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

Qingyun Academy, Tingzhu Pavilion.

Zhang Yu rushed over with the tonics and saw Wei Ziye sitting quietly on the bed with a pale face. She quickly stepped forward and asked him with concern.

"Didn't Liu Yi say she was perfectly fine? How come she suddenly fell ill again?"

Wei Ziye's unfocused gaze slowly focused on Zhang Yu, his hoarse voice filled with confusion.

"Mother, did she really take the Jade-Severing Powder?"

Zhang Yu's fingertips paused almost imperceptibly, then her face immediately turned cold: "What? Is it this little bitch who's bothering you again! She's really gone too far—"

"Mother!"

Wei Ziye's tone became more forceful, his emotions surging wildly in his chest, his voice hoarse: "I just want to know if she took the Jade-Breaking Powder. Don't lie to me."

"Why would your mother lie to you!"

Zhang Yu, her face contorted with hurt, said, "She took the medicine right under my nose! Ah, Mother never intended for a woman from the Shen family to get pregnant with your child, so how could she not have taken precautions?"

The Broken Jade Powder suddenly appeared, its effects were so powerful that even the most renowned physicians at the height of their power said they were helpless against it.

However, Tiange has not found a way to resolve this issue over the years.

If Shen Mingshu really ate it, how could she possibly be pregnant!

A lie that's half true and half false is the most deadly; she really is untrustworthy...

Noticing that Wei Ziye's expression had softened, Zhang Yu pulled him aside and earnestly reminded him.

"Ah, it's all in the past now. Mother didn't object to her becoming your concubine, but she was too arrogant and couldn't be presented in public!"

"Look at her! She could be so fickle and flirt with other men back then, and now she's willing to become that slut's concubine!"

"A woman like that is a curse to anyone who gets involved with her; how can you trust her?"

"Everything your mother does is for your own good."

Wei Ziye closed his eyes in pain, lay down again, and turned his back to her: "Mother, please don't say anymore, I want to rest."

"..."

Distrusting Shen Mingshu and yet resisting her in this way is not a good sign for Zhang Yu.

A hint of murderous intent flashed in her eyes as she turned and went out, heading straight for Wei Yuan's courtyard.

……

With Lu Youyou's help, Shen Mingshu had a lot more time to rest.

With a loud bang, the wooden door was smashed open, and Shen Mingshu sat up in shock from the bed. Upon seeing the cold-faced Zhang Yu, she immediately got out of bed.

Just as he was about to bow, "Kneel down!"

With a furious shout, Shen Mingshu paused and obediently knelt down.

Zhang Yu sat down at the table, flicked his sleeves, and waved his hand, ordering everyone to stand guard at the door before asking his question.

"I'm asking you, how exactly did you get pregnant in the first place?"

It's likely that Wei Ziye is in a bad situation; otherwise, Zhang Yu wouldn't have shown such murderous intent.

Shen Mingshu tightened her grip and answered honestly, "It was Grandmother who gave me the antidote."

"How could that old geezer possibly have the antidote for the Jade-Severing Powder!" Zhang Yu slammed her hand on the table, warning, "If you dare lie, I'll rip out your tongue!"

"Ming Shu wouldn't dare."

Shen Mingshu lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the twisted knuckles, her tone calm and even.

"Three years ago, Ming Shu was all alone and helpless, which is why she committed this sin out of selfishness. Now that Ming Shu has found someone to rely on, she will avoid her cousin from now on. Please rest assured, Aunt."

Shen Mingshu had honed her skills in soothing Zhang Yu's hair for seven years, and her mastery of this art was unparalleled. She instantly suppressed Zhang Yu's murderous intent.

Seeing that she didn't seem to be lying, Zhang Yu also fell into deep thought.

Years ago, Madam Wei's health had already deteriorated to the point of near death.

But in recent days, not only has her spirits improved, but she has also been able to get out of bed and walk from time to time!

Her previous indifference to the world was gone forever; she and the old tree in the courtyard seemed to have been revitalized.

If they could have kept such a medicine, perhaps they really could have provided an antidote for the Broken Jade Powder back then!

"I underestimated her methods!" Zhang Yu said to Shen Mingshu, "What did you two do in the old woman's courtyard that day?"

Shen Mingshu leaned down, and some of her lies sounded quite sincere: "She was afraid that my claim of becoming a concubine was just a temporary measure, so she warned me not to go around in front of the Lu family. She said that once A-Yuan got married, she could step in and bring me into the family."

Shen Mingshu is fair-skinned and well-behaved. When she lowers her eyes, her clear and beautiful eyes are not visible, so she always gives people a harmless feeling.

Zhang Yu didn't doubt such a half-true, half-false statement.

But what she wanted was not the honest Shen Mingshu.

Zhang Yu glanced at her stomach and frowned: "Why is there still no sign of anything? Are you trying to disobey me?"

Shen Mingshu shook her head helplessly: "Since Miss Lu appeared, A Yuan has been unable to find time for me. In addition, the Shen family already knew about my trip to the capital. After arranging some people for me, he was completely at ease leaving me here."

"Manpower? Ha—"

What manpower does Wei Yuan have? He's just a bunch of secret guards given to him by that old hag!

Zhang Yu's fingernails suddenly dug into her palm!

"That old hag is still so biased!"

"Ah Ye risked the Emperor's suspicion to reclaim Tiange in order to find medicine for her, and now that things have only just started to improve, she's already passing on such an important thing to that lowly wretch!"

"Isn't she completely blind to Ah Ye's difficulties?!"

A sharp, cold sound rang out! The air seemed to freeze solid with the chill emanating from her.

A fierce glint flashed in Zhang Yu's eyes. "She should have died long ago!"

"..."

Shen Mingshu glanced at the blood seeping from her palm, obediently took out a handkerchief, knelt down and stepped forward to bandage her hand.

"Don't worry, Aunt. Grandmother is very suspicious. She won't trust anyone until A-Yuan's marriage is settled."

These words reminded Zhang Yu, and also made her happy to see the little schemes that Shen Mingshu had.

Zhang Yu suppressed her anger and quietly watched as Shen Mingshu gently bandaged her wounds.

The person who was on the verge of death was brought back to life, and Zhang Yu was also able to rekindle his fighting spirit.

This time, she's going to end the old woman's life with her own hands!

"Don't worry, with me here, the position of the principal wife will be yours sooner or later."

Zhang Yu wouldn't be foolish enough to make an enemy of the Lu family; these words were clearly only directed at Old Madam Wei.

But that's enough.

Shen Mingshu prostrated herself on the ground, her tone steady: "Thank you for your kindness, Auntie."

……

When Wei Yuan still hadn't returned after class that evening, Shen Mingshu knew something was wrong.

"Something terrible has happened! Brother Mingzhu! Your master is in trouble, and the headmaster is summoning you!"

Perhaps because he had whipped Shen Mingshu, the servant Zhang San's worried expression was genuine.

Shen Mingshu stood up from the desk and hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

Zhang San pulled her along, explaining as they walked, "Were you being lazy and had Young Master Lu deliver a change of clothes to Young Master Wei?"

Shen Mingshu's heart skipped a beat. Seeing this, Zhang San slapped his thigh in alarm: "Oh dear! That's Miss Lu Youyou from the Lu family! She's disguised as a boy to audit classes at the academy!"

"Now that the headmaster knows she went to the warm pavilion to deliver men's clothing, he's furious! He's made the two of them kneel in the courtyard and copy books as punishment!"

Shen Mingshu frowned: "Then what should I do there?"

Zhang San looked at Shen Mingshu with some sympathy: "When Miss Lu got impatient with the copying, she accused you of lying to her that the warm chamber was empty, and that she was just helping you prepare your clothes in advance..."

"What?!"