Madam Ding was surprised, "An invitation from the wife of the Minister of Rites? Of course I'll go."
After all, the Crown Prince was able to successfully register thanks to the Minister of Rites.
Jiang Yinjin nodded with a smile, "Then Mother agrees? I'll reply with the invitation right away and send it to the Minister's wife."
"Thank you for your hard work, Yin Jin."
"This is what a daughter-in-law should do. Mother, please enjoy your meal. Young Master, Sister Chen, please enjoy your meal as well. I'll take my leave now." Jiang Yinjin slowly rose, her every move elegant and composed, exuding the demeanor of a great lady.
"A-Yuan, go and see them off," said Madam Ding.
"Yes, Madam." Actually, even without Madam's arrangement, Granny Li would definitely have delivered it anyway.
A short while later,
Even after the young mistress left, the atmosphere in the dining hall remained somewhat awkward and strange.
Chen Mianmian's eyes darted around, and she asked softly, "How did the Crown Prince's exam go?"
Bai Qingzhou immediately replied, "Everything went smoothly. I have to mention Mr. Ouyang, whom Scholar Ma introduced. Mr. Ouyang is truly remarkable. Not only is his teaching insightful and easy to understand, and he is also very experienced, but he even predicted a question correctly!"
Then he began to speak.
Ding quickly put Jiang Yinjin's matter out of her mind and began to listen attentively to her son's talk about the imperial examinations.
They ate and chatted for half an hour before finishing their breakfast.
Ding was delighted. "When will the exam start next?"
Bai Qingzhou replied, "Two months later."
Ding's eyes flickered. "Then we must make the most of these two months. We can't neglect our studies, but we also need to spend time with Shen."
Sleepyhead—well, another round of disguised pressure to have a baby. Otherwise, would a mere concubine warrant the mistress's intervention? Accompanying her is a pretense; creating a child is the real purpose.
It's true that people shouldn't be too idle; when they are, they start wanting to have children.
Bai Qingzhou answered seriously, "Mr. Ouyang once instructed that the preliminary examination is the simplest yet the most difficult of all the examinations. It is simple because the content is the most basic, but it is difficult because the preparation period is the longest, lasting more than half a year. During this period, if you slack off, it is very easy to lose all your previous efforts. Therefore, Mr. Ouyang advised me not to make any major changes in my life during this period."
They brought up Mr. Ouyang, subtly declining any pressure to have children.
Upon hearing that it was a renowned scholar from the Qingliu School speaking, Ding hurriedly agreed, "Yes, yes, Mr. Ouyang is right. Qingzhou, you should still focus on your studies and put everything else aside."
Chen Mianmian suppressed a laugh—the lady is simple-minded and easy to please.
Another hour passed.
After spending time with the lady, the two returned to Mingyue Courtyard.
As soon as he returned, Bai Qingzhou said with a serious expression, "I forgot to ask you yesterday, what exactly happened with the handkerchief?"
Sleepyhead—did you forget yesterday? You were clearly "too busy" to have time.
So she recounted the whole story from beginning to end, and repeated to Fengchu what she had said to Zhou Shi and to the Madam.
Anyway, she said whether or not to believe her is up to Fengchu.
After this period of contact, she discovered that the Madam was truly a brainless cannon fodder, but the Phoenix Chick was not so brainless; on the contrary, he was quite clever.
For example, just now in the dining hall, Madam didn't notice the sarcasm in Jiang Yinjin's eyes, but she felt that Fengchu did.
Every time Jiang Yinjin's gaze deepened with sarcasm, Fengchu's brows would furrow slightly, though it was unclear whether it was a coincidence or something else.
Bai Qingzhou listened quietly, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Do you think someone is deliberately trying to sow discord between our two prefectures?"
Chen Mianmian said, "Maybe, I don't know."
"Is it possible," Bai Qingzhou said hesitantly, her gaze fixed on him, "that it wasn't outsiders stirring things up, but rather one of our own?"
"!!!"
Shen Mianmian was stunned and stood there, a layer of cold sweat even appearing on her forehead—she had guessed that Fengchu was clever, but she hadn't expected him to be this clever.
Will Fengchu unravel the mystery and find Jiang Yinjin?
What should she do?
Her original intention was not to disrupt Jiang Yinjin's plan. After all, Jiang Yinjin had been tricked by the transmigrated woman in her previous life and had finally been reborn. It would be a bit tragic if she were tricked by this transmigrated woman again in this life.
She originally thought that as long as she selectively gave up and let Jiang Yinjin complete her romantic storyline first, she could see if Jiang Yinjin could transmigrate into the book and leave; then she could let Jiang Yinjin turn around and take revenge, and deal with the Marquis of Anning's mansion.
Even if she couldn't travel through the book, she didn't want to live in it. She committed suicide, which could be considered as helping Jiang Yinjin complete her revenge.
But now that the cannon fodder Phoenix Chick has become smart, what should we do?
If Fengchu discovers the truth and starts a war against Jiang Yinjin, will it disrupt the main storyline?
The main plot has gone astray, straying far from the original ending. How is she supposed to get out of the story? She doesn't want to spend her whole life in the novel, as a young woman and a concubine!
Thinking of this, Chen Mianmian sighed dejectedly.
Bai Qingzhou asked with concern, "Why are you sighing?"
Shen Mianmian looked miserable. "Because I feel life is so hard." Should we intervene or not?
Bai Qingzhou thought the woman was afraid because of the deceit and trickery, so he quickly hugged her and said, "Don't be afraid, I'm here. I will definitely protect you."
He paused, then realized he'd made a huge promise. "Even if I'm incapable, I'll try my best to protect you. If I find I can't protect you, I... will find a way out for you. I'll save up enough money for you and entrust it to a reliable person so you can live a safe life."
"..." Chen Mianmian was a little confused.
This cannon fodder actually wants to protect her?
Although she was also cannon fodder who died.
She leaned against the boy's chest, resting her head on his shoulder, feeling somewhat lost, because she knew clearly that the scales in her heart, which she considered impartial, had unknowingly shifted.
...
The next ten days were comfortable and enjoyable.
The two do not meet during the day.
Fengchu was studying in Qingfeng Courtyard, and he had read the Four Books and Five Classics until they were worn out. Chen Mianmian then made him do some practice questions.
Speaking of past exam questions, that's another story altogether.
Shen Mianmian clearly remembered that before transmigrating into the book, she had read a book called "The Complete Collection of Imperial Examination Papers of Top Scholars in China", which recorded the excellent examination papers of the top scholars in the ancient imperial examinations.
After quickly flipping through it, she was amazed and exclaimed "666!" Then she calmly closed the book, acting as if nothing had happened.
Because I can't understand it.
So she asked Fengchu if there were any similar books in the Southern Chu Kingdom. Fengchu originally said no, but he still asked his few friends about it.
Believe it or not, you actually found out by asking around, and there really was one!
It didn't circulate widely because it wasn't sold to the public; it was only circulated among the sons of noble families in Beijing.
As for why Mr. Ouyang didn't tell him before, it was because Mr. Ouyang didn't have contact with nobles, so he didn't know.
Fengchu immediately used his status as a noble son to buy a copy at a high price and, following Shen Mianmian's suggestion, began practicing the questions.
Not only that, but he also made a special copy, intending to give it to Mr. Ouyang.
At the same time, Fengchu also learned that the party hosted by the wife of the Minister of Rites had indeed invited the Prince of Qin!
...
Soon, the day of the gathering arrived.
Shen Mianmian followed along, secretly vowing that she would do everything in her power to successfully bring the male and female leads together and quickly develop their romantic relationship!
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