The Xu family had tacitly agreed not to mention that matter again. Xu Yunyao watched the two people in front of him gradually walk away, his expression calm, even somewhat like he was watching a show.

Xu Yunci didn't walk very fast, intentionally keeping pace with her, without saying a word, and even keeping his gaze fixed on what was in front of him.

Li Shiyue glanced at Xu Yunci's face, and he didn't seem very unhappy. She secretly looked at his expression again, her two index fingers fidgeting nervously inside her sleeve.

"I only spoke up because I found her words unpleasant to hear."

Xu Yunci turned his head to look at her, a clear smile curving his lips: "Yes, I know."

However, he didn't get one thing right. It wasn't that Li Shiyue was chasing after him; it was that he had fallen for her at some point and was completely devoted to her.

Princess Chunhui arrived with the Crown Princess. They first went to Qingji Hall to see Old Madam Xu before heading to Liufang Pavilion. In the courtyard, along the corridors and in the pavilion beside the small pond, groups of two or three girls, each a close friend, were gathered.

When Princess Chunhui walked in, almost everyone in the courtyard looked at her. She didn't want to stay outside, so she asked her maid to find a spacious and comfortable room for her to rest.

"Go to the kitchen and tell them to bring some snacks and tea. The same goes for Liufangting."

Li Shiyue and Zhou Shi came out of Shousong Hall together. She gave instructions in a low voice and watched Chunling and Qiufan turn and leave before she looked away.

"You really have to work hard. Your elder sister-in-law and the Crown Princess are talking to Mother, and you still have to worry about these trivial matters." Madam Zhou sighed, her eyes filled with regret.

Li Shiyue smiled slightly: "I'm used to doing these things, especially since my grandmother's health is such that she needs to be extra careful with her meals. I don't trust others to do it for her."

Zhou placed her hands in front of her and looked at Li Shiyue with a gradually softening gaze, as if she were looking at her own daughter.

"In the end, it's just that we're not meant to be. You can't be the bride in my heart, but my heart truly loves you. If you ever need anything in the future, just come to your aunt. I don't dare to address you as 'Ah' as ​​my sister-in-law, because I want to say that I truly love you."

"Let's not talk about that anymore. My sister-in-law will be out in a while. I'll go ahead and keep an eye on things with you."

As they walked forward, someone who seemed to be from Zhou's side came running over, looking at Zhou as if she were a savior.

The next second, when he saw Li Shiyue beside Zhou, he hesitated, clearly having something to say to Zhou.

Li Shiyue understood: "Then Yan Yan will go in first."

As Zhou watched Li Shiyue's figure gradually disappear into the distance, the gentle smile on her face gradually vanished, and she looked at the maid with a hint of fierceness in her eyes: "Didn't I tell you to keep a close eye on her at all times?"

The maid looked anxious: "Her maid went to collect the meal, but she took it upon herself to take the pastries that were sent to Shousong Hall. It was Qiu Fan, who was by the young lady's side, who told her. Fortunately, the kitchen was able to prepare a replacement in time, and nothing serious happened."

Zhou was puzzled. Was it really worth bringing this up now? She could have waited until the end and the courtyard gates were closed before dealing with it.

The maid looked anxious, glanced around to make sure no one was there, then whispered a few words in Zhou's ear. Zhou's face instantly turned extremely ugly.

"Go yourself, find a doctor outside, and get me a sterilization kit, the most potent one, and send it to the hospital."

Zhou flung her sleeves and led the old woman behind her straight into the courtyard. A short while later, the medicine was brought over. It was quite a coincidence; the second branch of the family had previously prepared this prescription for Xu Erye's concubines, and Zhou had carefully chosen to keep it. Unexpectedly, it actually came in handy today.

Looking at the dark, murky medicine that the maid brought over, the smell alone was enough to sting my eyes.

With a glance from Zhou, the old woman beside her understood and went outside to sternly order, "Bring the rope."

After saying that, the old woman personally led several strong maids and pushed open the door to go inside. Inside, Xiangzhi looked smug and was holding a half-eaten pastry in her hand.

"Tie them all up!" As Zhou's trusted nanny, the old woman naturally understood what her mistress wanted to do. As soon as she finished speaking, the maid behind her took the hemp rope and walked forward.

Xiangzhi was terrified. In her struggle, she knocked things over, but she was eventually held down and bound like a rope spirit. As she was being led out, her trusted nanny pushed her away, causing Xiangzhi to lose her balance and fall to the ground, struggling.

"I am the young master's concubine. How dare you treat me like this? Aren't you afraid that the young master will find out and hold you accountable?"

Her hair was now disheveled, and her hairpins and ornaments had long since fallen off. As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a cold laugh from above. When she looked up, she met Zhou's eyes, which were full of hostility.

"The son who crawled out of my womb, does he listen to you or to me, his own mother?"

Madam Zhou's brows were filled with a fierce aura, her eyes fixed intently on Xiangzhi, a gaze that sent chills down one's spine. Xiangzhi couldn't help but shrink back, while Madam Zhou's eyes revealed satisfaction. She leaned back, leisurely accepting the teacup handed to her by the maid, and slowly took a sip.

The maid who had just gone to inform Zhou was carrying a bowl of dark, murky medicine when she approached Xiangzhi.

"I heard you're pregnant. It just so happens that the mistress has just received a new prescription of herbal medicine. Since you always call yourself the young master's most beloved concubine, and you're also doing your part to show filial piety, let the mistress take a look at this prescription of herbal medicine."

The trusted nanny sneered. Seeing Xiangzhi struggling and pleading, the nanny glanced at Zhou Shi, whose face was cold, took two steps forward, and swung her arm in a wide arc, landing accurately and hard on Xiangzhi's face, swelling up half of her face.

“If you continue to cry and make a fuss, we’ll have someone hold you down and force you to drink it. But you need to understand this clearly: this medicine is not for preventing miscarriage or abortion, but for sterilization.”

"The medicine is extremely potent. Even if you lie about being pregnant, you will never be able to have children after drinking it. If you tell the truth, are you pregnant or not? If not, then this medicine won't be a waste."

No, really no!

Xiangzhi tried to struggle to get up, but the hemp rope binding her was so tight that all she could do was wriggle on the ground like an insect, pleading in her eyes not to look at the medicine bowl.

Does it really matter whether it is or isn't?

The door opened, and Xu Lingqing walked in with her maid, then ordered the door to be closed again. She didn't even glance at the incense sticks on the ground, and walked unsurprisedly to Zhou Shi: "She's just a concubine anyway, why is the nanny saying so much? Just pry open her mouth and force it in."

Xu Lingqing smiled, still appearing as a gentle and kind woman at first glance, but her words sent Xiangzhi straight to hell.

The latter looked pleadingly at Zhou, who hadn't spoken, but by the time Zhou raised her head, Xiangzhi was being forced to swallow the medicine while her chin was being pinched, and she didn't have time to cry for help.