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

A breeze swept across the lake, bringing a refreshing coolness.

Princess Qinghe did not immediately launch an attack. She stood up and walked around Afu, who was kneeling on the ground.

Her skirt was luxurious, embroidered with intricate phoenix patterns, and the hem brushed against Afu's shoulders, carrying a faint fragrance.

"Raise your head." The voice of the Princess of Qinghe County came from above.

Afu obediently raised her head.

The county magistrate of Qinghe looked down at her, his gaze like that of someone appraising a piece of merchandise, scrutinizing her inch by inch from her eyebrows to her figure.

"She certainly has a handsome face." She scoffed lightly, her tone carrying an innate sense of superiority. "No wonder she could seduce Prince Xie and make him lose his senses."

The middle-aged nanny standing beside her with her hands at her sides was a former palace governess named Zhang.

Granny Zhang stepped forward, her voice steady: "Princess, why waste your breath on such a lowly creature? With your status, disciplining a maid is merely a matter of a word."

Princess Qinghe ignored Granny Zhang; her gaze remained fixed on Afu's face, as if she had discovered something interesting.

"I heard that Prince Xie put you in charge of his entire courtyard?"

"Your Highness, the young master only asked me to temporarily take over the household affairs," Afu said, her eyes lowered and her voice steady.

"Temporarily?" Princess Qinghe said as if she had heard a joke. Her voice was icy sweet. "You're quite the smooth talker, but your scheming nature is nothing like your gentle demeanor."

Afu's heart sank. She knew that today's ordeal would be difficult to overcome.

The Lady Hou summoned her to serve as a sacrifice to appease the future mistress's anger.

Resistance is futile and will only invite more intense humiliation. Begging for mercy is the worst possible course of action. In the eyes of someone who is inherently self-righteous, your pleading will only bring her more pleasure.

The only way out is to make her feel like she poses no threat.

"This servant knows her lowly status and has never had any improper thoughts." Afu kowtowed, her forehead touching the cold ground. "This servant is only temporarily looking after the young master's courtyard. This servant plans to ask the young master for permission to leave the manor in a few days, to leave the capital, and to go to a place where no one knows me, to live a peaceful life."

She spoke with utmost sincerity and humility.

A maid's greatest wish is simply to save enough money to regain her freedom and escape to a faraway place. This is perfectly reasonable and would best dispel the suspicions of those in power.

After listening, the Princess of Qinghe County straightened up and remained silent for a moment.

The atmosphere inside the pavilion was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

Granny Zhang glanced at the county princess's expression, then at Afu on the ground, a barely perceptible ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.

This girl is too clever. She thinks she can absolve herself of all responsibility with just a few words. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

"Princess, don't be fooled by her pitiful appearance," Granny Zhang whispered from the side. "This kind of vixen is best at using retreat as a means of advance. She says she's leaving today, but who knows what tricks she'll use tomorrow to stay and refuse to go."

Qinghe County pondered for a moment, his eyes turning cold.

"You're quite cunning." Princess Qinghe slowly strolled back to her seat, picked up her teacup, and said, "Want to leave? You may."

She paused, looked up at Afu, her eyes both innocent and cruel.

"Only the dead will stop bothering Brother Xie Xun."

Afu's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.

"Of course," Princess Qinghe added, as if realizing her words were somewhat alarming, "I will not take lives lightly."

She put down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, and watched with great interest as Afu's face suddenly lost all color.

"Once I marry into the Marquis's mansion and become the mistress of this place, I'll have plenty of time and ways to make you disappear legitimately. As for now..."

She glanced at the teapot on the table; it was freshly brewed tea, and wisps of steam were still rising from the pot.

She spoke lazily, "I heard you have incredibly skillful hands, you can do massage, and you're also a good cook. Did you make those two pastries outside?"

Before Afu could answer, she said, "But I don't like the look of it."

Granny Zhang immediately understood, and a respectful smile appeared on her face: "What the county princess says is true. These hands don't know their place, they don't know what they should or shouldn't do. They deserve to be taught a lesson so they will know their place."

As she spoke, she stepped forward and picked up the scalding hot teapot without hesitation.

Afu's pupils contracted, and she instinctively tried to pull her hand back.

"Hold her down," Princess Qinghe casually ordered.

Two burly old women appeared outside the pavilion at some unknown time. Upon hearing the noise, they immediately stepped forward and, one on each side, firmly pressed down on Afu's shoulders.

Afu struggled for a moment, but the two old women were extremely strong, and her resistance was like an ant trying to shake a tree, completely useless.

She could only watch helplessly as Granny Zhang, carrying a teapot, walked towards her step by step.

Afu bit her lower lip hard, suppressing all her fear and panic.

She can't ruin this hand.

She still needs to rely on these hands to earn her living for the rest of her life.

"Thank you for your trouble, Granny."

Just as Granny Zhang was about to pour the tea down, Afu suddenly spoke up.

Her voice was calm, even carrying a strange hint of submissiveness.

Granny Zhang stopped moving, and Princess Qinghe also showed a surprised expression.

Afu raised her head, looked at Granny Zhang, and said, word by word, "But this tea is the Madam's prized possession, meant to entertain Your Highness. If it were spilled on someone as unsavory as me, wouldn't that sully this fine tea and offend Your Highness's eyes?"

She paused, her gaze shifting to the ebony teaspoon on the table, which was about a foot long and used to clean tea dregs.

"How about we use that?" she said casually, obediently extending her palm.

The county magistrate of Qinghe was stunned.

She had seen people begging for mercy and crying out, and she had seen people who would rather die than submit, but she had never seen a servant so calmly suggest changing to a more "suitable" instrument of torture when he was about to be tortured.

Granny Zhang was also somewhat bewildered. She subconsciously looked at Princess Qinghe, waiting for instructions.

"Interesting." Princess Qinghe suddenly laughed, picking up the solid wood teaspoon and examining it closely. "You little girl, you're really interesting."

She stood up, walked over to Afu, and gently nudged Afu's arm with the tip of her shoe.

"But now that the tools have changed, shouldn't we be slapped in the face?"

Afu lowered her head and clenched her hands at her sides.

In any case, as long as she still has her hands, she can open a small shop. If her appearance is truly ruined, it will be even easier for her to leave the manor.

Outside the flower-viewing pavilion, Granny Cui paced anxiously.

Although the pavilion was far away, she had still seen the two old women go in. She knew perfectly well that the county princess was serious.

She felt a little panicked.

After all, Afu was someone from the young master's household, and she was currently in charge of affairs. The young master treated her somewhat differently. If something serious were to happen and the young master were to investigate, the madam could certainly shield her, but Afu, as the messenger, would likely not fare well.

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and realized she couldn't wait any longer.