Bai Qingzhou froze instantly.
Ding's voice trembled as she said, "You were the one who went to Hexiang Pavilion, you were the one who got drunk, you were the one who booked the courtesan, you were the one who borrowed money from the Lin family's young master, the handwriting on the IOU is yours, the fingerprint is yours too. This morning, when the people from Hexiang Pavilion went in to serve you, they found you and the courtesan lying in bed. Qingzhou, I want to believe you, but... but how can I believe you? You... even if you produce a single piece of evidence, I will fight them to the death!"
As she spoke, she finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears.
The servants around were deeply moved; the lady's maternal love for the young master was as clear as day.
Even Chen Mianmian, who was standing by and did nothing, couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
However, the more Lady Ding sided with the heir apparent, the angrier Marquis Anning became.
Marquis Anning grew angrier the more he thought about it, and in a fit of rage, he slammed his fist on the table.
The sturdy mahogany table shattered with a loud crash, startling Madam Ding. The servants around her were also terrified and hurriedly knelt down.
Shen Mianmian's heart pounded with fear. She was terrified that Marquis Anning would hit Fengchu. She even had a premonition that Marquis Anning had hit Bai Qingzhou before!
Shen Mianmian hurriedly looked at the kneeling boy, only to see that while everyone else was terrified, the boy was calm and composed, as if he was fearless and as if he had already taken it all in stride.
Shen Mianmian frowned involuntarily, becoming even more certain of her guess.
Thinking of this, he secretly raised his eyes and looked at the woman beside him.
However, upon closer inspection, Shen Mianmian noticed that Jiang Yinjin's brows were furrowed, her once beautiful face was now pale, and her lips were tightly clenched. But even up close, Shen Mianmian could tell that the paleness on Jiang Yinjin's face was fake, all due to makeup.
Ancient face powder was similar to modern loose powder; both were used to control oil, whiten skin, and cover pores.
Jiang Yinjin wore a very thick layer of makeup today to fake her pale complexion, so much so that it started to cake.
Why did Chen Mianmian suddenly start observing Jiang Yinjin?
She wanted to confirm once again whether Jiang Yinjin was behind the prince's visit to the brothel.
This plot point exists in the novel, but it's different. Putting aside the order of appearance, the novel describes the courtesan and the original owner as somewhat similar, but now it seems there's no resemblance whatsoever.
Seeing the subtle movements on Jiang Yinjin's face and the smugness in her eyes, she was certain that it was Jiang Yinjin's scheme.
She glanced again at the Lady of Anning, whose eyes had rolled back and was about to faint—her goal was to prevent the lady from getting close to Jiang Yinjin. But if the Marquis angrily beat the heir, triggering the lady's maternal instincts and protective desires, wouldn't that tie the lady and the heir together?
Therefore, this matter is in Jiang Yinjin's best interest and will not harm her, so she doesn't need to get involved.
Just as Mianmian was calculating in her mind, with the abacus beads flying everywhere, the kneeling boy suddenly turned his head and stared at her intently. "Mianmian, what about you?"
Shen Mianmian was startled, and quickly adjusted her expression, feigning fear, helplessness, and panic, "Ah? I...this servant?this servant..."
Bai Qingzhou's face was ashen, but her eyes burned with determination. "They don't believe me, but do you?"
"..."
This question has really stumped Chen Mianmian.
If you don't believe it, it's a bit of a departure from her established image, since a skinny woman like her should be devoted to her husband.
But what if she were to trust the young master? The Marquis just smashed a table; what if he were to slap her head next? She just wanted to find a hole to hide in and quietly wait until the novel ended, not wanting to be pushed into the eye of the storm.
This is really difficult.
Seeing the woman remain silent, the young man's ashen face paled even more. His voice trembled as he said, "Mianmian, I don't care what they think, I need you to believe me! As long as you believe in me, that's enough."
"..." Shen Mianmian was about to cry—did they have to force her like this? Couldn't they just ignore her?
At this moment, Jiang Yinjin cleared her throat and said, "My lord, my lady, I have something to say, if I may be so bold."
Even the Marquis of Anning, in his rage, had to suppress his anger and give his daughter-in-law face when she spoke, as she came from a scholarly family and was well-educated and reasonable.
"Yinjin, go ahead and tell me."
Jiang Yinjin stood up, first bowing gracefully to the Marquis and his wife, then respectfully saying, "I believe that since the matter has already occurred, pursuing the young master's fault will not change the outcome."
The Marquis is highly regarded by the Emperor, and our Marquis's Mansion is also a prominent family in the capital. If this matter escalates, it will not only damage our reputation, but it will also not be good if it reaches the Emperor's ears.
Therefore, the daughter-in-law believes that what we need to do now is to resolve this matter quickly and gracefully… The daughter-in-law knows these words are too heartless, but it's the best way she can think of to minimize the damage.
Marquis Anning exhaled a deep breath and nodded.
When Madam Ding saw that her daughter-in-law had persuaded the Marquis with just a few words and was also able to protect the heir, she immediately gave her daughter-in-law a look of approval, expectation, and reliance.
Chen Mianmian—no! Your Excellency, Lady Anning, you trust someone far too easily! She didn't offer any constructive advice, yet you believed her so easily?
Marquis Anning gritted his teeth. "This is the only way. Yin Jin, what do you think we should do next?"
Jiang Yinjin's smile became more genuine. "I think this girl should be given a title. She comes from a brothel, similar to Concubine Shen, so let's give her the status of a concubine as well."
Chen Mianmian sighed softly—once she was given a title, the matter would be settled, and whether Fengchu slept with her or not, she would have to accept it.
The courtesan lowered her head, but couldn't hide her smile—she was naturally happy! Other courtesans were redeemed by fat, rich merchants or officials, but she was redeemed by a young, handsome prince.
The situation of the Marquis of Anning's mansion was not a secret in the capital. The young master Bai brought back a beautiful but thin woman from Jiangnan, and gave her a formal title only two days after their marriage, which shows how infatuated the young master was.
"Skinny horse? Hah, so what if she's good at pleasing men? She, a top courtesan, is really not convinced."
Thinking about it, the courtesan secretly turned her head and glanced at the beautiful woman sitting next to the young mistress.
Upon seeing the woman's breathtaking beauty, he was so jealous that he cursed her as a slut several times before indignantly turning his gaze away.
Bai Qingzhou clenched her fists, then suddenly stood up. "Father, Mother, I...I...I disagree! I absolutely did not touch that courtesan, and I will never take her as a concubine!"
"How dare you!" Marquis Anning roared. "Bring on the family rules!"
Bai Qingzhou sighed helplessly, "Go ahead, it's not like it's the first time we've used family discipline." After saying that, he turned his head and looked at Chen Mianmian.
Shen Mianmian froze, for she saw a resolute look in Bai Qingzhou's eyes.
This feeling is like... saying goodbye to her, even if it means death.
Wait! What would happen to the plot if Fengchu died?
The Marquis of Anning's family must not die out, so they will definitely choose a child from the clan to be adopted. There are two possibilities: one is to adopt the child directly to the wife, so that he becomes the Marquis's son; the other is to adopt the child to Jiang Yinjin, so that he becomes the Marquis's grandson.
If he were the son of a marquis, it wouldn't be a problem—the lady would have found solace again and would focus all her attention on the child, thus avoiding any contact with Jiang Yinjin.
But would Jiang Yinjin agree? If Jiang Yinjin insists on staying in the Marquis's mansion to remain faithful to the heir, the madam will definitely be willing. She might even treat Jiang Yinjin like her own daughter and listen to her completely.
Including... seeking refuge with the Prince of Jin.
No, no, this won't do.
Furthermore, if Fengchu dies, how can her fate as Zhuge Liang be any better? Jiang Yinjin will definitely make her pay!
Thinking of this, Chen Mianmian immediately shouted, "Your Highness, I believe you! You must have been killed by the villains!"
The crowd erupted in uproar.
Bai Qingzhou's tears streamed down her face instantly.
Chenmianmian—no, why is she crying again? Wasn't she quite tough when Marquis Anning roared just now?
At this moment, someone unexpectedly interrupted, "Madam, you must live with your conscience! The young master touched me, and that's it!"
It turned out to be the most beautiful courtesan.
As Jiang Yinjin watched the increasingly chaotic scene, the smile in her eyes grew wider.
Shen Mianmian sneered, "You say that others have a clear conscience, but you, a prostitute, have a clear conscience? We're all in this line of work, what are you pretending for? The young master is completely drunk and can't stand up at all. Those who can sleep with women while drunk are just faking it."
Everyone was secretly shocked—is that so? Oh right, Aunt Shen is a slender woman, also from a brothel. These women of the night might know things that respectable women don't.
Everyone silently pricked up their ears.
When Hua Niang was bluntly called a prostitute, her beautiful face flushed red. "Madam, when you mock me, don't forget your own background."
Chen Mianmian raised an eyebrow. "You haven't forgotten? This concubine is known by no means, and is none other than a 'thin horse' (a term for a prostitute). This concubine has never been ashamed of being a 'thin horse,' but you, when I said you were a prostitute, why did you get so worked up? Could it be that your body is that of a prostitute, but your mind is that of a rich young lady? Tell me, do you fantasize about being the daughter of a prime minister or a high-ranking official? Your ambitions are higher than the sky, but your fate is thinner than paper. You're a prostitute, yet you want to maintain a virtuous image?"
The flower maid was so embarrassed by the rebuke that she blushed and couldn't say a word for a long time.
Before the Marquis and his wife could react, Chen Mianmian quickly continued to curse, "If you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have bothered to curse you. This whole thing was orchestrated by that scoundrel, and you're just a pawn in her game, a pitiful one. But if you don't obediently play your role as a pawn and instead jump out to act as an accomplice, then this concubine can't stand it."
Jiang Yinjin's face stiffened—a slut? This skinny girl actually called her a slut? How despicable!
The maid stammered, "You... what can you do if you don't like it? Is it that the young master dares to do it but not to admit it?"
Knowing she couldn't out-argue this skinny girl, she picked on the weakest link and steered the conversation towards the prince.
Chen Mianmian was not fooled and directly took over the topic, "Being bold and responsible does not mean being willing to be a sucker! The young master and the young master of the Lin family are clearly not familiar with each other. The young master of the Lin family did not even send a visiting card. He came to find someone rashly. Is this the good family education of the compiler of the Hanlin Academy?"
The young master did not want to go out that day, but the gatekeeper who delivered the message happened to meet Granny Li, who accurately brought the message to the main courtyard, and the madam pressured the young master to go out and socialize.
The prince, who usually dislikes going out, unusually stayed out all night yesterday, even going to redeem a courtesan. Each of these three things, taken individually, might be a coincidence. But three coincidences in a row—doesn't that seem suspicious?
Everyone then realized—yes, something was amiss.
But mere oddities cannot prove the Crown Prince's innocence!
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