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

The moment the door closed behind her, she realized that her back was covered in a thin layer of sweat, unsure whether it was from anger or from feeling blocked.

Afu stood under the veranda, gazing at the deep, winding corridor in the courtyard. She clenched her sleeves and recounted the events of that night from beginning to end:

"As long as your request is reasonable and does not violate morality, you can contact me at any time."

Fine, he's nitpicking, huh? Then she'll find something "reasonable, compliant, and morally sound" to ask him for help.

Dinner at Ci'an Temple.

Lady Hou sat at the head of the dining table, while Xie Xun sat below her, with a steamed perch and a plate of jade shrimp between them.

Halfway through the meal, Madam Hou spoke up at the opportune moment: "Now that you have a concubine by your side, you're quite knowledgeable about matters between men and women. It's time to change your fastidious nature."

Xie Xun paused for a moment while picking up food with his chopsticks, but didn't reply.

Lady Hou continued, "You are now over twenty. Before, if you were unwilling, I couldn't force you. Now that you've come to your senses, it's time to start arranging your marriage. When your father was your age, you were already two years old."

Xie Xun placed his chopsticks on the rim of the bowl, and after a moment replied, "...Son understands."

Seeing him nod, Lady Hou's expression visibly relaxed, and her tone became lighter: "Alright."

"Your sister is going back to the capital next month. Your brother-in-law, Wei Changsheng, although his family background is not prominent, is quite talented. Now that he has been transferred back to the capital, your sister will no longer have to suffer in that small place."

As she spoke, she poured him another bowl of soup: "Once you get married, all the big worries on my mind will be gone."

Xie Xun picked up the soup bowl, neither responding nor arguing.

Lady Hou watched him drink the soup and then said, "Since Afu is already a concubine, you should also promote another one to serve you personally. Since the people in your courtyard are unwilling to be promoted, let Afu choose one from the new maids who came this year and train her herself."

Xie Xun raised his eyes slightly, then lowered them again: "Changsong is serving very well; there's no need to add more people."

Lady Hou waved her hand: "Changsong is a man, and he's not as meticulous as a maid. Your daily clothes, perfumes, tea, and soup are all taken care of properly by maids. Let her teach him; we'll see if he turns out well later."

Without waiting for Xie Xun to object, she said in a casual yet authoritative tone, "It's settled then."

Xie Xun put down his chopsticks and paused for a moment.

"...Yes, Mother."

The next morning, Afu, dressed in a light blue maid's uniform, carried a copper basin into the main room as usual.

Xie Xun had already woken up. He was sitting on the edge of the bed wearing an undergarment, his hair was loose, and his eyes still showed the weariness he hadn't had time to shake off when he first woke up.

Afu placed the copper basin on the shelf, wrung out a handkerchief, and handed it to Xie Xun. Xie Xun took it, wiped his face, and then handed it back to her. The two moved with fluid grace, displaying an indescribable tacit understanding.

Afu turned around to fetch his outer robe. Xie Xun stood up, put his arm into the sleeve, and Afu went around to him to tie his belt. She then bent down to tie the wristbands around his wrist.

She lowered her head, her dark hair swaying below his chin, her fingers deftly weaving through the straps, tying a neat knot.

Xie Xun glanced down at her and suddenly asked, "Were you thieves last night?"

Afu's fingers paused for a moment.

She looked up and met his condescending gaze, his eyes holding a subtle, almost imperceptible scrutiny.

"No." Afu looked away from him and continued to adjust the jade pendant tassel at his waist.

"And there's a dark circle under your eye?" Xie Xun asked, raising an eyebrow.

Afu didn't reply, but straightened the tassel on her jade pendant and took a step back: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

Xie Xun took two steps, then turned back and said, "Tomorrow, have the embroiderer make you a few sets of clothes that fit. Why are you still wearing this maid's outfit?"

Afu looked at Xie Xun's departing figure with some resentment.

As the footsteps in the corridor faded into the distance, she gently rubbed the dark circles under her eyes, walked to the copper basin, poured out the dirty water, and wiped the edge of the table with a dry cloth.

Just as she draped the cloth back on the rack, Bai Zhi poked her head in: "Sister, Granny Cui is here."

Afu's eyelids twitched.

Granny Cui entered the courtyard and stood under the eaves, holding a roster in her hand. She nodded slightly to Afu and said, "Miss Afu, Madam has instructed that a maid be assigned to you to train and mentor, so that she can take over your duties and serve the young master in the future."

Upon hearing this, Afu suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

If a new person were to take her place, she would no longer be Xie Xun's "irreplaceable" personal maid.

She thought about it all night last night.

Xie Xun didn't want her to leave for two reasons.

First, she served him so well that over the past three years, he had come to take her presence for granted; second, he had only just tasted the flavors of passion and hadn't yet lost interest, unable to let go of the novelty of those few days.

But novelty always fades, and habits can be replaced.

As long as she trains a clever enough maid to replace her, and Xie Xun has other women, he probably won't even remember who his concubine is.

By then, she would always find a way to leave.

Afu bowed and gave Granny Cui a polite smile: "Thank you for informing me, Granny. I will go with you now."

She followed Granny Cui out of the courtyard. Just as she reached the moon gate, two maids who were sweeping were squatting under the eaves talking. Their voices drifted over at a moderate volume.

"Have you heard? The Madam went to the Princess's residence early this morning, ostensibly for a flower-viewing banquet, but actually to find a suitable daughter for the young master."

"Really? Isn't the young master supposed to be the least interested in women?"

"That was before! Now it's closer, isn't it? I heard the Crown Prince has recently brought in a new concubine..."

The two suddenly saw Granny Cui, and their words caught in their throats. They immediately lowered their heads and pretended to be focused on sweeping the floor.

Granny Cui didn't stop walking; she continued walking forward without changing her expression, as if she hadn't heard anything.

Afu followed behind her, her eyes fixed straight ahead, her steps even, but she had her own plans in mind.

Historically, when prominent families married, they would send away all the concubines from the previous marriage to show respect for the principal wife.

Since Xie Xun is going to get married, she can leave naturally then. She can even go directly to the Lady of the Marquis to ask her to leave the mansion. Given the Lady of the Marquis's vision and considerations, she will most likely let her go.

Even if he had to use that promise at this point, Xie Xun would not be able to refuse, because it would absolutely meet the conditions of "the request being reasonable and not violating morality".

Thinking of this, Afu was so happy that her eyes crinkled with joy, hoping that the Lady of the Marquis would find a suitable wife for her son as soon as possible.

Training Institute.

When Granny Cui took Afu to the large communal room to pick up the people, several maids were talking around one of the beds.

Yunxi stood in the middle, holding a rough porcelain bowl in her hands. She tilted her head back, took a sip, and then handed it to the person next to her.

Just as Afu lifted the curtain, Yunxi looked up and gazed towards the doorway.

She was a pretty girl, thin but with very well-proportioned features, and there was an inexplicable familiarity about her eyes and brows.

When Afu and Yunxi met eyes, Yunxi immediately walked over to her, stood properly in front of her, and bowed her head slightly.

"His name is Yunxi," said Granny Cui. "He is a servant born into a family. His parents live on the estate, and he was raised in the manor since he was a child. He has learned all the rules."