Normally, Madam Ding would give the heir some face, but she was furious after he had just contradicted her yesterday, causing her sister and niece to get hurt, and today she saw her rebellious son and the vixen so inseparable.
Before the two could even greet her, she angrily said, "Shen, did I send you here? Don't you know who you are? I should teach you a lesson."
Without saying a word, Shen Mianmian knelt down at the door. "Madam, please calm down and listen to me. It's not too late to punish me after you've heard me. Please."
Hearing her say this, Ding couldn't help but be curious, and suppressing her anger, she said, "Tell me."
Chen Mianmian said, "It is like this. I know that Madam wants to teach the young master a lesson, so I discussed with the young master that if he dares to talk back to Madam like he did yesterday, I will ask Madam for permission to live in the other courtyard for half a year and not come back during that time."
Everyone was taken aback—so Aunt Shen came to threaten the young master not to talk back to the madam? Is she helping the madam?
Madam Ding was also surprised. Her previous anger subsided by half, but the other half still simmered with rage: how could she, as the mother, be less important to the young master than a vixen?
Madam Ding sneered sarcastically, "If the young master dares to defy me, you'll move to another residence for six months? Are you sure?"
"Yes, Madam, I am certain."
“Fine,” Ding raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with smugness and mockery as she looked at the young master. “Bai Qingzhou, listen carefully. No matter what you did before, I demand that you reconcile with Yin Jin.”
The young master and his wife did not quarrel, so how can they "make up"?
But those in the know understand that the lady's intention was not to reconcile, but to consummate the marriage.
Everyone sighed inwardly, thinking that the lady had really put the young master in a difficult position: if the young master wanted to consummate his marriage with the young mistress, he would inevitably be unable to spend time with Concubine Shen; but if the young master refused to consummate his marriage with the young mistress, it would be tantamount to disobeying the lady, and if Concubine Shen was sent away, the young master would certainly be even less able to spend time with Concubine Shen.
Is Consort Shen here to hinder the young master?
Bai Qingzhou's already pale face turned even paler, but her eyes remained firm. "Mother, I want to participate in the imperial examination."
Ding was taken aback. "What?"
Everyone was stunned—what? The Crown Prince is taking the imperial examination? The Crown Prince is unambitious and rarely even goes out for social events, so why would he take the imperial examination?
Ding instantly forgot all about consummating the marriage, her surprise barely concealed, her voice even trembling slightly, "But...but...how long has it been since you practiced martial arts? Good child, I know your sincerity, but...don't go, don't hurt yourself."
Seeing that Madam was in tears, Shen Mianmian guessed that when Fengchu participated in the martial arts examination, the scene must have been very tragic, and he might even have been injured.
Seeing his mother's tears, Bai Qingzhou felt a pang of sadness. He lifted his robe and knelt down, saying, "Mother, please calm down. I... want to take the civil service exam."
Ding's expression froze, her tears stopping on her cheeks. "The civil service examination?"
"Yes, things that I couldn't understand before, I've come to understand completely after Mianmian's reminder. Father is strong and tall, but it's a pity that I look like my mother. It's a bit shameful for a man to look like a woman, but our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents. My mother gave me flesh and blood, so how can I have the right to complain?"
I was previously misled into thinking that sons of military families should become military generals and sons of scholars should become civil officials. But yesterday I suddenly realized—who stipulated this? The laws of Southern Chu do not contain such a provision.
Of course, it's a pity I can't follow in my father's footsteps. But... since I'm already a useless person, what can I do that's even more useless? So, Mother, I want to give it a try!
The Ding family was naturally willing!
No one doesn't hope their son will become a dragon among men, and the Ding family didn't care whether their son was a military general or a civil official. As long as their son could achieve great things, what did it matter what official position he held?
Even if his son becomes a civil official, with his father, the Marquis of Anning, around, he can still help him.
Ding, weeping, stepped forward and helped the young master up. "Good child, I support you. Whatever decision you make, I will support you!"
Seeing her mother like this, Bai Qingzhou was also very distressed.
He knew that he was his mother's destiny.
He did consider suicide at first, but he gave up when he thought of his mother.
If anything were to happen to him, his mother probably wouldn't live much longer either.
Bai Qingzhou suddenly remembered and hurriedly said, "Mother, can you help Mianmian stand up? I was able to change my mind and regain my confidence thanks to Mianmian."
Shen Mianmian, kneeling at the door, was furious—you damned Phoenix Chick, what business is it of yours to meddle? You know I've padded my knees with cloth, so kneeling doesn't hurt at all. But if you speak well of me to the Madam, she definitely won't be happy.
As expected, just as Shen Mianmian had thought, Ding's expression turned much uglier.
Shen Mianmian hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, there's no need. I'll just kneel. Besides, the young master's striving for success has nothing to do with me! Yesterday, the young master took me to Qingfeng Courtyard. I saw that the young master had a lot of books, so I casually joked and asked if the young master wanted to take the imperial examination. After that, the young master decided to take the imperial examination."
Then, with lightning speed, she glared at Fengchu—don't add fuel to the fire in my already tumultuous mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship, or I'll thank your ancestors for eight generations!
Seeing that Madam Shen was not arrogant because of her favor, but humble and low-key, Madam Ding's expression softened a little, but she still had a stern face. "The young master told you to stand, so get up. If you kneel down again, the young master may not recognize me as his mother."
Chenmianmian looked at Fengchu with a mournful expression—See? It's all your fault.
Bai Qingzhou had no idea about this. He rarely socialized and spent most of his time reading in his study. Let alone a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship, he struggled to even handle ordinary social interactions.
Bai Qingzhou thought for a moment and said, "Then you can continue kneeling."
"?" Shen Mianmian was just about to get up.
Seeing the woman's expressionless face, Bai Qingzhou was afraid she would get angry, so he hurriedly explained, "Didn't you just say you wanted to kneel? I... I mean, if you want to kneel, then kneel for a while longer. If you don't want to kneel, then stand up and find a seat. Just do whatever you like."
"..." Sleepless.
Ding was amused, and her earlier displeasure at her son's defense of others vanished. "Didn't I tell you to get up? You've been kneeling for a while now, get up."
"Thank you, Madam." Shen Mianmian got up and found a seat closest to her.
Seeing that the crisis had passed, Bai Qingzhou secretly breathed a sigh of relief and continued to talk about the important matter, "Mother, although I have read a lot of books, I still haven't studied them systematically. I've heard that there are certain skills involved in the imperial examinations, so I plan to first inquire about the registration time, see when the next children's examination is, and whether I can still register. Then I'll ask a tutor for help."
Ding said excitedly, "Perfect! You can discuss it with Yin Jin. The Jiang family has been a scholarly family for a hundred years. If you take the imperial examination, the Jiang family will definitely help you."
In the corner, Chen Mianmian's lips twitched—forget it, Jiang Yinjin hates Fengchu to death, help him? It would be good enough if she didn't harm him.
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