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

"My cousin hates me so much now. He was unmoved when I jumped into the river. Even if he knows now, it won't change anything."

Even if she was special to Wei Ziye in the beginning, Shen Mingshu had to admit that once a man becomes ruthless, he doesn't care whether someone lives or dies.

Zhang Yu didn't think so.

It was Shen Mingshu's appearance that made Wei Ziye seem normal in that aspect, but unexpectedly, he still didn't want anyone else afterward.

After Shen Mingshu left the capital, she, as her mother, knew best what Wei Ziye's situation had been like for the past three years.

That's why she was so eager to push Shen Mingshu to Wei Yuan.

Only by getting pregnant can Wei Ziye completely sever his delusions about the two of them and take full control of the Wei family.

But Shen Mingshu is not worthy to know these things.

Zhang Yu lightly smoothed her sleeves and gracefully rose to her feet: "A scourge may live a thousand years, but I'm curious, have you found your savior yet?"

Shen Mingshu shook her head: "We met by chance, and since my benefactor is unwilling to show herself, I cannot force her. Once things are settled with A-Yuan, I am even more eager than my aunt to leave the capital as soon as possible."

Shen Mingshu now looks eager to live a peaceful life, indicating that the events of three years ago have had a significant impact on her.

So much so that I am filled with deep regret, so much so that I will never dare to paint another likeness again.

Zhang Yu was very satisfied and left another bag of silver: "Don't hesitate to use the medicines that need to be used, don't disappoint me again."

"Thank you, Auntie."

After seeing her off, Shen Mingshu weighed the silver pouch in her hand. It contained a full hundred taels of silver, but Shen Mingshu was still satisfied.

Wei Yuan came in, puzzled.

"What did she give?"

"Money and medicine."

Shen Mingshu looked at him, her clear eyes as pure as lake water: "A-Yuan, your aunt wants me to get pregnant with your child as soon as possible, so that my cousin will stop making things difficult for us, and your aunt can finally rest easy."

Wei Yuan's expression stiffened, his gaze falling on the porcelain bottle on the table, his eyes filled with suppressed hatred: "This... is an aphrodisiac?"

"No," Shen Mingshu denied. "It's for fertility assistance, they say... only once."

Shen Mingshu blushed innocently. "I just ate one..."

Wei Yuan's tense nerves relaxed a little. He thought Zhang Yu was trying to humiliate him with drugs again. Fortunately, her goal was just to make Wei Ziye give up on him.

He didn't need Wei Ziye's help anyway.

Wei Yuan stepped forward and hugged Shen Mingshu, his gaze gentle, and lifted Shen Mingshu's chin to kiss her.

"Ming Shu, I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'll be gentler."

Shen Mingshu felt a sudden lightness as he carried her to the bed, a look of astonishment on her face: "You, you agreed?"

"Since you've eaten it all, Ming Shu will be very disappointed if I don't show my appreciation. Besides—"

Wei Yuan gently placed her on the bed, his large hand resting on Shen Mingshu's lower abdomen, his amber eyes gleaming with hope.

"With it, no matter what happens in the future, we will have more security between us."

Children are the crystallization of their parents' love and the bond of the family. For many people, having a child is a major turning point in their lives.

But the prerequisite is that it can be born.

Regardless of what the future holds, at this moment, Shen Mingshu admits that she acted impulsively.

With tears in her eyes, Shen Mingshu tilted her head back and kissed Wei Yuan, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, deepening the kiss with each thrust.

She hoped that God would grant her another victory in her gamble.

Just once, just once...

"Ta-da!"

There was another knock on the door. It was Xiao Yin reminding her: "Miss, you can go home today. We have prepared a carriage for you. Don't worry, Prince Wei has already settled the debt. You can leave as soon as you're ready."

"..."

The two of them got up at the same time, panting heavily. Shen Mingshu grumbled in dissatisfaction, "Not even one more day, what a skinflint."

Wei Yuan chuckled indulgently, wiped the water from her lips, kissed them again, and then said in a hoarse voice, "Are you feeling unwell again? If you're not feeling well, I'll go pay for another day."

Emotions arise from the heart, not from medicine.

Shen Mingshu still felt somewhat uncomfortable doing this on Liu Yi's turf.

"Let's go home." Shen Mingshu's eyes were alluring as she lifted Wei Yuan's chin. "We can be more attentive when we're home."

His gaze swept over Shen Mingshu's chapped lip, and Wei Yuan's ears turned bright red. He said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm sorry, Mingshu, it was... I was in a hurry."

Male instinct drives them to compete, and Wei Ziye's appearance gave Wei Yuan a considerable shock, instantly igniting his desires that he had been able to control for three years.

Shen Mingshu understood.

She didn't have much to pack, and pulled Wei Yuan into the carriage.

In the car, Shen Mingshu was very unruly due to the 'drug effect,' and she was igniting desires everywhere in Wei Yuan's arms.

So much so that Shen Mingshu's legs were weak when she got off the bus.

Wei Yuan was in no better shape. He was holding Shen Mingshu, which conveniently concealed his disheveled clothes. He usually maintained a certain level of politeness towards the coachman, but now he completely disregarded it.

As soon as he entered, the door closed, and he instantly pressed Shen Mingshu against the door panel, his lips grinding and licking her repeatedly.

Shen Mingshu's eyes, filled with desire, gazed at the ceiling, a satisfied smile slowly curving her lips.

With a tug of her small hand, their belts fell to the ground. In that instant, it was as if they had suddenly unlocked some kind of switch, their hands tightly embracing each other, and they began to anxiously tear at each other's clothes.

Her fair skin was revealed, and Wei Yuan's crimson eyes trembled for a moment. He pounced on her and gently bit Shen Mingshu's collarbone.

Shen Mingshu trembled violently, a soft moan escaping her throat, and she was about to bite back.

Suddenly, a loud banging came from the door!

"Disaster! Young Master Wei! Your entrance exam questions are identical to those of others. Your teacher requests your explanation!"

"..."

To say it's similar is actually plagiarism.

Scholars value integrity above all else. If someone is accused of plagiarism, they won't be able to go to school or even take the imperial examinations.

Their desire was instantly extinguished.

Shen Mingshu's eyes reddened with anxiety: "How is this possible! I know this article best; it's impossible for it to be similar to anyone else's. There must be some mistake!"

Shen Mingshu also wrote this admission essay.

The title was from an article she wrote three years ago, which was once cherished and collected by a highly respected retired gentleman, which is why she was able to guarantee that the article was absolutely flawless.

How could they be identical?

"Ming Shu, don't worry." Wei Yuan comforted her and straightened her clothes. "The teachers at Qingyun Academy are all great scholars. They wouldn't wrong someone for no reason. I'll go and take a look and explain. Maybe it really is a misunderstanding."

"A-Yuan, this matter is of utmost importance."

Shen Mingshu's eyes welled with tears, her heart aching with self-reproach: "If my complacency truly causes setbacks in your career, I... I really—"

Wei Yuan gently kissed her, seemingly enveloping all her anxiety in an instant, and tenderly guided her small hands to help him dress.

He said nothing, yet he instilled complete trust and a sense of security: "Ming Shu, I believe you. If there's anything, I'll tell you when I get back, okay?"

Shen Mingshu looked at him with emotion and reached out to wipe his swollen lips.

"Wash your face before you go."

Wei Yuan chuckled: "I'll listen to my wife."

The two left hand in hand. Shen Mingshu saw Wei Yuan into the carriage, and then, like a gazing stone waiting for her husband, she anxiously watched the carriage disappear around the corner before turning back into the house with tears of sorrow in her eyes.

Just as the door was about to close, a large hand suddenly appeared and got stuck in the crack, startling Shen Mingshu.

"Cousin, cousin?"