Under the same starry sky.
In the main courtyard, Xiao Ding chatted with Ding Shi for a while, offering comfort and reassurance, before returning to her guest room, her throat parched.
A maid brought over some warm water, and Madam Ding drank a few sips to moisten her throat. She then casually asked, "Go and see if Miss is asleep."
"Yes, madam."
The maidservant hurriedly went to check another room, then returned immediately, her voice anxious, "Reporting to Madam, Miss is not only not asleep, she's also crying..."
"What? How can that be?"
Ms. Ding hurriedly put down her water glass, got up, and rushed over.
In Zheng Ruier's guest room, the maid had been driven away, and she was curled up on the bed by herself, exhausted from crying, and hiccuping from sobs.
The room was neat and tidy because it was a guest room in the Marquis's mansion. If it were Zheng Ruier's room, it would probably have been smashed to pieces long ago.
Hearing the door open, Zheng Ruier looked up and saw her mother. A wave of grievances welled up in her heart again, and she burst into tears.
Lady Ding was heartbroken. She cursed her nephew, the heir apparent, many times in secret before patiently coaxing her daughter.
Having talked too much all night, Madam Ding's voice was hoarse. "So, my dear Rui'er, there are so many talented young men, with both knowledge and good looks. Why are you so hung up on that crooked tree, the young master? The reason you like your cousin so much now is because you've been around him since childhood and haven't been around any other young men. Don't worry, when we go back this time, I'll arrange some gatherings for you. You'll see that any young man outside is better than the young master."
Xiao Ding was speaking from the heart.
Previously, in order to curry favor with the Marquis of Anning's family, they had to ignore the heir's flaws.
But setting aside her background, just looking at her as a person, she wouldn't want the Crown Prince as her son-in-law.
The prince has no martial arts skills, no official rank, and is weak-willed and indecisive. Apart from his decent appearance, he has no other redeeming qualities.
However, logically speaking, the Crown Prince should be weak, so why is he so tough today? When the Crown Prince said those things today, she even felt that the Crown Prince might have been a different person.
“Mother is right, but I just don’t feel comfortable.” Zheng Ruier cried.
Madam Ding sighed and said, "I understand you. You've set your sights on the Marquis of Anning's mansion for a long time. It would be hard for anyone to adapt to a sudden change of target. But the Marquis of Anning's mansion is different now than before. It's not a good place anymore."
Zheng Ruier was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Why did Mother say that?"
"Now, in the Marquis's mansion, apart from your aunt, the other two women are not easy to deal with. Let's talk about the young mistress first. She is the principal wife, but seeing that the heir dotes on his concubines, she not only doesn't compete for his favor, but also wants to help him take more concubines. Do you think that's normal? Imagine if you were the one who married the heir, and he favored his concubines, what would you do?"
Zheng Ruier imagined herself as the legal wife, and instantly felt a surge of anger, "I would scratch that vixen's face to pieces!"
For the first time ever, Madam Ding didn't criticize her daughter. Instead, she nodded in agreement, "Yes, that's the true psychology of a normal woman. But the young mistress didn't show any anger. Instead, she let you into the manor. Do you know what she's planning to do?"
Following her mother's line of thought, Zheng Ruier thought, "Let me fight the vixen and reap the benefits without lifting a finger?"
“That’s right,” Madam Ding nodded appreciatively. “Next, if you were to marry the Crown Prince as a concubine, but the principal wife wanted to take a new concubine, what would you do?”
"I...I'm definitely unhappy."
"Yes, do you see even a hint of displeasure on Shen's face?"
Zheng Ruier thought for a moment, then shook her head, "No, I seem to be looking forward to it."
"Yes, so what do you think the Shen family is thinking?"
"Could it be... that Madam Shen intends to wait for me to enter the mansion, and then join forces with me to fight against the young mistress?"
Madam Ding nodded again, "Yes, before you entered the manor, you hated Madam Shen for seducing the young master. But once you become a concubine, you will set your sights on the young mistress. After all, it is only the inferior and the superior who fight. Have you ever heard of a superior actively fighting against the inferior? Would you fight against your maid?"
Zheng Ruier suddenly realized, then a layer of cold sweat broke out on her forehead. "So, both of them want me to enter the manor and fight against each other? Heh, they really underestimate me. I won't fight either of them!"
Madam Ding sighed, "You can't do it. Every day you see people treating the young mistress with utmost respect, and you'll resent her high position; then you'll see the heir apparent being so considerate to Madam Shen, and you'll resent Madam Shen's favor. Your entry into the manor is just the beginning of your suffering."
Although Zheng Ruier wasn't particularly meticulous, her mother had explained the reasons clearly, so she had no choice but to understand.
She burst into tears.
Madam Ding patted her daughter's head tenderly, "My dear, when you come back, I'll arrange a party for you. You can just go out and have fun. Once you get there, you'll find that there are plenty of good young masters out there."
Zheng Ruier nodded, but her hatred for Shen Shi didn't lessen at all.
She vowed that if she had the chance, she would teach that vixen a lesson!
...
early morning.
After having breakfast, Madam Ding and Zheng Ruier left the Marquis of Anning's residence.
After being persuaded by her mother, Zheng Ruier returned to her lively and cheerful self the next day, which put Ding's mind at ease.
After the guests left, Madam Ding's face instantly darkened. "Someone, go and fetch that unfilial son Bai Qingzhou for me."
"Yes, madam." The servants took the order and went to carry it out.
In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the young master was invited from Mingyue Courtyard.
When the Crown Prince entered the courtyard, the servants in the main courtyard were surprised to find that the Crown Prince today was different from the usual one.
Upon closer inspection, the prince appeared pale and haggard, with dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept all night.
But what's strange is that the Crown Prince's eyes are firm and sharp, even piercing.
The previous crown prince was not like this!
Outsiders say the Crown Prince is a coward, but they think he is kind and gentle. No matter what, his eyes are always gentle like a spring breeze, and he is kind and gentle to the servants, rarely losing his temper.
Why does the Crown Prince seem like a completely different person today?
The prince did not come alone; he was accompanied by Guan Shui, Aunt Chen, and the maid Han Rong.
Everyone thought to themselves – this Aunt Shen is really like a leech, always sticking to the young master's side. The young master is here to be reprimanded today, and she came along too, thinking she'd get away with something good?
Shen Mianmian saw through everyone's thoughts—you think there's a good outcome! Your whole family thinks there's a good outcome! Does she want to come? Isn't she afraid that the young master will act recklessly and start fighting with his wife?
The prince strangles his wife → The wife is heartbroken and disappointed → The wife trusts the female lead → The female lead incites the wife to side with Prince Jin → Prince Jin rebels → The Marquis of Anning's mansion dies.
She doesn't object to the female protagonist's revenge; the female protagonist was treated unfairly in her previous life, so it's only right for her to take revenge in this life.
Cannon fodder must all die!
but!
She wanted to stop the female protagonist from taking revenge until the end of the novel's story, and then let the female protagonist slowly take revenge after she transmigrated into the world.
She vowed that once she got out, she would hold her phone in one hand to watch the female lead's revenge story, and in the other hand, she would hold a cheerleader pom-pom to cheer her on.
After making up her mind, Chen Mianmian got into character, disguised herself as a young concubine, and went in with the prince.
Sure enough, when Ding saw that Chen Mianmian had followed, she flew into a rage.
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