At this moment, the maid outside announced.

"Master, Mistress, Aunt Zhuang requests to see you."

The matron’s expression turned displeased.

As long as the Second Prince was with the lady, Aunt Zhuang would find a way to vie for favor. The lady didn’t mind, even treating Aunt Zhuang well, hoping she would whisk the man away.

As expected. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Yao Ru was exceptionally magnanimous: "She is with child, let her in quickly."

The maid invited Aunt Zhuang in.

Aunt Zhuang wore a pink silk dress embroidered with flowers and butterflies, her hair adorned with pearls, her gaze alluring.

Though only three months pregnant, she intentionally protruded her belly, swaggering in.

The maids inside couldn’t help but spit.

"Such a vixen, pah!"

Ying Zhi saw Aunt Zhuang entering: "Why are you here?"

"I heard, Master, that you were upset, and I was truly worried."

Seeing Ying Zhi sitting there unharmed, Aunt Zhuang clasped her hands in prayer: "Thank the Bodhisattva you’re alright."

She wiped her tears: "Otherwise, what would we do?"

Ying Zhi’s expression softened.

Clearly, he was quite taken by this act.

"You do care for me."

Aunt Zhuang’s tone was excessively dramatic: "Oh, you are my sky, the one I keep in my heart! How could I not worry about you?"

Just arriving to secretly observe Yao Ru’s living condition, Yu Tingwan: ...

She had just sat on the rooftop and was already disgusted.

However...

She remembered every word.

Next time she whispers sweet words, she would say Wei Zhao is her sky.

Yu Tingwan thought, Wei Zhao would be moved to tears!

Ying Zhi, unaware of being watched, drank his tea thoughtfully: "Mrs. Yao. Since I arrived, you haven’t asked if I’m ill."

Yao Ru: ...

Good people don’t live long, while troublemakers persist for a thousand years. How could anything happen to Ying Zhi?

Even if something were to happen, with the assets she had accumulated over the years, she could still raise their son well.

Yao Ru looked up and stood as the servants set all the meals on the table.

"Aunt Zhuang, have you eaten? Why not join us here?"

She showed no intention of waiting for Aunt Zhuang’s reply, directly instructing the matron: "Fetch an extra set of dishes and chopsticks."

Aunt Zhuang then remembered and curtsied towards Yao Ru.

"Look at me, only thinking about the master, I forgot to greet Mistress."

"Thank you, Mistress, for your kindness."

"Mistress, please don’t mind me eating a lot. Being with child, my appetite has improved."

Yao Ru remained indifferent.

She didn’t care at all about what Aunt Zhuang said or her flirting with Ying Zhi right in front of her.

"Master."

The steward hurriedly reported from outside.

"The White Tiger is at the door, digging a big hole in its urgency."

"The people below didn’t know what to do. This old servant dared to open a crack and saw the tiger had written a word on the ground."

Ying Zhi tried to stay calm: "What word?"

"Hungry."

Yu Tingwan was pleased.

That Hu Dongxi was taking good care of itself outside.

"It’s demanding food."

This was not written by Fu Meng.

He was literate, but not much.

It must have been translated by Qingya!

Aunt Zhuang was disgusted: "A beast is after all a beast, so unruly."

"If I were the Master, I would have disciplined it long ago. How dare it demand food?"

Ying Zhi sneered, setting down his teacup heavily: "Is it your place to speak?"

"Do you even know who raised it?"

The Duke Mansion would soon have visitors. He couldn’t act out but had to entertain them and use today’s incident to make Wei Zhao owe him a favor.

Even though it frustrated him.

But such an opportunity laid before him; not using it would be foolish.

Aunt Zhuang realized her mistake and quickly fell silent.

Ying Zhi rubbed his aching brow: "If it wants it, give it to it."

Such a small matter, how could it need his decision?

"But..."

The butler hesitated: "Making the rice noodle meat takes time, just the marinating lasts nearly half an hour."

"It refuses to wait. If made poorly, it might cause trouble again."

Yu Tingwan: ...

It has quite the taste.

The butler wiped the sweat off his forehead, bowing his head: "Today, only Madam has ordered this dish, so this old servant dared to ask."

Yao Ru showed little reaction and glanced at the matron.

The matron took the rice steamed meat from the table and handed it over.

The butler repeatedly thanked: "Thank you, Mistress, for your generosity."

"Master!"

A young servant came running.

"Someone has arrived."

Yu Tingwan: ??

She glanced at Tan Jiang.

Have they been discovered?

Inside, Ying Zhi stood up.

He knew Wei Zhao’s health wasn’t good and normally wouldn’t show up, but caring about that beast, he would surely send someone over.

Whether it was Chi Yu or Rong Di.

They were all people who could make decisions.

He calculated, heading out: "They arrived sooner than I expected."

"Who has come?"

Servant: "Heir Xiao."

Ying Zhi: ???

"What’s he doing here?"

Is Wei Family’s matter under his jurisdiction?

Causing trouble, perhaps!

Recalling Xiao Huaian’s usual disruptive conduct, Ying Zhi couldn’t dismiss him.

He strode out.

The servant hurried to follow, whispering: "As soon as Heir Xiao arrived, he scolded the White Tiger for being unruly."

"Heir Xiao declared he was here to support you against injustice."

Ying Zhi... wasn’t very trusting.

After walking a few steps.

Another servant rushed by.

Ying Zhi: ...

"Master, Prince Ning has arrived."

The servant kept his head down, fearing Ying Zhi’s anger.

"Prince Ning dismounted and loudly shouted... shouted for you to come out."

The servant nervously glanced at Ying Zhi, observing his expression.

"He also said..."

Ying Zhi: "Say it!"

The servant mimicked Ning Yunling’s tone, repeating word for word.

——"Fu Meng, are you alright? I was dining at the restaurant when I heard the Second Prince ran over you with a carriage?"

——"You are my cousin’s gem, you cannot afford any mishaps."

Ying Zhi: ???

Could black be turned into white?

Who hit whom?!!

He was truly infuriated by Ning Yunling’s shamelessness.

Ying Zhi began to feel uneasy, quickening his pace.

But he hadn’t gone far when another servant came running.

Ying Zhi: ...

"Master, Lord Imperial Censor He, passing by, just happened to witness."

"Lord Imperial Censor advised Fu Meng to leave quickly, not to cause chaos."

Finally, someone who could discern right from wrong.

Ying Zhi was about to breathe a sigh of relief.

"The White Tiger refused, and when Mr. He found out it wanted compensation, he personally offered money."

But Fu Meng wasn’t a money-hungry tiger!

It always knew to find the source of grievances.

"It refused to accept."

"Mr. He then instructed the young servant to relay the message that he would have the pit filled later. He told you not to argue with a tiger that doesn’t understand human affairs. It had once contributed on the battlefield. Quickly give it some money and settle it. Why hesitated to give it?"

"And... also asked us to quickly provide food."

"Once the matter is settled, he’s willing to help send the tiger back."

Ying Zhi, who had brought trouble upon himself: ...

Fine.

His plan to see his niece had backfired right in his face.

Each and every one, truly splendid!