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

The next day, despite feeling unwell, Afu got up very early.

With the newly hired manager overseeing things at the shop, she was able to free herself for the time being. She still wore her veil, first taking a stroll around the shop to make sure everything was in order before hiring a carriage and heading towards Yunxiu Manor.

It's been so long since I've seen her. I wonder how Ah-Zhen is doing over there.

The carriage drove out of the bustling capital and headed north towards the mountains. Watching the fields and green trees rushing past the window, Afu's tense nerves, which had been taut for several days, finally relaxed.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the villa, she handed over her visiting card with practiced ease, and a maidservant led her inside.

Before I even reached the courtyard where we learned embroidery, I heard a burst of clear laughter.

Afu paused, and immediately spotted Azhen under the tree in the courtyard, chatting with several girls.

Several months had passed, and Ah Zhen seemed to have grown taller. She had shed the timidity and unease she had when she first arrived, and her eyes now held a lively sparkle. She was wearing the uniform blue cloth dress of the manor, her hair was neatly combed, and she was holding a handkerchief, talking excitedly to the girl next to her.

"Ah Zhen!" Ah Fu called out from the courtyard gate.

The small figure froze abruptly, then quickly turned her head. When she saw that it was Afu, her eyes lit up instantly, like the brightest star in the night sky.

"Sister!"

A-Zhen dropped everything she was holding and, like a little swallow, ran towards her with open arms, plunging headfirst into her embrace.

Afu caught her steadily, holding the little girl who was growing up in her arms, her heart filled with a bittersweet emotion.

"Sister, I missed you so much!" Ah Zhen snuggled against her, her voice full of dependence and joy.

"Your sister misses you too." Afu patted her head and tidied her slightly disheveled hair. "Are you doing well at the manor?"

"Great!" Ah Zhen immediately lifted her head from her embrace and proudly held up the handkerchief in her hand, "Look, sister! This is what I embroidered. Master Ningzhen said I embroidered it very well, and this handkerchief is already good enough to sell!"

Afu took the handkerchief and saw that on the corner of the plain white handkerchief, several lifelike forsythia flowers were embroidered. The stitches were fine and the colors were elegant. It was impossible to tell that it was made by an eight-year-old child.

"Our Azhen is really amazing," Afu praised sincerely.

Azhen was a little embarrassed by the praise, her face flushed. She took Afu's hand and walked towards her room, chattering about the interesting things that happened at the villa as they went.

Once inside, A-Zhen proudly pulled something wrapped in cloth from under her pillow and carefully handed it to A-Fu.

"Sister, this is for you."

When Afu opened it, she found a beautifully crafted hand warmer wrapped in thick cotton cloth, with a small hibiscus flower carefully embroidered on it. Although the stitches were a bit immature, they conveyed a warm and tender feeling.

"Winter in the capital is cold, I'm afraid your hands will get cold," A-Zhen whispered.

Afu's heart felt as if it had been soothed by the hand warmer, both soft and warm. She hugged her sister tightly, her eyes welling up with tears.

The two sisters talked for a while, then A-Zhen suddenly fell silent. She sat on the edge of the bed, fiddling with the hem of her clothes, and hesitated for a long time before raising her head and looking at her with a serious, almost adult-like gaze that A-Fu had never seen before.

"Sister," she asked softly, "what does 'concubine' mean?"

Afu's smile froze slightly.

She hadn't expected A-Zhen to ask that.

A-Zhen looked at her, her eyes filled with a clarity and worry beyond her years: "A few days ago, some distinguished guests came to the manor, and they were all talking about... about the Yongning Marquis's mansion, about the Young Master Xie, and about you too."

She paused, her voice lowering further, "I couldn't understand what they were saying. Later, I asked Yuanyuan, and Yuanyuan said that her family also had maids who served her father. They were often punished by her mother by being forced to kneel and were not given food."

Ah Zhen's eyes slowly reddened. "Sister, are you unhappy at the Marquis's residence?"

Afu felt as if her heart was being squeezed tightly by a hand, a mixture of sourness and pain.

She thought she had protected her sister well, but she forgot that nothing stays hidden forever. Those foul words eventually reached the ears of the person she least wanted her to hear.

"Sister," A-Zhen reached out her small hand and grabbed A-Fu's sleeve, her eyes full of determination, "You shouldn't do this work anymore. Redeem your indenture! Master Ningzhen said I learn quickly. I can earn thirty coins for embroidering a handkerchief now. When I get better at it, I can earn even more! I can support myself, and I can support you in the future!"

"Sister, you should leave the Marquis's mansion."

Every word was like a small hammer, striking Afu's heart.

She always thought that she was doing everything she could to support her younger sister. But she never expected that in the end, this little sister would want to support her instead.

Afu took a breath, suppressing the sob in her throat. She reached out and wiped away the tears on Azhen's face, trying to make her voice sound more relaxed.

"Silly girl, I'm doing very well at the Marquis's mansion." She smiled. "The Marquis's wife and the young master treat me very well. I have the best of everything, and no one dares to bully me. What you've heard is just nonsense from outsiders; don't take it seriously."

She cupped A-Zhen's small face in her hands and looked earnestly into her eyes: "As long as you learn your skills well here and can support yourself with your own craft in the future, without having to depend on others, I'll be happier than anything else. You don't need to worry about my affairs."

Afu paused, her voice softening further, "However, sister may... one day leave the Marquis's mansion. At that time, she might leave the capital for a while. If that day truly comes, will Azhen be able to take care of herself?"

She had to prepare Ah-Zhen in advance. She didn't know when she would be able to leave, or where she would go after she was gone, but she had to make sure that even if she wasn't there, Ah-Zhen could live a good life.

Azhen seemed to understand the deeper meaning in her words. She looked at Afu, remained silent for a long time, and then nodded heavily.

"Sister, you must take good care of yourself too." Her little hand gripped Afu's hand tightly. "Don't worry, I will learn skills well, and when I grow up, it will be my turn to protect you."

Afu could no longer hold back and hugged her sister tightly, tears streaming down her face silently.

Her Azhen has really grown up.

It was already late when Afu left Azhen's residence. Afu was eager to return to her home and was about to take her leave when Ning Su Niangzi called her back at the courtyard gate.

"Miss Afu, please wait."

Ning Su Niangzi remained as gentle and quiet as ever. She led Afu to a deserted corridor, her smile fading slightly.

There's something I think I should tell you.

Afu's heart tightened: "Please speak, my lady."