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

The carriage back to Beijing was spacious and smooth.

Xie Xun leaned back on the pillow, closed his eyes to rest, and casually bent one long leg, holding Afu to his side.

His hand rested on her waist, occasionally and casually kneading it, as if he were handling a familiar object.

Afu felt a little ticklish from his pinching, but she didn't dodge. She just leaned quietly against the car wall, looking down at the dark patterns on her skirt.

After last night, Xie Xun's undisguised possessiveness became even more apparent. Even in the small space of the carriage, he wanted to keep people within his reach.

Afu adapted well to this; as long as her master didn't get tired of it, the more comfortable she was with it, the better.

Back at the Marquis's residence, the Zhenliu Courtyard quickly returned to its usual orderly state. Baizhi busied herself tidying up the luggage, and Afu had just changed out of her clothes when Granny Xu, under the pretext of bringing hot water, lifted the curtain and came in.

"Miss Afu, did your trip to the mountain villa go smoothly?" Granny Xu asked with a smile that made her face full of wrinkles.

"Thank you for your concern, Grandma. Everything is fine," Afu replied gently.

Granny Xu leaned closer, adopting a mysterious air: "Miss has been away from the manor these past few days, so she probably doesn't know yet. Madam is busy preparing for a flower-viewing banquet at the manor in a couple of days; invitations have already been sent out. I heard that the main guest this time is Princess Qinghe County."

Afu poured tea without stopping. "Princess Qinghe?"

"That's right!" Granny Xu slapped her thigh anxiously when she saw that she didn't react. "The whole mansion is buzzing with the news that Madam has taken a liking to Princess Qinghe. She's a true member of the royal family, with a noble status. If it's settled, she'll be our future heir's wife!"

Granny Xu glanced at Afu's face and earnestly advised, "Miss, you are a smart woman. If this new wife enters the family, what place will there be for us old servants? You must take advantage of the fact that the young master still favors you and make plans as soon as possible."

"Thank you for your advice, Mother-in-law. I understand now." Afu handed over a handful of loose silver as a reward.

Grandma Xu left happily.

Afu sat at the table, took a sip of warm tea, and felt no disappointment at all. On the contrary, she felt that this was an excellent opportunity.

Xie Xun's recent attention on her has indeed been overwhelming. If the Princess of Qinghe County is truly settled, Xie Xun's attention will inevitably shift.

Moreover, it is estimated that he will soon be able to take advantage of the situation and ask for a favor to get his indenture back and leave the mansion.

Now that leaving the manor is on the agenda, accommodation needs to be arranged first. Her meager savings are a bit tight for buying a small courtyard house in the suburbs of Beijing, but renting a quiet house will definitely be enough for now.

She would never go to live with that mean-spirited aunt; she didn't want to live a single day as a dependent.

Just as they were making plans, they heard a commotion outside.

"Is Miss Afu here?" It was an unfamiliar maidservant, dressed in the clothes of Jinghong Courtyard. "My young mistress invites you over, saying she received a box of fine pastries and would like you to try them."

The words were polite, but Afu understood perfectly. What she meant by inviting Xie Yun to have some snacks was that Xie Yun was craving that plum sorbet again.

"Please wait a moment, sister. I'll change my clothes and then go." Afu turned to Baizhi and asked her to go to the small kitchen to put the plum sorbet chilled in the ice cream into a food box.

When they arrived at Jinghong Courtyard, Xie Yun was lounging lazily on a soft couch.

The young master was taken to the backyard to play by the nanny, and there was no one else in the room. When Xie Yun saw Afu come in carrying a food box, his originally listless expression immediately brightened up, and he slowly sat up straight.

There was indeed a plate of exquisite pea flour cake on the table. Xie Yun raised her chin and said, "This is a treat for you. Eat it."

Afu thanked her and took out the plum sorbet from the food box and handed it to her. Xie Yun couldn't wait to take it, scooped up a big spoonful and put it in her mouth. The cool, sweet and sour taste instantly soothed the summer heat, and she squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

"It's really good." Xie Yun ate half a cup in a row before slowing down. "I asked the cook in my yard to make it the same way, but it never tastes as good as what you make."

Afu replied with a smile, "I will teach the recipes to the cooks at Shian Courtyard. If Miss wants to eat them, she can just ask them to make them anytime."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yun snorted coldly and stirred the crushed ice in the bowl with a spoon: "My brother is too stingy. He said this stuff is cold and forbids me from eating much of it. He even reprimanded the cook at Shi'an Courtyard. If I hadn't used your name as an excuse, I wouldn't even have been able to get a bite."

She paused, her gaze falling on Afu's face, and tried to smooth things over with a slightly awkward tone: "Last time, when Lin'er had a fever, I was just too anxious because I love my son. You're a well-behaved person, don't take it to heart."

Afu understood this condescending reassurance.

She lowered her head slightly: "I naturally understand the feelings of parents."

Xie Yun was pleased with her tact and was about to say something more when she suddenly felt an itch in her throat and coughed violently.

The cough came suddenly and violently. Xie Yun covered her mouth, coughing until her cheeks turned red and tears even welled up in her eyes.

Just as Afu was about to step forward to help her catch her breath, Xie Yun's body suddenly stiffened.

Her coughing stopped abruptly, her face turning deathly pale in an instant, and she bit her lower lip, sitting there motionless.

Afu, with her sharp eyes, caught a glimpse of Xie Yun's skirt. On the moon-white silk fabric, a small, dark water stain was faintly visible, clinging to the cushion of the soft couch.

Postpartum urinary incontinence.

Afu immediately lowered her eyes, pretending not to see anything.

"Plum snow cheese is quite cooling, so it's best for Miss to eat less of it," Afu said calmly, making a move to pack up the food box.

Xie Yun gripped her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning white. She stared intently at Afu, her voice strained, tinged with barely concealed panic: "Get out."

Afu curtsied and said, "This servant takes her leave."

She had just turned around when Xie Yun called her back.

"Stop." Xie Yun's voice was as cold as ice, carrying an extreme bluster and underlying weakness. "What...did you just see?"

Afu lowered her head, her tone firm: "This servant didn't see anything."

"I hope not!" Xie Yun gritted his teeth, his thorns bristling. "If I hear even the slightest hint of it in the manor, I'll risk offending my brother to skin you alive!"

"I understand," Afu replied calmly, and continued walking out.

When she reached the door, Afu stopped in her tracks.

She didn't want to meddle. In this secluded mansion, servants who knew their master's embarrassing secrets usually didn't have a good ending.

But the image of Xie Yun biting her lip tightly, looking utterly ashamed and indignant, flashed through her mind.

In modern times, this kind of thing would be a problem that can be solved with a course of postpartum care, but in this era, it is an unspeakable disgrace for these noble ladies.

They would rather endure it themselves, keeping it a secret even from their closest husbands, for fear of being disliked.

Afu sighed, turned around, and went back.