After flirting with the aloof prince, the concubine ran away pregnant.

The Yongning Marquis's Residence, Shi'an Courtyard.

Afu counted the loose silver coins in the old box one by one, her expression focused.

A total of ninety-seven taels, plus three taels of silver for the following month, will make a total of one hundred taels, enough to redeem oneself.

The remaining money was enough for her and her sister to buy a small courtyard and a shop in the suburbs of Beijing and start a small business.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but pour the silver back and count it again. As she counted, the corners of her mouth turned up, and she couldn't suppress it.

After three years of tension, my heart finally found a moment of relaxation.

There was a gentle knock on the door; it was Lanxiang.

She left the manor today, having changed out of the blue cloth skirt worn by the maids of the Marquis's residence and into a half-new lotus-colored dress. Her hair was styled in the manner of a bride-to-be, and her face radiated undisguised joy.

"Ah Fu, counting your silver again?" She walked in, carrying a small bundle in her hand.

"Have you packed everything up?" Afu put the silver back into the box, looked up at her, and smiled sincerely.

Yesterday, Lanxiang's family came to redeem her from her servitude, saying that they had arranged a marriage for her with a wealthy farming family outside the city.

Lady Hou, mindful of her years of service to the heir apparent, not only refrained from taking a single penny but also gave her an extra ten taels of silver as a dowry.

"Everything's ready." Lanxiang sat down beside her, looking at the box she had just put away, and lowered her voice, "You... will be done soon too, right?"

Afu nodded, "When my hair turns silver next month, I'll go and beg Madam to let me leave the manor."

Lanxiang's joy faded, replaced by a hint of worry.

"You're different from us." Lanxiang sighed, her gaze falling on Afu's excessively beautiful face. "The young master's personal maid isn't someone who can easily leave the manor. Remember to be careful in everything you do, especially with the young master's wet nurse, Granny Wen, and her daughter..."

"I know." Afu grasped her hand in return and patted it gently. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Lanxiang looked at her, hesitant to speak.

Prince Xie Xun is aloof and cold, with an almost obsessive cleanliness and a gloomy and unpredictable nature.

Over the past three years, the number of maids who have been driven out of his courtyard, sold off, or even died under mysterious circumstances is too many to count on two hands.

Only Afu, who rose from a lowly maid to become the most capable personal maid of the prince, has remained unharmed for so long.

"In short, don't get involved," Lanxiang advised finally. "A man like the young master is not someone we can afford to mess with."

"I understand." Afu smiled and stuffed a small purse into Lanxiang's hand. "Take this as a dowry for you. You must live a good life from now on."

The purse was heavy with a few pieces of silver. Lanxiang's eyes reddened, but she didn't refuse. She nodded heavily, turned around, and left.

The door closed, and the room returned to silence.

Actually, she wasn't the original Afu, but a modern intern at a high-end housekeeping company who died suddenly due to continuous overtime work.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself transmigrated into the body of Afu, a lowly maidservant in the Great Qian Dynasty who had just died after being flogged twenty times.

To survive, she relied on her professional housekeeping skills to struggle in the Marquis's mansion, just to have a hot meal and not be bullied. Unexpectedly, she worked her way up to become the only personal maid in the Prince's courtyard.

Now, although she diligently plays the role of a dutiful maid every day, she only has one thought in her mind: save money, quit her job, and run away.

Three years have passed, and this long "life of cattle and horses" is finally coming to an end.

Thinking of the free life she would have in the future, Afu breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling much lighter.

She had even planned that once she was redeemed, she would rent a shop on Shunde Street in the suburbs of Beijing, open a tea and snack shop, and become a capable and efficient proprietress.

Before the fantasy could end, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

"Sister Afu, Sister Afu!" It was Bai Zhi, a maid in the courtyard, her voice filled with panic.

The door was flung open, and the young maid Bai Zhi, leaning against the doorframe, gasped, "Young Master... Young Master is back! He's already at the second gate!"

An alarm bell rang in Afu's mind. Wasn't he supposed to have gone to the Western Hills hunting grounds with the Marquis? He should have returned to the manor tomorrow.

But she had no time to think about it. She quickly stuffed the silver box back into the deepest part of the bed, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and hair, and hurried toward the main room.

As soon as Afu stood at the entrance of the main house, that familiar tall figure appeared at the courtyard gate, surrounded by a group of people.

Xie Xun was dressed in black riding attire, his steps were faster than usual, the edges of his cloak were covered in dust, and his expression was somewhat abnormal.

The pale white was tinged with an uncontrollable flush.

Afu's nose twitched as she smelled a very faint, exotic fragrance, an extremely sweet scent.

Her heart skipped a beat; this tasted wrong.

The servants in the courtyard all knelt down to pay their respects, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Afu also lowered her voice and bowed, saying, "Welcome back to the manor, Young Master."

Xie Xun's gaze fell on her.

It only paused for a moment.

That moment was extremely brief, yet it pressed down on the back of Afu's neck, making her feel tight.

His eyes were different from usual, swirling with an extremely dark black, as if they were being burned by something, and he seemed on the verge of losing control.

The servant boy beside him, Changsong, was covered in sweat, his voice trembling with anxiety, "What are you all standing there for! Quickly prepare water! Cold water, the colder the better!"

Afu glanced at him.

Changsong's face looked very grim.

This doesn't seem like an injury sustained on the field; it's more like... being poisoned by something unclean.

Xie Xun walked straight past everyone into the house, casually unfastened the sword from his waist and threw it on the table.

With a bang.

The maids inside the room shrank back in fright.

"Get out."

His voice was low and hoarse, suppressing his anger.

Everyone immediately withdrew.

Afu also wanted to quit.

She had only taken half a step when Xie Xun suddenly looked over.

"You stay."

Afu: "...Yes."

Changsong paced anxiously at the door, not daring to come in. He could only lower his voice and say, "Miss Afu, please help the young master undress first. I'll go get some cold water."

Afu lowered her head and replied, "Yes."

Changsong turned and ran, the door closed behind him, and the room fell silent.

The unusual fragrance became even more pronounced.

Afu stood behind Xie Xun, only a step away from him, and could almost feel the heat emanating from him.

She reached out to untie his cloak.

The moment his fingertips touched the fabric, Xie Xun's shoulders and back tensed up.

Afu paused, then immediately reduced the force of her movements.

"Young Master, let me help you undress."

Xie Xun remained silent.

He stood very straight, his back taut, as if his whole body was pressing down on something.

The man, dressed in dark riding attire that cinched his narrow waist, with broad shoulders and long legs, exuded an almost dangerous aura. He was usually so aloof that people dared not look at him for long.

Afu didn't dare to think too much; she just wanted to finish her work quickly and then leave safely.

She skillfully untied his cloak and hung it on the hanger, then removed the leather wristband from his wrist.

His wrist was very hot, and even though she tried her best to avoid touching his skin, she still accidentally brushed against his knuckles.

The temperature was so hot it made her heart skip a beat; this was no ordinary fever.

Xie Xun lowered his eyes, watching her busy with her head down.

She carried a very faint, indescribable scent of grass and trees, mixed with the aroma of sun-baked plants—it was quite subtle.

But the scent actually helped to reduce the irritation caused by the unusual fragrance.

He hated being touched by others, but this maid was an exception.

I can't quite explain why, maybe it's because this girl is clean and well-behaved, so she suits my taste.

Afu was hanging her head and untying his leather belt, her hair tucked behind her ears, revealing a small section of her fair and soft neck.

Xie Xun's Adam's apple bobbed. "Hurry up."

Afu immediately quickened her pace: "Yes."