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

"Who said I don't like your soup? I was just busy applying medicine to your burn and didn't have time to drink it."

As they were talking, Liang Yunqian stood up, walked to the table, picked up the bowl of soup that Yingzhu had served him, and drank half of it.

"..." Yingzhu looked completely bewildered. She had only said it casually and hadn't forced him to drink it. What was the meaning behind his performance?

Should we give her face?

Zhou Zisu wasn't about to be outdone, "I also brought you mutton soup, it's delicious, it's a medicinal dish, I cooked it for you myself, you should try some!"

"I just drank Yingzhu's soup, so I'm not hungry. I'll save it for you."

They're all here to deliver soup, so why are they being treated differently?

"I was here first, but you made me wait outside. You said Yingzhu was pregnant and couldn't stand for too long, so I didn't say anything and just waited obediently."

I've been so understanding, why can't you appreciate the effort I put into making this soup for you? You won't even drink a drop, have you considered how embarrassed I feel?

As she spoke, Zhou Zisu began to sob, tears streaming down her face.

Liang Yunqian pursed his lips, sighed deeply, and looked rather unwell.

If she stayed any longer, Yingzhu would become a sinner. She didn't want to get involved in their affairs anymore, so she didn't say anything more and quietly turned and left.

On the way back, Yingzhu didn't want to go back to the house, so she went for a stroll in the back garden.

She was about to go see the plum blossoms when she noticed Xu Fanglin coming from the opposite direction.

Yingzhu turned away, intending to avoid it, but Xu Fanglin called out to her.

Congratulations, little sister!

Upon noticing her upturned red lips, Yingzhu knew she had ill intentions.

"What joy is there? I don't understand what the Crown Princess means."

"Don't you know yet? Your fiancé, Song Xingzhou, isn't dead. He's back! He's the newly arrived fourth young master of the manor."

Upon hearing Song Xingzhou's name from others, Yingzhu remained calm and composed.

"I know! The young master told me, I found out yesterday."

Xu Fanglin's expression froze. "The young master? He would tell you this? He's not angry?"

"Why is Your Highness angry? I am already pregnant with his child, and I am his concubine. I have already broken off my engagement with Song Xingzhou. Your Highness knows all of this, so why would he care?"

"Really?" Xu Fanglin stared at her suspiciously.

"The young master is so magnanimous that he doesn't mind that you and your fiancé live under the same roof?"

Xu Fanglin's expression was full of disappointment, while Yingzhu coldly declared.

"Please be careful with your words, Your Highness. We were only engaged, not married, and have no connection now. I just came from Your Highness's room. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, you can go and tell Your Highness again."

Yingzhu was very confident, and there was no worry in her eyes. Xu Fanglin couldn't understand it. Based on her understanding of Liang Yunqian, he should have been very concerned.

Xia Guo scoffed, "Do you think everyone is like you, so petty and prone to tattling? The Crown Princess was just worried about you and kindly reminded you, but you don't appreciate it and instead doubt her good intentions?"

Xu Fanglin sighed, "Xia Guo is the most reasonable one. Your status is different now. You've been promoted from a maid to a concubine, and you no longer regard me as your master. You even openly challenge me, which truly chills my heart!"

"Have you forgotten who brought you into the manor in the first place?"

The person least qualified to accuse Yingzhu of forgetting her roots is Xu Fanglin!

Her despicable acts in her past life and the harm she caused to Yingzhu were outrageous! When faced with her accusations again, Yingzhu remained extremely calm and showed no remorse.

"Isn't the Crown Princess just hoping I can have your child? I've been trying to conceive, and once I give birth, I can fulfill your wish."

As for the past, it's all in the past. You don't need to bring it up again, and I won't pursue it further. After all... we're in the same boat.

If you insist on investigating my past, then my entire family's history will likely be dug up. Are you sure you want to see this drama unfold?

Yingzhu spoke at a measured pace, but her attitude was unquestionable.

She delivered the most severe threat in the calmest tone.

Xu Fanglin naturally understood that she was referring to the true relationship between her mother and Xu Kaishan.

If the world knew that Shen was Xu Kaishan's first wife, where would Xu Fanglin's mother put her face?

At first, Yingzhu was timid and obedient, but now she dares to talk back?

"Shen Yingzhu, are you threatening me?"

"This isn't a threat; it's just what Xia Guo called a well-intentioned reminder."

Yingzhu retaliated in kind, making a sarcastic remark before turning and leaving.

Xu Fanglin, standing rooted to the spot, wanted to grind her teeth to dust! She never imagined that one day she would be threatened by Shen Yingzhu!

"Shen Yingzhu has changed; she's become uncontrollable!"

"She's spoiled and arrogant because she thinks the prince treats her well, and she doesn't know how to restrain herself at all. Little does she know that the prince's feelings for her are just temporary."

Now that she is pregnant, she is unable to serve the Crown Prince, while the Crown Prince has gradually returned to normal and is able to consummate his marriage with women. Now you just need to wait for the right opportunity.

"You're fair-skinned and beautiful. Once you consummate your marriage with the prince, why worry about not winning his favor? Then Shen Yingzhu will be completely forgotten!"

Xia Guo's persuasion successfully extinguished Xu Fanglin's anger. Shen Yingzhu was unwell, which was indeed a good opportunity for her to get closer to the prince.

"Let her be smug for one more day! Soon she'll learn that climbing to the top isn't so easy, and if she dares to offend me, she'll be in for a world of hurt!"

Meanwhile, after Yingzhu left, Zhou Zisu was still wiping away her tears. Liang Yunqian picked up the soup she had brought, drank two spoonfuls, and casually praised it.

Zhou Zisu smiled through her tears, "As long as it tastes good, it's worth all the time I spent cooking it."

She's been in the manor for so long, and she hasn't even slept on the couch in his room yet!

Nestled beside the warm couch, with Liang Yunqian so close at hand, Zhou Zisu admired his handsome face, feeling both warm and happy.

"Yunqian, I'm thirsty, could you get me a glass of water?"

Mei Xin quietly turned around, intending to slip away so they could be alone, but was suddenly stopped by the young master.

"Meixin, pour tea for your master."

Mei Xin, who had been called out, had no choice but to turn back and obediently pour herself a cup of tea, which she then served to Aunt Zhou.

Zhou Zisu forced herself to take a sip and instructed Mei Xin, "Go back and bring me my hand warmer."

Mei Xin, understanding the implication, was about to leave when Liang Yunqian said, "No need, you can use my hand warmer."

"Then what will you use? Let Meixin get mine!"

"I don't need it, I need to leave the manor now."

"Huh?" Zhou Zisu had finally managed to get rid of Shen Yingzhu after acting in this play, and stayed behind.

She thought she could finally spend time alone with Liang Yunqian, chat casually, and cultivate their relationship, but she never expected that he would leave the mansion.

"What's the rush? Can't you wait a bit? My head is still spinning!"

"If you feel dizzy, just rest. It's not convenient to disclose political matters."

After giving his instructions, Liang Yunqian turned and left, leaving her with only his back view.

After all the fighting and scrambling, this is the result. Zhou Zisu can't swallow this insult.

Mei Xin reassured her not to worry, "Perhaps the young master was going to leave the manor anyway? He wasn't deliberately avoiding you. Since the young master wants you to rest, then you should stay here. He will definitely return tonight."

Yes! He leaves the manor during the day, but he will eventually return at night. As long as she is patient, she can wait for him.

With this in mind, Zhou Zisu stopped being anxious and continued to lie on the couch with a clear conscience.

However, she waited for several hours, until it got dark, but Liang Yunqian did not appear.

"Has the Crown Prince not returned yet? Where did he go?"

Anxious, Zhou Zisu instructed Mei Xin to investigate. Mei Xin went out for a stroll and returned with a dark face, full of indignation.

"The Crown Prince has returned."

Zhou Zisu's eyes lit up. "Really? Where is he? Was he summoned by the Princess? Or is it his brother?"

"The young master went to Wenzhu Pavilion. It's probably because Aunt Shen knew you were at Tingsong Garden and was jealous, so she made up an excuse to call the young master there."

"It's Shen Yingzhu again!"

She was just pretending during the day; right now, Zhou Zisu was truly having a headache.

"She has been with Yun Qian for a month, so why can't she allow other people to be with Yun Qian?"

She's just a concubine, no, the banquet hasn't even been held yet, she's not officially a concubine, not the legal wife. Why is she keeping Yun Qian all to herself?

"You even helped her prove her pregnancy, and she's so ungrateful, openly trying to steal your woman away! She repays kindness with enmity!"

Mei Xin angrily berated Zhou Zisu, who was filled with remorse.

"I thought that after she confirmed her pregnancy, Yunqian wouldn't stay with her anymore, which is why I agreed to help with the verification. If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have been so soft-hearted!"

"What should we do then? Do you want to stay here?"

"What am I doing lying here if Yunqian doesn't come back? Alone in an empty room, being laughed at? Shen Yingzhu, I'll remember this! Just you wait, I'll make you pay double!"

Feeling embarrassed, Zhou Zisu had no reason to linger any longer and left reluctantly.

Yingzhu was quite surprised by Liang Yunqian's arrival.

"Young Master? What brings you here? Shouldn't you be with Aunt Zhou?"

Liang Yunqian, returning from outside, brought with him a chill. "I've been busy! After you left, I also went out to run errands and didn't keep her company."

He actually left too? Yingzhu looked up in surprise, paused for a moment, and then murmured:

"Who asked you that?"

"If I don't mention it, some people might start to speculate and think that I'm enjoying myself with a beautiful woman in my arms."

Why does that sound so sarcastic? "I didn't say anything. Whether you're accompanying a beauty or running errands outside the manor is none of my business, and I won't ask any more questions."

She didn't ask any questions, but Liang Yunqian took the initiative to say, "Today I accompanied my father to the palace to take Song Xingzhou to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine."

Upon suddenly hearing Song Xingzhou's name, Yingzhu secretly felt uneasy, wondering if Liang Yunqian was trying to test her again.

"I have no interest in his affairs, Your Highness need not bring them up."

Yingzhu maintained her boundaries and didn't press for answers, but Liang Yunqian took a step closer and stared into her eyes.

"But he mentioned you."