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

The maids and servants lowered their heads, none of them daring to look at each other. Although no names were mentioned, in Shi'an Courtyard, only Afu could serve Xie Xun closely.

It couldn't be clear who these words were meant for.

After the lecture, everyone dispersed. Just as Afu was about to turn around and go back to her room, Granny Cui called out to her, "Miss Afu, please wait."

Afu stopped and turned around.

Granny Cui walked up to her, her voice turning colder. "Madam said that now that you're fully recovered, you should learn more about manners and know what it means to be proper. From today onwards, you will stand in this courtyard for an hour every day at noon to reflect on your actions."

Afu lowered her head and replied, "Yes."

Granny Cui said nothing more and left with her entourage. The corridor was empty, leaving only Afu standing alone in the courtyard.

The May sun was already quite strong, shining a white light on the blue bricks. She stood there, watching her shadow on the ground slowly grow longer.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her back was burning hot from the sun. She raised her hand to wipe her forehead.

He smiled bitterly to himself: at least he wasn't punished on his knees, so his knees were saved.

Behind the window of the side room, Bai Zhi lifted the curtain a crack and watched her stand in the sunlight. Her eyes reddened, but she didn't dare to go out. Yun happy sat on the edge of the bed, head down, her fingers fidgeting with her cuffs.

It wasn't until the sun went down that Afu limped back into her room.

Afu stood in the courtyard for three days in a row.

By the third day, she could no longer stand. Her knees ached terribly, and her throat felt like it was on fire, making even swallowing painful.

Bai Zhi stood in the shadows of the corridor, clutching an oil-paper umbrella, pacing anxiously. She tried to rush out several times, but Afu stopped her with a look.

Seeing that Afu was swaying, Baizhi finally couldn't help but run over, holding the umbrella over Afu's head without a care, and reaching out to support her arm.

"Go back," Afu's voice was terribly hoarse. "Don't drag you down with me."

"I'm not afraid!" Bai Zhi held on even tighter. "Sister, let me go find the young master! If he finds out, he definitely won't let you suffer such a severe punishment!"

Before Afu could speak, a sweet voice came from outside the moon gate.

"Looking for the young master? This is difficult. The young master went to the Xishan camp to handle a case. He said the case is urgent and he won't be back for several days."

Tao Yao walked in gracefully, followed by Xiao Mei and two other maids from Ci'an Courtyard.

She was wearing a pomegranate red dress today, and the bandage on her wrist had been removed, leaving only a faint pink mark that was barely noticeable unless you looked closely.

The two maids behind her were carrying trays covered with red cloth, which looked like a reward from the Cining Temple.

Tao Yao walked up to Afu, looked her up and down, and then covered her mouth in feigned surprise. "Oh dear, Afu, your face is so sunburned, it's pitiful to see you like this. And why are your lips so pale?"

She turned her head to the maid behind her and said, "Quickly, help Sister Afu cool off."

As she spoke, she winked at Xiaomei.

Xiaomei immediately understood, turned around and walked towards the well in the corner of the yard. After a short while, she returned with a wooden bucket and scooped a full basin of water from it. The water freshly drawn from the well was emitting a slight chill in the sunlight.

"What are you trying to do!" Upon seeing this, Bai Zhi immediately spread her arms to block Afu.

"What am I doing?" Tao Yao sneered, her pretense completely shattered. "Naturally, I'm here to teach the mistress a lesson in manners. A mere maidservant with no title or status dares to act arrogantly in front of her mistress, even daring to push me. Does she really think she's someone important?"

With a wave of her hand, the two tall and strong maids immediately stepped forward, grabbed Bai Zhi's arms on either side, and dragged her to the side.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Bai Zhi struggled desperately, but she was no match for the two rough maids. She was quickly dragged aside and could only watch helplessly as Xiao Mei carried the basin of water and walked step by step toward A Fu.

Afu stood still, coldly watching Taoyao.

She knew that Tao Yao had calculated Xie Xun's absence and that the Lady Hou had tacitly approved of it, which was why she dared to act so recklessly.

"Splash—"

A whole basin of icy well water was poured over his head.

The biting cold instantly pierced through her thin clothes, sending a shiver down Afu's spine. Her skin, scorched by the blazing sun, suddenly felt the cold, and every pore contracted, sending a sharp, needle-like pain through her.

The force of the impact caused her to lose her balance, stagger back two steps, and fall directly onto the scorching hot bluestone slab.

The sudden chill cleared her muddled mind somewhat.

She raised her hand, wiped the water off her face, and stuck out her tongue to lick the water droplets from the corner of her lips.

The well water is sweet.

She raised her head, looked at Tao Yao, and tugged at the corners of her mouth, a clear hint of mockery in her expression: "Thank you for the gift, Miss Tao Yao. It's just what I need to quench my thirst."

Tao Yao's smug expression froze for a moment, then turned even more sinister.

What she hated most was Afu's invincible nature.

"Still being stubborn."

She snorted coldly, looking down at Afu who was slumped on the ground. "Drag her up! The lady's punishment isn't over yet; there's still an hour left!"

Afu braced herself against the ground, trying to stand up. Her body had reached its limit, and everything went black as a strong sense of dizziness washed over her.

"elder sister!"

The two maids released their grip, and Baizhi rushed over, crying and kneeling to hug Afu, shaking her repeatedly, "Sister Afu! Wake up, don't scare me!"

Her cries were piercing and filled with despair, echoing through the silent courtyard.

As Tao Yao watched this scene, her smile grew even wider. She wanted to show everyone what would happen if they tried to steal the young master from her.

Just then, a cold, deep voice suddenly came from the courtyard gate, "What are you doing?"

Everyone in the courtyard froze.

Bai Zhi's crying stopped abruptly, Tao Yao's smile froze, and even the arrogant maids turned pale, all looking towards the direction of the moon gate.

Xie Xun stood there, still dressed in a dark, close-fitting outfit, looking travel-worn.

His face was ashen, and his dark eyes swept over the scene in the courtyard: Bai Zhi being supported by two maids, Tao Yao with a smug look on her face, and... A Fu lying on the ground, soaking wet and unconscious.

His gaze finally settled on Afu's pale face, and his aura instantly dropped.

Tao Yao's heart skipped a beat, and all the color drained from her face.

Didn't he go to Xishan? How could he... how could he be back so soon?

Tao Yao mustered her courage and called out, "Young Master," then paused and explained, "It was Granny Cui who punished Afu..."

Before she could finish speaking, she turned and met Xie Xun's icy gaze, and immediately shut up.

Xie Xun didn't look at her again. He walked a few steps to Afu's side and found her soaking wet, covered in mud and dust, curled up on the ground shivering.

He frowned, first taking off his cloak and covering her wet body with it, and then, under Tao Yao's shocked gaze, he bent down and picked Afu up in his arms.

He picked her up and turned to walk towards the main house. As he passed Tao Yao, he didn't stop and said coldly, "Tao Yao, you're being too reckless. Go back and stay home for three days."