Heshen opened his eyes and asked, "What crime have you committed?"

Jiwen picked up her pen, lifted the white cloth covering Heshen's desk, and added a pair of eyes to the unfinished portrait of Heshen. She then pulled out a silk handkerchief embroidered with lilies from her waist, covering the portrait's face except for the eyes. "I married you, sir, when you were studying at the official school. Nearly ten years have passed. How could I not know your thoughts? Since I know your thoughts, yet cannot share your burdens, I am guilty!"

Heshen's crescent-shaped eyes misted over slightly, and he smiled faintly, "She is now the General's wife!" Then he closed his eyes again.

Jiwen raised the lily-patterned handkerchief to cover the eyes of the portrait, her jade-like fingers trying to smooth Heshen's deeply furrowed brows, but to no avail. "Since you know she is the General's wife, why can't you let go! The ancients often used red beans to relieve the sorrow of unrequited love, but those tiny red beans only intensify the sorrow of the lovesick. Little do they know that seeing objects and thinking of loved ones only makes the longing heavier!"

Heshen knew what Jiwen meant, but he preferred to look into Nalan's eyes to ease his longing. Seeing that Heshen was unmoved by her words, Jiwen sighed, curtsied, and withdrew.

Supported by Rongxi, Xiang'er limped out of the courtyard gate and shouted at the guards blocking her way, "I want to see the general!" The guards, sword in hand, saluted and said, "Please ask Aunt Lian to return to Furong Garden!"

The guards at Furong Garden suddenly increased, and Xiang'er guessed that something had happened to You Yuanzhi, but she was no match for them. Xiang'er had no choice but to return to Furong Garden, hoping that Yan Ning would come to see her.

Yan Ning waited anxiously for Fukang'an, but he didn't return, so she went to Furong Garden alone. The guards outside the gate, swords in hand, saluted and said, "No one may enter without the general's order!" Yan Ning, mimicking Zhao Xing's tone from the military camp, retorted, "Insolence!"

The chief guard softened his tone slightly, "Please understand your subordinates, Madam!"

"But I have something to say to Aunt Lian. I'll come out after I've finished!" Yan Ning knew they were just following orders and didn't want to make things difficult for them.

The guard's expression returned to its icy demeanor. "No one is to enter without the general's order!"

Before Yan Ning could speak, the courtyard gate opened, and Xiang'er stood behind it, supporting Rong Xi. Seeing Yan Ning, the tension on Xiang'er's face lessened slightly. "Yan Ning, has he been arrested by the general?"

Under the bright sunshine, Xiang'er saw through Yan Ning's expression. With You Yuanzhi arrested, Fukang'an would surely place her under house arrest, and her child would no longer be able to be hidden. Xiang'er's face gradually paled, then turned deathly pale.

“Aunt Lian…” Rongxi, supporting the unconscious Xiang’er, looked at Yan Ning helplessly.

Yan Ning wanted to step forward, but was stopped by the guards. "If anything happens to Aunt Lian, can you take responsibility? Hurry up and fetch a doctor!" The guards exchanged glances. Fukang'an had ordered them to guard Furong Garden, but he hadn't said that Xiang'er couldn't get medical treatment. After all, Xiang'er was a concubine, and if something happened to her, it wouldn't be their responsibility.

The chief guards made way for Yan Ning to enter. They then instructed one subordinate to fetch a doctor and another to report to Fukang'an, while they themselves led two men to guard the main room.

Through the thin bed curtains, the doctor took Xiang'er's pulse and first congratulated her on her pregnancy. Then, with a worried expression, he said, "Aunt Lian is deficient in qi and blood, and now she is also troubled by worries. I'm afraid she is prone to miscarriage." The doctor got up and went to the table to write a prescription. Rongxi lowered the curtains of the inner room and lifted the bed curtains to let Xiang'er see some light.

After the doctor finished writing, he said to Yan Ning, "I will first stabilize Aunt Lian's pregnancy, and then supplement her with warming and nourishing medicine. Remember not to let Aunt Lian worry too much!"

Yan Ning didn't quite understand the doctor's prescription, but she had seen the same doctor several times, so she trusted his prescriptions.

"Yan Ning!" Xiang'er's voice came from behind the curtain. Yan Ning lifted the curtain and went in, helping the weak Xiang'er to her feet. Xiang'er glanced at the handkerchief draped over her wrist and asked, "Has the doctor taken my pulse?"

Yan Ning nodded, and Xiang'er quickly grabbed Yan Ning's hand, "Yan Ning, now that You Yuanzhi has been arrested, my child and I are all in your hands! No matter how hostile I was to you before, please save my child's life. From now on, I, Li Xiang'er, will obey your every command!"

"Your subordinate greets the General!"

Before Xiang'er could finish speaking, the guard's voice, greeting Fukang'an, came from the courtyard.