The woman, being a "thin horse" (a euphemism for a young woman who is considered "thin horse"), appears extremely humble at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, one discovers that she is able to accept her identity and recognize her fate with equanimity. This is not humility, but rather a different kind of self-confidence.

This kind of strong person standing in adversity, striving for survival with neither arrogance nor servility, evokes pity and even makes one want to reach out and help her.

Ding stood frozen in place, not knowing what to do.

Chen Mianmian said, "Madam, I have something else to say from the bottom of my heart. I swear I have no selfish motives."

Ms. Ding nodded. "Go on."

"I think you shouldn't blame yourself too much, Madam. It's not just us women; even men and officials would play with something rare for over a month. Once the excitement wears off, they'll calm down and take it out to play with when they want to, or leave it aside when they don't. So it's perfectly normal for you to play with it for several days in a row. You'll be fine in a few days."

He then said the words he wanted to use to appease his wife.

Ding was successfully appeased and felt relieved. "Yes, I didn't intend to keep playing like this forever. If we continue like this, I'm afraid the three of you won't be able to take it either."

Granny Li immediately chimed in, "Yes, this old woman's bones are almost giving out!"

Hanrong—she can do it! As long as there's money, that's all that matters.

Ding sighed, "But sometimes I can't understand, what is the point of a life that's only a hundred years long?"

Then, suddenly remembering that she shouldn't say these things in front of outsiders, she quickly tried to save face, saying, "Of course, it's also for the good of our descendants. Shen, after Qingzhou finishes the children's examination, you'd better hurry up and have an heir."

"Yes, Madam, I will certainly prepare well." Shen Mianmian nodded and lowered her eyebrows, appearing obedient, but in reality, she had noticed the madam's recent loss of composure and guessed most of what she was thinking.

Apart from Chen Mianmian and Granny Li, the other maids, including Hanrong, all thought that the madam was simply trying to induce labor.

Suddenly, Ding remembered, "Oh right, you said before that you went to the training ground to run and jump every day to have offspring? Why haven't you been practicing lately?"

Chen Mianmian replied, "I know I was wrong. I will start practicing tonight."

Mrs. Ding nodded, "You should still practice. If you're stronger, childbirth will be easier in the future."

The thought of childbirth in ancient times, which was fraught with danger, sent chills down Shen Mianmian's spine. She secretly decided that she would drink two bowls of contraceptive soup every time she gave birth!

I don't know if that stuff has any side effects. Fortunately, Fengchu isn't very lustful. Although it takes a long time and many times to have sex, at least she doesn't have sex easily.

"I remember, and I will try my best to balance work and rest," she paused, then said in a seemingly casual tone, "People say that if you do good deeds in this life, you will be reborn into a better family in the next life."

But if one suffers in this life and enjoys happiness in the next, who can prove that it is I who enjoys happiness and not someone else? If it is me, then I should remember what happened in my previous life. Could it be that I planted the tree and someone else is enjoying the shade?

Therefore, my motto in life is: seize the day and enjoy life. Life is short, only a hundred years. We must be worthy of our family and those who care about us, and also worthy of ourselves. Never wrong yourself.

Granny Li was taken aback and looked at Aunt Shen with an amazed gaze.

Ding also seemed to be deep in thought.

Chen Mianmian blinked and whispered, "Madam, our mahjong game isn't over yet."

The worry on Ding's face disappeared and was replaced by a smile. "That's right, let's go! Let's enjoy ourselves while we can. Who are we going to show our suffering to?"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the lady's mood was not affected.

...

Peony Courtyard.

After Jiang Yinjin returned, she locked herself in her room and wouldn't even let Chu Yu and Chu Xue in.

The two of them paced anxiously outside the door.

About half an hour later, Chu Xue said worriedly, "Sister Chu Yu, why don't we go in and take a look? Even if it's just to sneak a peek."

Chu Yu also thought they should take a look. The young mistress was usually calm and rarely lost her temper like this, and she was very worried.

"Okay, let's peek through the crack in the door."

So the two of them quietly pushed open the door and peeked inside through the crack.

Before they could even see what was inside the door, they heard the young mistress's voice, "Come in."

The two hurried inside, cautiously peering into the room.

The room was clean and tidy, with no signs of vandalism.

Looking at the young mistress's face, apart from being a little pale, she showed no anger.

Jiang Yinjin glanced at the two of them with a faint smile. "Don't worry, I did have some opinions about Madam's enjoyment today, but I'm not angry. I sent you away so that I could calm down and think about some things."

Chu Yu asked cautiously, "Does this servant know what it is?"

Jiang Yinjin did not answer—her original plan was to gain the Madam's trust and then persuade her that the Anning Marquis's mansion had no heir and needed a solid backer. The Madam was close to Princess Ruian, and Princess Ruian was close to Prince Jin; why not directly pledge allegiance to Prince Jin?

Even if Marquis Anning is unwilling, as long as she makes the lady believe that the Marquis lacks foresight, she should secretly help the Marquis as a virtuous wife and get close to Prince Jin's faction as the mistress of the Marquis's mansion.

But this is on the premise that the wife must be ambitious.

Now that Madam spends all her time playing with Concubine Shen, I wonder if she has any ambition left.

However, she later came up with a solution—the White Prince who was participating in the children's examination.

If Bai Qingzhou passes the preliminary examination, the lady will be willing to risk getting close to Princess Ruian and Prince Jin for the sake of the heir.

If Bai Qingzhou fails the preliminary examination, she will then use the future of the Marquis's mansion and the future of the heir to incite the lady to get closer to Princess Ruian.

Regardless of the outcome of the preliminary examination, she will not have lost out.

Just then, a maid's voice came from the doorway, "Young Madam, I have urgent news to report."

Jiang Yinjin looked up. "Come in."

"Yes." The maid, Ginkgo, quickly entered.

Yinxing was also one of Jiang Yinjin's dowry maids. However, Chuxue and Chuyu had grown up with Jiang Yinjin since childhood, while Yinxing was originally a second-class maid. After being brought to the Marquis's mansion as part of the dowry, she was promoted to a first-class maid and served outside.

"What is it?"

"Reporting to the young mistress, the maid of the second young lady of the Sun family just brought news that the second young lady attended a gathering hosted by the wife of Scholar Wang today and saw the young mistress of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion and her cousin. Then the two of them started arguing, and the cousin was so angry that she cried."

Chu Yu and Chu Xue looked at each other in confusion—Miss Cousin?

Jiang Yinjin frowned, "Zheng Ruier?"

"right."

Why are they arguing?

Yinxing began to recount, “Miss Sun doesn’t know if there was any prior story, but from what she saw, this argument was brought up by the young mistress of the Xuanping Marquis’s mansion. She said that she thought Miss Sun had been clinging to the young master for so long, and thought she could marry him. Who knew that she couldn’t even become his concubine, let alone his principal wife. It was really shameful to talk about it. So Miss Sun started arguing with her.”

The first snow and the first rain were surprised—what is all this?

But Jiang Yinjin immediately understood the reason and smiled slightly, "First Snow, have someone prepare the car."

Chu Xue asked, "It's the young mistress, but where are we going?"

Jiang Yinjin raised an eyebrow. "Go to the entrance of the Scholar's Residence and pick up Miss Biao."