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

This kind of handling can be described as taking it up high and then putting it down lightly.

Afu lowered her eyes, feeling a strange sense of calm in her heart.

Going to the manor for quiet recuperation sounds nice, but it's nothing more than avoiding the limelight and reflecting on one's actions; it's really insignificant.

She should have realized this long ago. One was the wet nurse she had watched grow up, and the other was the benefactor who had risked her life to save her. In Xie Xun's heart, the weight of these two "gratitudes" was far greater than that of her, a maidservant.

She went to great lengths tonight to make a big scene, but this is all she got in return. Neither of them even got a scratch.

But Afu knew in her heart that this was the best result she could get at the moment.

As for Xie Xun, her unrealistic expectations of him should be completely extinguished.

Granny Wen was "invited" out by Changsong, while Taoyao was dragged back to Luoqi Garden by two rough-looking old women, crying and sobbing.

The study finally quieted down.

Xie Xun's gaze fell on Granny Wang, the only one still kneeling on the ground, and his anger, which he had just suppressed, rose again.

He could be lenient with the wet nurse and Tao Yao, but how dare a lowly servant outwardly comply while secretly participating in the affair?

"As for you," Xie Xun said coldly, "a treacherous servant who deceives his master is guilty of an even greater crime. Drag him out, give him forty lashes, and sell him to the lowest-ranking mine."

Forty strokes of the cane? This old woman is too old; she probably won't survive more than twenty strokes before she dies.

Upon hearing this, Granny Wang fainted on the spot.

"Young Master."

Afu suddenly spoke.

Xie Xun turned to look at her, thinking she was going to complain or cry.

Unexpectedly, Afu pointed to the unconscious Granny Wang on the ground and whispered, "Young Master, could you spare her life?"

Xie Xun's gaze became somewhat complicated. He remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"Although she made a mistake, she was coerced and blinded by her daughter's future. Now that she has realized her mistake and identified the mastermind in court, it can be considered that she has repented."

Afu's voice was calm. "Besides, she's old and frail. If she continues to be forced to endure forty strokes of the cane, she certainly won't survive. It would be better to expel her from the manor, which would also give her a chance to reform."

Xie Xun looked down at her, his gaze complex.

Unexpectedly, she would plead for leniency for her accomplice who was acting as an accomplice to evil.

"You're just too soft-hearted," he finally concluded, his tone softening slightly. "That's why you keep getting bullied."

"Fine," he waved his hand, his tone tinged with impatience, "so be it. Let her pack her bags and get out of the manor herself."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Afu kowtowed.

"Get up." Xie Xun walked up to her, his gaze falling on the clear five-finger mark on her face and the blood-soaked gauze on her wrist. He swallowed hard.

He took out a small white jade bottle from his pocket and handed it to her: "This is the best scar removal cream in the palace. It's gentler than the wound-healing ointment. Take it and use it."

Afu reached out and took it, saying as always, "Thank you for the reward, Young Master."

Seeing her submissiveness and quietness, Xie Xun wanted to say a few words of comfort, but looking into her clear yet calm eyes, he suddenly felt that anything he said would be superfluous.

He paused for a moment, then said, "You have been wronged. From today onwards, you no longer need to live in the side room. Move to Zhenliu Pavilion."

"The monthly allowance should also be increased, according to the allowance for the concubines in the household."

This was already an immense favor for a maidservant. For a concubine to have a proper master's courtyard and receive a concubine's monthly allowance was unprecedented in the entire Marquis's mansion.

Xie Xun thought she would be happy, or at least somewhat moved.

However, Afu simply curtsied again, her voice calm and dignified: "This servant thanks Your Highness for your kindness."

.

Even though it was late at night, the lights were still on in Luoqi Garden.

Granny Wen's luggage was already packed. At daybreak, she would be taken by carriage to her estate on the outskirts of the capital.

She was supposed to be resting quietly, but everyone knew that it was because the young master was tired of her and didn't want her to stay in the mansion and get in his way for the time being.

"My son, don't cry."

Granny Wen stroked Tao Yao's hair, her eyes filled with heartache.

She still had bruises on her forehead from the fall, looking extremely disheveled, but she didn't care about herself, only thinking about Tao Yao.

"The village isn't far, and your mother will be back soon. Be good and stay quietly in the courtyard these days, take good care of yourself, and don't do anything until your mother returns."

"wait?"

Tao Yao shoved her hand away abruptly, her voice filled with resentment.

"When will we have to wait any longer?!"

Her eyes were red-rimmed, and the tears on her face had long since dried, leaving only a twisted hatred.

"It's all that bitch's fault! If it weren't for her, why would my brother treat me like this? Mother, I really regret it. I should have killed her when she was serving my brother in the first place!"

"My silly child, what's the point of saying all this now?"

Granny Wen sighed and pulled her back into her arms.

"You were too hasty. We were careless today, which allowed that little bitch to take advantage of the situation."

Tao Yao gritted her teeth: "What right does she have? She's just a maidservant! Yet the young master let her live in Zhenliu Pavilion and even gave her the allowance of a concubine!"

The thought of the news she had just heard made her heart feel like it was on fire.

She had never even lived in a place as elegant and refined as Zhenliu Pavilion.

Why should Afu be given to her?

A hint of malice flashed in Granny Wen's eyes, but she still coaxed her in a low voice, "Don't worry, she won't be smug for long. What trouble can a maid with no connections cause? The young master is only showing her some respect because he feels guilty and finds her novel."

She leaned closer to Tao Yao's ear and whispered even softer.

"But the dignity is given by the young master, and he can take it back at any time. You are his savior, and no one can take that favor away from you."

Tao Yao's breathing gradually calmed down, but the hatred in her eyes still lingered.

"But the way my brother looked at me today..." her voice trembled, "He loathed me."

"Then make him feel sorry for you."

Granny Wen said, word by word.

Tao Yao was stunned.

Granny Wen raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her face, her tone carrying a ruthless certainty.

"Have you forgotten? Although your cold yin constitution is cured, the prescription left by Doctor Lu is still there. That prescription contains more than just an antidote."

Tao Yao's crying gradually stopped.

She raised her head, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes.

"What Mother means is..."

Granny Wen held her hand and patted it gently.

"What you need to do now is to endure."

"A man's heart is most afraid of being indebted," Granny Wen sneered.

Tao Yao nodded heavily.

.

Under the same night sky, the lights were still on in Seanin’s study.

Being able to move into the west wing meant that Afu's status was different; at least, no one would dare to openly bully her anymore.

Xie Xun sat alone on the long couch, toying with the white jade perfume box left by Afu in his hand, but he was very agitated.

The cool, refreshing scent still seemed to linger in my nose, but the image of Afu's scarred arm and her calm, unwavering eyes kept replaying in my mind's eye.

He irritably threw the perfume box onto the small table, making a soft "thud".

Even if Granny Wen and Tao Yao made mistakes, they were still kind old people to him, and he couldn't let them be heartbroken because of a maid.

Afu was given a stipend and moved to a new place; she should be content.