Bai Qingzhou calmed down immediately—Mianmian was right, no matter the reason, her mother would be unhappy if Mianmian saw a man from another family.

He hoped his mother would like Mianmian.

In that instant, he felt utterly worthless! He couldn't even protect the woman he loved!

He slumped into the chair, remaining silent for a long time.

Chen Mianmian tilted her head, looking at Fengchu who was hanging his head, "What's wrong with you?"

"I... am really useless."

Sleeping soundly—yes, that's right.

Of course, she could only think these thoughts, not say them aloud. Instead, she gently comforted him, "Your Highness, don't think like that. Everyone has their own unique talents. You may not have found your own path yet."

He added in his mind, "You little fool, I've found you. You're just cannon fodder. When it's time for you to sacrifice yourself, just rush in."

Bai Qingzhou raised her eyes, a faint glimmer of light in her clear pupils, as if she were grasping at a straw. "Racing track? What's that?"

Chen Mianmian began to tell him, "Your Highness, have you ever watched a horse race?"

"I've seen it."

"Do all horse races have their own tracks?" she asked, running to get paper and pen to draw. "Look, if we don't consider laps and only consider straight races, horse number one runs track number one, horse number two runs track number two, horse number three runs track number three, and so on. If a horse doesn't run its own track and accidentally runs onto someone else's track, it will inevitably affect its performance."

Therefore, everyone has their own path. Hard work is important, but choosing the right path is equally crucial. Sometimes, the right choice is even more important than hard work.

Bai Qingzhou's pupils suddenly contracted. "Choice is more important than effort?"

"Yes, nurturing can have some effect, but I personally believe that a person's talent still lies in DNA... it's what God gives us. Later nurturing and influence can improve it, but it can't change it."

Bai Qingzhou's heart suddenly pounded. Although she didn't know why it was pounding, she was inexplicably excited.

Chen Mianmian smiled and said, "So, if you're going to be cannon fodder, then be a good cannon fodder. Don't worry, with me, the Crouching Dragon, protecting you, you won't get bombed too badly."

Of course, her protection of him had nothing to do with love or affection; it was purely a matter of mutual dependence.

Phoenix Chick is a shield for Crouching Dragon. As long as Phoenix Chick is there, Crouching Dragon can still get by.

Just hang in there!

After enduring a year, when Prince Jin rebels, the female lead has no choice but to abandon the palace intrigue route and directly embark on the romance storyline, going to find the Regent Prince so that they can be safe.

Speaking of this, Chen Mianmian's smile slowly faded, and her bright, watery eyes gradually calmed down—it seems that the Lady of Anning Marquis is gradually getting closer to Jiang Yinjin.

That won't do!

She had to find a way to avoid disrupting the main plot while preventing the lady from getting too close to the female lead and being used by her.

...

At the same time, on the other side.

After seeing off the people from the Marquis of Xuanping's residence, Madam Ding, with a gloomy face, led Jiang Yinjin back to the main courtyard.

Upon returning, Ding dismissed all unrelated servants, leaving only the mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and their trusted confidants.

Ding said coldly, "Yinjin, do you have anything to say?"

Jiang Yinjin straightened her skirt, then walked up to Ding Shi and knelt down respectfully, "Reporting to Mother, I acted impulsively today."

Indeed, it was my daughter-in-law's idea to agree to the invitation from the Marquis of Xuanping's residence. At the time, she felt that since both marquises had reconciled, if we didn't forgive them, the marquises would be angry.

But the daughter-in-law overestimated her patience. When Huo Rang met the heir, he didn't even try to hide his disdain, and the daughter-in-law tolerated it. When the Lady of Xuanping Marquis mocked her mother and Lady Zhou ridiculed her, the daughter-in-law also tolerated it. But just as the two ladies were patiently dealing with the situation, Huo Rang actually said he needed to go out for some fresh air... The daughter-in-law really couldn't bear it any longer!

What truly caused the daughter-in-law to lose her composure was the way Huo Rang stared at Shen when she arrived. Was that the look one gives to a female colleague? It was clearly the frivolous look a man gives to a brothel… So… the daughter-in-law blurted out without thinking.”

As she spoke, tears fell silently.

It is most touching to see such a dignified, composed, and strong woman shed tears.

Every tear Jiang Yinjin shed seemed to strike Ding's heart heavily, leaving a deep, heavy feeling.

The son hasn't even slept with his wife yet, but he's foolishly favoring a young woman. Ding feels guilty towards her daughter-in-law for this.

Moreover, if his daughter-in-law hadn't married into the Marquis of Anning's household, he wouldn't have been forced into the feud between the two marquis families.

The daughter-in-law did this for the sake of the Marquis's mansion.

Madam Ding sighed, "First Snow, First Rain, help your master up."

"Yes, Madam." The two hurriedly stepped forward, helped the young mistress up, and handed her a handkerchief.

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

Ding recalled the way Huo Rang stared at Shen, and she felt nauseous. "What a troublesome person!"

He scolded his troublesome son and brought home a vixen.

Shen, who also cursed the vixen's appearance, was destined to be a scourge!

She now truly regrets it; she shouldn't have been so soft-hearted and let that vixen stay!

Now, all she can do is hope that Shen's womb will be fertile and give birth to a son or daughter, so that she can feel at peace.

Ding took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and asked, "Hasn't Granny Li returned yet?"

Chu Yu asked softly, "Madam, should I go and take a look?"

"Alright."

No sooner had Madam Ding finished speaking than Li Mama's voice came from outside the hall door, "Madam, this servant has returned."

Ding hurriedly tucked her fingers together and raised her voice, "Come in."

As Li Mama pushed open the door and entered, guessing that it was inconvenient for outsiders to hear the conversation between the Madam and the Young Madam, she turned around and closed the door before coming in.

Then, disappointed and embarrassed, she said, "Madam, the doctor just took Aunt Shen's pulse, and she is not pregnant."

"..."

Ding's expectations were suddenly dashed. "I knew it! How could she get pregnant when she's running and jumping all day? You immediately send someone to Mingyue Courtyard to issue an order that starting tomorrow, she is not allowed to go to the training ground."

Granny Li hurriedly said, "Madam, please calm down and let me explain."

Ding's face was gloomy, and she snorted coldly, "You speak."

Granny Li sighed silently, then said, "When the doctor couldn't detect the pregnancy, Consort Shen's eyes also reddened. She even asked the doctor if it was because she trained every day that she wasn't pregnant."

Aunt Shen said that when she was studying in Jiangnan, she was required to exercise every day so that she would be stronger and more fertile.

The doctor also said that a strong body is indeed necessary for pregnancy, and advised Aunt Shen to continue her exercises and take some tonics, and to relax.

When Ding heard that even the doctor had told Shen to continue training, she didn't mention stopping the training anymore. "Did they prescribe tonics?"

"Some prescriptions were made, and Aunt Shen also had some. She even showed the prescriptions to the doctor."

Ding was taken aback. "Does the Shen family also have tonics?"

"Yes, a few days ago, one night, didn't the young master go out with Consort Shen? That was the day they went out to get medicine."

Ding's anger subsided. "They can even get the medicine themselves, so it seems they're taking it seriously."

Seeing that the lady had calmed down, Granny Li was relieved. "Yes, the young master and Consort Shen are both very concerned about having children. Consort Shen even told me that only if she is healthy can her child be strong and healthy, so even though she doesn't like to exercise, she forces herself to exercise."

Ms. Ding was surprised, "She really said that?"

"Absolutely true! Would I, your servant, lie to you, Madam?"

Back then at Mingyue Courtyard, when Aunt Shen, with tears in her eyes, pulled her aside and spoke to her, even Granny Li was surprised. It was precisely because she was moved by Aunt Shen that she spoke well of her now.

Ding nodded with satisfaction. "I was wondering why a young lady would go to the martial arts training ground every day. It turns out it's for the health of her offspring. Well, it's good that she has the intention. Find some satin and tonics and send them to her later."

"Yes, madam."

Jiang Yinjin listened quietly without interrupting.

She had heard Hanrong report that the young master and Consort Shen had gone out to buy medicine. At the time, she hadn't thought much of it, but now she realized it was to curry favor with the madam.

Ah, it really is a plaything that pleases people.

Jiang Yinjin turned her head and quietly looked at the closed door. She bit her rosy lips and slowly curled them up. Aunt Shen was so comfortable with herself, which made her very unhappy.

Ding realized that she had been talking about Concubine Shen with Granny Li and had unknowingly neglected her daughter-in-law. She quickly waved her hand to dismiss Granny Li and intended to say a few words of comfort to her daughter-in-law.

"Yinjin, you must let me know when you finish your fast." Even if she had to beat her son herself, she would still make sure her son and daughter-in-law consummated their marriage!

How could Jiang Yinjin not know the lady's plans?

She didn't want that good-for-nothing Bai Qingzhou to touch her!

“Yes, I remember.” Jiang Yinjin paused. “However, I have a request.”

"What request?" Ding asked.

Jiang Yinjin said sincerely, "Your daughter-in-law hopes that Mother can bring your aunt and her daughter, cousin Rui'er, to stay with us for a while."

Ding asked, puzzled, "Why pick them up? Do you mean...?"

Jiang Yinjin nodded with a smile, "That's exactly what I meant! Cousin Rui'er likes the young master, and many people in the capital's social circle know this. I've heard about it before. Since we're all working together for the sake of the Marquis's heir, why not fulfill Cousin Rui'er's wish and bring him into the manor?"

Ms. Ding was surprised. "A circle of sisters? This... how did this kind of thing get out? How did they know?"

Jiang Yinjin smiled ambiguously, "A young lady has her own channels, as you, Mother, are well aware of."

Ms. Ding recalled how, when she was young, she would chat with her girlfriends about all sorts of gossip, and she understood.

I never imagined that one day my son would become the subject of other people's conversation.

But then I thought, how many topics are there about the Marquis of Anning's household? They've probably been thoroughly discussed and gossiped about long ago.

Jiang Yinjin continued to incite, "Our family is different from others. In other families, the principal wife must have children first, and then the concubines can have children. But in our family, we can't care about that. No matter whose child it is, they must be born first, and we must have many children! The more children we have, the more choices we can make!"

It's good that Sister Shen cares about having children, but even if she does, she can only have two children in three years at most, which is far from enough. Therefore, we need to let Cousin Rui'er do it.

With tears welling up in her eyes, Madam Ding said, "Good child, what good fortune did I accumulate in my past life to be able to marry you as my daughter-in-law in this life? You are so kind and generous, always thinking of the Marquis's mansion and me. Even if I were my own daughter, I'm afraid I wouldn't be as good as you."

We'll leave aside for now how the Ding family praised Jiang Yinjin.

Let's just talk about the other side.

Meigetsuin.

After using sweet words to coax Granny Li away, Chen Mianmian chatted with Fengchu for a while.

When Fengchu heard about "track studies," he was greatly shocked and, unusually for him, wanted to return to Qingfeng Courtyard, saying he wanted some peace and quiet and would come back later.

Even in deep sleep, one can enjoy a peaceful and leisurely life.

With the clingy Fengchu gone, Chen Mianmian finally had some peace and quiet to reflect on the day's events—why did Jiang Yinjin insist on seeing Huo Rang? Was it simply to meet another man? Or was there another purpose?

Is there any related plot in the novel regarding this passage? Or is there any allusion or allusion?