C19

"Hand it over," Feng Changge said coldly.

The more she spoke, the tighter Chunshu gripped the item in her hand.

"Give it to me!" Feng Changge, noticing Chunshu's extreme anxiety, instructed Biying, "Go and take it from her."

"Yes."

At this point, Chunshu knew she couldn't avoid it and obediently handed it to Biying.

Feng Changge examined it closely. It was a sachet, intricately embroidered, not something a servant like Chunshu should possess. Suspicion arose—was it stolen? Feng Changge squeezed it and brought it closer to her nose. The sachet had a peculiar scent, not just the usual floral aroma.

"What did you put in here?" Feng Changge asked, but Chunshu hesitated, unable to respond.

Musk. It was musk. After another sniff, Feng Changge recognized the scent. How could she forget the smell of musk after all her years in the palace?

Anger flashed in her eyes as she threw the sachet to the ground, demanding, "Speak! Where did this come from?"

Chunshu remained silent, dropping to her knees, trembling with fear. Seeing this, Feng Changge realized the girl knew exactly what was in the sachet. She pressed further, "You won't talk? If you don't, I'll take you to the matriarch. You dare to harm the Phoenix Duke's lineage? Let's see how many heads you have!"

At Feng Changge's words, Chunshu repeatedly kowtowed, pleading tearfully, "I was wrong, I... I truly can't say. Please, Miss, spare me! I was wrong!"

Can't say...

That was answer enough. Feng Changge understood who in the Phoenix Duke Mansion might want to prevent Liu Qinglan's child from being born, who had committed such a grave mistake yet couldn't be named.

Looking at Chunshu kneeling nearby, Feng Changge knew she couldn't stay. Turning to Biying, she said, "Give her this month's wages and let her go."

"No! No! Miss, I can't leave the Phoenix Duke Mansion. If I do, I won't survive. My family depends on me to take care of them, Miss..."

Feng Changge looked at Chunshu with genuine pity, but she couldn't afford to be soft-hearted. For her, trust wasn't something you gave twice.

"You should go. I'll make sure you have some extra money, but you must never return to the Phoenix Duke Mansion." With that, Feng Changge turned and walked away.

After handling the urgent matters at hand, Feng Changge went to see Liu Qinglan. If it were anyone else, she wouldn't have bothered, but this was Liu Qinglan, someone who had shown her kindness. She needed to repay that kindness.

Just as Feng Changge suspected, it was Xiao Yan. She was truly reckless, having sent Chunshu, a newly transferred and inexperienced maid, to do such a dangerous task. If an investigation led back to her, she wouldn't be able to escape the consequences.

On the night Liu Qinglan was due, everyone at the Phoenix Duke Mansion was waiting anxiously at the door. Even the old lady sat up all night, waiting for news.

After two and a half hours, the child was finally born.

The midwife, overjoyed, rushed out to announce it was a baby girl.

Everyone in the mansion breathed a sigh of relief, but Feng Changge knew this child's future wouldn't be peaceful. Years ago, before she was even a month old, her own child had been drowned. Liu Qinglan had been heartbroken, bedridden for months due to her frail health.

Looking at the weak Liu Qinglan lying on the bed, with the tiny baby girl beside her, Feng Changge felt a pang of envy. She once had a child, her little Qing...

"Changge, come hold her," Liu Qinglan said weakly, managing a faint smile.

"But I'm afraid I might make her uncomfortable."

"It's okay. I see the way your eyes light up. You really like her."

Feng Changge stepped forward, carefully cradling the baby girl as if she were a rare treasure, showing her utmost tenderness. As she looked at the child, a chill ran through her heart. Who would want to harm such a fragile little one? Why would anyone want to hurt her again?

She gently placed the baby beside Liu Qinglan, her gaze firm. "Don't worry, ma'am. I won't let anyone harm the child. No one can."

Seeing Feng Changge's serious expression, Liu Qinglan smiled softly and said, "It's alright. She's just a girl. Who would want to take her life?"

Little did she know, even though this was a baby girl, she was born in the Phoenix Duke Mansion. In the future, she would have to fight for her place in a world where battles are fought without gunpowder. The entire Phoenix Duke Mansion, the whole royal palace, and the entire Heaven Moon Country were all part of this intricate game.

That day, Feng Changge had specifically requested some plum soup from the kitchen and personally brought it to Liu Qinglan. After giving birth, Liu Qinglan's appetite had been poor, often leaving her too weak to speak if she skipped a meal. Feng Changge's presence seemed to lift her spirits.

At the door of Liu Qinglan's bedroom, the maid Qian'er was waiting outside. She reported that Liu Qinglan was still asleep, feeling extremely fatigued after breakfast.

Feng Changge nodded, handed the plum soup to Qian'er, and reminded her to warm it up before serving, ensuring it wasn't too cold. Leaving Liu Qinglan's courtyard, Feng Changge felt a strong urge to see the child. She then headed with Biying towards Qinxi Residence, where the nursemaid lived.