By this time, the ink had dried completely. Chen Mianmian put the envelope in a box and handed it to Guanshui, saying, "Go."

"yes."

Guan Shui left.

Chen Mianmian got up, walked to the door, and sighed, "Sigh... What kind of mess is this? How come I keep running into all sorts of bizarre things? I shouldn't have read that novel back then, I regret it so much!"

Just then, Liu Xiangning returned. "Miss, I'm back. Please have some breakfast. Even if you can't eat much, eat something. You haven't rested all night."

Chen Mianmian snapped out of her thoughts. "Alright, have someone bring it in."

...

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The room was filled with the smell of medicine.

The maidservant fed the lady medicine, while Shen Mianmian sat beside her.

It's not that she, as the daughter-in-law, doesn't take care of things; it's that she feels she can't do it as well as the maid, and that professional tasks should be left to professionals, while she can just provide companionship.

A short while later, after the medicine was taken, the maid took the empty bowl away.

Shen Mianmian opened the window to let in a breeze and increase the oxygen level in the room. Then she sent all the maids out, leaving only herself and Liu Xiangning in the room, besides the madam.

Chen Mianmian smiled and said, "Madam has been lying down for so many days, are you bored? Shall we set up a mahjong table and play? I've been forcing Xiangning and Yinxing to learn mahjong these past few days, so even if Granny Li is resting, we have enough people to play."

Ding slowly shook her head without saying a word.

His eyes were half-closed, and his pale face was devoid of any life.

Shen Mianmian's eyes flickered, then she asked in a low voice, "Madam, could you tell me why you were suddenly struck by this? Was it because of Miss Biao? But Her Highness the Princess did not send Miss Biao to the authorities for punishment."

It can be said that the princess was only doing so because of the lady's influence.

Ms. Ding shook her head.

Chen Mianmian continued to guess, "Does that mean Miss Biao has embarrassed Madam? That Madam will be unable to hold her head high in front of the Marquis in the future?"

Ding was stunned and did not shake her head again.

Chen Mianmian knew—she had hit the nail on the head.

She didn't want to say these annoying things, but if she didn't, who would? If Granny Li had that ability, she would have persuaded the madam long ago.

She couldn't just stand by and watch her mistress die, could she? She still had to try to persuade her.

“Madam, you are overthinking things. The Marquis only has you as his wife, and he is devoted to you. Besides, couples always quarrel in bed and make up before they fall asleep. Behind closed doors, they are all family. There is nothing shameful about it. Moreover, losing face in front of your husband is not shameful; it is called being affectionate.”

Ding's lips trembled, and she choked out, "I...I'm so sorry, Lord Marquis..."

Chen Mianmian said, "How could you be sorry? You have always done a good job. You have managed such a large manor for the Marquis and given birth to such a good son as the Heir Apparent. You even resisted the temptations that Princess Ruian offered you. If this is what you call being sorry, then how can you be sorry?"

“I…” Ding bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. “Ever since I married into the household, my family has not helped the Marquis at all. On the contrary… we have repeatedly helped my younger siblings, spending a lot of money, and the Marquis… never held it against me. Now that Zheng Ruier has actually harmed our household. I… all these years, I have helped a bunch of ungrateful wretches… Waaah…”

"Ah, this..." Shen Mianmian pondered, how should she persuade her in this situation? "Miss Biao was just confused for a moment, aren't the others alright?"

Mrs. Ding shook her head, "The other younger siblings also caused trouble... This Zheng Ruier is relatively well-behaved..."

"..." Shen Mianmian—after all this fuss, it turns out the madam is a brother-supporting demon!

But even if I don't know how to persuade them, I have to!

Chen Mianmian forced a smile and said, "Ahem... Madam could treat the Marquis a little better..."

Madam Ding gave a wry smile, "The Marquis only comes back for a few days a month, what can we do?"

Liu Xiangning was about to speak, but then she realized that as a maid, it was inappropriate for her to interrupt, so she scratched her head and kept quiet.

Ding closed her eyes. "I'm tired. You all go out."

Chen Mianmian said softly, "Madam, please rest. I will stay by your side."

Ding frowned, "...Get out."

The patient is the boss, especially the patient with a mental illness. Shen Mianmian didn't dare to disobey and could only leave.

As soon as they stepped outside, Chen Mianmian asked, "Xiang Ning, what were you trying to say just now?"

Liu Xiangning gave an awkward smile, "Oh dear, did you see that? I know I was wrong, I won't interrupt next time."

"We didn't pursue the matter of you interrupting; we're asking what you wanted to say?"

But then, Liu Xiangning blinked her bright eyes and said, "Master just said that we could be nicer to the Marquis, but Madam said that we can't be nicer. I was thinking that we could be nicer in bed."

"..." Shen Mianmian knew that this girl would never say anything nice.

Fortunately, no one was around, and Liu Xiangning's voice wasn't loud.

Shen Mianmian grabbed Liu Xiangning's wrist and pulled her into the nearby bathroom.

The restroom was empty; the door was closed, and only the master and apprentice were present.

Chen Mianmian hesitated—she shouldn't tell Xiang Ning her private matters, but Xiang Ning had a peculiar way of thinking, and she was afraid that she might cause trouble without knowing the truth.

Besides, the Marquis's impotence is known throughout the entire Marquis's mansion... no, throughout the entire capital, so it's hardly a secret.

Shen Mianmian then explained it to Liu Xiangning, and then said awkwardly, "Logically speaking, if a woman is kind to a man, she can indeed be more attentive in bed, but... the Marquis is not..."

Liu Xiangning understood, her expression completely innocent. "The whole thing...it's all gone?"

Chen Mianmian—I knew this child had a peculiar way of thinking, but I never imagined it would be this peculiar, this straightforward?

Seeing her master's expression change several times in a short while, Liu Xiangning explained, "Master, don't worry, I would never say such things to anyone else. Even if I were to say something, I would do it in a more tactful way. Aren't we... in the same profession? We, the 'skinny horse' brothels, teach sexual techniques, and we also teach sexual techniques to serve various wealthy patrons."

After all, the clients come in all shapes and sizes, some tall, some short, some fat, some long-term, some short-term. Even if they're eunuchs, once they buy us, we still have to serve them, right? We can't be ignorant, can we? Doesn't Yanyufang teach us? This...is Yanyufang really that unprofessional?"

"..." Sleepless.

Chen Mianmian suddenly had a headache. "Do you remember what I said when we first met?"

Liu Xiangning began to recall seriously, and sure enough, she remembered. "I remember now. Master said that you injured your head after arriving in the capital and didn't remember many things after waking up. So that's how it is. I was wondering before that Master often fought in Yanyu Fang and Lord Huo asked me to learn from you. I learned very seriously, but Lord Huo was still unhappy. So that's why."

Chen Mianmian coughed twice and quickly changed the subject—only ancient people would believe such a lame excuse; modern people would question it immediately.

"You mean, your Yaotaifang taught us how to serve eunuchs?"