Yun Chu’s front foot had just left the study.

Xie Jingyu’s back foot went to Bihe Garden, the courtyard where He Shi resided.

He Shi was doing embroidery work. Seeing Xie Jingyu arrive, she stood up somewhat incredulously: “Why has the master come?”

Since she became a concubine of the Xie manor, the master had never set foot in her courtyard. She dared not hope for anything either.

Having never held expectations, she naturally felt surprised.

She quickly brought tea and respectfully handed it to Xie Jingyu.

Xie Jingyu took the tea and drank a mouthful, his eyes falling on He Shi.

The year he met He Shi, he was only fourteen years old. At that time, her surname was still He.

Now he was twenty-eight, and she was the same age. However, over these years she had borne and raised children, later entered the Xie manor as a servant, labored day and night, and deliberately wore drab-colored garments to make herself appear at least thirty-five years old.

If she changed into dresses of light pink or pale yellow and wore some jewelry, did her eyebrows and painted her lips, Ping’er and she would truly look exactly alike.

He Shi felt somewhat uneasy under his gaze: “Master?”

Xie Jingyu spoke: “Have you noticed that Ping’er looks more and more like you?”

He Shi’s fingers stiffened: “Master, this concubine has already tried her best to conceal it.”

She wore the ugliest clothes, never groomed or adorned herself, and except for one silver hairpin, never wore any other jewelry.

Even though the master neglected her, she dared not dress up prettily to compete for favor… precisely because she feared people would discover she was Ping’er’s biological mother.

“From now on, except for daily morning greetings, just stay in your courtyard and don’t go out.” Xie Jingyu stood up. “I heard Yun’er is ill. Where is he?”

He Shi’s expression froze.

The master came to her place just to see Yun’er?

She concealed her bitter smile and led Xie Jingyu into the side room, gently and quietly pushing open the door. Xie Shiyun was sleeping on the bed.

Upon hearing movement, Xie Shiyun woke. Seeing Xie Jingyu walk in, he couldn’t care about anything else. He rolled off the bed, grabbed Xie Jingyu’s sleeve, and cried: “Father, I want to return to my concubine mother’s side.”

Xie Jingyu helped him up: “Your concubine mother made a mistake. When she corrects her error, I’ll have her come get you.”

He Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

With Yun’er being raised here, all his provisions were also sent to Bihe Garden. Her finances were already tight, and having Yun’er’s monthly allowance could solve many problems.

“Yun’er, stop crying.” He Shi stepped forward. “When you’re better, I’ll take you to see Concubine Yu.”

Xie Shiyun sobbed. If Father wouldn’t agree, who else could he plead with?

He was already ill, and crying and crying, he fell asleep.

“Master, Yun’er caught a chill, which is why he’s been fussy. It’s nothing serious.” He Shi spoke. “It’s about dinner time now. Master, why don’t you stay at Bihe Garden for the meal?”

Xie Jingyu’s expression was cold: “No need.”

He strode out of Bihe Garden.

Before long, the young maid at the gate returned to report: “Concubine, the master went to Concubine Yu’s courtyard.”

He Shi clenched her fingers, took out a piece of broken silver and tossed it to the young maid: “Keep watching. Come tell me when the master leaves.”

The young maid received the silver and happily went to carry out her task.

“It seems I truly underestimated you.”

He Shi’s face darkened.

She had thought the master was busy, which was why he wouldn’t stay for dinner. She didn’t expect him to immediately go to that little slut Tingyu’s courtyard.

She glanced at the side room where Xie Shiyun resided, thinking of Concubine Tao’s words behind her back about how she and Ping’er looked alike. An idea quietly rose in her heart.

The courtyard where Tingyu resided was very small and remote. The only advantage was that it had a separate small kitchen.

She had made some delicious, refined dishes and specifically sent a maid to invite Xie Jingyu over. Unexpectedly, with one invitation, she successfully brought him.

Over these years, she felt she had wronged the madam and never dared use her culinary skills to compete for favor. Now, for Yun’er’s sake, she had to use every means at her disposal.

“Master, try this sweet and sour radish.”

Tingyu stood beside the dining table serving Xie Jingyu his meal.

Xie Jingyu was not a person of heavy desires. Whether bodily desires or culinary desires, he controlled them within a reasonable range.

But recently the weather was hot, robbing people of appetite. He knew Tingyu was skilled at cooking, so he followed the young maid over. Sure enough, a table full of delicacies made one’s appetite stir. He ate an entire bowl of rice in one go.

After the meal, the sky had already darkened. Tingyu’s hand rested on Xie Jingyu’s shoulder: “Master has been tired all day. Let this concubine serve you well.”

Xie Jingyu’s expression was bland: “I know very clearly what’s on your mind.”

Wasn’t it just wanting to beg him to relent and let Yun’er come back?

Tingyu’s expression stiffened. She lowered her head: “Master, this concubine only wants to see Yun’er more often. I beg the master to give this concubine a chance.”

Xie Jingyu considered himself a qualified father. Having just seen Xie Shiyun, his heart had actually softened somewhat.

A child of only three years old—how could he be separated from his birth mother?

He spoke: “If you behave properly, sooner or later, Yun’er will naturally return to your courtyard.”

Hearing this, Tingyu was overjoyed. She served Xie Jingyu even more wholeheartedly.

Xie Jingyu was successful and prosperous during the day, and in the evening had a concubine’s attentive service—feeling pleased with himself, for a moment he could only sigh that life was worth living.

This night, Tingyu’s heart was also full of satisfaction.

At some unknown hour, suddenly the sound of a maid knocking came from outside.

Tingyu opened her eyes and looked out the window. Outside, the sky was still dark.

She quickly draped on her clothes, went out and said in a low voice: “Don’t you see the master is still resting? What are you knocking for? No sense at all.”

The master finally had a day of rest. She also wanted to let him rest more. When he woke later, he could directly eat the five-grain stomach-nourishing congee she had simmered.

“Concubine, this is terrible, something’s happened!” The young maid was almost crying. “Concubine Tao is giving birth!”

Tingyu’s brow furrowed.

Logically speaking, Concubine Tao should still have a month before delivery. How could she be giving birth so soon?

But perhaps it was because Concubine Tao’s mouth didn’t do her any favors—she hadn’t accumulated virtue, causing the child to be born prematurely. Simply deserved it.

She said softly: “If Concubine Tao is giving birth, just find the madam. The madam will make arrangements. The master is a man—going there won’t help anyway.”

The young maid said urgently: “Concubine Tao’s premature labor was because the third young master pushed her and she fell! She’s bleeding heavily!”

“What did you say?” Tingyu’s face immediately lost composure. “Yun’er is a small child—how could he possibly push Concubine Tao and make her fall? Who on earth would make a three-year-old child take the blame? No, I have to go see!”

At this moment, Xie Jingyu in the inner room was awakened. His voice came out: “What’s happened?”

Tingyu quickly turned back: “Master, the maid says Concubine Tao was pushed by Yun’er and fell, causing premature labor. Yun’er lives in Bihe Garden, so far from where Concubine Tao lives. Moreover, Yun’er is still ill—how could he possibly do such an outrageous thing? Master, please go quickly and look, and stand up for Yun’er.”

Xie Jingyu immediately got up.

A woman going into premature labor was no small matter.

He still remembered that year when Yun Chu also fell and went into premature labor, bleeding so very much…