Everyone was stunned yet again.
Every time they thought they had finally grown accustomed to Concubine Shen’s outrageous statements, she managed to say something even more outrageous.
Wave after wave.
Each one pushing their shock to a new peak.
By now, everyone completely believed it—
This was exactly how those famous Yangzhou courtesans operated. They specialized in saying astonishing things.
Not only had she shocked the heir.
Now she had shocked all of them too.
She truly was different from proper noble ladies.
No wonder the Jiangnan courtesans were so famous.
They really had methods.
Madam Ding abandoned all concern for dignity and twitched the corner of her mouth.
“…Very well. I’ll tentatively believe you. Have you told the heir these things?”
Shen Mianmian looked as honest as could be.
“I’ve gradually revealed some of it, but not everything. I’m afraid he wouldn’t be able to handle the shock all at once. That’s why he hasn’t visited me much lately and has been staying in Qingfeng Courtyard, slowly digesting it.”
Suddenly, the whole situation felt absurd to Madam Ding.
“You clearly know how to attract the heir’s attention. Why not continue using those tactics? Why expose your own scheme now?”
Shen Mianmian replied,
“Madam, a tactic is just a tactic. It can attract attention temporarily, but it can’t last forever.
“When the heir first heard those ideas, they felt fresh and novel, so he became interested in me. But novelty fades eventually.
“Rather than wait for him to grow bored and tire of me, I’d rather take the initiative and gradually reveal my vulgar and ordinary true self, allowing him to adjust slowly.
“Besides, the heir is kind-hearted and always considers my feelings. Even if I offend Madam, I can’t stand by and watch a rift form between mother and son.
“If I did something like that, surely I’d suffer divine retribution.”
Look at that.
She had neatly patched another loophole.
By emphasizing her fear of retribution, she was reinforcing the credibility of her earlier oath.
At that moment, she wanted to throw her head back and laugh.
A genius.
Nothing less.
Madam Ding sat there dumbfounded for quite a while.
Finally, she took several deep breaths.
“Enough. You may return.”
“Later, I’ll have writing materials delivered to you.”
She needed time to recover too.
“Yes. This servant takes her leave.”
This time, Shen Mianmian refrained from adding any unnecessary nonsense.
She rose, bowed respectfully, and left the reception hall.
As she walked happily along the stone path outside the main courtyard, her mood grew better and better.
The more she thought about it, the happier she became.
With today’s performance, she had successfully eliminated Madam Ding’s hostility.
From now on, whether Jiang Yinjin wanted to torment the cannon-fodder phoenix chick or torment his mother, it had nothing to do with her.
She had already made her position clear.
She had displayed just enough strength.
Jiang Yinjin was a smart woman.
Surely she wouldn’t keep targeting her.
From now on, Shen Mianmian would simply live peacefully with her nine hundred and ninety-nine copies of the Great Compassion Mantra.
She’d copy them for the rest of her life.
If 999 wasn’t enough—
Then 9,999.
She had plenty of free time.
Hanrong glanced at the woman beside her in confusion.
A bright smile covered Shen Mianmian’s beautiful face.
Her amber-like eyes sparkled like stars.
Her crimson lips curved into a crescent moon.
As someone who served Shen Mianmian daily, Hanrong was already used to her beauty.
Yet at this moment, she still couldn’t look away.
Shen Mianmian seemed like the sun itself.
Brilliant.
Dazzling.
Radiating an infectious joy so powerful that even Hanrong couldn’t help feeling happier.
…Even though she was technically a spy assigned to monitor her.
“Concubine…”
Hanrong spoke softly.
“You seem very happy.”
Shen Mianmian nodded.
“I am.”
“Why?”
The question escaped before Hanrong could stop herself.
Immediately afterward, she regretted it, worried she might arouse suspicion.
“Because I’m safe now.”
Shen Mianmian smiled.
“I pledged my loyalty to Madam, and for now she accepted it. As long as I live quietly from here on out, everything will be fine.”
“…”
Hanrong felt something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Yet she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.
…
Main Courtyard.
After Shen Mianmian left, Madam Ding returned to her room with Nurse Li.
At a glance from Madam Ding, Nurse Li dismissed all the servants.
Soon only the two of them remained.
Madam Ding asked,
“Ayuan, what do you think? How much of what Concubine Shen said today was true? How much was false?”
Nurse Li sighed.
“I honestly don’t know.”
“I’ve spent my entire life in the inner household and pride myself on reading people well.”
“But Concubine Shen…”
“I can’t see through her.”
She paused.
“If I judge solely by her words and behavior, I believe her.”
“But if I ignore what she says and look only at her position…”
“I simply cannot believe a young woman that beautiful has no desire to climb higher.”
The two women pondered for a long time.
Neither reached a conclusion.
At last, a sharp light flashed through Madam Ding’s eyes.
“Investigate.”
“Find out where the heir went and whom he met before coming here today.”
“If necessary, uncover his movements over the past several days.”
“Remember.”
“Do it secretly.”
“Don’t alert anyone.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Nurse Li immediately set people in motion.
Though Jiang Yinjin possessed memories from her previous life and considerable skill, she had only been married into the household for a few days.
Aside from Chuxue and Chuyu, she hadn’t yet gained control over many servants.
At present, the Marquis’s household still belonged to Madam Ding.
The investigation didn’t take long.
Soon, Nurse Li’s people returned with a report.
“Madam, this is what we learned.”
“The Young Madam first sent Chuxue to invite Concubine Shen to Peony Courtyard. There she learned that the heir had confined Concubine Shen for ten days.”
“Chuxue tried persuading her to visit Peony Courtyard, saying the heir’s punishment was merely spoken in anger.”
“Concubine Shen refused.”
“After hearing the report, the Young Madam personally went to Bright Moon Courtyard with Chuxue and Chuyu.”
“They spoke for some time.”
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t learn what was said. Only the Young Madam, Concubine Shen, Chuxue, Chuyu, and Hanrong were present.”
“When the Young Madam left, her mood wasn’t terrible, but it certainly wasn’t good.”
“Immediately afterward, Chuxue went to Qingfeng Courtyard to find the heir.”
“The heir hurried to Peony Courtyard.”
“And shortly after that, he came to see Madam.”
At this point, anyone familiar with inner-house politics could see the implications.
Madam Ding’s gaze cooled.
“It seems we truly wronged Concubine Shen.”
Nurse Li asked quietly,
“Madam believes the heir’s request to elevate Concubine Shen’s status was the Young Madam’s idea?”
“But why would the Young Madam do that?”
Madam Ding sighed.
“What other reason could there be?”
“Her husband refused to consummate their marriage on their wedding night.”
“Only days after the wedding, he wanted to elevate a concubine.”
“The newlyweds barely spend time together.”
“How could Yinjin not resent that?”
“She wanted to use my hand to eliminate Concubine Shen.”
Nurse Li nodded.
“Then what does Madam intend to do?”
“Pretend I never noticed.”
Madam Ding replied calmly.
“Life should continue as normal.”
“Yinjin’s resentment is understandable.”
“If Concubine Shen behaves herself, I’ll overlook things.”
“But if she causes trouble, I’ll drag her over and let Yinjin vent her anger.”
She paused.
Then suddenly changed her mind.
“No.”
“We can’t touch Concubine Shen for the time being.”
“Why?” Nurse Li asked.
A trace of bitterness appeared in Madam Ding’s eyes.
“The Marquis’s household has too few descendants.”
“There’s only that disappointing son of mine.”
“As far as his generation goes, I’ve practically given up hope.”
“All I can hope for now is that he produces several children soon.”
“The Marquis wants to adopt promising boys from the clan.”
“But…”
Her voice caught.
“I still can’t bear to give up on Qingzhou.”
Her eyes reddened.
After all, he was her own flesh and blood.
How could she not care?
If outstanding boys from the clan were adopted into the family, wouldn’t they inevitably outshine her son?
Where would Qingzhou’s place in the household be then?
Nurse Li had watched the heir grow up.
The thought hurt her as well.
Trying to comfort her, she said,
“Please don’t be sad, Madam.”
“In this servant’s opinion, the heir and Concubine Shen are deeply attached.”
“It shouldn’t be long before she conceives.”
“Then we can take in a few more concubines for the heir and expand the family line.”
“Once children are born, they can be raised by the Young Madam.”
“The Jiang family has been a respected scholarly household for generations.”
“The Young Madam will surely educate them well.”
Madam Ding sighed and nodded.
“Let’s hope so.”
“Oh, Madam.”
“There’s one more matter.”
“What is it?”
Nurse Li frowned.
“It seems Hanrong, the maid beside Concubine Shen, has already been won over by the Young Madam.”
She then explained everything—
How Jiang Yinjin had paid for Hanrong’s brother’s treatment.
How Hanrong had allowed Jiang Yinjin into Bright Moon Courtyard without announcing her arrival.
And all the related details.
A trace of caution appeared in Madam Ding’s eyes.
But it quickly faded.
“Her actions are understandable.”
“I trust Yinjin knows her limits.”
“Let her do as she pleases.”
…
Bright Moon Courtyard.
Looking at the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone that had been delivered, Shen Mianmian rubbed her hands excitedly.
“This is amazing!”
“I’m finally going to learn calligraphy!”
“If only I could hire a true master to teach me.”
“An actual ancient calligraphy master!”
“In modern times, people can only copy their works.”
“But I can learn directly from the masters themselves.”
“That’s unbelievably awesome!”
At that moment—
Someone suddenly rushed into the room.
“Mianmian! Are you alright?”
Looking at the beautiful young man dressed in silver-white brocade, pure as a moonlit immortal, Shen Mianmian let out a long sigh.
Why was he here again?