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

For several days in a row, Xie Xun ate a cup of plum sorbet every day at noon.

Although Afu enjoyed his appreciation for her cooking, she was worried that his stomach couldn't handle it, so she secretly reduced the amount of crushed ice.

At noon that day, Xie Xun, as usual, scooped up a spoonful of plum sorbet, but frowned as soon as it entered his mouth. He put down the spoon, looked up at Afu, and said, "I told you to put more ice, but you put even less."

Afu lowered her eyes and said sincerely, "Cold foods are harmful to the body, Your Highness should not overindulge in them."

Looking at her earnest and worried expression, Xie Xun, though still showing some impatience, felt inexplicably pleased. This girl really was always thinking of him, even fussing over a bowl of shaved ice.

Fine, so her wish was granted.

He picked up his spoon again, preparing to finish the bowl of shaved ice, when he heard Changsong announce from the doorway, "Young Master, Miss Taoyao has arrived."

Xie Xun frowned slightly, but still put down his spoon: "Let her in."

Afu, being very perceptive, curtsied and said, "Then this servant will take her leave."

Xie Xun glanced at her, said nothing, and simply nodded.

Afu turned and walked out, and just as she reached the door, she brushed past Taoyao.

Tao Yao was wearing a light pink dress today. The gauze around her wrist had been removed, leaving only a faint pink mark on her wrist bone.

When she saw Afu, the corners of her mouth curved slightly, and her eyes held an undisguised smugness.

Afu ignored her gaze and walked straight past her without stopping.

A breeze from the corridor blew in her face, carrying the heat of summer. She heard Tao Yao's cheerful voice ring out behind her: "Brother Prince, I've learned a new soup recipe and brought it here for you to try."

Afu didn't turn back and continued walking away along the corridor.

Back in the side room, Baizhi saw Afu return and quickly went to greet her: "Sister, someone from the embroidery room has come. They said it was on the young master's orders."

Afu nodded, pushed open the door and entered the room. She saw a woman dressed in plain blue standing by the table, holding a soft ruler in her hand. Hearing the noise, she turned around and nodded slightly to her: "Miss Afu."

Afu stepped forward to greet her: "Madam Ningsu."

Bai Zhi whispered from the side, "I heard that Lady Ning Su from Yunxiu Manor in the capital went to the palace to make clothes for noble ladies." Afu gestured for her not to say anything more and smiled at Lady Ning Su, "You've kept me waiting, my lady."

Ning Su Niangzi smiled and shook her head: "The young master specifically instructed me to come and wait."

She gestured for Afu to stand in the light, unfolded a soft measuring tape, and measured from her shoulders to her waistline, and then from her waistline to her arm circumference. After measuring, she took a half step back and glanced at her: "Miss, you have an excellent waistline. Even the mistresses in the palace rarely have such a figure."

Afu was a little embarrassed by her praise: "Thank you for your praise, madam. It's just a matter of appearance." She paused, "Unlike you, madam, your skills are renowned throughout the world, and even noble people rely on you."

Ning Su Niangzi chuckled, lowered her head to tidy up the soft measuring tape, and said in a light tone, "It's just a skill I learned, sold to noble families."

After taking the measurements, Ning Su Niangzi glanced at the few bolts of fabric on the table and estimated, "There's still some fabric left after making four outfits, not enough for one more."

She looked up at Afu and said, "Would you like to make something else, young lady? Small items like undergarments or linings would be fine."

Afu's heart skipped a beat. She remembered that she was going to see Azhen in a couple of days, so she tentatively asked, "Could you make a dress for an eight-year-old girl? The leftover fabric should be enough."

Ning Su Niangzi was a little surprised, glanced at her again, and then smiled: "It's enough, just enough to make one set."

Afu smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble you, madam."

Ning Su Niangzi didn't ask any further questions. She noted down the measurements, said she would send someone to deliver the clothes once they were finished, and then took her leave.

Afu saw her to the door before turning back into the house. She thought that Azhen would probably be very happy when she received that blouse.

Upon entering the room, I saw Bai Zhi sitting at the table with a serious expression.

"Sister," Bai Zhi walked over, her voice extremely low, as if she were telling a huge secret, "There's something I want to say, but I don't know if I should."

Seeing her expression, Afu knew what was going on: "Is it about Yunxi?"

Bai Zhi's eyes widened: "Sister knows?"

She sat on the footstool on the edge of the bed, speaking quickly and urgently: "Last night I got up in the middle of the night and saw her sneaking out of our courtyard, heading towards Luoqi Garden. I was afraid of alerting her, so I didn't follow her."

"But this morning, I heard from the kitchen staff that Miss Taoyao had stewed the young master's favorite white fungus soup again, and she even specifically instructed that it should be made with honey-preserved kumquats that were newly tributed from the south, saying that the young master had a particular fondness for that."

Bai Zhi's cheeks puffed up with anger: "You only found out about the candied kumquats a few days ago, sister. Besides you and me, only Yunxi knew about it. She must have been the one who told on us!"

Afu listened quietly, somewhat surprised, but upon reflection, she realized it was understandable.

These days, because she was punished and injured, she not only couldn't take care of Yunxi, but also caused Yunxi to be looked down upon. It's understandable that she would seek another place.

She also bumped into Yunxi twice as she returned from the direction of Luoqi Garden. She initially thought she was playing with other maids.

That makes sense now.

No wonder Tao Yao is getting better and better at understanding Xie Xun's habits; she's even almost matching Xie Xun's walking pace. She's really studying hard.

"Sister, that girl is an ingrate! We have to think of a way to kick her out of Shian Academy!" Bai Zhi said indignantly.

Afu simply sighed and shook her head: "Never mind."

"That's it?" Bai Zhi asked in disbelief. "Sister, she's passed on everything you taught her to Miss Tao Yao."

Afu smiled and shook her head, tapping her fingers lightly on her knee twice, then said, "Don't chase her away. Not only should you not chase her away, you should let her stay."

Bai Zhi's eyes widened: "Sister?"

"Think about it, she's the only one in our courtyard who's in contact with Tao Yao right now."

As Afu spoke, her gaze was clear and calm. "Whatever she spreads, that's what Taoyao will believe. If we drive her away, Taoyao will just plant a second or third spy. Rather than not knowing who the next one will be, it's better to keep one we already know."

Bai Zhi was stunned for a moment, then slowly came to her senses: "Sister means... to spread false information?"

Afu smiled slightly: "Doesn't she want to learn how I serve the young master? Then let her learn."

.

On this day, Ning Su Niangzi arrived with the clothes she had made.

Afu was sitting under the lamp flipping through the book "Hundred Family Surnames" when she heard a knock on the door. She put down the book and got up to open the door.

Ning Su Niangzi came in carrying several bundles, and put them on the table with a smile: "I've been working on this for two days, and it's finally finished. Try it on, young lady, and I'll make alterations if it doesn't fit."

Afu took the bundle, untied the ribbon, and inside were four sets of clothes: two light blue, two pale yellow, and a small bundle. Inside was a small pale yellow shirt with a circle of delicate white gardenias embroidered around the collar. The stitches were dense, and the petals were round, showing that it had been carefully made.

Afu picked up the blouse and looked at it in the light. The corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile before she carefully folded it and put it aside.