That evening, Marquis Anning invited Minister Zhong and a group of friends who had helped him to a banquet, and they did not return home until very late.
Marquis Anning, who usually has a good capacity for alcohol, got completely drunk today and couldn't even walk. He had to be carried back by his servants, so naturally he didn't invite his son to the reunion dinner as usual.
Early in the morning, Marquis Anning and his wife finished their breakfast quietly and then left the capital.
Meigetsuin.
Bai Qingzhou breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that her father had passed away.
Chen Mianmian, holding her teacup, smiled and said, "The crisis is over, Your Highness, don't think about those unhappy things anymore. Will Mr. Ouyang come to teach you again? Or does Your Highness have other plans for the next academy examination?"
Bai Qingzhou calmed herself down. "Originally, I planned to visit Mr. Ouyang after the results were announced, but now that some people know my ranking in advance, I'm afraid that if this news reaches Mr. Ouyang's ears, he might misunderstand me as arrogant and ungrateful because he didn't see me. So I plan to tell my mother today and bring a gift to thank Mr. Ouyang directly."
As for my future studies, that depends on Mr. Ouyang's wishes. If he is willing to continue teaching me, I will learn from him, and I will learn exactly as he instructs me. If he is not willing to teach me, I will have to find another teacher.
Looking at the handsome young man with a serious expression and devout eyes, Shen Mianmian bet her knees that Mr. Ouyang would definitely be willing to continue teaching Fengchu.
Who wouldn't want to teach such a good child as Fengchu, such an excellent and studious student?
"Alright, then Your Highness, please go ahead with your work." Shen Mianmian smiled, but she had other plans in mind—according to the progress in the original novel, around this time, it should be the stage where the madam takes the female lead to meet Princess Ruian.
According to the original novel, the female protagonist sows discord between the prince and the time-traveling woman, inciting the time-traveling woman to cause trouble every day. The prince has no choice but to protect the time-traveling woman, which turns the entire Anning Marquis's mansion upside down and makes it impossible to have any peace.
The female protagonist, in contrast, leads a peaceful life, diligently managing the estate of the Marquis's mansion and occasionally providing emotional support to the Lady, thus earning the Lady's trust and respect.
The two women, despite being mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, developed a bond that resembled that of a real mother and daughter.
So when the lady met Princess Ruian, she brought the female lead with her. The female lead advised the lady to secretly get close to the Jin Prince's faction behind the back of Marquis Anning, and the lady foolishly believed it.
In this life, she and Fengchu didn't cause any trouble, and the madam didn't dislike them. In addition, Fengchu passed the county examination, and she would occasionally go to play mahjong with the madam. Therefore, the madam didn't trust Jiang Yinjin much.
Shen Mianmian squinted, carefully planning—once Fengchu left, she would run to accompany Madam. She had been sticking to Madam's side these past few days, and if she found out that Madam was going to take Jiang Yinjin to see Princess Ruian, she would stop her immediately.
"Mianmian?"
"?" Shen Mianmian quickly pulled herself together. "This servant is here. Why did the young master suddenly call this servant?"
Bai Qingzhou pursed her lips, her eyes probing, "Are you... planning something?"
Sleepyhead—Oh no, the child has grown up. The phoenix chick is not so easy to fool anymore. I'll have to be more careful from now on.
"Yes, Your Highness." Everyone could see that if she said she had no plans, it would only arouse suspicion.
What are you planning?
"I was thinking, since Your Highness is working so hard, what should I do to help you?"
Bai Qingzhou took the teacup from the woman's hand and then held her hand tightly. "You don't need to do anything, just stay by my side. Mianmian, can you promise me you'll never leave me?"
Chen Mianmian smiled and said, "What are you saying, Your Highness? I'm already Your Highness's concubine, where else could I go?"
Bai Qingzhou's brows furrowed slowly, hesitating as if he wanted to say something, but finally he sighed, "Okay, I believe you. You don't need to do anything, just take care of yourself."
"Yes! Of course we'll do it!" Chen Mianmian hurriedly said. "I plan to spend more time with you, Madam, while you are busy with your studies. Although it is you who is taking the exam, I am most worried about you. I heard that you have been wearing your prayer beads all the time lately. What if you get sick from worrying too much?"
Bai Qingzhou was taken aback, then suddenly realized, "You're right! Thank you, Mianmian, I don't know how to thank you! You always think of everything so thoughtfully."
"Your Highness is too kind. This is what I should do."
Shen Mianmian thought she was a genius, because now she even had an excuse to stay by the lady's side.
Don't ask, the answer is simply to help the Crown Prince fulfill his filial duties!
After that, the two of them went to the main courtyard together without saying anything more.
Bai Qingzhou told his wife about his plans, and she was naturally happy and supportive. She immediately asked Granny Li to go to the warehouse to select some valuable gifts for the young master, but Bai Qingzhou refused.
Bai Qingzhou believed that Mr. Ouyang was of noble character and did not wish to get too close to nobles, so sending him those rare treasures would only be an insult to him. He had previously collected some rare and unique books and planned to select some to give to Mr. Ouyang.
Shen Mianmian secretly praised Fengchu for his thoughtfulness, and the madam was also very pleased. However, she still asked Li Mama to select some famous paintings and calligraphy, and asked the young master to choose a few to take with him.
Bai Qingzhou and Guan Shui left with the gifts, but Chen Mianmian did not.
Ding asked, "Shen, is there anything else?"
Chen Mianmian respectfully replied, "In response to Madam, the young master was worried that Madam would be preoccupied with the imperial examinations and exhaust her mind, so he asked me to stay and keep Madam company, to think of some ideas to help Madam alleviate her anxiety."
Ding's eyes reddened. "...How come this child has suddenly become so sensible?" In fact, she was so anxious that she couldn't sleep well.
When Qingzhou won first place in the county examination, she was overjoyed at first, but later she found that winning first place might not be a good thing!
Unlike those students who have studied since childhood, Qingzhou's foundation may not be solid, and she believes that there was an element of luck involved in her becoming the top scholar in the county this time.
One stroke of luck? And then every time?
How can a person always be lucky?
Therefore, she was very afraid that Qingzhou would not be the top candidate in the provincial examination... or that she would not perform well and would not be able to bear the psychological gap.
Chen Mianmian said, "If Madam gets tired of mahjong, how about I teach you to play cards? I know some solitaire, it's a good way to pass the time."
The mere mention of mahjong made Ding's hands itch, but in front of Shen, the "composed" matriarch couldn't appear too playful. She pretended to be serious and said, "Since Qingzhou asked you to stay with me, then stay. There's no need to bother teaching me any card games; just play a few rounds of mahjong."
Shen Mianmian saw it all, but didn't say anything.
Just then, Granny Li, who had gone out to see the young master off, returned with hurried steps. "Madam, I'm back. The gatekeeper just delivered an invitation. It's from Princess Ruian."
Chen Mianmian took a deep breath—it's here! It's here! This part of the plot is here!
Ding had no choice but to put mahjong aside and said, "Show me the invitation."
Granny Li delivered the invitation.
Ding opened it to take a look.
A moment later, Granny Li asked, "Why did Her Highness suddenly send out invitations? Is it for some kind of gathering?"
Ding said, "No, His Highness just got bored recently and invited Yin Jin and me to visit the Princess's residence."
Shen Mianmian was taken aback—so it turned out that the reason Madam took the female lead to see Princess Ruian was not because Madam wanted to take her, but because the princess invited her?
No! She absolutely cannot let Jiang Yinjin go!
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