Bai Qingzhou noticed the fear on the woman’s face and felt a surge of satisfaction.
In his mind, Shen Mianmian was acting so confidently because she was certain he cared about her.
If that was the case, then he would show her that he could care about another woman as well.
“You don’t want that?” he sneered. “What right do you have to refuse? Don’t forget—you are nothing but a lowly concubine!”
The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them.
He worried that he might have hurt her feelings.
To his surprise, Shen Mianmian nodded vigorously.
“Right, right, right! I’m a lowly concubine! You can even call me a cheap woman if you want!”
Then she grabbed his sleeve anxiously.
“Just promise me one thing—don’t touch the Young Madam, okay?”
“Sleep with me instead! Please!”
“As long as you don’t sleep with Jiang Yinjin, you can do whatever you want!”
“I know lots of tricks!”
Bai Qingzhou was stunned.
How could he possibly agree?
The thought of being manipulated by this woman made anger burn inside him.
He didn’t like Jiang Yinjin.
Not at all.
But out of spite, he was determined to consummate the marriage.
With that thought, he pushed Shen Mianmian aside and strode toward the door.
“Don’t!”
Shen Mianmian rushed after him.
At that moment, Hanrong returned.
The instant she stepped inside, she saw the heir and Concubine Shen in a heated confrontation.
Startled, she secretly regretted not coming back earlier.
She had no idea what had happened and therefore couldn’t properly report it to the Young Madam.
Then she heard Bai Qingzhou shout,
“Stop her!”
“Concubine Shen is confined to her quarters for ten days!”
Hanrong immediately stepped forward and blocked Shen Mianmian’s path.
A calculating gleam flashed through her eyes.
She resolved to find a way later to extract the details from Concubine Shen herself.
After a day of nonstop work, Jiang Yinjin was exhausted.
She ordered hot water to be prepared and settled into a bath.
While soaking, she suddenly heard voices outside.
“Greetings, Heir.”
“Respectful greetings to the Heir.”
Jiang Yinjin froze.
Why is Bai Qingzhou here?
Is he here because of Shen Mianmian?
A cold smile appeared on her lips.
Relaxing against the edge of the tub, she waited.
Meanwhile, Chuyu hurried outside.
Seeing that it truly was the heir, she curtsied respectfully.
“This servant greets the Heir. May I ask what brings you to Peony Courtyard so late?”
Bai Qingzhou secretly wanted to retreat.
Yet when he remembered the confidence in Shen Mianmian’s eyes, anger surged through him again.
“What else would I be doing here in the middle of the night?”
“I’m here to sleep.”
“What? Does your mistress not wish to share a bed with me?”
Everyone present was shocked.
Inside the bathing room, Jiang Yinjin was equally stunned.
She immediately gripped the edge of the tub and stared toward the folding screen.
Beyond the screen lay the bathing room door.
Beyond that door stood Bai Qingzhou.
The wooden door was thin enough that every word reached her clearly.
It felt as though they were separated by only a single step.
Jiang Yinjin’s lips turned pale.
She had no idea what had happened.
Nor did she know why the heir suddenly wanted to consummate their marriage.
No.
Absolutely not.
She would never share a bed with the enemy who had ruined her previous life.
But how could she refuse?
Claiming she was menstruating wouldn’t work.
She was literally bathing right now.
Using the wedding night as an excuse wouldn’t work either.
She had carefully cultivated an image of generosity before Madam Hou.
She needed the older woman’s trust.
She needed access to the household’s authority.
More importantly, she needed to meet someone.
Her goal was nothing less than the destruction of Bai Qingzhou and the entire Marquis of Anning’s household.
She wanted revenge.
Therefore, she could not afford to appear jealous or narrow-minded.
Outside, Bai Qingzhou asked,
“Where is Jiang Yinjin?”
Chuyu replied,
“Young Madam is bathing.”
Bai Qingzhou nodded.
“Then I’ll wait for her in the room.”
Without another word, he headed inside.
After escorting him away, Chuyu and Chuxue hurried into the bathing room.
Chuyu could barely hide her excitement.
“Congratulations, Young Madam. The Heir has come.”
“He said… he’s staying here tonight.”
Jiang Yinjin had already regained her composure.
Leaning back into the bath, she slowly closed her eyes.
“I understand.”
“You may leave.”
“I need some time alone.”
“Yes, Young Madam.”
Though they wanted to remain and assist her, the two maids could only withdraw.
The room grew quiet once more.
Steam filled the air.
The warm water should have brought a rosy glow to her face.
Instead, she remained pale.
She was calculating.
If she shared a bed with Bai Qingzhou tonight, Madam Hou would be pleased.
Her authority within the household would increase.
More importantly, Madam Hou would likely introduce her to her close friend—
Princess Rui’an.
Jiang Yinjin wanted Bai Qingzhou dead.
She wanted the entire Marquis of Anning’s household destroyed.
To accomplish that, she needed to place the greatest possible crime upon them.
What crime was greater than treason?
If her memory served her correctly, three years later Prince Jin would rebel.
Prince Qin would suppress the rebellion and earn immense merit, eventually becoming Regent Prince.
Prince Jin and his imperial aunt, Princess Rui’an, were extremely close.
If Jiang Yinjin could become acquainted with Princess Rui’an and then subtly encourage the Marquis of Anning to align himself with both Princess Rui’an and Prince Jin…
Then the entire household would become traitors.
As for herself?
She only needed to divorce Bai Qingzhou before the rebellion began.
Even if divorce proved impossible, she could secretly leak information to Prince Qin and become his informant.
A faint smile curved her lips.
The steam gradually restored some color to her cheeks.
She had already figured out a way to avoid consummating the marriage.
About fifteen minutes later.
Inside the room.
The maids had quietly lit an incense designed to enhance romance.
Jiang Yinjin emerged wearing a pale yellow silk dress.
The loose fabric draped elegantly over her graceful figure.
Her hair remained unbound, flowing freely down her back, tied only with a matching ribbon at her waist.
Two strands framed her cheeks, making her already beautiful face even more alluring.
She smiled gently and bowed.
“This concubine greets the Heir.”
“I’ve kept you waiting.”
The smile never reached her eyes.
Bai Qingzhou sat on a couch reading a book.
The moment he heard her voice, he became visibly nervous.
His handsome face immediately flushed red.
Even his gaze lost focus.
A terrifying infernal landscape stretched before her.
Crows circled overhead, cawing as they waited for fresh corpses.
Rivers of molten lava flowed across the ground.
Only a handful of stone slabs provided a path.
One wrong step and a person would fall into the lava and be reduced to ash.
A towering black figure stood before them.
Its body was shrouded in darkness.
Even its face couldn’t be seen.
Its deep voice echoed unnaturally through the air.
“How dare you touch my woman.”
“You are seeking death.”
Only then did Shen Mianmian realize that she was tied tightly to someone else.
Turning her head, she discovered who it was.
Bai Qingzhou.
“Regent Prince, spare me!” she screamed.
“I’m innocent!”
“He’s the one who touched Jiang Yinjin!”
“Not me!”
“My preferences are perfectly normal!”
“I don’t go after women!”
The shadowy figure burst into wild laughter.
Then its voice became increasingly deranged.
“Where there is a fledgling phoenix, there should naturally be a crouching dragon.”
“You two cannon-fodder fools deserve to die together.”
Before either of them could beg for mercy, the figure raised a finger.
A bolt of lightning shot forth.
The stone beneath their feet shattered instantly.
Bound together, they plunged into the lava.
Agonizing heat swallowed her.
Flames licked away the skin from her face.
She could feel her flesh melting.
Turning into something that resembled soap.
Bai Qingzhou fared no better.
His pale skin melted as well.
The two of them fused together in the molten heat.
Shen Mianmian screamed,
“I don’t want to become soap!”
Then she woke up.
Gasping for breath, Shen Mianmian stared at the embroidered canopy overhead.
“Thank goodness…”
“Thank goodness it was only a dream…”
Then her expression changed.
“Wait…”
“I actually dreamed about the male lead!?”
In the novel, the Regent Prince was ruthless, cruel, and utterly unscrupulous.
He loved torturing prisoners and was infamous for his bloody methods.
On days when other officials relaxed with family, visited friends, or went sightseeing—
The Regent Prince spent his leisure time wandering through the imperial prison.
Just thinking about Bai Qingzhou trying to sleep with the heroine made Shen Mianmian sigh.
“You idiot…”
“The Regent Prince was right.”
“You’re digging your own grave.”
“You actually dared to sleep with the Regent Prince’s woman…”
Then she shook her head.
“Forget him.”
“Feeling sorry for that idiot is pointless.”
“I should worry about myself.”
“I still don’t know whether I can leave this novel…”
Just then—
Rapid footsteps approached.
Shen Mianmian immediately looked up.
A white-robed youth had stopped nearby.
His star-bright eyes were filled with concern as he looked at her.
Feeling nervous, she asked,
“You…”
“…did you sleep with her?”