull her away.

Granny Yao sternly reprimanded them, urging them to stop hitting each other. Baolan's arm was bleeding from Qingfeng's scratch. Unwilling to suffer any loss, she ran crying to Deshan Hall, knelt at Princess Rui's feet, and sobbed uncontrollably.

"Your Majesty, I have no face to live! Qingfeng and Miss Shen are both laughing at me, saying that the young master has not allowed me to serve him in the night for two years, and that Your Majesty's claim of me being a concubine does not count!"

They mocked the servant girl for being out of favor and disliked by the prince. The servant girl endured the humiliation silently, yet was still beaten and torn.

As she spoke, Baolan rolled up her sleeves, revealing the scars on her arms. She then pointed to the finger marks on her face and the bloodstains at the corner of her mouth, crying out that she had been bullied by them.

At that time, Zhao Tangwei was accompanying Princess Rui in writing scriptures. Upon hearing this, Zhao Tangwei immediately put down her pen.

"Shen Yingzhu is too arrogant. Baolan is a maid personally trained by her aunt. She is considerate and knows the bigger picture. She was fine in Tingsong Garden before. How come she made such a scene as soon as Shen Yingzhu came?"

"It's probably Shen Yingzhu abusing her power! Aunt, you must interrogate her properly, don't let Baolan suffer any injustice."

The servants in the manor often bickered and gossiped, but Princess Rui usually turned a blind eye. Those people also knew their place and rarely made a scene in front of the princess.

Princess Consort Rui has not seen a situation like this for a long time.

Baolan was the daughter of her maidservant family and the concubine she assigned to Liang Yunqian. How could she allow those people to mock her?

Princess Rui immediately ordered that they be brought in for questioning.

Yingzhu was unwilling to bring this matter to Princess Rui's attention, but Baolan was stubborn and insisted on making a big fuss. Now that Princess Rui had spoken, she had no choice but to go.

Qingfeng was not afraid at all, because she was also born into a family, and her mother had served the birth mother of the Crown Prince, the original wife of Prince Rui!

The current Princess Consort Rui is merely a second wife; why would Qingfeng be afraid?

Upon arriving at Deshan Hall, Yingzhu bowed and paid her respects. Princess Rui then questioned Qingfeng, "Why did you hit someone? Is the Prince's residence a place where you can run wild?"

"Your Highness, Baolan hit me first! I was only trying to protect myself. If I hadn't fought back, she would have beaten me to death!"

Qingfeng tilted her head to show everyone the finger marks on her face, but Baolan said that she had also been slapped in the face.

The two argued incessantly until Princess Rui slammed her hand on the table in anger, demanding in a deep voice, "Granny Yao, who struck first?"

Granny Yao was immediately in a dilemma. She dared not offend either side. After stammering for a while, she finally whispered:

"I arrived late and didn't see who started it."

"Yingzhu, you tell me, what exactly happened? Why did those two fight? Who hit first?"

Baolan is the current princess's person, while Qingfeng is the original princess's person. Baolan was the one who started it, but if Yingzhu says it, Princess Rui will lose face.

Since Granny Yao had already shifted the blame and was unwilling to get involved, Yingzhu couldn't say she hadn't seen anything, since she had been inside the room the whole time.

Moreover, since this matter has become so big, it will definitely reach Liang Yunqian's ears. Therefore, Yingzhu must clearly take sides and not be ambiguous, lest she offend both sides.

Considering the consequences, Yingzhu resolutely spoke up, "Baolan struck first, and Qingfeng only pinched her arm in retaliation, without hitting her face. But I wonder where those finger marks on her face came from?"

Qingfeng secretly praised Shen Yingzhu for her keen observation. From her position, she hadn't noticed the several finger marks that had suddenly appeared on Baolan's face. Who knows how Baolan might have made false accusations in front of the Princess!

Upon hearing this, Princess Rui's eyes narrowed. She suddenly felt that Shen Yingzhu was being somewhat insensible. Should she have said such a thing in this situation?

Doesn't she know who Baolan is on her side?

Baolan, who had been kneeling at a bow, immediately straightened up. "What do you mean? Do you expect me to hit myself?"

Yingzhu knew Baolan's little scheme all too well.

"Knowing you were in the wrong and had no visible injuries, you worried you wouldn't be able to explain yourself to the Princess, so you deliberately injured yourself and exaggerated the situation, making false accusations first!"

Baolan wiped away her tears and cried, "I wasn't acting! You hit me first! Your Highness, they're the ones who accused me first!"

Since Shen Yingzhu has already testified for Qingfeng, Qingfeng cannot allow her to be slandered.

"Explain yourself! What do you mean by 'them'? I was the only one who fought back. Neither Granny Yao nor Miss Shen laid a hand on you. Are you trying to confuse the issue and slander Miss Shen?"

Qingfeng bluntly exposed the truth, and Zhao Tangwei continued to press, "Baolan, don't be afraid, just tell me. Did Shen Yingzhu actually hit you? Who slapped you on the face?"

Feeling guilty, Baolan dared not meet Shen Yingzhu's gaze and lowered her eyes to sob.

"There were many people there, and they were hitting and pulling me. I was so confused by the beating that I don't remember anything."

Baolan's statement that she couldn't see clearly implicated Yingzhu and Granny Yao, making them suspects as well.

Just as everyone was arguing, a maid's voice came from outside the door, "Greetings to the young master."

Yingzhu looked in the direction of the sound and saw Liang Yunqian, dressed in a crimson official robe and wearing a sable fur coat, stepping inside.

Judging from his appearance, he must have just returned from court and hadn't even had time to go back to Tingsong Garden to change his clothes before coming here.

"I've only been gone a few hours, and the house is already in complete chaos!"

His official robes were neat and imposing, and Liang Yunqian's handsome and resolute eyes swept over the crowd, revealing a sharp and intimidating demeanor that made people feel awe.

"Young Master, please don't blame me, they've gone too far..."

Baolan pointed at Yingzhu, Qingfeng, and others and accused them. Yingzhu watched coldly and did not say much, while Qingfeng had already defended her.

"Your Highness, Miss Shen only tried to break up the fight and did not lay a hand on anyone. The slap on Baolan's face was not from me; she slapped herself and then falsely accused us. Please, Your Highness, do justice for Miss Shen and me!"

"The injuries on my face were inflicted by you. Who would hit themselves?"

Baolan made her accusations with all her might, and Princess Rui nodded, "Baolan is a capable person. She is not one to play tricks. They were fighting each other, and neither of them can shirk responsibility."

Standing with his hands behind his back, Liang Yunqian surveyed the crowd. "The identity of the fingerprints on Baolan's face will be revealed with a single examination!"

Upon hearing this, Bao Lan's heart skipped a beat. Zhao Tang raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, "Cousin, the slap has already been delivered, how can we verify the fingerprints? We can't see any fingerprints!"

Seeing Liang Yunqian's confident demeanor, Yingzhu pondered for a moment and guessed what was going on.

"It seems that the young master has a clever way of verifying fingerprints."