Rain was born as a fully formed male fetus.

  For her, who had been out of favor for a long time, and was in the midst of wind and rain, without any backing, isolated and helpless, she could only fantasize about her mother's nobility. This was not just a heavy and fatal blow to her. So much so that when she saw Biyu sitting beside her, holding a bowl of medicine and urging her to eat, with her smooth and delicate skin, full and tender breasts, and the hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth, no matter how she looked at it, she felt like it was the triumphant and showy expression of someone who had achieved their goal.

  Yu Tong was somewhat dazed, suddenly remembering that He had been taken away long ago, leaving only her alone, and she ended up in such a predicament... And all of this was bestowed upon her by the fake and hypocritical woman in front of her. Her originally cold body suddenly burst into flames, using all her remaining strength to take advantage of Biyu's carelessness, pouncing forward, wrapping her arms around Biyu's neck, sending Biyu tumbling to the ground, and then scratching Biyu's beautiful face with both claws.

  Bixi was secretly rejoicing, thinking that she had finally secured her position as the only heir. But before she could even celebrate, she was suddenly knocked to the ground by a strong force, her neck tightly wrapped and unable to breathe. As soon as she came to, her face began to burn with pain, and all she could hear was Yutong's cries: "You heartless woman! You pretended to be kind to me but were actually harming me all along! Are you satisfied now? Give back my child's life!" The incident happened so suddenly that Bixi had no time to react. Her first instinct after regaining consciousness was to protect her face with all her might. Fortunately, the maids by her side reacted quickly and immediately lifted Yutong off of her, helping her up. Bixi sat down, trembling, and said: "Bring me a mirror."

  She hesitated for a moment, then took the mirror from the Rain Pavilion and handed it to her. Biyu disliked that she held it too far away and couldn't see clearly, insisting on holding it herself to take a closer look. After just one glance, she suddenly let out a mournful cry, immediately smashing the mirror to the ground and wailing miserably. Her beautiful face was scratched like this; at that moment, she wanted to kill Rain so badly.

  Guo the elder sister, who had been taking care of Yutong from the beginning, felt that her hard work for half a year was all in vain. Not only did she not get any reward, but she would also be held responsible. Just as she was feeling frustrated, she heard Yutong crying non-stop and Biyu joining in, making her mood even worse. Irritated, she said: "Auntie! If the wound on your face gets dirty with tears or makeup, it might leave a scar."

  Bi Yu was so frightened that she stood still for a moment, biting her handkerchief hard, looking up with her head held high, and forcing back her tears. "I'll just sit here and wait for Master to come and do justice for me!" she exclaimed. "This wicked creature has ruined her own child, and now she wants to pull someone else down with her! She can't bear the thought of anyone being better than herself - what kind of heart is that?"

  Yu Tong lay on the bed, looking at her with a cold smile: "Ugly eight, see how you harm people in the future."

  Biyu let out a loud, high-pitched "Ah..." and then fell silent, her hands on her hips as if she was about to pounce, but in the end didn't. She turned around and ran outside, saying that she wanted to go see Qi Furen and Liu Chong to avenge herself.

  Liu Chang followed Yu Tong's servant to the outside of Yu Tong's small courtyard, and before he even entered the yard, he heard a commotion inside. Two women were shouting at each other, one after another, saying something about fairness and justice, and something about a dog-like thing. Liu Chang frowned in disgust and turned to leave, but the servant saw that things weren't going well and rushed over to block his way, kneeling down in front of him and refusing to let him go, repeatedly saying that Yu Tong was pitiful, and that little Gong was even more pitiful.

  Liu Chuan wasn't very interested in Qi'er, let alone the vague "child" of Yu Tong, who had only slept with him a few times and was already pregnant. Everyone felt sorry for her, but he felt even more so. He just thought that this woman's non-stop chatter was really annoying, and he kicked her to the side and walked straight ahead.

  Bi Yu burst out in a rage, just in time to see Liu Cheng's back, and suddenly her angry face turned into sobs, her swift steps became stumbling, but she didn't slow down at all. She waved her handkerchief and took small quick steps towards Liu Cheng, and at the right moment, she fell down in front of him with a thud, lifted up her blood-stained face and pitifully said to Liu Cheng: "Master, you must save your concubine!"

  Liu Chang saw her face and was frightened, turning his head away, reluctantly stretching out his hand to help her up, frowning: "How did it become like this?"

  Yu Tong burst out laughing and chased after her: "It was me who did it! Who told her to abort my child!" She glared at Liu Chang with a gloomy expression, gritting her teeth and saying word by word: "A life for a life!"

  Yu Tong's hair was disheveled, her clothes were in disarray, and she leaned against the door frame, still shaking uncontrollably. Her face was deathly pale, with no hint of blood color, except for a pair of eyes that shone black and bright with hatred and madness. Liu Cheng couldn't help but shiver again. He numbly looked at Yu Tong's hate-filled gaze, then at Biyu who was quietly crying beside him, and felt an inexplicable sense of frustration and despair well up inside him.

  Madam Zhu led a group of robust and imposing matrons, their faces stern and foreboding, as they hastened over. Wherever they passed, a chill wind seemed to follow. The group arrived before Liu Chong, and in unison, they paid their respects with a bow. Madam Zhu's face was solemn as she spoke: "Young Master, I have been entrusted by the mistress to investigate this matter." As if not noticing Biyu's disheveled state, she gave a subtle signal to the matrons beside her, who then divided into two groups without revealing their intentions. One group went to restrain Biyu, while the other went to support Yutong.

  At this moment, Biyu's intelligence and wit were all brought out. She shouted at the several women not to touch her, desperately clinging to Liu Cheng's side, sobbing: "Master, I didn't do anything... You must believe me, I already have Qi'er..."

  Aunt Zhu coldly interrupted her words: "Young lady, don't be impatient, what's true can't be faked, and what's fake can't be made true, in the end justice will be served!"

  Bi Yu was so scared that she almost died. Once the truth of the matter came out, would her face still be able to be saved? Now that Gong Ye had a beautiful princess, could he still look at her again? That's impossible! Without her, could Qi Er grow up safely? It's likely not possible either. She anxiously looked at Liu Cheng and bitterly begged: "Gong Ye! Please, you have to save me!"

  Liu Chang furrowed his brow and looked at Zhu Niangniang: "This matter is indeed very suspicious, it must be investigated to the end! Whoever did it will definitely not have a good death."

  Zhu's wife smiled triumphantly at Biyu, but before she could retract her smile, Liu Cheng said: "First ask the doctor to come and take a look at them, then bring them over for me to question personally."

  Zhu's face stiffened, and she forced a laugh: "Master, this is not something that can be handled by the elderly. Don't worry, Madam has already given instructions, and we must get to the bottom of it, so no one will be wronged. I am also..." She couldn't finish her sentence because she saw a sinister glint in Liu's eyes, and she couldn't bear it, lowering her head and whispering: "Yes..." Then she turned around and scolded the servant who followed her: "What are you waiting for? Go and invite the doctor to come quickly!"

  Bi Yu looked at Liu Chang with a worshipful and grateful gaze: "I really dare not, Master, this is someone framing me."

  Liu Chang pursed his thin lips tightly and said coldly after a long time, "Don't be stupid! From now on, get out of my sight when something like this happens."

  Although the tone was harsh, Biyu still deeply felt the care and tenderness inside, she wished to cut out her heart with both hands and present it to Liu Chong. If not for fear of tears falling on the wound, she would have generously offered her crystal-like tears to Liu Chong. She knelt in front of Liu Chong, tightly hugging his knees, suddenly enlightened, speaking softly and slowly: "Master, I'm not a fool, you can rest assured, I understand. From now on, whatever you want me to do, I'll do it, absolutely won't act on my own."

  Liu Chuan really liked this sentence, he felt that since then, it was this sentence that made him feel more comfortable. He stroked Biyu's hair and said gently: "Get up, take good care of Qi'er. I'll go see Yu Tong and tell her not to hate you."

  Bi Yuqiang endured wave after wave of surging acid, and finally nodded his head, gently and obediently sending him out the door. Liu Chuan went to Yutong's room again, but Yutong's room was as silent as death, with a strong smell of blood that was hard to bear, dark and gloomy, without even a lit lamp, and not even a servant in sight.

  Liu Chuan had just lifted the curtain when he was violently bumped into by a small stool, hitting his shin bone and causing him to kick out in pain and curse loudly. From the darkness came Yu Tong's cold laughter: "Don't curse anymore, everyone has been arrested by Zhu."

  Liu Chang angrily said: "What about others? Are they all freeloaders?"

  Yu Tong smiled and said: "The tree has fallen, the monkeys have scattered. I've become like this, who will still care about my life or death? It's already good that they haven't driven me out of this room."

  Liu Chang stood there for a moment, and a strong sense of sadness suddenly filled his chest. He felt like crying. After a long while, he said, "Do you want to drink some water?"

  Yu Tong was silent for half a day before saying: "On the table by the window outside, there are fire tongs, flint and candles."

  Liu Chang felt around in the past, and after a while, he finally touched something, but couldn't get it. Yu Tong struggled to get out of bed, silently made his way to his side, took over the flint and steel, and lit the fire with ease, lighting up the candles.

  The faint candlelight dispelled the darkness in the room, Liu Chuan poured a glass of water for Yu Tong, and the two sat facing each other, silent for a long time. After a while, Liu Chuan finally said: "This kind of thing, you have the most say in your heart, what's it like, tell me."

  Yu Tong glanced at him: "The people around me are all sent by the madam, and usually only have more dealings with Aunt Biyu."

  Liu Chang stood up and said, "This matter may not be done by Biyu. You should take care of yourself, the future is still long. I will arrange someone else to take care of you here, just speak up if you want to eat or use something." Yutong felt that his words seemed to have another meaning, but she couldn't understand it. However, since he came to visit her and showed kindness and concern, the panic, despair, and resentment in her heart were like a fire that was extinguished by water, gradually dying out.

  Liu Chuan had originally intended to go and discuss with Madame Qi, but after a moment's thought, he turned around and left the inner courtyard, calling out Autumn Truth to give him detailed instructions. Autumn Truth took his orders and went off to make inquiries without mentioning anything about the arrangements. Liu Chuan stood outside the study under the large old pear tree, a cold smile spreading across his face. How dare they think him foolish? Before he had even entered the door, they were already trying to suppress him? Fine, let's see! His life, which had been somewhat aimless up until then, suddenly seemed to have found its target.

  And without mentioning how lively the Liu family was, Yuexia hurried back to the He family, and as soon as she entered the door, she asked for a large cup of water to quench her thirst, wiped the sweat from her face, and then went to look for Mudan. After asking, Mudan and Sunshi had not returned yet, they had gone to the Taoist temple to visit the pre-ordered peony flowers and paeonies, so she could only sit on the corridor, took out a white silk fan to fan herself and cool down, and told Lin mama about what happened at the Hou Mansion today: "I was several times unable to hold back, wanting to tell Madame Bai that matter, it's really hard for me to bear."

  Lin's mother said: "Fortunately, it wasn't mentioned. Otherwise, Madame Bai might think that Dan Niang sent her the incense just to curry favor with her, and even the best incense would lose its fragrance."

  Yu He Dao: "If it doesn't work out with the Li family, in the end we'll still have to go there."

  Suddenly, a flushed face appeared, with sweat dripping from her forehead: "If I really ask her, when the time comes, I'll personally go to her door. Giving her gifts and asking for favors are two different things."

  Yu Hehao happily went up: "You're back?" On the one hand, he handed over a towel, on the other hand, he instructed Huoer and Kuaner to fetch clean clothes.

  Peony snatched the fan from her hand, fanned herself desperately a few times, gulped down half a cup of tea, and wiped her face with a handkerchief before complaining: "This awful weather is killing me! Today's outing was really unlucky!"

  Yu He blinked her eyes and smiled: "You're not having a good day either? I stepped on a pile of dog poop when I went out today."

  "Ha! No wonder, I smelled a stench as soon as I came in, and it was you who brought it back. What happened to you?"

  Yu He smiled and said: "You first say yours."

  "Alas, I've been to nearly ten Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries today, but couldn't even buy a single peony or paeonia. As soon as I open my mouth, they say it's already been pre-ordered by someone at a high price. Even if I offer more money, I still can't get any, and they just palm off some inferior varieties on me. It's frustrating that no matter how much money I spend, I still can't find out who this idle rich person is."

  If it were only one or two Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries like this, she wouldn't think it's strange. But having run to so many places in a row, all of which are like this, she can't help but feel that something is off. Although she made a quick decision, grabbed the time and went to Si Lang's shop, asked Si Lang to immediately dispatch more than ten apprentices to go to other temples to inquire about the situation, wanting to grab the good kind before that person does. But she has a faint premonition, fearing that these people will also be running in vain. Also because she remembers Li Yuan's words, she can only return home first and wait.

  Yu He heard this and frowned, saying: "It sounds like you're intentionally trying to make it so I won't be able to buy it." Then she recounted the events on her side again, handing over the two green-enameled ivory tubes that Madame Bai had given her. She smiled and said: "Madame Bai is really a kind person. You quickly open it and take a look, how's the lip balm she made? The servant girls are so curious they can't stand it."

  The peony opened one of the ivory tubes, but it was a purple lip balm similar to today's lipstick. The other ivory tube contained pink lip balm. The two lip balms had different colors and fragrances, but both were fragrant and smelled good.

  Yu He handed the handkerchief that had previously been used to wrap the lip balm to Xu Er and said, "Smell it, it's so fragrant. I'm afraid the fragrance will linger for several days without dissipating. I've heard that the imperial lip balm given out by the palace every year contains over a dozen types of fragrances. I suppose Bai Furen's is no exception."

  Mrs. Lin said, "What's so special about the palace? Second Brother got a pipe from Uncle Li and figured out what it was all about. It's just made with fourteen different fragrances like Gansong Xiang, Aina Xiang, Cang'er Xiang, Mao Xiang, Lvyin Xiang, Lingling Xiang, Shengcai Xiang, Que Tou Xiang, Suhe Xiang, Ba Jiao Xiang, Bai Tan Xiang, Ding Xiang, She Xiang and Jia Jian. The white one has a delicate orchid fragrance, the purple one has plum blossom scent, probably with some differences in formula. However, it's very suitable for our Dan Niang to use." As she spoke, she sternly glanced at Peony: "You've gotten tanned again! From now on, use that mung bean paste with white angelica and white atractylodes to clean your hands and face morning and night."

  "Alas, I don't want to be dark either, but what can I do? Riding a horse is the most convenient way to get things done. Can't just sit under an awning for the sake of sunbathing, that would take up too much time. After this period, it will naturally turn white." She handed the lip balm to Yuhe and asked, "Has Li's cousin not sent anyone to respond yet?"

  Kuang Er came out from behind the screen of woven reeds and said: "The water temperature is just right."

  Lin's mother hurriedly pushed Peony behind the screen, and after washing up, she changed into a casual, cool, single-layer moon-white short jacket with a matching six-panel long skirt. She casually tied her half-dry hair into a ponytail, grabbed a fan, and went to look for Mrs. Cen to talk and wait for news.

  Until the hour of You Zheng, Li Yuan's most trusted long-time follower, Ji Li Fang, came to report that Ning Wang was unaware of this matter. The steward Deng in the estate was only a second-rate manager, but he was the nephew of the Grand Steward of the palace. It is not yet clear whether this matter has anything to do with the Grand Steward, but one thing is certain: someone indeed has their sights set on Fangyuan Garden. Li Yuan's place was also busy, telling Peony to be careful and not to get into disputes with anyone, just drag it out for these two days, and he would find a way to resolve it later. He also gave a list of the names, official positions, addresses, and hobbies of the people who lived in the estates downstream from Peony's river.

  Peony secretly thought, it's better if Ning Wang doesn't know. Although Li Yuan didn't completely let go like before when she and He Zhizhong made the worst assumptions, these past few days have been a delicate matter that requires careful planning to get through safely. After all, she had spoken in front of Deng Guan Shi and pushed Li Yuan out, so it's inevitable that they would also come to probe her weaknesses during these two days. If they're clever and determined to take over Fangyuan, they'll inevitably stir up some trouble within the next two days, something even Jiang Changyang might not be able to suppress.

  Li Yuan handed this paper to himself, clearly indicating that he would calm these people down first and not get involved in this matter. However, the words "never have a dispute with others" sounded somewhat off, and Peony thought about it, becoming more anxious, so she wrote a letter, briefly explaining the situation, instructing Wu Lang to be careful, and asking him to arrange for Hu Da Lang to find the tenant farmers who helped repair the river in the past, making preparations for future testimony. Then she called a reliable old house servant, gave him some money, and instructed: "Ride a horse to the village immediately and deliver this letter to my fifth brother. You don't have to come back tonight."

  As soon as the messenger left, Peony was busy discussing with Mrs. Cen about the hobbies of the Li family and preparing gifts according to what Li Yuan had written. Seeing that it was getting late, she couldn't wait until dawn and immediately took the things and went to visit the family.

  Madam Cen saw that she was sweating again and couldn't help but comfort her: "What's the hurry? These things have always been up to man, and if it's really gone, don't worry, we can just buy another piece of land and start over."

  The peony smiled and said, "Good." She knew that rushing would not help, but how could she not rush? Wu Lang was alone there, and it was unknown whether he could take care of himself or encounter any danger. Moreover, even if she went to the official's residence tomorrow to ask for an audience, it was uncertain whether they would agree to see her.

  As soon as He Zhizhong and others returned home, Peony rushed over to pull He Zhizhong, whispering for half a day. Compared to her anxious mood, He Zhizhong was very calm: "Don't worry about your fifth brother, no news is good news. As for these people's families..." He tapped the paper: "These few households have never been known to bully or oppress anyone before, you go try first and then say again. Heaven will not abandon people, there are always ways. Think carefully again, can't you think of any other way?"

  The peony pouted and said with a spoiled tone: "I'm stupid! I really can't think of anything."

  He Zhizhong just smiled and didn't speak, Peony became more anxious, took a fan and fanned desperately, suddenly had an idea, patted her head: "I'm really stupid! Who designed this garden? It was obviously designed by Master Fuyuan! Didn't he design a garden for the princess? Although I couldn't expect him to help me solve the problem, inviting this Buddha to calm down for two days is still possible." A famous gardener like Master Fuyuan, the more dignitaries who know him, the different weight of his words and hers. If those people made trouble in front of Master Fuyuan, he would also be a personal witness, as long as he was willing to speak up for her at critical moments, she would achieve her goal.

  Although she didn't know what she was thinking, whether the things she arranged would work in the end, she still did her best and did everything she could. This is her property, the foundation of her career, and she can't let it be taken away like this.

  Xue's wife suddenly rushed in and said: "Dan Niang, your fourth brother is back, and he brought that Zhang Wu Lang with him. He says he has something to discuss with you."