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

Dr. Lu was stunned. He subconsciously moved closer to the white porcelain bowl, and a familiar, faintly cold, bloody smell entered his nostrils.

The taste was the same as the medicinal ingredient that Granny Wen had sent before. He carefully approached Afu's still bleeding wrist, and it was indeed the same.

As a doctor, he was extremely sensitive to blood and qi, especially blood that was mixed with special constitutions and medicines, which left a deep impression on him.

He suddenly remembered that every time he retrieved the medicinal ingredients, Granny Wen was always mysterious and never let him see Tao Yao in person. He also remembered that Tao Yao was usually radiant and showed no signs of weakness from excessive blood loss.

The secrets and intrigues of this inner quarters are truly impressive.

"Quick, sit down!" Doctor Lu didn't ask any more questions and quickly took out the best wound medicine and clean gauze from his medicine box to treat her wound.

"Thank you, doctor," Afu said softly.

"Now that the medicinal ingredient has been added, I will take it to the young master immediately. There is no time to delay." Doctor Lu picked up the bowl of blood and turned to leave.

"Dr. Lu," Afu called out to him, her voice weak from blood loss, but she remained calm.

"It might not be appropriate for you to go alone."

"Why don't you ask Miss Taoyao to come with you?"

Doctor Lu paused, turned to look at her, his brows furrowed. "I am a doctor with a benevolent heart; I would never lie!"

Afu smiled softly; in the candlelight, her smile appeared somewhat pale, yet exceptionally moving.

"Of course I trust the doctor's medical ethics."

"Don't worry, I'll be there in a quarter of an hour," she paused, then said, word by word, "I will absolutely not let your medical ethics be compromised in the slightest."

Doctor Lu looked at her, finally nodded heavily, picked up the medicine bowl, and walked out with steady steps.

Fifteen minutes later, in the study of Sean-in.

Xie Xun had just finished drinking the still-warm antidote when the stuffiness and heat in his chest gradually subsided.

Tao Yao was standing beside him, her face full of concern, and said, "Your Highness, you've recovered well after taking the medicine. I can finally put my mind at ease."

Her voice was sweet and coquettish, tinged with a sense of eager anticipation.

As Dr. Lu listened, his white beard twitched involuntarily. He turned his face away and remained silent.

Just then, Afu walked in from outside the door.

She changed into the pale yellow dress Ning Su had made for her, and loosely tied her hair into a bun. Under the lamplight, she resembled a quiet, graceful tuberose, serene and elegant.

Xie Xun's gaze immediately fell on her, and he paused slightly.

When Tao Yao saw Afu, especially the change in Xie Xun's eyes, jealousy and hatred surged up instantly in her heart. This wretched maid dared to dress so flamboyantly to seduce her brother, the young master.

Then she wondered, wasn't she tied up by her mother?

How did I end up here?

"Your Highness," Afu curtsied, placing the dish of amber crystal jelly on the small table. Her voice was gentle, "I thought you had just taken medicine and your mouth felt bitter, so I made some sweet jelly. Would you like to try some?"

As she spoke, she picked up another small dish, turned around, and walked to Tao Yao. "This crystal jelly is refreshing and delicious. Would you like to try some, Miss Tao Yao?"

Tao Yao looked at the plate she was handed over, and then saw the undisguised provocative smile in Afu's eyes. The smugness and excitement of impending success that had been building up all night was instantly ignited by anger.

"Who wants to eat what you made!" Tao Yao said softly.

The moment she opened her mouth, Afu's wrist, which was holding the plate, seemed to tilt unintentionally, and the entire plate of cold, sticky crystal jelly landed squarely on Tao Yao's expensive water-red dress!

"Ah!" Tao Yao screamed.

"Oh dear! I'm so sorry, Miss Taoyao!" Afu immediately rushed to get a handkerchief to wipe her face, apologizing repeatedly, "My hand slipped, I didn't mean to!"

She apologized, but her actions were completely erratic. When she got close to Tao Yao, she grabbed her left wrist, which wasn't wrapped in gauze.

"What are you doing!" Tao Yao trembled with anger and tried to pull her hand back, but Afu's hand was like an iron clamp, gripping her tightly with astonishing strength.

In a moment of desperation, Tao Yao didn't think twice. She raised her right hand, which was wrapped in thick gauze, and slapped Afu hard across the face!

"Snapped!"

The crisp sound was particularly jarring in the quiet study.

A clear handprint immediately appeared on Afu's fair face, but she seemed stunned by the slap, did not dodge, and even wanted to go forward to argue.

"stop!"

A cold rebuke came from the head of the table. Xie Xun had stood up at some point, walked a few steps to the two of them, his face so gloomy it could drip water, and he pulled Afu behind him.

The instant Xie Xun pushed Afu away, Afu used the force to fall backward, and at the same time, her right hand pulled with lightning speed.

With a "ripping" sound, Tao Yao ripped off the layers of thick gauze from her right wrist, which fluttered to the ground!

"Ah!" Tao Yao let out a terrified scream, instinctively covering her smooth right wrist with her left hand. Her face drained of color, filled with panic.

Xie Xun was about to reprimand Afu for her audacity when he met Tao Yao's guilty gaze.

His cold gaze fell on Tao Yao's tightly clutched wrist, and his brows slowly furrowed.

He turned to Doctor Lu and ordered in a deep voice, "Doctor Lu, go and re-bandage Miss Taoyao's wound."

"Yes." Doctor Lu carried his medicine box and slowly stepped forward.

"No need!" Tao Yao took a step back in alarm, her voice trembling. "I... I can handle it myself. There's no need to trouble Doctor Lu!"

The more she acted this way, the colder Xie Xun's gaze became.

He didn't say anything more, he just looked at her quietly.

Tao Yao felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze and only wanted to escape immediately. She curtsied and said in a trembling voice, "Young Master, Yao'er... Yao'er will take her leave now."

She turned to run, but Afu stepped forward and blocked her way.

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave, Miss Taoyao?" Afu covered her swollen cheek, but her eyes were surprisingly clear.

She looked directly at Tao Yao and asked, word by word, "Why don't you dare show your wounds to anyone?"

She paused, then slowly extended her right hand, which was also wrapped in thick bandages, and held it up in front of Tao Yao. Her voice was not loud, but it clearly echoed throughout the entire study.

"Is it because you're afraid the Crown Prince will be upset if he sees it?"

"I just don't understand," Afu said, looking at Taoyao's pale face. She then slowly raised her right arm, pulled up her sleeve, and revealed the scars of varying depths and ages on the inside of her arm.

"Why does a new scar appear on my arm every time Miss Taoyao 'donates blood' for the Prince?"