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

At the end of the corridor, in the side room where Afu lived, Baizhi was carrying in a black lacquered tray with a bowl of congee, a dish of pickles, and two multigrain steamed buns on it.

She placed the tray on the table, her eyes red-rimmed and her lips pressed tightly together.

"Sister, time to eat."

Afu glanced at the food, said nothing, and picked up her chopsticks.

Bai Zhi stood to the side, holding back for a long time, before finally unable to hold back any longer: "Those people in the small kitchen are simply going too far! Sister, you received the young master's favor yesterday, and they dare to make things difficult for you? If I hadn't taken your money, I wouldn't even have been able to bring you this bowl of porridge!"

Afu picked up a piece of pickled vegetable with her chopsticks and slowly swallowed it with her porridge.

The porridge was cold, and the pickles were extremely salty.

"It's the rule that the kitchen won't leave food after mealtime," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "They follow the rules, and there's nothing wrong with that."

Bai Zhi stamped her foot: "What kind of rules are these! It's clearly a case of treating people differently based on their status! At Tao Yao's place, there's always hot food and drinks no matter when you go!"

"Angelica dahurica." Afu put down her chopsticks and looked up at her.

A casual glance was enough to silence Bai Zhi.

"Don't say such things again." Afu picked up her bowl of porridge again. "As a servant, how can I utter the words 'favor'?"

Bai Zhi pursed her lips, feeling wronged, and muttered softly, "But sister will at least be a concubine in the future, why should she humiliate herself like this?"

Afu didn't reply. She lowered her eyes and ate the cold porridge spoonful by spoonful, her gaze falling on the bowl but not on anything else.

Tongfang (a type of female attendant).

These two words stuck in her throat, making her feel suffocated. If she were truly given the title of concubine, her chances of leaving the manor would be slim to none.

But last night's unexpected incident caught her completely off guard.

Afu put down her porridge bowl and suddenly lost her appetite.

"Sister Afu, the young master summons you to the main room," a maidservant announced.

Afu paused, knowing that what was coming couldn't be avoided.

Sean-in, main house.

"This servant, Afu, greets Your Highness." Afu bowed her head and greeted the young master as she entered the room.

"Get up." Xie Xun's voice remained as cold and stern as ever.

Changsong bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

The room was quiet and completely isolated from the outside world, with only two people inside.

Xie Xun stood by the window, his posture upright and imposing, looking down at her. Afu stood at the door, her head slightly bowed, her figure respectful and petite.

One high, one low; one master, one servant; they faced each other in silence.

After a long while, Xie Xun slowly withdrew his gaze from the distance and lowered his eyes to look at her.

His gaze was indifferent, carrying the scrutiny of a deeply ingrained superior, sweeping over her still somewhat weary eyes and brows before finally settling down indifferently.

"come over."

A low, hoarse, cold voice, devoid of any emotion.

Afu followed his instructions and stepped forward slowly, maintaining a proper distance throughout, and respectfully lowered her eyes: "Young Master."

"Pour the tea."

Xie Xun gave the order in a calm tone, as if the passionate lovemaking between the two of them the night before had never happened.

Afu responded and moved to the table. Her slender, fair fingers held the warm teapot handle. With a slight turn of her wrist, the clear tea poured into the cup without spilling or overflowing.

Xie Xun's gaze fell silently on her wrist, then slowly moved to her lowered profile.

The familiar scent caused him to pause for a fleeting moment of slight bewilderment, so quick that it was almost imperceptible.

In the chaotic heat of last night, the slightly cool texture of her skin when she was close to him, and that special feeling of closeness, were so clear that they seemed to be engraved in his bones.

I never knew before that the act of men and women engaging in sexual relations was like this.

But he quickly suppressed this emotion; in his order, there was no such entanglement of misplaced hierarchy.

He would never be like his father, indulging in excessive personal relationships and causing chaos in the family, nor would he allow his momentary lapse in control to become a source of endless trouble in the future.

If you make a mistake, you should cut your losses immediately and never continue down the wrong path.

Once the thought was settled, the last trace of emotion in Xie Xun's eyes completely vanished.

Afu gently handed him the hot tea she had brewed. The moment their fingertips touched, they both froze, and Xie Xun's eyes darkened for a moment.

Afu immediately stepped back, stood aside with her hands at her sides, and waited for instructions.

"Are you aware that the lady intends to give you the title of concubine?" Xie Xun suddenly asked, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Afu nodded slightly. "This servant has heard a little about it."

Xie Xun looked up at her, his expression carrying the unyielding resolve of a superior: "This young master has no need for you to be a concubine, nor will I keep you in Shi'an Courtyard."

Afu's heart skipped a beat, and she listened intently, holding her breath.

"I will give you fifty taels of gold. You will leave the mansion first thing tomorrow morning."

His tone was indifferent, as if he were bestowing a meager favor: "Take this money, leave the capital far away, find a place where no one knows you, and live a peaceful life."

Fifty taels of gold, far exceeding the annual salary of an ordinary maid, was enough for her to live a life of comfort and establish herself.

Afu paused for a moment, thinking she had misheard.

Before she could even hide the joy on her face, she immediately bowed her head and replied, "This servant thanks Your Highness for your kindness."

Three years have passed, and just when she thought there was no hope of leaving the manor, this day came so unexpectedly.

Her submissive, even somewhat joyful, demeanor stirred a strange, inexplicable feeling within Xie Xun, a feeling he himself couldn't quite grasp, but it was quickly replaced by a chill.

He paused for a moment, then spoke again: "The grace you asked for last night is valid."

Afu's shoulder stiffened almost imperceptibly.

"If you encounter difficulties in the future, as long as your request is reasonable and does not violate morality, you can come to me at any time."

His tone shifted abruptly, becoming stern and imposing, carrying a condescending warning and a sense of constraint: "But you must remember one rule: from today onward, you are not allowed to reveal even a trace of your past in Hou to any outsider, and you are even less allowed to mention a single private matter from last night. If there is even the slightest rumor, don't blame me for being ruthless."

This is both a blessing and a shackle.

It is the room for those in power to give alms, but it is also the bottom line for him to completely sever ties and preserve his own and the dignity of the Marquis's mansion.

"This servant will remember the young master's teachings and would never dare to utter a single word in vain," Afu replied respectfully, suppressing the smile on her lips.

You can leave now. You can leave the Marquis's mansion openly and honestly, with all your money!

This money is more than enough to buy a shop or property, and the unexpected blessing of being able to ask for help at any time is a perfect guarantee for her future stable life.

"Go down and collect your money from Changsong."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness." Afu withdrew very quickly, afraid that this young master might have a chance to back out.

The door closed behind Afu, and Xie Xun's gaze lingered on the tightly closed door for a long time.

The heat that Xie Xun had suppressed last night was now subtly surging again in this quiet moment. He had clearly been awake last night, but the excitement in his body lingered.

He sat alone in the empty room, the tea beside him already cold. He picked it up and drank it all in one gulp. The icy tea slid down his throat, but it couldn't quell the burning desire within him.