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

The lobby was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The accompanying courtiers looked at each other, none of them daring to utter a sound.

Only their furtive glances betrayed the turmoil within them.

The stepmother of the Minister of Revenue dared to put saffron in the bath soap of the Grand Secretary's wife!

What a terrible crime this is!

Even if we assume that Minister Xue was unaware of this matter, the mere fact that he "cannot manage his family well and is not worthy of his position" would be enough to cost him his official post.

"The inner quarters of the Xue family mansion are a chaotic and disorderly place."

Several upright censors lowered their voices, their eyes filled with disgust.

Xue Shangshu was ashen-faced, and only his servants managed to keep him from collapsing.

Pei Yan, however, was in no hurry to make a move.

His tall and straight figure stood firmly in front of Xue Lingyi and Jiang Guo'er. He raised his hand, pulled off the black iron badge of the Owl Guard from his waist, threw it to Owl Da beside him, and made a gesture.

Xiao Da understood immediately, took the waist token, and turned to head straight for the Imperial Hospital.

Pei Yan turned around, his gaze sweeping lightly over Jiang Guo'er, whose eyes were red-rimmed, before landing on her shoulder, which trembled slightly from feeling "wronged".

"Come in with me. Your attire is disheveled; what kind of decorum is this?"

Before Jiang Guo'er could react, her wrist was grabbed by a large, hot hand, and she was dragged into the side room.

With a loud bang, the door slammed shut.

As soon as they entered the room, Pei Yan pressed her against the back of the door, and his tall shadow loomed over them.

A pair of iron hands gripped her waist, tightening slightly, as if silently urging her on.

Is he trying to get her to kiss him like an incense stick to cure his muteness poison?!

Yes, the Prime Minister is the Prime Minister after all. At this critical juncture, it is clear that he needs to speak to the detoxifier and interrogate those three bad guys.

When it comes to important matters, Jiang Guo'er is not hesitant at all.

She stood on tiptoe, grabbed his broad shoulders with both hands, and leaned in close.

Pei Yan supported the back of her head with one hand, and slowly moved his palm down.

Without realizing it, I touched her small earlobe and slender neck.

Then, she pinched his neck a little harder, with a force that was irresistible yet not uncomfortable, tightening her fingers and then loosening them.

Hearing Jiang Guo'er let out a muffled groan from her throat, he let out a satisfied sigh.

He would never tell Jiang Guo'er that he dreamed about her last night.

When the incense stick finished burning, Jiang Guo'er's lips were swollen beyond recognition, and her eyes were full of tears.

Pei Yan used his fingertip to wipe away a strand of saliva that she hadn't had time to swallow from the corner of her mouth, and uttered two words in a hoarse voice.

"go out."

In the front hall, Xiao San hurriedly arrived with the white-bearded imperial physician.

The imperial physician picked up the powder from the box of bath beans, sniffed it, then picked out a little and crushed it on the back of his hand. His expression changed drastically.

"Your Excellency, there is indeed a small amount of saffron powder mixed into this bath powder."

"If a pregnant woman uses it, it may cause spotting at best, and miscarriage at worst!"

Upon hearing this, gasps of astonishment filled the hall.

Pei Yan, his face ashen, walked up to Xue Shangshu, who was trembling all over.

He picked up the box of bath beans and dumped it directly on Minister Xue's head.

"Lord Xue," Pei Yan said, his voice as cold and sharp as a knife, "do you have a death wish?"

"If you do not give me a reasonable explanation and account, I will personally remove your official robes before the Emperor at the morning court tomorrow."

Minister Xue was so frightened that he fell to his knees with a thud.

"Your Excellency, please calm down! Your Excellency is wise! This humble official truly knew nothing about it!"

His eyes darted around, and he suddenly pointed at Xu Mama, who was cowering in the corner. "It's her! It must be this wicked servant who betrayed her master and committed this heinous act!"

Granny Xu was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground, too afraid to speak.

Pei Yan scoffed, "Does Lord Xue think I'm a three-year-old child? A mere servant, with the audacity to plot against the Prime Minister's wife?"

Minister Xue was speechless, his back soaked with cold sweat.

Just then, the curtain of the side room was lifted.

Jiang Guo'er walked out, leaning against the door frame, her eyes red and swollen, like a little rabbit that had suffered a great injustice but still wanted to protect its master.

Her slightly swollen lips still bore traces of the rosy blush from before.

"Your Excellency! This servant wants to file a complaint against this unruly servant."

She knelt down with a thud, her back ramrod straight.

"Yesterday, when Granny Xu came to deliver bath beans, she not only shoved me but also pointed at my nose and started hurling insults!"

Jiang Guo'er's voice was clear and bright, and a burning passion for speaking out for justice burned in her eyes.

"It's one thing for her to call me a barren hen! But Madam is the eldest daughter of the Xue family! Returning home to fulfill her filial duties, she is being so brazenly trampled and humiliated by a mere servant!"

The room erupted in uproar.

Jiang Guo'er didn't back down an inch, her tone becoming increasingly impassioned:

"A mere servant of the Xue household dares to question the Grand Secretary's important matter of having an heir. May I ask, Lord Xue, is this at your behest?"

"Is the rule of the Xue family that the second wife should indulge the servants and act arrogantly and domineeringly towards the Grand Secretary's wife?"

These words undoubtedly tore off the Xue family's fig leaf and threw it on the ground to be trampled.

The way the court officials looked at Minister Xue had completely changed.

Rumors that Minister Xue condoned his second wife's mistreatment of his first wife's daughter have actually come true!

Lord Xue is so foolish!

Just then, the gatekeeper, covered in sweat, ran in to report.

"My lord, something terrible has happened! The carriages of officials who came to offer their birthday greetings are blocking the gate. They want to get in and offer their congratulations. What should we do?"

Minister Xue was in a terrible state of panic and no longer cared about his dignity. He grabbed Pei Yan's robe.

"Your Excellency, for the sake of being the biological father of your daughter, I beg you to show mercy and allow me to investigate behind closed doors!"

"Those people outside... I beg you to help me deal with them!"

Pei Yan brushed his hand away with disgust, then turned to look at Xue Lingyi, who was sitting to the side feigning weakness: "What does Madam think?"

Minister Xue grasped at this as if it were a lifeline.

"Lingyi! For your father's sake, don't be impulsive. Consider the bigger picture!"

The words "acting temperamental" made Jiang Guo'er feel nauseous.

Is this something a biological father would say?

She secretly gave Xue Lingyi a wink.

Xue Lingyi gave a cold smile.

"Father's words are unreasonable. A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; she is now the Prime Minister's wife, and naturally, we should consider the Prime Minister's position first, not the Xue family's."

"Even a prince is subject to the same laws as a commoner, let alone anyone else!"

An "outsider" delivered a resounding slap to Minister Xue's face.

Xue Shangshu's skin twitched, wanting to curse "rebellious daughter," but when he met Pei Yan's murderous gaze, he swallowed the curse back down his throat.

Seeing that he could no longer save face, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

To protect their official positions, they have no choice but to sacrifice pawns to save their chariots!

"Guards!" Minister Xue roared, "Drag Zhao Shi, Xue Lingfang, and that beast Zhao Yuanzhe all up here!"