Mu Qingyang recalled that it was the same last time, when Liu shyly eloped with him, taking only her few valuables and jewelry with her. This time, she was doing the same thing, which made him even more convinced.

"Yao'er, I've made up my mind. We can go back to my hometown together. Your child is my child." Mu Qingyang said emotionally, he didn't even remember that he was already married.

"Qingyang, you must hide this bundle and not let anyone find it. Even if someone does find it, you can't say it's mine, understand? Otherwise, you can imagine the consequences!" Liu said. She knew in her heart that when she felt lonely, she longed for a man like Mu Qingyang to accompany her, but compared to wealth and glory, he was simply insignificant.

"Okay, don't worry, I'll hide it well," Mu Qingyang said, holding Liu's hand.

"Qingyang, we absolutely must not let anyone discover our connection, understand?" Liu said, still worried.

“Yes, I absolutely won’t tell,” Mu Qingyang said.

After agreeing on a date for their elopement, the two returned home separately.

After returning to Xinghua Chun Courtyard, Liu was filled with unease. Suddenly, she felt a bit uncomfortable in her stomach and leaned against the door frame to rest, holding onto Cuizhu's hand.

"Princess, are you alright?" Cuizhu asked anxiously as she helped Liu up.

"My stomach is a little upset, quickly call someone to help me inside!" Liu said, leaning against the door frame with a frown.

Cuizhu immediately called for someone to come and help Liu Shi inside to lie down.

"Little Jinzi, go quickly and report to the concubine, and ask the doctor from the garden to come and take a look!" Cuizhu said hastily when she saw that Liu's face was not good.

"Yes, yes, this servant will go right away!" Little Jinzi replied hastily.

"Wait, Little Jinzi, while you're at it, go tell the manager in the garden that my things are missing, and have them start looking for them," Liu instructed, opening her eyes.

"This servant understands, this servant will go and do it right away, Princess, please rest." Little Jinzi quickly replied, turned around and ran out.

When Xiao Jinzi ran to Wanfang Anhe, Lanqin was playing chess with Wu Shi, while Wu Ruyue was leading three little girls and two-year-old Hongli to catch cicadas outside the house.

"Master, a servant from Liu Gege's side has come to report that Liu Gege is not feeling well. Please go and fetch a doctor as soon as possible," Jinju said to Lanqin, who was sitting on the couch, as she walked to the front of the house.

"Then let's quickly call a doctor over to take a look. Liu's belly must be several months along!" Lanqin said casually.

"That's right, it's been almost four months! Sigh, why are you feeling unwell all of a sudden?" Wu said.

"Let the doctor examine her first. Report back immediately if anything happens," Lanqin said.

"Liu is quite lucky. She only needed to be favored a few times to conceive the master's child," said Wu.

“Yes, that’s fate. Sister Wu, I’ve already spoken to Master about Ruyue, and he’s agreed. But Ruyue is still an unmarried woman, and she’s reached the age for marriage, so you’ll have to be a little more careful,” Lanqin said.

"Thank you, sister. Don't worry, I'll definitely keep an eye on her. This girl is quite wild, but she's still obedient. Just think, in two years she'll be participating in the imperial concubine selection. Lanqin, let me tell you the truth, I don't want her to enter the palace. The Emperor is already so old, and Ruyue is only a teenager. If she enters the palace, her life will be ruined." Wu Shi suddenly said.

Lanqin glanced at her and said, "Are you arranging a marriage for Ruyue yourself?"

Madam Wu nodded and said, "That's right. I know my father's intention in sending Ruyue here this time. He simply wanted me to see if I could find a suitable match for her among the royal family's nobles and relatives. At least he didn't insist that Ruyue enter the palace!"

A hint of disdain flashed in Wu's eyes.

Lanqin looked at her and said, "You want to arrange a marriage in advance? But you still have to go through the selection process."

Lady Wu nodded and said, "When the selection process comes, she'll perform poorly and be eliminated. Then she can find a suitable person to marry, which is better than her staying in the palace all alone."

Lanqin looked up at the little girl outside the house. She was twelve years old, like an unopened budding flower. She thought it would be a pity if she really entered the palace and stayed by the side of the sixty-year-old Emperor Kangxi. With her looks, it wasn't impossible for her to be chosen and kept in the palace.

"Lanqin, I can only ask you for help. Can you find a suitable person for Ruyue? You are a concubine and have the opportunity to meet those people. Please help Ruyue choose a suitable partner. As her older sister, I don't know what to do. I can't even leave the house myself," said Madam Wu.

Lanqin said, "Look at what you're saying, sister. Ruyue is just like my younger sister. But it depends on your expectations of this younger sister. Judging from her appearance, she is definitely outstanding, but her family background is not an advantage. The good families in the capital are all relatives of the emperor or have some connection to them. If Ruyue's family background is not outstanding enough, even if you choose her, she probably won't be the principal wife."

Madam Wu nodded and said, "You're right, so her situation isn't easy either. That's why I'm worried about her."

Lanqin thought for a moment and said to Wu Shi, "Let's keep an eye on her. What's this girl's idea?"

“What ideas could she possibly have? Although she’s quick-witted, she’s only twelve years old after all. I have no choice but to get rid of you,” said Madam Wu.

Outside the door, the sounds of children playing and laughing drifted in. Ushiha instantly took a liking to Wu Ruyue, who was six years older than him. Lanqin's gaze finally settled on her two daughters. One was six, the other four; they would grow up in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, after receiving Xiao Jinzi's report, the manager of the courtyard office immediately sent someone to report to Lanqin.

"Consort, Steward Lu from the garden has come over and says he has something to report!" Jinju said to Lanqin as she walked to the front of the house.

"Let him in." Lanqin straightened her posture and said to Wu Shi, "I will keep an eye on Ruyue's matter, but don't expect to finish this game of chess properly today."

"This servant greets Consort Lu!" Steward Lu bowed to Lanqin, and then to Lady Wu.

"Manager Lu, what is it?" Lanqin asked.

"Reporting to Consort Lu, Xiao Jinzi from Consort Liu's quarters says that the consort has lost some jewelry. I have already checked all the servants in Xinghua Chun Pavilion and have come to ask for your instructions, Consort Lu, whether we should investigate them one by one," said Steward Lu.

Lanqin and Wu exchanged a glance, then Lanqin asked in surprise, "Princess Liu's jewelry is missing? What kind of jewelry is it, and how much is there?"

Steward Lu said, "There are quite a few. If it were only one or two items, I wouldn't have come to report to the Consort."

Lanqin asked in surprise, "How many are there?"

"They say most of Consort Liu's jewelry is missing. Little Jinzi says a thief must have stolen it. Please, Consort, decide, if I want to find the thief in the garden, I'm afraid we'll have to search everywhere," said Steward Lu.