In an instant, Shen Mianmian understood, "Does Madam mean that if your pregnancy is made public, then the methods you used on the Marquis must also be made public?"
Ding's face turned pale, and she nodded.
Chen Mianmian—that is indeed a problem. She, a modern person, doesn't care, but ancient women would not be able to accept it. These ancient women could be angered to death so easily, let alone by such a public method.
“Or, we could bribe an imperial physician to publicly announce the Marquis’s recovery. With the physician as a witness, everyone would have no choice but to believe it,” Chen Mianmian suggested.
"Will the imperial physician agree to this?"
"If you disagree, go to the Emperor and ask him to issue an order. I believe the Emperor would definitely want his subject to recover and serve the court well... Oh right, we still have the princess, right? If all else fails, we can have the princess put pressure on him."
Ding was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, "That's right, we can ask Your Highness for help! How come I didn't think of that before? Mianmian, thank goodness for you!"
Shen Mianmian smiled and said, "Madam is too caught up in the situation to react for a moment." She paused and looked at the woman beside her, "Actually, we should also thank Xiang Ning."
Why did she say that?
She wanted to help Xiang Ning find a powerful backer so that Xiang Ning would have someone to rely on after she left.
That's right, she started doing the "cleanup" work.
After all, the time for the Prince of Jin to rebel was getting closer and closer.
Moreover, Jiang Yinjin agreed to a divorce, and after the divorce, she will definitely go after the King of Qin. With the female lead taking action, how can the male lead not surrender? As long as the two of them get together, the plot will end, and she may be able to transmigrate out of the book.
She had to arrange all of this before publishing the book.
Reminded by Chen Mianmian, Ding smiled and said, "Yes, we should thank Xiang Ning. Granny Li, quickly prepare a generous gift..."
Before Madam Ding could finish speaking, a maid came to announce, "This servant greets Madam. The Marquis has returned and will be at the main courtyard soon."
Madam Ding was taken aback. "What? Why is the Marquis back? Today isn't the Marquis's day off."
Chen Mianmian remembered this and reminded him, "But today is the day the heir apparent announces the results, the marquis should come back specifically to see the results."
Only then did Mrs. Ding realize that she had been thinking about it a few days ago, but she had been feeling unwell and had completely forgotten. She felt very guilty, "How could I forget something so important? I'm such an incompetent mother..."
Sleepyhead—it's started again! These ancient women really have too many thoughts on their minds.
Granny Li also became anxious, "Quickly...quickly send someone to check the list!"
"I've finished watching it. Guan Shui went to see it early this morning." Chen Mianmian suppressed a laugh.
"How...how is it?" Both Madam Ding and Granny Li were on tenterhooks.
Shen Mianmian didn't hide anything and said directly, "Congratulations, Madam, the young master has won the top prize in the family examination. However, Madam, you should remain calm and try not to have any emotional fluctuations, after all, you are pregnant."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Ding was speechless, unable to find the words to express her feelings. "Not flustered? How could I not be flustered? I'm so happy!"
Granny Li and Liu Xiangning also offered their congratulations, as it was a double celebration.
Just then, the servants' greetings to Marquis Anning came from outside the door. Only then did everyone realize that they had not yet gone out to greet the Marquis—too many unexpected joys had overwhelmed them.
The group quickly left the room, and as soon as they stepped outside, they saw Marquis Anning, dressed in official robes, enter the hall.
Marquis Anning was still robust, and compared to a month ago, he was no longer as thin as before, but seemed to have gained a little weight, making him look even more imposing.
Lady Ding led everyone to pay their respects to the Marquis, but the Marquis told them to dispense with the formalities.
Bai Zhankai saw Shen Mianmian and asked, "Is the Shen family here too? The results were released in Qingzhou today. Did you send someone to check them?"
A smile she couldn't contain spread across Ding's face. "You've seen it, Your Excellency? Have you seen it?"
The Marquis's resolute lips curled up. "I saw it, and I sent someone to Qingfeng Residence to bring him back. He should be back in the manor soon."
Overjoyed, Ms. Ding exclaimed, "Really? That's wonderful!" Tears welled up in her eyes.
Seeing his wife in tears, Bai Zhankai felt very sorry for her, and his cold tone softened. "If you miss him, let him come back to visit every now and then. A day or two won't interfere with his studies."
Ding shook her head, her tone firm, "No, Qingzhou is working so hard, how can I hold him back just because I miss him? I heard that Mr. Ouyang doesn't even go home anymore, he's been staying at Qingfeng Residence, putting all his effort into getting Qingzhou to achieve the top three honors. If Mr. Ouyang is happy, he might even continue tutoring him for the imperial examinations! Mr. Ouyang has taught one top scholar and two second-place scholars!"
Bai Zhankai was also surprised, "Mr. Ouyang is so capable? I had only heard that he was admired by scholars before, I didn't expect him to be so talented!"
Ding smiled wryly, "Because Mr. Ouyang is unwilling to associate with nobles and dignitaries, and is aloof and arrogant, he is not very well-known in the circles of the powerful and wealthy."
Bai Zhankai nodded in delight, "It's truly a stroke of luck that Qingzhou caught Mr. Ouyang's eye! I must thank Scholar Ma! If it weren't for Scholar Ma, we probably wouldn't have been able to invite Mr. Ouyang!"
Ding agreed, "Yes."
Chen Mianmian couldn't help but smile – that's right, Fengchu is the best! What does it matter if Mr. Ouyang taught the top scholar and the second-place scholar? He has never taught the minor and major scholars, so he is now putting all his effort into teaching Fengchu.
If Fengchu really becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, Mr. Ouyang will probably be able to brag about it for the rest of his life. Even after he dies, he can walk sideways in the underworld.
While the Marquis and his wife were still basking in the joy of their son winning first place in the family examination, Granny Li coughed twice as a reminder.
Ding realized what was happening and blushed instantly.
Bai Zhankai asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Ding coughed awkwardly a few times, then whispered, "My lord, let's... go inside and talk."
"Okay." Bai Zhankai didn't think much of it and followed his wife into the room.
Liu Xiangning asked softly, "Master, shall we go in?"
Chen Mianmian answered softly, "I want to go in. I want to see the joy of the Marquis knowing he's going to be a father again. Or should we sneak in along the wall? We can stand at the door and try not to be seen, and see if they chase us away. If they don't see us, we can peek."
Liu Xiangning gave a thumbs up, "Master is wise!"
After that, the two of them actually slipped inside.
After they went inside, Chen Mianmian thoughtfully closed the door for them.
When Granny Li saw their little interaction, she simply smiled and didn't point it out.
Inside the room.
Ding stammered.
Bai Zhankai asked, "What's wrong?"
Although she had already given birth once, Ding still felt extremely ashamed. After all, she was getting on in years, her son was already married, and she was pregnant again. "...I...I...I'm pregnant..."
Bai Zhankai was taken aback. "What?"
Granny Li said happily, "Congratulations, Lord Marquis! The lady is pregnant. We just summoned a female physician, and she left less than an hour ago."
Bai Zhankai stood there, stunned, his handsome and resolute face filled with surprise and shock. "You...you're pregnant? Xuan'er, you're pregnant? I...I'm going to be a father?"
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