The past few days had indeed been difficult for Xie Zhixue, and Ping'an had suffered right along with her. Most pitiful of all was the child; having been in the Crown Prince's Estate for only three or four days, he had already run a fever twice and had nearly been thrown to the dogs by Yuwenzhang. Mother Chen, though an outsider, felt a deep sense of heartache watching it all.
"Miss Xie, this matter is known only to heaven, to earth, to you, and to me. You must never tell a third person—not even Ping'an. Children speak with such guileless honesty; if word of this reaches the Prince's ears, my old life will surely be forfeit."
"I understand."
Chapter 18