Hanrong heard from one of the junior maids that Chuxue from Peony Courtyard had arrived, so she hurried out to greet her.
“Big Sister Chuxue, what brings you here?”
Hanrong’s warm attitude wouldn’t attract suspicion. After all, Chuxue was the Young Madam’s personal maid, and everyone in the estate naturally tried to stay on good terms with her.
Chuxue smiled warmly.
“The Young Madam would like Concubine Shen to come over and chat for a while.”
Hanrong froze.
Invite Concubine Shen?
Could the Young Madam be planning something?
To outsiders, Jiang Yinjin appeared gentle and approachable.
But as one of her informants, Hanrong knew better than anyone that this image wasn’t entirely genuine.
If the Young Madam truly didn’t care about Shen Mianmian, she wouldn’t have instructed Hanrong to report every one of Shen Mianmian’s movements.
Chuxue discreetly gave her a meaningful look.
Understanding immediately, Hanrong nodded.
“Please wait a moment, Sister Chuxue. I’ll go inform Concubine Shen.”
“Thank you, Sister Hanrong.”
Hanrong entered the room.
She found Shen Mianmian sitting cross-legged on the bed, entertaining herself with a card game.
Respectfully, she said,
“Concubine Shen, Chuxue from Peony Courtyard has come. The Young Madam invites you over for a visit and some conversation.”
Shen Mianmian paused in the middle of arranging her cards.
Go over and chat?
Tsk. That girl definitely has ulterior motives.
If she could avoid the invitation, she absolutely would.
“Have you forgotten?” she asked.
“I’ve been confined to my quarters for ten days.”
Hanrong blinked.
Shen Mianmian reminded her,
“Last night. When you came back, the heir was leaving and I tried to chase after him.”
“He ordered you to stop me.”
“Then he said I was confined for ten days.”
“Remember now?”
Realization dawned on Hanrong’s face.
“Well… this servant thinks that was merely something the heir said in anger.”
“How could the heir possibly bear to confine you?”
Shen Mianmian shook her head solemnly.
“Silly girl.”
“A master is a master, and a servant is a servant.”
“I’m merely a lowly concubine.”
“I mustn’t become arrogant because of favor.”
“If the heir tells me to do something, I should obey.”
“What if I anger him and lose his favor?”
Then she added,
“Go tell Chuxue that after my confinement ends, I’ll personally visit the Young Madam to pay my respects.”
Meanwhile, her inner thoughts were completely different.
Full marks for the idiot fledgling phoenix!
Excellent confinement order!
Hanrong tried persuading her several more times, but Shen Mianmian refused to budge.
Eventually she had no choice but to relay the message.
When Chuxue returned to Peony Courtyard with the news, she was equally surprised.
Jiang Yinjin frowned.
“Confined?”
“The heir dotes on Concubine Shen so much. Why would he confine her?”
Chuxue replied,
“Hanrong says she doesn’t know exactly what happened.”
“Only that they argued.”
“When Hanrong returned yesterday, the heir was storming out angrily.”
“Afterward, he came directly here.”
Jiang Yinjin narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
After a moment she said,
“Bring Chuyu.”
“We’re going to Bright Moon Courtyard.”
“Yes, Young Madam.”
Not long afterward, Jiang Yinjin departed with only Chuxue and Chuyu accompanying her.
When they arrived at Bright Moon Courtyard, all the servants hurried out to greet her.
Jiang Yinjin smiled with elegant dignity.
“You may all rise.”
Hanrong stepped forward.
“Young Madam, please have a seat in the main hall. This servant will fetch Concubine Shen immediately.”
Jiang Yinjin waved a hand.
“No need.”
“I’ll go see her myself.”
Naturally, Hanrong obeyed.
Without even considering Shen Mianmian’s preferences, she led the Young Madam straight inside.
The moment Jiang Yinjin entered the room, she froze.
Hanrong had been telling the truth.
There sat Shen Mianmian before the dressing table.
Apparently…
Admiring her own reflection.
The sight made disdain flash through Jiang Yinjin’s eyes.
No matter how beautiful Shen Mianmian was, she remained nothing more than a courtesan trained to please men.
Meanwhile, Shen Mianmian had been completely immersed in appreciating her own extraordinary beauty.
Only after a moment did she realize visitors had entered.
She quickly stood up.
“Young Madam has arrived?”
“This servant greets Young Madam.”
Then she turned toward Hanrong.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I could have gone outside to welcome the Young Madam.”
Jiang Yinjin approached with a smile.
“No need to be so formal.”
“I was simply stopping by for a visit.”
“Originally, I wanted you to come to my courtyard.”
“But Hanrong told me you’ve been confined.”
“What happened?”
Shen Mianmian blinked.
“Huh?”
She genuinely paused to think.
Why was I confined again?
Wait… why exactly was it?
After several seconds she replied honestly,
“I only remember arguing with the heir.”
“As for what we argued about…”
“For some reason I can’t remember.”
“Could Young Madam give me some time to think?”
“I’m sure I’ll eventually remember.”
She truly wasn’t pretending.
She had honestly forgotten.
But to Jiang Yinjin, Shen Mianmian’s serious expression felt almost like provocation.
Suppressing her irritation, Jiang Yinjin said,
“If you can’t remember, then don’t bother.”
“It couldn’t have been anything important.”
“Married couples quarrel at the head of the bed and make up at the foot of it.”
Shen Mianmian nearly choked.
Excuse me?
You two are the married couple!
How can you say that with a straight face?
Jiang Yinjin changed the subject.
“Having you made a low-ranking concubine truly wronged you.”
“But I’ve only recently married into the household.”
“There are limits to what I can do.”
Shen Mianmian immediately replied,
“Young Madam overestimates me.”
“My birth is humble.”
“This rank suits me perfectly.”
Jiang Yinjin sighed softly.
“A few days ago I met with some friends.”
“One of them told me stories about Yangzhou courtesans.”
“When I thought about you, I felt quite sad.”
Shen Mianmian immediately became alert.
Whenever the heroine came looking for her, it was like a weasel paying New Year’s greetings to a chicken.
There was definitely no good intention behind it.
Jiang Yinjin continued,
“So these past few days, I’ve been thinking of a solution.”
Shen Mianmian quickly interrupted.
“Thank you for your concern, Young Madam.”
“But I’m very satisfied with my current life.”
“I have no complaints.”
Jiang Yinjin completely ignored her response.
“I cannot overstep my authority.”
“But Madam Hou can.”
“I think the heir should help fight for a better position for you.”
Shen Mianmian twitched visibly.
See?
I knew this was where the conversation was headed.
The heir had only been married a few days.
He hadn’t even consummated his marriage with his lawful wife.
If he suddenly started demanding a higher rank for a concubine, would Madam Hou be pleased?
Of course not.
Madam Hou would become furious.
And Shen Mianmian would be the one suffering the consequences.
So she answered obediently,
“Thank you, Young Madam.”
“I’m deeply grateful.”
“But I truly don’t care about status.”
“As long as I can live a peaceful life, I’m satisfied.”
Jiang Yinjin couldn’t understand it.
In her previous life, Shen Mianmian had cared desperately about status.
She constantly spoke about freedom, equality, and independent dignity.
Even if Shen Mianmian had somehow been reborn…
Could someone’s personality really change this much?
Jiang Yinjin pressed on.
“You’re wasting the heir’s sincere feelings.”
Shen Mianmian replied without hesitation,
“Young Madam, please understand.”
“We courtesans are born to be playthings.”
“It’s part of our professional ethics.”
“We don’t do love.”
“…”
For a moment, Jiang Yinjin was speechless.
She still didn’t know what had gone wrong.
But perhaps Shen Mianmian’s attitude was related to her courtesan background?
After a pause, she tried another approach.
“I once heard a story from a friend.”
“It was about a legendary woman named Ran Niang.”
“She was also born as a courtesan.”
“She fell in love with a scholar from Jiangnan.”
“Together they defied society and fought against prejudice.”
“In the end, they moved everyone around them.”
“Ran Niang eventually married the scholar as his lawful wife.”
Shen Mianmian nearly rolled her eyes.
Oh, I get it.
You want me to imitate this Ran Niang and become a sacrificial fool fighting society.
Absolutely not.
At this rate, the heroine would never stop trying.
Suddenly an idea struck her.
She widened her eyes dramatically.
“Really?”
“What was the scholar’s name?”
Jiang Yinjin froze.
“…I don’t remember.”
“But the story is definitely true.”
Shen Mianmian immediately became even more earnest.
“Young Madam is both beautiful and kind-hearted.”
“Could you help me find out his name?”
“Or perhaps I can ask some of my former colleagues later.”
“A man brave enough to defy convention like that…”
“I simply must admire him properly.”
The hidden meaning behind her words was obvious:
That’s enough with the made-up inspirational stories.
If you keep making things up, I’m going to start fact-checking them.