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

Upon hearing this, Yingzhu understood.

Princess Rui, unwilling to clash with Liang Yunqian, passed this hot potato to her.

If she refuses, she will be disrespecting Princess Rui; if she agrees, Liang Yunqian will be angry with her.

This is truly a tricky matter!

Xu Fanglin sobbed, "Yingzhu, aren't you kind-hearted? Then listen to your mother and persuade the prince to change his mind. This isn't just about holding a birthday banquet for me; it's about the interests of the Prince's Mansion."

"If you can persuade the Crown Prince, you will be relieving your mother's worries, and she will surely remember your kindness."

Xu Fanglin used her reputation and the title of Princess Rui to put pressure on her. Yingzhu thought for a moment and then parted her red lips slightly.

"Yes, this servant will obey the orders of the Queen and the Crown Princess and will go to persuade the Crown Prince."

Xu Fanglin was not at ease with her. "Since you have agreed, you must do it wholeheartedly. Don't say one thing to my face and another behind my back, or just be perfunctory with Mother Consort."

"If the Crown Princess doesn't believe me, then she should go and persuade the Crown Prince herself."

Yingzhu remained composed and dignified, leaving Xu Fanglin speechless. Princess Rui interrupted, saying, "I trust Yingzhu completely, which is why I entrusted this task to you. I believe Yingzhu is sensible and will surely persuade Yunqian to change his mind."

This was no easy task, but with Xu Fanglin pressuring Yingzhu by using the Princess Consort of Rui as leverage, Yingzhu had no choice but to comply. Fortunately, she had a backup plan and wouldn't let Xu Fanglin lead her by the nose.

Yingzhu readily agreed and behaved very obediently, which put Princess Rui at ease, and she then began to read the scriptures.

In the evening, Yingzhu went to Tingsongyuan. Liang Yunqian had some free time tonight and continued to teach her calligraphy. However, she was absent-minded and lost focus after only writing for a quarter of an hour.

She rested her chin on her hand, her eyes darting around. Even when Amber came up to her, she didn't try to appease her, as if she was pondering something.

"Speak your mind, no slacking off."

He really has a keen eye!

Once exposed, Yingzhu no longer hesitated, "Today, Princess Rui and the Crown Princess assigned me a task: to prepare for the Crown Princess's birthday banquet..."

Yingzhu gave a brief overview, and Liang Yunqian's brows furrowed slightly. "So you agreed again?"

With a soft sigh, Yingzhu said in a muffled voice, "I can't get away if I don't agree! They all say that the young master is good to me and listens to me, which is why they asked me to persuade you. Little do they know, it's all just an illusion."

She hesitated, as if to say something, so Liang Yunqian casually asked, "Then what is the truth?"

"The truth is... you don't like me at all. You're very strict with me and never smile. I'm always trembling with fear in front of you, afraid to say anything out of line, let alone change your decision."

"Then why did you agree?"

"Isn't this just a way to get out of here first? Young Master, you're so smart, you must have a solution, right?"

Yingzhu looked at him expectantly, but Liang Yunqian remained indifferent and continued to paint.

"This is a task assigned to you by the Princess; what does it have to do with me?"

Yingzhu was caught in the middle and was in the most difficult position. In the end, she was just a victim of the power struggle among these people.

"No! If you don't do anything, they'll say I'm being perfunctory and not taking it seriously. You can at least give me some advice!"

Liang Yunqian paused slightly, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at her.

"Since you dared to agree, didn't you think about the consequences?"

"Young Master is a powerful figure! This servant fawns over you and pledges allegiance to you, hoping to gain your protection. Just give me your orders, and I will do as you say."

"If you were me, what would you do? Would you throw Xu Fanglin a birthday banquet?"

Since he asked, Yingzhu didn't hesitate and answered truthfully:

"If the Crown Princess is only targeting me, I can let it go, since I am her personal attendant. But if she is targeting my brother, then I cannot tolerate it!"

"I can swallow my anger, but I absolutely cannot let my family suffer because of me. That's my bottom line! If I forgive them too easily, the Crown Princess won't take it seriously, and she'll only become more demanding in the future. Therefore, I believe the birthday banquet should not be held."

Liang Yunqian was pleased that she didn't feign concern for Xu Fanglin. However, his agreement with the Princess Consort Rui displeased him.

"Then why did you try to persuade me?"

There was another reason why Yingzhu dared to agree.

"From what the princess said, she wants to hold a banquet in order to have more contact with those high-ranking officials and nobles. But can't any banquet be legitimate? It doesn't necessarily have to be a birthday banquet, right?"

The Crown Princess's birthday banquet just happens to be this month. If the Crown Prince can come up with a better reason to hold the banquet, invite guests, and fulfill the Princess's wish, then the Crown Princess's birthday banquet would be unnecessary.

What month was your birthday?

He suddenly asked this question, and Yingzhu's delicate eyebrows were filled with doubt.

"My birthday isn't this month, and even if it were, it wouldn't matter! After all, I'm just a concubine, and there's no precedent for holding a grand banquet for concubines."

"Even if we go in the name of a servant, those high-ranking officials won't give us face. The princess's goal won't be achieved. Let's find someone more influential and another reason!"

Yingzhu's concerns were indeed true, and Liang Yunqian had to consider this as well.

"The concubine's birthday celebration isn't big enough? Then let's turn it into my son's concubine-taking banquet!"

"A concubine? Has another new woman come to the manor? I didn't see her!" Yingzhu thought for a moment, then considered another possibility.

"Does the young master intend to marry into a wealthy family?"

Liang Yunqian rested his hand on his forehead, pondered for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and said:

"Isn't there one right here?"

His gaze was fixed on Yingzhu, whose starry eyes flashed with surprise.

"You're not referring to me, are you? But a month ago, when Princess Rui suggested you take me as a concubine, the young master said he had no intention of doing so!"

Liang Yunqian walked around the desk and stopped at the small table where she was writing.

Standing with his hands behind his back, his tall figure blocked the candlelight, casting a dark shadow that enveloped her.

"You said it yourself, that was a month ago. Now, I've changed my mind."

His expression was ambiguous when he said this, and Yingzhu couldn't tell for a moment whether he was serious or deliberately testing her.

"But this servant is not yet confirmed to be pregnant, so I am not qualified to be promoted to a concubine. It will probably be blocked."

"As long as I agree, the opinions of others don't matter. And you? Are you willing to become my concubine?"

His eyes did not hold tenderness or affection, but were filled with inquiry.

Her intuition told her that Liang Yunqian was testing her attitude and didn't necessarily want to give her a formal title. She had to answer carefully!