While one side was laughing hysterically, another person was terrified, their face turning deathly pale.
Bai Qingzhou turned to the side, and from an angle where no one could see, reached out and took the woman's hand carefully. "Mianmian, Rui'er has been willful and unruly since she was little. Don't pay attention to her. After dinner, we'll go back and live our own lives behind closed doors."
Looking at Fengchu's pitiful appearance, Chen Mianmian always wanted to tease him, "But I heard that Miss Biao is here to be your concubine."
Bai Qingzhou's hand froze.
"I know, but I disagree. I've always treated Rui'er like my own sister since I was little."
Chen Mianmian looked at the young man's furrowed brows and earnest eyes. She believed him, but unfortunately, in the novel, he married this cousin and they even consummated their marriage.
Of course, in the novel, the prince was driven mad by the time-traveling woman and went into a state of frenzy.
For some reason, she couldn't connect the clean-cut young man in front of her with the brainless cannon fodder character in the novel; she just felt they weren't the same person.
Seeing that the woman remained silent and just stared at him, Bai Qingzhou grew anxious. "Mianmian, don't disbelieve me! I don't want anyone but you!"
Chen Mianmian blinked and said seriously, "Young Master, you don't need to be loyal to me. As long as you don't sleep with the Young Mistress, you can sleep with anyone else."
She also hoped that Zheng Ruier would have a child for Bai Qingzhou, so that the lady might not be fooled by Jiang Yinjin.
However, if Fengchu sleeps with other women and then comes to sleep with her, should she accept it?
This question stumped her.
Is it acceptable? It's a bit disgusting for a modern person to share a man with other women at the same time.
Wouldn't he refuse? If he argued with Fengchu, wouldn't that annoy Madam, making her think Jiang Yinjin was better, and causing her to get closer to Jiang Yinjin?
Shen Mianmian suddenly realized that after she transmigrated into the book, she did indeed engage in palace intrigue and vie for favor, but she was competing with the original female lead for the title of the wife.
Bai Qingzhou's face turned green with anger. "Don't you dare think such nonsense. Remember, I only want you."
Then, in a fit of pique, he let go of her hand and turned away.
While chatting with Madam Ding and Madam Xiao, Jiang Yinjin kept an eye on the two people in the corner. Seeing that they seemed to be arguing, her smile widened.
...
Dinner was served in the main courtyard dining hall.
Once the servants were ready, they came to invite their masters to move.
Soon, the group took their seats.
In the capital, it was customary to dine at round tables. The host and the main guest sat in the seats facing the door, which were Madam Ding and Madam Xiao Ding. The others were seated in order of their status.
Sitting next to Madam Ding was the heir apparent, and next to the heir apparent should be the young mistress Jiang Yinjin, and next to that was the concubine Chen Mianmian.
Fortunately, Shen Mianmian has now been promoted to a concubine of good rank; otherwise, given her former status as a lowly concubine, she probably wouldn't even have the right to sit down and would have to stand behind the madam to serve her.
On the other side of Xiao Ding's wife sat her daughter, Zheng Ruier.
Not long after everyone was seated, Jiang Yinjin said with a smile, "Cousin, how about we switch seats? I hit it off with Aunt today and would like to sit next to her."
Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then immediately understood—the young mistress was creating an opportunity for Miss Biao and the young master, since after the two switched seats, Miss Biao would be next to the young master.
Chen Mianmian watched secretly, her interest piqued, almost as if she wanted to grab a melon to eat.
Zheng Ruier was delighted, "Okay, sister-in-law."
"No!" someone stopped them, and surprisingly, it was the Crown Prince, who rarely spoke.
Bai Qingzhou's face stiffened. "Jiang Shi, didn't you learn any table manners in the Jiang family?"
Mrs. Ding and Mrs. Xiao Ding were taken aback, and it seemed the couple was about to start arguing.
Jiang Yinjin was too lazy to argue with this good-for-nothing, and simply smiled gently, "I have learned etiquette, but isn't this a family banquet? Young Master, don't be so serious, you're frightening your cousin."
Bai Qingzhou's fingers, which were resting on the edge of the table, slowly clenched into a fist. "You mean, this is a family dinner, and there are no rules to follow?"
Jiang Yinjin directly posed the question to her mother, "Mother, do you think family banquets need to follow rules? If so, then I won't change my daughter-in-law."
Ding was embarrassed. "Well... Qingzhou, your aunt and cousin are not outsiders. Just relax."
"good."
As soon as Ding finished speaking, Bai Qingzhou stood up and walked to Chen Mianmian, who was watching the commotion, and pointed, "Someone, bring a chair over."
Everyone was astonished.
Bai Qingzhou looked at Jiang Yinjin with a half-smile, "Didn't you say that there are no rules at family dinners? Then sit wherever you like."
Jiang Yinjin hadn't expected that the usually good-for-nothing would show some temper today. A hint of sarcasm flashed across her lips. "Why bother, Prince? Such a small matter has spoiled your aunt and cousin's mood."
"..." Bai Qingzhou's face turned pale instantly.
Yes, he had never openly disobeyed his mother's wishes or done anything disrespectful before.
He knew what he should do at this moment—he should bite the bullet and watch his cousin sit down, then bite the bullet and finish the dinner, and only after everything was over should he express his opinion to his mother.
Although his opinions were mostly ignored by his mother.
But today is different. Today, Mianmian is here, looking at him with helpless eyes. If he doesn't protect Mianmian, who will?
Thinking of this, Bai Qingzhou suddenly felt courageous. "Is it your aunt and cousin who find it disappointing, or you, Jiang Yinjin? If you sit wherever you like, it's not disappointing; but if I sit wherever I like, it's disappointing? Are you looking down on me, or are you looking down on our Anning Marquis's Mansion?"
Wow!
The crowd erupted in uproar!
Both Madam Ding and Madam Xiao Ding were shocked—this person was Prince Bai? When had Prince Bai ever said anything so aggressive?
Jiang Yinjin was also surprised because this person was different from the one she remembered.
Equally surprised was Shen Mianmian—no! Has her character collapsed? Logically, shouldn't Bai Qingzhou be completely manipulated by several women using either clever or despicable means?
Why are you speaking so logically today? You even added a moral blackmail element in the last sentence.
Zheng Ruier burst into tears, "Cousin, are you really that unwilling to be near me? You... are you still my cousin? You weren't like this before!"
Facing his younger sister whom he had grown up with, Bai Qingzhou felt a little guilty. He pursed his lips, hardening his softened heart again. "Rui'er, before I was married, I could take care of you as your older brother. Now that I am married and you have grown up, there is a difference between men and women, and we should be more mindful of our relationship."
Zheng Ruier blurted out, "If you get married, you have to avoid talking about me? If we get married, does that mean we don't have to avoid talking about each other anymore?"
Shen Mianmian thought this scene was extremely interesting, and it was like a little embellishment to her mundane life. She watched the show with great interest, while regretting that there were no melon seeds on the table.
Bai Qingzhou's face instantly turned red. "...Let's have dinner first, and then we'll talk."
"No!" Zheng Ruier screamed, "Tell me now! Cousin, ever since you met that vixen, you've abandoned me!"
As he spoke, he pointed to Chen Mianmian, who was eating melon seeds.
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