Chen Wanran sneered inwardly, instantly seeing through Leng Zhu’s intentions.
Leng Zhu was truly impatient—she could barely even be bothered to keep up appearances anymore.
But Chen Wanran would never let her have her way or harm Yier.
Unhurriedly, Chen Wanran said:
“Praying for blessings is both mentally and physically taxing. It requires extensive preparation and the selection of an auspicious date. Such a matter cannot possibly be completed in a single day.”
Leng Zhu had already prepared her response, yet Chen Wanran cut her off before she could even begin.
Suppressing the agitation in her heart, Leng Zhu reminded herself not to rush things.
She nodded lightly.
“What the benefactor says is very true.”
Once she made more thorough preparations, she would certainly ruin Shen Zhiyi’s reputation, drive her out of the capital, and ensure she could never obstruct Yue’er again!
As long as she proceeded slowly and carefully, the future mistress of the Marquis Manor would surely be her.
Leng Zhu lowered her gaze slightly.
Years of acting had made it impossible for any emotion or thought to show upon her face. Yet for some reason, although Chen Wanran appeared exactly the same as usual, Leng Zhu still felt that something about her today was subtly different.
As a highly respected enlightened master admired by countless people, her words were treated like sacred truth. People believed her instantly, and she could usually see through the thoughts in their hearts with ease.
Leng Zhu had never regarded Shen Zhiyi—a mere little country girl—as worthy of concern.
Without Chen Wanran’s favor and protection, she was nothing.
But today’s Chen Wanran felt strangely difficult to read.
Perhaps she had only just returned and was overthinking things.
“This humble nun is somewhat fatigued. I hope the two benefactors will forgive me.”
[Huh. Why does it feel like she lost to Mother and had no choice but to tuck her tail between her legs and flee?]
Shen Zhiyi had originally thought they would stay in the hall much longer and had even been having the system dig up gossip about Leng Zhu.
Unexpectedly, she had barely started before they were politely escorted out.
Back in her own room, she happily continued reading the gossip drama. Just as things were getting exciting, she was interrupted once again.
“Shen Zhiyi, come out!”
Shen Zhiyi looked up through the window.
Beside the stone table in the courtyard stood a handsome young man dressed in white, looking very much like he had come to pick a fight.
[Oh, so it’s my silly sweet cheap second brother.]
Having her gossip session interrupted, even Shen Zhiyi’s inner voice sounded slightly displeased.
[Judging by that expression, his already nonexistent brain has probably been fooled crooked again by a few words from the fake heiress, and now he’s here to trouble me.]
Shen Jingxuan: ???
Did she even open her mouth? Why could he hear her speaking?
Could she perform ventriloquism?
And what did “silly sweet” mean?
Wait a second—
Who was she calling brainless?!
“Greetings, Second Brother.”
Shen Zhiyi walked into the courtyard and sat across from Shen Jingxuan at the stone table.
Up close, Shen Jingxuan’s features looked even more handsome. Dressed in spotless white robes, he appeared refined and elegant like an aristocratic young master. Judging from appearances alone, no one would think he was a fool.
He looked at her suspiciously.
“Were you insulting me?”
Blinking innocently, Shen Zhiyi replied calmly:
“No, Second Brother. Don’t listen to people spreading nonsense.”
[Doesn’t Shen Ruoyue usually use her weak little white-lotus tricks to fool Silly Sweet Second Brother into pitying her, then complain to him so he’ll stand up for her? Why’d she change tactics this time and tell him I insulted him?]
Only then did Shen Jingxuan realize Shen Zhiyi was not using ventriloquism.
Then…
Could it be that he was hearing her inner thoughts?
And she clearly had no idea he could hear them.
Shen Jingxuan: !!!
This was way too cool!
One day, he actually got to experience a supernatural fantasy plot straight out of a storybook!
Instantly dropping his suspicious expression, Shen Jingxuan secretly clenched his fists in excitement while struggling to maintain a calm face.
He absolutely could not let Shen Zhiyi discover this secret!
He wanted to hear exactly what she was muttering about in her head.
[I refuse to admit that. I’ve never insulted him.]
[Besides, isn’t it just the truth?]
The smile at the corner of Shen Jingxuan’s lips had only just started forming before it fell away again.
What truth?
He had been intelligent since childhood! He started learning early, composing poetry at four and writing essays at six. He was only one year behind the famed Ninth Prince prodigy.
It was simply that his heart had never been devoted to studying—he preferred enjoying nature and having fun.
How was he stupid?!
[Second Brother’s looks barely qualify as sweet. He’s pale enough, sure, but he completely looks like a clever noble young master. Yet in reality he’s dumb enough to mistake the wrong person for his beloved and just grin like an idiot all day. I genuinely can’t tell whether he has no brain or is just missing a few screws.]
Shen Jingxuan: No brain? Missing screws?
So what if she was insulting people in her mind?!
Wait—
Hold on!
When had he ever mistaken his beloved for someone else?
Wasn’t his beloved Ji Changge?
He had already found the love of his life. In three months, he would marry her and spend a lifetime devoted only to her!
[How did someone this dumb survive court intrigue for so long? Mother is clearly so smart, and Eldest Brother, Third Brother, and Little Sister aren’t stupid either, so how did they end up with such a foolish Second Brother? If someone sold him off, he’d probably help count the money afterward. Could it be he’s actually not Mother’s biological child either?]
Shen Jingxuan’s heart filled with anxiety.
Could it be Shen Zhiyi knew some hidden truth?
Then hurry up and say it already!
Who exactly was his true beloved?!
He stared fixedly at Shen Zhiyi.
At this moment, his bright eager gaze made him look exactly like a puppy wagging its tail while waiting to be fed.
Meeting Shen Jingxuan’s clear yet subtly foolish eyes, Shen Zhiyi finally focused her attention back on him after confirming their blood relationship.
[So he really is my biological brother… then how is he dumb enough to believe whatever anyone remotely close to him says?]
[What was his true love’s name again? Let me check…]
[You silly child, the woman you love is Ling Siyao, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Minister of Rites!]
Shen Jingxuan: ???
How was that possible?
His beloved was clearly Ji Changge, daughter of the Minister of War!
Ling Siyao was the capital’s famous talented lady, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He had never heard of her wielding swords or spears.
Minister Ling strictly upheld etiquette and kept a close watch over his daughter, rarely even allowing her outside to avoid excessive interaction with men.
Meanwhile, Ji Changge had practiced martial arts since childhood and even traveled the world with wandering heroes. Her martial arts skills were exceptional.
Even after returning to the capital, she still occasionally went out to uphold justice and had even been praised by his grandfather.
His beloved was the masked heroine who had rescued him that night.
No matter how one looked at it, the skilled martial artist Ji Changge fit perfectly. How could it possibly be Ling Siyao?
[Ahhh, so that’s how it is!]
[Ling Siyao is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites. Her father dreams every day about connecting the family to royalty, so he controls her extremely strictly.]
[But ever since childhood, she loved martial arts. Since she couldn’t disobey her father, she secretly practiced in private.]
[She and Ji Changge are close friends. All her martial arts skills were taught by the highly skilled Ji Changge.]
[Ling Siyao actually has amazing martial talent. She secretly trained for just a few years and still managed to save Second Brother. Wow, Second Brother is seriously weak.]
Shen Zhiyi looked Shen Jingxuan up and down.
Their mother came from a military family. Even after becoming a noblewoman of the inner household, she still demanded her children train in martial arts.
She remembered Eldest Brother being quite skilled.
So why was Second Brother…?
If the system hadn’t confirmed he was truly Mother’s biological son, she genuinely would have doubted it.
Heat rose uncontrollably onto Shen Jingxuan’s face.
Of course he had martial skills!
That night he had simply fallen victim to a scheme and been ambushed, which was why he ended up in such a sorry state!
Besides, Ji Changge was famously highly skilled. Was it embarrassing that he wasn’t as strong as her?
And if he had solved everything himself, then his beloved would never have appeared to rescue him!
Wouldn’t that mean they might never have met at all?
This was clearly fate arranged by heaven!
[Wasn’t Second Brother searching everywhere with a token of love? How could he still mistake the wrong person?]
That was right.
Back then, Shen Jingxuan had searched all over the capital with the sword tassel his beloved accidentally left behind. After searching for a full month, he had finally discovered by chance that the tassel belonged to Ji Changge.
At the time, after failing repeatedly to find her, he became depressed and drank with his good friend Ji Changwei at a restaurant.
While drunk and half-conscious, trouble suddenly broke out at the tavern.
A masked woman in black burst through the doors, darted past him, and leapt out the window.
Her clothing snagged briefly on the window frame, causing something to fall.
When Shen Jingxuan woke later, he discovered the mysterious woman had dropped a sword tassel identical to his beloved’s!
And embroidered upon the back was a single character—
“Ge.”
Shen Jingxuan was instantly filled with regret. His beloved had once again brushed past him.
Normally he cared only about fun and leisure and barely recognized any noble young ladies in the capital. Even after falling in love, he investigated secretly and told no one.
But now the answer seemed within reach, and he could no longer hold back.
So he immediately told Ji Changwei and asked for help.
Ji Changwei instantly pointed him toward the answer and helped him find his beloved.
Among the noble daughters in the capital who practiced martial arts and had “Ge” in their name, there was only Ji Changge—Ji Changwei’s younger sister.
Shen Jingxuan had been overjoyed.
Ji Changwei also seemed delighted for him and informed him that his father had recently begun selecting a husband for Ji Changge, urging Shen Jingxuan to prepare quickly before missing his chance.
Remembering how he had found his beloved, Shen Jingxuan’s heart felt warm.
It was all thanks to his good brother Ji Changwei. Otherwise, they might truly have missed each other forever.
No matter where Shen Zhiyi had heard these rumors, he absolutely refused to believe them!
He straightened his chest proudly, his face full of disbelief.
Yet the next inner thoughts he heard made him seriously question whether something was wrong with his ears.
[HAHAHAHAHA OH MY GOD, Ji Changwei really went through so much effort for this hahahahahaha!]
[The black-clothed heroine at the tavern that night wasn’t Ji Changge at all!]
[It was Ji Changwei himself dressed as a woman!!]
[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]
The laughter was outrageously unrestrained, fully revealing just how delighted Shen Zhiyi was.
Meanwhile, a giant question mark seemed to appear above Shen Jingxuan’s head.
Shen Zhiyi—
What kind of nonsense are you talking about?!