Your Highness, your wife has had her virginity mark applied and married someone else.

"If it were the House of David, how could it possibly be protected from thieves for a thousand days?"

Despite the intense pressure, Shen Mingshu remained calm: "At this time, I am not yet pregnant. If I stay at the Wei residence without a reason, I will definitely be subjected to my aunt and cousin's relentless questioning."

"If Auntie is determined to cause trouble during the ten months of pregnancy, Grandmother's energy level cannot guarantee that she will be able to successfully hold the child in her arms."

"It would be better for me to stay by A-Yuan's side, disguise myself as a man and enter the academy. There will be rules to keep me in check, and my identity will not be easily exposed. It would be safer than staying in the Wei family."

"..."

Madam Wei fell silent.

She knew that Zhang Yu couldn't stand seeing Wei Yuan doing well. If Zhang Yu found out that Shen Mingshu was pregnant with Wei Yuan's child, she would definitely use this as an excuse to ruin the marriage between Wei Yuan and the Lu family.

If she had no great-grandson, she would rather the Wei family be buried with her.

But now, the hope of the Wei family's incense burning brightly again, and even if she looks down on Wei Yuan, she must have him inherit the Night Domain to protect this hope.

In this way, she wouldn't be completely ashamed to face the ancestors of the Wei family.

Old Madam Wei slowly closed her eyes and called out wearily, "Fan Jin."

When Fan Jin appeared, without Madam Wei needing to say anything more, she respectfully cupped her hands and said, "I understand, Madam."

He bowed to Wei Yuan again: "Second Young Master, please follow me to select your personal assassin later."

This time, Madam Wei has truly begun to relinquish power.

But Wei Yuan no longer possessed the same sincerity and passion he had at the beginning.

He realized that the entire Wei family, just like back then, had a morbidly cold-blooded desire for control.

Nothing has changed.

……

"A-Yuan".

After the others dispersed, Shen Mingshu gently stroked Wei Yuan's cold hand and asked, "Are you feeling tired?"

Wei Yuan raised his eyes, his light-colored eyes showing a hint of vulnerability and confusion: "Ming Shu, what exactly is the condition of your body?"

Seeing the weariness between his brows, Shen Mingshu pulled him to bed and gently stroked his tense brow.

"Ah-Yuan, to be honest, I'm not really sure either."

"Three years ago, when I woke up in the clinic, the doctor was shocked. He didn't know how I appeared. He just knew that I had enough silver next to me, so he treated me a little with the belief that it was a miracle."

"During the recovery process, I gradually felt a surge in my abdominal cavity, like piecing things together or building something up. After each intense sensation, my injury would heal even faster."

"At first I was terrified, but later it gradually became a part of my body, and I could even sense its breath through my heartbeat."

"Therefore, not only a pregnancy pulse, but any kind of pulse can appear in my body if I want to."

"Of course." Shen Mingshu paused, her tone completely flat. "I can kill it too."

Upon hearing this, Wei Yuan's pupils suddenly shrank to a point, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock. He was speechless for a moment and could only hug Shen Mingshu tightly.

A cold sweat broke out on his back: "No, no—"

"I won't, A-Yuan. I won't do anything foolish again. It's not worth it."

Sensing Wei Yuan's genuine panic, Shen Mingshu comforted him, "I am very grateful to that benefactor, and I am also very grateful for your appearance."

"I will cherish this life."

"Ming Shu..."

Wei Yuan gazed at Shen Mingshu, his eyes slightly reddening, a hint of tenderness hidden within, each glance filled with longing.

"Thank goodness you're here."

In this cold and desolate Wei mansion, it's good to have you by my side.

……

The Guard's Residence.

Shen Mingshu was physically weak, and getting up early was no longer something she could fight off with sheer willpower.

When Wei Yuan got up, he called out to Shen Mingshu a few times, and she responded with a buzzing sound.

After Wei Yuan finished washing up, she turned over and fell asleep again.

Helpless, Wei Yuan could only wash her on the bed.

But he wouldn't dress Shen Mingshu up as a man, so he could only forcibly carry her to the dressing table, kiss her puffed-up face, and soothe her.

"No rush. If you're late, just ask for leave. Ming Shu, take your time."

"Ugh—"

Because he said there was no rush, Shen Mingshu, half asleep and half awake, spent half an hour before leaving the house.

As soon as she got into the carriage, Shen Mingshu was startled awake when she saw Wei Ziye sitting inside.

Wei Yuan explained, "My elder brother has been ordered by the Emperor to go to Qingyun Academy to serve as an assistant instructor in the martial arts department, and he is going with us this time."

"Teaching assistant?"

Shen Mingshu got into the car.

"My cousin became the top military scholar at eighteen and a close advisor to the Emperor in the Imperial Guard at twenty-one. How could he be wasting his talents by becoming a teaching assistant at the academy?"

Thinking of Wei Ziye's protection of Shen Yangjue, Shen Mingshu's eyes couldn't help but show a hint of schadenfreude.

"Could this be... a promotion in name only, or a demotion in reality?"

This arrangement, seemingly emphasizing the martial arts exam, is actually a way to suppress the entire martial arts field by targeting Wei Ziye personally.

Wei Ziye's willingness to compromise likely stems from the immense pressure he has faced recently due to both internal and external troubles. Therefore, when dealing with the emperor, he has temporarily opted for a strategy of recuperation and rest.

As for where the pressure came from, it was his own fault for inviting Wei Yuan back to the mansion.

"Ming Shu!"

Wei Yuan looked at Shen Mingshu with disapproval: "How can we make wild guesses about the Emperor's decree! Both thunder and rain are blessings. My elder brother is still the Emperor's right-hand man. Be careful what you say."

Wei Yuan's tone hardened, and Shen Mingshu obediently lowered her head and admitted her mistake: "Oh, I know I was wrong."

This sight made Wei Yuan unable to suppress his laughter. He softened and secretly patted her hand. Shen Mingshu felt it and quietly squeezed his palm.

This made Wei Yuan feel both numb and itchy inside.

Wei Ziye took in all these subtle actions and said in a cold tone, "Since you are a page, you should be mindful of your status. How can a master wait for you and dress you?"

Wei Yuan stopped Shen Mingshu, who was about to speak, and nodded in agreement: "Big brother, this is Mingshu's first time dressing as a man. I will definitely teach her well in the future."

Shen Mingshu had suffered a lot of humiliation at Wei Ziye's hands, and now that she finally saw Wei Ziye feeling aggrieved, if Wei Yuan hadn't stopped her, she would have definitely stabbed him in the heart with every word!

……

Qingyun Academy.

The two were going to report to the abbot, so Shen Mingshu took her luggage and went to the small courtyard first.

Before she even entered the door, she was pushed from behind, stumbled and fell inside. Before she could regain her balance, a large hand pulled her down and easily pressed her against the wooden door.

"Ah! Who!"

"You're asking to be my concubine? Shen Mingshu, that's not what you told me!"

"..."

In the past, Shen Mingshu strictly followed her mother's wishes, choosing a good husband to become the mistress of the house, and would not marry if she did not have one.

From a young age, Wei Ziye was instilled with the idea by Zhang Yu that only by marrying someone of equal social standing could he, like his grandfather, expand the family's fortunes.

Therefore, in response to Shen Mingshu's intentional or unintentional probing, he thought he could directly elevate the Shen family's status to a position of equal social standing.

At that time, the Shen family shamelessly sent Shen Yangjue over, and Zhang Yu was dissatisfied that Wei Ziye could only have Shen Mingshu, so he kept her there, ostensibly to cultivate their relationship.

However, the Shen family's situation was special. There were some things that the Wei family disdained to investigate thoroughly, and the Shen family kept them hidden. So, Shen Mingshu's words were full of resentment without any basis.

Shen Yangjue, known as the disciple of a divine physician, is adept at concealing his true intentions and at currying favor. He used a strategy of retreating to advance, claiming that he only wished to revive the Shen family's prosperity, which resonated strongly with Wei Ziye.

The more she screamed like that, the more she was seen as petty and jealous, until finally, no one cared.

Step by step, Wei Ziye's self-righteous sincerity only broke Shen Mingshu's heart.

She's not getting married.

I would rather die than marry Wei Ziye.

She said it in a fit of pique, but she never expected that she would get pregnant.

They thought the three-month-long cold war had finally found a way out, but little did they know it would lead to a dead end.

"Oh--"