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

Afu: "..." This is enjoying the pleasure of being a teacher.

"The Four Books can enlighten you. If you memorize them, you will not only learn more characters, but also learn some principles for living a good life," Xie Xun said sincerely.

Afu nodded in agreement, her eagerness to learn evident.

Unexpectedly, Xie Xun actually became a teacher, opening the book and starting with the first sentence, "To learn and at due times to practice what one has learned, is it not a pleasure?", explaining its meaning to her sentence by sentence.

He didn't make her memorize it by rote, but instead had her understand it first, and then read it aloud.

Afu was so engrossed in watching his focused and serious expression as he explained that she became quite absorbed in it.

After Xie Xun finished speaking a short passage, he looked up and met her bright and admiring eyes.

He paused, his eyes looking somewhat uneasy, then turned and walked back to his desk, picking up the official document again: "Read it yourself first, and circle any words you don't recognize."

"Yes," Afu replied, lowering her head to look at the neat characters in the book, but she seemed somewhat distracted.

For a moment, only her soft reading voice and Xie Xun's rustling of turning pages filled the study, creating an atmosphere of peaceful tranquility.

After an unknown amount of time, Changsong gently knocked twice on the door and said in a low voice, "Master, there's been progress on the matter we were investigating."

Xie Xun put down his pen and rubbed his temples.

Afu immediately understood, put down her book and stood up: "Then this servant will take her leave first."

She curtsied and was about to leave when Xie Xun called her back.

"etc."

He shoved the copy of the Analects into her hands, his expression returning to its usual aloofness, and solemnly instructed:

"Take this home and study it carefully. I'll test you next time. If you can't memorize the first three..."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority, "I'm going to punish him."

Holding the heavy book, Afu reluctantly agreed with a "Yes."

Afu walked out of the study carrying the books, and the door closed gently behind her.

Changsong then went in to report: "Sir, we've found out everything about that old woman Wang in the Buddhist hall."

Xie Xun picked up his teacup without even lifting his eyelids: "Speak."

"Over the years, she has only been close to Granny Wen in the manor, and has no other masters who obey her orders."

Xie Xun put down his teacup with a soft thud.

He had his suspicions about Luo Qiyuan, but Granny Wen treated him like her own child, and although Tao Yao was spoiled, it wasn't a big deal. But now their actions were going too far.

Xie Xun stroked the jade thumb ring on his thumb and asked again, "Have you found the key ingredient for the Bone-Corroding Incense?"

Changsong perked up and quickly said, "Following the trail of the poisoning incident in Xishan, we tracked down a Taoist doctor named Lu Wuxiang. This Bone-Corroding Incense came from him."

"This poison is insidious. Even after the antidote is administered, it remains dormant for three months. The catalyst for blood dryness is a specially made spice. Once inhaled, it will cause blood dryness and qi stagnation, and even a god cannot save you."

Changsong's voice tightened as he said this, "I found out that, in addition to the Qinghe County Princess who drugged you in Xishan last time, a few days ago a maid dressed as a servant from the Marquis's mansion went to Lu Wuxiang's place to buy spices."

"But...we haven't figured out who it is yet."

Xie Xun tapped his knuckles lightly on the desk, producing a rhythmic, muffled sound.

"How many maids registered to leave the manor that day?"

"There are seven in total," Changsong paused for a moment, "and eight in total, including Miss Afu who went out to visit relatives."

"Continue the investigation," he said in a flat tone, devoid of emotion. "Go through every single maid in the Marquis's mansion again, in great detail."

He paused for a moment, then added clearly, "Including Afu."

Changsong's heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his head, replying, "Yes."

.

The following afternoon, Afu changed into a worn-out blue jacket and, accompanied by Baizhi, headed towards the servants' quarters at the westernmost part of the Marquis's residence.

This was the quarters of the lower-ranking servants; the courtyard walls were low, and the air was perpetually filled with a sour, rotten smell. Compared to the exquisite splendor of the main courtyard, it was practically a different world.

As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, Granny Liao, who was scolding the maid in the yard, spotted her with sharp eyes, and the harshness on her face instantly turned into a fawning panic.

She rushed forward, her face beaming with smiles, "Oh my, isn't this Miss Afu? What brings you here? Come on in, please."

This old woman, Liao, had tormented Afu quite a bit when she first arrived in the servants' quarters. Seeing her like this now, Afu felt nothing but irony.

"No need," Afu smiled faintly. "I'm here to see Granny Wang."

Liao Pozi's smile froze for a moment, revealing a hint of difficulty: "Miss, that Wang Pozi... she's gone mad these days, what if she offends you? Perhaps..."

"Lead the way." Afu said only two words, but they left no room for argument.

Granny Liao was given a look and dared not say another word. She quickly turned around and led the way, taking them to a drafty woodshed in the far corner of the courtyard.

"The person... is inside." Granny Liao pointed to the dilapidated wooden door, not daring to approach.

Afu pushed open the door, and Granny Wang was huddled in a pile of rotten grass in the corner. When she saw someone come in, she only raised her cloudy eyes for a glance before immediately lowering her head again.

She seemed surprised that someone would come, and was frantically stuffing something into the sleeve of her tattered cotton-padded jacket.

Although the movement was quick, it did not escape Afu's eyes.

"What is she holding in her hand?" Afu didn't move, but said to Granny Liao, "Take it out."

Liao Pozi hesitated for a moment, but seeing Afu's cold eyes, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward, grabbing Wang Pozi's wrist.

Granny Wang screamed and struggled to her feet. A cloth bag rolled out of her sleeve, and when the opening of the bag came undone, it turned out to be a small silver hairpin.

It is engraved with the word "Apricot," and it belongs to her daughter.

Afu was somewhat moved, but she didn't show it on her face: "You all go out, I want to talk to her alone for a few minutes."

Granny Liao and Bai Zhi left as instructed, thoughtfully closing the door behind them.

Only the two of them remained in the woodshed.

Afu walked up to Granny Wang, squatted down, and instead of looking at the silver hairpin on the ground, took out a folded piece of paper from her bosom and slowly unfolded it in front of her.

That was a contract of indenture.

When Granny Wang's gaze fell upon the two characters "Spring Apricot" on the paper, a glimmer of clarity suddenly appeared in her cloudy eyes.

"I have already redeemed your daughter Chunxing from the slave trader."

Afu's voice was calm, as if she were talking about something very ordinary, "Now we are settled in a farmhouse outside the city."

Granny Wang stared intently at the indenture, her lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

"I can give you this indenture and send you and your daughter away from the capital."

Afu handed the contract forward.

Granny Wang reached out her trembling hand to take it.

Afu, however, twisted her wrist and retrieved the contract.

"But," she changed her tone, her gaze sharpening, "I want you to tell me, why did Luo Qiyuan let you take my blood?"

Granny Wang's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, the madness on her face vanished completely, replaced by a mocking expression.

"What makes you think you can guarantee our safe passage out of the capital? You yourself are still a slave!"