"The first lesson is: you must protect yourself, but also be full of hope and optimism for life," Chen Mianmian said solemnly.
Perhaps you believe that by hating heaven and earth, sealing your heart and locking away love, you will find freedom and ease. But will you truly be free and easy? Don't you really want a safe haven? Are you truly willing to wander aimlessly?
A few words were enough to make Liu Xiangning secretly break down—her carefree attitude was all an act!
She dreamed of ending her drifting life and having someone to rely on, but after drifting for so long, she dared not trust anyone anymore.
Chen Mianmian chuckled, "If I'm not mistaken, you don't have the courage to trust people anymore, do you?"
Liu Xiangning suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with surprise. She hadn't expected that the other person could read her mind.
Chen Mianmian smiled and waved her hand, "Don't be surprised. Considering your past and current actions, your persona is easy to analyze."
Since transmigrating into the book, she has had to analyze the character settings of each person every day in order to make a living. Now she feels that she has a unique way of handling character settings!
"So, let's continue our reasoning: Why do you trust no one, but suddenly trust me and insist on becoming my apprentice?"
Let me make a bold guess: First, we're in the same profession, so you believe I'll sympathize with you. Second, the princess and the lady both know about our affair, so you believe I won't openly bully you under the watchful eyes of these two noble ladies. Third, the fact that I rescued you from the brothel shows I have no hostility towards you.
Of course, these three points pale in comparison to the fourth point, which is the crucial one: you've pushed yourself to the point of exhaustion and must quickly find a piece of driftwood to grab onto, even if that driftwood sinks later; every day you can rest is a day in the ocean.
"..." Liu Xiangning completely broke down—how did her master find out? She had always been good at pretending, so why did her master find out?
Chen Mianmian didn't waste her breath on this matter. "For the same reason: First, Guanshui and you are both orphans, both lonely and destitute, so he will sympathize with you. Second, Guanshui is from the Princess's residence, and the Princess and Madam know about your situation. Under the watchful eyes of these two noble ladies, he won't openly bully you. Third, Guanshui teaches you martial arts, and she likes you, so he has no hostility towards you."
"You see, Guan Shui meets all the conditions I meet. Since you can try to trust me, you can try to trust Guan Shui too. At the same time, there's one more thing you can rely on than I do."
Liu Xiangning looked over in astonishment.
Chen Mianmian said meaningfully, "Guan Shui has no relatives or home in this world. If the prince doesn't want him and the marquis's mansion doesn't want him, where will he go?"
You have no relatives or home in this world. If I don't want you, and the Marquis's mansion doesn't want you, where will you go?
Since neither of you is wanted by anyone, you might as well try accepting each other. At least then, you'll have no way out and won't abandon each other.
Liu Xiangning was deeply moved.
The room fell silent once again.
There were three people, but no one spoke.
After a while, Chen Mianmian continued, "Your tragic backgrounds certainly give you the right to distrust others. What about the madam? She married into the Marquis's mansion, her son was abused, she lived as a widow for ten years, and almost died of depression twice. What about the Marquis? He was talented and handsome, with both literary and martial skills, but he was impotent and became a eunuch. What about the heir? He was abused by his own father since he could remember."
This world is already broken and messy, and few people can truly be happy, but as long as you don't give up and are full of hope, there will always be a day when you can turn the tide.
Now, the lady has learned your method and feels no guilt; the heir has successfully found his strength and won first place in the county examination; the marquis is honored because of the heir and thanks to you, he no longer has to live the life of a eunuch.
If the three of them had given up earlier, would they have seen this unexpected turn of events?
Liu Xiangning was deeply moved—yes, she had seen with her own eyes that the Marquis's family had also gone through suffering, but now they also had hope.
"But...but it's different..."
"How is it different now?" asked the slumbering child.
Liu Xiangning lowered her head, tears falling in a steady stream. "This servant...this servant...this servant is no longer a virgin..." This was a hurdle she could hardly overcome.
"I'm not even looking at the water anymore," said Chen Mianmian.
"..." Gazing at the water.
Chen Mianmian laughed and said, "Are you trying to say that you're not a virgin, so you're not qualified to love anymore? According to your logic, Guanshui isn't a virgin either, so he's not qualified to love either. You two should both stay single."
Liu Xiangning was both amused and exasperated. "It's different. Young Master Guanshui is a man."
"I'm too lazy to correct your feudalistic thinking. I'm just telling you, if you keep being so stubborn, Guan Shui might end up a bachelor. Think about it yourself. A few days ago you said that your wife was being stubborn, but now you're not? You're like a donkey that doesn't know its own worth, laughing at others for their abilities."
"..." After being scolded harshly, Liu Xiangning inexplicably... came to a realization.
If the Marquis's family could find a way out of their predicament, could she...?
As I was thinking, I subconsciously looked up and saw someone.
But she discovered that the man was also looking at her.
Seeing that there was hope, Chen Mianmian smiled and said, "Trust your master, I won't help you choose the wrong path. Of course, I also know that you have some concerns. Tell me your concerns."
Liu Xiangning lowered her head, feeling extremely ashamed, as if all her little thoughts had been seen through and she had nowhere to hide.
Finally, Xiang Ning gritted her teeth and spoke her mind, "This servant...this servant is willing to give it a try with Young Master Guan Shui, but this servant cannot guarantee that she will like him. This servant...has never liked anyone before."
Before Chen Mianmian could speak, Guan Shui said anxiously, "It's okay. If you don't like me, just treat me as an older brother."
After saying that, Guan Shui blushed deeply.
This was the boldest thing he had ever said in his life, without a doubt!
Chen Mianmian chuckled, "Look, even these assassins haven't lost hope in life. If you give them a chance, their brothers would be willing to do it. Why don't you try? Coward! I look down on you!"
Liu Xiangning blushed and pouted, "This servant is not a coward! So what if... I'll try? I'll try!"
And so the matter between the two was settled.
It was almost noon when Chen Mianmian treated the two of them to a meal at the best restaurant in the capital.
Of course, Chen Mianmian didn't force them into a relationship. While eating, she told the two that they were in a "free relationship" and could break up at any time without any worries.
The two didn't answer, shyly lowering their heads to show off their food and hide their embarrassment.
...
Soon, a month and a half had passed.
When the results of the prefectural examination were announced, Guan Shui rushed to see the list early in the morning and then hurried back.
Upon discovering that Consort Shen and Liu Xiangning were talking in surprise in Mingyue Courtyard, he didn't pay any attention and eagerly said, "Consort, the young master has obtained the top score in the manor's examination!"
Shen Mianmian was stunned. "Top scholar in the prefecture? Another first place? If you get another one, wouldn't that be the Triple Crown? You can just get it like that, isn't that too exaggerated?"
Liu Xiangning exclaimed with delight, "Master, isn't this a double celebration?"
Guan Shui asked in confusion, "Double happiness? What other happy event is there?"
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