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

The young master slammed a large pot down on her head, and Granny Chen was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat.

"I only patted her back lightly, I didn't hit her waist!"

Yingzhu knew that Chen Mama had indeed patted her shoulder and back, but the sudden pat really hurt, so she didn't try to clarify for Chen Mama, and just sobbed quietly to the side.

Liang Yunqian stepped forward to help her up, and Yingzhu used the support to stand up.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

After helping her sit down, Liang Yunqian walked up to Granny Chen and asked her in a cold voice.

"Shen Yingzhu was chosen by the Princess and the Crown Prince's wife to be a fertile woman. Having offspring is a matter of great importance. What are your intentions in attacking Shen Yingzhu at this time? Do you perhaps not want me, the Crown Prince, to have an heir?"

Having just gotten up, Granny Chen immediately knelt down again, her voice trembling as she pledged her loyalty.

"This servant had absolutely no bad intentions. I was just reminding her, and it was an accident. Please forgive me, Your Highness."

Liang Yunqian naturally understood that Granny Chen was merely the executor; the one who truly gave the order was Princess Rui!

"May I ask, Your Highness, what mistake has Shen Yingzhu made this time that you have to kneel as punishment?"

Princess Rui hesitated and did not speak, while Xu Fanglin dared not breathe, fearing that she would be questioned again.

Liang Yunqian saw through it immediately: "Because she couldn't persuade me to change my mind?"

He actually knew? "Yingzhu told you? Then she must have told you why I'm holding this banquet."

"I told her, she's been trying to persuade me for a long time, it's so annoying!" As he spoke, Liang Yunqian glanced at Xu Fanglin sitting to the side.

"You were in the wrong first, yet you show no remorse and are still thinking about how to exonerate yourself and find someone to plead for you? It seems you don't admit your mistake at all; you only care about your face and your own interests!"

Xu Fanglin wanted to say that this was the princess's idea, but their relationship as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was already bad. If she pushed the responsibility onto the princess, she would not be able to expect the princess to do anything in the future.

Considering the consequences, Xu Fanglin ultimately did not dare to mention the princess.

"I... I was only thinking of the Prince's Mansion's interests, not for personal gain. Holding a banquet would be of great benefit to the Prince's Mansion! I beg Your Highness to understand."

"It's kind of you to think of the Prince's mansion so much; you've reminded me of something."

Liang Yunqian's tone suddenly softened, and he even echoed Xu Fanglin's words. This sudden change in attitude left Xu Fanglin completely bewildered.

This isn't like him at all! Shouldn't he get angry and argue with her?

Just as she was wondering, she heard Liang Yunqian say again:

"I plan to take Shen Yingzhu as my concubine, so I'll hold a banquet to celebrate her taking the concubine."

Upon hearing this, everyone present exchanged bewildered glances. Yingzhu had already heard him mention it last night, so she wasn't too surprised, but Princess Rui frowned in confusion.

"Weren't you unwilling before? Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

"Isn't this exactly what you wanted? What's wrong with me following your arrangements?"

Liang Yunqian did not offer an explanation, but instead asked in return, "Princess Rui did indeed have this intention, but it was she who proposed it at the time. She wanted to take the opportunity to do someone a favor and win over Shen Yingzhu."

However, after observing for a month, she discovered that Shen Yingzhu was also scheming. She was neither loyal to Xu Fanglin nor appreciated her feelings, and was only close to Liang Yunqian. Therefore, Princess Rui gave up the idea of ​​making her a concubine.

Since this woman cannot be used as an informant, then Princess Rui should no longer cultivate her.

Xu Fanglin always believed that Liang Yunqian was suspicious and resistant to Shen Yingzhu, which was why he was reluctant to take her as a concubine. Even if he later defended Shen Yingzhu, his attitude should not have changed so quickly.

Wasn't he always so suspicious? How come he let his guard down around Shen Yingzhu?

"Your Highness, you once said that we would discuss it after Shen Yingzhu gave birth. She hasn't confirmed her pregnancy yet. What if she can't conceive? Wouldn't taking a concubine be a waste of our joy?"

Yingzhu spoke softly, "Princess Consort, please say something auspicious! Her Highness the Princess might not like to hear this."

Yingzhu's words were true, and at this moment, Princess Rui's face darkened.

Although she no longer trusted Shen Yingzhu, she still hoped that Shen Yingzhu could conceive Liang Yunqian's child so that he could retain his position as the heir!

"You'll definitely get pregnant! Nobody's allowed to say anything discouraging or unlucky!"

Xu Fanglin dared not argue any longer and muttered softly, "Even if the young master wants to take a concubine, there's no need to be in such a hurry. Let's wait until she confirms her pregnancy. Right now, we're talking about holding a birthday banquet for me."

"Isn't the princess going to hold a banquet? Then the reason for the banquet can be anything, even a concubine-taking banquet can still invite guests."

Liang Yunqian raised an eyebrow to declare, and Princess Rui thought for a moment, then pondered and said:

"Even if we don't wait until she gives birth, let's at least wait until she confirms her pregnancy! That way we'll have a reason to talk about it."

Yingzhu sighed inwardly, realizing that the Princess Consort Rui was stalling for time, and that things might change drastically if things dragged on.

After a moment's thought, she feigned an embarrassed sigh.

"I appreciate the young master's kindness, but perhaps we should just forget about it? The young master's wife is right, I am not pregnant yet and am not qualified to be a concubine."

"No child means no title? What kind of logic is that? Xu Fanglin has been childless for three years, yet she remains firmly in her position as the Crown Princess."

Liang Yunqian's voice gradually rose, choking Xu Fanglin so much that her face turned red, and she couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal for a long time.

She dared not say that the Crown Prince had not consummated their marriage, because if she did, the Princess Consort and the Crown Prince would hold her accountable for not taking care of him when he was injured.

Seeing that Liang Yunqian was determined, and knowing that further obstruction from the Princess Consort would inevitably lead to another argument, she changed her mind and said:

"Tonight I will discuss the matter of taking a concubine with your father. As long as your father agrees, I will arrange it immediately."

Will Prince Rui agree?

Yingzhu was unsure of what to do, but Liang Yunqian didn't say anything more. Judging from his expression, he seemed quite confident.

Liang Yunqian then took Yingzhu away. On the way, he asked about her knee, but she said it didn't hurt at all.

Liang Yunqian thought she was just afraid of making people worry and didn't dare to tell the truth.

After sending her back to Wenzhu Pavilion, he was about to instruct the servants to fetch ice when Yingzhu grabbed his wrist.

"It really doesn't hurt, I'm not lying."

As she spoke, Yingzhu lifted her skirt, revealing a strap covering her knees beneath her long, shapely, and fair legs.

"..." Liang Yunqian's raised eyebrows were filled with surprise.

"When did you tie him up?"

"This morning! I did some calculations and guessed that there might be a calamity today, so I made preparations in advance."

Yingzhu's upturned eyebrows were filled with pride; she was incredibly fortunate.

"Luckily, I had the foresight, otherwise I would have suffered again."

"You're really full of tricks!"

Why does that sound so awkward?

"Your Highness, could you use a different word? It's called being clever and resourceful, and planning ahead!"

She casually removed the straps, revealing her fair legs.

Perhaps because the underfloor heating was burning too brightly, Liang Yunqian felt that the room was unusually hot. He then looked away, walked to the table, and poured himself a cup of tea.

Yingzhu continued untying the bandages, unaware of his unusual behavior.

"By the way, the Princess said you went to pay your respects yesterday and wouldn't be going today, which is why I was punished. Why did the Prince suddenly go to Deshan Hall again?"

Taking a sip of tea to suppress the anger in his heart, Liang Yunqian said:

"I guessed she would definitely ask about this. You're a bully at home, arrogant in front of the master, but a pushover outside. You'd probably get bullied. That's why I went to check on you, lest you embarrass Tingsongyuan."

His tone was extremely arrogant, and Yingzhu clicked her tongue in disapproval:

"He clearly did a good deed, yet he's still so fierce, never forgetting to ridicule others. Young Master, lick your own tongue, aren't you afraid of being poisoned?"

"Who cares about doing good deeds? I just don't want Xu Fanglin's scheme to succeed!"

He insisted it wasn't for her, and Yingzhu didn't argue. She suddenly laughed, "Fine! Whatever the young master says goes, as long as I'm the one who benefits."

Seeing that she was alright, Liang Yunqian did not stay any longer. He still had to go see his father, the king, and make his request before the queen, so as to prevent the queen from causing trouble again.

Prince Rui didn't care about the infighting in the backyard; all he cared about were tangible benefits.

Yunqian wanted to take a concubine, and Prince Rui had no objection. However, for a concubine to be promoted from a maid to a concubine without a family background, she must have offspring. Therefore, Prince Rui had only one request: wait until Shen Yingzhu became pregnant.

Shen Yingzhu's period is currently three days late. If it still hasn't come in four more days, a doctor can be called to check and confirm that she is pregnant before holding a concubine-taking banquet.

When the news reached Lan Zhaoyuan, Xu Fanglin was on edge.

She had been hoping that Shen Yingzhu would get pregnant soon. Once Yingzhu was pregnant, Liang Yunqian could keep his position as the heir apparent, Xu Fanglin could still be the heir apparent's wife, and he would no longer touch Shen Yingzhu.

However, the Prince Rui has made this request, and we will see the outcome in four days.

Either Shen Yingzhu is pregnant, so we'll hold a banquet to welcome her as a concubine; or Shen Yingzhu is not pregnant, so we'll hold a birthday banquet for Xu Fanglin.

Neither outcome could truly satisfy her.

Yingzhu knew this matter wouldn't be so simple, but it didn't matter. She could wait and see who between her and Xu Fanglin could win the banquet!