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

Like Lu Youyou, Yan Jing is defiant and argumentative, but she's afraid of one person in particular.

However, compared to Lu Youyou's fear of Lu Yanzhi, Yanjing held the eldest princess in higher esteem.

Whenever the Eldest Princess is mentioned, Yan Jing's rude and arrogant nature becomes more thoughtful, and even more cautious.

Shen Mingshu gently stroked the back of her hand, which had been slapped red, her fingertips slowly tracing patterns on the plain handkerchief, her voice low and deep.

"This court is simply puzzled: why does the Prince of Yan, who so deeply respects the Princess, so vehemently reject what she has done?"

"According to our understanding, the Princess and the Emperor often accompanied the late Emperor to live on the frontier when they were young. The Princess loved every piece of land and every person. The people on the border still miss the Princess to this day."

"And why—"

"What do you know!"

Yan Jing's eyes held a suppressed rage: "The ignorant and foolish lower classes, even with Mother's condescension, ultimately appear to them as self-degradation!"

"They appear friendly and courteous on the surface, offering careful flattery, but in reality, it's all for the fame and fortune their mothers have brought them!"

"Their nature is inherently mercenary, so why should we bear the consequences of their actions!"

Shen Mingshu was taken aback: "Does the Princess know about this?"

Yan Jing snorted coldly and turned his head: "This young master will not allow these words to reach my mother's ears."

"..."

Yanjing genuinely rejects the common people, rather than deliberately targeting Zhou Yuansheng.

Realizing this, Shen Mingshu breathed a sigh of relief.

"The reason why Prince Yan does not want the Princess to know is simply because he is afraid that the Princess will be upset if she hears about it. But in fact, even if you don't say it, the Princess may still find out."

Shen Mingshu's eyes were sincere: "Things in this world are not all black and white. When the late emperor led his troops into battle, he did not forget to take the princesses and princes with him to experience the world. I think he had the same intention."

"This institution is not qualified to change your views, but many things are better resolved than left unresolved."

"If Prince Yan keeps this to himself, he might incur the displeasure of the Eldest Princess in the future. Why not take this opportunity to go and hear her advice?"

Although Yan Jing's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, he still resisted: "Why should I, the young master, risk displeasing my mother over a few words from you?"

Shen Mingshu raised an eyebrow slightly and said confidently, "Because this court believes that Mr. Zhou's reasoning is stronger than yours. If you do not change, the court will make things difficult for you, and you will only be in a difficult position as well."

Yanjing: "..."

"The Singing Bamboo".

Lu Yanzhi's voice sounded from behind, and Shen Mingshu's eyes paused slightly.

With no one around, Shen Mingshu was about to ask Yan Jing to stay, but Yan Jing ignored her completely, snorted coldly, and left without even offering a greeting.

Shen Mingshu pursed her lips slightly, turned around, and smiled again: "Headmaster, there's a pavilion in the backyard of the village chief's house. The pastries have all been sent there. Why don't you go and rest there first—"

"Ah Shu".

Lu Yanzhi's gentle eyes held a sincere apology as he directly tore off Shen Mingshu's veil: "You didn't bring Chunxue today, are you angry with me?"

"...No, you misunderstood," Shen Mingshu explained. "I asked Chunxue to deliver some tonics to Luoluo. She'll be here soon."

Lu Yan stepped forward and stared directly at Shen Mingshu: "You're really not angry?"

"..."

Shen Mingshu paused for two seconds, then shook her head: "It's only right that you're wary."

She understands that the Lu family has taken such a huge risk for her, and now they are just trying to eliminate the most fatal one.

She just didn't expect Lu Yanzhi to be so calm.

He was so open about his purpose from the very beginning that he directly handed over the tattered scroll of his father that Zhou Yuansheng was holding.

Lu Yanzhi quietly observed Shen Mingshu's considerate and sensible expression for a while, then suddenly asked.

"Ah Shu, do you resent your father's loyalty being too reckless?"

More than that.

There was a time when Shen Mingshu not only resented her father for dying too young and too quickly, but also resented why he was born into the Shen family, causing her and her mother to be trapped in a trough of despair.

Looking at Lu Yanzhi, Shen Mingshu simply said softly.

"Everyone has their own principles. I can't criticize my father for being meticulous in everything he does. For me, the hardest days are over, and now I don't need to think about the past anymore."

"Isn't that right?"

Shen Mingshu's clear eyes were bright and insightful, and every word she spoke seemed to come from the bottom of her heart, but it also revealed a sense of helplessness towards fate.

But that's normal.

She wanted Lu Yanzhi to know that despite her countless motives of repaying kindness with enmity and resorting to any means necessary, she was still willing to let go of the past and face the future to start anew.

Regardless of how she treated the Wei family, she was harmless to the Lu family.

Lu Yanzhi stared at her intently, then suddenly smiled: "A-Shu, you've already been admitted to the academy without taking the exam, so there's no need to be so nervous right now."

Shen Mingshu forced a stiff smile, her expression bittersweet: "Yan Zhi, I'm willing to trust you, but I also know about your past relationship with Wei Ziye."

"I can see that he hates me. He has already ruined my future with A-Yuan, and I don't want him to ruin the kindness you have shown me."

Shen Mingshu paused for a moment, then said, "But I still want to thank you."

Lu Yanzhi tilted his head slightly: "Hmm?"

Shen Mingshu looked at Lu Yanzhi earnestly and said, "I feel at ease and content that your doubts are as open as your character."

Lu Yanzhi was surprised that this was Shen Mingshu's evaluation of his behavior. He was speechless for a moment before smiling with a helpless expression.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Shen Mingshu smiled gently, her lips curving into a smile. "Yes, it's a compliment."

……

When Shen Mingshu and Lu Yanzhi reappeared, Zhou Yuansheng was already leading a group of students to play in the fields.

Besides the mud on their shoes, many people had mud on their bodies, faces, and even hair.

Perhaps feeling that they had become dirty, the crowd became unrestrained.

Some people used the opportunity of admiring the mud to smear their classmates' faces with it, while others watched farmers cultivate seedlings, humbly asked for advice, and then took their knowledge to show off everywhere.

Mud became ink, walls became Xuan paper, and amidst the peaceful and joyful scene, Shen Mingshu felt that restrained yet ardent gaze.

With her gaze lingering on him, it was impossible for Shen Mingshu to ignore him.

"Young Master, Miss wishes you to come and rest."

Lu Youyou's personal maid appeared, and Lu Yanzhi glanced at Lu Youyou and Wei Yuan.

Seeing Lu Yanzhi looking over, Lu Youyou waved happily. Compared to when she first arrived, Lu Youyou's mood was obviously much better.

Thinking of Lu Youyou's rudeness just now, Lu Yanzhi turned to Shen Mingshu to explain.

"Yanyu Pills have significant side effects. Youyou has been suffering from the effects of the drug recently, and her emotions have become volatile. I apologize to you on her behalf."

Shen Mingshu smiled helplessly and joked, "It's just a small quarrel. I'm a grown man, I wouldn't be so petty."

Lu Yanzhi was amused by Shen Mingshu's comment about being a "big man," and his expression softened even more.

"Boys can also feel wronged. If you, the supervisor, are truly wronged, you must tell me. Don't be like Mr. Zhou, who suddenly quit his job without warning."

Shen Mingshu smiled, and was about to say something when she caught a glimpse of Wei Yuan walking over with a blank face. She paused and quickly said...

"Oh, right, I still need to find out if Mr. Zhou's mind has changed. I'll be going now."

Lu Yanzhi also saw Wei Yuan and nodded. Wei Yuan's deep voice rang out.

"Why should the abbot go looking for him himself? Anqi, go and call Mr. Zhou to come here and rest for a while."

"..."