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

A drop of blood trickled down her fair neck.

Impartial and unbiased, it is precisely the frantically pulsating artery.

The surging blood in her veins seemed to freeze in the coldness of the sword energy. Shen Mingshu suddenly stopped, her breathing slow yet rapid.

Wei Ziye's dark eyes were lowered as if frozen: "Shen Mingshu, get out of the academy and never come out again."

Shen Mingshu's thick eyelashes fluttered as she looked up: "What does Aunt mean?"

Wei Zi's eyes narrowed slightly: "Looking for death?"

"Then it isn't." Shen Mingshu's gaze fell on the tightly closed door behind him. "As Yin Mingzhu, I have a mutually beneficial relationship with the Zhang family. My cousin isn't a member of the Zhang family, so why is he resisting like this?"

"You want to kill me? Do you think you can be controlled by worldly ethics?"

Wei Zishi smiled unreasonably: "Shen Mingshu, why should I be accused of you?"

"Because this is your mother's decision."

Shen Mingshu looked at him intently: "Cousin has always trusted and respected Aunt, hasn't he?"

"..."

Behind the door.

Zhang Yu held a letter in his hand—Chunxi is not dead.

Four words were enough to shatter Zhang Yu's psychological defenses.

Shen Mingshu's reminder of trust was not directed at Wei Ziye, but at Zhang Yu.

Chunxi did not die; someone disobeyed her orders and secretly protected her.

who is it?

Could it be Wei Ziye?

If it were Wei Ziye, if he knew what happened three years ago, how would he view her as his mother?

But will mother and child still be of one mind?

Zhang Yu held his breath and stood silently in place, waiting for Wei Ziye's answer.

"..."

Wei Ziye didn't know what Shen Mingshu meant by those words, and thought she was mocking Zhang Yu for not defending her after she was infected.

He simply said in a cold voice, "To be ignorant of right and wrong, to blindly follow biased opinions, is foolish filial piety. I, the young master, distinguish between public and private matters. I am here today to prevent my mother from making any more mistakes."

"Shen Mingshu, greed knows no bounds. I advise you to know when to stop."

The sword tip hummed as it touched the skin, drawing down a few more drops of blood.

Shen Mingshu took a step back, her gaze sweeping indifferently over the closed door. She bowed her head expressionlessly and performed a curtsy.

He turned and left.

"Wait a minute."

The gates of the Zhang family's residence slowly opened.

Zhang Yu stepped out, and facing Wei Ziye's disapproving expression, she only asked...

"Ah Ye, if the Zhang family is discarded as a pawn in the future, as the head of the Wei family, would you risk everything to save them?"

"Mother, what nonsense are you talking about—"

"Just answer your mother's questions." Zhang Yu gazed intently at Wei Ziye's slightly furrowed brows and asked, word by word, "Do you know how?"

In ancient times, relatives outside the main family were considered to have different intentions.

Wei Ziye couldn't deny it, nor would she deceive herself: "The child will protect his mother."

Zhang Yu couldn't tell whether she was relieved or saddened. Looking at her son, who was now a pillar of strength for the world, she lowered her head and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"But Mingzhu can protect you, Ah Ye, the Zhang family is also Mother's home."

"..."

Even if no one is willing to admit it, no one can deny the significance of Shen Mingshu's achievement of becoming an eighth-rank official despite being a woman.

Lu Yanzhi's actions, with a pure heart, directly and deeply bound Shen Mingshu to the Lu family.

One glory and one glory.

This was worth many more stones than the concubines under Wei Yuan's name.

If Zhang Yu wants to revitalize the Zhang family, she cannot give up such valuable Mingzhu, just as Wei Ziye would not harm the interests of the Wei family to protect her maternal family.

Their positions have changed, and even mother and child can no longer be of one mind.

"Mother--"

Wei Ziye frowned, wanting to say something more, but Zhang Yu waved wearily and looked at Shen Mingshu's back.

"Mingzhu, the Zhang family cannot guarantee how much assistance they can provide you now, but in the future, we are willing to share your fate."

"Would you be willing to turn back?"

Having achieved the desired effect, Shen Mingshu slowly turned around, still holding her head high despite being in a low position.

"Madam Zhang, Mingzhu has three wishes."

At this moment, the Zhang family and Shen Mingshu officially switched positions.

Zhang Yu nodded: "Please go ahead."

"My first wish is to keep my mother's surname and not change it."

This first wish, though inappropriate, is not too difficult. After all, Yin Mingzhu's identity is fake, so there is no need to be bound by these formalities.

Zhang Yu nodded.

Shen Mingshu climbed the mountain steps: "My second wish is that the Zhang family and the Shen family are irreconcilable enemies, like fire and water."

"Shen Mingshu!"

Wei Ziye scoffed, but Zhang Yu stopped him.

"Who in the entire capital wants to be tarnished by the Shen family's infamous reputation?"

Zhang Yu's eyes turned slightly cold as he looked at Wei Ziye with a serious expression and reminded him, "Hesitation will only lead to trouble. In your grandmother's eyes, both you and Wei Yuan have suffered because of this. If you want to advance further, you should cut ties with the Shen family as soon as possible."

"..." Wei Ziye was speechless.

Wei Congyu did not want anyone to know that he had been saved; apart from him, no one knew of Shen Fu's kindness.

Shen Mingshu didn't care what he thought and continued climbing the steps, saying, "I wish Mingzhu would maintain its own power and have nothing to do with the Zhang family or anyone else."

Shen Mingshu acknowledges the Zhang family's status, but not their strength.

Wei Xu had been trying to support the family for many years without any remarkable results, and Zhang Yu's willingness to return was a last resort.

But these things have nothing to do with Shen Mingshu.

What she wants is the Zhang family's benefit; turning disadvantages into advantages is Zhang Yu's job.

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Yu simply said, "Could I borrow a shadow guard, to be returned in three months?"

No matter how glorious Zhang Yu was in the past, she was ultimately just a woman in the inner quarters, unlike Old Madam Wei who held real power.

Now that they've left the Wei family, even that last bit of outward prosperity is gone.

Wei Ziye's voice choked slightly: "Mother, Tiange will still serve you."

Zhang Yu shook his head: "You should also have less contact with me. Wei Yuan is eyeing you covetously. Don't let your grandmother be completely disappointed in you."

"..."

Separated from their child, unable to acknowledge each other, Shen Mingshu accepted all the hatred in Wei Ziye's eyes.

His tone was calm: "Alright, but please return the jade intact to its rightful owner three months from now."

"it is good."

On the carriage.

Seeing Shen Mingshu being respectfully invited back to the Zhang family, Lu Yanzhi finally relaxed.

A smile of satisfaction unconsciously crept onto his lips.

Finally, Shen Mingshu, who had to be patient with everyone, has grown into Yin Mingzhu, who combines kindness and severity.

From this moment forward, everything will go smoothly.

Just as Lu Yanzhi was about to roll down the car window, he glanced into the distance and met Wei Ziye's gaze.

……

Jade Dew Pavilion.

The two sat facing each other, and Wei Ziye poured three cups of wine.

Lu Yanzhi watched without saying a word, and readily punished himself with three cups.

He remained unfazed.

Three years ago, Lu Yanzhi was drunk after just one cup of wine; three years later, Lu Yanzhi can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.

Wei Ziye lowered his eyes mockingly: "In these three years, you've been locked up in the Lu family home and drunk quite a bit, haven't you?"

"Yes, without being drunk, there is no dream." Lu Yanzhi smiled gently. "Fortunately, I couldn't dream about her anymore in the end, and she came back."

Wei Ziye rubbed the rim of his glass, looking at Lu Yanzhi with a forced smile: "What do you intend to do?"

Wei Ziye reminded him in a measured tone, "Don't forget, your parents will never accept her."