Chen Mianmian said in a gentle voice, "Your Highness, have you ever heard this saying: 'Accompanying is the longest confession of love; tacit understanding is the most silent love talk'?"
I don't believe in love at first sight. Passion comes and goes quickly; what's truly precious is love that grows over time and lasting companionship. Let's keep each other company while we copy this, living a simple and peaceful life together until we grow old, okay?
Tsk, how well she puts it? She's even moved herself to tears!
However, Shen Mianmian did not see any emotion on Feng Chu's face, and couldn't help but wonder, "What are you thinking about?"
Bai Qingzhou frowned. "When we first met, you didn't say that. You said you fell in love with me at first sight, and that I gave you a sense of destiny, a love that lasts a lifetime."
"..." Sleepless.
Damn it! That damn transmigrated woman, why does she say all sorts of things?
Shen Mianmian wanted to grab the time-traveling woman by the collar and slap her twice across the face!
But there's no way around it; the lie still has to be covered up, and the bugs still have to be fixed!
Shen Mianmian coughed twice, then gave a flirtatious wink, "Oh dear, Your Highness, have you forgotten? Those are just rhetoric! They're rhetoric used by a skinny girl like me to attract attention."
"If I hadn't said that back then, how could you have gotten so carried away? Of course, it's not that I didn't like it at all; if I didn't like it, I wouldn't have come back with you."
Bai Qingzhou didn't dwell on the matter. "Alright, it's getting late, you should rest."
Then he added, "I'll leave after you've fallen asleep."
Why does Mianmian want to sleep?
Having just learned calligraphy, she is now excited and wants to copy a piece of the Great Compassion Mantra. "I'm not sleepy yet, you go back first, I'll copy one."
Actually, Bai Qingzhou didn't want to sleep either.
He originally planned to lull the woman to sleep, then return to his study to copy the Heart Sutra all night.
Since she didn't want to sleep either, he wouldn't leave; they'd copy it together.
He really enjoyed being with her.
After that, the two stopped chatting, sat across from each other at the table, and each took out a piece of paper and started copying.
A quarter of an hour passed.
Bai Qingzhou raised his eyes and looked at the woman.
But the woman was writing earnestly and attentively, her bright, beautiful eyes full of interest. It was clear that she genuinely enjoyed copying.
Bai Qingzhou smiled, dipped his brush in the inkstone, and continued copying.
Whether it was copying the Heart Sutra or being beside the woman, Bai Qingzhou's thoughts were calm and his heart was as still as a pool.
He was somewhat fascinated by this feeling.
...
early morning.
Main courtyard.
After having breakfast, Madam Ding and Granny Li were tending to the flowers and plants when the maid Xingye entered the courtyard and hurried over.
"Madam, your servant is back."
Ding was watering the flowers, not even looking up. "Speak," she said.
“Yes,” Xingye began to recount the information she had gathered, “Yesterday, the young master stayed overnight at Mingyue Courtyard. The servants at Mingyue Courtyard reported that the lights in the room were on all night, and the young master and Consort Shen did not go to sleep until the early morning.”
Ding's face darkened. "Heh, I didn't realize she was such a thoughtful person. Is she upset that I punished her?"
Granny Li hesitated, wanting to offer advice but unsure how, feeling anxious and helpless.
Just then, greetings were heard coming from the direction of the courtyard gate, and the servants all came to greet the young mistress.
"It seems to be the young mistress," said Granny Li. "I'll go and greet her."
"Go ahead," Ding said, continuing to water the flowers with a cold expression.
A short while later,
Granny Li welcomed the young mistress and her entourage over.
Today, Jiang Yinjin wore a grape-red silk dress with camellia and butterfly patterns, and her hair was adorned with a red coral hairpin. Combined with her quiet and dignified face, she was both graceful and beautiful.
"The daughter-in-law comes to pay her respects to her mother."
Ding put down the watering can, smiled and gently grasped the woman's hand, "I was just waiting for you to come, you're such a thoughtful person."
Jiang Yinjin smiled and said something endearing, "To be honest, Mother, your daughter-in-law missed you too, so I came as soon as possible."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law returned to their room in a warm and friendly manner.
After entering the room, Jiang Yinjin walked up to Ding Shi, then lowered her body and knelt down.
Everyone was taken aback.
Ding asked in confusion, "What are you doing?" As she spoke, she gave Li Mama a meaningful look.
Granny Li hurriedly stepped forward to help her up, but Jiang Yinjin cleverly declined Granny Li's help and insisted on kneeling and speaking.
"Replying to Mother, your daughter-in-law has done something wrong and has come to apologize." She lowered her head slightly, her eyes downcast, and soon her eyes reddened, a tear slowly rolling down her cheek.
Ding guessed something and deliberately asked, "We're family. If you've made a mistake, you've made a mistake. There's no need for such a big ceremony. Get up and let's talk while sitting down."
Li Mama helped her up again, and finally she was able to get the young mistress up.
Jiang Yinjin was helped to sit on a chair, tears streaming down her face, looking pitiful. "Mother, yesterday... your daughter-in-law invited the young master to the Peony Courtyard, wanting to think of a way to elevate Concubine Shen to a concubine position."
The daughter-in-law knew her plain looks couldn't compare to Consort Shen's beauty, so she wanted to... be more attentive and win the young master's favor. Who knew the young master would actually... come to his mother and say that.
After saying that, she burst into tears, her face streaked with tears.
Granny Li hurriedly dismissed all the maids and had the door closed. Besides the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, there were only three personal servants in the room.
Chu Yu and Chu Xue knelt down on the ground and cried with the young mistress.
Yes, how could anyone accept that such a noble lady from an official family and a well-bred woman would be treated so coldly after marriage?
She was clearly the legal wife, yet she tried to curry favor with the concubine to gain favor; if word got out, she would be ridiculed by others.
Ding panicked and even got up to go to Jiang Yinjin, took her hand and coaxed, "Don't cry, child. You did nothing wrong. It was my unfilial son who did these ridiculous things. Don't worry, I'm here for you. I'll stand up for you!"
The thought of her bastard son staying up all night to help a filthy, skinny woman copy scriptures made Ding furious.
Ding wanted to rush to Mingyue Courtyard and give those scoundrels a good beating.
But then she thought that the two of them had only gone to bed early in the morning and were probably still asleep. If she went over there in such a big way, she would only end up losing face for the Marquis's mansion.
Helpless, Ding could only coax her daughter-in-law by sending her gifts and silver coins, and by assigning her three shops to manage. She also said many intimate words to her daughter-in-law before she was finally appeased.
Seeing the noble lady's face swollen from crying, Madam Ding felt both ashamed and heartbroken.
After all that fuss, it was almost noon.
Ding did not invite Jiang Yinjin to lunch. Instead, she had Jiang Yinjin and her maid sent back home, while she herself went to Mingyue Courtyard with Granny Li and several maids.
Meigetsuin
When the servants saw the lady arrive, they hurriedly stepped forward to greet her.
Hanrong stepped forward, "This servant greets Madam, this servant will go and inform her..."
"Get out of here. I'll go in myself," Madam Ding said fiercely.
Hanrong dared not disobey the order and could only retreat to the side trembling.
Ding said to the servants behind her, "None of you should follow me."
“Yes, madam,” the servants replied in unison.
After making sure no one was following her, and that even if she dragged those scoundrels off the bed, it wouldn't bring shame to the Marquis's mansion, Madam Ding led Granny Li into the room in a huff.
When the two arrived at the main hall, they found that Aunt Shen's door was wide open.
Did the two of them get up?
Ding and Li exchanged a glance, then silently walked over.
When I arrived at the door, I was surprised to find that the two of them had already gotten up and were sitting face to face on the square table, copying scriptures.
Li Mama sighed inwardly—the young master had gone to such lengths for Concubine Shen; he was truly devoted. It was just a pity that Concubine Shen came from such a humble background. If only she were a daughter of an official in the capital.
Bai Qingzhou heard the noise at the door, looked up, and was startled. "Mother, what brings you here?"
Chen Mianmian hurriedly put down her pen, turned her head and looked, just in time to see the lady and Granny Li at the door.
Thinking to myself: Just as I expected.
Then she would make another bold guess: the fact that the Madam and Granny Li came in person must be related to a certain reborn woman.
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