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

A dark glint flashed in Afu's eyes upon hearing the word "slave," but she smiled faintly, "I can do it on my own."

"Regarding this blood donation, some people want to kill you to silence you, while others want to make you take the blame. But if you stand with me, you will be a witness for the victim."

"If this matter comes to light someday, and you were only coerced into acting, wouldn't that count as making amends for your actions?"

Upon hearing this, Granny Wang lowered her head and remained silent. She secretly sized up Afu, who, as the young master's woman, must possess some skill.

She picked up the piece of paper on the ground that would decide her daughter's life again, and gave in. She felt as if her bones had been removed, and collapsed to the ground.

Her daughter was her life, her only hope.

Granny Wen used Chunxing's job to manipulate her, promising her a good future in the mansion after the job was done.

But she never expected that things would be exposed. Even more unexpectedly, Granny Wen turned ruthless. After learning that she had been questioned by the young master, she threw her into this servants' quarters to clear herself of any involvement and tried to kill her several times to silence her.

These days, she lives in fear day and night, with no one to turn to for help.

But at that moment, Afu gave her a way out.

Weighing the pros and cons takes only a moment.

Granny Wang suddenly kowtowed to Afu, her forehead hitting the cold ground with a dull thud.

"I'll tell you everything."

As if grasping at the last straw, her voice hoarse, she said, "It was Granny Wen, it was all Granny Wen who instructed me."

"She said that Miss Taoyao's health had deteriorated, and her blood could no longer be used as a medicinal ingredient for the young master, so she asked me to take your blood instead. The two wounds on the young lady's body were treated by taking blood twice."

Afu's heart sank heavily; it was just as she had imagined.

"What's wrong with Tao Yao's health?" she pressed.

Granny Wang raised her head and said something that greatly surprised Afu.

"Tao Yao's cold constitution has long been cured by Doctor Lu, so her blood is useless to the young master."

Afu squatted in the woodshed, looking at the contract in Granny Wang's hand, which was already crumpled from being clutched.

She stood up, dusted off her skirt, and took the indenture from her hand. "I'll keep this indenture for you. I'll return it to you once you've said what you need to say."

She pushed open the door and went out. The wind from the corridor rushed towards her, carrying the sour and musty smell unique to the servants' quarters.

She said to Granny Liao, "Please keep a close eye on this person for me, and be sure to tell me if anything happens."

Old Lady Liao nodded repeatedly, "Don't worry, young lady, I will do my best."

Bai Zhi was waiting in the courtyard. When she saw her come out, she quickly went to greet her: "Sister, how are you?"

Afu nodded, indicating that she should go back first.

Granny Wen and her daughter Tao Yao really had a clever plan.

They were certain that as a helpless maid, even if her blood was drawn, she could only swallow her anger and bear it, powerless to resist.

Afu lowered her eyes, looking at the two scars under her sleeve that had not yet fully healed, and a surge of anger rose in her heart.

Today is the seventh day of the lunar month, and there are still eight days until the next full moon, which is the fifteenth.

Eight days was enough time for her to prepare and expose Granny Wen and Tao Yao.

Granny Wang is a witness, but her testimony isn't strong enough. The physical evidence, such as the bottle containing the blood, has probably already been destroyed.

But... Tao Yao's "already healed" body is the biggest flaw.

If it can be proven that Tao Yao is not of the Cold Yin constitution at all, then her colossal lie of "cutting her wrist to draw blood" to save Xie Xun will be exposed.

Afu's gaze fell on her wrist.

Since Tao Yao has been "acting" all along, she'll play along to the end.

Just then, a gust of wind blew by, causing a purse tied around her waist to move.

Afu subconsciously reached out and pressed it down, her fingertips touching the big orange cat on the purse.

She almost forgot that tomorrow, the eighth day of the first lunar month, is the day Yunxiu Manor recruits new disciples!

First, settle things with my sister. The Marquis's mansion is in a precarious situation. If something were to happen to her and she ended up like Granny Wang, then my sister would at least have a way out.

When Afu returned, dusk had already fallen.

She closed the door, reached under the bed and pulled out the old box, opened it, and took out a fifty-tael silver note and some loose silver.

She took out the purse given to her by Ning Su Niangzi, then folded the little clothes she had asked her to make a few days ago and wrapped them in the bundle.

The clothes were all apricot yellow, with small gardenias embroidered on the collar. She thought it would look good on A-Zhen.

The next morning, Afu left the side gate of the Marquis's mansion and hired a carriage to go to Qingyi Lane.

When she reached the entrance of Jiangjia Alley, she first glanced in the direction of the washing basin, but there was no sign of Azhen, so she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The Jiang family's door was ajar. Afu pushed the door open and went inside. The courtyard was quiet.

A-Zhen sat alone on the threshold, hugging her knees with both hands, resting her chin on her arms, staring blankly in the direction of the courtyard gate.

Its small body was curled up in a ball, like a rag doll forgotten in a corner.

Upon seeing Afu enter, she immediately stood up.

"Sister!" She ran over, tilting her head back, her eyes sparkling. "You've come to see me!"

Afu knelt down and tidied her slightly messy sideburns.

Although A-Zhen was still thin, her face was clean, and her hands were no longer soaking in cold water. Only then did she feel relieved.

"Sister," Ah Zhen asked eagerly, grabbing her hand, "Have you come to take me away?"

Afu looked into those bright, sparkling eyes, paused for a moment, and then shook her head: "Sister can't leave right now. Can you wait for me a little longer?"

A-Zhen's eyes dimmed for a moment, like a small lamp being flickered by the wind, but quickly lit up again.

She bent down and rubbed the dirt on the ground with the tip of her shoe, then nodded: "Okay, Azhen will wait for her older sister."

Afu's nose tingled slightly as she held her daughter's small hand: "Sister will take you to Yunxiu Manor first. We won't stay at Aunt's house anymore."

"You can learn embroidery and tailoring at Yunxiu Manor. Once you've learned it, and your older sister has saved enough money, we'll open two shops outside the city."

"My older sister runs a tea and snack shop, and Ah-zhen runs a tailor shop next door. Then we'll be able to support ourselves."

Ah Zhen tilted her head back, listened attentively, and nodded vigorously: "Okay, Ah Zhen will definitely study hard and earn money to support my older sister in the future."

She paused, her voice softening slightly but remaining exceptionally clear, "I won't let my elder sister earn money at the Marquis's residence anymore; it's dangerous there."

Afu paused for a moment, then reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Azhen's ear. Her throat tightened slightly, but she didn't say anything.

She simply smiled and said, "Come on, your older sister will take you to the embroidery room to learn."

Afu led Azhen back to change into her new clothes. Azhen wore an apricot-yellow cotton shirt, and the gardenia on the collar made her face look even whiter. Afu then combed her hair again and tied it into two neat buns.

After getting everything ready, we hired a carriage to head to the outskirts of the capital.