The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

Jiang Guo'er spoke with absolute certainty.

Xue Lingyi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her curiosity was piqued, and she reached out to take the doll, examining it from all angles.

"This needlework... is it hidden needle embroidery?" She leaned closer to examine it. "Are the ink lines on the face done with split silk? How many strands did you use?"

"Two strands."

"Two strands of fabric can be used to embroider such eyebrows and eyes?" Xue Lingyi exclaimed in amazement, her fingers gently stroking the doll's robe.

"Guo'er, your skills are truly amazing. I can't even come close to matching them."

Jiang Guo'er was a little embarrassed by her praise and quickly waved her hand.

"Lingyi, your calligraphy and painting are truly exceptional. I've only learned the basics of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but my needlework is something I can be proud of."

Xue Lingyi smiled, returned the doll to her, and then reached out to straighten her collar and wipe the sugar stains clean.

As the two were talking, Jiang Guo'er suddenly felt a churning in her stomach.

She subconsciously pressed the Zhongwan acupoint, her brows furrowing.

"What's wrong?" Xue Lingyi immediately put down what she was doing.

"It feels a bit comfortable, and it's swollen and yellowish."

"It must be because you ate too many different things just now, including torreya nuts, sugar cakes, and tea."

Xue Lingyi quickly called Lüyi in, "Quickly help her back to the side room to lie down."

Jiang Guo'er stood up, stretched a bit, and waved her hand.

"It's alright, I can walk around. I need to go to the embroidery room; I'm a few threads short of the silk needed to embroider your sachet, so I need to go and get them."

Xue Lingyi couldn't dissuade her, so she could only tell her, "If you're still feeling unwell, come back. Don't force yourself to stay awake."

Jiang Guo'er agreed and left the courtyard.

The winter wind blew into my sleeves, chilly, and finally calmed the churning in my stomach.

She walked along the covered corridor toward the embroidery room, still pondering Pei Yan's love letter to the Empress.

The more I think about it, the more my head aches.

If she were to cling to the Prime Minister every night, would his desire for the Empress lessen?

All crows are black, and men always covet what they can't have.

A lofty reputation, a high status... and a woman he can't have.

Of course, one's own father and brothers are an exception!

Before they died, they had only ever loved one woman: their mother and sister-in-law!

Just as he was pondering what new tricks he should use next time he served the emperor, a figure suddenly rushed over from around the corner of the side corridor.

"Why!"

Jiang Guo'er was knocked back two steps and almost fell.

She steadied herself against the pillar and was about to scold him when she looked up and saw that it was a lotus flower.

Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes were swollen and red like rotten peaches, and snot was stuck to her lips.

Lotus looked up and saw it was her. She froze for a moment, wiped her face, and turned to run away.

Jiang Guo'er grabbed her sleeve.

"What happened?"

Lotus struggled twice but couldn't break free. Her lips trembled for a long time before she finally burst into tears.

"My parents...my brother...they're all dead!"

Jiang Guo'er's grip stiffened.

"What?"

Lotus squatted down, covered her head, and cried uncontrollably.

"This morning... a fellow villager sent a message... saying that my parents and younger brother haven't returned for many days since they came to look for me... the village head reported it to the authorities..."

Her voice was broken and intermittent; her throat was hoarse from crying.

"Yesterday, the constables found their bodies at Shili Slope outside the city... Waaah... They died so tragically..."

Jiang Guo'er stood frozen in place, her throat feeling as if something was blocking it.

On the day the entire Murong family was executed, blood flowed from the stone steps all the way to the street. The loyal Qiu Chan, wearing her clothes, took her place and was beheaded.

She knows better than anyone what it feels like to lose a loved one.

"lotus."

She knelt down and gently took Lotus's cold hand in hers.

My condolences.

Lotus lifted her face, and large tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I didn't even get to see them one last time... My brother is about to get married..."

Jiang Guo'er's eyes also reddened. She opened her arms and hugged her, gently patting her trembling shoulders.

After a while, Lotus's crying gradually subsided.

She wiped her face haphazardly with her sleeve, then suddenly stared intently at Jiang Guo'er.

"Guo'er".

"Um?"

"You promised me." Lotus gripped her wrist tightly, her nails digging into her flesh.

"You said that once you've established yourself, you'd put in a good word for me with the Prime Minister so I could also serve him in bed!"

Jiang Guo'er was stunned for a moment.

"Lotus, I did promise you, but this can't be rushed—"

"Stop making excuses! You never really intended to help me!"

Lotus shook off her hand, her whole body trembling.

"If you hadn't been so reluctant to help me, I could have saved enough money to bring my family to the city! They wouldn't have had to walk that mountain road! They wouldn't have died!"

"Lotus, calm down." Jiang Guo'er frowned helplessly.

"Their deaths were mostly the work of bandits and outlaws; what does that have to do with me?"

Lotus stubbornly refused to let go.

"If you had helped me secure a position by the Prime Minister's side earlier, I could have asked his men to protect my family!"

"My parents won't have to risk coming all the way from the countryside to see me anymore!"

What kind of robber logic is this?

The sympathy that had welled up in Jiang Guo'er's heart instantly froze into ice.

"Lotus, I'm heartbroken that she's gone, but you can't hold me responsible for this."

She lowered her voice, trying to keep her tone calm.

"My willingness to help you hasn't changed; it just needs the right opportunity—"

"I don't care!"

Lotus suddenly grabbed her arm with surprising strength.

With bloodshot eyes and tear-streaked face, an almost insane stubbornness appeared.

"Jiang Guo'er, you must help me get into the Prime Minister's bed!"

Jiang Guo'er's face suddenly darkened.

"What if I can't do it?"

Lotus's lips trembled, and after a long while, she gritted her teeth and squeezed out a sentence.

"Then I'll tell the Prime Minister about how you were locked in the woodshed and secretly sent me to deliver a message to Miss Xue!"

Pei Yan has always been suspicious.

Once suspicions arise about her relationship with Xue Lingyi, it won't be so easy for them to cooperate in seeking revenge.

"...Do you know what you're saying?"

Lotus's gaze flickered for a moment, the veins on her neck bulging taut.

"I...I didn't want this to happen either."

Her voice suddenly faltered, and she began to cry again.

"But I really have no other way out..."

Lotus took a step back, crossing her arms to hug herself, as if protecting some unspeakable wound.

Last night, Zhao's youngest son, having heard that her family had all died and she was left without an heir, took advantage of her grief and raped her.

She just wants one chance.

Even if the Prime Minister only favors her once, she has a reason to get rid of that beast!

She didn't want to be a lowly servant for the rest of her life...

Unable to climb higher!

Even if you spend your whole life, you can never live a life as good as Jiang Guo'er's!

The wind outside the veranda swirled with withered leaves, sweeping past their feet.

Jiang Guo'er took out a handkerchief, wiped the tears from Lianhua's face, and sighed softly.

"Using this to threaten me won't work. If the Prime Minister finds out, you won't be able to escape the blame for helping me deliver the message."

Lotus's face turned pale.

"So, think it through carefully. We're in this together." Jiang Guo'er reached out and tidied her disheveled hair. "Before you threaten me, think about whether you can handle the consequences."

Lotus lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.

"It's not that I haven't thought of ways to help you, but last time you were just a coward. You left the washroom as soon as the Prime Minister scolded you. What am I supposed to do now?"

Jiang Guo'er looked helpless, watching as Lianhua got stuck in a rut, but she had no way to help her.

Lotus's voice was muffled.

"Can't you let me take your place and sleep... in the side room?"

"In the dark, as long as I remain silent, the Prime Minister..."

Jiang Guo'er raised her hand in disbelief and slapped her.

Snapped!