Hai Sheng looked at Zhu Xiang's delicate, oval face with amusement, his eyes darting around Zhu Xiang's body with a sly grin.

Zhu Xiang, with her head bowed, felt Hai Sheng's gaze, and her ears burned red with shame.

Haisheng, not content with just looking, reached out and pinched Zhuxiang's cheek, leering as he said, "What a beautiful girl! I'll tell my sister and take you back to my mansion as a concubine!" Zhuxiang's eyes welled up with tears. "Uncle, please don't joke with me!" she said, taking a step back to distance herself from Haisheng.

Xia'er came out of the inner room, banging the feather duster loudly, her eyes gleaming with a fierce light as she looked at Haisheng and Zhuxiang at the door.

When Haisheng saw Xia'er come out, he thought that since she was just a maid in his sister's courtyard, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future, so he restrained himself and made way for Zhuxiang. Zhuxiang ran back to Jiangongzhai as if her life depended on it through the path Haisheng had cleared.

Xi Ying had overheard Hai Sheng's flirtatious remarks about Zhu Xiang. However, she didn't want to stop him. Since Zhu Xiang's mistress wasn't giving her face, she would take the blame! Xi Ying left the inner room, sat in the main seat, and ordered Qiu'er to fetch several silver notes and give them to Hai Sheng. "This money is enough for Chen Shi to give birth safely and for you to hold a grand full-moon celebration. If you use this money to go out and have fun, don't blame me for being heartless and not caring about your life or death!"

Hai Sheng's eyes gleamed with gold when he saw the silver notes, and he stared intently at them in his hand. Hearing Xia'er cough, he quickly bowed and nodded, "I will definitely listen to you, sister! Then sister, please go ahead with your work, I'll take my leave!"

As Haisheng reached the door, he remembered Zhuxiang and turned back to ask, "What was the name of that maid from earlier?"

Xia'er gritted her teeth, her eyes practically blazing with malice, wanting to stab Haisheng blind.

"That's a maid from the general's study!" Xi Ying said calmly, picking up the covered bowl. She didn't want her maternal family to know anything about her life in the Fucha mansion; they wouldn't help her, and would only make things worse.

Upon hearing the word "General," Hai Sheng rushed out of the Fucha residence as if his feet had sprouted wind. He was afraid that Zhu Xiang would go back and complain, and that Fukang'an would blame him.

Seeing Haisheng run away, Xia'er hurriedly made up an excuse and obtained Xiying's permission to leave the Fucha residence. Xiying knew about Haisheng and Xia'er's affair and guessed that Xia'er was going to confront Haisheng. Chen was timid, and Xia'er was shrewish; Xiying felt that someone should keep Haisheng in check.

Hai Sheng hadn't gone far from the Fucha residence when Xia'er caught up with him and grabbed his ear. Hai Sheng was startled, his legs went weak, and he turned around with a pleading look. Seeing it was Xia'er, Hai Sheng was no longer afraid. He straightened up, pulled Xia'er's hand down, and rubbed it against her.

Xia'er glanced at the people on the street and gestured towards an inn ahead. Hai Sheng immediately grinned mischievously at Xia'er. Xia'er blushed and walked on alone, ignoring Hai Sheng.

The two entered the inn one after the other. After a night of passion, Xia'er leaned against Haisheng's chest and said coquettishly, "When are you finally going to take me back?"

Hai Sheng looked troubled, then comforted her, "Wait a little longer! After she gives birth to the child, I will definitely ask my sister to marry you!" Xia'er, her previous gentleness gone, retorted, "My aunt can barely take care of herself right now, how can she have time to concern herself with our affairs!"

"Auntie?" Haisheng looked at Xia'er and repeated, then asked, "Is it because the stunning beauty the general brought back to the manor the other day wants to take my sister's position?" The thought of the stunning beauty made Haisheng's tone suggestive.

Xia'er, realizing she had already let it slip and that Haisheng wasn't an outsider, disregarded Xiying's repeated warnings and told Haisheng everything that had happened since Yanning arrived at the Fu residence. The thought that Qiu'er had become Xiying's confidante after she'd only been gone a few days made Xia'er furious.

Upon hearing this, Hai Sheng felt a sense of unease. Since his father had been demoted to the frontier, the family had only managed to survive by relying on the title of General Xi Ying's wife. If Xi Ying were to become a concubine, how would he manage?

Seeing that Haisheng was preoccupied with his own thoughts and ignoring her, Xia'er playfully climbed onto his neck. Xia'er's fiery passion immediately made Haisheng forget what he had just been thinking, and he fell into Xia'er's gentle embrace.