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

When she brought Afu here on the orders of the Lady of the Marquis, she thought that at most she would only receive a few scoldings and suffer some mistreatment.

Even if the Princess of Qinghe County is spoiled, she should still consider that this is the residence of the Marquis of Yongning, and not make things too ugly.

But the sounds coming from the pavilion were so crisp and clear; they weren't the sound of someone slapping someone's palm, they were the sound of someone slapping someone's face.

She had served Lady Hou for many years and had witnessed many underhanded tactics in the inner quarters. She could also tell what it felt like to hear those sounds on a person.

If it were just a slap in the face, that would be fine, but what Princess Qinghe had Granny Zhang take away just now was that ebony teaspoon.

That thing doesn't look big, but it's solid wood, heavy, and has hard edges. If it were to fall on your face, it could draw blood in just a few hits.

Granny Cui grew increasingly panicked. After all, Afu was from the Prince's residence and was currently in charge of the internal affairs of Shi'an Courtyard. The Prince usually appeared dignified, but if you truly offended him, he might not show any mercy.

Just as they were getting anxious, a rustling sound of a skirt came from the other end of the corridor.

"Granny Cui?"

Xie Yun's voice suddenly rang out.

As soon as Granny Cui looked up, she saw Xie Yun standing not far away, holding up her skirt, her brows slightly furrowed, followed by Granny Hua and two maids.

Xie Yun was originally sent by the Lady of the Marquis to keep the noble ladies of the Qinghe County Princess company.

She had been smiling so much all afternoon that her face was stiff. She finally found an excuse to come out and get some fresh air. She went around to the outside of the central hall and heard faint noises coming from the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

She paused, her face slowly darkening.

"What was that sound just now?" Xie Yun stared at Granny Cui. "Who was in the pavilion?"

Granny Cui quickly lowered her head: "Reporting to Miss, it is the County Princess who is resting inside."

"A rest stop?" Xie Yun glanced towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake, her face darkening. "I'm not deaf. Who were those two blows aimed at?"

Granny Cui's lips moved, but she didn't dare to speak.

A bad premonition suddenly welled up inside Xie Yun. She took two steps closer, lowering her voice but keeping it tense: "Is Afu inside?"

Granny Cui's shoulders twitched.

Now, Xie Yun understood everything.

Her expression immediately changed: "My mother sent you to bring her here?"

"Young Miss..." Granny Cui said with a bitter face, her forehead covered in sweat, "Please don't ask anymore, I'm just following orders."

Another crisp sound came from the pavilion.

Xie Yun gritted her teeth and was about to rush into the corridor.

Granny Cui hurriedly stopped her: "Miss, you mustn't! The county princess is inside. The madam has instructed that no one is allowed to go in and disturb her."

"Get out of the way."

"Young Miss, please heed my advice," Granny Cui's voice trembled with anxiety, "Princess Qinghe is of noble status. If you barge in like this, the Madam will blame you..."

"You're an old friend of Mother's, so I know you're in a difficult position." Xie Yun stopped, gripped her sleeve, and said in a low voice, "If Mother asks later, just say that I heard the noise and went in by myself."

Granny Cui was stunned.

Xie Yun added, "Afu is from my brother's household. If something really happens to her right under our noses, how are we supposed to explain it to him?"

From inside the pavilion came Granny Zhang's cold voice again, "Hit me again."

Xie Yun had already let go of Granny Cui and, lifting her skirt, rushed towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

Xie Yun was so angry at the scene before her that she felt her vision go black.

Afu knelt on the ground, with two old women pressing down on her shoulders, one on each side.

Her face was swollen, her left cheek was bright red, the skin was bulging, her mouth was cut, and blood was flowing down her chin and dripping onto her blue cloth clothes.

That usually gentle and beautiful face was now battered and bruised.

Granny Zhang was raising the ebony teaspoon in her hand, about to slap it at Afu's face again.

Xie Yun's mind went blank.

"stop!"

She shouted and rushed forward, grabbing Zhang Mama's wrist.

Granny Zhang was caught off guard by her sudden intrusion. Her wrist was grabbed and twisted, and the teaspoon almost slipped from her hand.

"Miss Xie?" Princess Qinghe, who had been sitting on a stone bench watching the performance, immediately darkened upon seeing this. "Who allowed you to come in?"

Xie Yun ignored her and looked at Afu on the ground first.

"Let her go."

The two old women looked at each other, not daring to move.

Xie Yun whirled around, her eyes filled with rage: "I told you to let go!"

As the eldest daughter of a marquis's family, when she truly lost her temper, she unleashed her usual imposing manner. The two old women trembled in fear and quickly let go and retreated.

Afu's shoulder loosened, causing her to sway and nearly fall over.

Xie Yun quickly helped her up.

Afu's wrists were terribly cold. When Xie Yun supported her, he felt her trembling slightly, and the fire in his heart burned even brighter.

"Princess Qinghe," Xie Yun raised her head, her voice tense, "what are you doing?"

The head of Qinghe County stood up and slowly straightened his cuffs.

"That's an interesting question, Miss Xie." She glanced at Afu, her tone unhurried. "A maid who doesn't know any manners—I'm just disciplining her a few times on behalf of my aunt, what's wrong with that?"

"To discipline someone on behalf of my mother?" Xie Yun laughed angrily. "If my mother wants to discipline the servants in the manor, she has her own rules for the Marquis's residence. When did it become the county princess's place to take matters into her own hands and use force in my home?"

The Princess of Qinghe's face turned cold: "Are you questioning me?"

"I'm asking the county magistrate for an explanation."

Xie Yun held Afu tightly, her fingertips trembling. "Afu is from my brother's household. What did she do wrong to deserve being beaten like this by the county princess?"

Princess Qinghe's eyes were full of disdain: "She's just a woman who climbed into someone else's bed, you think I can just hit her?"

"The county princess really doesn't consider herself an outsider," Xie Yun sneered. "My brother isn't married yet, and the county princess hasn't even entered the family. Today she's already putting on airs like a mistress. If word gets out, people will think that's how the Princess's household is taught."

That's a very strong statement.

The pavilion fell silent immediately.

Granny Zhang's expression changed drastically: "Miss Xie, please watch your words!"

Princess Qinghe was so angry that her eyes reddened. She had been pampered by the eldest princess since childhood, favored by the empress when she entered the palace, and flattered by noble ladies when she went out. She had never been humiliated like this to her face before.

She pointed at Xie Yun, her voice shrill: "How dare you speak to me like that for the sake of a lowly maid?"

"I'm not doing this for her alone." Xie Yun looked at her and said, word by word, "Today, the county princess is not only slapping Afu in the face, but also for the face of my Yongning Marquis's mansion."

Afu leaned against Xie Yun's back, her vision blurring.

She wanted to tell Xie Yun to stop talking, but her mouth hurt terribly, and the taste of blood came up with every movement. She could only reach out and gently tug at Xie Yun's sleeve.

Xie Yun sensed it, but did not turn around.

This isn't a trivial matter of jealousy; it's bullying someone right at their doorstep.

"I will explain this matter to my brother today," Xie Yun said coldly. "If the county princess feels wronged, she is free to go back to the princess's residence to complain. But when my brother returns and asks why Afu is injured like this, I want to see who dares to say that this is her good fortune."

Princess Qinghe's expression finally changed.

She wasn't afraid of Xie Yun or Lady Hou, but Xie Xun was different. She still cared a lot about Xie Xun's attitude and opinion; she was indeed in the wrong in this matter.

Princess Qinghe stood in the pavilion, her face somewhat grim. Finally, she sneered, "Fine, very well. Xie Yun, I'll remember your words today."

Xie Yun didn't reply.

She supported Afu, half-dragging and half-carrying her as they walked out.