Before long, Qiu Yan finished bandaging the wounds on her left shoulder and left arm.

Seeing her beloved son lying on the headboard, his eyes half-closed, his little mouth opening and closing as he yawned, she let him fall asleep.

She walked toward the bronze mirror in the room.

In the bronze mirror, her hair was disheveled, and her injured profile was particularly noticeable, even more so than the knife scars on Song Jiao's face.

In any era, the strong prevail. Given the circumstances today, it's a miracle she's still alive.

She doesn't usually dress up, but disfigurement is something no one wants to face.

Fortunately, she knows medicine herself.

She took off her hairband, retied her hair into a high ponytail, and changed into a light-colored dress.

She cleansed her face and applied medicine.

Even the thick ointment couldn't cover the scars on her face.

She joked that, looking like this, she probably wouldn't be able to get married.

I wonder what expression Gu Qian would have if he saw me like this.

Qiu Yan smiled bitterly. Why did she always think of him?

Looking back at Gu Xiaoran, who had already fallen fast asleep, Qiu Yan felt a deep pang of heartache.

Xiao Ran, if only you weren't a prince.

She walked to the bedside, took off Gu Xiaoran's clothes, put his little head on the pillow, and covered him with a thin blanket.

Then, she tiptoed out of the room.

Outside the room, He Lin remained standing in the same spot.

Qiu Yan nodded to him and walked towards the kitchen.

He Lin did not respond.

His gaze was unfocused, as if he were lost in memories of the past.

In the kitchen, Zhu Juan was making egg pancakes, which Gu Xiaoran loved.

The mistress has spoiled the young mistress's palate; I wonder if the young mistress likes the egg pancakes she makes.

Inside the iron pot, Zhu Juan had just cooked rice porridge, which was bubbling and steaming.

On the cutting board are shredded meat and green vegetables.

"Master, it'll be ready soon," Zhu Juan said while making the pancakes.

She knew that Qiu Yan was injured and needed to rest.

In fact, Qiu Yan didn't have much strength left.

She had just sat down in her dining chair when she saw He Lin sit down opposite her.

"Who sent those men in black today? How did you offend them?" He Lin asked softly.

"That's a question for you." Qiu Yan had originally been thinking of asking He Lin if anyone had any doubts, but now it seemed that Gu Xiaoran's biological father was extremely unreliable.

"Ask me?" He Lin was full of questions. "What makes you ask that?"

"If you don't know, then I know even less." Qiu Yan shook her head, rested her chin on her hands, and leaned against the dining table.

The reason she was able to determine the reason for the men in black was entirely due to the question posed by the leader of the men in black.

She wondered, who exactly was the person lurking in the shadows?

He Lin lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, feeling that no one was possible, yet everyone was also possible.

After pondering for a long time, he shook his head:

"It's not safe here. You and Jin'er come back to Shangjin with me."

"Who am I to you? Why should I go back with you!" Qiu Yan's face darkened. "Why do you always deceive yourself!"

He Lin lowered his head, his eyes filled with remorse as he met Qiu Yan's fierce gaze.

“You are Jin’er’s mother, Shu’er. I can see that he relies on you a lot.”

"I am not Jin'er's mother, and my relationship with Xiao Ran is because of Gu Qian, who is Xiao Ran's father." Qiu Yan really didn't want to talk to this man.

"He...he just wanted to find someone to take care of Jin'er."

He Lin still refuses to believe that Gu Qian truly loves Qiu Yan.

Qiu Yan... remained silent.