morning.

Chen Mianmian and Bai Qingzhou were summoned to the main courtyard again.

main hall.

When the two arrived, they found not only the Marquis and his wife there, but also Jiang Yinjin.

Shen Mianmian knew that they had been summoned to talk about the Crown Prince, and might even be asked about helping her get promoted to the rank of concubine.

Jiang Yinjin looked at the man and woman approaching side by side, then at the Marquis and his wife sitting in the main seat, pursed her lips, and felt uneasy.

With this couple and that couple, she seemed superfluous.

Bai Qingzhou likes slender women, so why did he still marry her? If Marquis Anning is upright, knowing this situation, why didn't he break off the engagement? And the madam, this woman only has eyes for her good-for-nothing son.

As expected, birds of a feather flock together; there isn't a single good person in the entire household.

Seeing Jiang Yinjin's resentment, Shen Mianmian felt helpless—no, female lead, can you please not harbor such deep resentment? Marriage is a matter between two families. Bai Qingzhou, that coward, certainly didn't have the courage to break off the engagement, but the fact that he went to such lengths to bring in a slender woman before the wedding was a very polite way of trying to dissuade her.

Regarding the engagement, not only can the Marquis of Anning's family break off the engagement, but your family can also break off the engagement. Why doesn't your family break off the engagement?

Indeed, the people in the Marquis of Anning's household have problems, but your family is not a perfect victim either. It can only be said that both families are equally bad, birds of a feather! If either family had any sense, they wouldn't have done such a thing.

Forget it, as a transmigrator, she doesn't need to get involved in their complicated relationship. Blame the original author for creating such a bizarre setting.

After exchanging brief greetings, the two took their seats.

The seating arrangement remained the same as before: the young master sat on the side of the marquis, while Chen Mianmian sat next to Jiang Yinjin.

After we were seated, the maids served us tea.

Ding said, "Now that everyone is here, I will begin. The Marquis has already investigated and found that Qingzhou was framed. From the Lin family's young master's invitation to the Hexiang Pavilion's drinking session, it was all done by the young master of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion."

When Marquis Xuanping learned of this, he was furious and punished Huo Rang according to family law, confining him to his quarters for another month. Last night, Huo Rang held a special banquet to apologize to the Marquis.

Later, after discussing it with the Marquis of Xuanping, the Marquis decided that this was a feud between the younger generation and shouldn't escalate to the level of both families, so they let it go. The money for the courtesan's redemption would be paid by the Marquis of Xuanping's household, and the courtesan herself would be dealt with as we saw fit.

After Ding finished speaking, he waited for a reply.

But after waiting for a long time, no one spoke.

Ding asked, "Qingzhou, what do you think?"

Bai Qingzhou lowered her eyes, pursed her lips, and then said calmly, "I'm sorry to have made Mother laugh. From beginning to end, I was just a puppet being manipulated. What opinions could I possibly have?"

Everyone: Yes, the young master didn't want to go to the appointment at the time, but the lady forced him to go; when the young master returned with a grievance, the marquis directly reprimanded and questioned him, and even threatened to punish him according to family law; when the young master's grievances were cleared, the Xuanping Marquis's mansion did not make any compensation, and the marquis did not seek an explanation for the young master.

From beginning to end, the Crown Prince was like a leaf in a storm, drifting aimlessly.

Asking the Crown Prince for his opinion now isn't because I truly want to hear it, but rather because I want to find peace of mind through his words.

The atmosphere became awkward for a moment.

Fearing that the Marquis would be angry, Madam Ding wanted to find a peacemaker as soon as possible, and instinctively thought of looking for Jiang Yinjin.

But just as he was about to speak, he remembered Madam Shen and thought that if Madam Shen intervened, his son would definitely be convinced.

He then asked, "Ms. Shen, what do you think?"

"..." Jiang Yinjin.

"???" Shen Mianmian looked at Madam Ding with complete confusion—no, Madam, shouldn't you look at what you're saying? The Crown Prince's wife is still here!

Madam Ding chuckled twice. “Recently, Yin Jin has taken over some shops in the Marquis’s mansion. The managers have come to report that Yin Jin is doing an excellent job, making sweeping reforms and reaping substantial benefits. I’m worried that Yin Jin is working too hard, so I’d like to entrust the care of the young master to you.”

Chenmianmian—no wonder she's the matriarch of the household, she's so good at making things right!

Jiang Yinjin said softly, "Thank you for your understanding, Mother." After that, she didn't say anything more and quietly watched the show, wanting to see how Madam Shen would handle this hot potato.

Sleeping in a deep slumber?

"Screw you!" She had no intention of getting involved in this family's mess.

"I am indecisive and know nothing. Madam, please ask the young mistress."

Jiang Yinjin smiled and said, "Sister Chen is too modest. If it weren't for you, the young master wouldn't have been able to clear his name in the Hexianglou incident. How can you say he has no opinion?"

Shen Mianmian said sincerely, "I'm sorry to make you laugh, young mistress. I don't have any opinions of my own. Didn't the previous incident happen to be related to my profession? The thin horse and the prostitute are a perfect match, so I was able to say a few words. If it were someone else, I wouldn't be able to do it."

When he heard the words "thin horses and prostitutes," Marquis Anning frowned.

Ding was also displeased—why did Shen keep mentioning "skinny horses"? Did she really think of them as something honorable? Couldn't she see that everyone in the Marquis's mansion tried their best to avoid mentioning those two words?

Of course, Chen Mianmian did it on purpose—she is just that vulgar and unbearable. Don't expect her to be able to stand on her own as a noble concubine. She just wants to quietly eke out an ending to the novel.

Ding sighed and asked, "Yinjin, what do you think about this?"

Jiang Yinjin also stated that she had no objections.

After exchanging a few more words with the Marquis, the matter was considered closed.

“There’s one more thing, about Madam Shen,” Madam Ding said, not forgetting to give a warning. “According to the rules, given Madam Shen’s background, she should only be a lowly concubine. But Madam Shen made a contribution in the matter of the prince being wronged, so we have decided to elevate Madam Shen to the rank of concubine.”

Bai Qingzhou, who had been keeping her eyes down, suddenly raised her head and looked at her mother expectantly.

After a moment's internal struggle, Shen Mianmian rose and curtsied. "Your Excellency and Madam, may I be so bold as to say that I do not wish to mention the position of concubine? I come from a humble background and am neither talented nor virtuous. I am already deeply grateful that the young master has granted me this position and do not wish to mention it again."

She really didn't want to!

Bai Qingzhou grew anxious, "Don't speak, this is none of your business!"

Jiang Yinjin glanced at the young master with a sneer and spoke up, "Sister Chen, did you not hear what Mother said? Mother is right. You have done a good job in the matter of the young master being wronged. Military families like the Marquis of Anning value clear rewards and punishments the most."

The subtext is—you've done a good deed, but if they don't reward you, wouldn't that put them in an unjust and immoral position?

Seeing that Jiang Yinjin was starting to morally blackmail her, Shen Mianmian had no choice but to give up.

Ding cast an admiring glance at Jiang Yinjin, but looked at Shen Mianmian with a hint of disdain, and her voice turned cold. "However, we also have to consider your opinion, Shen. We originally planned to promote you directly to the position of Noble Concubine, but since you are so resistant, then you shall be a Good Concubine."

Bai Qingzhou's expression instantly turned anxious, "Mother..."

Ding's face immediately hardened. "Qingzhou, even the Shen family doesn't want to mention it. Is it really necessary for you to be so anxious?"

Marquis Anning, too lazy to listen to these women's affairs, said in a deep voice, "Just do as your mother says. When to open the ancestral hall, you can find your own clansmen. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

After saying that, he left.

The others all stood up to see him off.

A short while later,

After Marquis Anning left, everyone took their seats again.

With a joyful expression, Ding said to Jiang Yinjin, "Yinjin, I never expected you to be such a good shop manager. In just a few days, the three shops I entrusted to you have doubled in profits. How did you do that?"

Jiang Yinjin smiled gently, "Mother, you've made a fool of yourself. The shops in the manor were already well-established, and the managers were very dedicated. Plus, I was lucky enough to make some money."

The two maids behind Jiang Yinjin exchanged a glance and a look.

First Snow—Madam Hou is shameless. How could Madam not know what the young mistress did and how much silver she invested? Wouldn't the stewards report to Madam? She's happy to have made money, but shouldn't she compensate the young mistress for the money she invested?

Chu Yu gave him a meaningful look – don't show it, this is what the young mistress instructed!

Ding then said, "Yinjin, if you still have the capacity, I'll give you a few more shops?"

Later, realizing that her intentions were too obvious, she chuckled awkwardly and tried to smooth things over, saying, "The properties of the Marquis of Anning will be yours sooner or later. I want you to take over as soon as possible so that I, as your mother, can help you while I still have the strength."

Jiang Yinjin smiled warmly and respectfully, "Mother, what are you saying? Everyone in the capital says that you are the youngest-looking lady in the city. As long as you trust your daughter-in-law, I am happy to share your burdens."

No woman dislikes being young and beautiful. Ding was overjoyed by Jiang Yinjin's sincere praise and liked her daughter-in-law even more.

With a good family background, talent, ability to manage the family business, and good temperament and appearance, Ding felt that she could not find a better daughter-in-law than Jiang Yinjin.

Thinking of this, Ding glanced at Aunt Shen without showing any emotion—she was an unrefined person. Instead of being grateful, she made all sorts of excuses to offer her the title of concubine. Did she really think that Ding valued her and begged her to be her concubine?

Shen Mianmian received Ding's disdainful gaze and touched the tip of her nose—well, the madam wasn't wrong to glare at her. People, when they do favors for others, always expect some emotional return.

For example, if the lady rewards her, she will immediately flatter her. The lady is happy and will continue to reward her in return, thus creating a virtuous cycle.

Her unwillingness to accept a high-ranking concubine position was not because she didn't want to flatter him.

Praising someone doesn't cost money, so it's not about praising them as much as you want, but about preventing Jiang Yinjin from taking further action.

As Chen Mianmian was thinking, she subconsciously looked at Jiang Yinjin, who also looked up at her, and their eyes met.

Sleepyhead—oh no, just what I feared has come true, this guy has ill intentions.

Jiang Yinjin smiled, then looked away and said to Ding Shi, "Mother, I have a suggestion. Let's divide up the shop and let Sister Shen try it out. Sister Shen is smart and capable; she might be a good manager of the family property."

Sleepless nights—that's what she's most worried about!

The higher the position, the greater the responsibility.

This was also true of her status as a concubine in the Southern Chu Kingdom.

A concubine's position is low, only slightly better than a maid, so she has to serve her master.

A concubine can bear children, and as long as the mistress agrees, a concubine can also raise her own children.

Being a concubine is troublesome! You have to be involved in the family's operations, including accompanying the principal wife to social events, welcoming and seeing off guests, and assisting the principal wife in managing the family business.

The novel says that after the female protagonist is reborn, she sees through the transmigrated woman's good-for-nothing, troublesome, and boastful personality, and deliberately gives her the largest shop in the Anning Marquis's mansion, a restaurant in a very good location, to manage. Is this part of the plot about to begin?