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

Yingzhu didn't argue with Zhao Tangwei, but looked at Xu Fanglin with a troubled expression.

Seeing this, Xu Fanglin raised her voice to remind her, "Yingzhu got up early this morning to read scriptures, she should rest now. She is the prince's concubine, not an ordinary maid."

It was precisely because Shen Yingzhu was Liang Yunqian's concubine and was so beautiful that Zhao Tangwei disliked her!

"I only asked her to serve tea and water, giving her the opportunity to serve all the masters. This is a blessing for her. Other maids don't even have this opportunity to show their faces in this room."

Zhao Tangwei is the niece of the Princess Consort of Rui. Who would dare to disobey her when she speaks?

At this moment, Princess Rui was busy talking to someone else and did not notice what was happening here.

Yingzhu had no choice but to stay here.

Everyone in the manor had heard rumors that she was the prince's concubine, and they were all whispering about it. Yingzhu pretended not to hear and continued working.

As she poured tea for the Fifth Young Master Liang Yunshan, Liang Yunshan, who was peeling tangerines, looked her over and said, "Where do you work? You look so familiar."

"This servant is a maid in Lan Zhaoyuan."

Yingzhu answered respectfully and continued to pour tea for the other person. Liang Yunshan thought for a moment and then exclaimed in surprise.

"I remember now, wasn't that the woman Third Brother carried last time? You were injured, and Third Brother carried you back to the house himself, right?"

Liang Yunshan spoke very loudly, knowing that Zhao Tangwei was sitting next door and she could definitely hear him!

After saying this, he casually glanced at Zhao Tangwei, and saw that she was already pouting her red lips in anger, glaring hatefully at Shen Yingzhu, and asking the maid in a low voice,

"When did this happen? Why don't I know about it?"

Zhao Tangwei had a sore throat that day and stayed indoors to rest instead of going out.

Princess Rui specifically instructed the servants not to gossip, so the maids dared not speak out of turn. Unexpectedly, the Fifth Prince said it in public, and her young lady overheard it.

The maid gave an awkward smile, "This servant doesn't know either, this servant didn't see it!"

In her previous life, Yingzhu hadn't met this Fifth Young Master much, but she had heard that Fifth Young Master Liang Yunshan was in love with Zhao Tangwei, but Zhao Tangwei was in love with Liang Yunqian and didn't pay any attention to Liang Yunshan.

Today, Liang Yunshan pretended to be surprised and told Zhao Tangwei about Liang Yunqian carrying her back. She probably wanted Zhao Tangwei to hear about it, so that she would get jealous and angry and give up on Liang Yunqian.

Yingzhu silently rebuked Liang Yunshan for his miscalculation; he had underestimated Zhao Tangwei's feelings for Liang Yunqian.

Even knowing that Liang Yunqian had Yingzhu as a concubine, Zhao Tangwei wouldn't mind.

Because her goal was to become Liang Yunqian's legal wife, Zhao Tangwei didn't care at all how many concubines or maids Liang Yunqian had.

Yingzhu didn't want to hear him say these things in public, lest it cause gossip.

"Fifth Master, you've eaten so much dried fruit, are you thirsty? Have some more water."

Sixth Young Master Liang Yunchuan, standing to the side, chuckled and said, "Fifth Brother, she thinks you talk too much!"

"I'm telling the truth. Many people saw it. I didn't spread any rumors. It's rare to see Third Brother so concerned about a girl. It seems he likes you a lot!"

Liang Yunshan looked at Shen Yingzhu and teased her with a smile.

Zhao Tangwei was so angry her head throbbed. "A grown man like you, yet you have such a gossipy mouth! You might as well set up a storytelling stall!"

Liang Yunshan's ears perked up, and she turned around with a smile, "You like listening to storytelling? I'll learn a bit and tell you sometime?"

Zhao Tang rolled her eyes at him. "I like mute girls!"

Sixth Master had just taken a sip of tea when he was choked by this remark and started coughing uncontrollably while laughing.

Liang Yunshan felt embarrassed and picked up her teacup on her own.

Yingzhu didn't want to become the target of their bickering, so she kept her distance to avoid causing more trouble.

Consort Li secretly observed Shen Yingzhu. This woman was neither humble nor arrogant. Although she was a maid, her demeanor was like that of a lady from a noble family.

His every move was graceful, neither stiff nor overly affected.

People in the mansion often called her a vixen, but Consort Li did not see a trace of seductive charm on her face.

Either Shen Yingzhu is too good at hiding it! She acts one way in public and another way in private.

Consort Li beckoned her over.

Yingzhu carried the teapot over and poured tea for her, saying, "Your Highness, please have some tea."

"Sit down and talk to me."

Consort Li smiled gently, without any airs. Yingzhu took a step back without making a sound, "This servant dares not."

"What are you afraid of? If I issue the order, who would dare to protest?"

As she said this, Consort Li glanced at everyone seemingly unintentionally, finally fixing her gaze on Xu Fanglin, clearly indicating that she was speaking to her.

Without even looking up, Yingzhu could sense out of the corner of her eye that Princess Rui and Xu Fanglin were both watching her, to see if she would accept Consort Li's kindness.

Even when she came to Deshan Hall to read scriptures, Liang Yunqian assumed she was two-timing. Once she sat at Consort Li's table, she became three-timing!

Moreover, Consort Li and the Princess are rivals. If Yingzhu agrees, she really won't be able to live in the mansion in the future!

But if she refused, she would offend Consort Li and appear to be ignorant.

With a thousand thoughts racing through her mind, Yingzhu curtsied and said:

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I am just a maid and I dare not sit on equal footing with Your Highness. Besides, everyone is busy with the banquet today. Just now, Granny Qiao asked me to fetch the fruit platter. I would never dare to be lazy."

Yingzhu brought up Granny Qiao because Granny Qiao was a person of Princess Rui.

Granny Qiao's instructions were equivalent to the face of Princess Rui. If Consort Li ignored them, it would be tantamount to disrespecting Princess Rui.

Upon hearing this, Consort Li finally gave up and said, "What a hardworking and good girl. Go and get back to work!"

Yingzhu curtsied and took her leave. Consort Li watched her walk away and sighed inwardly that although the girl seemed dull, she was actually quite clever!

Xu Fanglin's decision to make Shen Yingzhu Liang Yunqian's concubine was probably a mistake...

Princess Rui withdrew her gaze, inwardly cursing Consort Li, that old fox, for trying to poach her husband. How could someone as cautious as Shen Yingzhu easily become acquainted with outsiders?

Yingzhu hadn't eaten breakfast and had been busy for so long. In addition, Liang Yunqian had tormented her last night, so she felt sore back and aching waist, but she couldn't rest. She couldn't even sit down and had to stand here at all times, waiting for orders.

Seeing her running around and being bossed around, Xu Fanglin felt a little better.

Granny Cui tilted her head and whispered a reminder, "Master, why don't you let Shen Yingzhu go back first? The young master will be here soon. If he sees Shen Yingzhu working, he'll defend her again."

"What's there to be afraid of? It was Zhao Tangwei who ordered her to do the work, not me. Even if the Crown Prince investigates, it should be Zhao Tangwei who is punished."

"Even if it's Miss Shen's order, there's no guarantee the young master won't accuse you of standing idly by. Besides, Shen Yingzhu is very cunning; she might just play the victim and complain to the young master again. It's better to just ignore it."

Cui Mama's words reminded Xu Fanglin of her previous experiences.

After weighing the options, Xu Fanglin called out to Yingzhu, "You've been busy all morning, you must be tired. Go back and rest!"

At this moment, Zhao Tangwei was talking with the other young ladies in the mansion and had no time to pay attention to this situation.

Yingzhu was indeed tired, and given the unpleasantness between her and Liang Yunqian, she didn't expect him to support her anymore, so she didn't stay any longer.

"Thank you for your understanding, Princess Consort."

Yingzhu turned and left without delay.

However, as soon as she turned around and reached the door, she bumped into Liang Yunqian.

The prince was about to enter, and she couldn't cut in front of him, so she stepped back a few paces to make way for him.

Liang Yunqian spotted her immediately, but his gaze was unusually cold. He quickly looked away from her face and went inside.

Everyone had arrived by the time Liang Yunqian finally came.

Fine snow covered his mink coat. The moment the cotton curtain was drawn, a gentle breeze blew by, causing the mink fur to sway slightly, revealing Liang Yunqian's noble demeanor.

As soon as he entered the house, the room, which had been filled with laughter and conversation, fell silent. Apart from the elders, everyone else stood up to greet him, nodding in acknowledgment, while the servants bowed and paid their respects.

Xia Guo stepped forward, ready to fetch the sable fur coat for the young master.

After bowing respectfully, Yingzhu prepared to slip away.

However, just as she took a step, she heard Liang Yunqian's deep voice command, "Shen Yingzhu, take off your clothes."

Xia Guo awkwardly withdrew her outstretched hands, taking a few steps back and not daring to come any closer.

Yingzhu paused slightly, secretly sighing that Liang Yunqian and Zhao Tangwei were both heartless, taking pleasure in tormenting her!