“Yuanrui, do you know why the Crown Prince came to the Marquis’s residence today? I heard he called for Xue Rongrong for questioning. What’s this about?” Wang Yilan asked, having not gone out to greet the Crown Prince.

With only Zhai Shi’s people nearby, she waited until the Crown Prince left before calling her sister-in-law to Rongkang Courtyard and bombarding her with questions.

Xie Yuanrui had heard about Wang Yilan punishing Zhenzhen and Rongrong today and could tell why she was so anxious.

“Xue Rongrong is quite skilled in cooking. She pleased the young prince’s taste at the hot spring estate. Today, the young prince craved her cooking, so the Crown Prince came to the Marquis’s residence to bring her.”

“So… why didn’t they take her away?”

“Rongrong said she caught a cold today and was afraid of passing it on to the young prince, so she didn’t go. I saw her limping, so she definitely couldn’t make it,” Xie Yuanrui explained, keeping an eye on her sister-in-law’s expression, which tightened as she spoke.

“Did she use the cold and limp as an excuse?”

Xie Yuanrui shook her head, “She didn’t say, but I noticed Mother is quite concerned about her.”

Wang Yilan’s eyes darkened.

Zhai Shi was indeed very concerned about Xue Rongrong.

It was surprising that someone who rarely left her quarters would come all the way to Rongkang Courtyard for Rongrong.

“… But she’s just a maid. Even if she’s a maid to my brother, Mother shouldn’t be so kind to her unless…”

“Unless what?” Wang Yilan asked eagerly.

“Unless…” Xie Yuanrui pressed her lips together, “This isn’t really my place to say. As a younger sister, I shouldn’t discuss matters from my brother’s household.”

“What do you know? Yuanrui, you know how I treat you. There’s no difference between you and my own sister.”

Xie Yuanrui quickly took Wang Yilan’s hand, “I know you care for me. But sister-in-law, I learned this from Mother. If you know, just pretend you don’t. Don’t let Mother find out.”

Wang Yilan understood that even the best daughter-in-law can’t replace a biological daughter, and she knew that Zhai Shi would only share such personal matters with Xie Yuanrui and wouldn’t hold it against her.

“I understand.”

Xie Yuanrui sighed, “Brother said he wants to take a concubine after returning from the hot spring estate. Mother was initially against it, but Brother was very persistent, so Mother eventually gave in.”

“Who is he planning to take?” Wang Yilan asked urgently.

“I didn’t ask too much about Brother’s matters, but it’s likely one of the two—either Zhenzhen or Rongrong.

Zhenzhen has a good temperament, but in terms of looks, Rongrong is superior.

Especially when she’s sick, she looks so delicate that you can’t help but want to support her!”

Thinking back to when Xie Yuanchu returned from the hot spring estate, Wang Yilan remembered he was happy and spent the night with her.

She had thought he had finally realized his feelings for her.

However, it seemed that Mother-in-law had pressured Xie Yuanchu to spend the night at Rongkang Courtyard because of the concubine issue.

Wang Yilan understood that this was all for the Marquis’s legitimate heir.

But… given Xie Yuanchu’s lack of commitment, could he really conceive a legitimate heir?

If he couldn’t, the children born of concubines would still be loved by Mother-in-law.

Mrs. Wang felt a deep pang of discomfort but still managed to put on a smiling face in front of her younger sister-in-law.

“It’s only natural that the heir will eventually take concubines,” she said.

“I’m relieved you think so, Sister-in-law. I was afraid you might be angry with Brother!” Xie Yuanrui clung to Mrs. Wang’s hand and cooed reassuringly. “No matter how much Brother likes Rongrong and the others, you are his lawful wife, and they can’t surpass you.”

Mrs. Wang’s smile nearly faltered, but she managed a weak nod.

Xie Yuanrui, seemingly oblivious to Mrs. Wang’s discomfort, continued as if talking to herself, “Rongrong’s health is so fragile. I heard that her knees were injured during the last fainting spell, and now, after kneeling again today, her old injury has flared up. She can hardly walk. It’s truly pitiful. But I must go now, Sister-in-law. I have to join Mother for dinner!”

“Go ahead, don’t keep Mother waiting.”

As soon as Xie Yuanrui left Rongkang Courtyard, Mrs. Wang, feeling as if her support had been pulled away, collapsed onto a chair.

Xinrong, who had been waiting by the door, rushed in to help her. “Madam, are you feeling unwell? I’ll call for the doctor right away.”

“Xinrong,” Mrs. Wang said, looking at the concerned maid, her eyes filled with sadness, “nowadays, only you truly care about me.”

“What’s wrong, Madam? What did Miss San say to you?” Xinrong asked.

Supported by Xinrong, Mrs. Wang lay down on a nearby couch to calm her emotions and then slowly spoke, “Yuanrui said that the heir wants to take Rongrong as a concubine, and Mother-in-law has agreed, though we don’t know when it will happen.”

Xinrong was shocked. “Rongrong? No wonder, no wonder Madam was just punished today, and the Marquise came running here. Normally, even if Madam is unwell, we haven’t seen the Marquise come to our Rongkang Courtyard.”

“I heard people say that Mother-in-law was the most beautiful woman in the capital when she was young. She must look down on me.”

“That’s not true,” Xinrong tried to comfort her. “The heir and the Marquise surely don’t think that way. When our Master decided to marry you to his wife’s, it was the heir himself who came to propose. How could they look down on you?”

Mrs. Wang’s smile turned cold. “They value the Wang family’s status, not me.”

“Madam, the heir still respects you. As long as you don’t give in, he won’t let that little hussy Rongrong enter the household.”

“Not letting her in…” Mrs. Wang murmured.

“Yes,” Xinrong was immediately anxious at the thought of Rongrong possibly becoming a concubine of the Marquis’s residence. “We mustn’t let that vile Xue Rongrong become a concubine. Didn’t the old lady say when the Madam married that it’s fine to take a concubine, but she must be someone we know well and can control? Rongrong was bought from outside, has no connection to us, and has served the heir for years, often exchanging glances with him. Besides, she’s been demanding to be freed recently.”

“Do you mean that her request to be freed is fake?”

A cold, sharp look crossed Xinrong’s eyes. “I think she’s using the pretense of wanting to be freed as a way to advance.”

“Using retreat to advance? How so?”

“Think about it. There are two maids in the heir’s study: her and Zhenzhen. Though Zhenzhen is a bit of a troublemaker, she’s not as bed-hopping as Rongrong. Rongrong pretends she wants to be freed to make the heir reluctant and force him to make her a concubine.”

“I see. Xinrong, if it weren’t for you, we might have been deceived by her,” Wang Yilan said, her gaze growing colder.

She quickly formed a plan, “Keep a close watch on her. If there’s any sign of trouble, let me know immediately. I don’t believe that Mother-in-law can protect her forever.”

“Understood, Madam.”

Wang Yilan sat alone in her room, resolutely determined.

Xue Rongrong! Xue Rongrong! She absolutely must not be allowed into the house!

---

After a long day, Rongrong returned to her room feeling weak and lay down on the bed.

Zhenzhen kindly gave her two hot water bottles, and the charcoal stove was blazing.

Rongrong drank several bowls of ginger soup, but she still felt her knees were like ice.

She regretted not agreeing to see the house doctor when Xie Yuanchu suggested it earlier.

The door to her room was suddenly pushed open, and Rongrong turned her head with difficulty to see Xie Yuanchu, who had come straight here after returning home.

Xie Yuanchu, still in the dark blue robe he wore outside, looked concerned as he saw Rongrong’s pale face, his worry genuine and not entirely because she might be the Crown Prince’s choice.

Seeing Xie Yuanchu and Zhenzhen enter, Rongrong didn’t try to get up and just lay there, forcing a smile at Xie Yuanchu.

“What happened today?” Xie Yuanchu asked with a stern face.

Rongrong didn’t respond, too weak to speak.

Zhenzhen lowered her head and explained, “As soon as we returned to the residence, Xinrong from Madam’s courtyard took us to Rongkang Courtyard. Madam said we incited the master to break the Marquis’s rules, so we were punished.”

Xie Yuanchu’s expression was dark, but he remained silent.

Wang Yilan had a legitimate reason for her actions, so even if he questioned her, she would have a valid response.

“It’s already late. I’ll have the house doctor come by tomorrow to check on you,” said Xie Yuanchu to Rongrong.

Rongrong did not refuse and looked at Xie Yuanchu with gratitude. “Thank you, Master. I didn’t let the house doctor come before, fearing it would draw attention, but now the pain in my knees from just a short kneeling is unbearable and cannot be delayed any longer.”

Xie Yuanchu took out a sky-blue porcelain bottle from his sleeve. “Take this.”

“What is this, Master?” Zhenzhen asked curiously.

Xie Yuanchu turned to Zhenzhen with a gentle smile before looking back at Rongrong. “This is a reward from the Eastern Palace.”

Rongrong was unable to reach out to take it while lying down, so Zhenzhen took it and opened the bottle, surprised by the medicinal smell. “Ah, I remember now. The Crown Prince mentioned a reward for Rongrong from the Little Prince, but it smells medicinal.”

“This contains Tian Gang Bone Changing Ointment, a secret medicine for external injuries from the Great Xiangguo Temple.”

Tian Gang Bone Changing Ointment?

“That’s great, Rongrong. With this secret medicine, your knee should recover. Let me apply it for you,” Zhenzhen said, about to lift Rongrong’s blanket to apply the ointment.

Xie Yuanchu immediately said, “No.”

Rongrong quickly held onto her blanket.

Zhenzhen paused, realizing that Xie Yuanchu was still present, and gave Rongrong an apologetic smile. “I’ll attend to Master first and come back to apply the medicine for you.”

Xie Yuanchu knew that they misunderstood his words and did not explain. “Let’s go back to the study first.”

“Thank you, Master.”

As Rongrong lay on the bed, she watched them leave the room.

When the door was closed, she turned her head.

However, the door creaked open again.

Rongrong thought Zhenzhen had come back to fetch something she forgot and didn’t turn around, casually asking, “Why are you back?”