Shen Mianmian softened her voice and said,
“Heir, have you ever heard this saying?”
“The longest confession is companionship; the sweetest love words are unspoken understanding.”
“I don’t believe in love at first sight.”
“Passion comes quickly and fades just as quickly.”
“What’s truly precious is affection that grows over time, built through years of companionship.”
“Let’s copy scriptures together and keep each other company.”
“Let’s live quietly and peacefully until we’re old and gray together, alright?”
Tsk.
What a beautiful speech.
She was practically moved by her own words.
Yet when she looked at Bai Qingzhou, she didn’t see any sign of being touched.
Instead, he seemed to be thinking deeply.
Unable to resist, she asked,
“What are you thinking about?”
Bai Qingzhou frowned.
“When we first met, that’s not what you said.”
“You told me it was love at first sight.”
“You said I gave you a sense of destiny.”
“You said one glance felt like ten thousand years.”
“…”
Shen Mianmian froze.
Damn it.
That stupid transmigrator!
Why did she have to say every ridiculous line imaginable?
At that moment, Shen Mianmian desperately wanted to grab the original transmigrator by the collar and slap her twice.
Unfortunately, the lie still needed patching.
Taking a deep breath, she threw him a flirtatious wink.
“Oh my, Heir, have you forgotten?”
“Those were all techniques.”
“Specialized techniques designed to attract people.”
“If I hadn’t said things like that, how would you have become interested?”
Then she added quickly,
“Of course, it’s not that I didn’t like you at all.”
“If I disliked you, I wouldn’t have come back with you.”
Bai Qingzhou chose not to pursue the subject further.
“It’s getting late.”
“You should rest.”
Then he added,
“I’ll watch you fall asleep before I leave.”
The problem was that Shen Mianmian had absolutely no intention of sleeping.
She had just begun learning calligraphy and was still excited about it.
All she wanted was to finish copying a complete Great Compassion Mantra.
“I’m not sleepy.”
“You should go back.”
“I want to copy another passage.”
Truthfully, Bai Qingzhou didn’t want to sleep either.
Originally, he had planned to wait until she fell asleep before returning to his study and copying the Heart Sutra all night.
Since she wasn’t sleeping, he saw no reason to leave.
He simply stayed.
The truth was that he enjoyed being around her.
After that, they stopped chatting.
Sitting across from one another at the table, each began writing.
Fifteen minutes passed.
Bai Qingzhou glanced up.
Shen Mianmian was completely absorbed in her work.
Her bright eyes sparkled with genuine enthusiasm.
It was obvious she truly enjoyed practicing calligraphy.
A small smile appeared on his face.
After dipping his brush into the inkstone again, he continued copying.
Whether it was because he was transcribing scripture or simply because she was nearby, he couldn’t tell.
His thoughts felt unusually calm.
His heart was as still as a quiet pond.
And he found himself becoming addicted to that feeling.
After breakfast, Madam Ding and Nanny Li were tending flowers in the courtyard when a maid named Xingye hurried in through the gate.
“Madam, this servant has returned.”
Madam Ding continued watering the plants without looking up.
“Report.”
“Yes.”
Xingye immediately relayed the information she had gathered.
“The Heir spent the night in Bright Moon Courtyard.”
“The servants there reported that the lamps remained lit throughout the entire night.”
“The Heir and Concubine Shen only went to sleep at dawn.”
Madam Ding’s expression darkened.
“Hmph.”
“I didn’t realize she was so considerate.”
“Is this her way of protesting my punishment?”
Nanny Li wanted to say something but hesitated.
She felt anxious yet didn’t know how to advise her mistress.
At that moment, greetings sounded from outside the courtyard.
The servants were welcoming the Young Madam.
Nanny Li said,
“It seems the Young Madam has arrived.”
“I’ll go receive her.”
“Go.”
Madam Ding continued watering flowers with a cold expression.
Soon afterward, Nanny Li escorted Jiang Yinjin inside.
Today she wore a deep grape-red silk dress embroidered with camellias and butterflies.
Coral ornaments adorned her hair.
Combined with her elegant and refined features, she appeared both dignified and strikingly beautiful.
Jiang Yinjin bowed respectfully.
“This daughter-in-law greets Mother.”
Madam Ding immediately set down the watering can and warmly grasped her hand.
“I was just thinking of you.”
“And here you are.”
“What a thoughtful child.”
Jiang Yinjin smiled sweetly.
“To be honest, Mother, I was thinking of you as well.”
“That’s why I came so early.”
The two women chatted warmly as they entered the room together.
Once inside, Jiang Yinjin suddenly stopped.
Then she lowered herself to her knees.
Everyone was startled.
Madam Ding frowned.
“What are you doing?”
As she spoke, she signaled Nanny Li with her eyes.
Nanny Li hurried forward to help.
Yet Jiang Yinjin subtly avoided her assistance and insisted on remaining kneeling.
“Mother…”
“I’ve made a mistake.”
“I’ve come to apologize.”
Her head remained lowered.
Soon her eyes reddened.
A single tear slid down her cheek.
Madam Ding had already guessed part of the story.
Nevertheless, she deliberately asked,
“We’re family.”
“Even if you’ve made a mistake, there’s no need for such formality.”
“Get up first.”
“We can talk sitting down.”
Nanny Li tried again.
This time she successfully helped Jiang Yinjin to her feet.
After Jiang Yinjin sat down, tears began falling continuously.
The sight was heartbreaking.
“Mother…”
“Yesterday I invited the Heir to Peony Courtyard.”
“I wanted us to discuss raising Concubine Shen’s rank.”
“I know I can’t compare to Concubine Shen’s beauty.”
“So I thought…”
She lowered her eyes.
“I thought perhaps I should be more considerate.”
“I wanted to make the Heir happy.”
“But I never imagined…”
“…that he would come directly to Mother.”
By the end, she was openly sobbing.
Nanny Li immediately dismissed all the servants.
The doors were shut.
Only Madam Ding, Jiang Yinjin, Nanny Li, Chuxue, and Chuyu remained.
The two maids dropped to their knees and cried alongside their mistress.
After all, Jiang Yinjin was a noble young lady from a distinguished family.
Yet after marriage she had been treated with such neglect.
Who could accept that?
As the lawful wife, she was reduced to pleasing a concubine just to win her husband’s affection.
If others heard about it, the ridicule would be endless.
Madam Ding panicked.
She even stood up and personally took Jiang Yinjin’s hands.
“Don’t cry, child.”
“You did nothing wrong.”
“It’s that unfilial son of mine who’s at fault.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ll stand up for you.”
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
Her son had spent the entire night helping a lowly courtesan copy scriptures.
The thought nearly made her explode.
At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to storm into Bright Moon Courtyard and beat the shameless pair.
But then she remembered that they had only fallen asleep at dawn.
If she made a scene now, the Marquis’ household would only become a laughingstock.
So she swallowed her anger and focused on comforting her daughter-in-law.
She gave gifts.
Silver.
Even three shops for Jiang Yinjin to manage.
Only after offering countless reassurances did Jiang Yinjin finally stop crying.
Seeing the young woman’s swollen eyes filled Madam Ding with guilt and sympathy.
By the time everything was settled, it was nearly noon.
Madam Ding did not keep Jiang Yinjin for lunch.
Instead, she personally sent Jiang Yinjin and her maids back.
Then, accompanied only by Nanny Li and several attendants, she headed toward Bright Moon Courtyard.
The servants hurried forward the moment they saw Madam Ding.
Hanrong stepped out nervously.
“This servant greets Madam.”
“I’ll go inform—”
“Stand aside.”
Madam Ding cut her off sharply.
“I’ll go in myself.”
Hanrong dared not disobey.
She immediately retreated.
Then Madam Ding turned to her attendants.
“None of you are to follow.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Only after ensuring there would be no witnesses did she proceed.
If she ended up dragging that shameless couple out of bed, at least the Marquis’ reputation wouldn’t suffer.
Fuming, she entered together with Nanny Li.
When they reached the main hall, both women froze.
The bedroom door stood wide open.
They’re already awake?
Madam Ding and Nanny Li exchanged glances.
Then they silently approached.
The moment they reached the doorway, they were stunned.
Bai Qingzhou and Shen Mianmian were indeed inside.
But they weren’t in bed.
Instead, they sat opposite each other at a square table.
Both were bent over sheets of paper.
Copying scriptures.
Nanny Li secretly sighed.
The Heir truly cared deeply for this woman.
If only Shen Mianmian had been born into a respectable official family rather than as a courtesan.
At that moment, Bai Qingzhou noticed movement at the door.
Looking up, he jumped.
“Mother?”
“What are you doing here?”
Shen Mianmian quickly put down her brush and turned around.
The moment she saw Madam Ding and Nanny Li, a thought flashed through her mind:
Just as expected.
And if I’m going to make another bold guess…
The fact that Madam personally came here almost certainly has something to do with a certain reborn heroine.