Hailan blushed and stammered, "Besides the time he protected me on the way to the border, I also met him a few times in the palace and we talked. That's how I found out."

Judging from her expression, He Yue couldn't help but wonder if she was directly asking him if he had a wife, and she couldn't help but facepalm.

Her maid was even bolder than her.

He Yue felt that this matter was not easy to handle. If it were an ordinary person, it would be fine, but those who could enter the palace as guards all came from families with extraordinary backgrounds and had wives.

"What do you like about him? He's so much older than you and already has a wife. Why don't I find you a better one and make you his legal wife?" He Yue coaxed gently, trying to dispel her infatuation.

Hailan shook her head without hesitation: "This servant has someone in her heart and does not want to wrong her future husband, nor does she want to wrong herself."

Heyue's head is throbbing; she's such a worry!

Why learn from those who are virtuous and chaste?

"If he were willing to take you as a concubine, would you be willing to follow him?" Heyue asked tentatively.

Hailan's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously: "Of course I'm willing."

He Yue: "..." I really want to curse him for being so spineless, what should I do?

It seems that only Thirteen can help with this matter; let's see if he can persuade Narashi to take Hailan as a concubine.

Although she was extremely unwilling to watch Hailan become a concubine, she seemed determined to make sure Laxi didn't want her.

Heyue couldn't bear to see her remain unmarried for the rest of her life and become an old maid.

However, that doesn't stop Heyue from making other plans for her, just in case Hailan changes her mind someday.

That evening, Heyue told Thirteen about it.

Upon hearing this, Thirteen's eyes widened immediately, mirroring He Yue's surprised expression: "You have excellent taste, girl!"

He Yue raised her chin: "She's my maid, after all. How could her taste be so bad?"

Thirteen adored her proud little face and smiled indulgently: "Alright, alright, I'll ask for you right away. Although Laxi comes from the Upper Three Banners of Mongolia, it's not a problem for her to be a concubine. The problem is Laxi, I don't know if he's willing."

"If he is willing, that would be best. If Rashid is not willing, I do not want Hailan to suffer, so I will not force her. I will definitely change Hailan's mind and find her another good marriage."

"By the way, don't pressure Rashi into taking Hailan as a concubine; otherwise, the two of them will only become a resentful couple," Heyue warned him.

Thirteen nodded repeatedly, hugged Heyue tightly, and kissed her forehead: "Don't worry, I know what's important."

His hand caressed her belly, his eyes filled with warmth as he gazed at her expectantly: "Heyue, it's been so long since I've touched you. I asked the imperial physician, and he said that as long as you're gentle, it'll be fine for the baby. You see, we..."

He Yue's ears felt itchy and tingly from the hot breath he was breathing.

She hadn't been intimate with Thirteen for a long time, and although she longed for it, she was ultimately more rational than him and able to control herself.

Seeing his hungry wolf-like appearance, Heyue swallowed hard. She was afraid that he might hurt the child without knowing his own strength, but she couldn't bear to continue to wrong him, so she hesitated.

Ignoring her wishes, Thirteen directly slipped his hand inside her undergarments.

He Yue trembled, immediately feeling a tingling sensation. She grabbed his arm tightly with both hands, trying to stop him: "Don't... hurt the child."

I originally wanted to tell him not to do that, to be careful not to hurt the child, but because my voice was trembling, he interpreted it as me not wanting to hurt the child, or that I was doing it on purpose.

"Don't worry, I'll be gentle and won't hurt them." Thirteen smiled, his gaze tender as he leaned over her, carefully avoiding her stomach.

Pregnant Heyue was no match for Thirteen, and he quickly stripped her of her clothes.

...

Since Heyue became pregnant, she has become less domineering than before, and her body has become much more sensitive.

In the past, if she didn't want Thirteen to touch her, Heyue would rather fight him than let him succeed.

Although she is pregnant and has physical discomfort, she still follows his wishes.

Thirteen naturally sensed this, and became much bolder, even more unscrupulous than before her pregnancy. She used every means to make Heyue sweat profusely, pant heavily, and beg for mercy repeatedly.

The next day, before going to court, Thirteen dressed, leaned down and kissed the still sleeping Heyue on the cheek, his eyes full of satisfaction and pride: "If you are tired, rest a little longer. I'm going to the palace first."

Heyue snorted softly, not wanting to pay him any attention.

Afterwards, Heyue was exceptionally charming and languid, exuding an alluring, bewitching aura. Thirteen suppressed the heat coursing through his body, shyly averted his gaze, and strode out of the room.

Heyue got up late in the morning, and, with the help of her maid, went for a walk in the garden to get some exercise.

Back in the room, Heyue clutched her lower back and complained of exhaustion. As expected of her pregnancy, her stamina was not as good as before, and she couldn't keep up even after walking for a short while.

Knowing that it was because he was tired last night, he couldn't help but feel a little resentful towards Thirteen.

Because of Hailan's own wishes, Heyue temporarily agreed to let her stay, saying they would discuss it later, and finalized the matter of Chun Ya and Chen Xing, the son of the steward Chen Kui.

Tinglan's matter has been settled, and Tinglan herself has not objected, so the matter is temporarily put to rest.

Because several maids had gotten married, the number of first-class maids needed to be replenished, so Heyue selected four clever and well-mannered maids from the second-class maids, named Hongmei, Lanxiang, Qingrong, and Qiuxiang.

To make them easier to remember, Heyue renamed them Zhimei, Zhilan, Zhizhu, and Zhiju.

Once the students were chosen, Chun Ya and Hai Lan were tasked with teaching them.

That afternoon, Yan Yue brought Ruo Yu to visit He Yue.

One-and-a-half-year-old Ruoyu had rosy cheeks and a cute and adorable appearance. After being put down by the nanny, she walked over briskly, grabbed Yanyue's skirt, and looked around. Her eyes were bright and she had a clever and quick mind.

Heyue hadn't seen Ruoyu for a long time and was surprised to find that she had grown up so much.

Yan Yue raised her eyebrows proudly: "My daughter, isn't she adorable?"

He Yue curled her lip. How shameless of her to flaunt someone else's daughter as if she were her own.

Perhaps because of her pregnancy, Heyue was unusually maternal at this moment. She looked at Ruoyu with gentle eyes and beckoned, "Ruoyu, come here."

Ruoyu stared at Heyue with wide, curious eyes, but didn't go over. She tightly gripped Yanyue's skirt with one small hand, looked up at Yanyue, and softly called out, "Mother."

Her big eyes blinked, as if she were asking Yan Yue for help.

My heart melted with joy.

No wonder they say daughters are a mother's little cotton-padded jacket; even she loves them.

"This is your auntie. Come on, say hello to your auntie." Yan Yue picked up Ruo Yu, placed her on her lap, and gently taught her.

Ruoyu put a finger in her mouth, stared blankly at Heyue for a moment, and then uttered two words in confusion: "Aunt...Aunt?"

Yan Yue nodded, stroked her soft hair, and smiled broadly: "Ruoyu is such a good girl."

Ruoyu looked up at Yanyue, then at Heyue, and blurted out, "Auntie...Auntie, can I eat this?"

He Yue: "..."

Yan Yue: "..."

Yan Yue smiled sheepishly and reminded her, "Auntie can't eat, but she can play with Ruoyu."

Ruoyu's eyes lit up, and she immediately stretched out her chubby little hand to Heyue, smiling sweetly, "Auntie... play..."