Liu Ruyan's eyes flashed, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

"Dingxiang, you are pregnant now, so be careful with your hands..."

Liu Ruyan walked over and stepped on Dingxiang's hand. "Ah, Dingxiang, are you alright? I was just trying to come over and tell you to be careful, but I accidentally stepped on you."

As Liu Ruyan spoke, she increased the pressure of her footsteps.

"Ah..." Dingxiang was already sweating profusely from the pain, and now she cried out.

Soon after, the white porcelain shards were stained red with her blood and dripped onto the ground.

Liu Ruyan quickly lifted her leg, squatted down with an apologetic expression, and took her hand to check.

Actually, it's to check for bleeding.

"Oh dear, you're bleeding. It's all my fault. How could I let you do such rough work?"

"Cuiyun, what are you standing there for?"

Cuiyun was stunned, not knowing what the young mistress meant.

"Hurry up and get the medicine. Do you want Concubine Ding's wound to worsen?"

Only then did Cuiyun realize what was happening. She responded and turned to get the medicine.

Dingxiang was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face. Her eyes were filled with hatred as she glared at Liu Ruyan in front of her.

If she hadn't asked me to serve tea, none of this would have happened.

"Madam...it's alright, I...it doesn't hurt..."

These words were not what she truly meant; Dingxiang's tongue was aching.

"You call this not painful?"

"Dingxiang, I will have other maids do these chores from now on. You should focus on recovering from your injuries."

Cuiyun brought the medicine and applied it to Dingxiang.

After the medicine was applied, Dingxiang was helped back to her room by her maid.

After the person left, Liu Ruyan changed her expression and asked, "Cuiyun, do you still have the peach blossom pastries that Mother sent over the other day?"

Cuiyun said, "Young Madam, there's more."

"Go and prepare some things, and invite your father-in-law over. Tell him that my father gave me a book on military strategy, and ask him if he wants it."

The military treatise was given to her by her father when she got married.

Since the book is useless to her anyway, she might as well give it to him as a favor.

She narrowed her eyes.

Dingxiang, don't you think the eldest young master has feelings for you?

Oh.

A smile she couldn't hide appeared on her lips.

Because of the imperial examinations these past few days, the Marquis of Zhenbei has not attended court.

He originally intended to go to the concubines' quarters, but who knew that each of those concubines was more foul-smelling than the last.

He said a few words and then fled from the concubine's courtyard.

I want to go to Zou Shuang'er's place again.

But he was also afraid that Zou Shuang'er would bring up the matter of divorcing his wife again.

He sighed and went back to his study.

He had barely stepped into the study when Cuiyun arrived.

"Master, the young mistress said that when she got married, Master Liu gave her a book on military strategy. I heard a few days ago that the fourth young master will participate in the martial arts examination after next year's spring examination."

"I was thinking that the Fourth Young Master might find it useful, but I was afraid that it wouldn't be appropriate for the Young Madam to give it to him privately."

"May I ask you, may this military treatise be given to the Fourth Young Master?"

A few days ago, the Marquis of Zhenbei hired a martial artist for Lin Shiming.

He originally wanted to ask Liu Ruyan's father to personally teach her, but he was afraid that General Liu would not give him face.

Now that they hear that Liu Ruyan actually has a military treatise, they are naturally eager to obtain it.

Where is the military treatise?

"Your Excellency, the military treatise is with Madam. I didn't bring it with me because I didn't know if you wanted it."

The Marquis of Zhenbei recalled the time he had stumbled upon Liu Ruyan and Lin Shixuan in bed in the study.

A surge of heat welled up inside me.

He said, "Go, I will go and take a look."

"yes."

Cuiyun led the Marquis of Zhenbei to the long corridor of Yifeng Residence.

"Master, I just remembered I have something else to do. What do you think..."

The Marquis of Zhenbei said nonchalantly, "Go ahead, I'll go myself."

"Yes, sir."

Cuiyun curtsied and withdrew.

Marquis Zhenbei stood still and looked around.

This Yifeng Residence was originally prepared for Lin Shixuan.

Although the courtyard isn't as spacious as Lin Rui'an's, it's still the closest to his study, making it convenient to call him if needed.

Before he even married Ye Lanyin, he had already arranged for someone to prepare for the wedding. Later, when Lin Rui'an was born, it was Ye Lanyin herself who added the decorations for Lin Rui'an.

Otherwise, where is it better than here?

"ah."

Suddenly, a woman's scream came from inside the house.

Upon hearing the sound, Zhenbei listened intently.

A short while later, shouts continued to come from inside.

"Ouch~"

"Ouch, that hurts!"

"Waaaaah..."

The Marquis of Zhenbei's face instantly darkened.

The image of Liu Ruyan and Lin Shixuan in the study, their wanton posture, lingered in his mind.

Lin Shixuan went to take the imperial examination, could it be that Liu Ruyan...?

For a moment, his anger clouded his judgment.

Enraged, the Marquis of Zhenbei raised his legs and kicked the door with all his might.

With a "bang",

With a loud bang, the door was kicked open against the wall, creating a deafening echo.

Inside the room, Dingxiang was hurriedly changing her clothes when she was startled by the sudden turn of events, her face turning ashen.

"ah--"

She screamed, clutching her chest frantically with both hands, her eyes wide with terror, her body trembling with fear.

The Marquis of Zhenbei was so shocked by the scene that he gasped.

Just now, he thought that Liu Ruyan was cheating on him with a lecherous man behind his son's back.

Looking at it now...

He didn't know how or how to explain it.

"Um...no...sorry..."

Marquis Zhenbei stood rooted to the spot, unable to lift his feet.

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