"I'm so angry! That bitch! That skinny girl! What right does she have? She stole my cousin and then tried to seduce the Huo family? What right does the Huo family have to humiliate me?"
Zheng Ruier shouted angrily, then asked Jiang Yinjin, "Sister Jiang, can't you teach that skinny girl a lesson?"
Jiang Yinjin chuckled, "They didn't do anything wrong, nor did they offend me, so how can I teach them a lesson?"
"She's trying to steal his affections! You're the rightful wife; your cousin's favorite person should be you!"
“This…” Jiang Yinjin sighed softly, “The young master only likes Consort Shen. How can I compete for his favor? I don’t even have the right to compete.”
Zheng Ruier was taken aback. "What? This...this is impossible!"
Jiang Yinjin lowered her voice, "The prince and I have not yet consummated our marriage."
Zheng Ruier's eyes widened – meaning that her cousin didn't like the young mistress, and as long as she killed Shen Mianmian, she would still have a chance to return to her cousin's side and receive his exclusive favor?
As long as her cousin likes her, as long as she gives birth to his child, and as long as her cousin never likes Jiang Yinjin, she still has a chance to become the young mistress!
Thinking of this, Zheng Ruier's eyes flashed with a fierce light. "Sister Jiang, we're on the same side. Let's think of a way to kill that skinny girl, shall we?"
Jiang Yinjin shook her head in disapproval, "How can that be? Aunt Shen is the person the young master likes, and she is also a member of the Marquis's family. Ruier, I'm telling you so much today not so that you would harm her, but because you are the victim, I want to tell you that the fault is not yours, so that you won't blame yourself."
Zheng Ruier wouldn't listen to Jiang Yinjin's words. "That bitch Zhou, what right does she have to mock me? If she's so capable, she should mock the 'thin horse'! Is it because she thinks I have no background and am easy to bully? No way, I must get revenge on that Zhou! If I don't avenge this, I'll die of anger."
Jiang Yinjin picked up her teacup and slowly took a sip—she had delivered the message, and it was up to Zheng Ruier to decide what to do next.
However, as her cousin's sister-in-law, she couldn't just stand by and do nothing; she would definitely lend a hand if she had the chance.
Zheng Ruier's maid, Shuiyu, whispered, "...Miss, let it go..."
Zheng Ruier roared, "How can you let it go? Didn't you see how that Zhou woman mocked me in front of everyone? If I don't avenge this today, how will I ever face anyone again?"
Shuiyu recalled the young lady's embarrassment just now and also felt... it was indeed a bit awkward.
As Jiang Yinjin sipped her tea, she thought to herself—she wanted to see what kind of ideas Zheng Ruier could come up with. If she had any good ideas, she might consider cultivating them in the future.
Zheng Ruier's eyes darted around. "Isn't Zhou Shi jealous of Chen Mianmian? Then let her continue to be jealous!"
Then she looked at Jiang Yinjin with pleading eyes, "Sister Jiang, could you do me a favor?"
Jiang Yinjin put down her teacup. "What kind of help do you need?"
"Could you please have someone bring me one of Chen Mianmian's personal items? Please!"
"This...isn't that inappropriate?"
"What's wrong with it? Sister Jiang, you're just too kind. You've let that skinny guy shit on your head! Don't worry about this, leave it to me. I'll get revenge for you!"
Jiang Yinjin raised an eyebrow—it seems this young lady is still somewhat useful.
...
That night.
After resuming training, Shen Mianmian took a relaxing bath, climbed into bed, and was about to get a good night's sleep.
Then they heard the door open and someone come in.
She didn't think much of it, assuming it was a maid delivering something.
But the footsteps continued all the way to her canopy bed, and then the curtains were lifted, letting in silvery moonlight through the gaps, revealing half of the boy's jade-like face.
Chen Mianmian sat up. "Why are you here? Weren't you reading?"
Bai Qingzhou pursed her lips before entering.
He was dressed in a light blue cotton robe, not his usual brocade, which made him look less luxurious and more youthful and refined, like a handsome young scholar.
Seeing the woman staring at his clothes, Bai Qingzhou explained, "Scholar Ma introduced me to a teacher. I inquired beforehand and learned that he is a man of integrity and high moral character who disdains associating with nobles. He is only reluctantly teaching me because of Scholar Ma's influence."
I didn't want to dress too nicely and make you uncomfortable, so I put away all my more expensive clothes and had some clothes that ordinary scholars would wear, just so you could be more comfortable.
Shen Mianmian was astonished—could it really be done like that? She would never have thought of it!
She was amazed—Fengchu was more insightful than she had imagined, and possessed a rare empathy for a man with such a strong sense of male chauvinism. He could even put himself in her shoes; it was truly remarkable.
Bai Qingzhou sat down on the edge of the bed and took the woman's hand. "I'm not here to stay the night, I just wanted to see you. I heard that Jiang Yinjin went today and they had a falling out?"
"Who told you that? Guan Shui?"
"Yes, Guanshui tells me about your situation every night."
Shen Mianmian disagreed, "You're preparing for the exam, why are you worrying about these trivial matters? Guan Shui is the same, one is just idle gossip among the women in the inner quarters, the other is the important matter of the prince's imperial examination, can't he tell the difference? There's no such thing as blind loyalty."
"..."
It sounded like the woman was scolding Guan Shui, but Bai Qingzhou felt like she was scolding him too?
Of course, Shen Mianmian hadn't forgotten her persona, and said in a high-pitched voice, "Young Master, don't worry about these things. Madam has always taken good care of me. Madam even told me to go to the training ground to continue running and jumping, saying that it would make childbirth go smoothly."
Thinking of offspring, the young man's fair cheeks flushed, and he whispered, "You haven't forgotten your promise to me, have you?"
"What promise?"
“You said that if I pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, I will not drink the contraceptive soup.”
"..." Shen Mianmian's heart turned cold, and she asked in a low voice, "Um... Your Highness, I would like to ask, how long does the preliminary examination usually take?"
She had overlooked one point before – the imperial examinations in the Southern Chu Kingdom were different from those in ancient China. She vaguely remembered that the preliminary examinations for the Ming and Qing dynasties were held in February, but it was already July. How could there still be preliminary examinations?
The Southern Chu Kingdom wouldn't be so abnormal as to require candidates to take the preliminary examinations and the palace examinations in one go without a break, would it?
She didn't care how hard the candidates worked; what she feared was that Fengchu would finish the imperial examination in a few months, and then she would have to have a baby.
She transmigrated into the book once, and she certainly didn't want to experience the agony of childbirth in ancient times!
Bai Qingzhou knew that women were unfamiliar with the imperial examinations, so he didn't go into detail about the rules, but only gave a general idea of the time: "The exams will last for almost four months, from July to November."
"They can finish all the children's examinations in just four months?"
"right."
"What about the provincial examination? When is it approximately?" Shen Mianmian's voice trembled.
Bai Qingzhou, "Next autumn."
Chen Mianmian breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness, thank goodness." There was still time to buy time.
She'll remember this next fall!
We must find a way to get the female lead and male lead to meet before next autumn!
The boy gripped her hand tightly, his clear voice unusually firm, "I will definitely pass the provincial examination! Wait for me!"
"Okay, I'll definitely wait for you," but Chen Mianmian—wait my ass!
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