After Shen Mingyi and the other two left, the smile on Shen Jinshu's face slowly faded until it disappeared completely.

She felt uneasy thinking about the ugly expression on Wang's face when he left earlier that day.

"Xiuyue, fetch my veil hat. I'm going out of the manor for a bit."

...

The back gate of the Marquis's residence.

A low-key yet mysterious sedan chair was quietly parked not far from the back gate of the Marquis's mansion.

The sedan curtain was gently lifted by the wind, revealing the face of the person inside.

The man wore an indigo brocade robe, the gold cloud patterns on the cuffs adding to his nobility under the sunlight. His raven-black hair was tied up with a jade crown inlaid with precious stones, and a faint smile always graced his gentle, jade-like face, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"Your Highness, this humble woman greets you." Shen Jinshu bowed, her face beneath the veil unable to conceal her joy, yet she maintained the poise and dignity of a noblewoman, her demeanor elegant and graceful, leaving no room for criticism.

Prince Li smiled gently, stepped out of the sedan chair, and helped Shen Jinshu up, saying, "Shu'er, there's no need for such formalities."

"Your Highness, I have come to apologize to you today." Shen Jinshu knelt down again, her knees hitting the bluestone slabs heavily, but she seemed to feel no pain at all, her heart and eyes filled only with the image of Prince Li.

"Oh, what wrong have you done?" King Li withdrew his hand, his smile unchanged, but the coldness unconsciously revealed in his eyes was somewhat frightening.

"I did speak ill of Miss Chu to my third sister, but I never intended to harm her. Miss Chu became mentally challenged, thus ruining Your Highness's grand plan; it was my fault."

"Your Highness may dispose of me as you see fit, and I will have no complaints whatsoever. I only beg Your Highness to allow me to remain by your side." Shen Jinshu stared intently at Prince Li, her words sincere and earnest.

Everything she did stemmed from her deep love for the Prince of Li.

This tactic of feigning retreat to advance was executed with masterful skill by Shen Jinshu, giving Prince Li no opportunity to question her.

If it were any other man, upon hearing such a delicate and beautiful woman as Shen Jinshu kneeling on the ground and expressing her deep affection for him, he would probably have already felt sorry for her, helped her up, and held her in his arms to comfort her.

But Prince Li simply watched her quietly, turning the jade thumb ring on his hand, without saying a word for a long time.

Shen Jinshu's heart pounded like a drum, and under the extremely oppressive gaze of the Prince of Li, a large patch of her clothes on the back was already soaked with sweat.

But she was always good at pretending, and even though she was terrified inside, she never showed it on her face.

After a long pause, Prince Li finally looked away and said calmly, "Get up. I don't mean to blame you."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Shen Jinshu smiled through her tears and stood up with the help of her maid. She was so weak from kneeling for so long that she was almost falling.

Li Wang sat back in his sedan chair, his calm, even voice carrying a subtle warning: "This is not to be repeated."

"Don't make a move against Song Zhiyu for now. I have my own plans." Before leaving, Prince Li suddenly remembered Song Zhiyu and, fearing that Shen Jinshu would ruin his plans again, gave her this advice.

“Yes…” Shen Jinshu’s smile froze, and he gripped Xiuyue’s wrists tightly with both hands.

It's Song Zhiyu again. Has even Prince Li noticed her now?

"Miss, the Prince still cares about you," Xiuyue said carefully, enduring the pain in her hand.

Shen Jinshu sneered, "Heh, it's only because I still have some use. As long as I'm still the daughter of the Marquis, he won't give me up."

Perfect, we each get what we need. I must get the position of princess.

She wanted to use the power of the Prince of Li to climb to a high position, to trample Song Zhiyu underfoot, and to get rid of that shameful identity.

Anyone who gets in her way will be eliminated, leaving no future trouble.

*

The following day, in the backyard of the Marquis of Chengen's residence.

"Shu'er, I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince visited the Marquis of Cheng'en's residence yesterday?" Lian Siyi looked at the lotus flowers in the pond, but her thoughts had already drifted far away.

His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly arrived at the Marquis of Cheng'en's residence. Does he know that Song Zhiyu is his savior? What should she do then?

Shen Jinshu's probing gaze fell on Lian Siyi, a half-smile playing on her lips. "Yes, His Highness Prince Li is here too, but it must just be a coincidence. What's wrong with you?"

"It's nothing, I was just asking casually. You know I've liked His Highness the Crown Prince since I was little, and I've always dreamed of marrying him." Lian Siyi came back to her senses, her face flushed, and she smiled shyly, not noticing Shen Jinshu's stiff lips.

After a moment of silence, Lian Siyi began to inquire about Song Zhiyu, "I heard that your younger sister who just returned from the countryside has quite good medical skills. I've been at the manor for so long, how come I haven't seen her?"

"Her courtyard is quite secluded and far from here. If you want to see her, you should go to Biyue Lake. She spends about half an hour there every day." Seeing that she didn't want to say more, Shen Jinshu's eyes flickered slightly, and she didn't ask any more questions, only telling her the information she needed.

Shen Jinshu dropped the last bit of fish food, took the handkerchief Xiuyue handed her, and thoughtfully gave Lian Siyi a reason to leave her alone, "Siyi, you mentioned last time that you wanted to borrow Master Xuanyi's chess manual, do you still need it now?"

"Yes, I need it. Could you please run over and get it for me? I'd like to see the scenery here again." Lian Siyi nodded repeatedly, overjoyed. She had been worried about not finding an opportunity to meet Song Zhiyu.

"Okay, that lake over there is Biyue Lake, but the scenery there isn't as good as here." After saying this, Shen Jinshu left under Lian Siyi's watchful gaze.

After Shen Jinshu walked away, Lian Siyi hurriedly got up and walked towards the Biyue Lake across the way.

"You must be Zhiyu, right? I've heard Shu'er mention you before. I'm Lian Siyi, Shu'er's best friend." Lian Siyi had seen Song Zhiyu's portrait before and recognized her at a glance.

Song Zhiyu's smile faded considerably, her good mood instantly ruined. "Is there something you need?"

“I heard from Shu’er that her second sister is quite skilled in medicine and even cured the eldest princess’s illness. I happen to know some medical skills as well, so I would like to ask you for some advice.” Lian Siyi said the words she had prepared beforehand, while subtly sizing up Song Zhiyu.

"I've only learned the basics; you've probably asked the wrong person for advice." Song Zhiyu didn't have a good impression of Lian Siyi, so she naturally didn't believe what she said.

Lian Siyi and Shen Jinshu are birds of a feather, with the appearance of Buddha but the heart of a snake. She was harmed badly by these two in her previous life.

She hadn't even had a chance to settle accounts with Lian Siyi in this life, and she just delivered herself to her doorstep.